The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction - Volume 20, No. 559, July 28, 1832 by Various
page 13 of 52 (25%)
page 13 of 52 (25%)
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interrogation, he condemned him to die, and without further ceremony
proceeded to put his own sentence into immediate execution. [7] The lieutenant's brother being a Crown solicitor, had now and then got the lieutenant to copy the high treason indictments: and he, seeing there that _imagining_ the death of a _king_ was punished capitally, very naturally conceived that _wishing_ it was twice as bad as _supposing_ it: having therefore no doubt that _all_ rebels wished it, he consequently decided in the tribunal of his own mind to hang every man who hypothetically and traitorously wished his majesty's dissolution, which wish he also conceived was very easily ascertained by the wisher's countenance. A cabinet-maker, at Charing Cross, some years ago, put on his board "patent coffin-maker to his majesty:" it was considered that though this was not an _ill-intentioned_, yet it was a very improper mode of _imagining_ the king's death, and the board was taken down accordingly. Lieutenant H. would surely have hanged him in Ireland. However, to do the lieutenant justice, his _mode_ was not near so tedious or painful as that practised by the grand signior, who sometimes causes the ceremony to be divided into three acts, giving the culprit a drink of spring water to _refresh_ him between the two first; nor was it so severe as the burning old women formerly for witchcraft. In fact, the "walking gallows" was both on a new and simple plan; and after some kicking and plunging during the operation, never failed to be completely effectual. The lieutenant being, as before mentioned, of lofty stature, with broad and strong shoulders, saw no reason why they might not answer |
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