The guard was very judiciously increased at | council, in consequence of their evidence, did

the gate, where his majesty alighted, to a serjeant and six grenadiers; four of the yeomen also attended. The concourse of people to see their king, after the recent attack upon his sacred life, was very considerable.

Every face discovered gladness, and without being requested by the centinels, they kept at a respectful distance from the carriage.

A temporary alarm was created by one of the light horse, who preceded the king at full speed, having fallen, in making a sudden turn round the garden wall. The rider disengaged himself with wonderful alacrity, though evidently hurt: the animal was cut by the fall very severely.

After dressing, the king entered the levee room, where a greater number of the nobility attended than had been known since his majesty's accession to the throne. Many old peers, who had not been at St. James's for a number of years, most of the foreign ministers, and an infinity of commoners appeared on the occasion; all of whom testified in the most loyal expressions, their great satisfaction on his majesty's providential escape.

not order Margaret Nicholson to attend for farther examination, but directed Mr. Coates to keep her safe in custody, and directed the proper officers to send expresses by the king's messengers, to every part of the kingdom, where they had learnt that she at any time resided, in order to be thoroughly informed, if her appearance of insanity could be corroborated by any of her former transactions.

Margaret Nicholson had presented several petitions to the king, and in one or two of the last she makes use of nearly the following words: "If your majesty, would wish to avoid regicide, you will make some provision for me without delay."

Sir Francis Drake asked her, when in the guard room, what was in the last petition she presented to his majesty? Her answer was"Nothing: it was only a blank piece of paper to conceal the weapon.

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She was asked likewise what was in some former petitions. She said, she could not tell them so well as she could put it on paper; and, being provided with a pen and ink, she wrote down almost verbatim what was contained in

At a quarter past five o'clock, his majesty one or two which his majesty had not destroyed, returned to Windsor.

General Fawcet had a long conference with his majesty, previous to his departure.

After the levee, which was over about three o'clock, the cabinet ministers held a council at the secretary of state's office, Whitehall, on the attempt of Margaret Nicholson. Mr. Coates, the king's messenger, in whose custody she was, received previous orders to prepare her to be brought before them. Dr. Monro and his son attended, who reported, that having paid every proper attention to the culprit, and particularly having visited her that morning, gave it as their opinion that she was insane. The

and which had been sent for by his order.

A woman of her acquaintance was examined concerning a conversation she held with Mrs. Nicholson on Tuesday, the 20th, when the instrument with which she proposed to have executed the horrid deed was cleaned and sharpened.

It is said, the knife which she used was so much worn, and so very thin, that when she thrust it against his majesty's waistcoat it bent. A gentleman, present at her first examination, tried the point of it against his hand, when the knife bent almost double, without piercing the skin.

When Mr. Coates got home, Mrs. Nicholson was in a very placid humour, owing to the excellent treatment which she received from him; who made it his study to render the miserable woman as comfortable as her unfortunate situation would allow. During the evening, she requested to play a game at whist, which Mr. Coates complied with, and part of the time she was perfectly collected.

There is one fact that stands fully established, and that is, that the insanity of the woman seemed to be suspected entirely from the rashness of the attempt she made on the life of the king; before that period she was never supposed to be out of her mind. Mr. Fisk, and Mr. Paule, with one or the other of whom she lived for many years, never considered her as being out of her senses.

A few days after, an extraordinary council was held at the Marquis of Carmarthen's office; at which were present, the lord chancellor, Mr. Pitt, the lords Carmarthen and Sidney, the archbishop of Canterbury, the attorney and solicitor-general, &c., in order to examine farther into the affair of Margaret Nicholson, and report the same to his majesty. Mr. Fisk was ordered to attend, but he was not examined; Southey, who lodged in the next apartment to Nicholson, was examined. She gave pretty nearly the same account that Fisk had done, viz., that she seemed a quiet woman, except occasionally talking to herself, &c. Another lodger at Mr. Fisk's was summoned, but was not examined. Several other persons were ex

An anecdote has been related on the occasion, which did much honour to the humanity and presence of mind of the Spanish chargé d'affairs, who no sooner heard of the frustrated attempt than he set out post for Windsor, and immediately sought an audience of her majesty, not as a mere gossip would have done, in order to assure her that the king had received no injury from the knife of the assassin, but with the judicious plan of keeping her majesty engaged in conversation; and thereby to prevent her from hearing any report at all until the king's arrival. That there was a method in her madness, (if she was indeed a lunatic) is undoubted. On being asked by Lord Salisbury, why she delivered a carte blanche, rather than a petition? She answered, her ends could have been ac-amined, particularly Mr. Watson, hatter, in complished under a blank sheet of paper, as well as by a petition in proper form.

As an instance of her composure-being asked very coolly as to the substance of her petition presented about a fortnight before, she said if they would give her pen and ink, she would write it, which she accordingly did; and on comparing it with the original lying in the office, as before observed, it was found to differ only in four words; and they by no means destroyed the purport of it.

On the contrary, when she was perplexed with questions, she ran into all the extravagance of insanity of which we have given several instances in the relation of her former examination.

