about my unfortunate situation, as I observed in my first letter, but I hope God will strengthen your hearts to bear with patience whatever is His holy will; as for me, I am bearing it with great fortitude. I sent my compliments (in my first letter) to Margaret M'Keigh, and Mrs. Connell, which I hope you have delivered; you will be so kind as do the same again, and tell Margaret to give my best respects to her brother and sister. My dear friends, I hope you will not delay writing to me, as soon as this comes to hand; I have been in great anxiety, day after day, to hear from you; I expected to have got a few lines with the bundle you sent me, but, to my great disappointment, there was none. Give my kind compliments to my shopmates; I know they will miss me, I hope they will take care of my poor bird, which you may allow to remain with them, if you please. I hope you have got a journeyman to my web. Give my kind compliments to all my acquaintances, and my comrade, Walter. I heard there was a man from Glasgow in Stirling, who was inquiring for me-I suppose it was him. Let me know if he had an interview with Jean M'Kechnie. I saw her at the door as we passed through Queen-street, Stirling, on our way to the steam-boat. Give also my kind compliments to all my relations, and let them know that I am in good health, for which I thank God. I again entreat you to write immediately. May God bless you, is the sincerest wish of Your unfortunate son and brother, ANDREW HARDIE. My unfortunate companions, Pink, White, Johnston, and Thompson, are all in good health, as far as I know, we being in separate apartments; all the others are strangers to me. Direct to me— Prisoner, Edinburgh Castle, to the care of Mr. Sibbald, A. H. New Jail, Edinburgh. Edinburgh Castle, May 5, 1820. DEAR COUSINS AND RELATIONS, I received your kind and welcome letters, one dated the 7th, the other the 21st April, also my mother's, dated May the 1st; and was truly happy to hear that you were all well, as this leaves me, thank God for his kindness to us. I am truly sorry that you did not receive my letter, dated April 9th. I cannot understand how you did not receive it, for the gentlemen told me that it would be sent away, and I thanked them for their kindness, and said, "I hoped there was nothing offensive in it;" and they said," By no means." I think it will be mislaid in the Post-office; it was directed to my mother, to care of James M'Kechnie. Dear cousin, I am truly sorry that you came to Edinburgh on my account; I should have been very happy to have seen you, no doubt, but it was a great neglect in me not to let you know that no person could be admitted; but I thought you would have understood that. Dear cousin, you will accept my sincere thanks for your trouble—it is all I can give you, for I am well assured that I shall never have it in my power to do as much for you. Dear cousin, you was perfectly right in your conjecture with regard to my wishing that I had been killed; I really did wish so. When I got to Stirling, and took into proper consideration what a rash, and foolish, and unlawful action I had been guilty of, I wished I had been shot; but I sincerely repent of that rash wish, and hope it will be forgiven me, and I thanked my God that he did not hurry me into his presence in such an unprepared state. Cousin John, I am bound in gratitude to you for your excellent letter, which I have studied with great diligence. With the assistance of God, I have got a pretty good knowledge of the Scriptures, which I was far deficient in before I came here; and I do greatly admire the wonderful works of God, seeing how just he is in all his ways-longsuffering and slow to anger. How beautiful is the language of the Psalmist, on his goodness to mankind-" When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? for thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." Ps. viii. And, above all, to send his only-begotten Son into this world, who took upon himself our infirmities, and suffered death for our salvation; upon this belief, I build my faith, and by this faith I hope to be saved. I could furnish you with many more proofs of my belief, which I shall reserve for some other time, for I see the limits of my letter will not contain them. My dear friends, I cannot refrain from shedding tears when I think on the kindness which you have shown to me in my hopeless situation, with your offer to administer to my wants; but, thank God, I have none. I received 5s. from Mr. Sibbald, the Governor of the prison, a silk handkerchief, and a dickie; I bought a pair of rund shoes, for which I paid 2s. 10d., my shoes being entirely done before I got to Stirling; the remainder of your money have laying beside me. I received a shirt, handkerchief, and stockings, from Stirling, but the money, I hope, will be returned to you, as I have not the least need for it. You will give my grateful acknowledgments to my comrade for his trouble and kindness. We are visited every day by the Colonel of the 80th regiment, and other officers, who ask if we have any complaints, and if we are comfortable, &c. That gentleman has been so kind as to give those men