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N. B. About the time that the following Speech was written, the town was much pestered with Street-robbers; who, in a barbarous manner, would seize on gentlemen, and take them into remote corners, and, after they had robbed them, would leave them bound and gagged. It is remarkable, that this speech bad fo good an effect, that there have been very few robberies of that kind committed fince.

THE

LAST SPEECH

AND

DYING WORDS

OF

EBENEZER ELLISTON,

Who was executed the 2d of May, 1722. Published, at his defire, for the common good.

I

AM now going to fuffer the just punishment for my crimes, prefcribed by the law of God and my country. I know it is the conftant custom, that thofe who come to this place fhould have fpeeches made for them, and cried about in their own hearing, VOL. XI. B

as

as they are carried to execution; and truly they are fuch fpeeches, that, although our fraternity be an ignorant illiterate people, they would make a man afhamed to have fuch nonfenfe and falfe English charged upon him, even when he is going to the gallows. They contain a pretended account of our birth and family, of the fact for which we are to die, of our fincere repentance, and a declaration of our religion. I cannot expect to avoid the fame treatment with my predeceffors. However, having had an education one or two degrees better than those of my rank and profeffion; I have been confidering, ever fince my commitment, what it might be proper for me to deliver upon this occafion.

And first, I cannot say from the bottom of my heart, that I am truly forry for the offence I have given to God and the world but I am very much fo, for the bad fuccefs of my villanies, in bringing me to this untimely end. For it is plainly evident, that, after having fome time ago obtained a pardon from the crown, I again took up my old trade my evil habits were fo rooted in me, and ĺ was grown fo unfit for any other kind of employment. And therefore, although, in compliance with my friends, I refolve to go to the gallows after the ufual manner, kneeling, with a book in my hand, and my eyes lift up; yet I fhall feel no more devotion in my heart than I have obferved in my comrades, who have been drunk among common whores the very night before their execution. I can

fay

fay farther, from my own knowledge, that two of my fraternity, after they had been hanged, and wonderfully came to life, and made their efcapes, as it fometimes happens, proved afterwards the wickedeft rogues I ever knew, and fo continued until they were hanged again for good and all; and yet they had the impudence, at both times they went to the gallows, to fmite their breafts, and lift up their eyes to heaven all the way.

Secondly, From the knowledge I have of my own wicked difpofitions, and that of my comrades, I give it as my opinion, that nothing can be more unfortunate to the publick, than the mercy of the government in ever pardoning or tranfporting us; unless when we betray one another, as we never fail to do, if we are fure to be well paid, and then a pardon may do good; by the fame rule, That it is better to have but one fox in a farm than three or four. But we generally make a fhift to return after being transported, and are ten times greater rogues than before, and much more cunning. Befides, I know it by experience, that fome hope we have of finding mercy, when we are tried, or after we are condemned, is always a great encouragement

to us.

Thilly, Nothing is more dangerous to idle young fellows than the company of those odious common whores we frequent, and of which this town is full: these wretches put us upon all mischief to feed their lufts and extravagancies: they are ten times more B 2

bloody

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