occasion) feel "that making
an opaque spot in a great work transparent is not a labour to be
scorned, and that there is a pleasant sympathy between the critic and
bard--dead though he be--on such occasions, which is an ample reward."

S.W. SINGER

Mickleham, Aug 30. 1850.

* * * * *

PUNISHMENT OF DEATH BY BURNING.

(Vol. ii., pp. 6. 50. 90. 165.)

In the "NOTES AND QUERIES" of Saturday, the 10th of August, SENEX gives
some account of the burning of a female in the Old Bailey, "about the
year 1788."

Having myself been present at the last execution of a female in London,
where the body was burnt (being probably that to which SENEX refers),
and as few persons who were then present may now be alive, I beg to
mention some circumstances relative to that execution, which appear to
be worthy of notice.

Our criminal law was then most severe and cruel: the legal punishment of
females convicted of high treason and petty treason was burning; coining
was held to be high treason; and murder of a husband was petty treason.

I see it stated in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, that on the 13th of
March, 1789,--

"The Recorder of London made his report to His Majesty of the
prisoners under sentence of death in Newgate, convicted in the
Sessions of September, October, November, and January (forty-six
in number), {261} fourteen of whom were ordered for execution;
five of whom were afterwards reprieved."

The recorder's report in regard to these unfortunate persons had been
delayed during the incapacity of the king; thus the report for four
sessions had been made at once. To have decided at one sitting of
council upon such a number of cases, must have almost been enough to
overset the strongest mind. Fortunately, these reports are now
abolished.

In the same number of the _Gentleman's Magazine_, under date the 18th of
March, there is this statement,--

"The nine following malefactors were executed before the
Debtors' Door at Newgate pursuant to their sentence, viz., Hugh
Murphy and Christian Murphy _alias_ Bowman, Jane Grace, and
Joseph Walker, for coining. [Four for burglary, and one for
highway robbery.] They were brought upon the scaffold, about
half an hour after seven, and _turned off_ about a quarter past
eight. The woman for coining was brought out after the rest were
turned off, and fixed to a stake and burnt; being first
strangl