What I am going to relate now, is the account of an eye-witness, for how
could I have been present on such an heart-breaking occasion?
On the 28th of August a scaffold, covered with black cloth, was erected
before the house where the prisoners had been confined the preceding
night. On this scaffold three steps were seen, on each of which a chair
was placed, the upper one for the Duke of Cam*na, the middle chair for
the Marquis of Villa R*al, and the lower one for the Duke of Ar*amar.
The Marquis of Villa R*al was the first who stepped out of one of the
windows of the house, which served instead of a door. He begged the
bye-standers pardon in a short speech, and was beheaded.
As soon as his corpse was covered, his son made his appearance. His pale
and staring countenance resembled that of a corpse. He uttered not a
syllable, seated himself on the chair, and one blow severed his head
from his body.
The pen drops from my hand, and the idea of that horrid scene curdles
the blood in my veins. Reader, who art perusing these pages, look back
once more on the road on which a noble young man, adorned with the most
excellent genius, and the best of hearts, suffered himself to be seduced
to a crime for which he atoned with his life!