From the "Boston Post-Boy," February, 1763.

BOSTON, January 31.

At the Superiour Court held at Charleſtown laſt Week, Samuel Bacon of Bedford, and Meriam Fitch, Wife of Benjamin Fitch of ſaid Bedford, were convicted of being notorious Cheats, and of having by Fraud, Craft and Deceit, poſſeſs'd themſelves of Fifteen Hundred Johannes, the property of a third Perſon; were Sentenced to be each of them ſet in the Pillory one Hour, with a Paper on each of their Breaſts with the Words a CHEAT wrote in Capitals thereon, to ſuffer three Months Impriſonment, and to be bound to their good Behaviour for one Year, and to pay Coſts.

From the "Massachusetts Gazette," May 1, 1786.

On Saturday evening the 22d ult. eight of the priſoners, confined at the Caſtle, broke from their confinement, and made their eſcape to the main. The day following five of them were taken in a barn at Dorcheſter, and immediately re-conducted to the Caſtle. The enſuing night the three others were apprehended at Sharon, near Stoughton, and were alſo ſent back to their place of confinement.

Richard Squire and John Matthews, the pirates, and Stephen Burroughs, a noted clerical character, were among the priſoners who made their eſcape from the Caſtle, as mentioned above. And on Saturday laſt, we are informed, the eight culprits ſhared among them the benefit of a diſtribution of 700 laſhes.

On Monday evening laſt, a perſon, in paſſing from the Long-Wharf to Dock-Square, was aſſaulted and knocked down, by a ſingle villain, who robbed him of a box, containing a coat, two waiſtcoats, a pair of corduroy breeches, a piece of calico, in which was wrapped up three watches, and a letter containing money.

On Thurſday laſt, at noon, ſeven fellows received the diſcipline of the poſt, in this town.

Curious list of punishments in the early days of New England. From "Salem Gazette," May 4, 1784.

The following (taken from a Boſton paper of laſt week) is a collection of a few of the many curious puniſhments, inflicted for a variety of offences, among the old records of this Commonwealth.

Between 1630 and 1650.

Sir Richard Saltonſtale fined four buſhels of malt for his abſence from court.

William Almy fined for taking away Mr. Glover's canoe without leave.

Joſias Plaſtoree ſhall (for ſtealing four baſkets of corn from the Indians) return them eight baſkets again, be fined 5l. and hereafter to be called by the name of Joſias, and not Mr. as formerly he uſed to be.

Joyce Bradwick ſhall give unto Alexander Beeks, 20ſ. for promiſing him marriage without her friends' conſent, and now refuſing to perform the ſame.

William James, for incontinency, was ſentenced to be ſet in the bilboes at Boſton and Salem, and bound in 20l.

Thomas Petet, for ſuſpicion of ſlander, idleneſs and ſtubbornneſs, is to be ſeverely whipt and kept in hold.

John Smith, of Medford, for ſwearing, being penitent, was ſet in bilboes.

Richard Turner, for being notoriouſly drunk, was fined 2l.

John Hoggs, for ſwearing God's foot, curſing his ſervant, wiſhing "a pox of God take you," was fined 5l.

Richard Ibrook, for tempting two or more maids to uncleanneſs, was fined 5l. to the country, and 20ſ. a piece to the two maids.

Thomas Makepeace, becauſe of his novel diſpoſition, was informed we were weary of him, unleſs he reformed.

Edward Palmer, for his extortion, taking 33ſ. 7d. for the plank and woodwork of Boſton ſtocks, is fined 5l. and cenſured to be ſet an hour in the ſtocks.

John White is bound in 10l. to be of good behaviour, and not to come into the company of Bull's wife alone.

Thomas Lechford acknowledging he had overſet himſelf and is ſorry for it, promiſing to attend his calling, and not to meddle with controverſies, was diſmiſſed.

Sarah Hales was cenſured for her miſcarriage to be carried to the gallows with a rope about her neck, and to ſit upon the ladder, the rope end flung over the gallows, and after to be baniſhed.

Wholesale sentences of death in London, in 1820.

At the October session of the Old Bailey, London, sentence of death was passed on thirty-seven persons, four of whom were females. Four were condemned for passing counterfeit notes, eleven for highway robberies, two for burglary, 11 for stealing in dwelling houses, 1 for horse-stealing, 2 for sacrilege, &c.

From the "Salem Mercury," July 28, 1788.

