et to sink
there was such a Screech of the Women that my wife heard it sitting
in our Entry next the Orchard and was much surprised at it, yet the
wind was sou-west. Our house is a full mile from the place."

In another entry Sewall tells of brazen women jumping up on the cart
with a condemned man.

A note was appended by Dr. Ephraim Eliot to the last page of a sermon
delivered by his father, Dr. Andrew Eliot, on the Sunday before the
execution of Levi Ames, who was hung for burglary October 21, 1773. Ames
was present in church, and the sermon was preached at his request. The
note runs thus:

"Levi Ames was a noted offender--though a young man, he had gone
through all the routine of punishment, and there was now another
indictment against him where there was positive proof, in addition
to his own confession. He was tried and condemned. His condemnation
excited extraordinary sympathy. He was every Sabbath carried
through the streets with chains about his ankles, and handcuffed,
in custody of the Sheriff officers and constables, to some public
meeting, attended by an innumerable number of boys, women and men.
Nothing was talked of but Levi Ames. The ministers were
successively employed in delivering occasional discourses. Stillman
improved the opportunity several times and absolutely persuaded the
fellow that he was to step from the cart into Heaven."

One Worcester County murderess was hanged on Boston Common, and to the
delight of beholders appeared in a beautiful white satin gown to be
"turn'd off."

I think, in reading of the past, that next to executions the most vivid
excitement, the most absorbing interest--indeed, the greatest amusement
of New Englanders of the half century preceding and that succeeding the
Revolutionary War--was found in the lottery. An act of Legislature in
1719 speaks of them as just introduced; but this licensed and highly
approved form of gambling quickly had the sanction and participation of
the entire community. The most esteemed citizens not only bought
tickets, but sold them. Every scheme of public benefit, the raising of
every fund for every purpose, was conducted and assisted through a
lottery. Harvard, Rhode Island (now Brown University), and Dartmouth
College thus increased their endowments. Towns and States thus raised
money to pay the public debt. Congregational, Baptist, and Episcopal
churches had lott