Page:Sketches of conversations with James Wilson, alias M'Lusky.pdf/2



parents of the unfortunate be-longed to the North of Ireland. About twenty years ago they came to this country, and resided for some time at Lochwinnoch, where he was born. His father and mother lived a very unhappy life, and about ten years ago they parted. His father then took up with a woman of bad character, and shortly after having been seen in her company drinking ardent spirits, was found dead in a field. His mother moved alternately to Barr-head, Linwood, and Blantyre; and it appears, that as James grew in years, dispositions and inclinations of the worst kind began to shew themselves in his character and conduct. An act of dishonesty committed by him at Lochwinnoch was the cause of his coming to Glas-gow, where he soon formed an acquaintance with a lad of the name of Johnston, which helped to confirm him in his evil courses, and paved the way to his ruin. It appears that he soon became hardened in iniquity, nei-ther fearing God, nor regarding man,— he went on alter-nately committing crime, and suffering punishment, till he was guilty of that for which he was doomed to die.

My first visit to him took place a few days after he had received the awful sentence of death. He appear- ed to be sensible of his unhappy condition, and express- cd an anxious wish for religious instruction. The first question I proposed to him was, Are you guilty of the crime for which you are condemned to suffer death ? He immediately replied, “Yes, I acknowledge my guilt.”