10s. 2d. sterling. The church itself, I and the steeple, were finished in = 1673, twenty-six years after the former had been opened for divine ser=vice.

The fires which it has been our most painful duty to describe, are the most calamitous, we may venture to say, of any of an accidental nature, recorded in history. The misery which they have caused is incalculable; and the value of the property destroyed is not to be estimated. The damages sustained by the poorer class of sufferers will, we have no doubt, be repaired by the benevolence and charity of the public at large. The subscription for their relief amounted yesterday to upwards of four thousand pounds; and this fund is rapidly increasing. The most magnificent contribution made to it, has been by Sir William Forbes, it being no less than L.500.

MR FAUNTLEROY'S INTERVIEW WITH HIS WIFE, &c.

Mrs Fauntleroy having learned that her husband was determined to shut himself up from all further communication with his relations and friends after Saturday, sent to him a message by her son, telling him that she would be with him, if God would give her strength, next morning. He prepared for the meeting, which he had hoped he could have avoided, and at eleven o'clock on Saturday morning she arrived at Newgate, in a hackney-coach, accompanied by her son. Upon going inside the first door of the prison, there was necessarily some delay, the turnkey being obliged to communicate to Mr Wontner the application of any person to visit a prisoner. Mrs Fauntleroy concluded that she was to be refused, and wildly said, "Oh, for God's sake, will you keep me from him ?" One of the

principal officers of the prison went to her, told her that she certainly should be admitted, and begged her to be calm. She promised to be quite calm; but it was apprehended, from the woful condition in which her health and feelings appeared to be, that the unfortunate convict would have to undergo a scene of affliction exceeding any which he had yet endured. The officer went up to inform Mr Fauntleroy that she was in the prison. "Yes," said he, " I expected her; God help her! bring her to me." The officer then conducted, or rather carried, Mrs Fauntleroy into the apartment of her husband. She dropped into his arms, and was unable to utter a word for some time. The two turnkeys who attend the prisoner retired to the farthest corner of the room. The scene was one which, even amongst those whose ordinary avocations was that of witnessing the eternal parting of wives from husbands, and fathers from children, were deeply affected at. The officer who led her to the presence of her husband went over to her and again entreated that she would be calm, and say nothing calculated to draw away her husband's mind from his religious contemplations.-She seemed to derive strength from this hint of the necessity of checking her feelings, and she talked to him for a considerable time without interruption from sobs and tears. Their principal conversation had reference to their son, who, the unfortunate father hoped and believed, would be brought up with the fear of God constantly before his eyes, and the terror of his parent's fate ever present to his imagination. The son occasionally spoke a few words of consolation to both, assuring them of the love he had for them, and his determination to live free from reproach. At the expiration of a full hour spent in this man

ner, the officer entered, and taking Mrs Fauntleroy by the hand, quietly led her away from her husband, without waiting for the ceremony of farewell, and before she thought she was from his side, the door was closed for ever between them. For this sudden separation, which the officer had contrived to accomplish with such humane ingenuity, Mrs F. was not prepared. She screamed, and supplicated to be re-admitted; but when the officer told her that her poor husband would not be able to bear it, she acquiesced, and after having been relieved by a profuse flood of tears, returned with her son, and the Rev. Mr Springett, who was waiting outside the room, and who, we understand, suggested the mode of separating them. Soon after the departure of Mrs F. and her son, Mr Fauntleroy's brother and sister came to pay their last visit. This scene was also exceedingly heart-rending; but the presence of the Rev. Mr Cotton, who entered and spoke in a cheerful tone to them, in a great measure dissipated the horrors of the interview. Mr Fauntleroy requested that the Ordinary would administer the Sacrament to them all. This was done in the most solemn and impressive manner. After which the Ordinary left the room. This interview occupied nearly two hours, and after it closed, Mr F. expressed that he was content; that God had enabled him to go through the worst part of his earthly sufferings, and that the moment of execution would be as nothing to him,

"TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAJES

TY KING GEORGE IV.

"The very humble petition of Susannah Mary-Ann Fauntleroy:-Forgive, O most gracious Sire, a wretch

ed and distracted woman, for presuming to approach your royal person to supplicate for mercy to be extended to the unfortunate Henry Fauntleroy. Let not, I beseech you, the dreadful punishment of an ignominious death be inflicted on the husband of your supplicant-the father of her child. But spare, mercifully spare, the father's life, that disgrace may not be entailed on his innocent offspring, and overwhelming misery inflicted on your petitioner!

