Some Memoirs of Mrs. MARGARET NICHOLSON. (With an elegant Engraving of that defigned Affaffin of his Majefly) Aovereign has ever weer held in the N attempt to take away the life of a was obferved to have been fome time in wait highest degree of deteftation, especially when the many virtues of the monarch endear him to his people. No wonder then that the late defperate attack on his majesty caufed an univerfal alarm throughout Great Britain, and roufed an univerfal curiofity about the wretched perpetrator. Enquiries have been minutely made concerning Margaret Nichols fon, the refult of which we lay before our readers, as the people of Ireland are no lefs loyal to their king than their fellow fubjects in the fifter kingdom. On the 2d of August, 1786, a Gazette Extraordinary announced that that mom ing as the king was alighting from his car riage, at the Palace-gate, a woman who was waiting there, under pretence of prefenting a petition, ftruck at his majefty with a knife, but providentially his majefty received no but. The woman was immediately taken into cuftody, and upon examination appears to be infane." The fhocking attempt was thus flightly related, to calm the minds of the agitated public, who had heard of the attack on the king, in as many forms as terror, mifrepresentation, and fertile imagination could create. The pronouncing her infane was rather premature, for it was impoffible to make a clear and perfect difquifition in a few hours. However his majefty was feen alive and unhurt to the great joy of the peos ple, and from that moment every news-paper teemed with fresh and often contradic tory accounts. The refult of what time hath proved to be authentic is as follows: On Tuesday the fecond of Auguft, Mrs. Nicholfon (the fubject of these memoirs) Hib. Mag. Auguft, 1786. wg for the kings arrival in town, and took her ftation between two gentlewomen whom curiofity had led to the Palace gate. On the approach of the carriage, he begged of them not to impede her delivery of a petition; and on the king's alighting she stepped forward, prefented a paper which his majefty took, with his ufual benignity, whilft the anned a ftroke at his bofom with a knife, fhe held concealed under her cloak. The king being then stooping towards her, efcaped the intended wound, but the knife paffed through his coat and waistcoat. She attempted a fecond ftab, but her arm was feized by Mr. Lodge, one of the attending yeomen of the guard, and the weapon wrefted from her by one of the king's footmen. She was carried directly to the guard room, and feveral perfons prefent afking her fundry queftions, the answered that they had no right to examine her, and she should refervė herself till thofe came who had. At five o'clock feveral of the minifters of ftate, privy counsellors, and five juftices of the peace being affembled at the board of green-cloth fhe was brought before them, the knife appeared, on being produced, to have been an old deffert knife, much worn, very thin, gapped, and fo weak that it bent on puthing it with the leaft force. She feemed quite unembarraffed, and anfwered fome queftions with confiftence, though the replied very incoherently to others. She declared her object was to terrify the king by the fight of the knife into a compliance with her petition: but as nothing was written in the paper fhe prefented, but the ufual addrefs, To the King's most Excellent Majefty, the was afked Ddd how could the expect the king would com- muflin gown, a black gauze bonnet, mornply with a request never made! Her replying wire-cap with blue ribbons, and a black was, that he had presented petitions alrea filk cloak. dy, so that he knew what she wanted. for Such papers, upon enquiry, appear to have been delivered but they abound in fuch in confiftencies, that they were difregarded at the time. At intervals, fhe talked of a "claim on government, "law fuit,' "juft caufe," and fuch like fentences. After thefe declarations, the fometimes remained filent for a time, and would not reply. In order that every poffible reféarch fhould be made, Lord Sydney fent feveral of the Weftminster magiftrates, with affiftants, to the woman's apartments; but nothing more could be traced, than fcraps of paper, in which the names of Lord Mansfield, and other perfons of confequence appeared, with fome disjointed writing, mentioning effects, and what the denominated " Challies," a term the did not feem to underftand; all of which denoted a difordered ftate of mind, Being alked where the now lived? the anfwered, at Mr. Fisk's, ftationer, at the corner of Marybone-lane, Wigmore-ftreet. Fift was fent for, who faid, fhe had lodged with him about three years; that he had not particularly obferved any marks of infanity in her, but that he was certainly very odd at times. Dr. Monro alfo attended. He was questioned as, to her lunacy, viz. whether he could difcover