His situation had by this time excited general sympathy and pity; his seeming simplicity, passiveness and resignation, greatly contributing to produce the effect. At 6 o’clock, Rev. Mr. Scovil and a great number of the neighbors came and sat with him till ten o’clock, and then left him with the impression that he would not live till morning. Friday, 23rd, went to the gaol early in the morning, found the prisoner lying on the floor, naked, and seemingly in great distress; said he had fallen through pain and weakness, and could not get up again. He was taken up and carried to his bed; appeared as though he would instantly expire; continued in a low and almost lifeless state till 5 o’clock in the afternoon, when he appeared to all present to be really dying. Rev. Mr. Scovil, Mr. Perkins, Mr. G. Raymond, all near neighbors, and Mr. Eddy, from Saint John, who happened to be in Kingston at the time, all supposed him to be in the agonies of death. He fell into a state of insensibility, and continued so until a phial of hartshorn was brought from an adjoining room, the application of which seemed to revive him a little. After some time he recovered so far as to be able to articulate, and upon its being observed to him that he had a fit, he replied that he was sensible of it, and that it was his _family infirmity_, and that many of his connections had died in the same way; and further remarked that he did not think he could survive another, which would probably come upon him about the same time next day; that he was sensible he should not recover; but that God would have him. He then asked Mr. Scovil to pray with him; his desire was complied with, and prayer offered up in the most solemn and devout manner; the occasion was deeply affecting, and all departed with the full conviction, that the patient would not linger till the morning. Previous to this, no regular watchers had attended him; but it was now considered highly necessary that some persons should sit with him till the morning; consequently John Dibble and Charles Cambreau were appointed by the sheriff to watch him through the night. The next morning the following letter was dispatched to Mr. Peters, the prisoner’s attorney: DEAR SIR:—I fear we shall be disappointed in our expectations of the trial of the prisoner, More Smith, at the approaching Court, as I presume from appearance, he will be removed by death before that time. He is dying in consequence of a blow that he received, as he says, from Mr. Knox, with a pistol, which he has regularly complained of since he has been in gaol, and is now considered past recovery. As it will be a matter of enquiry, and new to me, I will thank you to let me know by the bearer what would be the necessary steps for me to take; and not fail, as I have but little hopes of his continuing till morning. Yours, &c., WALTER BATES.