The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

A succinct account of the Life of
Dr. James Medlicot

Who was executed on the Commons near Winchester,
Virginia, on Friday the 26th of November,
1790, for the Murder of JOHN HEFFERSON,
a Journeyman Rope-Maker. To which is added,
his Religious Exercises while in prison, after
Condemnation, and--a DECLARATION, published
at his own particular request.

JAMES MEDLICOT was born in the city of Dub-
lin, Ireland. His parents and most of his rela-
tions were in affluent circumstances, and at the
hands of the former he received an education, which,
had he applied to a proper use, together with his na-
tural talents, would have proved an ornament to
this or any other country. The object of his af-
fections, to whom he was married at a very ear-
ly age, was a woman endowed with every qualifica-
tion requisite to the sex; she died in child-bed, and
he was inconsolable for the loss of so amiable a mate
--for some time he was delirious on this account.--
After he had recovered from his afflictions he went
a voyage or two to sea, and in a short time engaged
in matrimony a second time. Unfortunately for him,
he did not enjoy many happy years with this his se-
cond choice--jealousy, that bane to conjugal affec-
tion, entered his breast--a separation was the con-
sequence, and this wife's friends commenced a pro-
secution against him, which very much injured his
circumstances. At this unlucky moment he fell in
with a most notorious vixen with whom he eloped
to this country, bringing with them an infant son,
which he had by the last-mentioned wife.---From
this time we may date his downfall.

Though bred in the mercantile line: which he
followed with advantage for some time in his native
country,--the rash step he had taken, together with
the circumstance of the prosecution. as above reci-
ted, deprived him of the materials requisite to pur-
sue it in America; he was therefore necessitated to
become a dependent on others : but, disdaining ser-
vility. he did not long continue in this situation.--
Having acquired a knowledge of the theory of me-
dicine, by reading the works of different eminent
authors, the practice thereof, in the borough of
Winchester, seemed to open a door to him, where-
by. he might obtain a competence sufficient to
place him above the reach of dependence on the will
and caprice of any individual; and it is generally
believed he would have succeeded to his utmost ex-
pectations, had not that daemon RUM and the con-
duct of his dulcinea interrupted him. From these
two sources did all the evils spring which brought
on his untimely end.

A report having gone abroad that this unfortu-
nate man killed one of his wives in Ireland, we have
the best authority for declaring, that such report is
without foundation.

The following Religious Exercises were written by
him while in prison, after condemnation.

OH! great and incomprehensibly glorious God!
whose divine excellence surpasseth human ima-
gination: thou, who art every where present, and
searcheth the heart and reins of mankind, and with
unparallelled mercy and loving kindness, condes-
cends to bestow thy particular providence on each
individual of thy creation, whose good is pleasure
to thy benevolence, and whose misery is only the
fruit of that perverseness, the consequence of sinful
nature, in which, alas! mankind hath been con-
ceived and born--and from which thou hast been
pleased to redeem all believers :--thy goodness sur-
passeth human conception, by giving thy beloved
Son, in whom thou art well pleased to suffer the ig-
nominious death of the cross, as an atonement for
the sins of the faithful. Oh! thou Supreme Go-
vernor of the Universe! for the sake of. Jesus
Christ, our mediator and advocate, forgive the ma-
nifold sins and wickedness which I have committed.
and now look on with horror, and I hope sincerely
repent of : The remembrance of them are painful
to me, more especially when I consider thy gracious
condescension in calling thyself my Father, who
have acted in all respects so very contrary to any
similitude with thy divine excellence, which is all
perfection and holiness,and hateth sins and unclean-
ness. I am burthened with a load of iniquity, and
defiled with impurity, o that I am not fit to ap-
pear before thy throne of grace, or open my vile
lips in thy presence, much less ask any favour from
thy Divine Majesty, whose wrath and indignation
so justly are the reward of my ingratitude and sin-
ful conduct.