Bond-street, who gave nearly the same account.

Drs. Monro, sen. and jun. were also examined; as were also Coates the messenger, his wife, and the nurse who attended Nicholson; from whose united testimony it appeared, that Margaret Nicholson was undoubtedly insane. Lord Sydney ordered her clothes and other necessaries, of which she was in great need. Mr. Napean, lord Sydney's secretary, produced a letter for Mr. Justice Addington's inspection, &c., directed for the Dey of Algiers, and to inquire of Mr. Gammon in Wild-street. But this letter, like the other circumstances, turned out to be a strange, wild, incoherent matter, without the least foundation in truth.

Mr. Addington's concern in this affair un- | her, "if she knew in what house she was?" doubtedly reflects the highest honour upon his judgment, penetration, and prudence. And it will not be saying too much to assert, that if the whole examinations had been entirely left to him, he would have finished the business with less trouble, and more satisfaction to the public.

she said, "Yes." He then told her, "that he hoped she would patiently and quietly submit to the regulations of that place." She composedly replied, " certainly." He also informed her, that she would be indulged with pen, ink, and paper, to write to such of her friends as she thought proper. This offer she did not then notice. At six o'clock she was conducted to her cell, which had been previously furnished with new bedding, &c., for her reception: and a chain was put round her leg, and fastened to the floor. Whilst this was doing, she was perfectly composed, and did not seem to take any

On Monday the 7th, the queen sent for Dr. Ford to Windsor; upon what occasion was not known at the time. But her majesty having cause to relate to the doctor the circumstances of the late attempt upon the king's life, the recital so strongly affected her majesty, she could not refrain from shedding tears very consider-notice of it. On being asked by the steward ably.

"if the chain hurt her leg, as it should be altered if it did?" She replied, "No, not at all." Mr. Coates was then about to leave her; but she called to him, and reminded him of his promise, that she should have pen, ink, and

which she wished to send by him. Pen, ink, and paper were immediately brought her, and Mr. Coates waited near an hour; but she did not attempt to write any thing.

In consequence of an order from lord Sydney, one of his majesty's principal secretaries of state, Margaret Nicholson was on Wednesday morning the 9th, at eleven o'clock, taken by Mr. Coates, the king's messenger, in a hackney-paper, saying, that she had letters to write, coach to Bedlam. Mrs. Coates, another lady, and the nurse, went with her; as soon as the coach was called to take her away, she was told by Mr. Coates they were going on a party of pleasure, and asked her to accompany them, which she readily agreed to; and stepping into the coach, was in very good spirits, and talked very rationally the whole of the way, till they came under the wall of Bedlam; she then observed, that she knew where they were taking her to. Upon her entrance into Bedlam, she was asked, "if she then knew where she was?" she answered. " perfectly well." The steward of the hospital behaved with much kindness to her, and invited her and the company to dine with him, which they did; and during the whole time she appeared perfectly collected, except when the name of the king was mentioned, whom she continued saying, she expected to visit her. After dinner Mr. Coates again asked

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When the examination before the council on Tuesday the 8th, was concluded, it was resolved, to examine Mr. Fisk again the next day; and Wednesday morning the 9th, he waited upon lord Sydney for that purpose; but his lordship told him, that he was perfectly satisfied, from the incontrovertible evidence which had been given of the woman's insanity, and therefore no farther examinations were necessary. The whole of the examinations taken on the Tuesday, together with the opinion of the lords of council thereupon, were laid before his majesty on the following Wednesday, for his approbation. She was to be confined for life, to be supported and taken care of, in case of sickness; but while in health, to be kept at work, or whatever

employment she is capable of, in order to earn | appointed men, which formerly used to be di

her own subsistence*.

Whitehall, August 8, 1786.

rected against ministers alone, had of late years been pointed against the throne itself. Every seditious art had been exerted to inflame the public against the highest personage in the realm. With reasonable people this was of little avail, but it was naturally calculated to excite the frantic enthusiast to such an attempt.

This day Margaret Nicholson, in custody for an attempt on his majesty's person, was brought before the lords of his majesty's most honourable privy council, and after a full examination of Dr. John and Dr. Thomas Monro, and several other witnesses, concerning the state of her mind, as well now as for some time past, and also after examining the said Margaret Nicholson in person, The following account of the manner in which their lordships were clearly and unanimously of opinion, his majesty communicated the affair to the

that she was and is insane.

queen is extracted from Delany's Letters :

"It is impossible for me to enumerate the daily instances I receive from my royal friends; who seem unwearied in the pursuit of making

Whatever may be said of the insanity of the woman who made this horrid attempt, there must have been something peculiar in the spirit of the times to excite her to so daring an under-me as happy as they can. I am sure you must taking mad women have existed at all times, be very sensible how thankful I am to provibut they never before aimed at such an object. dence for the late wonderful escape of his maThe reason seems to be, that the malice of dis-jesty from the stroke of assassination: indeed,

