Page:Particular and impartial account, of what happened on the scaffold, at the execution of Colonel Marcus Despard, Thomas Broughton, John Francis, Arthur Graham, John MacNamara, John Wood, and J. Sedgwick Wratten, for high treason.pdf/4

 first heard that the fate of the Colonel was sealed. Accompanied by another lady she had a last interview with him on Sunday about three o'clock. The lady wept bitterly; but first Mrs Despard and then the Colonel, reproached her for her weakness. Col and Mrs Despard bore up with great firmness even in parting; and when she got into a coach, as it drove off, she waved her handkerchief out of the window. The other prisoners bore their fate with equal hardihood, but conducted themselves with less solemnity than Colonel Despard. Their wives and children &c. were allowed to take farewel of them on Sunday; and the scene was extremely distressing.

At eight o'clock on Sunday morning Col. Despard and his fellow prisoners were sent for by Mr Ives to attend the Chapel. They all cheerfully obeyed the summons, except Col. Despard and Macnamara; the former assigned no reason for his refusal, but the latter said he was a Roman Catholic, and it would not be consistent with his Faith

The Rev. Mr. Winckworth read prayers, after which he delivered a very impressive sermon extremely applicable to the situation of the prisoncrsprisoners [sic]. The unhappy men joined in prayer with great devotion; and the impression made by the sermon was indicative of true fortitude, contrition for their crimes, and sincere repentance.

At day light on Sunday morning the drop, scaffold, and gallows on which they were executed, were erected on the top of the goal.—