shirts who had not a change, which, you know, I had no need of; but I gave him my thanks the same as if I had gotten one. You need not send any clothes; I will let you know if I want any. Give my compliments to my grandfather, and all my relations and acquaintances that I mentioned in my former letter. Give my compliments to Margaret M'Keigh; let her know that I expect a letter from her shortly. This is my birth-day, my dear friends: I little expected to pass it as a prisoner in Edinburgh Castle, or any where else. I am 27 years of age, this 5th day of May. I would take it as a particular favour if any of my friends would send me some religious books; I will take good care of them, and return them back again, whatever is to be my fate; I have need of nothing else. You may let White's mother know he is well, and the rest of them, as far as I know. I delivered her message to our keeper, to tell him. Í hope some of you will not be long in writing to me. I have nothing more to add, but remain, Your unfortunate cousin, ANDREW HARDIE. Lines written by him on the buck of his Cousin's letter of 21st April, 1820. In these sad moments of severe distress, When sorrows threaten, and when dangers press, Edinburgh Castle, May 16, 1820. DEAR MOTHER, SISTER, AND BROTHERS, AND RELATIONS ALL, I received your kind and welcome letter, of date May 1, at which I was happy, the more so, as it informed me you were all in good health. I have received a letter from my cousin, of date the 9th instant, containing the articles mentioned therein. I can give you no news, my dear friends, neither am I desirous of any, as I am shut up from this busy world. I am preparing myself, with all possible speed, to go to that land where all is love and harmony, and, by faith in Jesus Christ, I hope to be admitted, and to him in God, and God in him, I offer up my prayers with a penitent and contrite heart. David saith, "If thou shouldest mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand? but there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared." Do not concern yourselves about me, dear friends; I am waiting with great patience, and quite willing to resign, whenever it is the will of God to call upon me. He who gave me life can take it away at any time, and in such manner as seemeth good to him. But his arm is not shortened that it cannot save-all things are possible with God; and if it is his will to lengthen out my span a little longer, I shall be very thankful. My cousin takes his excuse for holding so dark a prospect to me, but I would be truly sorry if you were of any other opinion, as it exactly agrees with mine. Dear brothers and sisters, I hope you will be kind to your and my afflicted mother, as I know my melancholy affair will sink deep in her tender heart, which has already been almost broke by the loss of our dear father, sisters, and brothers, who were hurried from this world, and, by all appearance, your brother is going to be hurried away likewise, in the bloom of his youth: therefore, I hope you will lead a sober, honest, industrious life, serving God with all your heart and all your strength, and love your neighbour as you love yourself." Upon these hang all the commandments." Although I have done nothing in my past life that merited public censure, until this melancholy catastrophe, yet I have come far short of the love of God, which surpasses all knowledge." Call upon him while he is near, seek him while he may be found". "at such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." Think upon these things, and see if you can take an example from my misfortune; and when you come to a death-bed, what a pleasure will it be to you when you take a review of your past life, if it has been well spent. I have a great deal more to say to you, but I will reserve it to a future period. The shoes you have sent fit me exactly. I was surprised when I saw them, as I had no need for them. The books you sent are well adapted for my present situation; you could not have sent better, and, I assure you, they were a welcome sight to me. I think, dear cousins, Providence directed you in sending the hymn-book, as I regretted much, after I had sent away my letter, that I had forgot to bid my mother send an old one that is in our house, as the Bible I have, though an excellent one, has neither psalms nor hymns in it. -(Continuation of this letter in next No.) No. 9 will be ready on Saturday week, the 21st July. