the order for
Hutchings's execution was signed by the Home Secretary, although it bore
his name; and Mr. Macgregor, the chairman, with great judgment and
humanity, instantly decided that it was not a sufficient authority in
such a momentous matter.

An officer of confidence was immediately sent to the Secretary of State,
to state their hesitation and its cause, as the message was, in fact, a
death warrant, and that Mr. Walter must have undoubted evidence of its
correctness. On Mr. Walter drawing the attention of the Secretary of
State to the fact, that the transmission of such a message was, in
effect, to make him the Sheriff, the conduct of the railway company, in
requiring unquestionable evidence and authority, was warmly approved.
The proper signature was affixed in Mr. Walter's presence; and the
telegraph then conveyed to the criminal the sad news, that the suspension
of the awful sentence was only temporary. Hutchings was executed soon
after it reached Maidstone.

--_Annual Register_, 1847.

LOST LUGGAGE.

Sir Francis Head, giving an account of the contents of the Lost Luggage
Office, at Euston Station, observes:--"But there were a few articles that
certainly we were not prepared to meet with, and which but too clearly
proved that the extraordinary terminus-excitement which had suddenly
caused so many virtuous ladies to elope from their red shawls--in short,
to be all of a sudden not only in 'a bustle' behind, but all over--had
equally affected men of all sorts and conditions.

"One gentleman had left behind him a pair of leather hunting breeches!
another his boot-jacks! A soldier of the 22nd regiment had left his
knapsack containing his kit. Another soldier of the 10th, poor fellow,
had left his scarlet regimental coat! Some cripple, probably overjoyed
at the sight of his family, had left behind him his crutches!! But what
astonished us above all was, that some honest Scotchman, probably in the
ecstasy of suddenly seeing among the crowd the face of his faithful
_Jeanie_, had actually left behind him the best portion of his
bagpipes!!!

"Some little time ago the superintendent, on breaking open, previous to a
general sale, a locked leather hat-box, which had lain in this dungeon
two years, found in it, under the hat, 65 pounds in Bank of England
notes, with one or two private letters, which enabled him to restore the
money to the owner, who, it t