The following Extraordinary Occurrence is extracted from the European Magazine for 1787.

SAMUEL BURT, convicted of forgery a few ſeſſions ſince, was put to the bar, and informed that his Majeſty, in his royal clemency, had been graciouſly pleaſed to extend his mercy to him on condition that he ſhould be tranſported during his natural life. The priſoner bowed reſpectfully to the Court, and immediately addreſſed the Recorder with his "most humble and unfeigned thanks, for the kindneſs and humanity of the Recorder, the Sheriffs, and other gentlemen who had intereſted themſelves in his favour, and who had ſo effectually repreſented his unhappy caſe to the throne, that his Majeſty, whoſe humanity could only be equalled by his love of virtue, had extended his mercy; but however flattering the proſpect of preſerving life might be to a man in a different ſituation; yet that he, now he was ſunk and degraded in ſociety, was totally inſenſible of the bleſſing. Life was no longer an object with him, as it was utterly impoſſible that he could be joined in union with the perſon who was dearer to him than life itſelf. Under ſuch circumſtances, although he was truly ſenſible of his Majeſty's goodneſs and clemency, yet he muſt poſitively decline the terms offered him; preferring death to the prolongation of a life which could not be otherwiſe than truly miſerable." The whole Court was aſtoniſhed at his addreſs; and after conſultation, Mr. Recorder remanded the priſoner back to the jail, to be brought up again the firſt day of next ſeſſion.

The pillory appears to have been in use in Boston as lately as 1803; for we find in the "Chronicle" of that city that in March of that year Robert Pierpont, owner, and H.R. Story, master, of the brigantine "Hannah," for the crime of sinking the vessel at sea, and thus defrauding the underwriters (among whom were Joseph Taylor, Peter C. Brooks, Thomas Amory, David Greene, and Benjamin Bussey), were convicted before the Supreme Judicial Court, and the following sentence imposed: "That they should stand one hour in the Pillory in State Street on two several days, be confined in Prison for the term of two years, and pay Costs of Prosecution." Considering the magnitude of the crime, this was a light sentence. An underwriter in the "Chronicle" says: "It is a transaction exceeding in infamy all that has hitherto appeared in the commerce of our country."

Wholesale execution of pirates in Newport, R.I., in July, 1723.

CAPTURE OF PIRATES.

This year (1723) two Pirate sloops, called the Ranger and the Fortune, committed many piracies on the American Coast, having captured and sunk several vessels.—On the 6th of June, they captured a Virginia sloop, which they plundered and let go, who soon after fell in with his Majesty's Ship Grey Hound, Capt. Solgard, of 20 guns, who on being informed of the piracy, immediately went in pursuit of the Pirates, and on the 10th came up with them about 14 leagues south from the east end of Long Island. They mistaking her for a Merchant ship, immediately gave chase and commenced firing under the black flag.—The Grey Hound succeeded in capturing the Ranger, one of the sloops, after having 7 men wounded, but the other Pirate escaped. The Grey Hound and her prize arrived in the harbor of Newport, and the Pirates, 36 in number, were committed for trial.

Trial of the Pirates.

A Court of Admiralty, for the trial of Pirates, was held at Newport on the 10th, 11th and 12th of July. The Hon. William Dummer, Lt. Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, President of the Court.

The thirty-six Pirates taken by Capt. Solgard, were tried, when Charles Harris, who acted as captain, and 25 of his men, were found guilty, and sentenced to suffer death, and 10 men were acquitted on the ground of having been forced into their service.

Execution of the Pirates.

On Friday the 19th of July, the 26 Pirates were taken to a place in Newport, called Bull's Point, (now Gravelly Point,) within the flux and reflux of the sea, and there hanged. The following are their names:—Charles Harris, Thomas Linnicar, Daniel Hyde, Stephen Mundon, Abraham Lacy, Edward Lawson, John Tomkins, Francis Laughton, John Fisgerald, Wm. Studfield, Owen Rice, Wm. Read, Wm. Blades, Tho's Hagget, Peter Cues, Wm. Jones, Edward Eaton, John Brown, James Sprinkly, Joseph Sound, Charles Church, John Waters, Tho's Powell, Joseph Libbey, Thomas Hazel, John Bright.

The Pirates were all young men, most of them were natives of England, Wm. Blades was from Rhode Island and Thomas Powell from Wethersfield, (Conn.); after the execution, their bodies were taken to the north end of Goat Island, and buried on the shore, between high and low water mark.

