conscience, and to give the weary spirit of the penitent rest in the bosom of his mercy. I appealed to his own wretched situation, as under sentence of death, and bound in chains; which were but a feint representation of the more galling fetters of iniquity, and his exposure to an eternal death. While the tears were gushing from his eyes, he replied, with heavy sobs, "If Jesus Christ the Saviour would answer this promise to me, and give me rest in his mercy, I would rather die than live, though I must be hung." The grief of his mind was so great, that I immediately offered a prayer to the Lord, that he would manifest the riches of his mercy to this overwhelmed young man, and that the compassionate Saviour would give rest and peace to his wounded soul. This visit was a little more impressive than my feelings could sustain.-When I visited the Bridewell again, I took the Bible in my hand, and read a few texts which describe the nature, necessity, and exercise of the new heart; and the influence of the Holy Spirit of Christ in producing it in the soul.of a sinner. "These," said George, 66 are new things to me; please, Sir, to fold down the places, and I will read them, and pray God to give me a new heart, for I am sure mine is very bad indeed. Will you please to read to me the 55th chapter of Isaiah? it has given me a little encouragement; but I feel my sins so great, and my heart so heavy, I fear the Lord will not save me at last." I attempted to explain to him the 6th to the 11th verses, which so charm-. ingly describe the faithfulness of God, and the influences of his word on that heart which is broken under a sense of sin; and that he, if a real penitent, should plead with God for that faith, which will enable him to enjoy its benefits. He answered, "These are very true; I am sorry I did not know them before; and I told Frazer how much we need God to look upon us; and we both prayed in the midst of last night, that God would have mercy upon us, that we might die in peace. I am sure God will not break his word. He has not broken it in punishing me for my sins; and I believe he will not break his word of promise to give me rest and peace; and I think I feel

a little of it. I closed this visit by assuring him, that, however great he might view his transgressions, even in prospect of the expected ignominious death he was soon to suffer, yet, to look at the Son of God, nailed to the cross, bleeding, dying, and bearing the wrath of God to save rebellious man; this would convince him infinitely more of the evil and desert of sin, the holy justice, and the inexpressible mercy of God to the guilty! And, should the Lord grant him faith in the crucified Saviour, it would produce in him an hatred to sin, the most sincere repentance, a well-grounded hope in God, and, in the end, everlasting life.-On my next call, I found Vanderpool reading in his Bible to his companion. As he appeared earnestly engaged, I asked if he had read that book so frequently before. "I used to read it now and then to my mother, but I was soon tired of it; now it is very sweet to me, for I read in it my only hope in God, through the merit of Jesus Christ the Saviour of sinners. When you came in, I was reading the account of the death of Christ, and took notice of his mercy to the penitent thief, which encouraged me to pray that the Lord would remember me." At this moment, N. Roome, Esq. keeper of the State Prison, entered the room. In an appropriate address, he exhorted these men to be sincere in their hearts, and to all who attended them, as deception in them would be very fatal. Vanderpool, especially, replied, "Mr. Roome, I do not deceive myself, I cannot deceive God, and he knows my heart; besides, I feel that in a few days I must die; I do not wish to be deceived; I have no hope for mercy but from God; and I feel that God will pardon my sins through Jesus Christ, and not leave me in my last distress." After Mr. Roome had retired, I spent some time with them, and seconded his admonitions, as being to them of the greatest importance. Soon as George could recover his feelings, he adverted to a sermon I had lent him, preached in the State Prison, 1815, on the death of an unfortunate youth, which he said had convinced him more than any thing else of the necessity of a general and sincere repentance in the sight of God,

of which he had no thought before. I left him with prayer, perhaps more sensibly than at any former visit.-Vanderpool, on my next visit, gave me a paper written with his own hand, of which the following is a copy: "I now see my life and my sins more dreadful, and how good God was that he stopped me. I now see there is no happiness in sin, it must be in God. I feel willing to be resigned to my death, in hope God will save my soul. I look to Jesus Christ as able to save me. The advice I have had, not to deceive myself, is very good. I cannot deceive God. I pray I may not be deceived myself; and I do not want to deceive others. I wish to be sincere, and I know that I am. I feel that alteration in my mind and heart, that none but God could make. I have confidence in my soul, that God will not leave me at the last hour, but that I shall have more peace at last from the Saviour and friend of sinners."

