ul attended him in person, and even provided from his own purse
things necessary to make him comfortable. We could not but admire the
nobleness of many acts bestowed upon this humble citizen through the
consul, showing the attachment and faith of a government to its humblest
subject. The question now was, would the Executive release him? Mr.
Grimshaw had interposed strong objections, and made unwarrantable
statements in regard to his having been abandoned by his captain,
the heavy expenses incurred to maintain the man, and questioning the
validity of the British consul's right to protect him. Under the effect
of these representations, the prospect began to darken, and Manuel
became more discontented, and anxiously awaited the result.

In this position, a petition was despatched to the Executive, asking
that the man might be released, on the faith of the British Government
that all expenses be paid, and he immediately sent beyond the limits of
the State.

But we must return and take leave of Captain Thompson, before we receive
the answer to the petition. The day fixed for his departure had arrived.
He had all his papers collected, and arose early to take his accustomed
walk through the market. It was a little after seven o'clock, and as he
approached the singular piece of wood-work that we have described in
a previous chapter as the Charleston Whipping-post, he saw a crowd
collected around it, and negroes running to the scene, crying out,
"Buckra gwine to get whip! buckra get 'e back scratch!" &c. &c. He
quickened his pace, and, arriving at the scene, elbowed his way through
an immense crowd until he came to where he had a fair view. Here,
exposed to view, were six respectably dressed white men, to be whipped
according to the laws of South Carolina, which flog in the market
for petty theft. Five of them were chained together, and the other
scientifically secured to the machine, with his bare back exposed,
and Mr. Grimshaw (dressed with his hat and sword of office to make the
dignity of the punishment appropriate) laying on the stripes with a big
whip, and raising on tip-toe at each blow to add force, making the flesh
follow the lash. Standing around were about a dozen huge constables
with long-pointed tipstaffs in their hands, while two others assisted
in chaining and unchaining the prisoners. The spectacle was a barbarous
one, opening a wide field for reflection. It was said that this
barbarous mode of punishment was k