No More Learning

John Henley, better known by the appellation
of Orator Henley, was born at Milton Mowbray, Leicestershire, August 3d, 1692. His father, the
Reverend Simon Henley, and his grandfather by his mother's side, were both vicars of that parish. His grandfather, by his father's side, John Henley, M. A. was likewise a clergyman, rector of Salmonby and Thetford, in Lincolnshire, was educated among the dissenters, and conformed at the restoration.
The orator was bred up first in the free-school of
Milton, under Mr. Daffy, a diligent and expert grammarian. From this school he was removed to that of Okeham, in Rutland, under Mr. Wright,
VOL. IV. B
2 MEMOIRS OF [georgk ii.
eminent for his knowledge
and Hebrew languages. About 1709, he entered
where, on his ex' ami nation by Dr. Gower, then master, Dr. Lambert,
St. John's-college, Cambridge,
Edmundson, and others, he was, according to his own account, particularly approved. iWhile an
Dr.
at St. John's, he wrote a letter to the Spectator, dated from that College, February 3, 1712, signed Peter de Quir, abounding with quaint* ness and local wit. He began here to be very uneasy,
and was more inclined to dispute than to assent to any points of doctrine ; and already fancied himself able to reform the whole system of academical edu cation.
After he had commenced his degree of Bachelor of Arts, he was first desired by the trustees of the school in Milton to assist in, and then to take the direction of, that school ; which he increased, raised from a declining to a flourishing condition.
He established here, he informs us, a practice of improving elocution, by the public speaking of pas sages in the classics, morning and afternoon, as well as orations, &c. Here he was invited, by a letter from the
Rev. Mr. Newcome, to be a candidate for a fellow ship in St. John's ; but, as he had long been absent,
under-graduate
of the Latin, Greek,
and
ceorob ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 3
and therefore lessened his personal interest, he de clined appearing for it. Here likewise he began his " Universal Grammar," and finished ten languages, with dissertations prefixed, as the most ready in troduction to any tongue whatever. In the be ginning of this interval he wrote a poem on " Esther," which was approved by the town, and well received, as indeed it amply deserved. It is preceded by a learned preface, in which he discovers an intimate knowledge of Oriental studies, and some learned ety
from the Persic, Hebrew, and Greek, con cerning the name and person of Ahasuerus, whom he makes to be Xerxes. On the occasion of his "Grammars," Dr. Hutchinson wrote him a com plimentary letter. He was ordained a deacon by Dr. Wake, then Bishop of Lincoln ; and, after having taken his degree of M. A. , was admitted to priest's orders by Dr. Gibson, his successor in that see.
He did not long consent to rest in the country, but, impatient to obtain wealth and fame in London, resigned his offices of master and curate, and entered
*
Translations of Pliny's Epistles ; several works of
mologies
upon a new career.
In town he produced several publications ; as,
4 MEMOIRS OF [qkorgr ii.
Abbe Vertot; of Montfaucon's Italian Travels, in folio, and many other books. His principal patron was the Earl of Macclesfield, who gave him a bene fice in the country, the value of which, to a resident, would have been about eighty pounds a-year; he had likewise a lecture in the city; and, according to his
regular
own account, preached more charity-sermons about town, was more numerously followed, and raised more for the poor children, than any other preacher, however dignified or distinguished. This popularity, with Henley's enterprising spirit, and
introducing action into the pulpit, were " The true causes," he says, " why some obstructed his rising in town, from envy, jealousy, and a disrelish of those
who are not qualified to be complete spaniels. For there was no objection to his being tossed into a
benefice by the way of the sea, as far as Galilee of the Gentiles, like a pendulum swinging one way as far as the other. " Not being able to obtain preferment in London, and not choosing to return into the country, he struck out the plan of his Lectures, or Orations, which he puffed with an astonishing vulgarity of arrogance, as may be seen in the following specimen ; —
" That he should have the assurance to frame a
country
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 5
plan, which no mortal ever thought of; that he should singly execute what would sprain a dozen of* modern doctors of the tribe of Issachar ; that he should have success against all opposition ; challenge his adversaries to fair disputations, without any offering
to dispute with him ; write, read, and study twelve hours a-day, and yet appear as untouched by the
yoke, as if he never wore it ; compose three disser tations each week, on all subjects, however uncom mon, treated in all lights and manners, by himself, without assistance, as some would detract from him ; teach in one year what schools and universities teach in five ; offer to learn—to speak, and—to read ;
not to be terrified by cabals, or menaces, or insults, or the grave nonsense of one, or the frothy satire of another ; but he should still proceed and mature this bold scheme, and put the church, and all that, in danger. "
In this style Henley lectured on Sundays upon theological matters, and on Wednesdays upon all other sciences. He declaimed some years against
the greatest persons ; and, occasionally, says Warbur- ton, did Pope that honour. The poet retorted upon him in the well-known lines : — »
VOL. iv. c
gEorge ii. ]
MEMOIRS OF [georcse n.
