topics. His Lordship did not speak on this occasion. Mr. Brougham opened the debate on the state of the nation, and in the course of his speech, in allusion to the noble Lord, insinuated that his Lordship was privy to some of the scenes of horror that took place in Ireland; and added, that a man who had been practising the torture on innocent men, had obtained a bill of indemnity and a baronetcy. Lord Castlereagh repelled the attack with boldness, saying, that Mr. Brougham's description of alleged cruelties, practised during the administration in Ireland, of which he, Lord Castlereagh, had been a member, ought long since to have been made the foundation of an impeachment, if they were believed to be true, and not have been reserved to have been brought forward in a strain of black, malignant, and libellous insinuation on the last day of a session. Sir F. Burdett and Mr. Bennet followed. They reiterated the insinuations, and referred to the affidavits which had been collected in Ireland by Mr. Finnerty, but which that gentleman was not permitted to read in mitigation of punishment. Lord Castlereagh again claimed the attention of the House: - "With respect to the facts," said he, " stated in these affidavits, it has been said that I smiled at their recital. I did indeed smile at their imputation; for though I felt it to be one most abhorrent to my nature, it is also one so remote from truth, that I treat it only with contempt." The noble secretary concluded thus " But while I vindicate the Irish government against the charge of inflicting torture to obtain truth, I must at the same time say, that I have not been present at any of the punishments in question. I have never in the course of my life seen any man flogged, except a soldier in my own militia regiment." - A sentence from Mr. Canning, in the course of an admirable speech in the same debate, is not the least interesting part of the proceeding. "What," said he, " is the situation of my noble friend compared with that of his unnamed accusers? Men who have shared in repeated pardons, and hid their degraded heads under a general amnesty, now advance to revile the individual to whom they

owe their despicable lives. A pardoned traitor, a forgotten incendiary, a wretch who escaped the gallows, and screened himself in humble safety only by the clemency of my noble friend, is now to be produced as the chief witness for his conviction. If the legislature has consented to bury in darkness the crimes of rebellion, is it too much that rebels, after twenty years, should forgive the crime of having been forgiven ?"

Since the death of Mr. Perceval, Lord Castlereagh, though not nominally, has been virtually at the lead of the administration. His attention to the duties of his office was unremitting, and they have been unusually severe during the last session of parliament, and are supposed to have had an injurious effect upon his health and spirits. The noble Lord's friends had with pain observed, for some time past, an alarming alteration in his health: they perceived that the business and squabbles, and contests of the house, created great restlessness of demeanour and irritation; but none of them had imagined, that his mind was affected by the exhaustion, resulting from such severe parliamentary labours, saying nothing of the irritation occasioned by being compelled to alter the plans of the parliamentary campaign after the Easter recess. The mortification resulting from feeling it politic thus to change the ministerial system of tactics, even after the noble Lord had himself unfolded the schemes and intentions of government, may be imagined; but the real effect was only perceived by those who had opportunities of most intimately observing his Lordship's conduct, and of hearing his confidential conversations. They declare, that they never before remarked his Lordship's command of temper to be overcome; that they never before discovered him to evince uneasiness at any untoward circumstances that might have occurred in the house, in the cabinet, or in public life. But even in the house this touchiness displayed itself, in a very recent instance, to the surprise of many of the noble Lord's surrounding friends. It was particularly remarked the last night he was present in the house; and it was the general subject of conversation next day, at the subscription-houses, and in the several political circles at the west end of the town. On the debate on the "Superannuation Bill," Mr. Canning strongly opposed it, after declaring that it had been postponed twenty-seven times; and in his opposition he "imagined" the case of " a youth" who, while at the university, had left fellowships, studentships, &c., all for place under government, the reward for which was to be destroyed by this bill. The noble Lord, in reply, was evidently hurt at such opposition, and that it should come from such a quarter; and he retorted upon the Right Honourable Gentleman, that the "imaginary" case was nothing of the kind;-that it was a "real case," but one that did not affect the principle of the bill. The political conversations of the next day said, that the imaginary case applied to an instance in the Chinnery family! The distinct contradiction, however, thus given to Mr. Canning, was looked upon as a very peculiar circumstance, judging of Lord Londonderry from the tact and temper that he had always shown on former occasions.

