Gazette Of The United States

AMERICA.

QUEBEC, March 28.

Joseph Draper was ordered for execution on Tuesday 2d of April as near to the place of public execution as the state of the ground may permit, and in presence of the garrison, but having made application for a week's respite, we hear that his Excellency has been pleased to grant it.

The following is Prince Edward's speech to the unhappy man in pronouncing his pardon:

"Draper,

You have now reached the awful moment when a few seconds would carry you into the immediate presence of the Supreme Being.--You must be conscious of the enormity of your guilt; and that you have not the least right to expect mercy. I, as your commanding officer, am entirely prevented making any application whatever in your favour; there being from various circumstances of the case, no one opening that could justify me in that station to take such a step. However, as the son of your sovereign, whose greatest prerogative is the dispensation of mercy, I feel myself fortunately enabled to do that which, as your colonel, the indispensable laws of military discipline render it impossible for me even to think of:

In this situation therefore, I have presumed to apply to the King's Representative here for your Pardon; and I am happy to be authorised to inform you that my intercession has been successful; Major General Clarke, in consequence of warm prayers and entreaties, has had the goodness by his acquiescence with my wishes: to enable me to prove both to you and the public, that although your atrocious machinations were chiefly directed against my person, I am the first to forgive you myself, and to obtain for you his Majesty's mercy. May you take warning by this awful scene, and so conduct yourself, that by the remainder of your life, you may atone for your past crimes; and that I may not hereafter have occasion to repent having now been your advocate."