" But where each science lifts its modern type, History ber pot, Divinity his pipe ;
While proud Philosophy repines to show,
Dishonest sight! his breeches rent below;
Irabrown'd with native bronze, lo Henley stands," &c.
Orator Henley endeavoured, on all popular occa sions, to render himself particular, and caught at even the most trifling incidents to excite the public atten tion. Dr. Cobden, one of George the Second's chap
lains, having, in 1748, preached a sermon at St. James's from these words : " Take away the wicked from be fore the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness ;" it gave so much displeasure, that the doctor was struck out of the list of chaplains ; and the next Saturday, the following parody of his text appeared as a motto to Henley's advertisement :—
" Away with the wicked before the king, And away with the wicked behind him ; His throne it will bless
With righteousness
And wc shall know where to find him. "
Hogarth has more than once indulged the vein of his humour at Henley's expense. In a print entitled the Oratory, Henley is represented on a scaffold, a
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 7
monkey (over which is written amen) by his side; a box of pills and the Hyp-doctor lying beside him ; over his head, "The Oratory. " —Inveniam viam ant
faciam, (the motto on the medals which the orator dispersed as tickets to his subscribers. ) Over the door, " Ingredere ut projicias —The inscription over the outer door of St. Paul's school. A parson receiving the money for admission ; under him, " The Treasury ;" a butcher stands as porter. On
the left hand, Modesty in a cloud ; Folly in a coach ; and a gibbet prepared for Merit. People laughing ; —
one marked the scout introducing a puritan divine ; and a boy easing nature. Several grotesque figures, one of them (marked tee hee) in a violent fit of
laughter ; underneath the following inscription: —
An extempore Epigram, made at the Oratory: —
" O, Orator ! with brazen face and lungs,
" Whose jargon's form'd often unlearned tongues,
" Why stand'st thou there a whole long hour haranguing, " When half the time fits better men for hanging! "
Henley was too good a subject to part with easily,
and we find him a second time brought into notice, in
the act of christening a child, represented in a print, with the following verses under it: —
c2
ceorge ii. ]
6
MEMOIRS OF [GEORGE II,
" Behold Vilaria, lately brought to bed,
Her cheeks now strangers to their rosy red,
Languid her eyes, yet lovely she appears!
And oh ! what fondness her lord's visage wears ! The pamper'd priest, in whose extended arms The female infant lies, with budding charms,
Seeming to ask the name ere he baptize,
Casts at the handsome gossips his wanton eyes, While gay Sir Fopling, an accomplished ass,
Is courting his own dear image in the glass:
The midwife busied, too, with mighty care, Adjusts the cap, shews innocency fair.
Behind her stands the clerk, on whose grave face Sleek Abigal cannot forbear to gaze :
But master, without thought, poor harmless child, Has on the floor the holy-water spill'd,
Thrown down the hat; the lap-dog gnaws the rosej And at the fire the nurse is warming clothes.
One guest inquires the parson's name ; — says Friendly, Why, don't you know, Sir? —'tis Hyp-doctor Henley. "
Mr. Nichols, in his biographical anecdotes of Hogarth, has clearly ascertained that the clergyman in the Modern Midnight Conversation was intended %o represent Orator Henley ; and to degrade him still more, he is introduced drinking gin with a prostitute and female robber, in the last plate of his Harlot's Pn>
gress, while attending, in his clerical character, the ceremony of the funeral.
Orator Henley struck medals, which he dispersed as tickets to his subscribers, representing a star rising
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 9
to the meridian, with this motto, " ad summa ;" for each of these the price was one shilling. His audience was generally composed of the lowest ranks ; and it is well known, that he once collected a vast number of shoe-makers, by announcing that he could teach them a speedy mode of operating in their business, which proved only to be the making of shoes, by cutting off the tops of ready-made boots. His motto on this occasion was, " Omne majus contiuet in se minus. "
He was author of a weekly paper of unintelligible nonsense, called " The Hyp-Doctor," for which secret service he had 100/. a-year given him, and which was lntended to counteract the effect of the " Craftsman," a proof how little his patron, Sir Robert
Walpole, knew of literary assistance. Henley used,
george n. ]
to print an advertisement in *f The Daily Advertiser," containing an account of the sub jects on which he intended to discourse on the ensu
ing evening, at his Oratory near Lincoln's-inn-fields. The advertisement had a sort of motto before which was generally sneer at some public transaction of the preceding week. Henley died Oct. 14, 1736.