As this was the most extensive execution of Pirates that ever took place at one time in the Colonies, it was attended by a vast multitude from every part of New England.

From the Salem Observer, Nov. 11, 1843.

Description of "Villains" in the "Boston Post-Boy," Dec. 12, 1763.

Tueſday laſt a Gang of Villains were apprehended at a Houſe in Roxbury, and brought to Town & committed to Goal, they have been concerned in the late Robberies here, and 'tis ſuſpected in ſome of thoſe towards Pennſylvania, for which Reaſon it will be proper to advertiſe their Names, with ſome Deſcription of them, which are as follows, viz.

William Robinſon, a tall ſlim fellow, about 5 Feet 7 inches high, wears a blue Surtout Coat with metal Buttons, and his Hat commonly flopt before, and an old laced Waiſtcoat, has ſhort curled black Hair; when he ſpeaks he ſeems jaw-fallen and very effeminate, is about 35 Years of Age, walks much like a Foot-pad, and has a comely Woman with him whom he calls his Wife.—John Caſſady, a middling ſiz'd Fellow much pock-broken, ſquare-ſhoulder'd, wears a Wig upon the yellow caſt, and has a very guilty Countenance, is about 40 Years of Age, and calls himſelf a Shoe-maker.—John Willſon, a ſhort young Fellow, about 21 Years of Age, wears a blue Surtout Coat, and ſhort black Hair, of a pale Countenance, and calls himself a Sail-maker.—George Sears, a well-ſet Fellow, with a comely Face, black Hair twiſted with a black Ribbon, and ſays he ſerv'd 3 Years to an Attorney in England.

In the "Essex Gazette," Nov. 12, 1771, is the following news from England:—

A Correſpondent expreſſes great Surpriſe and indignation at the Diſproportion of Puniſhments in this Country. He ſays he read in a News paper that two Men were hanged together laſt Month in Kent, one of whom had committed a barbarous Murder on his Wife, and the other had ſtolen three Shillings and Sixpence. In the ſame Paper there followed immediately another Paragraph, that a Woman had been only whipped for ſtealing little Children and burning their Eyes out.

At this day we believe it is the custom of the English authorities to treat all prisoners alike, whatever the charges against them may be. It seems as if they were desirous of degrading men as much as possible. Mr. John Boyle O'Reilly, a poet and gentleman of culture, who was unfortunately a political prisoner, was chained to a wife-murderer. And this the English call "justice,"—as if there could be no difference in offences!

Severe punishment used to be inflicted for the crime of passing counterfeit coin. The "Essex Gazette," April 23, 1771, under news from Newport, April 15, says,—

William Carliſle was convicted of paſſing counterfeit Dollars, and ſentenced to ſtand One Hour in the Pillory, on Little-Reſt Hill, next Friday, to have both Ears cropped, to be branded on both Cheeks with the Letter R, to pay a Fine of One hundred Dollars and Coſt of Proſecution, and to ſtand committed till Sentence performed.

The letter R probably meant "rogue." The same account states that—

"Laſt Wedneſday Evening one Mr. ——, of this Town (Newport), was catched by a Number of Perſons in Diſguiſe, placed on an old Horſe, and paraded through the principal Streets for about an Hour as a Warning to all bad Huſbands."

In the "Massachusetts Gazette," Sept. 8, 1786, we find an account of the Dutch mode of executions.

NEW-JERSEY.

Elizabeth-Town, Aug. 16. The little influence which our preſent mode of executing criminals has in deterring others from the commiſſion of the ſame crimes, ariſes from a want of ſolemnity and terrifick circumſtances on ſuch occaſions. It is not the mere loſs of life which has ſo much a tendency to affect the ſpectator, as the dreadful apparatus, the awful preliminaries, which ought to attend publick executions; whoſe juſtifiable purpoſes is the prevention of crimes, and not the inflicting torment on the criminal. A variety of particulars might be adopted reſpecting the dreſs of the condemned, the ſolemnity of the proceſſion to the place of execution, and the apparatus there, to throw horrour on the ſcene without in reality giving the unhappy victim a more painful exit. The Dutch have a mode of execution which is well calculated to inſpire terror, without putting the ſufferer to extraordinary pain. The criminal is placed on a ſcaffold, oppoſite to the gigantick figure of a woman, with arms extended, filled with ſpikes, or long ſharpened nails, and a dagger pointed from her breaſt, ſhe is gradually moved towards him by machinery for the purpoſe, till he gets within her embrace, when her arms encircle him, and the dagger is preſſed through his heart. This is vulgarly called among them, kiſſing the Yſſrow, or woman, and excites more terror in the breaſts of the populace than any other mode of puniſhment.

