thee. And
may God bless thee and thy family, for the love and kindness thee
has always shown towards my family and me. And when life with
thee is over, may we meet on that shore where there is no
parting, is the farewell prayer of thy true friend.

EDWIN COPPOCK.

* * * * *

THAT LETTER.

The following is the letter from Edwin Coppock, seized upon by the
Virginia authorities as a pretence for not commuting his sentence. The
offensive remark consisted alone wherein he spoke of the chivalry as
"the enemy." There certainly is nothing in this communication that
could justify a Government in taking the life of a man whom it
otherwise considered not guilty of a capital crime, but whose greatest
offence was that of being found, as Wise claimed, in bad company. We
give the letter entire:

EDWIN COPPOCK TO MRS. BROWN.

CHARLESTON JAIL, VIRGINIA, November --, 1859.

MRS. JOHN BROWN--Dear Madam: I was very sorry that your request
to see the rest of the prisoners was not complied with. Mrs. Avis
brought me a book whose pages are full of truth and beauty,
entitled "Voice of the True-Hearted," which she told me was a
present from you. For this dear token of remembrance, please
accept my thanks.

My comrade, J. E. Cook, and myself, deeply sympathize with you in
your sad bereavement. We were both acquainted with Anna and
Martha. They were to us as sisters, and as brothers we sympathize
with them in the dark hour of trial and affliction.

I was with your sons when they fell. Oliver lived but a few
moments after he was shot. He spoke no word, but yielded calmly
to his fate. Watson was shot at 10 o'clock on Monday morning, and
died about 3 o'clock on Wednesday morning. He suffered much.
Though mortally wounded at 10 o'clock, yet at 3 o'clock Monday
afternoon he fought bravely against the men who charged on us.
When the enemy were repulsed, and the excitement of the charge
was over, he began to sink rapidly.

After we were taken prisoners, he was placed in the guard-house
with me. He complained of the hardness of the bench on which he
was lying. I begged hard for a bed for him, or even a blanket,
but could obtain none for him. I took off my coat and placed it
under him, and hel