Page:Correct account of the life, confession, and execution of Willm. Burke (1).pdf/7

7 on this Burke coolly remarked, “It is not your time ” After a short absence, he returned, and after some other devotional exercises, was offered by one of the Magistrates a glass of wine. This he accepted, and on drinking said, “Farewell to all my Friends.” Precisely at 8 o'clock a procession began to move up Liberton’s Wynd from the lock-up, the City officers being first with their Lochaber, and the Magistrates following. Burke was next, and supported by the two priests, and several other's of the authorities followed. He was dressed in a new suit of black clothes which had been presented to him by the magistrates, and wore a white neckcloth. When the crowd discovered movement, consequent on the approach of the culprit,  raised a loud cry of exultation, mixed with groans and ng, from every part of the dense mass of spectators, Burke, who had walked at first with rather a firm but somewhat undetermined step, seemed to understand the cause of the shouting—his step became embarrassed and faltering, and his countenance displayed strong agitation. He shut his eyes before he reached the head of the Wynd, and did not open them till on the scaffold: he seemed to be afraid of the reception he might meet with from the crowd, but he was assisted up the stairs to the platform. On his appearance there the shouting was renewed; and Burke, turning his face towards the crowd, gave them a look of such nful defiance, that the groans were redoubled: he then t down with the priests, and the Rev. Mr. Marshall offered up a short but fervent and appropriate prayer. Even during this period of the public devotions, the crowd continued to shout and groan, and persisted in so doing in des of the exertions of the Magistrates and others to keep them quiet. After Mr. Marshall finished, a few minutes were spent in conversation with the priest, during which Burke seemed to be suffering dreadfully, but resumed a portion of his firmness on receiving the handkerchief & mounting the drop. On stepping up, he gave a singular look upwards to the hook to which the rope was affixed. The executioner then proceeded to adjust the rope, upon which movement cries were raised from every quarter, of “Burke him, Burke him." here he seemed to have lost every