The following account of Hackman's execution, which took place two days after the trial, appeared at the period. "A little after five yesterday morning, the Reverend Mr. Hackman got up, dressed himself, and was at private meditation till near seven, when Mr. Boswell,* and two other gentlemen, waited on him, and accompanied him to the chapel, where prayers were read by the Ordinary of Newgate, after which he received the sacrament. Between eight and nine he came down from chapel, and was haltered. When the Sheriffs' officer took the cord from the bag to perform his duty, Mr. Hackman said,'Oh! the sight of this shocks me more than the thought of its intended operation.' He then shed a few tears, and took leave of two gentlemen in a very affecting manner. He was then conducted in a mourning coach, attended by Mr. Villette, the Ordinary, Mr. Boswell and Mr. Davenport, the Sheriffs' officer, when the procession proceeded in the following form to Tyburn, viz.: Mr.

* Apparently the celebrated James Boswell, whose taste for attending the execution of criminals is well known. In his Life of Dr. Johnson, we find him incidentally speaking of Mr. Akerman, the keeper of Newgate, as his "esteemed friend;" on which Mr. Croker observes, 66 Why Mr. Boswell should call the keeper of Newgate his esteemed friend,' has puzzled many readers; but besides his natural desire to make the acquaintance of everybody who was eminent or remarkable, or even notorious, his strange propensity for witnessing executions probably brought him into more immediate intercourse with the keeper of Newgate."

Miller, City Marshal, on horseback, in mourning; a number of Sheriffs' officers on horseback, constables, and Mr. Sheriff Kitchen, with his UnderSheriff, in his carriage; the prisoner with the aforementioned persons, in the mourning coach; officers, &c.; the cart hung in black, with the executioner, out of which he was to make his exit; officers, &c. On his arrival at Tyburn he got out of the coach, mounted the cart, and took an affectionate leave of Mr. Boswell and the Ordinary. After some time spent in prayer, he was tied up, and about ten minutes past eleven he was launched into eternity. After hanging the usual time, his body was brought to Surgeons' Hall for dissection.

"The unfortunate Mr. Hackman behaved with a most astonishing composure, with the greatest fortitude, and most perfect resignation. Jack Ketch, if not the most attentive in his business, was extremely mindful of his profits, for on the unhappy man's dropping his handkerchief, as the signal agreed on, the hangman, fearing it might be lost amongst the mob, left his station to pick it up, and by that means added half a minute's wretched existence to the sufferer."]

THE EARL OF CARLISLE TO GEORGE SELWYN.

April 19th, 1779.

MY DEAR G.,

How have you found Mie Mie? Fat, and in good health? I have tried the ground with Lord G. about the vessel, and hope to succeed, though it is attended with some difficulties.

Hackman, Miss Ray's murderer, is hanged. I attended his execution, in order to give you an account of his behaviour, and from no curiosity

of

my own. I am this moment returned from it: everybody enquired after you - you have friends everywhere. The poor man behaved with great fortitude; no appearances of fear were to be perceived, but very evident signs of contrition and repentance. He was long at his prayers; and, when he flung down his handkerchief for the signal for the cart to move on, Jack Ketch, instead of instantly whipping on the horses, jumped on the other side of him to snatch up the handkerchief, lest he should lose his rights, and then returned to the head of the cart, and, with the gesture so faithfully represented by your friend Lord Wentworth,* jehu'd him out of the world.

The Duke of Queensberry is well, but lost his money at Newmarket. No news of consequence either public or private; at least none I shall

* Thomas Noel, second Viscount Wentworth. He died without issue in 1815, when the title expired.

*

submit to the curiosity of the postmaster, the Chr. Todd of France. Charles made his last motion last night, and he and Mr. Hackman expired together. Tell your friends, where you now are, that they had better get out of the scrape as soon as they can: I do not believe they like the business so well as when you was there last. I have, by Hare's desire, applied for an envoy-ship for him; two are vacant, Ratisbon and Warsaw. I do not despair of seeing him with a red riband.

Yours, &c.,

C.

THE DUKE OF QUEENSBERRY TO GEORGE SELWYN.

MY DEAR GEORGE,

I HAVE had three of your letters, and this is my first. If it was not very disagreeable to me to write, I should certainly write to you.

I was in waiting last week. The King talked a great deal about you. As he knows every thing, he is perfectly well acquainted with your passion for Mie Mie. I am sorry you did not find her at Paris, and I hope that you will settle all your matters so as to come back soon. Every thing here is as you left it. We had the same motion

*Charles Fox. Lord Carlisle alludes to his having been defeated by a large majority on his motion for inquiring into the state of the navy.

made by Lord Bristol that Charles* made in the House of Commons, to remove Lord Sandwich. Lord Bristol was allowed to have a chair, and he spoke sitting. I went with the King to the play, but was in time afterwards for the division, which was not till between twelve and one. Lord Lyttleton spoke against us, but did not divide. Derby and Egremont went to Ranelagh, and were too late for the division. I do not hear who is to be Secretary of State.

The usual people are here. I have little to do, and shall certainly not lose as much as I did last meeting.

Farewell, my dear friend.

Yours very sincerely,

P.S. Pembroke voted against us.

QUEENSBERRY.

Coventry said that he had no particular dislike to any one part of the Administration, and that he should have liked the motion better if it had been to remove the whole. I think Coventry right, for that is certainly what they mean. Our numbers were 88

to 39.

* On the 19th, Charles Fox brought forward his motion for dismissing Lord Sandwich from His Majesty's Councils for ever, on account of gross misconduct and neglect as First Lord of the Admiralty. The motion was negatived by a large majority in favour of the Ministry, as was also a similar motion brought forward the same day by the Earl of Bristol in the House of Lords.