A late reviewer of the life of this extraordinary man
says, " He was scholar of great acquirements, and of no mean genius hardy and inventive eloquent
every Saturday,
;
;
a a
it,
10 rfEMOIRS OF [CEORGE II.
and witty ; and might have been an ornament to
literature, which he made ridiculous ; and the pride
of the pulpit, which he so egregiously disgraced ; but having blunted and worn out that interior feeling, which is the instinct of the good man, and the wis dom of the wise, there was no balance in his passions, and the decorum of life was sacrificed to its selfish ness. He condescended to live on the follies of the people, and his sordid nature had changed him till he crept licking the dust with the serpent. " In his ac count of himself he assumes the credit of considerable learning, and a strong zeal for knowledge ; which, at one time, certainly was the case, but his talents became miserably perverted ; both his style and his thoughts were low ; vanity and censoriousness are the most conspicuous qualities he exhibited ; and his manners, became gross and ferocious, and entirely corresponded with his writings.
. . . . . . . . . . ,. ,K pr:. :. ;c i - ily
T
i LL
AJ-""! ! I'. "- - •". 'I' . . . . .
FLORENCE
HENSETM. 1).
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 11
fgowg*
Flouence Hensey was born in the county of Kildare, in Ireland. When very young he came to England, and soon after went over to Holland; and was educated in the university of Leyden. His na tural parts were rather phlegmatic than sprightly ; and he made greater advances in physic, and the laborious sciences, than in polite literature. He afterwards travelled in Switzerland, and continued some time at Berne, from whence he went to Italy. On leaving
Italy he sailed from Genoa to Lisbon, and journeyed through Spain in his way to France. By these tra vels he gained a competent knowledge of Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish; and his residence for some years at Paris enabled him to speak and write the French tongue with great fluency.
During his time abroad, he supported himself in quality of a physician, and came over to England in hopes of settling here in that character ; but either he had not interest, or merit, to recommend him, for we
cannot learn that he had any patients of consequence,
ceorcem. ]
Florence
12 MEMOIRS OF [george iu
some of his prescriptions were the means of his detection. Having continued a literary corres
since he left the university, with a fellow- student who resided at Paris and had lately got into the secretary of state's office for foreign affairs, he wrote to him a more than usual complimentary letter, informing him, in general terms, " he should be glad of an opportunity of doing him any service that lay
in his power, and executing any commission he might have in London," which general invitation his correspondent shrewdly construed into a desire of commencing a criminal correspondence ; but as he did not think proper to hazard any communications
until such time as he should be convinced of the doctor's real intentions, he wrote word back, " that he was infinitely obliged to him for the service he offered, and that if he understood him rightly, their correspon dence might be rendered more advantageous to both,
by changing their topics from literary to political. " The doctor replied, " he was glad to find so dis-* cerning a man in his fellow-student, and if he could obtain for him a recompense suitable to the trouble, he would endeavour to make his intelligence of the
utmost importance. " By the next post he received an answer, containing instructions, directions, and an
though
pondence,
•bomb ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 13
appointment of 500 livres (about 95l. sterling) a quar ter. The instructions were, to send lists of all our men-of-war, in and out of commission : their condi tion, situation, the number of men on-board each ; when they sailed, under what commanders, from what ports, and their destinations: accounts of the actual number of our troops, what regiments were complete, and which were recruiting ; where they were quartered or garrisoned ; the earliest accounts of
any enterprises against France ; plans of fortified places in England, America, &c. The directions were of those persons to whom he was to send under cover; some at Cologne, some at the Hague, and some at Bern, in Switzerland ; and they were to for ward his letters from those respective places to Paris. Though the doctor was far from being satisfied with this stipend, he nevertheless thought proper to accept
in hopes by his merit to obtain greater salary.
With this view he endeavoured to insinuate
into the good graces of some of the clerks in our offices, in hopes by their means to gain intelligence of what was transacting concerning naval and military affairs. But not finding in them any such treacherous
as animated him, he, after some fruitless efforts, gave over the attempt, fearing their zeal might
disposition
VOL. IV. D
himself
it,
a
14 MEMOIRS OF [george u.
induce them to make a discovery of any hints he might give of his design ; so that we do not find he had any connection with the clerks in our offices, as
some persons have supposed.
