“The accused recovers slowly, he devotes his hours of convalescence to reading and writing. The chief subject of his study is the ‘Proverbial Philosophy of Martin Tupper.’ He has used during his captivity two thousand nine hundred and twenty-one sheets of paper. He is composing a drama in seventeen acts, entitled ‘Virtue’s Triumph,’ also a philosophical treatise on the desirability of abolishing capital punishment.” The following verses were penned by the prisoner, and will doubtless be read with the interest they deserve:— I. “Ah, hapless is the prisoner’s fate in convict cell condemned to pine, While birds abroad their songs uplift, and fields in summer’s glory shine. If breeze-borne from the far-off flock, the fitful tinkling bells are heard, If corn-fields wave their nodding ears, by wanton zephyrs lightly stirred, All these the wretch’s sorrows swell, he scents but may not see the flowers, And darker grows the lonely gloom which broods o’er all his friendless hours. II. “Soft coos the plaintive dove, the waves in whispering throbs their music pour, Each after each in cadence breaks, and dies in rippling on the shore; The woods and winds their voices blend, no heed the cheerless captive pays; No joy to him the sunbeam brings, which o’er the smiling meadow plays. Unhappy outcast! not for thee does universal gladness reign, These joys were all in mockery sent to wring thy breast with deadlier pain. III. “The world outside, the busy world, its dear familiar rounds may tread, But vain are dreams of pleasant life, when life’s long-lingering hope has fled. Then, prisoner, cease to shake thy bars: no mercy cold mute iron shows; In torments, terrors, threats, and tears, thy few remaining days must close. Thy doom is sealed; the gaolers stern may never more their grip relax, Until the headsman comes to claim thee for his hungry axe.”