Chapter XIII: Appendix: II

The
Behaviour _and_ Character
of
_Samuel M‘Pherson_, }
_Malcolm M‘Pherson_ } and { _Farquar Shaw_,
the
Three Highland Deserters;
who were
_Shot at the_ Tower, July _the 18th_, 1743.
with
Some Observations on the _Conduct_ of a certain _Stranger_, who advised
the Prisoners to wave any Defence they had, and to plead guilty.

Also

_A plain_ Narrative _of the Original Institution of the Regiment, now commanded
by my Lord S——. Containing an Impartial Account of the Rise and Progress of
the late Mutiny in that Regiment_.

To which is added,

The two Petitions which they sent to the Lords of the _Regency_,
and to the Dutchess of _Richmond_.

By the Clergyman of the Church of _Scotland_, who conversed with them
in their own Language from the Time of their Sentence till their
Execution.

_Nil turpe commitas neque coramalias neque tecum maxime
omnium reverere teipsum._

London
Printed for M. Cooper in _Pater-Noster-Row_, 1743
Price Six-pence.

The
Behaviour and Character
of the
Three Highlanders,
Who were Shot, on July 18th, 1743.

The many inconsistent and scandalous Reports that are spread about Town, both in Print and Conversation, concerning the Characters and Behaviour of the three unhappy young Men who suffer’d in the Tower of _London_ on _Monday_ the 18th of _July_, make it necessary as well for Information of the Public, as out of Charity to their Memories, to publish the following Sheets.

The Author of this Tract thinks it necessary to premise, that he means not in the Relation he intends to make of this Affair, either to justify the Crime for which these Men suffer’d; or, in the least, to arraign the Justice of the Court-Martial in their Proceedings; or tax the Sentence with Severity; but, from a Motive of Christian Charity and Love for Truth, means to remove from the Character of the Deceased, such false Aspersions as are cast upon them, either by the Malice or Ignorance of some, who think it not only necessary for the Vindication of public Justice, to represent these unhappy Men as Mutineers and Deserters, but must paint them as Men void of every other Virtue, and addicted to the grossest Vices.

In order to give the Reader a just Idea of this Corps of Men, it will not be improper to go back as far as their original Institution, by which we shall be the better enabled to form a just Notion of their Character.

Few that are in the least acquainted with the History or Constitution of _Scotland_ but know, that anciently all the Lands in that Kingdom were held of the Crown by Military Tenures, or Knights Service; and that the Vassals of these great Men held their Lands of them by the same kind of Tenures.

By this Means, the Nobility of that Kingdom had always a Number of Men ready to bring into the Field, either in defence of their _Sovereign_, or to decide their own private Quarrels with one another, at which the Crown always conniv’d (for political Reasons) until both Parties were reduced to an equal and moderate Share of Power.

This Practice of Subjects deciding their private Quarrels by the Sword, obtained anciently all over _Britain_ and most other Countries, until Civil Polity and more wholesome Laws prevailed: and still remained in the _South_ parts, and towards the Borders of _Scotland_, till near the Time of the Union of the Crowns in the Person of King _James_ the First, when the chief Men in those Parts were diverted from their private Animosities, by their necessary Attendance on the Court, now removed at a greater Distance from them.

However, this Spirit of Family Feuds still prevailed in the _Highlands_, and more remote Parts of _Scotland_, who, by their Distance from the Court, were unacquainted with the Manners of the civiliz’d Part of the Nation.

The inferior Chieftains in these Parts still determined their mutual Quarrels as usual: and in revenge of any Affront, made Incursions and Depredations into the Estates of one another, or connived at their Followers doing so, to the great Discouragement of Industry, and Disturbance of the public Peace.

In this Situation were Things in that Part of the Country about the Time of the Union of the Kingdoms, when the Government very wisely, by the Act called the _Clan-Act_, abolished these Tenures, and for preventing these Depredations last mentioned, raised several Independent Companies in the _Highlands_, the command of which were given to some of the most considerable Gentlemen in that Corner, such as Lord _Loveat_, Laird of _Grant_, _Lochnell_, _Farah_, etc., all men of Distinction and Weight, who were willing to engage their Personal and Family Influence, as well as that of their Companies, for suppressing those Quarrels, and settling a Civil Polity in the Country.

