14 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA i 
close examination,, it will be found to be very 
severe ; and as for as an opinion can be formed 
from the trial that has been hitherto made by 
the state of Pennsylvania, it seems better cal¬ 
culated to restrain the excesses of the people 
than any other. If any public punishment 
could strike terror into the lawless part of the 
multitude, it is as likely that the infliction of 
x «/ 
death would do it as any whatsoever: but 
death is divested of many of his terrors, after 
being often presented to our view; so that 
we hud in countries, for instance in England, 
where it occurs often as punishment, the sa¬ 
lutary effects that might be expected from it 
are in a great measure lost. The unfortunate 
wretch, who is doomed to forfeit his life in 
expiation of the crimes he has committed, in 
numberless instances looks forward with ap¬ 
parent unconcern to the moment in which he 
is to be launched into eternity; his compa¬ 
nions around him only condole with him, be¬ 
cause his career of iniquity has so suddenly 
been impeded by the course of justice: or, if 
lie is not too much hardened in the paths of 
vice, but falls a prey to remorse, and sees all 
the horrors of his impending fate, they endea¬ 
vour to rally his broken spirits by the con¬ 
soling remembrance, that the pangs he has to 
endure are but the pangs of a moment, which 
they illustrate by lire speedy exit of one whose 
