The Virginia Gazette

LONDON, May 1.

There never was a Scheme for the public Weal so perfect, but some Additions or Alterations might be made for the better enforcing its Influence. Time and Experience never fail to suggest something that was not sufficiently attended to, when the Proposal pass'd into a Law, which is a Circumstance to which all human Determinations are unavoidably subject.

The present Laws for the Suppression of the horrid Crime of Murder, are doubtless well calculated for that Purpose, that every Criminal convicted of Bloodshed, should be immediately condemned, next Day suffer Death, and the Body given to be anatomized.

There is one Circumstance which might be added with Success, and which, as it carries no Cruelty in it, may perhaps carry Terror, and produce one Effect of punishing, which is, that the Execution of every Murderer should be in the Night Time.

It is invariably true, that the Night naturally brings with it a kind of Dread that strongly operates upon the Heart of Man. When at a Play we observe the Stage darkened, we are naturally struck with Terror, and the Soul is alarmed with the Expectation of some astonishing Event. If this holds in the artificial Representation of Nature, how much more will it hold in real Life?

Would not every Heart shudder to think of a Criminal suffering in the Presence of the Officers of Justice only, with the Shades of Darkness about him? For Night introduces a natural Horror, and throws a saddening Awe upon the World.