When this Levy was made, the Officers took a special Care that none should be enlisted into that Service, but the Sons of the wealthiest and most reputable Farmers in the Country; and the second and younger Sons of some of the lesser Vassals were not asham’d to enlist in a service calculated for restoring of Peace, and establishing Liberty and Property in their Country. And as they were allowed to occupy their own Farms or follow any other Occupation, except upon Muster-Days, or when they were actually employed in pursuit of Robbers, or Disturbers of the public Peace; they, instead of receiving Bounty-Money, made Interest with the Officer to be admitted.

In this Shape they continued till they were Regimented, under the Command of the Honourable the Earl of _Crawford_, a Nobleman, whose Character was every way agreeable to them, and made little or no Alteration in their Circumstances.

When we have taken this View of their Original and History, down to the Period of their being Regimented, it will be no Matter of Surprize to find the private Men of that Regiment differing much in their Manners from those of other Corps, if we consider that when they entered the Service it was impossible for them to have the least Apprehensions of ever being obliged to leave their own Country where most of them had Farms or other Concerns, and looked upon themselves, and I believe were esteemed by the Country, only as a regulated Militia, at least till such Time as they were Regimented, which was only a few Years ago.

The Earl of _Crawford_ enjoyed that Regiment but a short time, when it was given to their present Colonel the Honourable Lord _Semple_.

They were quartered last year, the one half of them at _Inverness_, and the other at _Perth_; some Time in Spring the Regiment was informed by their officers that they were to be reviewed at _Musselburgh_, a village within four miles of _Edinburgh_, and afterwards to return to their quarters.

Accordingly they had a Rout given them to that place, and arrived there; but were told they were not to be reviewed there, but at _Berwick_ upon _Tweed_; when they came to this place, they were told that his Majesty designed to review them in Person at _London_, and that then they would all return to their Families.

When they arrived at _London_, and found that his Majesty was gone, the Regiment were universally dissatisfied, that after so long a March they were disappointed of the Honour of being reviewed by his Majesty.

Some Time after their coming here a Report was currently spread that the Regiment was to be sent to some Parts of the _West-Indies_, and broke or divided amongst the Colonies; which raised in the private Men, who believed this Report, a very great Animosity against their Officers, whom they groundlessly blamed for not informing them truly where they were to go before they carried them from their own Country; and not allowing them Time to settle their Concerns, of which some had very considerable, which they were obliged to leave in great Disorder, they thought the Interest of the Government did no ways require that they, more than any other Regiment in _Britain_ should be left ignorant of the Rout they were to take, and by that means be disappointed of an Opportunity of settling their private affairs in a manner suitable to so long an Absence; that they had been so long settled in that Country without any View of being so suddenly called from it, that it amounted to as great a Hardship on them (comparatively speaking) as it would be to the Militia of the City of _London_ to be shipped for the _Indies_ on an Hour’s Warning.

The Officers took pains to allay this flame, by assuring the Men that so soon as the Review was over they would be allowed to return Home.

But when the Report of their Embarkation prevailed, they were out of all Patience, and looked upon the Design of sending them to _Flanders_ only as a Blind to get them on board, in order to ship them really for the _West-Indies_.

Tho’ their Officers attempted to undeceive them, yet they had been disappointed so often, and filled so long with Hopes of going Home, that they had no Credit with them.

Add to this, that there was another Complaint pretended for the Ground of their Discontent, that some small Arrears were due to them, that they had all been obliged to use their own Swords, and that their Cloathing, especially their Shoes and Plaids, were remarkably deficient, these last not being worth Six-pence _per_ Yard; whereas they used to be allowed Plaids of more than double that Value.

