Transcription
COPY OF A LETTER FROM MICHAEL M' CABE. Just published, an interesting Letter from Michael M'Cabe, now lying under Sentence of Death, on the Gaud, in the Calton Jail, addressed to Rebecca Hudson, Bell's Wynd, his Sweetheart, which is published here by his own desire. EDINBURGH, 4th Feb. 1833. CONDEMNED CELL, CALTON JAIL "To REBECCA HUDSON, ' ' Bell's Wynd. " MY DEAR REBECCA, " No doubt but you would feel truly sorry when you heard of my awful sentence, and I am sure that you will have been watching every opportunity to hear of any reprive having been sent to me by our Gracious Sovereign ; but alas Reba, no such happy and welcome tid- ings have as yet been transmitted to me. Every moment ap- pears 28 an hour to me, fondly cherishing, as I do, the hope that a reprive, or ar lease a respite, will yet be forthcoming. But even when I reflect on our separation for life, death would be still more welcome. In sorrow and bitterness do I repent of my ill spent life, now that I see my days drawing nigh a close. O that I had abided to the instructions of my youth? that I had abstained from idleness and evil company?minded the Sabbath day?that I had attended closely to my business, theu might I at this moment of painful suffering, been as happy as any of the innocent companions of my childish days, I have now only to warn you and other associates in my guilt, to abstain from bad company?to form a new erra in your life,?to Remember the Sabbath day, and Keep it holy, ?to dash the venemous glass of ardent spirits from your mouths, as you would do the most naucious drug, and then your suffering on the bed on death, will be very different from mine. These are the causes of a premature end, which the fruits of life spent like ours, in dissipation, villany, and crime. Every attention is paid to me here, the Jailors are very kind aad' I am regularly attended by a clergyman, by whose assi- duity and feeling-heartedness, I am led to turn my wandering thoughts on the means of expiation, at that Tribunal where the judgment of men has no controul. From the liberal ed. ucation which I received from charitable institutions in Ed- inburgh, I am, thank God, enable to read the Bible, which has hitherto been too carelessly thrown aside. In it I feel unbounded comfort, and I would strongly exhort you to read it, for in it you will find more comfort, than any gratification which your wicked companions can suggest. An advice of this kind, coming from a preacher on the streets may have little or no impression, but I trust and hope, that coming from one of your late companions in guilt, it will have an ef- fectual, and everlasting impression, and than I will have done one good turn ; I will then be the cause of the saving of a soul. Dear Rebecca, if you could get some printer to revise this, and publish it, it may be the means of doing good, for who can hear the groans of a eulprit, whose honors are so near and bat will feel affected, and take his sayings seriously to heart. O that it may make a lasting impression upon the hearts of many, and turn them from the broad road of misery destruction, and death. I had a visit from my sister, but both her feelings and mine, were so overpowered, that I sunk into a state of insensibility. May God bless her and all my relations, and may they nor yov, nor any of my late com- panions sorry in my death.?I must now bid you an eternal adieu, MICIAEL M'CABE.
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Date of publication:
1833 shelfmark: F.3.a.13(75)
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