"Your petitioner most respectfully assures your Majesty that the royal clemency cannot be afforded to a more deserving object than her unhappy husband; he possesses a most sympathetic and feeling heart, and an honourable and generous mind. Do not, therefore, most excellent Sovereign, allow the full rigour of the law to be put in force, but temper justice with the divine attribute mercy, and leave to the all-great and bountiful Creator to take away that life which he alone can give.

"And your humble petitioner, with her dear and innocent child, will continually offer up their grateful prayers for every blessing and happiness to attend your Majesty for ever and ever.”

EXECUTION OF MR FAUNTLEROY.

30. This morning, almost before day-light, the great leading thoroughfares of Holborn, the Strand, Fleet Street, St Paul's Churchyard, and Smithfield, were thronged by persons of every class of society, hurrying forward in one general body, to catch a glimpse of the final conclusion of the existence of this unfortunate criminal. Many hundreds of the mass that assembled could not even obtain a sight of the scaffold, and those who did succeed in getting near the platform, evidently suffered much from the tre

mendous pressure occasioned by the crowd.

At four o'clock, immense barriers of wood were erected across the streets leading into the Old Bailey, in addition to the usual chains; this precaution was suggested by the city marshals, to whom the arrangements at the exterior of the prison were intrusted. They, it will be remembered, on the morning of the execution of Thistlewood and others, on the 1st of May, 1820, adopted similar precautionary measures, and, indeed, the preparations were nearly the same, with the exception of the immense military force which it was thought necessary to have in the vicinity of Newgate on that occasion. The marshals also, foreseeing the consequences of a violent pressure, stationed bodies of police, at various points, to regulate, if possible, the crowd which continued arriving from an exceeding early hour. Some persons took up their stations at the barrier within which the marshals and officers stand, and in the centre of what is termed the "Debtor's-Door" of the jail is erected the scaffold. In order to prevent any intruders into this circle, which on this occasion extended nearly 60 yards from the scaffold in each direction, constables were stationed the whole of the night; but by a gratuity well applied, many who did not like the pressure got within the barrier. The windows commanding views of the scaffold, according to the contract of those who had paid sums, varying from 31. to 7s. 6d. were occupied by six o'clock, and those who had engaged and paid the money, and who were not able to get through the crowd, lost their view, which, it is needless to say, was eagerly occupied by another; all those windows, extending from the St Sepulchre's Church end of the Old Bailey, as far as

the Sessions-house Court-yard, were crowded by seven o'clock. At this moment the scene was indeed one which could call forth animadversion, as in the midst of the crowd, opposite the jail, no less than three pugilistic rencounters took place-whether set on foot by ruffians for the purpose of plunder, or caused by the angry feeling for situations in individuals, it is difficult to say-but certainly the dreadful uproar they occasioned displayed that the awful example to public justice, in the person of a man who had once shone in a sphere of great respectability, and of practised commercial talents and knowledge, had but little if any effect on the minds of the crowd. We have stated that the windows in the Old Bailey were thronged, and we will now proceed to describe the exterior of the prison.

The walls were literally covered, and wherever a hold or footing could be obtained, persons of respectable appearance were seen clinging. From the slender state of the holding, many of them fell, and experienced severe contusions; however, the places were quickly occupied by others, and a disgraceful scene of contention was going forward, which, from the density of the crowd, could not be checked. As far as the eye could reach, looking from the scaffold towards Ludgate Hill, nothing was visible but one immense forest of heads; and such was the greatness of the assembled thousands, that they frequently appeared to wave in every direction. Such was the uproar at seven o'clock, that it was thought some dreadful accident would have occurred; however, the mob became more composed as the hour of eight approached.

The scaffold was erected in the course of the night; and, at five

o'clock in the morning, the executioner ascended the platform and fas. tened the chain-link and rope to the cross-beam, and then retired. The remainder of the morning was occupied as we have stated; and in addition to which we can add, that some desperate robberies were committed; but whether the offenders were secured or not did not come to our knowledge.

At seven o'clock last evening, Mr Fauntleroy was waited upon by the Rev. Mr Springett, who was received by him with evident marks of composure. After some conversation on trifling matters, the subject was changed to religion, and the question of the transition from life to eternity was discussed. The reverend clergyman pointed out the sacred maxims of religion from the Revelations, and the unfortunate gentleman answered in a manner that displayed his perfect conviction and hope in the sacred truths of Christianity, and reliance, that the awful transition which he was about to make would be one which, as he said, "displayed the mercy of God, even in the last hour, to the guilty penitent." He was assisted, until eleven o'clock at night, in his devotions by the Rev. Ordinary, Mr Baker, Mr Springett, and another individual. At that hour he took some refreshment, and paced his apartment for a short time; he then sat down, and for a considerable time occupied himself in prayer, reading occasionally from the Bible and a Prayer-book.

