of that mercy which the leniency of the Government has extended
them.

There was a man suffered to go twice a day to read to them, and probably
it was he who drew up the paper for Mary Hanson which she left behind
her, for though it be very agreeable to the nature of her case, yet it
is penned in the manner not likely to come from the hands of a poor
ignorant woman. Certain it is, however, that she behaved herself with
great calmness and resolution at the time of her death, and did not
appear at all disturbed at that hurry which, as I shall mention in the
next life, happened at the place of execution. The paper she left ran in
these words, viz.:

Though the poverty of my parents hindered me from having any great
education, yet I resolve to do as I know others in my unhappy
circumstances have done, and by informing the world of the causes
which led me to that crime for which I so justly suffer, that by
shunning it they may avoid such a shameful end; and I particularly
desire all women to take heed how they give way to drunkenness,
which is a vice but too common in this age. It was that disorder in
which my spirits were, occasioned by the liquor I had drunk, which
hurried me to the committing a crime, at the thoughts of which on
any other time my blood would have curdled. I hope you will afford
me your prayers for my departing soul, as I offer up mine to God
that none of you may follow me to this fatal place.

Having delivered this paper, she suffered at about thirty years old.

The Life of BRYAN SMITH, a Threatening Letter Writer

I have already observed how the Black Act was extended for punishing
Charles Towers,[54] concerned in setting up the New Mint, who as he
affirmed died only for having his face accidentally dirty at the time he
assaulted the bailiff's house. I must now put you in mind of another
clause in the same act, viz., that for punishing with death those who
sent any threatening letters in order to affright persons into a
compliance with their demands, for fear of being murdered themselves, or
having their houses fired about their ears. This clause of the Act is
general, and therefore did not extend only to offences of this kind when
committed by deer-stealers and those gangs against whom it was
particularly levelled at that time, but included also whoever should be
guilty of writing such letters to any person or persons whatsoever;
which was a