Inhabitants of Boston severely punished (on paper) in April, 1774, for destruction of the tea.

A Curious Historical Item. In a recent English Chronological work, under the article of "Tea," we found the following brief notice of the American Revolution: "Tea destroyed at Boston by the inhabitants, 1773, in abhorrence of English Taxes; for which they were severely punished by the English Parliament, in April, 1774."

Salem Observer, April 28, 1827.

Sentences of death for robbery, May 6, 1788.

The Mulatto who, ſome time ſince, robbed Mr. Bacon, on the Cambridge road, was, at the late term of the Supreme Court at Concord, convicted of the crime, and had ſentence of death pronounced againſt him.

Thurſday next is the day appointed for the execution of the two Taylors, for the robbery of Mr. Cunningham, on Boſton-Neck.

Captain Phillips, of the British army, whipped in New York in 1784.

PHILADELPHIA, February 4, 1784.

On Saturday laſt, was whipped at the cart's tail, for robbery, one of George the Third's pretty ſubjects. This fellow, who now goes by the name of Captain Phillips, under his good friend Sir Harry Clinton, learned ſuch a knack of thieving while he commanded a whale-boat along this coaſt, under his good maſter, that now, having loſt his protection, he and a number more of thoſe lads called Loyaliſts are ſwarming amongſt us, and have ſet up buſineſs in a ſmall way; and though many of them may not chooſe to ſteal themſelves, yet, by harbouring and encouraging others, may do much miſchief to the good inhabitants of theſe ſtates.

Salem Gazette.

Sentences at the Supreme Court.

BOSTON, March 22, 1784.

At the Supreme Judicial Court, lately held here, the following perſons were arraigned, viz.

Thomas Haſtings, indicted for ſelling corrupt ſwine's fleſh, was found guilty.—He was ſentenced to pay a fine of twelve pounds for the uſe of the Commonwealth, recognize himſelf as principal in the ſum of thirty pounds, with ſufficient ſurety or ſureties in the like ſum, for his keeping the peace and being of good behaviour for the term of one year, pay coſts of proſecution, and ſtand committed till ſentence be performed.

John Boyd, for ſtealing, pled guilty:—ſentenced to pay to the perſon injured, treble the value of the goods ſtolen, receive 20 ſtripes at the public whipping poſt, ſit on the gallows one hour with a rope about his neck, pay coſts of prosecution, and ſtand committed till ſentence be performed.—He was, upon another indictment for theft, ſentenced to pay treble damages, whipped 15 ſtripes, and pay coſts of proſecution.—Upon declaring himſelf unable to pay damages, he was for the firſt offence ſentenced to be ſold for 9 months, and for the ſecond, 2 months.

Lewis Humphries, for ſtealing, pled guilty:—ſentenced to pay treble damages, receive 20 ſtripes, ſit on the gallows one hour with a rope about his neck, pay coſts of proſecution, and ſtand committed till ſentence be performed.—Upon declaring himſelf unable to pay damages, was ſentenced to be ſold for the term of 5 years.

William Padley, for an aſſault upon his wife, with an intent to kill her, was tried, found guilty, and ſentenced to ſit on the gallows one hour, there to receive 30 ſtripes, pay coſts of proſecution, and ſtand committed till ſentence be performed.

Sentences by the Supreme Judicial Court at Salem, Nov. 18, 1786.

At the Supreme Judicial Court, holden in this town, for the county of Eſſex, which adjourned on Thurſday laſt, ſeveral perſons, criminally indicted, were convicted and ſeverally ſentenced. Iſaac Coombs, an Indian, was found guilty, at laſt June term, at Ipſwich, of murdering his wife; at which time a motion was made to the Court, in arreſt of judgment, on which the Court ſuſpended giving judgment thereon until this term; but the ſaid motion being overruled, the Court gave judgment of death againſt him.