O! most merciful Father! I should sink into
despair was not thy bountiful goodness and divine
revelation, the only comfort to a wretched sinner :
O! father! I have sinned against heaven and against
thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son,
O, blessed Jesus, thou spotless lamb of God! may
thy memorable death and passion, atone for those
sins which a wretched impotent mortal like me,
totally incapable of atoning for in the smallest
degree--to thee I come: thou hast said come unto
me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I
will refresh you ; on thee, O merciful Saviour, I re-
ly for pardon and forgiveness under a load of sin
too heavy for me to bear. O! great and glorious
Lord God ! pour into my heart the healthful spirit
* It is asserted by those who knew him, that he
shad abundant proof of his wife's infidelity.
of thy grace.that I may thereby be enabled to a per-
fect repentance not to be repented of. Subdue and
destroy all vain hopes, or the least dependence on
myself, and fill my mind with a true Christian faith
and trust in thy all-sufficient merits, and, O merci-
ful Lord! guide me by thy grace, that my thoughts,
words and deeds may be acceptable in thy sight ;
unto thee I commit my spirit, soul and body, be-
seeching thee to take me and all that is mine under
thy gracious protection. Though sensible as I am
of my own unworthyness, yet faith in thy mercy
and loving kindness, makes me hope thou wilt be
graciously pleased to look with an eye of pity on a
wretched penitent, who prays for thy divine grace
to perfect repentance; and that thou wouldst be
pleased to work in me a reformation and regenera-
tion, which thro'thy merits, O ! my Saviour ! may
entitle me to an inheritance in thy everlasting king-
dom.

Say ! O thou Divine Principle of Animation !
what is death, which man looketh upon with so
much doubt, and too often with horror ? and, what
is life, which, while inhabiting this earthly ma-
chine, renders it the object of our principal care,
although we are every moment convinced that the
corporeal part was dust, and unto dust it must re-
turn. Wonderful machine ! formed by the all-pow-
erful hand ! Who can look into thy structure, and
not glorify the Almighty for his works ? Man alone
is but the sample of his incomprehensible goodness:
the world and all therein, night to night, and day
to day, 'proclaim the Creator's power.--O! thou
great first cause ! who art visible in all thy works,
it is not within the scope of human knowledge to
see the extent of thy greatness, or form a concepti-
on to innocence as thy glory: This very frame,
which is our care on earth, is so formed by thee,
that in it we are kept to certain bounds, which rea-
son or the mind cannot go beyond, and vainly at-
tempts the mystery, which it is thy will to keep
from our knowledge, while in this state of mortal
existence.

Thou all-pervading power ! mighty and glori-
ous Majesty : it should be our beings end and aim.
to extol and glorify thy inexpressible qualities, sen-
sible that we are incapable of worshipping equal to
thy merits. The life is thee, and thou art life
everlasting : The spiritual existence which we call
soul, is of thee---'tis thine, and Death has no domi-
nion over it. Death then demonstrates. that man
consists of two distinct parts : He is an animated
machine, wonderfully formed to serve the Creator's
purpose, but evidently subservient to a nobler prin-
ciple : Organized for sensations, it conveys, in a
limited degree, perception to the soul: The eye,
the ear, and every congeries of nerves, exercise a.
function which terminate in the principle of ani-
mation : The soul depends on this machinery for
rectitude of perception, and is confined during
what we call this life, to the bounds which the or-
gans of sense cannot exceed.

Yet, in this corporeal state, distinct faculties of
the soul are in all cases demonstrated, and reason
shows that there is a superior excellence to dust,
which is the material only of the soul's habitation
here. Death separates the one from the other ;
at the hour of death, when animation ceases, a
change begins, which soon reduces the curious and
wonderful machine to its first principle dust, and
shows the vanity of hat regard which was paid to
corruptible matter--which too often, alas / hath
been our care. in preference to the immortal soul.
How loathsome is the corpse when deprived of ani-
mation : Every organ of sensation in the animated
body feels disgust, when applied to the cold palid,
ghastly. stinking mass, which soon becomes so irk-
some that, even those who felt for it love, friend-
ship,and every tender and generous sentiment while
animated, must acquiesce to hurry the lifeless pu-
trefaction to the worms for food. See then, and
think, O, man, what thou art! For to this all
must come-- this separation must take place.

A few revolving hours will produce an impor-
tant change in my existence. Alas ! the executi-
oner will be instrumental in separating my mortal
and immortal parts.--Oh! Maker of me! great
Creator ! I am thine : Be thou, ' O God, merciful
unto me, and so incline my soul by the operation of
thy holy spirit, that all my thoughts, words and
deeds may be to thy glory, and preparatory for the
awful ,change, when through the merits of Jesus
Christ, I hope for eternal life. To the I look for
the abode of that principle which moves these fin-
gers, with a view of celebrating thy glorious praise.
The meditating principle that looks through faith
in thee for things unseen, humbly relies on thy mer-
cy and bountiful goodness for the enjoyment of
what thy wisdom wraps in mystery.

