rather that he was actuated
in his conduct towards me by the imperious dictates of the
laws of the service, I shall, therefore, waive it, and say no
more upon the subject.

'Believe me, again I entreat you will believe me, when, in the
name of the tremendous judge of heaven and earth (before whose
vindictive Majesty I may be destined soon to appear), I now
assert my innocence of plotting, abetting, or assisting,
either by word or deed, the mutiny for which I am tried--for,
young as I am, I am still younger in the school of art and
such matured infamy.

'My parents (but I have only one left, a solitary and mournful
mother, who is at home weeping and trembling for the event of
this day), thanks to their fostering care, taught me betimes
to reverence God, to honour the king, and be obedient to his
laws; and at no one time have I resolutely or designedly been
an apostate to either.

'To this honourable Court, then, I now commit myself.

'My character and my life are at your disposal; and as the
former is as sacred to me as the latter is precious, the
consolation or settled misery of a dear mother and two
sisters, who mingle their tears together, and are all but
frantic for my situation--pause for your verdict.

'If I am found worthy of life, it shall be improved by past
experience, and especially taught from the serious lesson of
what has lately happened; but if nothing but death itself can
atone for my pitiable indiscretion, I bow with submission and
all due respect to your impartial decision.

'Not with sullen indifference shall I then meditate on my doom
as not deserving it--no, such behaviour would be an insult to
God and an affront to man, and the attentive and candid
deportment of my judges in this place requires more becoming
manners in me.

'Yet, if I am found guilty this day, they will not construe
it, I trust, as the least disrespect offered to their
discernment and opinion, if I solemnly declare that my heart
will rely with confidence in its own innocence, until that
awful period when my spirit shall be about to be separated
from my body to take its everlasting flight, and be ushered
into the presence of that unerring Judge, before whom all
hearts are open and from whom no secrets are hid.

'P. HEYWO