The Heart of Mid-Lothian - Penn State University

ceived their meaning, or whose thoughts were deeply
impressed with some different subject;—an expression
so natural to a person in his situation, that it excited
neither suspicion nor surprise.
The benediction was pronounced as usual, and the congregation
was dismissed, many lingering to indulge their
curiosity with a more fixed look at the two criminals,
who now, as well as their guards, rose up, as if to depart
when the crowd should permit them. A murmur of compassion
was heard to pervade the spectators, the more
general, perhaps, on account of the alleviating circumstances
of the case; when all at once, Wilson, who, as we
have already noticed, was a very strong man, seized two
of the soldiers, one with each hand, and calling at the
same time to his companion, “Run, Geordie, run!” threw
himself on a third, and fastened his teeth on the collar
of his coat. Robertson stood for a second as if
thunderstruck, and unable to avail himself of the opportunity
of escape; but the cry of “Run, run!” being
echoed from many around, whose feelings surprised them
into a very natural interest in his behalf, he shook off
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the grasp of the remaining soldier, threw himself over
the pew, mixed with the dispersing congregation, none
of whom felt inclined to stop a poor wretch taking his
last chance for his life, gained the door of the church,
and was lost to all pursuit.
The generous intrepidity which Wilson had displayed
on this occasion augmented the feeling of compassion
which attended his fate. The public, where their own
prejudices are not concerned, are easily engaged on the
side of disinterestedness and humanity, admired Wilson’s
behaviour, and rejoiced in Robertson’s escape. This general
feeling was so great, that it excited a vague report
that Wilson would be rescued at the place of execution,
either by the mob or by some of his old associates, or by
some second extraordinary and unexpected exertion of
strength and courage on his own part. The magistrates
thought it their duty to provide against the possibility
of disturbance. They ordered out, for protection of the
execution of the sentence, the greater part of their own
City Guard, under the command of Captain Porteous,
a man whose name became too memorable from the mel-