However the arbitrary disposition and impetuous temper of Governor Wall may have been attenuated by years and reflection, the following anecdote, which the writer had from an eye-witness, has served to show that Wall, in the infancy of his appointment, evinced a species of vigour competent to defer mutiny, even in a part more desperate than Goree. This garrison, so desperate in name, was every way orderly, and during the kind and humane command of Capt. Lacy, flogging was abolished altogether on the remonstrance of the surgeon. Stopping their grog was found more than sufficient to check all irregularities.
Amongst the recruits consigned to his command on his passage outwards, was an unfortunate man named Green, who formerly kept a hatshop in London and who, under a conviction for some crime, was sentenced to fourteen years transportation. His wife, an amiable but heartbroken woman, was permitted to accompany him on the voyage.
Shortly after the vessel had sailed from the Downs, symptoms of mutiny were discovered among the convicts. Several had sawn off their irons, and Green was charged, not with any act of mutiny, but with furnishing the convicts with money to procure the implements for taking off their irons. The unfortunate man stated in his vindication that he had only lent some of the men a few shillings to take some sheets and other necessaries out of pawn. But his defence would not do. He was brought to the gangway by order of the Governor, and without any trial was flogged with a boatswain’s cat until his bones were denuded of flesh. But the unfortunate man never uttered a groan. The Governor, who superintended the punishment, swore he would conquer the rascal’s stubbornness and make him cry out, or whip his guts out. The surgeon remonstrated on the danger of the man’s death, but in vain. Ensign Wall, the Governor’s brother, a humane young man, begged on his knees that the flogging should cease, but also in vain; and his importunity only served to provoke a threat of having him arrested. He then entreated the unfortunate Green to cry out and save himself. But the unhappy man said it was now too late, as he felt himself dying and unable to cry out; that he had not avoided it from stubbornness, but concealed his pangs lest his wretched wife, who was down below and knew nothing of his situation, should hear his cries and die with anguish. The flogging was continued until the convulsions of his bowels appeared through his lacerated loins, when he fainted away and was consigned to the surgeon, who appeared at the trial.
This event stamped a melancholy horror on the mind of the Governor’s brother that was not abated during the voyage. On his arrival at Goree he was seized with a raging fever, in which he died, expressing horror and execration at the cruelty of his brother, whom he would not permit to come within his sight, and who was subsequently tried and sentenced.
The Whipping Widow.
It is not so very long ago when there suddenly appeared in society a rich, or apparently rich, widow, Mrs. W.... She lived in good style, kept her carriage, and had a fine house and plenty of well-trained servants. No one knew the source of her wealth, but she rapidly became popular in the best society, and by her dashing manner and splendid appearance won for herself an eminent position in the fashionable world.
Like many fine ladies she cherished a secret passion for the rod, and odd stories began to circulate through the medium of the maids, of the way she used it on herself and them, and report says she was accustomed to use the rod upon her late husband very freely. After his death, she became acquainted with a young student who used to visit her home on pretence of giving lessons, but in reality it was to receive a good whipping from her hands.
Miraculous Cure by the Birch.
Father Nicolo of Narni was a celebrated preacher with a quick eye, when in the pulpit, over the female part of his flock.
He was one day preaching at Catanea, in Sicily, when amongst the rest of his auditory he spied out a very agreeable young woman named Agatha, wife of one Ruggieri, a physician, and was immediately enamoured with her beauty. The lady was so devout as to have her eyes constantly fixed on the preacher, and could not help perceiving that he was handsome, nor wishing secretly that her husband were no less agreeable. After sermon she addressed herself for confession to Father Nicolo who was overjoyed at this lucky opportunity of discovering his passion. Agatha had soon despatched the account of her own sins; after which she very generously confessed for her husband too, and asked the holy man if he had no cure for an old man’s jealousy. The Father replied that jealousy was a passion to be avoided by the lucky person who possessed so divine a creature. Agatha smiled, and thinking it time to return to some female friends who were waiting for her, desired absolution. The priest sighed, and said: ‘My fair daughter, who can free another that is bound himself? I am chained by the irresistible power of your beauty, and without your assistance I can neither absolve myself nor you.’