mention some circumstances relative to that execution, which appear to
be worthy of notice.

Our criminal law was then most severe and cruel: the legal punishment of
females convicted of high treason and petty treason was burning; coining
was held to be high treason; and murder of a husband was petty treason.

I see it stated in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, that on the 13th of
March, 1789,--

"The Recorder of London made his report to His Majesty of the
prisoners under sentence of death in Newgate, convicted in the
Sessions of September, October, November, and January (forty-six
in number), {261} fourteen of whom were ordered for execution;
five of whom were afterwards reprieved."

The recorder's report in regard to these unfortunate persons had been
delayed during the incapacity of the king; thus the report for four
sessions had been made at once. To have decided at one sitting of
council upon such a number of cases, must have almost been enough to
overset the strongest mind. Fortunately, these reports are now
abolished.

In the same number of the _Gentleman's Magazine_, under date the 18th of
March, there is this statement,--

"The nine following malefactors were executed before the
Debtors' Door at Newgate pursuant to their sentence, viz., Hugh
Murphy and Christian Murphy _alias_ Bowman, Jane Grace, and
Joseph Walker, for coining. [Four for burglary, and one for