and another gentleman had been in this town, wishing to give me a visit. I am truly sorry that you were not admitted; if you had sent in a card to me, giving me notice, I would have applied to the General to get permission for you to come in, and I have not the least doubt but he would have granted it, as he gives us every indulgence that is in his power. I have little news to give you, as you will have heard all the particulars of my trial, &c. long before this time, and that more explicitly than I can give it you I shall therefore sum up the whole in a very few words: if I have done wrong, certainly I ought to suffer; and if not, my blood will revolve on their own heads. My trial and sufferings will go through another investigation before a tribunal ten thousand times more terrible than that before which I lately stood. You would likewise hear of the manner that my poor frail body is to be mangled, viz. to be hanged, beheaded, and quartered; but this is not all: that will not suffice, my remains are to be left to the disposal of his Majesty. But what matter is all this to me, although they would take my bones and grind them into powder, there shall not a particle of them be lost, but shall be gathered together again, but this is not a very pleasant subject, and of little importance, I shall therefore leave it, and give you a short account of the state of my health and mind since I was taken prisoner. After I had remained a few days in this Castle, I was removed to Edinburgh, and put into the new jail, where I remained about a week, amongst a horrid din of rattling chains and desperate felons I did not like this very well, but we were taken to the Castle, where I remained about ten weeks in solitary confinement, but I was very well used, and had a fine, large, well-lighted room, with a sufficient allowance of coals for a fire. I was very dull, being naturally of a cheerful temper, and never used with confinement nor the want of company, but I have been much better since I came to this place. I have stood it through with uncommon firmness: it hath pleased God to put a spirit within me that soars above all their devices against me, and I trust it will continue so to the end. I used to admire (and do so yet) the noble manner that Socrates ended his most excellent and useful life; and although it does not become me, or any person, to mix heathen virtues with christian fortitude, yet I think it below the character of a christian, as well as a heathen, to shrink beneath the stroke of the oppressor. Well did that great man know he was wronged, and suffering innocently, yet he submitted with truly becoming bravery. But, my dear friend, I hope you will not think, although I have taken notice of this, that it is from his example that I take my firmness; it is not So, but by earnest supplication at a throne of grace, my mind is brought to a state which, I believe, surprises all who visit me. I am waiting with great patience until my time comes. The loss of my life gives me very little concern. I am relying on the merits of a blessed Saviour for a happy reception, and my last hour's labour in his vineyard is drawing near a close. My sun is nigh set, but I trust it will rise again to set no more. I would write you a deal more particularly, but I have learned a little time ago that Helen is not away, so I have written this in a great hurry, and without study; therefore, I hope you will excuse any inaccuracies that are in it. I have to request that you will not let any person see this letter, but those that you can put confidence in; and as some things I have already said have reached the ears of —, I hope you will keep it as dark as possible till after my decease, and when you write, you must never mention the subject this letter contains, as yours will come through their hands, and I intend to get this out by another channel. I hope you will write when this comes to hand, and let me know all particulars. Give my kind compliments to Mr. Drew and all other inquiring friends, and also James I don't remember his surname, but it was him that was here with you. Give Mrs. Wright my kind compliments, and I wish her much happiness in her change of life. Dear sir, I again request you, as you value me as a friend, to take care to whom you show this letter. I was happy to hear by Helen that your family were well; you may let her know that I have been a little depressed in mind since I saw her, and was sorry to see her so much agitated. I am, Sir, your sincere friend and well-wisher, To Mr. William Ewing, Glasgow. ANDREW HARDIE. P.S.-As I do not know the No. of your house, and as I am afraid the person who takes this out for me may not find Helen, and will be under the necessity of putting it into the Post-Office, I have therefore addressed it to Mr. Cooper. You may let my friends know that while I was writing this I have got notice that my petition is sent away to London by Mr. Jeffrey, and that he has found some fault with the Lord President's address to the Jury, and I know very well what it is, but I have not room to insert it, so I will let you know at some other period. Stirling Castle, 16th August, 1820. DEAR COUSIN, I received your kind and welcome letter, of date the 12th, which found me in good health, thank God for his great goodness to me; and hope this will find you and my relatives in the same. You let me understand, that when you got home from seeing me, you had set about seeing if any thing could be done for my preservation; but, my dear Cousin, I have every reason to