if fhe was a lunatic? He answered, that fuch difcovery could not be made immediately; that, for the accomplishment of fuch a purpose, the must be taken under the care and inspection of one of his people for three or four days. The examination lafted till feven o'clock, when it was agreed to commit her to the care and cuftody of Mr. Coates, meflenger, in Half Moon-freet, Piccadilly. His majefty's behaviour during the whole tranfaction was the most compofed, and generous. In the very moment of the attempt, he cried out, "I am not hurt, I am not hurt; take care of the poor woman, fhe is infane." In the evening le returned in good spirits to Wind for. The news of this attempt arrived in a fhort time to the queen at Windsor, with many exagerating circumftances, which plunged her majesty and the princelles into great diftrefs. The queen was just fetting out for town when the king arrived, and their meet ing was the most tender that could poflibly take place. The prince of Wales came polt from Brighthelmfton to congratulate his royal father on his fafety. And on Friday the concourse of nobility, &c. at the levee, on that toccafion was as great as was ever known.. When Mrs. Nicholfon prefented her pretended petition he was dreft in a flowered A Thursday morning, Auguft 4. Juftice Addington went to fee Margaret Nicholson, at Mr. Coates's, meffenger, in Halfmoonftreet, and began a conversation with her upon which the told him, that they had dif tracted her with a great number of queftions; that he did not understand them; that they had made her deaf on one fide, but he had it all here (pointing to the back part of her head) that the crown was hers, &c. Mr. Addington permitted her to go on, in order to, difcover, if there was any thing worth noticing. When the had done about the crown, the began about Lord Mansfield and Lord Loughborough. She faid, that he had brought them both into the world; they owed every thing they had to her; but the was not their mother; fhe never knew any man. Friday Auguft 5. She underwent a further examination, before fome of his Ma jefty's privy council, at the room, belonging to the board of green-cloth. Her brother, and two women from Cheshire, who were ftanding clofe to Nicholson at the time his majefty's chaife drew up to the garden-door, were likewife examined, The evidence went to prove how anxious Margaret Nicholfon was to have the nearest fitnation to the door of the chaife, affigning for a reafon that he had a petition to prefent, and wanted to speak to the king. She had prefented feveral petitions to the king, and in one or two of the laft the make ufe of nearly the following words " If your majefty would with to avoid regicide, you will make fome provifion for me without delay." She was asked likewife what was in thofe former petitions? She faid fhe could not tell them fo well as the could put it on paper, and being provided with a pen and ink, the wrote down almoft verbatim what was contained in one or two which his majefty had not deftroyed, and which had been fent for by his order. Mrs. Nicholfon was by order of council ftripped in a private room before the was examined at the board of green-cloth; two women belonging to St. James's Palace were appointed for that purpose, but nothing was found on her that could lead to any disco very. Being asked what she wanted of the king? her reply was, " that he would provide for her, as the wanted to marry, and have chil dren like other folks." Dr. Monro and his fon attended the council, and reported, that having paid every proper attention to the culprit, and particu larly 1786. Memoirs of Mrs. Margaret Nicholson. larly having vifited her that morning, it was their opinion that he is infane. The council, in confequence of their evidence, did not order her to attend in perfon, but directed Mr. Coates to keep her fafe in cuftody. In the mean time the council have ordered the proper officers to fend expreffes by the king's messengers, to every part of the kingdom where they have learnt that the at any time. refided, in order to be thoroughly informed if her present appearance of infanity, can be corroborated by any of her former tranfactions. On the 8th Mrs. Nicholson was brought again before the privy council, when the Doctors John, and Thomas Monro, and fe veral other witnesses were examined as to her flate of mind, and the being interrogated, her infanity was fully proved; and Bedlam being a royal hofpital, it was refolved to confine her therein, till the fitting of the parliament, when a bill will be brought in to make that confinement for life. Accordingly, on the 10th of Auguft, fhe was taken by Mr. Coates, the King's meffenger, in a hackney coach to Bedlam. Mrs. Coates, another lady, and the nurse, went with her: As foon as the coach was called to take her away, the was told by Mr. Coates they were going on a party of pleasure, and