but rigidly punctual and correct: I knew of thousands of pounds belonging to individuals which had passed through his hands, and been most faithfully dealt with. How can we account for such anomalies, such contradictions, such blindness as this?

Deeply interested as I was in the fall of the wretched convict, and of his amiable wife, I strained every nerve to save him from execution; there was a legal distinction in his case resembling that of Aslett, which afforded some footing, and his fair conduct and integrity in all beyond the scene of his fraud, helped me farther on; so that I procured numerous respectable signatures to a petition for the modification of his sentence; and having, from my own position, ready access to the government authorities, where the fountain of mercy lay, I urged every favourable circumstance which could strengthen the application. For a while the scales hung dreadfully on the balance; the prosecutors were inexorable; and the portentous words, "Justice must take its course,' rung frightfully on my ear. Under these impressions, I went to speak with the unhappy man in the condemned cell, and received a shock the effect of which, though quite casual, has not been obliterated to this day, when I shudder at its bare remembrance. My spirits were excited almost to distraction by the interview, and I wrung the poor fellow's hand, perhaps for the last time, and rushed from the dismal place. To my horror I found the doors bolted and egress denied; I screamed for the gaoler, but no one answered my call; reason had not time to exercise its influence, and after another fruitless effort with hand and voice, I tried to grasp the iron fastenings and fell down, as if shot, perfectly insensible upon the pavement. I had luckily been observed though not answered, and I awoke under stimulants in the governor's apartment, to

learn that according to custom the gates were shut at the particular hour for the convenience of the turnkeys, and other prison regulations. My nerves, however, did not

recover the stroke for several weeks.

Another, and a disgraceful incident preceded my final success, and though I have publicly alluded to it years ago, and was only dissuaded by prudential friends, from making it a matter of serious charge against a high legal functionary, I yet relate with reluctance, in the firm belief that such a thing would be utterly impossible in the present day. In the course of our beseeching of interests in every quarter, to aid us in our salvatory endeavours, I accompanied Mrs. Hammon and another lady to the chambers of the then Recorder of London, familiarly, and to my judgment rightly, called "Black Jack," who (I think) had tried the cause, and had therefore paramount influence in directing the result, in order to obtain his merciful representation to the Secretary of State. We went to his house or chambers in Chancery Lane, and made our errand known to an attendant, who communicated its purport to his master. At his desire Mrs. Hammon was shown up stairs, whilst her friend and I waited in the room below. What was our astonishment, in a short while, to see her rush in, aghast and panting with terror-the Angelo of that infamous hour, had proposed to her to go with him to Richmond from the Saturday to Monday, as the condition of his recommending the remission of her husband's life!!! This fact may

appear incredible it is literally true! But to end this tale. I ultimately procured a commutation of the sentence, and leave for the criminal to transport himself for life.* I got him, with a full knowledge of his antecedents, into the employment of a humane and worthy wine merchant of * See Appendix G.

Bourdeaux, with whom, however, he did not continue long. The last I saw of him was many years afterwards, when he risked his neck by an incognito visit to England; and the last I heard of him was, as the most dapper and active waiter in a large French hotel between Calais and Paris.

His unfortunate wife retired into the North of England; and blameless and excellent as she was, I should regret, if still living, that ever this volume of my chequered life should fall under her notice.

CHAPTER XVIII.

MURDER OF MR. PERCEVAL.

Murder most foul, as at the best it is,

But the most foul, strange, and unnatural.-HAMLET.

A meditated and contrived murder.-HENRY V.

A murder which I thought a sacrifice.-OTHELLO.

My narrative of this catastrophe, which I hope may not be without its moral,-teaching the best-intentioned to take heed how they stand lest they fall,-has occupied so much space that I must open a new chapter for the second, and far more important event, which I announced as having befallen within the sphere of my personal action. I allude to the murder of Mr. Perceval, on the 11th of May, 1812, the full and exact particulars of which have never yet been laid before the public; though the broad facts have been truly stated, and even the details, generally, communicated with so near an approach to accuracy, that were it not desirable to have so momentous a piece of History free from all error, I should hardly deem it necessary to re-write, with some additions, the narrative published from my pen, in Fisher's National Portrait Gallery.*

About 5 o'clock of the tragical day referred to, I had

* See Life of the Rt. Hon. Spencer Perceval, vol. i. 1830.

walked down to the House to listen, in my turn, to the interminable debates in Committee on the Orders in Council, which were very briefly reported in the newspapers. On ascending the broad flight of steps which led to the folding door of the lobby, I perceived the minister, with whom I had the honour of a slight acquaintance, immediately behind me, with his light and lithesome step following in the same direction. I saluted him, and was saluted in return, with that benevolent smile which I was so instantly destined to see effaced for ever, and pushing open and holding back the half door, to allow the precedence of entering, I of course made way for him to go in.

He did enter, and there was an instant noise, but as a physical fact it is very remarkable to state that, though I was all but touching him, and if the ball had passed through his body it must have lodged in mine, I did not hear the report of the pistol. It is true it was fired in the inside of the lobby, and I was just out of it; but, considering our close proximity, I have always found it difficult to account for the phenomenon I have noticed. I saw a small curling wreath of smoke rise above his head, as if the breath of a cigar; I saw him reel back against the ledge on the inside of the door; I heard him exclaim, "Oh God!" or "Oh my God!" and nothing more or longer (as reported by several witnesses), for even that exclamation was faint ; and then making an impulsive rush, as it were, to reach the entrance to the house on the opposite side for safety, I saw him totter forward, not half way, and drop dead between the four pillars which stood there in the centre of the space, with a slight trace of blood issuing from his lips. All this took place ere with moderate speed you could count five! Great confusion, and almost as immediately great alarm ensued. Loud cries were uttered, and rapidly