The eye that conveys the idea of visible objects,
as to external appearance--the ear which conveys
sound--the nose so nice to smell,; and the nervous
fibres so exquisitely formed for the feeling and
taste, to distinguish and relish food, are now in the
vigour of health ; the economy of nature's laws
goes in regular progression through my whole
frame ; the blood circulates, the vessels sound, no
secretary organ incapacitated, no duct or gland ob-
structed; a regular harmony is preserved through
the whole, while animation holds the reins, and,
by thought directs voluntary motion, for which
these involuntary workings seem destined to fit the
machine, which instantly obeys the mental part ac-
cording to prescribed powers : ln vain doth man-
kind search with indefatigable industry for a per-
fect knowledge of each part of this curious fabric ;
he sees it all, and knows that each depends on the
other parts, so as to constitute a whole, which
needs must operate together ; but it is only the
most conspicuous parts of which he can conjecture
the use and intent: of the most material or main
part he knows but very little. The greatest ana-
tomist's skill is lost in the mazy labyrinths of the
brain, that organ of organs,is a mystery .; hid from
human researches are its functions in the animal
economy ; it hath not been unravelled so as to as-
certain for what purpose it is, or what are its ope-
rations, through evidently of the first consequence.
Are the nerves, which seem here to terminate as
though in a focus, through numberless ramificati-
ons with unspeakable rapidity, conveying sensation
to one particular point.--Cease, cease my busy
mind, and enterprise no more in the field of wide
conjecture--a Terrestrial Judge, to benefit society,
it seems, hath thought fit to hurry you, where ---
O! God of all Mercy ! whose omnipotence hath
formed man after thy own image--great and won-
derful even in those parts which we see and know,
yet knowing that we know but part of what we
see, and are totally ignorant of the vital principle.
How superlatively great and glorious must be thy
excellence--how dazzled must the understanding
be, when the vale of darkness is removed, and the
mortal scale-drops from the mind's eye. to behold
thy glory and greatness in those works which thy
wisdom keeps in mystery.

Thy will. O-God ! be done : thou condescendest
to call thyself my Father,and hast created man after
thine own image. Boundless goodness! let me not,
O Father! profane the exalted idea I entertain of
thy incomprehensibly great attributes, by doubting
thy merciful lovingkindness. Tho', Father, I have
sinned against Heaven and before thee, and am no
more worthy to be called thy son, hast thou not,in
thy gracious goodness and mercy for the weakness
and sinful nature of thy creature, provided a pro-
pitiation; O, let the thought fill my soul with gra-
titude, Saviour of the world, blessed Jesus Christ,
Thou beloved Son of God, in whom he is well plea-
sed, who-died for the sins of mankind : be thou my
mediator and advocate, for my sins are so great and t
many, that when I look back. I shudder at the
thought of so soon appearing before the all-seeing
eye of unerring justice--but mercy is his attribute.
O, blessed Lord, pour into my heart thy holy spirit
to work a sincere and acceptable repentance, and to
inspire me with a truly Christian faith, that thro'
the blood of the blessed Jesus I may be forgiven and
received into everlasting glory and happiness.

The following Reflections seem to have been written after
an attempt to escape.

Too foolish doth ingratitude induce my
soul to rely on thy boundless goodness and
mercy, without the due tribute of praise and thankf-
giving, which is all I have to offer: Alas, my acti-
ons, still prone to evil, are at this time intolerably
vile : Alas, how can I expect the blessings which
thou hast assisted me with in my heavy affliction,
and which I have slighted and misused. O Lord,
my God ! I beseech thee for Christ's sake, forsake
me not, help me with thy holy spirit to perfect the
work of repentance unto salvation; without thee,
O Lord, I am totally incapable; be merciful unto
me, unworthy as I am. 'O, Saviour of the world,
be thou'my advocate and mediator, bestow on me a
double portion of thy holy spirit, to guard me a-
gainst the assaults of Satan ; teach me, O Lord, to
despise all attempts to extricate 'myself'from the
dreadful afflictions under which I labour; in thy di-
vine providence do thy will; I only beseech thee
to be merciful unto me, and bestow the light of thy
countenance to uphold me in the scene of trouble
with which thou art pleased to visit me. Thy will,
O Lord, be done; enable me, I pray thee, to bear
with patience my afflictions-: and, O, my God! as
I solely trust in thee, I pray thee bring them to a
happy issue. Be it as thou wilt. O Lord, deliver
me as to thee seems best, for unto thee I resign my
spirit, my soul, my body, and all that is mine.-
O chasten me not in thy heavy displeasure, but be
merciful unto me, for thy name's sake. and the sake
of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, thro' whose blessed
cross and passion I hope for forgiveness of my sins.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Lord God, great
and wonderful is thy might, majesty and dominion,
and thy merciful loving kindness surpasseth all
things; unto thee be all praise. I glorify thy ho-
ly name ; O, hallowed be thy name, above all things
in Heaven or earth, thy kingdom come. Teach
me O Lord to do thy will; assist me, O Lord, I
pray thee, so to conduct myself at this time, when
thou art pleased to visit me with affliction, so that
I may show thyself devoted unto thee, and desirous
only to be and appear glorifying thee, and firmly
relying on thy mercy ; support me, O my God,
through this trying scene: O my God! my God !
do not forsake me ; I am firmly resolved, that if it
is thy will that the sentence under which I am,
shall terminate my existence here on earth, to de-
vote the short space allotted me unto thee : But if
it be thy merciful will, O Lord, to let this cup pass
from me, and spare me, as I beg for Jesus Christ's
sake some longer days, that I may recover strength
before I go hence and be no more seen : O blessed
and merciful Lord, my life shall be devoted solely
unto thee; by thy grace, O Lord, I shall daily and
constantly embrace every opportunity to amend my
past sinful life and fill my time with praise,thankf-
giving to thy holy name, and in all thoughts, words
and actions, to glorify thee. O God, my defend-
er and keeper, I trust, O Lord, to thee, stretch forth
thy right hand and deliver me in thy merciful lov-
ing kindness. I beg thro' the merits and mediation,
and for the sake of Jesus Christ our saviour,
Amen.