he asked her to accompany them, which the readily agreed to, ftepping into the coach in good fpirits, and talking very rationally the whole of the way, till they came under the wall of Bedlam; fhe then obferved that she knew where they were taking her to. Upon her entrance the was asked if the knew where fhe was? She answered, "perfectly well." The steward of the hofpital behaved with much kindness to her, and invited her and the company to dine with him, which they did; and during the whole time, the appear ed perfectly collected, except when the name of the King was mentioned, whom the expected, the faid, to vifit her. After dinner Mr. Coates again asked her if she knew in what houfe fhe was? She faid, yes. He then told her, that he hoped the would patiently and quietly fubmit to the regulations of that place. She compofedly replied, "certainly." He also informed her, that fhe would be indulged with pen, ink, and paper, to write to fuch of his friends as the thought proper. This offer fhe did not then notice. At fix o'clock fhe 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 faftened to the floor. Whilft this was doing, fhe was perfectly compofed, and did not feem to take any notice of it. On being asked by the fteward if the chain hurt her leg, as it fhould be altered if it did? She replied, "No, not 39; at all." Mr. Coates was then about to leave her; but the called to him, and reminded him of his promife, that the fhould have pen, ink, and paper, faving, that he had letters to write, which he wished to fend by him. Pen, ink, and paper were immediately brought, and Mr. Coates waited near an hour; but she did not attempt to write any thing. A very particular order was fent from the Secretary of State with Mrs. Nicholson, to the Mafter and Matron of Bethlem Hofpital, that no perfon be permitted to vifit her, without leave first obtained from Govern ment. Margaret Nicholfon is about 40 years of age. She lived fome years ago with Mifs Price, of Argyle Buildings, and with a lady of quality, in Brudenel-ftreet, as her own fervant; her general difpofition of mind was of a referved and thoughtful caft ; feldom fubject to the livelier fallies of mirth. This reftraint of temper was confidered by her fellow-fervants as prudery She lived alfo in Lord Coventry's family as attendant on fome of his Lordship's daughters. Her mafter's valet de chambre paid her his addreffes; her conduct before the family was very referved, and fuch in appearance as prevented them difcerning that he had any profpect of fuccefs with her; but one of the family happening to remain up after the rest were a bed, in walking up ftairs, fo as not to be heard, at a late hour, surprised the valet de chambre coming out of her bedroom. In fuch a difcovery as this, every one knows how anxious the discoverer is to unburden his mind; and next morning the fervants were entertaining themselves at the expence of the referved, as they called her, pride; the news foon reached the mistress's ears, and both the fervants concerned were inftantly difcharged. They fought for a new place, where they lived ftill together in the fame houfe; but quitted that allo. This attachment still fubfifted, and they got into a third fervice; there her fweetheart flighted her, and paid his addreffes to a perfon who had fome property, whom he married, and then left his place to take an inn on the Weftern road. This difappointment could not but affect the woman who was deferted, and fhe abandoned herself to folitude-intenfe thought on a fubject debilitates the mind, and with a temper already prone to melancholy, an accumulation of thought and diftrefs must increase intenfe thinking, which cannot but produce paroxifms of madnefs. Society and variety are neceffary to remove the ill confequences of melancholyneither of thefe it appears the fought for; even her brother acknowledged that the feldom called on him; after this fhe fought no more for a place as fervant, but betook herDdda felf felf to her industry by her needle. She fometimes worked with Mr. Watson, hatter, in New Broad-street. Though the unhappy woman is undoubt edly in a ftate of lunacy, yet, had not his Majefty's clemency interfered, the muft have fuffered capitally, as the law of the land exprefsly fays, that neither idiocy nor lunacy can be pleaded as a bar against convice tion for high treason in attempting the life of a king." The Hiflory of the Empire of Indoftan, with the Rife and Progress of the Carnatic War. (Continued from p. 365.) they were washing, and that afking one another what it might be, they concluded it was fomething belonging to a person who had washed there in the morning, or to the Bramín himself who was then washing near them: fo they agreed not to touch it, and went away; but one, lefs fcrupulous than the reft, in hopes that it might contain something of value, returned and took it