These facts are sufficient to account for the heaps of shells found by Sir R. Schomburgk, and for the other traces of the Caribs which he appears to have discovered in St. Domingo, without resorting to the supposition that the Caribs had actually "inhabited" that island, or warranting the conclusion that the two races were identical.
MITIGATION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT TO A FORGER.
The well-known cases of Dr. D. the divine and Mr. F. the banker, who were executed for forgery, notwithstanding the powerful intercessions that were made in their behalf, induced me to suppose that any mitigation of punishment under similar circumstances used to be a very rare occurrence; and, if so, that a curious instance of successful application for mercy may interest some readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES."
A young man of respectable Scotch connexions settled in a town in the north of England as a merchant, and soon afterwards made an offer of marriage to a young lady of the same place. Her parents rejected his suit, on the ground of his not being sufficiently established in business, and he seemed to acquiesce in their decision. In a short time, however, the young merchant took possession of larger premises than he had hitherto occupied, and showed other symptoms of wishing to have it understood that his fortunes were improving. But these appearances were of short duration. He was suddenly arrested, and committed to take his trial at the ensuing assizes on several charges of forgery. Immediately after his arrest, a sister of singularly energetic character arrived from Scotland, and applied to the father of my informant for professional aid. This gentleman told her that he never touched criminal business, and declined to interfere. But she was no common client, and it ended in his undertaking to prepare the defence of her brother, and receiving her into his house as a guest. Her immediate object was to prevent the prosecutors pressing their charges at the trial; and, by her indefatigable management, she succeeded with all, except the L---- bank, the directors of which, as a matter of principle, were inexorable to her entreaties. The trial came on at an early period of the assize, and the prisoner was found guilty, and condemned to be hanged. His sister left the court, and instantly proceeded to Scotland. There were no railways in those days, and she had to rely on coaches and post-chaises, and she travelled for four days and nights successively, without stopping or removing her clothes, and carrying a petition with her from house to house amongst her titled and powerful Scotch friends.