Tothe Editorofthe Christian Observer. with some personal violence The

son at first threatened his father ; LAST DAYS OF P. JOLIN, LATELY

but, being further remonstrated EXECUTED FOR PARRICIDE.

with, he went out, and picked up a IT will be in the recollection of brick, which he broke in two pieces,

I many of your readers, that in the and, returning, threw them at his month of September last, an awful father's head. These blows caused instance of parricide, committed in his death. Utterly unconscious of the island of Jersey, was presented what he had done, young Jolin to the public. The circumstances went away again, and slept for some of the case were as follows:- Philip time, till his fit of intoxication had Jolin, a young man, professedly passed ; and then, when he was working with his father as a black- quietly returning to the scene of smith, but in reality given over to his crime, he was arrested and habits of extreme intemperance, brought to prison. The judges. had on the morning on which the and two juries, in number together crime was committed, as he con- thirty-seven, after two long trials. fessed to one who attended upon carefully examining all the details him in prison, drunk such a quan- of the case, pronounced his crime tity of spirits as to have become to be murder, and condemned him completely intoxicated. His parents to death. He underwent his sen. had both of them lived in babits of tence on Saturday, Oct. 3. drunkenness, and by their example There were many particulars in the son had probably been drawn this case, in addition to the pecuto the dreadful course which ended liarity of the crime, and indeed the in his ignominious death. His rareness of any crime of such mag. mother had died eight months nitude in the small district in which before this period. Going to his it occurred, that gave it great notohome on the day when lie com- riety. One leading feature of it mitted the crime, a home of which was the manifest alteration which he himself said no person knew took place in Jolin's mind during the wretchedness, he found no food the period of his imprisonment. prepared ; and he met with only the Upon this point there was a very comfortless reception which might remarkable agreement of opinion be expected under his own actual amongst all persons who had any state, and the circumstances of his acquaintance with the real circumfather's situation and character. He stances of the case. · Not only went into the garden and gathered ministers, both of the Church and a pear, about which a quarrel en- the Dissenters, but persons of other sued with his father, attended classes agreed in the reality of a

CHRIST. Obsery. No. 337.

B

change; the nature of which, how- supposed produced by witnessing the ever, not so many persons could case of the thief on the cross. I shall detect, as the effect of its operation. not, therefore, hesitate in giving you The public press in that island, a few of the particulars which I have speaks of an “alteration " which been able to collect, and which will, took place in him, of his " confes. I trust, be interesting to a consision in the most humble terms of derable body of your readers. his own sinfulness,” of “his forcible Jolin appears in early life to have admonitions to others to abstain been sent to school, although he said from evil, and to practise the duties that such had been the irregularity of religion and morality;" but of of his father's house, and such the the great radical change of the hindrances thrown in his way, that heart which this case exhibited, the he had been more impeded, than writers seem to have had no ade- encouraged by his parents, in any quate conception. Jolin may, how- attempt to attend upon the public ever, be cited not merely as a man means of instruction. How treconvinced of his sin, reformed in mendous was the responsibility of character, and zealous in warning such a father and mother! culpable others, but as thoroughly converted in their neglect, but awfully so in in heart by the power of the Holy the influence of their example. Ghost, led to acknowledge not only And what a striking instance does particular sins, especially that which the case of one parent present of reled to his untimely end, but his ge- tributive justice at the Divine hand ! neral alienation of heart from God, The father trained his child in and persuaded that all his repent. habits of intoxication; and the ance, all his good resolutions, could son, in a fit of intoxication, hurried never expiate his past sins, but that, his father headlong to the bar of . as he himself said, “ Christ was bis God's judgment. We are not able,

only hope; for He had paid his often, so clearly to trace the Alransom, and He would receive him mighty hand made bare against the into glory."

sinner as in this case ; nor is it in I am myself, sir, one of those the dispensation of rewards and pupersons who have in general little nishments under which we are placed, confidence in a repentance which that men should be recompensed in only springs up under the appre- this life: still we know, that as a hension of death, whatever flights man sows he shall also reap, if not of sentiment, or depths of expe- in this world, to bring him to rerience, may be exhibited. I have pentance, yet surely, and how much too often seen to demonstration in more awfully ! in that world where the bachsliding of those who pro- a place for repentance is no where mised every thing in the time of found. sickness, how vain had been the This young man, on occasions best founded expectations. In the previous to his committal, had read greater part of these cases, however, the Bible; for he remarked to one there is generally a want of com- of his attendants that when at sea, pleteness, which the experienced during his watch, he had done so; pastoral visitor is able to detect : but he added, " I then read it as too little of real contrition, or too a sealed book. I had neither eyes . much of profession and confidence. given me to see, nor ears to hear, But in the case in question, I have and this was a just judgment upon not been able to restrain myself me for my sins." His mode of life from joining in the conviction of had been altogether one of comone who was much with Jolin in his plete dissoluteness. He went to imprisonment, and who declared sea because he was too bad to this instance came to him with the remain on land, and he came to land sort of power which he could have again because he was wearied of