but at length resolved to muster up voice and spirits for a speech at the window, and finding myself opposite to a brilliant star, I told the multitude that the Queen could no more be plucked from her throne than that beautiful star from the heavens. They were in great good humour with me, and at my earnest solicitation left me alone, but betook themselves to breaking some of my neighbour's windows, particularly the parson's, who had very imprudently refused them permission to ring the bells on my arrival. One of the magistrates called to request my interference to prevent further violence, and going among the mob I prevailed upon them to disperse and spare the few of his windows that remained unbroken.

The following passages from a letter written by Denman while at Cheltenham to his old friend Merivale may be inserted here:

Cheltenham: September 24, 1820.

My dear Merivale,-It is neither my wife's fault nor mine that I have not written to you sooner; the entire occupation of the mornings in engagements, and of the evenings in prepense idleness, has prevented it. Before I left London the jaundice had worn itself from pure gold to counterfeit silver, and Baillie has sent me here to wash away the last remains of gilt. I love the place, and find the waters most beneficial. We ride every day, and hear Miss Stephens sing in the Comedy of Errors' to-night. Mackintosh is here, and Dwarris. Lushington has come over from Malvern, and Cradock, of Jesus, has been-just the sort of society that was required under existing circumstances.

You heard of our triumphant entry-the most unexpected tribute to the innocency and honour of my royal mistressand how the mob proceeded to break the parson's windows because he would not suffer the bells to be rung for me. That ungracious divine, however, has not mentioned in his

• Afterwards Sir Fortunatus Dwarris, one of the Masters of the Court of Queen's Bench.

newspaper account that I made a most earnest speech to the populace, deprecating their attack on his house; and afterwards, by the desire of the only magistrate who could be found, went to that house, and, by mingling with the crowd, prevailed on them to disperse quietly. Egotism is always excusable, if not laudable, in letters, but at this present crisis I have some mercy upon you, for on that subject (as Miss Demont expresses it) 'Je ne taris point.'

Tell me, if you have the means of observing, the state of the public mind in your part of the country on the one subject. I frankly own I am surprised, after the scandalous and unsuffered-to-be-contradicted-or-commented-on evidence, to see how warmly public opinion in this part of the world still espouses our cause. Not that I think the evidence of the odious unjust serving men ought to be taken as making out a case against us; but it is singular to see that the old calumniando semper aliquid hæret seems to be actually reversed on this occasion.

Denman, in the personal narrative, relates one or two further incidents of his visit to Cheltenham, which place in the strongest light the popularity of the Queen and the hatred of the people for the unjust serving men' who had borne witness against her.

The Queen's extraordinary popularity was made manifest in a thousand ways. Respectable persons, strangers to me, met me in the walks and the streets, called me by my name, pressed my hand, wished me success, and called for blessings on Her Majesty. There was one very ridiculous occurrence. A German servant called with a publican, entreating me to give him a certificate that he was not Majocchi, having been grossly ill-used and insulted, and his wife driven from her lodgings, by reason of the suspicion that he was that detestable traitor. I gave the most explicit negative to the report, but he could hardly be satisfied without the certificate, which would evidently have availed him nothing.

CHAPTER X.

THE QUEEN'S TRIAL CONTINUED AND CONCLUDED.

A.D. 1820. ET. 41.

Proceedings in the Lords after the resumption on October 3-Brougham's great speech-The peroration-Its effect on Erskine-Brougham's conduct of the case criticised-Speech of John Williams-Witnesses called for the Queen-Copley's cross-examinations-Exultation of ministers-Witnesses for the Queen kept back by Government— Denman at Holland House, preparing his speech on summing up the evidence-Dr. Parr's suggestions-Octavia and Nero-The 'honest chambermaid's Greek '-'Oh dear, Mr. Denman, don't be squeamish ' -Denman's great speech, October 24 and 25-Unfortunate reference at close, 'Go and sin no more '-Parallel between Octavia and Caroline of Brunswick not happy-The Greek quotation a mistake-Not intended by Denman to apply to the King-The King convinced it was-The King nicknamed Nero-Carlton House 'Nérot's Hotel '-Great general merits of the speech-Graceful compliment to Brougham, 'We kept together in our chivalry'-The famous apostrophe to the Duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV., 'Come forth, thou slanderer !'-Great personal advantages of Denman as an orator-His speeches, at the time, preferred to Brougham's-The Attorney-General's replyUnexpectedly good-The debates on second reading-Lord Grey's speech the best-Divisions on second and third reading-Majority for third reading only nine-Result communicated to the Queen-Regina in spite of them '-Denman kisses the Queen's hand-Lord Liverpool withdraws the bill-Final close of the proceedings-Denman's general estimate as to the conduct of the case-Exultation in the country at the abandonment of the bill-Freedom of the City voted to Brougham, Denman, and Lushington.