believe, that your unwearied exertions will prove fruitless; and I am truly sorry that you and my dear relatives have put yourselves to so much trouble and expense. But I trust, and my earnest prayer to God is, that he will return the unparalleled kindness and brotherly love you have shewn to me, on your own heads; and when I am sleeping in the cold and icey arms of death, you will have this pleasing reflection, viz. that you did all that was in your power for your unfortunate friend; nay, all that could possibly be done. I will, before my decease, transmit letters of thanks to Mr. Graham of Whitehill, and also to Mr. Wingate, for their unmerited services done for me. I am happy to hear that Mr. Graham has made an investigation into the affair of Dukestreet. It would put you to a deal of trouble getting a renewal of my certificates. I understand those in Edinburgh are to be transmitted to London. I had a visit of Mr. Haldane, our agent in this town, giving me notice that a petition for the whole of us was transmitted to Lord Sidmouth, by Messrs. Jeffrey & Blackie; and also, that they had stated some objection in my case, relative to the Lord President's address to the Jury; but I hope my mother will have given you the particulars as to this, as I understand she had called on Mr. Haldane herself, not being satisfied with what I told her, which was indeed but little, as I paid but little attention to it. However, it may be of some consequence, and we must allow, that Mr. Jeffrey, who has generously exerted himself to the uttermost for me, is a better judge of these matters than we are. I understand that he has written at great length upon it: be this as it may, I am laying no stress upon it, and I trust you will do the same. I have nothing more particular to intimate to you. I am still bearing, with patient submission, the dark prospect that lies before me. I am frequently visited by the ministers of this town, to my great satisfaction. Mr. Heugh, the Burgher Minister, is to attend me while I am here; but I have occasional visits from the rest of his brethren: I believe I mentioned this in a letter to my Grandfather, which I hope you have seen.-Dear Cousin, you notice in the close of your letter, that you are all a great deal more comforted in your minds than you formerly were, and that you see the propriety of submitting to the will of God. This is the happiest news I have got since I was a prisoner. Nothing could have been more welcome, and I trust that you will continue so; for it is truly becoming the character of a Christian to submit to the wise dispensations of Providence; and those who act contrary, are certainly committing an error. I made a feeble attempt to illustrate this important subject, in a letter to my Grandfather, which, if you have seen, I hope you will agree with, as it is only the truth. I hope you will not be long in writing to me again, as the little time that is allowed me in this world is drawing near a close. My glass is almost run outmy sun is nigh set, but I hope it will rise again to shine through all eternity. I hope you will excuse my bad writing, it is not so well done as I could wish it; and I doubt you will scarcely be able to read this, and those you have got since I came to this place: I know they are not so well done as those that were sent from Edinburgh: I had a table in Edinburgh, but I have to write here on a window-sole, which is very low, and I cannot get writing with freedom. You will be so good as give my kind love to one and all of my relations, and all inquiring friends. I understand that intends to give me a visit, in a short time; I will be very happy to see him. I hope my dear mother got safe home, and those that were with her. When you see my shopmates, give them my compliments, and also Walter Gow, and others, who may inquire at you about me. John I have nothing more at present, but remains a few short days your loving cousin, ANDREW HARDIE. P.S.-Since writing the above, I received a letter from my Uncle, by a gentleman, which I will answer ere long. I also received a letter from William Maltman, thirteen days after date, wishing me to clear him of sending me and my brethren in affliction to the affair which has brought us to the state we are now in. I can only speak for myself upon this occasion. Whether he had any hand in sending us away, is what I cannot determine. If this will do him any service, you may send for him and let him see it. I would have sent him a letter, but he sent me no address. Write when it is convenient. A. H. I do not know the number of your door,--I send this to the care of my mother. Mr. Robert Goodwin, care of. Widow Hardie, No. 14, containing an account of the efforts that were made to get the sentence respited, and the preparations for their Execution, &c. will appear on Saturday, the 20th curt. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY MUIR, GOWANS, & CO., 42, ARGYLL-STREET, (Opposite the Buck's Head); SOLD BY J. STEWART, 11, ST. JAMES'S STREET, PAISLEY; AND ALL THE BOOKSELLERS. EXPLOITS OF RICHMOND; EXPOSURE OF THE SPY SYSTEM, LETTERS OF ANDREW HARDIE, &c. My death and life, My bane and antidote, are both before me.