I I - American Memory

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knew of any fuchEflatC} yet owned that he lived in
very good Credit, and that he had made very confide-
rable Profits by curing fmoaking Chimnies. Some few
Years ago he married a Widow at Oxford, who had an
E'ilate and Money to the Value of 1500/. as was re-
ported by tliem who knew him ; but he faid, that all
the Fortune he got by her did not exceed 5.001. He
appeared to be a young Man of indifferent good Under-
ftanding, and of a pliable civil Temper. In Chapel
he always appear'd very devout in Prayer, and atten-
tive to what Exhortations were given him, and when
I faw him in his Room, he was ftill employ'd in read-
ing Books of Devotion, in order to prepare him for
Death. Both before and after the Report was made
he ufed all poffible Means for obtaining a Reprieve,
the Thoughts of which difturb'd and diftrafted his
Mind in preparing for Eternity j and altho' Interceffion
was mr.de by Men of eminent Note, yet his Crime was
look'd upon to be fo heinous, that no Favour could be
obtain'd. Two Days before his Death he began to
give over all Thoughts of Life, and to he more ferious
in preparing for Eternity, and to think upon receiving
the Sacrament, wi.ich was accordingly adroiniftred him
by a Reverend Clergyman, who was fo good to vifit
him during his mifeii.ble Confinement; and before the
Sacrament was given him, he made a free Declaration
of his Faith, and tLat he was in Peace and Friendfhip
with all Mankind ; for lie Lad frequently made grie-
vous Complaints of his Wife, calling her unnatural and
cruel to him, in neither vifiting nor writing to him in
the Time of his extreme Calamity. He indeed write
to iier himfelf,. a^ did fome others at his Defire, ear-
neftly defiring her to come to Town, and confer with
him about fome Affairs before his Death, and to fee if
fhe with the AiTutance of a Gentleman whom he de-
fir'd to come up witli ner, could do any Thing in or-
der to obtain a Reprieve ; but (he fent no Anfwer to
him, only tne Gentleman M'hom he defired to come
along with her, fent a Letter to him, making an Ex-
cufe