But still no one apprehended that the noble Marquis's mind was in any way affected. His Majesty was the first to communicate the fear and suspicion that a change had taken place; that caution was requisite; that danger otherwise might result. On the Friday, (August 9. 1822) preparatory to his Majesty's departure for Scotland, in the course of that audience, his Majesty was surprised and alarmed, at the incoherent manner in which Lord Londonderry conversed; and after the noble Lord's departure, it is stated, that the King wrote to Lord Liverpool, mentioning that the Marquis of Londonderry had just been with him, and that he had talked in a very remarkable manner; that his Majesty felt alarmed on his Lordship's account; and that it would be advisable to take becoming precautions to have the opportunity of watching his Lordship's conduct. His Majesty further urged the necessity of at once having medical advice ; but if possible, without letting his Lordship know that his demeanour had been the subject of any remark. On the

Marquis of Londonderry's arrival at his house in St. James's Square, his lady and several persons in his establishment noticed in his Lordship a singular incoherence of look, and great agitation of mind. Dr. Bankhead, who had been for many years his Lordship's physician, was immediately sent for. He found his illustrious patient labouring under a considerable depression of spirits, and complaining of an oppressive sensation in the head. Dr. Bankhead recommended that he should be cupped, and waited until the cupper arrived, by whom seven ounces of blood were taken from the back of his Lordship's neck. This evidently relieved him; and Dr. Bankhead suggested the propriety of his taking repose on the sofa for half an hour, before he set out for North Cray, whither he was on the eve of departure. With this advice the noble Lord complied, and became much more composed. He was attended by his lady with the most affectionate solicitude, and by her persuasion took some tea. Dr. Bankhead then gave him some aperient medicine, desiring that he would take it in the morning, and keep himself cool and quiet. His Lordship, before he took his leave, stated that he felt himself extremely unwell; and stipulated that Dr. Bankhead should go to North Cray the next day, and remain with him until he was better. To this Dr. Bankhead agreed, and they parted, the Marquis and his lady setting out for his seat.

On Saturday evening, Dr. Bankhead, in pursuance of his promise, proceeded to North Cray: he arrived about seven o'clock, and was immediately shown into the Marquis's room. He found him in bed; but from the manner in which he addressed him on his approach, he at once saw that he was labouring under a serious nervous attack. He endeavoured to compose his mind, and remained with him the better part of the night, again giving him some cooling medicine, and confining his diet to food of the simplest character. The whole of the next day his Lordship continued in bed; but again evinced such a waywardness of imagination, and seemed to be labouring under such extraordinary delusions, that it was deemed expedient to remove from his reach every thing by which he might do himself bodily mischief. His Lordship frequently expressed apprehensions that he was the object of some dreadful conspiracy; and even when he saw Dr. Bankhead and his amiable Marchioness talking together, he exclaimed, that he was sure they were plotting some mischief against him. His manner too, which had been usually kind and indulgent, became harsh and severe. He grew petulant and impatient; still the physician saw no ground for serious apprehension, and did not deem it necessary to call in additional advice. He attributed his Lordship's disease to the great anxiety and fatigue incident to his very irksome office, and hoped that a little quiet would restore him to his accustomed vigour of mind and constitution. He remained with his Lordship until a late hour on Sunday night, and observed with pleasure, that his conversation became more rational; at length he left him with the Marchioness, and retired to an adjoining room. In the morning, the Marquis, after having had some sleep, awoke suddenly, and rang the bell; the Marchioness's maid answered it; when he asked her what she wanted in the room, apparently forgetting that he had summoned her. The Marchioness then said, that his Lordship wanted breakfast, and breakfast was accordingly brought. He found fault with it, and said it was not fit for him, although precisely the same as usual. At half-past seven he rang again, and desired that Dr. Bankhead might be sent to him. The Marchioness then quitted the room, and entered her own dressing-room. At this moment the servant retired, and went to apprise Dr. B. of his Lordship's desire. Dr. B. said he was ready to attend immediately. The servant then went back to see that her mistress had retired; and at that moment, while she stood in the passage, the Marquis opened the door, and rushed by her into his dressing-room. He was attired only in his dressing-gown. She was alarmed, and called for Dr. B., who rushed to the spot. She said her lord had gone into his dressing-room, and Dr. B. hastened forward; when, at the moment he reached the door, he saw the Marquis with his front towards the window, and his face