This Spirit continued after the Review, when the Discontented agreed upon _Tuesday_ Night after to meet at _Finchley Common_, where a great Number of them convened and waited till their Number increased. In this interval some of their Officers came up, and by their persuasions a great Number returned; However, about a 100 of them continued their first Resolution of returning to their own Country.

Here it is remarkable that the Night was so dark that they scarce could distinguish Faces, or make any Computation of their Number, and that _Malcolm M‘Pherson_, one of the Deceased had never hitherto given any Consent to go away, but came within some Distance of the Place where the Men were assembled, and with another in Company, continued irresolute what Course to take until the coming up of the Officers had raised some Ferment, upon which he came into the Crowd, and allowed himself to be hurried along without knowing where he was going.

Next Morning when by Day-Light they could discern their Number, and not finding the Desertion so general as they expected, _Samuel M‘Pherson_, another of the Deceased, advised the whole Body strenuously to return to their Duty, which Advice he continued to inculcate during their March to _Lady Wood_; and in a short Time after they came there, he applied to a Justice of the Peace to propose terms of surrender; and during all their Stay there, used his utmost Endeavours to prevent Things coming to the last Extremity.

At last being in some Hopes of a Pardon by the Intervention of his Grace the Duke of _Montague_, to whom Application was made in their behalf, they surrendered on Discretion, in which _Samuel M‘Pherson_ was the most instrumental, as will be acknowledged by the Officers to whom he surrendered.

They were brought soon after to the Tower, and a Court Martial appointed to try them.

The first Day the Court Martial sat, a Person, a Stranger to all the Prisoners, came to the Grate, and pretending a great deal of Concern for their Misfortunes, advised them not to mention on their Trial any complaint they might have against their Officers, intimating, that he was certain such a Plea would not avail them, and without serving them would expose their Officers.

That the wisest Course they could follow for their own Safety, would be to acknowledge their Guilt, and plead mercy of the Court Martial, which he assured them would effectually work their Deliverance that no Punishment would be inflicted on them, and at the same Time presented them with a Petition which he had already drawn, addressed to the Court Martial in these terms, and they very frankly relying on these assurances signed and delivered the same to that honourable Court.

One of their Officers came next day to the Tower, and inculcated the same Doctrine into the Prisoners that the Stranger had done before, assuring them that they would all be liberate in a short time, when all Justice should be done them.

The Prisoners were examined before the Court Martial one by one; the Questions asked them were to this Purpose, Was you enlisted? Have you taken the Oaths? Have you received your Pay? Had you your Cloathing regularly? To all which they answered in the Affirmative: They were asked if they had any Complaints against their Officers, they all answered in the Negative, and in general pleaded nothing in Alleviation of their Crime before the Court Martial, but Inadvertency, and that they were moved to it by a Report which prevailed of their being sent to the _West-Indies_, and into a Climate destructive of their Health.

I cannot help in this Place to take notice of the remarkable Officiousness of this Stranger. He takes upon him without being asked, or the least apparent Interest in the Prisoners, to advise them in Matters of the last Consequence to them, their Lives and Reputation; has the Rashness to prejudge the Opinion of the Honourable the Court Martial in a Point of Law, which is at least a moot Point amongst the Lawyers themselves.

How unreasonable was it for any Man to pretend to determine what Weight any Plea would have before a Court of Judicature determining in a Case of Life and Death; and how unjust to the Prisoners, to advise them to conceal any Circumstance in their Case that might have the smallest Tendency towards alleviating their Crimes, or raising the smallest Motions of Compassion towards them in the Breasts of their Judges!

Suppose there had been but little Weight in the Plea of their Want of Pay, yet still it was a Circumstance closely connected with their Crime, without which it was impossible to form a just Judgment of the Heinousness of that Action. For it must be granted on the one hand, that a Soldier who deserts and cannot plead Want of Pay, etc., is less excusable, and consequently deserves a greater Degree of Punishment than he who has such a Pretence; this must be granted, tho’ it should be admitted on the other hand, that there is not so much in this Plea, as to skreen the Criminals totally from Punishment; But how much, or little is in it, is a Case few wise Men will determine dogmatically, especially against the Prisoner, since History, either antient or modern, does not afford any one Instance of Capital Punishments inflicted on Soldiers who mutinied for Want of Pay.

