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/7

 scaffold for a crime of which I protest I am not guilty, I solennly declare, that I am no more guilty of it than any of you who may be now hearing me, I hope and trust not withstanding my fate and the fate of those who no doubt will soon follow me, that the principles of freedom of humanity and of justice. will finally triumph over every principle hostile to the interests of the human race. And now having said this, I have little more to add." The Colonel's voice seemed to falter a little here. He paused a moment as if he had meant to say something more, but had forgotten it.) He then concluded in the following manner— I have little more to add, except to with you all health and happiness and freedom, which I have endeavoured, as far as was in my power, to procure for you, and for mankind in general."

The Colonel spoke in a firm and audible tone—he left off sooner than was expected. There Was no public expression either of approbation or disapprobation given when he concluded his address

His fellow sufferers said nothing, and all behaved with great decorum, and resignation to their fate.

The convicts were assisted in their devotional exercises by the Chaplain of the prison and a Catholic Priest: in these, however, Mr. Despard, though he conducted himself with most becoming decorum appeared to take no part while one of his unfortunate companions manifested much levity, twctwo [sic] or three