d persuasive voice, attempted
to reason her into patience and resignation. His efforts were in vain.
She occasionally looked upon him with a vacant stare, but her thoughts
were elsewhere. During the period, Peters had time to shave himself,
and dress in clean attire, preparatory to being summoned to his fate.

The time was approaching fast; one bell after eight o'clock, designating
the half hour, had struck; at two bells (nine o'clock) he was to be
summoned to his doom. The clergyman rose from his useless
endeavours--"Let us pray," said he, and sank upon his knees,--Peters,
Adams, and the child followed his example; and, last of all, poor Ellen,
who seemed to recover her recollection, sank on her knees, but, unable
to keep her position, fell towards the clergyman, who, as he supported
her in his arms, poured forth a fervent and eloquent appeal in behalf of
the one who was about to appear in the presence of his Maker, and of
those who were left in tribulation behind. It was scarcely over when
the door opened, and the provost-marshal claimed his prisoner.

The prayer of the chaplain seemed to ring in Ellen's ears, and she
remained supported by the worthy man, muttering parts of it at
intervals, during which time the limbs of her husband were freed from
the shackles. All was ready; and Peters, straining the child to his
bosom in silence, and casting one look at his dear Ellen, who still
remained in a state of stupefaction, denied himself a last embrace
(though the effort wrung his heart), rather than awaken her to her
misery. He quitted the cell, and the chaplain, quietly placing Ellen in
the arms of Adams, followed, that he might attend and support Peters in
his last moments.

The prisoner was conducted on the quarter-deck previously to being sent
forward to execution. His sentence was read by Captain A---; and the
remark may perhaps be considered uncharitable, but there certainly
appeared to be an ill-concealed satisfaction in his countenance as he
came to that part where it stated that the prisoner was to "suffer
death." Peters heard it read with firmness, and asked permission to
address the ship's company. This was at first refused by the captain;
but, at the request of the officers, and the assurance of the chaplain
that he would vouch for the language of Peters being such as would have
a proper tendency to future subordination on the part of the ship's
company, it was assented to. Bowing first to the capt