I I - American Memory

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While he was under Sentence he complain'd of be-
ing troubled with impertinent and finful Thoughts
which came into his Mind, diverting him when he was
about religious Duties, which then were the main of his
Employment. The Day before he died a Gentleman
went to fee him, and he entertain'd him with a long
Harangue about very trifling Things, and likewife took
him by the Hand, and faid to him, Monday, Sir, is the
happy Day, meaning the Day of his Execution. He al-
ways made a great Frofeffion of Penitence, wept much,
nnd faid he did not defire to live, and tho' they would
open the Prifon Doors, he did not defire to go out of
it, for he could never enjoy one Moments Peace of
Mind again ; an eminent Inftance of the terrible Confe-
quences of a guilty Confcience.
T!'he following Account, written with his oven
Hand, was given by John Chappel the
Night before his Execution, to the Printer
of this Paper.
TH E great Refleftions of the World hath made
me fomewhat uneafy, but more efpecially my
antient Mother, who mufl bear the Reproach of the
World without the leaft Occafion whatfoever, Ihe being
charg'd with being drunk, and I with my lying with
her every Night, which I do folemnly declare, as I am
a dying Man, is utterly falfe and groundlefs, for I
don't remember that I ever knew my Mother to be
drunk in the whole Courfe of my Life, but as 1 have
heard iier fay, Ihe was once in Liquor when I was an
Infant; and as for the other it is againfl Nature and
Reafon, for flie was always a very fober, honeft, vir-
tuous Woman ; and if I had taken her Counfel, this
Misfortune had never befallen me, for fhe always gave
me the heft Advice, and did not know any Thing of
my keeping Company with this Woman whom I have
mujtd'red, for if Ihe iiad, it had never been done.
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