of my political career which I regret. I don't know of one act
which could bring the blush of shame to my face, or make me
afraid to meet my God or fellow-man. I would be most happy,
and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to die on the
field for my country in defence of her liberty. As it is,
I cannot die on the field, but I can die on the scaffold, I
hope, as a soldier, a man, and a Christian."

And now the last was spoken. As true Irishmen and as true patriots
they had borne themselves. No trace of flinching did they give for
their enemies to gloat over--no sign of weakness which could take from
the effect of their deathless words. With bold front and steady mien
they stood forward to listen to the fatal decree their judges were
ready to pronounce. The judges produced the black caps, with which
they had come provided, and then Justice Mellor proceeded to pass
sentence. No person, he said, who had witnessed the proceedings could
doubt the propriety of the verdict, which, he insisted, was the
result of "a full, patient, and impartial investigation." He made no
distinction. "I am perfectly convinced," he said, "that all of you
had resolved, at any risk, and by any amount of dangerous violence and
outrage, to accomplish your object; and that, in fact, Charles Brett
was murdered because it was essential to the completion of your common
design that he should be." The stereotyped words of exhortation to
repentance followed, and then the judge concluded:--

"The sentence is that you, and each of you, be taken hence to
the place whence you came, and thence to a place of execution,
and that you be there hanged by the neck until you shall be
dead, and that your bodies be afterwards buried within the
precincts of the prison wherein you were last confined after