It is true, the Pay they want is but small; by their own Account ten or twelve shillings, some less, some a trifle more, which I mention out of Justice to the Officers, because it was currently reported in Town that the Deficiency was much more considerable. But however trifling this and their other Complaints may seem to Men not concerned, yet I cannot but reckon it barbarous to have advised them to conceal these Circumstances, the Relation of which could not be supposed to have been capable of making the Court Martial less merciful to the Prisoners, if it had not the contrary effect.

But however that Plea was waved, and did not fall under the cognizance of the Court Martial who made their Report, the Consequence of which was, that on _Tuesday_ the 12th, a Warrant was directed by their Excellencies the Lords of the Regency to the Governor of the Tower, for the Execution of _Samuel M‘Pherson_, _Malcolm M‘Pherson_, both Corporals, and _Farquar Shaw_, a private Centinel, all three of the Number of the Deserters, upon _Monday_ the 18th of _July_ last.

Having thus impartially traced this Meeting from its Rise to this Period, it remains that we give some Account of the Character and Behaviour of these three unfortunate Criminals from the Intimation of their Sentence to their Execution.

_Samuel M‘Pherson_, aged about twenty-nine Years, unmarried, was born in the Parish of _Laggan_ in _Badenuck_ and Shire of _Inverness_; his Father still living, is Brother to _M‘Pherson_ of _Breachie_, a Gentleman of a considerable Estate in that County, and is himself a Man of unblemished Reputation, and a plentiful Fortune.

_Samuel_ was the only Son of a first Marriage, and received a genteel Education, having made some Progress in the Languages, and studied for some Time at _Edinburgh_ with a Writer (that is, an Attorney), until about six Years ago he enlisted as a Volunteer in Major _Grant’s_ Company, where he was much respected both by the Officers and private men, and was in a short Time made a Corporal.

_Malcolm M‘Pherson_, aged about 30 Years, and unmarried, was likewise born in the same Parish of _Laggan_, was Son of Angus _M‘Pherson_ of _Driminard_, a Gentleman of Credit and Repute, who bestowed upon _Malcolm_ such Education as that Part of the Country would afford. He enlisted about seven Years ago in my Lord _Loveat’s_ Company, where his Behaviour recommended him to the Esteem of his Officers, and was soon made a Corporal.

_Farquar Shaw_, aged about 35 Years, unmarried, was born in the Parish of _Rothmurchius_ in _Strathspey_, and Shire of _Inverness_. His Father, _Alexander Shaw_, was an honest Farmer, but gave his Son no Education, as living at a Distance from Schools, and not in a Condition to maintain him elsewhere; _Farquar_ lived some time by droving, but meeting with Misfortunes in that Business, was reduced, and obliged, for Subsistance, to enlist in this regiment, where he has lived till now without any Reproach.

The Sentence was intimated to them upon _Tuesday_ before their Execution. This unexpected Change of their Fortunes, from hopes of Life and Liberty, to that of a short Preparation for a violent Death, very much shock’d their Resolution; but _Samuel_ less than any of them: When the Warder went to acquaint _Samuel_ of this melancholy News, he carry’d with him two Centinels, for fear any Accident might happen; and after expressing his Concern for being the Messenger of such unhappy News, acquainted him, he must die. He started with Surprize; and asked, with some Emotion, _How must I die? You are to be shot, Sir._—Then he reply’d, pretty composedly, _God’s Will be done; I have brought this upon myself_. He then asked, If he might be allowed Pen and Ink; and when the Post went for _Scotland_? The Warder told him the Night; but that he could not live to receive any Return: He said, he did not want any. He very pleasantly gave the Warder what Weapons he had, which were only a small Penknife and a Razor: and before the Warder parted with him seem’d to have assumed his ordinary Calmness of Mind; and he and the other two, after some Reflection, and the Conversation of the Clergy (who from this time attended them) were reconciled so much to their Circumstances, as to be able to bear the thoughts of Death with great Decency, and Christian Resignation to the Will of God.