The time fixed by the Judge for the execution of these two criminals now drew near. On the Saturday preceding, I informed them that I had made arrangements in the other public institutions, for the purpose of devoting more of my time for their benefit; which information they received with warm expressions of gratitude. Vanderpool said, "To-morrow will be my last Sabbath-day on earth; and I pray to God it may be the best day I ever had. Do see us to-morrow. Though I look forward to my execution on Friday, I wonder how it is that I feel so resigned; I am sure it must be from God. I can now, with good confidence, repeat that text you read to me last week-Into thy hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. Ps. xxxi. 5. wish to rest; and may these be my last words."-On the following Lord's-day they were repeatedly visited; and they were engaged in earnest and solemn exercises with their God and Saviour. Vanderpool gave me Newton's hymn book, which had been sent to him by Mrs. Wd, with whom he had sometime lived as a servant; requesting me to read the sixth in the third book, called, "The burdened Sinner." I

And here I

did so; and he said, "That hymn suits my case, and I can feel it." On this day both the criminals expressed to me their grateful acknowledgments to Dr. Milledoler, Rev. Mr. Lyell, Mr. Thompson, and others, for their occasional and instructive visits; wishing them, in pious accents, the blessing of the Lord! -Before I left the room, Ishmael Frazer said to me, "I am more sorry for George than for myself. For he did not attempt to set fire to any place; he did not give any assistance; nor did he take any plunder."-Monday they were three times visited, but nothing special occurred.-Tuesday morning, while I was present, both the mothers of these young men came to take their last farewell of their sons, devoted to a shameful death. A scene this, too affecting for me justly to describe! Before they parted, I attempted, in prayer, to commend the agonized parents and their children to the tender mercy of a compassionate Saviour. On the afternoon of Wednesday, going to the Bridewell, I called upon the High Sheriff at his office, who put into my hand a document which he had just received from his Excellency the Governor, DANIEL D. TOMPKINS, thereby commuting the sentence of George Vanderpool to confinement in the State Prison during his natural life. By appointment, the next morning at ten o'clock I met the Sheriff and other officers at Bridewell, for the purpose of separating Vanderpool from his chains and his fellow companion. As it was deemed proper not to communicate to him, at the moment, the intention of his being separated, it is naturally to be supposed, that the sudden and unexpected operation threw him into considerable agitation. When conveyed into the passage, he was informed of the Governor's clemency, on condition of perpetual imprisonment; which, of course, he thankfully accepted. Permission was granted to him to return to the room to take leave of the miserable Frazer; and it is said by those who were present, that the parting on both sides was extremely affecting. Thus far we may literally say of Vanderpool, Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? while the other was left to consume in an ignominious death. A

coach was provided at the Bridewell gate; and, without binding the prisoner either with chains or cords, I accompanied the Sheriff to lodge the young man within the walls of this State Prison.

On the entrance of Vanderpool, he appeared to possess an unusual mixture of feeling. He was humble, thankful, solemn, and devout. From the head keeper and others he received congratulations on the escape of his life, accompanied with suitable addresses calculated to increase his gratitude to God, and to teach him the great obligation he was under to observe a correct course of conduct in the shades of confinement. And it is but justice to say, that during his residence within these walls for four years and nine months, he conducted him self with that propriety which claimed the approbation of his keepers, and the good will of his unfortunate companions. From my repeated conversations with him, it appeared, that his hope in Christ continued firm; and that, notwithstanding the temptations which surrounded him, it was his constant prayer, and only consolation to walk humbly with his God. One day, while in the yard with him, he said, "I cannot forget God's mercy to me when I was in the Bridewell. It was great that he should save my life; but a great deal more that he should save my soul. I cannot forget how resigned I felt; and the hope and peace I had in the Saviour, when I looked for nothing else but to be hung. I often wish that I had the same feelings now; but I am thankful that I can still trust the Lord."-For several months the health of Vanderpool visibly declined, and finally terminated in consumption, which made it necessary for him to become a patient in the prison hospital, where I had frequent and satisfactory conversations with him. -On Wednesday, the 13th of this month (September), I found him in bed, very ill; but perceived no sufficient symptoms to indicate a speedy dissolution. After some inquiries concern. ing the state of his mind, he assured me that "it was perfectly composed. That sweet text," said he, "that you gave me in the Bridewell, I can still repeat with confidence: Into thine