I I - American Memory

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'The following Paper Robert Hal lam delivered
the Morning of his Execution, (which he
dejign'd to have fpcke at the Tree) and "Jiias
infer ted at his particular Raiuefi,
Good People,
CUSTOM making it neceffary for Perfons in
my deplorable Condition, to fay fomething at
the Place where they are appointed to fuffer,
that their Death may contribute more towards mo-
ving others to Repentance, and thereby make the
greater Satisfaftion for thofe Crimes, by which they
have injur'd Society, and oiFended God. I therefore
to comply with it, and fully to unburthen a Con-
fcience oppreffed with the Remembrance of my Sins,
by an open Confeffion, as I hope I have already at-
toned for them by a lincere Penitence, declare in the
Prefence of you good People, and of that Almighty
Being, before whofe Judgment Seat I am inftantly
to appear, that I neither threw my deceafed Wife
out of the Window, nor was fo much as in the Room
when ftie threw herfelf out. I fpeak this merely out
of Refpeft to Truth, and with no Defign to make
Refleftions upon any. The God of Verity, who
knoweth the Secrets of all Hearts, and from whom
• the Certainty of notliing can be hidden, knoweth.
' that I was not the immediate Inftrument of her
' dreadful End, yet I do acknowledge the Juftice of
' his Providence, who for many great Sins had appoin-
• ted me unto this ignominious Death, to which as to
• the Judgment of my Country, I willingly fubmit.
" And as my Sins and Tranfgreffions are fo great,
'• that they need not be heightened, and fo numerous,
' that they ought not to be multiplied unto the World
' after mv Deceafe. I judge it proper as a dying Man,
*' to