_Samuel_ owned he had been active at the Beginning of the Sedition; but he could not help sometimes thinking, that the great Pains he took to influence the Men to return to their Duty afterwards, in a great Measure, alleviated his first Crime.

_Malcolm_, to the last declared that he never advised any Person to go away; on the contrary, that he never was resolved himself, till the moment he joined the Men in their March from _Finchley Common_, and then his Reflection was so short, that he scarce knew what he did.

_Farquar Shaw_, in the same manner, declared, That he was no way active in raising the Meeting: That he never advis’d any Man to desert; deny’d that he presented his Piece to any of the Officers, as it was reported. He owned, that he might have utter’d some very passionate and indecent Expressions to some of the Officers who commanded him to return; but that these expressions did not import a threatening to strike any of them.

But notwithstanding that they all three imagin’d themselves no more guilty than the rest of the Prisoners, yet they never once utter’d the least Reflection against the Sentence, the Court Martial, or the Lords of the Regency; in short, they did not Attribute their Death to anything else but the divine Providence of God, to which they chearfully submitted, and acquitted all Mankind of their unhappy End; of which _Farquar Shaw_ gave a lively Instance: It being reported to him, that one Serjeant _Mc.Bean_ had deposed before the Court Martial, that he (_Shaw_) had presented his Piece to him, when he commanded him to return to his Duty; and that this Deposition had determined the Court Martial to fix upon him in particular; he sent for the Serjeant, and very calmly questioned him concerning this Fact; Who told him that he had never been an Evidence against him, but own’d, that he told some of his Officers, that he (_Shaw_) had threaten’d to strike an officer who commanded him to return to his Duty; and that it was probable, the Colonel might receive this Intelligence from the Officers, and that by this means it might come to the Knowledge of the Court Martial: The Serjeant express’d his Regret, that he should be any way instrumental to his misfortunes. But _Shaw_, in an affable Manner, desir’d him to give himself no Uneasiness on that Head: That he had neither Spite nor Ill-will at him for what he had said, but would die in perfect Love and Friendship with him, and all Mankind: That he had sent for him on purpose to make his Mind easy and not to trouble himself with needless Reflections, since he heartily forgave him; and accordingly parted with him in the most friendly and amicable manner and frequently after express’d to me his Concern for the Serjeant, lest his Reflections on himself should prejudice him, or make him uneasy. This behaviour of his, to the Man whom he was convinc’d had been the principal Cause of his Death, must argue a most charitable, forgiving, and generous Temper and Disposition of Mind, very seldom to be met with in Men of more elevated Stations in Life.

They all three were Men of strong natural Parts, and religiously disposed both from Habit and Principle, the natural Result of a good Example and early Instruction in the Doctrine and Precepts of Christianity; for I received from all of them a great deal of Satisfaction when I examined them on the Grounds of our holy Religion; and even _Shaw_, who was perfectly illiterate and could neither read nor write, was ignorant of no Christian Doctrine necessary to Salvation, or from whence he could draw Comfort in his present Circumstance. They were educated, and died Members of the Church of _Scotland_, tho’ they chearfully embraced the Opportunity of receiving the Sacrament from the Hands of the Reverend Mr _Paterson_, who officiated for the Chaplain of the Tower, after the Form of the Church (_sic_) _England_, on the _Sunday_ preceding their Execution.

As their Notions of Religion were sincere, so they expressed the greatest Regard for Honesty and Integrity, and thanked God, tho’ they were great Sinners, that his restraining Grace had enabled them to avoid all vicious and prophane Courses or the offering any Injury to their Neighbours in their Persons or Properties; that they hoped they had not only the Approbation of (_sic_) of a good Conscience, but the Testimony of their Officers, Friends and Acquaintance, that they have lived all their Life-time without Scandal to themselves, or Reproach to their Friends, until this unhappy Period, when Rashness, without any Mixture of Malice, Cowardice, or Disaffection to his Majesty’s Person or Government, had brought their Lives to this miserable Catastrophe.