DECLARATION.

WHEN the awful gulph of Eternity opens its wide expanse, to receive a soul that is devoted in a few hours to be separated by the Executioner from a mortal body: the hope of good to mankind, from considering a case, which, notwithstanding the investigation of legal process, is yet not generally understood, induces me to make this declaration: for, by circumstances to me unaccountable, the truth has been obscured, and error in judgment brings on my untimely end; which would be a painful reflection to me, but that I am reconciled to the just judgments of God, and in humble resignation to his omnipotent will, I shall depart in hopes of a blessed inheritance, through the mediation of Jesus Christ.

By the rash and unguarded act of a moment, I was unhappily instrumental in hastening a fellow creature out of this world—and am condemned for murder: but the horrid crime of murder, which cannot be without malice prepense, I solemnly declare I am innocent of. I did not harbour any malicious design against the unfortunate man who died by a blow from my hand—it was given in a violent rage, and in the dark, so that I did not know where he was wounded until my trial. I was instigated only to prevent a riot at my door, which the deceased and one Lynch had begun; and I was more particularly induced to endeavour for peace and quietness, because a disturbance had been occasioned the same evening by the outcry of a drunken woman, who had caused a crowd, and I dreaded my house being stigmatized as disorderly.

About a month before the melancholy event, the deceased had followed his wife to my house, where she took shelter, to prevent him from beating her. and (he being intoxicated) I pushed him out of doors without violence, and fastened the door; he went away, but in a few minutes returned and broke one of my windows, at which he entered the house; on my speaking to him from an upper room, he went out the same way he came in. The next day I got a warrant for him, and he was brought before a magistrate, when, on his submission and promise to repair damages, I freely forgave him, and thought no more of it; and although it was proved at my trial, that (when I left the magistrate's) I did, in the presence of the deceased and two others, say, that if he came to my house again, I would kill him—yet he had no more apprehension from me, than I had intention against him; for in a few days after he came to my house drunk, bareheaded, unarmed and riotous; and, on my saying, "did not you promise not to disturb me," he went away.

The night of the melancholy event, the unfortunate man had followed his wife past my door—loudly threatening her, and in a few minutes afterwards she came to my house, but I told her to go away, lest he should follow her and breed a disturbance! she obeyed, and the door was fastened when he came and enquired if she was there; Lynch, who answered him, bred a quarrel with him, and, in endeavouring to drive him off, to prevent a riot, I unhappily gave the blow productive of such melancholy consequences.

But I never had any connection with him which did cause malice: the casual words, from which malice was implied I do not remember—I did not lie in wait for him, and could it be supposed that I brooded on the detestable idea for so long a time:—It can hardly be reconciled to common sense that, in that time, I should never think of saving myself, or concerting measures for executing my design, without exposing myself to being immediately apprehended. The event happened before a crowd of witnesses, and in every point of view that it can be placed, my own inevitable destruction must be the consequence. But his death was not wilful, DESIGNED or INTENDED, nor with the VIEW of any possible gain, advantage, or gratification on my side: therefore, let mercy look with pity on the fate of an unfortunate mortal.

JAMES MEDLICOT.
November 25, 1790.

In one of his Books was found a solemn dedication of himself to God, according to a direction and form to be met with in Dr. Doddridge's Rise and Progress.

He met his fate with a becoming degree of fortitude and resignation to the Divine Will.

To accommodate our Readers with the foregoing Narrative, we have been obliged to omit a number of domestic paragraphs, intended for this day's paper, but which shall appear in our next.