He was then asked if he would take any rest? He asked permission to retire for an hour; and, having composed himself on a bed, fell into a doze, which did not last long. He awoke in some alarm, and again fell asleep; and by five o'clock was up at prayer, having had but very trifling and most uneasy sleep.

He was joined by the reverend gentlemen whom we have before named, and quitted his apartment with them for the ward-room, over the Press-yard, where tea was provided. He drank a cup of tea, and again entered into prayer, not in the least abstracted; but as the chimes struck the hours, a languor evidently gained over his spirits, and his manner became depressed. He did not, however, lose that steady serenity and calmness of demeanour which he preserved to the last moment.

In speaking of himself and his hopes of eternity, he expressed his full confidence in the mercy of God, and observed upon the unfortunate state of mind in which he had laboured for so long a period, compared to his present happiness. In answer to a question put to him, he spoke of his doom as very just, observing, he now plainly perceived that he fully merited his fate. In this manner, and in similar declarations, did he employ himself with his reverend attendants for three hours, and at seven o'clock appeared to be sinking into a deep state of inanimation. He received the last offices of religion composedly and quietly, but still his manner be spoke the deepest depression.

The applicants for admission were as numerous as they appeared to be highly respectable. But the Sheriffs, Messrs Aldermen Brown and Key, had given conclusive directions not to permit any persons whatsoever, but a reporter from each morning and evening newspaper, to have access to the interior of the prison; and, in or der to act strictly up to the letter of their decision, they determined upon not allowing any of their own private friends to accompany them. This resolution was strictly adhered to.

At half past six o'clock the reporters were admitted into the vestibule

of the prison; they were in number about twenty for the different news=papers. Mr Wontner, the worthy and highly respectable governor of the prison, addressed them, and stated his orders to be, that only one for each paper could be admitted; but if there were more than one from any newspaper, as a matter of convenience, he would allow the gentlemen to pass through his house to a convenient place outside within the railing, where he could note down any circumstance that occurred. The gentlemen thanked him, and four of them availed themselves of this kind offer.

3

After remaining in the lobby until ten minutes to eight o'clock, Mr Alderman Brown, attended by his officers bearing wands, came through the passages; and being informed, that the group of persons assembled attended for the press, directed them to be allowed to pass on to the cells. Mr Alderman Key, and his undersheriff, followed almost immediately; and instead, as was the usual practice, of going into the Press-room, the Sheriffs proceeded past the condemned cells up a flight of stairs into the ward-room, where the unfortunate gentleman was sitting near the fire, engaged in deep meditation. On the room door being opened by the turnkey, he raised his eyes and stood up, leaning on Mr Baker and Mr Springett, who administered to him spiritual consolation, while the Rev. Ordinary, in a very feeling and affecting manner, read the prayers for the

dead.

The Sheriffs, Mr Wontner, &c. having entered, Mr Fauntleroy advanced a few paces, bowed to them, and returned to his attendants. Here a very great change in his manner was apparent; he shook off the stupor which had come over him, and stood calmly erect and composed, but im

mediately closed his eyes, and relapsed into his former state. He was neatly dressed in black, with shoes and silk stockings, and had a very gentlemanly appearance. Some few minutes being occupied in prayer, he was led to the fire-place, and the officers of the Sheriff pinioned his arms and hands.

This ceremony being completed, Mr Baker and Mr Springett each took his arm, and the Sheriffs quitted the room, followed by the Rev. Mr Cotton, and next by Mr Fauntleroy, who still kept his eyes closed, and was led forward scarcely conscious of the passing scene. Ön walking through the passages, the heavy and deep sound of the funeral bell suddenly struck on his ear, and appeared to arouse him. He exclaimed, "Oh, my God, have mercy! Heaven have mercy on me!" and then seemed to make an endeavour to pray, but his lips failed to produce utterance; his step was, however, still firm, and his manner composed. He did not appear in the least ruffled.

The Rev. Ordinary read aloud the sublime prayer of the apostle Paul, beginning, I am the resurrection and the life," and continued reading the burial service until he assisted Mr Fauntleroy on to the scaffold.

At eight o'clock the executioner and his assistant ascended the scaffold. Immediately a confusion and cry of "Hats off!" arose from the multitude, and this wish appeared to be very generally complied with. Shortly after the St Sepulchre's church funeral bell tolled, as did also that in the chapel of Newgate; and for a few minutes, as it were, the bells mourn. fully responded to each other.

At five minutes past eight o'clock the Rev. Mr Springett ascended the fatal scaffold. The Sheriffs' officers, with white wands, next appeared on