They applied themselves diligently to the Duty of Prayer and reading the Scripture, from the Time of their Sentence, which they said they had but too much and too long neglected.

When they were all three brought to one Ward near the Place of Execution, about four o’Clock that Morning, they expressed the greatest Affection and Sympathy for one another, each regretting the case of the other two more than his own; at the same time encouraged one another to Constancy of Mind, and a dutiful Resignation to the Hand of God.

_Samuel M‘Pherson_ ordered three Coffins to be made of fifteen Shillings Value each, for which he paid; and _Malcolm_ made a Will, which he deposited in the Hands of three of his own Name among the _Highland_ Prisoners, some Days before their Execution.

These three were admitted to visit the Prisoners, who told them that they thanked God that they had got the better of the Fears of Death, and were prepared to embrace it chearfully; that they thought their Case better than that of their Fellows, as they were leaving this World in Hopes of Eternal Peace and Happiness, whilst they were to remain here exposed to new Temptations and new Troubles in distant and unknown Countries, where they would not enjoy Life, but a lingering Death. They applied by Petition to several Persons of Quality, of which the two following are true Copies.

_To their Excellencies the Lords Justices._

The humble Petition of _Samuel M‘Pherson_, _Malcolm M‘Pherson_,
and _Farquar Shaw_.

_May it please your Lordships_,

That, whereas your poor Petitioners lie under Sentence of Death
for Mutiny and Desertion, and have nothing to hope (under the
Almighty) but from your Lordships’ Favour on our Behalf, which we
do most humbly intreat. And as we are sincerely sorry for our base
Conduct and Misbehaviour, and it being our first Crime, we hope for
your Lordships’ kind Indulgence, which should we be so happy as to
obtain, we do sincerely promise to retrieve this our Misconduct by
a steady Attachment to our most gracious Sovereign King _George_,
by defending him and his Royal House with all our Power, where and
in whatever manner we shall be directed.

_Samuel M‘Pherson._
_Malcolm M‘Pherson._
_Farquar Shaw._

_To her Grace the Dutchess of_ Richmond,

The humble Petition of _Samuel M‘Pherson_, _Malcolm M‘Pherson_,
and _Farquar Shaw_.

_May it please your Grace_,

That, whereas your poor Petitioners lie under Sentence of Death
for Mutiny and Desertion, and have nothing to hope (under the
Almighty) but from your Grace’s charitable Intercession to the
Lords Justices on our Behalf, we do most humbly intreat your
Grace’s good Offices. And as we are sincerely sorry for our base
Conduct and Misbehaviour, and it being our first Crime, we hope for
your Grace’s kind Indulgence, which, should we be so happy as to
obtain, we do sincerely promise to retrieve this our Misconduct by
a steady Attachment to our most gracious Sovereign King _George_,
by defending him and his Royal House with all our Power, where and
in whatever manner we shall be directed.

_Samuel M‘Pherson._
_Malcolm M‘Pherson._
_Farquar Shaw._

Upon the _Monday_ Morning the Governor ordered them to put on their Shrouds below their Cloaths, which when done, they immediately began to pray, and continued in that Exercise very devoutly and fervently till six o’Clock, when they were called out to Execution. They walked to the Place close up to the Chapel in the Tower without expressing the least Horror or Despondency in their Gaite or Countenance, but with a Christian Composure and Resignation of Mind. Here _Samuel M‘Pherson_ standing on the Plank which was appointed for them to kneel on, with an assured Countenance and in an audible Voice, in his own Language, addressed his Fellow-Prisoners that were drawn up round the Place of Execution, in this Manner:

_My Friends and Countrymen_,

You are not Strangers to the Cause of my Sufferings with these
my Companions; I hope the Anguish you must feel at the Sight of
this shocking Scene, will be the last of your Punishment; for I
am convinced you must think it a Punishment to see us bleed: But
my Blood, I hope, will contribute to your Liberty; That Thought
affords me as much Satisfaction as a Soul prepared to take a Flight
to Eternity can receive from any Earthly Concerns.—Take Example
from our unfortunate Ends, and endeavour to conduct yourselves so,
both before God and Man, as your Lives may be long, and your Deaths
natural. Next to your Duty to God, discharge what you owe your King
and Country; wipe off this Reproach by a steady Loyalty to his
Sacred Majesty, and a respectful and obedient Conduct towards your
Officers.

