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

■s, which he gave me to read to them after his
ieath.—As M'Donald could not write, MfIntosh
•as writing a letter for him, which he (M‘Do-
ald) was dictating to his half-brother, a soldier
»the 90th regiment. As I could write faster
nan MfIntosh, and as their time was short, I
iffered to write for him. I accordingly wrote the
reatest part of that letter with my own hand,
was greatly pleased to find all of them much
lore composed than they had been in the con¬
tusion of the preceding week. They were
: ten in a state of considerable depression, and
omplained of being in a great measure incapa-
:le of fixing their thoughts. Now, however,
heir state seemed very different, and they ex-
sibited a degree of composure far beyond what
iould have been expected. Their situation led
'ie to suggest an illustration of the love of
Christ, which seemed to give them much com-
brt. Conceive, I said, the case of one coming
nto this jail, and being willing to occupy your
loom, saying, “Take me, I am willing to suffer
h the room of these persons, and let them go
iree.” Would you not think this a most singu-
ar display of kindness, and would you ever
Ifterwards question the willingness of that per¬
ron to support and assist you if you applied to
iiim ? Now, we are told, Jesus died for the
angodly; he suffered the just for the unjust.
This is precisely the case I have been supposing;
diis shows the encouragement you have to put
h our trust in him, while, as poor guilty creatures.