It was essential for me to do this in view of the general order, " That no boat should leave the ship on the day of execution." On application to Captain Forrest, a signal was made to the St. Mary's for a boat for me. Still did I hope there might be relief for this penitent man, and yet I take not upon me here to criticize the sentence of the court, its approval or its execution, while I yet felt in the yearnings of my heart, for the life of the young seaman, that it might be his destiny yet to live, and yet to develop the better traits of a character that seemed to embrace much of native elegance and superior capacity; that he might evince in life the sincerity of a hopeful purpose of following a path of virtue and a course of penitential obedience to the precepts of the gospel of Christ.
I reached the St. Mary's after a short pull over the troubled sea, agitated by the north wind, which had thrown the usually more calm surface of the water between the twTo ships, into a tumult which I now felt to be emblematical of the agitated bosom of the unfortunate man I was seeking to see. I went directly to the screen, behind which I found the prisoner sitting upon his cot, with Lieut. P. by his side, who offered to leave us if either myself or the prisoner desired it. Neither did, and the Lieuteuant remained a short time longer, and then left me alone to attend this unfortunate man until the summons should be brought to announce that the hour of his execution had come.
" I wish it were a less bright day," said the prisoner, " as it would then be in nearer keeping with my clouded fate." " I told him, on the contrarv, I wish it might emblem forth the light of the countenance of a God of mercy in his case, who forgives the penitent sinner through Christ, who suffered and died that we might forever live and be happy." " I have sometimes thought of death," he said, " and at times of sudden death, but I never dreamed that I should come to such a death as this. Oh, it is a dreadful hour to me! Yes, 'tis a dreadful hour. But God at times is better to us than our fears.
I have often thought before now with what feelings a man condemned to die must hear the messenger that came to tell him his hour had come and he must prepare to die, but I never thought such a messenger would come to me, but it will soon come!" " Yes, and yet the Saviour's death was such in sorrow and in manner, that he can feel for a heart that gives itself to him, though agitated at such a moment of near approach to such a deatli as yours is to be." " I know the Saviour suffered more than I shall suffer, and I would willingly suffer the whole day at the yard-arm in agony of body, if it could but atone for my *ins and save my soul; but that would not save me.
Oh, God, have mercy on my spirit. I have been a great sinner; I see that the sinner's course is a hard one, and I have brought myself where I never thought I should be, about to suffer a violent death, and I see that virtue and religion are the desirable things to be pursued to make a man happy in this life, and had I my life to live over again, I trust my course would be different, and my life too, a virtuous and religious one." I now encouraged him to hope in God's mercy through Christ. " You see now you have been on the wrong tack, and now you would change it, and we hope you have done it certainly in your views." " And in less than an hour more," continued the prisoner, " I shall stand before the face of my God." It was now near four bells, or ten o'clock, as the prisoner thus spoke.
His execution was to take place betwen the hours of ten and twelve; in a moment more the ship's bell struck ten, and there was a stir through the ship that broke the stillness that had before prevailed. " There it is," said the poor fellow, " the hour of my death has come! Oh, God, have mercy on me! Give me strength to meet my doom that is soon to attend me! Give me some little peace before the final moment comes!" " I said to him, probably they will delay; a signal is to be made from the Cumberland, before the preparation for the last scene shall be made." " Yes, they may delay it to the last moment, but I would not care to have it delayed; and oh, let me not be detained long on deck." " You shall not be; your wish shall be gratified," I replied, " but repose yourself on Jesus; he knows what you are to suffer; he is now your only hope, jour only stay for strength." "Oh, yes, there is no help for me elsewhere; a poor sinner, who pleads no extenuation for his sins.