Having uttered this Speech, he, with his Cousin _M‘Pherson_ and _Shaw_, kneeled down, whilst the Reverend Mr _Paterson_ and myself joined in Prayer, kneeling before them on a Plank: When Prayers were over, their Faces were cover’d; when Eighteen Soldiers, in three Ranks, (Twelve of whom were appointed to do the Execution, and the other Six for a Reserve, had been kept out of Sight for fear of shocking the Prisoners) advanced on their Tiptoes, and with the least Noise possible, their Pieces ready cock’d for fear of the Click disturbing the Prisoners, Serjeant-Major _Ellisson_, (who deserv’d the greatest Commendation for this Precaution) waved a Handkerchief as a Signal _to present_; and, after a very short Pause, waved it a second time as a Signal _to fire_; when they all three fell instantly backwards as dead; but _Shaw_ being observed to move his Hand, one of the Six in Reserve advanc’d, and shot him thro’ the Head, as another did _Samuel M‘Pherson_. After the Execution, an Officer order’d three of the Prisoners, Name-sakes of the Deceased, to advance and bury them; whom they presently stripp’d to their Shrouds, put them in their Coffins, and buried them in one Grave, near the Place they were shot, with great Decency. The Officers on Duty appeared greatly affected, and three Hundred of the Third Regiment of _Scotch_ Guards, who were drawn up in three Lines in the Shape of a half Moon, attended the Execution, many of whom, of the harden’d Sort, were observed to shed Tears.

Thus ended this melancholy Scene, which raised Compassion from all, and drew Tears from many of the Spectators. They had by their courteous Behaviour, gained so much upon the Affections of their Warders, the Inhabitants of the Tower, and others that conversed with them, that none were so hard-hearted as to deny them their Pity, nay, nor hardly had any Resolution to see them executed.

What made this Spectacle still more moving was, that Mixture of Devotion, Agony, and Despair that was seen in the Faces and Actions of the remaining _Highland_ Prisoners, who were ranged within side the Guards. When Prayers began, they all fell on their Knees and Elbows, hanging their Heads and covering their Faces with their Bonnets, and might easily be observed that they could not refrain from the loudest Lamentations. Such a number of young Men, in so suppliant a Posture, offering their Prayers so fervently to Heaven, with such Marks of Sorrow for the Fate of the unhappy Criminals, had a prodigious effect upon the Spectators, and I am hopeful will influence the Practice and Conversation of all that saw them; and to the Praise of these poor Men, (take from them the Account (_sic_) their heinous transgression of Mutiny and Desertion) I believe their courteous and modest Behaviour, their virtuous and pious Principles, and religious Disposition, would be no bad Pattern for Men above the Rank of private Centinels, and ought to be a severer Reproof to many who live here, and have all the Advantages of a liberal Education, and the Example of a polite Court; that Men they esteem barbarous, inhabiting a distant and barren Country, should outdo them in real politeness, that is, in the Knowledge and Practice of the Doctrines of Christianity.

From hence we may remark, that those who published or propagated so many scandalous Reports of these unhappy young Men, must either have taken little Pains to inform themselves of the Truth, or must be possessed of little Charity, when they load their Memory with so many Assertions no way connected with their Crime. But, as this Relation is published from the Prisoners’ own Mouths, and attested by a Person whose Profession and Character ought to screen him from the Imputations of Partiality or Falsehood, it is hoped these Impressions will wear off of the minds of the Public, and give place to sentiments of Charity for their Crimes, and Compassion for their Sufferings.

_Magna est Veritas, et prævalebit._
FINIS