The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 243: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

bd cannmmmnmr mmm rnn nnn nner ennne ere sreeeeeeeeeee reece ce SS eee, 226 The adjacent pews were filled with elegantly dressed ladies—some from the City, and others from the West End,—but all attracted thither to listen to the Condemned Sermon, and see the doomed men who were to be hanged oft the ful- lowing morning. Oh |! talk not of the vitiated taste and the mort- bid curiosity which influence the multitudes that flock to places of public execution: for if rags and tatters go thither, silks and satins wert ever wont to repair to the Chapel of Newgate to hear the faune- eal exhortation of the Ordinary, until the proceed- ing amounted to a scandal and a shame which rang throughout Europe. Then the authorities Inter. posed—and a salutary prohibition was the result. But on the occasion of which we are writing,—in those “good old times’ which the paople’s oppres- sors love to prate about,—the Sabbath preceding the fatal day of public strangulation, was invested with all possible horrors for the two condemned wretches, and with all possible entertainment for the well- dressed gentlemen and elegantly attired ladies who had been fortunate enough to obtain tickets of ad- mission. Separated from all the rest—rendered most pain- fully conspicuous—eticlosed in that circular pew, Martin and Ramsey were enduring the damnable tortureé of a moral Inquisition, preparatory to the infernal crowning catastrophe. If they raised their eyes, they beheld a bigotted, dogmatic, and su ous Ordinary, endeavouring co establish a repttation for pulpit eloqttience at the expense of their feelings already so acutely wrung :— if they looked sround them, they saw beauteous faces gazing itttently upon them, and bright eyes watching every thovement of their muscles with the keenest curiosity ;—and if they glanced downward, their vision was appalled by those blask otjects of sinister shape which stood at theit fest. It wae hortible—horrible { And yet those two doonied men were expected to compose their thoughts to prayer, and fix their ideas only and wholly upon the etarnity into which they were 80 ad0n to be hurried! ; But— Almighty God! how was this possible? Turn whichever way they would, thetr eyes en- countered something to recall their imaginations most painfully—most agonisingly to the affairs of this world, and to the beings who render it a seene of barbarism, wretchedness, and oppression. Oh! would it not have been better far to allow those men, already hovering between two spheres— that of mortality and that of eternity,—would it not have been more humane, more just, more consistent with true religious feeling, to leave them each in his solitary cell, and thither send the minister of Christ to console—to sooth—to pray—and to promise! Wherefore permit those curious spectators to flock thither on such an occasion !—why oonvert the tem- ple of worship into a stage for the representation of a melodrama of thrilling interest ?—why place the em- blems of the grave at the feet of the doomed wretches? Because all these proceedings were consistent with the degpotic times and sanguinary laws of George IT I—that monarch who was made up of mad- ness, bigotry, deception, and bloody-mindedness : be- cause everything in that age was done with a view to strike terror into the public mind, and thereby check civilisation, freedom, and progress ;—and be- cause our legislators and rulers invariably support THE MYSTERIES. those systems of cruelty, barbarism, tyranny, super- stition, and wrong, which the millions are enlight- ened enough to denounce, and humane enough to shudder at! In a retired corner of the Chapel, George Wood- fall—that young and interesting artist who has already been introduced to our readers—was seated. He was led thither by no sentiment of morbid curiosity: his ature was above such an ignominious feeling. But he had been setit by his griping old master—the greedy, avaricious picture-dealer—to study the coun- tenance of Philip Ramsey, in order to transfer it to canvass at his Jeisure. For so much interest had attached itself to the trial of the forgers, and so highly had the press spoken of the hatdsome appear- ance and elegant manners of the yottnger conrict, | that Mr. Shrubsole felt assured of obtaining a speedy sale and a good price for a portrait of this individual. The reverend Orditiaty droned through a long and clumsily-composed sermon, by the details of which he had hoped t6 produce a thrilling effect upoti his auditory: and if he could only succeed in wringing tears from the two condemned culprits—Oh! whata grand proof of his eloquence would that be—aad what a telling circumstance to have reported it the newspapers of the following morning! 41 One of two of bey elegant ladies who were ten ed there, thought it necessagy to squeeze out a few tears ; and Mr. Soper ptirsed up his mouth and ea- deavoured to look as sentimental as possible. In the gallery, amongst the male prisoners, were the Big Beggarman and Briggs, to whose ease the | Ordinary likewise alluded—exhorting them and other | convicts to take warning from the dreadful spectacle presented to their view by the occupants of the cir- cular eticlosure, This advice did not however sem to produce any salutary effect: for the Big Beggar- mat, stooping his head, whispered some coarse re- mark to his friend Briggs, who responded in an equally irreverent manner. The service was concluded: the prisoners, male: and female, wete marched back to their wards ;—and | the two doomed meni were re-consigned each to his | cotidemned cell. The congregation dispersed ; and | the Ordinary accepted an invitation to lunch with, the governor of Newgate—well knowing that in ad- dition to such substantial or cheering comforts as cold pigeon-pie, bottled stout, and cherry-brandy, he should receive the more frothy but scarcely less wel- come compliments which his sermon was expressly fabricated to elicit. ° e @ e e ¢ e @ e Damp, raw, and misty broke the fatal Monday morning ; and immense crowds were collected in the Old Bailey and in every avenue lesding thither. At the debtors’ door of Newgate stood the terrible , machine—the huge platform, with its black beams | towering high above the heads of the assembled masses. | The bell of St. Sepulchre, which had already begun to toll, appeared to have a gloomier sound than usual, as its iron tongue struck deep and solemn on the ear: more sombre than ever frowned the solid. masonry of Newgate upon the gathered multitudes; ; —and the very air seemed to have acquired a more searching and penetrating chill. Nevertheless, the crowds commenced their ribald ; jesting, practical jokes, and licentious conversation: | for our precious rulers are either so besottedly igno~ / eee ee TS S COMGLOO COMM