were all at home.  The master had them all collected in the most roomy negro house, and a rousing fire put on.  When the door was secured, that none might escape, either through fear of him or sympathy with George, he opened to them the design of the interview, namely, that they might be effectually advised to stay at home and obey his orders.  All things now in train, he called up George, who approached his master with unreserved submission.  He bound him with cords; and by the assistance of Isham Lewis, his youngest brother, laid him on a broad bench, the meat-block.  He then proceeded to hack off George at the ankles!  It was with the broad axe!  In vain did the unhappy victim scream and roar! for he was completely in his master’s power; not a hand among so many durst interfere; casting the feet into the fire, he lectured them at some length.—­He next chopped him off below the knees!  George roaring out and praying his master to begin at the other end!  He admonished them again, throwing the legs into the fire—­then, above the knees, tossing the joints into the fire—­the next stroke severed the thighs from the body; these were also committed to the flames—­and so it may be said of the arms, head, and trunk, until all was in the fire!  He threatened any of them with similar punishment who should in future disobey, run away, or disclose the proceedings of that evening.  Nothing now remained but to consume the flesh and bones; and for this purpose the fire was brightly stirred until two hours after midnight; when a coarse and heavy back-wall, composed of rock and clay, covered the fire and the remains of George.  It was the Sabbath—­this put an end to the amusements of the evening.  The negroes were now permitted to disperse, with charges to keep this matter among themselves, and never to whisper it in the neighbourhood, under the penalty of a like punishment.

“When he returned home and retired, his wife exclaimed, ’Why, Mr. Lewis, where have you been, and what were you doing?’ She had heard a strange pounding and dreadful screams, and had smelled something like fresh meat burning.  The answer he returned was, that he had never enjoyed himself at a ball so well as he had enjoyed himself that night.

“Next morning he ordered the hands to rebuild the back-wall, and he himself superintended the work, throwing the pieces of flesh that still remained, with the bones, behind, as it went up—­thus hoping to conceal the matter.  But it could not be hid—­much as the negroes seemed to hazard, they did whisper the horrid deed.  The neighbors came, and in his presence tore down the wall; and finding the remains of the boy, they apprehended Lewis and his brother, and testified against them.  They were committed to jail, that they might answer at the coming court for this shocking outrage; but finding security for their appearance at court, THEY WERE ADMITTED TO BAIL!