[385] authority, but bears, nevertherless, internal evidences of its truthfulness:
Colonel Smith, of the Virginia Military Institute, paid a visit to John Brown to-day, in company with Mr. O. Jennings Wise, son of Governor Wise, who is attached to Company F, of Richmond. I had an interview with one of the jail officials who was present at the conversation that took place between Captain Brown and these gentlemen, and I give you, word for word, what transpired during our interview:
Reporter. Did Colonel Smith question Brown as to whether he had my desire to have a clergyman to administer to him the consolations of religion?
Jail Official. Yes, he did; but Brown said he did not recognize any slaveholder, lay or clerical, or any man sympathizing with slavery, as a Christian. He gave the same reason yesterday for his refusal to accept the services of some clergymen who called upon him. He also said he would as soon be attended to the scaffold by blacklegs or robbers of the worst kind as by slaveholding ministers, or ministers sympathizing with slavery, and that if he had his choice he would prefer being followed to the scaffold by barefooted, barelegged, ragged negro children, and their old gray-headed slave-mother, than by clergymen of this Character. He would feel, he said, much prouder of such an escort, and wished he could have it.
Reporter. Has he said any thing on the subject of religion to the clergymen who have called upon him?
Official. Yes, he argues with them; but winds up frequently by telling them that they, and all slaveholders and sympathizers with slavery, have far more need of prayers themselves than he has, and he accordingly advises them to pray for themselves, and exhibit no concern about him. While making these remarks, he requests that he would not be understood as designing to offer any insult.
Reporter. Does his health seem impaired by the anxiety which he must necessarily feel in view of his impending fate?
Official. No, sir; he looks much better to-day than he did at any period since his imprisonment. He eats his meals regularly, and seems to be in. better spirits this morning than he has been for ten days.
Reporter. Does he make any reference to his sons who were shot at Harper's Ferry?
Official. He expressed some anxiety to get the bodies of his sons together, and requested the jailer to give his wife any assistance in his power to get them together.
Reporter. What does he mean by getting them together?
Official. He is aware that the body of one of his sons was taken to the Winchester Medical College for dissection, and in using the words getting them together he meant to have their bones collected and given to his wife. He also expressed a desire to have the bones of two men, named Thompson, from his neighborhood, who were shot at Harper's Ferry, given to his wife. He expressed an idea that it would be well to have the flesh burned off the bodies of all, and their bones boxed up, so that they might be carried home with more convenience. In expressing this wish he remarked that he meant to 4o no violence to