Beſides the ſentence of the Indian, as above, Thomas Kendry, for breaking into the ſtore of Iſrael Bartlet, and ſtealing ſundry goods, was ſentenced, on his confeſſion, to pay ſaid Bartlet £33-9-6, to ſit on the gallows one hour with a rope about his neck, to be whipped 30 ſtripes, and confined to hard labour on Caſtle-iſland two years.

Thomas Atwood & John Ranſum, for breaking open the ſtore of Knott Pedrick, and ſtealing dry fiſh, were each ſentenced to pay ſaid Pedrick £40-5-0, to ſit one hour on the gallows, be whipped 36 ſtripes, and confined to labour on Caſtle-iſland 3 years.

John Smith, for ſtealing goods from Abner Perkins, was ſentenced to pay ſaid Perkins £18-4-0, and be whipped 25 ſtripes.

The ſame John Smith, for breaking open a ſloop, and ſtealing goods of John Brooks, was ſentenced to pay ſaid Brooks £16-8-0, to ſit one hour on the gallows, be whipped 30 ſtripes, and confined 18 months on Caſtle-iſland.

John Scudder, for ſtealing from Eli Gale, was ſentenced to pay ſaid Gale £5-2-0, or if unable to pay, to be diſpoſed of by him, in ſervice, to any perſon, for 2 months.

Joseph Ballard, for ſtealing a horſe from Thomas Dodge, was ſentenced to pay £30, be whipped 20 ſtripes, pay coſts, &c. and, if unable to pay, that ſaid Dodge may diſpoſe of him in ſervice to any perſon for two years.

Calvin Newhall was indicted for aſſaulting Deborah Sarker, a negro woman, with intent to commit a rape upon her. He pleaded not guilty; and the jury found him guilty of the aſſault, but whether with an intent to raviſh they could not agree; whereupon the Attorney General would no further proſecute for ſaid intent to raviſh; and the Court ordered that ſaid Calvin ſhould be whipped 10 ſtripes, and recognize in £60, with ſufficient ſurety in a like ſum, to be of good behaviour for 3 months, and pay coſts.

Punishment in 1644 for criticising the preacher and the music, and for sleeping in "meeting."

The Hon. Wm. D. Northend, in a very interesting and valuable address before the Essex Bar Association, Dec. 8, 1885, mentions the following among other cases taken from the Essex County Court Records:—

"In 1644 William Hewes and John his son, for terming such as sing in the congregation fools, and William Hewes also for charging Reverend Mr. Corbitt with falsehood in his doctrine, were ordered to pay a fine of fifty shillings each, and to make humble confession in a public meeting at Lynn."

William Hewes and his son were probably only criticising the music and the preaching in the "meeting-house." If people nowadays were fined for similar offences, the county would grow so rich that there would be no necessity for the present heavy tax.

"In 1643 Roger Scott, for repeated sleeping in meeting on the Lord's Day, and for striking the person who waked him, was, at Salem, sentenced to be severely whipped."

It must be borne in mind that people in those days were not allowed to stay at home on the Lord's Day and do their sleeping there. Staying at home on Sunday is a modern innovation.

From the Massachusetts Colony Records, quoted by Mr. Northend, we learn that in March, 1761, Sir Christopher Gardner, who had passed much of his time "with roystering Morton of Merry Mount," and who was living with a lady he called his cousin, upon receipt by the Governor of information of two wives in England "whom he has carelessly left behind," after a long pursuit was captured and sent back to England.

It would seem, then, that there must have been, judging from this example, in "high places" some "indiscretions" and "unpleasant" gossip early in our history.

Mr. Northend finds that at "the same date one Nich. Knopp, for pretending to cure scurvy by water of no value, which he sold at a very dear rate, was ordered to pay a fine of five pounds or be whipped, and made liable to an action by any person to whom he had sold the water."

How would such a decree work in our day, if applied to the makers or venders of all the "water of no value" which is advertised on the fences and barns alongside of our railroads and highways?

Mr. Northend, speaking of the severity of the early laws, says:—

"The criminal laws were taken principally from the Mosaic code; and although many of them at the present day seem harsh and cruel, yet as a whole they were very much milder than the criminal laws of England at the time, and the number of capital offences was greatly reduced."

CURIOUS PUNISHMENTS IN SCHOOLS.

