Crime & punishment > Life and farewell address of Peter Aug. Heaman, who was executed at Leith, on the 9th of January last, for the crimes of piracy and murder

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My mind was distracted. The clergyman,
Mr. P. shewed me great kindness, and suppli¬
ed me with books of different sorts, which I
used to read, but with a disconsolate spirit.
I had then been about nine or ten days in
the Jail, when I got a kind visit. It was my
wife come from Sunderland with two of my
children. I then took a little more ease, in
seeing my own at times, but at a distance. I
had so many different thoughts, that I could
not settle at any thing whatsoever. Reading
did not satisfy me, for though I read and
seemed to understand, yet it was to me as if I
was deficient of something.
I checked myself from all sorts of foolish
expressions and idle talk, making like a cove¬
nant with myself that I would endeavour to
mend my life in every respect. I also guard¬
ed against swearing, though I did not use
to practise it much, unless any thing had
gone amiss on board of ship. I always, while
in the Jail, used to say my morning and even¬
ing prayers, and also hymns, with great seri-.
ousness, till, at last, I got several of them by
heart. I was crying unto my Maker frequent¬
ly, as well as I could, to have mercy upon me,
and save my soul, in case I should be condemn¬
ed to death. When going to chapel, I liked
it very much, many times within my heart