Watt Robert 1794 (3 results)

PF. Condition: New.

Hardcover. Condition: Fair. 8vo. 88pp. Collated, complete with the half-title, no endpapers. In 19th century institutional binding, rubbed, worn. In fair to good condition. Half-title separated, blind stamped. Title blind and rubber stamped, starting to separate. Final leaf chipped at fore margin (no loss of text), separated. Else quite good, scattered foxing. Ownership initials "K T" stamped to rear pastedown. Watt and Downie were accused of a Scottish Conspiracy to overthrow the constitution of Great Britain in order to create an independent Scotland. They were convicted of the crime of high treason and were sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. This was a sensational case which was followed with great interest in the recently liberated former British Colony. Two editions, one in New York (offered here) and another in Philadelphia were printed in 1794. It took the jury 40 minutes to return with a GUILTY verdict and on September 6, 1794, judgment was passed: "The judgment of the Court was, that you Robert Watt, and you, David Downie, be taken from the Bar to the place from whence you came, and from thence to be drawn upon a Hurdle to the place of execution, there to be hanged by the neck, but not till you are dead, for then you are to be taken down, your Hearts to be cut out, and your Bowels burned before your Faces, your Heads and Limbs severed from your bodies and held up to public view, and your bodies shall remain at the disposal of his majesty, and the Lord have mercy on your Souls." Robert Watt was executed on October 15th, but David Downie was spared from death. He was given a 12-month prison sentence after which he was banished to America. He died on December 25, 1816, in Augusta, Georgia. David Downie's daughter, Peggy, was President Ronald Reagan's great, great grandmother. Evans 27815, ESTCW28380.…

Edinburgh, 1794. Confession of a Scottish Traitor Watt, Robert [d. 1794]. By Authority. The Declaration and Confession of Robert Watt, Written, Subscribed & Delivered by Himself, The Evening Before his Execution for High Treason at Edinburgh October 15 1794, Attested by the Reverend Dr. Baird, Principle of the University of Edinburgh; And the Reverend T.S. Jones, One of the Ministers of Lady Glenorchie's Chapel. Edinburgh: Printed for Bell and Bradfute, 1794. [iv] 35, [1] pp. Includes one-page publisher advertisement. Lithograph portrait frontispiece. Octavo (7-3/4" x 5"). Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet. Light soiling and negligible edgewear to exterior, moderate toning to interior, some offsetting from plate to title page, which is lightly browned, "7." in early hand to its upper-right corner. $250. * Only edition. Robert Watt was a political radical. He was convicted and hanged for his involvement in a far-fetched revolutionary plot to establish Scotland as an independent country. The jury recommended mercy, but the court sentenced Watt to be was hanged and beheaded. This sentence reflected the courts' opinion of severity of Watt's crime. It was also intended to be a warning to other radicals. English Short-Title Catalogue T94672. Edinburgh, 1794 (illustrator). …