In some of the old schools in Salem (no doubt it was the same in other places) the teachers whose business it was to teach youths the "three R's,"—Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmetic,—were too apt to be occupied, as we have been told, in scolding, devising or practising some mode of punishment. We remember hearing of a school where the master kept a long cane pole (something like a fishing-rod) which he used for the purpose of reaching boys who needed correction; on account of the length of the pole he was enabled to do business without leaving his seat. It was never suspected at the time how lazy this master was.

Another teacher kept for use as a punishment a common walnut, which when occasion required he first put into the mouth of a colored boy, and after it had remained there for five minutes or so, it was taken out and put into the mouth of the white boy, who was thus to be punished by holding it in his mouth for a certain length of time. This same teacher had a round smooth stone, weighing perhaps ten or fifteen pounds, which very small boys were required to hold in their arms for some time, and stand up straight before the whole school. These with a good rattan and a cowhide furnished this master's equipment for teaching.

There was another master who had what he called "the mansion of misery," which was simply a line drawn with chalk on the floor in front of his desk, where for trifling offences such as whispering, etc., scholars were required to "toe the mark," standing perfectly still and upright for a long time. This was often to a little boy painful enough. This master had a stock of cowhides and rattans besides.

Another teacher, a woman, had the floor of the school-room kept very clean; consequently no boys were allowed to come in at all with heavy boots, and the other children in wet weather were compelled to remove their boots and shoes and put on slippers before entrance. If any of the scholars were too small to take off and put on their own boots they were punished by being "blindfolded" and stood upon a cricket in the middle of the floor. Apparently the worst offence scholars could be guilty of was to bring in mud or wet upon the polished floor of the school-room. At this school one very small boy who wore high boots, but who was unable to take them off without assistance, having been punished for his "stubbornness," was taken away from the school by his parents, who resented such an act of injustice and oppression. The "school-marm," however, said she would rather lose all her scholars than have any mud or wet upon her floor.

These cases are simply curious. It may be doubted whether we can in this country show anything so bad as the record furnished by Dickens in describing some of the schools of England.

THE BRANK.

An instrument of punishment formerly much used in England, but never, we think, introduced into this country, called the "brank," or "scold's bridle," or "gossip's bridle," is thus described by Mr. L. Jewitt, F.S.A., in Mr. William Andrews's "Book of Oddities,"—a very interesting and instructive book recently published in London:—

"It consisted of a kind of crown or framework of iron, which was locked upon the head, and was armed in front with a gag, a plate, or a sharp cutting knife or point, which was placed in the poor woman's mouth so as to prevent her moving her tongue, or it was so placed that if she moved it or attempted to speak, the tongue was cut in a most frightful manner. With this cage upon her head, and with the gag firmly pressed and locked against her tongue, the miserable creature, whose sole offence, perhaps, was that she had raised her voice in defence of her social rights against a brutal and besotted husband, or had spoken honest truth of some one high in office in the town, was paraded through the streets, led by a chain held in the hand of the bellman, the beadle, or the constable, or, chained to the pillory, the whipping-post, or market-cross, was subjected to every conceivable insult and degradation, without even the power left her of asking for mercy or of promising amendment for the future; and when the punishment was over, she was turned out from the town hall (or other place where the brutal punishment had been inflicted), maimed, disfigured, faint, and degraded, to be the subject of comment and jeering amongst her neighbors, and to be reviled by her persecutors."

Mr. Andrews adds that the use of the brank was not sanctioned by law, but was altogether illegal; and he concludes his remarks on the subject by saying that "to everybody it must be a matter of deep regret that the instrument should ever have been used at all."

Dr. Henry Heginbotham, of Stockport, England, says in speaking of the brank preserved in that town: "There is no evidence of its having been actually used for many years; but there is testimony to the fact that within the last forty years the brank was brought to a termagant market-woman, who was effectually silenced by its threatened application."

It is hard for those of us who live in New England to-day to believe that such cruelties were ever practised in a Christian land; but the evidence is too conclusive to admit of doubt. Mr. Andrews, in the book referred to, gives engravings of a dozen or more different kinds of branks and bridles which can now be seen in England and Scotland. At Congleton, Cheshire, a woman for scolding and abusing the town officers had the "town bridle" put upon her, and was led through every street in the town, as lately as the year 1824.

It is said that Chaucer wrote these lines:

Mr. Andrews has confined his account of curious punishments mainly to England and Scotland. Our Puritan ancestors must, we think, have seen some of the instruments of torture here described, and perhaps some of our great-great, etc., grandmothers may have been "ducked" or "silenced by a brank" many years before the sailing of the "Mayflower" or the "Lyon" or the "Angel Gabriel."

