execution of governor wall.

nothing is now talked of in london but the fate of governor wall, who has just been executed for a crime committed twenty years ago. he commanded at that time the english settlement at goree, an inactive and unwholsome station, little reputable for the officers, and considered as a place of degradation for the men. the garrison became discontented at some real or supposed mal-practices in the distribution of stores; and wall seizing those whom he conceived to be the ringleaders of the disaffected, ordered them, by his own authority, to be so dreadfully flogged, that three of them died in consequence; he 98himself standing by during the execution, and urging the executioner not to spare, in terms of the most brutal cruelty. an indictment for murder was preferred against him on his return to england; he was apprehended, but made his escape from the officers of justice, and got over to the continent, where he remained many years. naples was at one time the place of his residence, and the countenance which he received there from some of his countrymen of high rank perhaps induced him to believe that the public indignation against him had subsided. partly, perhaps, induced by this confidence, by the supposition that the few witnesses who could have testified against him were dead, or so scattered about the world as to be out of reach, and still more compelled by the pressure of his circumstances, he at length resolved to venture back.

it is said, that some years before his surrender he came to calais with this intent, and desired one of the king of england’s 99messengers to take him into custody, as he wished to return and stand his trial. the messenger replied, that he could not possibly take charge of him, but advised him to signify his intention to the secretary of state, and offered to carry his letter to the office. wall was still very solicitous to go, though the sea was at that time so tempestuous that the ordinary packets did not venture out; and the messenger, whose dispatches would not admit of delay, had hired a vessel for himself: finding, however, that this could not be, he wrote as had been suggested; but when he came to subscribe his name, his heart failed him, his countenance became pale and livid, and in an agony of fear or of conscience he threw down the pen and rushed out of the room. the messenger put to sea; the vessel was wrecked in clearing out of the harbour, and not a soul on board escaped.

this extraordinary story has been confidently related with every circumstantial evidence; 100yet it seems to imply a consciousness of guilt, and a feeling of remorse, noways according with his after conduct. he came over to england about twelve months ago, and lived in london under a fictitious name: here also a circumstance look place which touched him to the heart. some masons were employed about his house, and he took notice to one of them that the lad who worked with him appeared very sickly and delicate, and unfit for so laborious an employment. the man confessed that it was true, but said that he had no other means of supporting him, and that the poor lad had no other friend in the world, “for his father and mother,” said he, “are dead, and his only brother was flogged to death at goree, by that barbarous villain governor wall.”

it has never been ascertained what were his motives for surrendering himself; the most probable cause which can be assigned is, that some property had devolved to him, of which he stood greatly in need, 101but which he could not claim till his outlawry had been reversed. he therefore voluntarily gave himself up, and was brought to trial. one of the persons whom he had summoned to give evidence in his favour dropped down dead on the way to the court; it was, however, known that his testimony would have borne against him. witnesses appeared from the remotest parts of the island whom he had supposed dead. one man who had suffered under his barbarity and recovered, had been hanged for robbery but six months before, and expressed his regret at going to the gallows before governor wall, as the thing which most grieved him, “for,” said he, “i know he will come to the gallows at last.”

the question turned upon the point of law, whether the fact, for that was admitted, was to be considered as an execution, or as a murder. the evidence of a woman who appeared in his behalf, was that which weighed most heavily against 102him: his attempt to prove that a mutiny actually existed failed; and the jury pronounced him guilty. for this he was utterly unprepared; and, when he heard the verdict, clasped his hands in astonishment and agony. the bench, as it is called, had no doubt whatever of his guilt, but they certainly thought it doubtful how the jury might decide; and as the case was so singular, after passing sentence in the customary form, they respited him, that the circumstances might be more fully considered.

the governor was well connected, and had powerful friends: it is said also, that as the case turned upon a question of discipline, some persons high in the military department exerted themselves warmly in his favour. the length of time which had elapsed was no palliation, and it was of consequence that it should not be considered as such; but his self-surrender, it was urged, evidently implied that he believed himself justifiable in what he had 103done. on the other hand, the circumstances which had appeared on the trial were of the most aggravating nature; they had been detailed in all the newspapers, and women were selling the account about the streets at a half-penny each, vociferating aloud the most shocking parts, the better to attract notice. various editions of the trial at length were published; and the publishers, most unpardonably, while the question of his life or death was still under the consideration of the privy council, stuck up their large notices all over the walls of london, with prints of the transaction, and “cut his liver out,” the expression which he had used to the executioner, written in large letters above. the popular indignation had never before been so excited. on the days appointed for his execution (for he was repeatedly respited) all the streets leading to the prison were crowded by soldiers and sailors chiefly, every one of whom felt it as his own personal cause: and as the execution of 104the mutineers in the fleet was so recent, in which so little mercy had been shown, a feeling very generally prevailed among the lower classes, that this case was to decide whether or not there was law for the rich as well as for the poor. the deliberations of the privy council continued for so many days that it was evident great efforts were made to save his life; but there can be little doubt, that had these efforts succeeded, either a riot would have ensued, or a more dangerous and deeply-founded spirit of disaffection would have gone through the people.

wall, meantime, was lying in the dungeon appointed for persons condemned to death, where, in strict observance of the letter of the law, he was allowed no other food than bread and water. whether he felt compunction may be doubted:—we easily deceive ourselves:—form only was wanting to have rendered that a legal punishment which was now called murder, and he may have regarded himself as 105a disciplinarian, not a criminal; but as his hopes of pardon failed him, he was known to sit up in his bed during the greater part of the night, singing psalms. his offence was indeed heavy, but never did human being suffer more heavily! the dread of death, the sense of the popular hatred, for it was feared that the mob might prevent his execution and pull him to pieces; and the tormenting reflection that his own vain confidence had been the cause,—that he had voluntarily placed himself in this dreadful situation,—these formed a punishment sufficient, even if remorse were not superadded.

on the morning of his execution, the mob, as usual, assembled in prodigious numbers, filling the whole space before the prison, and all the wide avenues from whence the spot could be seen. having repeatedly been disappointed of their revenge, they were still apprehensive of another respite, and their joy at seeing him appear upon the scaffold was so great, 106that they set up three huzzas,—an instance of ferocity which had never occurred before. the miserable man, quite overcome by this, begged the hangman to hasten his work. when he was turned off they began their huzzas again; but instead of proceeding to three distinct shouts, as usual, they stopped at the first. this conduct of the mob has been called inhuman and disgraceful; for my own part, i cannot but agree with those who regard it in a very different light. the revengeful joy which animated them, unchristian as that passion certainly is, and whatever may have been its excess, was surely founded upon humanity; and the sudden extinction of that joy, the feeling which at one moment struck so many thousands, stopped their acclamations at once, and awed them into a dead silence when they saw the object of their hatred in the act and agony of death, is surely as honourable to the popular character as any trait which i have seen 107recorded of any people in any age or country.

the body, according to custom, was suspended an hour: during this time the irish basket-women who sold fruit under the gallows were drinking his damnation in mixture of gin and brimstone! the halter in which he suffered was cut into the smallest pieces possible, which were sold to the mob at a shilling each. according to the sentence, the body should have been dissected; it was just opened as a matter of form, and then given to his relations; for which indulgence they gave 100l. to one of the public hospitals. one of the printed trials contains his portrait as taken in the dungeon of the condemned; if it be true that an artist was actually sent to take his likeness under such dreadful circumstances, for the purpose of gain, this is the most disgraceful fact which has taken place during the whole transaction.

108a print has since been published called the balance of justice. it represents the mutineers hanging on one arm of a gallows, and governor wall on the other.