Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

534 LIFE OF COL. BLACKADEE. CHAP. XXI.
dered and mangled. Several persons examined ; and
three others suspected and ordered to be seized, Lord,
direct and guide us to discover the guilty. Strong
presumptions of guilt upon two women ; a long tract
of malice, rage, revenge, and threatenings proven
upon them, but they are most hardened obstinate
wretches. Lord, make thou a full discovery. Let
fall a spark of conviction on their consciences that
they may confess and repent.
May 11. At home reading. Lord, make me more
spiritually minded. We were alarmed with a great
eclipse of the sun this evening ; yet it did not appear
remarkable, being very little darker than ordinary.
The God of nature was pleased to spread a veil of
clouds between the heavens and us ; to stop the prying
curiosity of vain man who would be wise to know
every thing. It is our duty to be thankful for the
daily kind returns of the sun to us ; and that we are
not scorched up as some climates are, or frozen with
cold as others.
May 20 — 22. The Judges coming in this morning ;
waited and went to church with them. Went to the
court every day. They have been at all pains to find
out the horrid murder of the woman and her daugh-
ter, and gave a fair hearing to the wretched culprits,
appointing two advocates to plead for them, which
they did as handsomely as the case would bear. The
trial was long, and the Judges had great patience. I
ordered some refreshment for them. The jury gave
in their verdict, finding the two women guilty. It
was a melancholy sight. During the trial the pannels
had been quarreling between themselves ; and one of
the women, upon receiving her sentence, fell into a