It was once the custom in New England for a sermon to be preached before the prisoner upon the day of his execution. In the "Massachusetts Gazette," Dec. 26, 1786, is the following notice:—

Salem, Dec. 23. Thurſday laſt, being the day appointed for the execution of Iſaac Coombs, an Indian, with whoſe crime and ſentence the publick have before been made acquainted, the unfortunate criminal was in the forenoon conducted to the Tabernacle, where a Sermon, which we are told was well adapted to the melancholy occaſion, was preached by the Rev. Mr. Spalding, from Luke xviii. 13,—"God be merciful to me a ſinner!" After which he was returned to the priſon. Between the hours of 2 and 3 in the afternoon, he was guarded to the place of execution by a company of 40 volunteers (conſiſting principally of the members of the Artillery Company lately formed in this town, and commanded by Captain Zadock Buffinton) under the direction of the proper civil officers. The Rev. Mr. Hopkins prayed at the gallows; and at 3 o'clock the cart was led off, and the unhappy ſufferer made the expiation which the law required for his horrid and unnatural crime.

His behaviour, through the whole, was firm, but decent, penitent and devotional.

This is the only execution which has taken place in the county of Eſſex for near 15 years, and but the ſecond ſince about the cloſe of the laſt century. The concourſe of people was conſequently great; and the general decorum which was obſerved, evinced their ſympathy for a ſuffering individual of the ſpecies.

The conduct of the military corps was highly applauded.

On the way to execution the following paper was delivered to the Rev. Mr. Bentley, by one of the officers, with a requeſt from Iſaac, that he would read it publickly at the place of execution, at the time he ſhould ſignify to him; accordingly, when the ſheriff told the criminal his time was expired, as the laſt thing, he made the motion, and it was read to the people. As it is ſo contradictory to the declaration he made before of himſelf, we have printed it verbatim as it is written, to avoid the charge of any alteration.

In the "Essex Gazette," Jan. 15, 1771, is an advertisement of a poem upon an execution.

We have seen an account of an execution where a sermon was preached at the prisoner's request.

BOSTON COMMON AS A PLACE OF EXECUTION.

Boston Common was formerly often used for such a purpose. Quakers were hanged there in the middle of the seventeenth century, and we find in the "Salem Mercury" for Tuesday, Nov. 27, 1787, that the previous Thursday one John Sheehan was executed for burglary in this noted locality. Sheehan was a native of Cork in Ireland. With its cows and its executions, the Common must have presented a somewhat different appearance in those days from what it does at this time.

British convicts shipped to America in 1788.

Laſt week arrived at Fiſher's Iſland, the brig Nancy, belonging to this port, Capt. Robert W—— (a half-pay Britiſh officer) maſter, and landed his cargo, conſiſting of 140 convicts, taken out of the Britiſh jails. Capt. W. it is ſaid, received 5l. ſterling a head from government for this job; and, we hear, he is diſtributing them about the country. Stand to it, houſes, ſtores, &c., theſe gentry are acquainted with the buſineſs. Quere, whether a ſuit of T—— and F—— ſhould not be provided for Capt. W. as a ſuitable compliment for this piece of ſervice done his country?

Salem Mercury, July 15, 1788.

From the "Salem Gazette," 1784.

July 30. During the long reign of Queen Elizabeth, it does not appear on record, that forty perſons ſuffered death for crimes againſt the community, treaſon only excepted.

BOSTON, September 16, 1784.

At the Supreme Court held here on Thurſday laſt, Direck Grout was tried for Burglary, and found guilty: ſentence has not yet been paſſed upon him.

The following priſoners were also tried last week for various thefts, found guilty, and received ſentence, viz.

Cornelius Arie, to be whipt 25 ſtripes, and ſet one hour on the gallows.

Thomas Joice, to be whipt 25 ſtripes, and branded.

William Scott, to be whipt 25 ſtripes, and ſet one hour on the gallows.

John Goodbread, and Edward Cooper, 15 ſtripes each.

James Campbell, to be whipt 30 ſtripes, and ſet one hour on the gallows.

Michael Tool, to be whipt 20 ſtripes.

Three notorious villains yet remain to be tried for burglary, and ſeveral others for theft.

BOSTON, September 27.