AFTER completing the account of Denman's stay at Cheltenham, the personal narrative thus proceeds to relate the progress of the Queen's trial, from its

resumption on October 3, till its final close on November 10.

The House of Lords resumed its sittings on October 3, and was on that day addressed by Brougham in one of the most powerful orations that ever proceeded from human lips. His arguments, his observations, his tones, his attitude, his eye, left an impression on my mind which is scarcely ever renewed without exciting strong emotion. The peroration was sublime,' 'Spare the Altar, which must stagger with the shock that rends its kindred Throne.' Erskine rushed out of the House in tears.

The defect of the speech was a want of due care in the comments on the prosecutor's case. If he had taken pains to demonstrate the falsehood of a large part of the evidence, and contrast the proof with the opening, we might have had a fair excuse for claiming an acquittal on the failure of all the charges against us. But this would have been suspicious and difficult, after pausing three weeks on the case, and when it was known that we had sent for witnesses from so many different quarters. Of all the scandalous per

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'My Lords, I pray you to pause. I do earnestly beseech you to take heed! You are standing on the brink of a precipice. It will go forth your judgment if it goes against the Queen, but it will be the only judgment you ever pronounced which, instead of reaching its object, will return and bound back against those who gave it. Save the country, my Lords, from the horrors of this catastrophe; save yourselves from this peril; rescue that country of which you are the ornaments, but in which you can flourish no longer when severed from the people than the blossom when cut off from the roots and the stem of the tree. Save that country that you may continue to adorn it; save the Crown, which is in jeopardy, the Aristocracy, which is shaken; save the Altar, which must stagger from the shock that rends its kindred Throne. You have said, my Lords, you have willed, the Church and the King have willed, that the Queen should be deprived of its solemn service. She has instead of that solemnity the heartfelt prayers of the People. She wants no prayers of mine. But I do here pour forth my humble supplications at the throne of mercy, that that mercy may be poured down upon this people in a larger measure than the merits of their rulers may have deserved, and that your hearts may be turned to justice.'

versions of justice of which we had so much reason to complain, the most revolting was the prohibition to enter upon our defence the moment the case against us was closed, unless we undertook to proceed with our witnesses immediately. The Chancellor had the hardihood to assert that his asking Brougham whether he intended to call witnesses before he permitted him to begin his defence was in conformity with the practice of all courts: this is directly contrary to the truth, and I thought that Brougham ought to have refused to answer. Every counsel has a right to enter upon the defence of his client the moment the accusation is brought to an end, and to make up his mind, from observing the effect he produces on his judges, whether he will call any witnesses or not. The case against the Queen was permitted to circulate through the world and sink deep in every mind during the three weeks of adjournment, without contradiction or comment; and with willing hearts and an easy faith the result was an impression which no negative testimony could have the least chance of removing.

Williams followed Brougham, and it is but justice to say of him that he was most anxious to be excused from speaking. It was unfortunate that his mode of treating the subject brought him so much into direct comparison with such a model, but it was indispensable that the evidence should be more minutely sifted than it had been, and he argued that part of the case closely, powerfully, and ingeniously.

Our witnesses were called, and their evidence is known to the world: the tricks of our adversaries are not known. What I said in my speech of the low character of their manœuvres was literally true. Copley's cross-examinations were forcible and skilful; that of Flynn restored a lost cause. The ministers (impartial judges!) could hardly restrain their joy. Lord Sidmouth said they were 20 per cent. better than they had been the day before.

Without entering into minute particulars, I must give one sample of the conduct of the ministers, who not only set on