the influence of local memory and imagination. From his confinement in
the old prison near St. Peter's, to the court where he was accused,
during the long and cruel trial, until the fatal eminence of Champel,
every event arises before us, and the air is peopled with thick coming
visions of the actors and sufferer in the dreadful scene. Who that has
read the account of his death has not heard, or seemed to hear, that
shriek, so high, so wild, alike for mercy and of dread despair, which
when the fire was kindled burst above through smoke and flame,--"that
the crowd fell back with a shudder!" Now it strikes me, an original MS.
of the work for which he was condemned still exists; and I, thinking
that others may feel the interest I have tried to sketch in its
existence, will now state the facts of the case, and lay my authorities
before your readers.

"We condemn you, said the council, Michael Servetus, to be bound
and led to Champel, where you are to be fastened to a stake, and
burnt alive together with your book, as well the printed as the
MS."

"About midday he was led to the stake. An iron chain encompassed
his body; on his head was placed a crown of plaited straw and
leaves strewed with sulphur, to assist in suffocating him. At
his girdle were suspended his printed books; and the MS. he had
sent to Calvin."

This MS. had been completed in 1546, and sent
to Geneva for his opinion. Calvin, in a letter to
Farel says:

"Servetus wrote to me lately, and accompanied his letter with a