Thurſday laſt ten notorious villains received publick whipping, after which three of them were eſcorted, with halters round their necks, to the gallows, on which they ſat one hour. They are again committed for coſts, &c.

"Massachusetts Gazette," 1786.

Johnſon Green was executed, on Thurſday laſt, at Worceſter, for burglary. A greater thief and burglar was perhaps never hanged in this country.

From "Massachusetts Centinel," Oct. 6, 1786.

BACKS "DRESS'D."

HARTFORD, October 2.

On Wedneſday laſt, David Stillman, John Hawley and Thomas Gibbs were committed to jail in this city, for counterfeiting and paſſing publick ſecurities; and on Thurſday laſt, Jonathan Denſmore, of Eaſt-Hartford, was committed for ſtealing a horſe. Stillman and Hawley belong to the county of Hampſhire, ſtate of Maſſachuſetts. They are now in a fair way to have their grievances (and backs) dreſs'd and re-dreſs'd.

From "Massachusetts Gazette," May 15, 1786.

NEW-YORK, May 6.

Extract of a letter from Washington (North-Carolina), March 27.

"On Thurſday laſt made his appearance in this town, a certain John Hamlen, who, in the late war, left the ſtate of Maryland, and joined the enemies of America. After joining them, he fitted out a galley, and cruiſed in the Delaware and Cheſapeak, where he was very ſucceſsful in capturing a number of American veſſels. He was very fond of exerciſing every ſpecies of cruelty on thoſe unhappy people who fell into his hands; among other things, he took great delight in cutting off the ears of ſome, and noſes of others. Unluckily for him he was known by ſome honeſt Jack Tars, belonging to veſſels in this harbour, who, in the time of the war, had been made priſoners by him; theſe honeſt fellows very kindly furniſhed him with a coat of Tar and Feathers; and that he might not in a ſhort time forget them, they took off one of his ears; they then kindly ſhewed him the way out of town, without doing him any further injury.—It is ſupposed he will bend his courſe for Newbern, and endeavour to take a paſſage in some veſſel bound to the northern ſtates."

FROM THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE.

A GEORGIA SHREW.

The Grand Jury of Burke have presented Mary Cammell as a common scold and disturber of the peaceable inhabitants of that county.^[1] We do not know the penalty, or if there be any attached to the offence of scolding: but for the information of our Burke neighbours, we would inform them that the late lamented and distinguished Judge Early decided, some years since, when a modern Xantippe was brought before him, that she should undergo the punishment of lustration, by immersion three several times in the Oconee. Accordingly she was confined to the tail of a cart, and, accompanied by the hooting of the mob, conducted to the river, where she was publickly ducked, in conformity with the sentence of the court. Should this punishment be awarded Mary Cammell, we hope, however, it may be attended with a more salutary effect than in the case we have just alluded to—the unruly subject of which, each time as she arose from the watery element, impiously exclaimed, with a ludicrous gravity of countenance, "glory to G—d."

Boston Palladium, 1819.

Criminals after a whipping sent to the Castle to make nails. From "Salem Mercury," Nov. 25, 1786.

Four convicts, doomed by the Superiour Court, at their late ſeſſion here, to the uſeful branch of nail making at the Caſtle, yeſterday morning took their departure hence, to enter on their new employment, having, with others, previouſly received the diſcipline of the poſt.

A REVEREND FORGER.

The "Providence Gazette" is our authority for the following obituary notice:—

Died in March, 1805, in Wayne County, N.C., Rev. Thomas Hines, an itinerant preacher. A Newbern paper says: "In the saddle-bags of this servant of God and Mammon were found his Bible and a complete apparatus for the stamping and milling of Dollars."

THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT

Was held at Ipſwich on Tueſday laſt. At this Court the noted Josiah Abbot was found guilty of knowingly paſſing a forged and altered State Note, and was ſentenced to pay a fine of 40l. in 20 days; if not then paid, to be ſet in the pillory.—[The penalty of ſuch an offence againſt the United States is DEATH.]

The ſame perſon was found guilty of a fraud, in ſtealing a ſummons, after it had been left by an officer, by reaſon of which he recovered a judgment by default, and was ſentenced to pay a fine of 15l. in 20 days; if not then paid, to be whipped.

Salem Gazette, June 25, 1793.

In a paper of 1819 is mentioned the singular case of a man literally condemned "to eat his own words."