The Virginia Gazette

BELGRADE, March 21.

GENERAL Doxat was certainly, on the 18th, in a butcherly manner, executed; concerning which, and what was previous thereto, the following further Particulars are told: That after the Commissaries had pronounced his Sentence, he said, This then is the Recompence of 38 Years Service, and of the many Wounds I have receiv'd in the Service of the Empire, and I must die for having Sav'd the Lives of Six Battalions. Tho' the Bishop of Belgrade, and the Superior of the Jesuits, very assiduously attended him, he died a Protestant. Upon his going out of Prison, he embraced the Lieutenant who had guarded him; he thanked him for all his Civilities, and desired him to accept of the Gold Buttons he had in his Shirt, which, he said, is all I can do to shew my Acknowledgment. His Valet attended him to the place of Execution, which was before the Barrack of the Garrison. In his way to it, he took an affecting Leave of many of his Acquaintance; and when he was arrived there, looking upon the Fortifications, There, said he, are the Fortifications which I myself built, and in which I am now Sentenced to loose my Life. The Officers who were in the Garrison at Nissa, were brought out of Prison to be Witnesses of the Punishment of their Governor. As soon as the General perceived them, he saluted them, saying, Farewell, my Friends, you know for what I die. He afterwards, with undaunted Resolution, mounted the Scaffold, went to Prayer, and then placed himself in an armed Chair, where he was to receive the fatal Blow. His Valet having laid his Neck bare, and blindfolded him, the Executioner, who had been observed to be under great Concern, failed in his Blow, and struck him on his left Shoulder; upon which, the unfortunate General fell from the Chair to the Ground, uttering at the same Time such a dreadful Groan, as drew Tears from the Eyes of the most insensible Spectators. The Executioner, confounded at what he had done, and by the Murmurs which he heard on all Sides, gave him Three more Strokes whilst on the Ground, without severing his Head from the Body. The Valet de Chambre, in Despair to see his Master thus mangled, catch'd hold of his Hair, and thereby suspended his Head whilst the Executioner, by the last Stroke, put an End to so dismal a Spectacle.