A parallel case of merciful consideration has been related of queen Elizabeth, when her life was in danger from the vengeful feelings of Margaret Lambrun, one of the attendants upon the unhappy Scottish queen, and whose sorrow for the death of her beloved mistress had been excited to enthusiasm, by the demise of her husband through grief for the melancholy catastrophe at Fotheringay-castle. In order to gratify her vengeance, Margaret assumed male attire, with the designation of Anthony Spark; and, constantly keeping a brace of pistols concealed in her bosom, she attended Elizabeth's court, in hopes of an opportunity of assassinating that monarch, and resolved upon subsequent self-murder. Understanding one day that the queen was promenading in the garden at Greenwich, she hastened to the spot; but, in pushing through the crowd, excited the suspicions of the yeomen of the guard, by dropping, accidentally, one of her pistols, as it is stated, but more probably a dagger, as pistols at that period were merely match-locks, and therefore not a likely weapon, either for common use, or facile concealment. The alarm soon spread, and coming to the ears of the queen, she desired to examine the culprit personally previous to her being sent to the Tower; and, having demanded her name, country, quality, and intentions, Margaret boldly disclosed the whole truth, mixed with some severe reflections upon her majesty's conduct, and a vindication of her own feelings.

The

The queen listened cooly and attentively; and, at the close of this extraordinary confession, said, "You are persuaded then that in this step you have done nothing but what your duty required.-What think you is my duty towards you?" Without tremor or hesitation, the prisoner demanded whether that question was put in the character of a queen or of a judge;. to which Elizabeth answered, in the character of a queen. "Then," said Lambrun, "it is your duty to grant me a pardon." queen was silent for a moment, and then said with an air of deep thought, "But what assurance can you give me that you will not again make a similar attempt?" To which Margaret replied, that a favour ceased to be so, when yielded under restraints, and that the queen in thus granting pardon would be dropping that merciful character, and assuming that of a judge. Turning round to her courtiers, Elizabeth said, "I have been a queen thirty-years, and never had the truth spoken so plain to me before." Then with a dignified smile, she desired that an entire and unconditional pardon should be recorded; and refused to listen to the suggestions of her ministers, who were anxious for punishment. Lambrun then very cooly requested her majesty to grant her the further favour of a safe conduct out of the kingdom; under the protection of which

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the horror that there was a possibility that such | escape poured in from all parts of the kingdom, an attempt should be made, shocked me so and on no occasion was the honour of knightmuch at first, that I could hardly enjoy the hood so liberally bestowed as upon the gentleblessing of such a preservation. The king men who presented these addresses. But it would not suffer any body to inform the queen was considered by many, that there was a of that event, till he could show himself in per- political motive attached to this lavish distrison to her. He returned to Windsor as soon bution of knighthood by his majesty; for, as the council was over. When his majesty en- although the cause which gave rise to them tered the queen's dressing-room, he found her was alarming, yet on the investigation, it did with the two eldest princesses; and entering, not appear to be attended with those consein an animated manner, said, "Here I am, safe quences which were at first suspected. The and well!" The queen suspected from this honour of knighthood became soon, afterwards saying that some accident had happened, on a subject of ridicule, for, on ány gentleman which he informed her of the whole affair. The receiving that honour, if the occasion were triqueen stood struck and motionless for some vial, he was generally called one of Peg Nitime, till the princesses burst into tears, in cholson's knights. which she immediately found relief by joining with them. Joy soon succeeded this agitation of mind, on the assurance that the person was insane that had the boldness to make the attack, which took off all aggravating suspicion; and it has been the means of showing the whole kingdom, that the king has the hearts of his subjects."

This event derived its principal force and effect rather from its name than its actual existence; yet by alarming the minds of every class of people for the safety of the sovereign, it added new solidity to his throne, and diffused an unexampled popularity around his person. No circumstances of fanaticism, rebellion, or atrocity accompanied this act, or gave it birth. It neither resembled the attempts made against Elizabeth, or against William the Third. Insanity alone armed the hand of a wretched female maniac, who was disarmed and seized with the utmost facility, as soon as her design began to manifest itself. The nation, however, did not measure its exultation, or mark its general joy by an exact proportion to the actual danger from which their sovereign had escaped. Henry the Fourth, who was born for the delight of the human race, had he escaped from the dagger of Ravaillac, could not have received more universal, more flattering, or more cordial testimonies of the attachment of his people, than were laid at the feet of George the Third, in eager profusion. Addresses are not indeed Congratulatory addresses on his majesty's always to be regarded as the indisputable tests

The following anecdote is related of his majesty on this occasion :-A nobleman then not in high favor with his majesty, on congratulating him on his fortunate escape, and talking largely on the danger of the disaffected, and that some strong measures should be taken to prevent such occurrences in future. "Measures, measures," said the king," no doubt but my sacred person will be well taken care of, and my good council will receive all petitions for me in future, as it is not necessary for me either to hear or see them; but your lordship will give me leave to think, and I assure you that Mrs. Meggy never intended to hurt me. Good morning, my lord:" on saying which, his majesty's looks expressed more than his words.