up. Mahomed Iffouf, and the other Sepoy officer, declared they knew nothing of the matter. Poniapah the linguift interpreted the depofitions, and gave it as his opinion, that the Bramin knew more of the letter than he had discovered. The next day the prifoners were examined again, when the Bramin ONE day in the beginning of April, 2 was allured that his life fhould be spared if he Bramin informed the fervant of captain Kilpatrick, that as he was washing himfelf that morning at the river fide, fome of the enemies Colleries croffed the river, and gave a parcel to fome Colleries belonging to the English camp, whom he heard, although indiftinctly, faying fomething about a letter, and Mahomed Iffouf the commander of the, Sepoys; he added, that he knew the men who had taken the parcel, and defired affift ance to feize them. The Colleries were im mediately taken up, and one of them, with out hefitation, delivered a woollen parcel, containing a letter directed to Mahomed Iffouf, which captain Kilpatrick immediately carried to the major, in whofe prefence it was opened, and interpreted by Poniapah, the principal linguift. It was from the king of Myfore, fealed with his seal of fignature, and on the back was stamped the print of a hand, a form equivalent with the Myforeans to an oath. The letter defired Mahomed Iffouf, and another officer of Sepoys, to meet, according to their promife, fome perfons who were to be deputed by the king, with powers to adjust the time and manner of betraying the city of Tritchinopoly; in reward for which fervice the king promised, if the plot fucceeded, to give Mahomed Iffouf a fum of money equal to 160,000 pounds fterling, a confiderable command in his army, with fome lands; he agreed like wife to reward, in the manner that Mahomed Iffouf fhould recommend, fuch friends as he might employ in the enterprize. On this Mahomed Iffouf, the other officer of Sepoys mentioned in the letter, the Bramin who gave the information, and the Colleries he had accufed, were imprifoned, and captain Kilpatrick, with captain Caillaud, were appointed to examine them. The Bramin was a writer to the commiffary of the army, and had lately been confined upon a fufpicion of having embezzled fome money; he perfifted in his ftory; but the Colleries faid, that the parcel was first discovered by them ing on fome fleps, near the place where would reveal the truth; upon which he declared, that the day before he accused the Colleries, he went to Seringham, in confequence of a meffage from the regent of Myfore, defiring to fee him; when the regent offered him a reward of 100,000 rupees, if he would contrive to make use of the letter in queftion, fo as to prejudice Mahomed Iffout in the minds of the English; he added, that he undertook the commiffion partly for the fake of the reward, and partly from defire to be revenged on Mahomed [flouf, who had been the principal author of his late imprifonment. The Colleries were again examined feparately, and agreed, without any variation, in the depofition they made the day before; upon which they, as well as Mahomed Iffouf, and the other Sepoy offi cer, were released, and declared innocent. However, fufpicions were entertained that the whole truth had not been told, and that fome perfon, of much more confequence than an infignificant writer, fuch as the Bramin, was at the bottom of this daring iniquity: the Bramin was therefore fent back to prifon, and remained there several days, often urged to difcover more; but ftil' perfifting in his fecond depofition. At length, major Lawrence finding that gentle methods produced nothing, determined to try the ef fect of terror, and ordered Poniapah, the linguift, to acquaint him, that he muft die next morning, unless he confeffed the whole truth, and supported it by proofs. The linguift returned and faid, the prifoner had now confefled that he had been advised to go to the king, and propose the scheme of the letter by one Gopinruze, a man who refided in Tritchinopoly, and formerly ferved as an interpreter to the English commandant of the garrifon. Gopinrauze was immediately examined; he faid he knew no thing of the affair, but appeared confounded and frightened, upon which Poniapak the linguit faid he was certainly guilty. Whilft the examination of Gopinrauze was carried on in the camp, the Bramin confined 1786. Hiftory of the Empire of Indoflan. in the city, contrived to fend a message to Mahomed Iffouf, defiring to see him, having fomething of importance to communicate. Mahomed Iffouf immediately repaired to the prifon, taking the precaution to carry another perfon with him to be a witnefs of the converfation; when the prifoner made the following declaration: That ferving in the commiffary's department, under Peramrauze the principal agent and interpreter to the English commiflary, he had feveral times been fent to Seringham to folicit