— The wreck of matter, and the crash of worlds! ADDISON. MY DEAR FRIENDS, Stirling Castle, 1st August, 1820. The following is an account of the whole of our proceedings to, and at the Battle of Bonnymuir, &c. I hope you will look over any repetition of sentiment, and the ungrammatical manner and style in which it is written, when you consider that while I was writing it, I was always in fear of being discovered, as it is against orders. I would very willingly write another copy, as I could make some improvements in it, both in the subject and writing, but I am afraid that they will suspect me by getting so much paper, and for these reasons, I hope you will not look upon it with the eye of a critic. Let it suffice to say, that it contains nothing but the truth. I could have dwelt much longer upon it, but for the above reasons, I made it as short and comprehensive as my weak ideas would permit. You will see by the ending of this, that I intend a continuation of it, as soon as I get paper and an opportunity. I am, my dear friends, yours, &c. To Mr. Robert Goodwin, Glasgow, Care of Mr. John Fallon, Roploch, Stirling. A. HARDIE. On the 4th of April, 1820 (the night I left Glasgow with two men, whose names I forbear to mention), we arrived at Germiston, where we found, as was expected, a number of men in arms, whom I immediately joined, and after some delay, expecting some more, as we were told, from Anderston, and other places (but which did not come forward), we got notice where we were to go, and received a very encouraging address from a man I did not know. I was made to understand the nature of our affair by the two men, and, likewise, that the whole city would be in arms in the course of an hour afterwards, which he who addressed us told us likewise; and that the coach would not be in the following morning; and that England was all in arms, from London downwards, and every thing was going on beyond our most sanguine expectations; and declared No. XIV.] [Price 2d. that there were no soldiers to oppose us betwixt that and Edinburgh; and further, that the whole country was ready to receive us, and well armed, and those that wanted would get arms by the road, refreshments, and every thing necessary. I heard likewise through the course of the day, or early in the evening, that there was going to be a turn-out, but I did not get information of the nature of it before our departure. Í asked if there was no person going along with us who had instructions how to proceed, or take the charge of us. There was one Kean told me that there was a person with us who would give us every satisfaction, and had every necessary instruction for our proceedings, but that I might take the command until we came to Condorret, where we would be joined by a party of fifty or sixty men, and get one there to take the command of the whole; but this I did not assume until we came within a mile of Condorret, when we halted, and proposed to form ourselves in regular order, and I was appointed by the men themselves to do this, which I did by forming a front and rear rank, and sized them accordingly, and likewise numbered them the same as a guard; my reason for doing this was because we were all strangers to one another, and did not know our names, that if any thing were wanted, we might answer to our numbers. After this was done, I left the party and went before them (with Kean) to find out Mr. Baird, and when we found him, there was one King had been waiting with him, upon us coming forward. This King belongs to Glasgow, but what he is I do not know, but this I know, that he acted a very unbecoming part with us. King had told Baird that there was a party of two hundred well-armed men coming out, and that they were all old soldiers. When I arrived at Condorret with Kean, I did not stop with him and Mr. Baird, but joined the party, and went to a public-house to get a refreshment, which consisted of one glass of whisky, and a bit of bread. Now, during the time we (the party) were in the public-house, one of them told Mr. Baird a quite different story than that which we were made to believe, and apologised for the smallness of our party, by saying, that the Anderston party, &c. had mistaken the road, and had gone by Airdrie; he likewise said that there was a party gone to Hamilton to stop the coach there. But to proceed, after some time was spent in fixing pike-heads, &c. we proceeded on, but in place of being joined by fifty or sixty men, I think we only got six, but had a sufficient force come from Glasgow, it would have been far otherwise; yet it was quite reasonable for the people to decline coming out, when such a small force could only be brought from Glasgow. Yet, in consequence of this great disappointment, we were not at all discouraged, but proceeded on in the most orderly manner. After we left Condorret, our first halt was at Castlecarry Bridge, where we received half a bottle of porter, and a penny worth of bread each man, which was paid for, and a receipt obtained for the same. We again proceeded, but I should have observed before this that King left us at Condorret, and went before us on the pretext of getting the Camelon and Falkirk people ready by the time we should be forward, and in case we should miss them, or the party that was to meet us, I, with other four or five stout men, went by the road, and the main party went by the Canal bank. The first we met, after leaving the main party, was a gentleman on horseback, whom we, in a very civil manner, asked if he was going to Glasgow-he answered in the affirmative; we then told him (as we were made to believe ourselves) that there was sad work going on there, and advised him to turn, but he did not turn at that time; however, in a short time he came past us, and told us he would take our advice. We went into a house, a little way off the road, and got a fowling-piece, for which we |