Crime & punishment > Notes of conversations with H. M'Donald, N. Sutherland, and H. M'Intosh, (who were executed at Edinburgh, April 22, 1812,) during the time they were under sentence of death

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new nothing about, who were just as busy as
e were. But to be sure it was at awfu’ night;
ae gentlemen were lying in the strand in every
Erection.”
Some interesting remarks occurred in the
jnversation I had with them two days before
‘ieir execution. “ I have often been happier,”
rid Sutherland, “ in this prison, notwithstand-
rig what is before us, when thinking of the
>ve of the Saviour, than I ever was when en¬
gaged in our rioting. When we think of the
iaviour’s death, and converse together about it,
i warms our hearts, and makes us think our
uanner of death nothing.” “ Aye,” added
11‘Donald, “ when we think of the sufferings
i Christ endured, though he was quite innocent,
nd that he suffered these for such creatures as
ve are, the just for the unjust.” Sutherland
ontinued (alluding to the High Street as the
!*lace of execution, and the principal scene of
he riots,) I hope when we next go to that
dace, we will be in a different state from what
ve were in when there last. We were then
Without the fear of God; I hope that will not
l ie the case with us when we go there next.” I
Jiuggested to them a method by which they
jiaight, in some measure, judge of the value of
idle Gospel, viz. by conceiving for a moment
Ivhat their state would have been, if, amidst a
i ense of that guilt, they had not had the re-
i elation of mercy contained in the Gospel, to
I vhich they could have recourse. Sutherland