the release of his mafter's family, who had been taken prifoners when the convoy coming from Tricatapolly was defeated. After feveral journies he procured their liberty, and a little while afterwards Poniapah propofed to him, as he was known in the enemy's camp, to carry a letter, and deliver it either to the king, or fome of his principal officers; the Bramin anfwered, that it was a dangerous bufinets, for which he might be hanged; to which the linguift replied, that he should be able to fave him by faying that he employed him as a spy. The Bramin defired time to confider, and immediately went and confuited his maiter Feramrauze, who advised him to comply with Poniapah's request. Poniapah, how ever, apprehenfive of a difcovery, told him that it was not proper to write the letter in the English camp, but directed the prifoner to write it himself when arrived in the ene my's camp; which inftruction he obeyed. The letter was addrefled to two principal officers, defiring they would perfuade the regent to write to major Lawrence, and requeft him to fend Poniapah to Seringham in order to hear fome propofals relating to the dipute with the nabob concerning Tritchinopoly. The next day meffengers from the regent came to major Lawrence, by whole orders Poniapah proceeded to Seringham; the Bramin accompanied him, and was prefent during his whole converfation with the regent: who began by exclaiming against the nabob for his breach of faith, and afked what reafons the English could have for fupporting him in it. Poniapah answered, that he had affifted them in defending Fort St. David, when attacked by the French in 1748. Poniapah then asked the regent what he had in his heart; who replied, that if the English would pay him all the expences he had incurred during the war, he would go away; or if they would give him the city, he would pay their expences: or laftly, if the nabob and his whole family, would come and throw themselves at his fect, beg for mercy, and own themfelves beggars, that would fatisfy him. "Why, faid le, do the English ftay here and spend their money to no purpose; my expence is no greater than it would be if I remained in Myfore." Po 397 niapah replied, that he knew the English would give up the city, if their expences were reimburfed; for that he had feen a letter to this purport, written by the governor of Madrafs, five or fix months ago. The regent faid he was ready to make the agree ment, but that it must be kept a fecret from the French, for he would not truft them, knowing that they wanted the city for themfelves. Poniapah affured him, that the bu finefs might be concluded as foon as Mr. Palk arrived at Tanjore; and in answer to queftions made by the regent, he told him, that the English got all their provisions from Tondeman's country, that there were only provisions for two months in the city, and likewife revealed feveral other interesting particulars of their condition. The regent affured him, that if the negociation fucceeded, he would give him a great reward in money, a number of villages, and the command of a thousand Bramins: for Poniapak himself was a Bramin. The conference then finished, and Poniapah, at his return to camp, reported to the major fuch part of it only as could not prejudice himself: he likewife ordered the Bramin to say nothing of what he had heard to any one, excepting his mafter Peramrauze, and to tell him only fuch particulars as he himself intended to relate to the major. Some time after the commiffary's bulinefs requiring the Bramin to go to Tanjore, Poniapah was averse to his departure. On his return from thence he was confined under a guard of Sepoys, for a deficiency in fome money which had been intrusted to him; but Peramrauze promifing to be refponfible for him, Mahomed Ifiouf, after much folicitation, released him: as foon as he came out of his confinement, his mafter fent him to Poniapah, who told him, that so much time had been loft by his journey to Tanjore, and his confinement after his return, that the regent, who had heard nothing of the bufinefs fince they went to Seringham together, muft imagine they had trifled with him; it was necellary therefore, he faid, that the Bramin fhould go to the regent without delay. The Bramin confenting, Poniapah gave him inftructions how to conduct himself; in confequence of which he advised the regent to write to Mr. Palk at Tanjore, defiring him to get permiffion for Poniapah to come again to Seringham: he added, that if the regent could in the mean tine contrive to prevent the English from receiving provisi ons, they must inevitably retire; that as the Neloor Subahdar was the only person who knew how to conduct their convoys, it was neceffary to get him killed, which might eafily be effected, fince he often went abroad with Imall parties; but as a furer method to remove him, the regent ought to write a let ler |