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY MUIR, GOWANS, & CO. 42, ARGYLL-STREET, SOLD BY J. STEWART, 11, ST. JAMES'S STREET, PAISLEY; EXPLOITS OF RICHMOND; EXPOSURE OF THE SPY SYSTEM, LETTERS OF ANDREW HARDIE, &c. [Continuation of A. Hardie's letter, dated Edinburgh Castle, May 16, 1820.] I make worship morning and evening, and whenever I find my mind the least disturbed, I have recourse to prayer, with a penitent and contrite heart. Thus employed, reading your books and my Bible occasionally, I pass my time with great pleasure. You will give my compliments to my aged grandfather, and desire him to remember me in his prayers; I sent this notice to him in my first letter, which I am sorry you did not receive. Dr. Lockhart has not called upon me yet; I do not think he would be admitted, as no person is allowed to see us. I would have been very happy to have seen that pious and charitable gentleman. Dear friends, I again return you my grateful acknowledgments for your kindness to me; and I hope God will reward your kindness. I send my compliments to all my acquaintances. I need not distinguish you by your names, my dear friends, but may God bless you all, is the earnest prayer of Your afflicted and unfortunate friend, ANDREW HARDIE. P. S. Give my compliments to my friend in Taylor-street; she may expect a letter from me in a few days. I hope you will not be long in writing to me, as it is all the consolation I get, my Bible excepted, which is great comfort to me. MY DEAR MOTHER, A. H. Edinburgh Castle, June 6, 1820. I received your long-expected letter, of date May 25, on Saturday the 3d instant, being nine days after date; I suppose it had been detained by the carrier; I also received four books, &c. My brother informs me, in your letter, that you are in a poor state of health, which I am truly sorry to hear; and the more so, as I have been the occasion of it; but you must put your trust in divine Providence, who, I hope, will enable you to abide with patient submission whatever is to be the result. I have had some severe attacks of the toothach lately; it began with me about the time I left Stirling Castle, where I had been confined in a damp cell, and our meat was cold, which, I think, have been the causes of it; however, I bear No. IX.] [Price 2d. I it with great fortitude. My health otherwise remains unimpaired, for which I return my sincere thanks to the Sovereign Dispenser of all our human comforts, for his great mercies. I am still in solitary confinement; there has not the least alteration taken place since I wrote you last, and we are still treated with the same civility as Tinformed you of before. I have nothing more particular to inform you of at present, only I am still prosecuting my laudable and needful design, that is, making my peace with God, and through the merits of a blessed Saviour, I hope he will accept me as a labourer at the eleventh hour, or as a prodigal son. I am greatly assisted by the most excellent books you have sent, as also by your excellent letters, which I pay great attention to. You will give my undissembled love to that gentleman who has so kindly interested himself in my welfare, and has kindly offered to send me more books, but as I have a bad memory, I will be content with those I have, as I read them oftener than once. I have profited much by them, and when I turn to them again, I always find some passage that had escaped my memory. My dear friends, I again entreat you to put yourselves to as little concern about me as possible. But, alas! I know your tender hearts are alive to every feeling. I would not have believed, three months ago, if any person had told me, that I would be in solitary confinement so long, and that I could have stood it so well, even suppose it had been without crime, for being formerly of a cheerful temper, to be confined, was, above all things, what I never expected; and I say, therefore, it shows a wonderful display of Divine Providence, who has supported me under such a trial. Dear brothers and sister, Í hope you will pay attention to the advice I have already given you in my former letter. I suppose you would hear the letter that I received last, read, before it came to me, and I hope you will profit by it as well as me; and I would have you to keep in your remembrance, that you are under the immediate eye of God, who sees and knows all our actions; and that we shall all have to give an account of our stewardship some day, sooner or later; and, likewise, that you have a blessed Saviour, that is always ready to take you by the hand; he has no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but is willing that we should come to him, and inherit eternal life. I can add little more at present, only I hope you will reconcile yourselves as well as possible. Give my kind compliments to my grandfather, and his family, and all my inquiring friends; likewise to Margaret M'Keigh; let her know that I expect a letter from her shortly. I remain, dear mother, Your unfortunate son, ANDREW HARDIE. P.S. Do not be so long in writing, as your letters are, in general, five days after date before I get them; you know they have to lie for inspection. DEAR MOTHER AND RELATIVES, A. H. Edinburgh Castle, June 10, 1820. I have to inform you that my Trial is to take place on the 23d of this present month, at Stirling; therefore, I hope you will make no delay in getting testimonials of my character; and, likewise, I have to inform you, that I shall be allowed counsel by the county, I suppose, but I am wholly ignorant of these matters; and, therefore, I wish you would make inquiry, and let me know how to proceed. I would be very happy if any of you would come to Edinburgh, and see me, this next week, as probably liberty will be given now. I have nothing more particular. I am in perfect good health, for which I return my sincere thanks to |