But we find, that being frustrated in this project, he
used to frequent all the political coffee-houses about town. He commonly passed hours in silence at Toms' s in Devereux-court; the largeness of his peruke, and the sanction of doctor, rendering him unsuspected
the medical gentlemen that resorted there. He often pushed himself into the back-room at Old
among
and picked as much prejudice, and ill- natured remarks, upon the situation and conduct of our affairs as replenished a sheet for next post. He
plied at the Mount, under pretence of reading the Hague Gazette, though he had got it by heart before at the Exchange. He was a constant customer at the St. James's or the Smyrna on a council-day ; and never failed being at the Cocoa-tree after the house was up. By these means he got acquainted with many particulars, that remained perfect secrets to us a long while. It is confidently asserted, that it . was resolved in council, so late as the 24th of July, to attack Rochefort, and that his letter of the 29th of the same month particularly mentioned this resolution;
Slaughter's;
oeorge ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 15
and that General Mordatint and Admiral
were at that time unacquainted with the intent. He never entered into any political controversies; but when there was an absolute necessity of giving his opinion, he always decided in favor of England ; so that, though a papist, he was never suspected by those he conversed with ; nor was he supposed guilty of
any illegal practices in the house where he lodged, having appointed a coffee-house near St. Clement's church for the receipt of his letters, under a fictitious name.
He had continued his correspondence from the be ginning of the year 17-5G, without any material inter
ruption, writing upon the margin of a newspaper such news and observations as were not there con tained ; in this manner the examiners of the post- office were deceived, and let these letters pass, imagin
ing there was nothing more contained than the news paper. At length his employers complained of the insignificancy of his intelligence, and the necessity there was of extending his plan, otherwise they would
discontinue his appointment ; and actually threatened to deduct a guinea for every letter that did not con tain some advice of importance. This letter, which was transmitted from Pjtris by the Hague, contained
D3
Hawke
16 MEMOIRS OF [george n.
nothing seemingly but a few wide lines, written upon
the most trifling, complimentary subject ; and was therefore re-sealed and conveyed to him by means of the fictitious direction. An answer to this came from him, which was sent by Holland, to Paris. This letter of the Doctor's, which then appeared upon examination to be nothing but an answer to the com pliments, contained (as since has been found, by the copies he kept by him) a representation of the small income, which was not sufficient to make him neglect his practice, and such company as proper intelligence was to be obtained from. These wide-wrote letters had their desired effect, by passing unnoticed for some time at the post-office ; at length the secretary sus pecting there must be something more contained than
these corresponding trifles, held one to the fire, when many lines, written with lemon-juice, between the black ones plainly appeared. This letter, which was dated from Twickenham, after giving a very exact account of the state of our finances, the condition of our fleet and army, their disposition, how many ships
and how many soldiers lined the coasts of England, concluded with asserting that the only means of preventing the success of the expedition (to Roch- jfort) would be to make a powerful diversion upon the
guarded,
george ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 17
coast of England, with a considerable force ; that by thus attacking us in our very vitals, we might be en gaged at home, and be prevented from sending a num ber of troops abroad sufficient to give them any real annoyance. The discovery of this letter unravelled the whole mystery of all the former ; henceforth all
letters directed as before were stopt, and those that came from abroad were intercepted. The real person to whom they were directed was soon discovered, and his haunts were as soon known. Being a papist, he never failed going to one of the ambassador's chapels on a Sunday ; and as the Spanish minister's in Soho- square was that which he most usually frequented, a secretary-of-state's warrant being issued for his ap prehension, he was way-laid coming from thence by two of his Majesty's messengers on Sunday, the 21st of August, 1757; and after being dodged to two houses in Dean-street, and from thence to the Montpellier
facing Greek-street, where he dined, he was seized in St. Martin's-lane, and conducted to the
house of one of the messengers in Jenny n-street.
As soon as he was secured, his lodgings, at Mr. Blount's, Arundel-street, in the Strand, were searched,
where they found in his bureau twenty-nine rough
from his
coffee-house,
draughts of letters ; also his correspondence
18 MEMOIRS OF [george n.
employers ; all written with lemon-juice between the
black lines. In those he had received from abroad
were complaints of the insignificance of his intelli gence, and how they were better served by a person who lived (or had lived) at Colchester : that there was no need of acquainting them with what the Duke was doing in Germany, they being much earlier and better
informed than he could instruct them. They likewise
contained instructions, how to write with greater safety
and dispatch, by means of directing all the important letters to his brother, who served in the double capacity
ofchaplain, and under-secretary to the Spanish minister at the Hague. These instructions he closely followed,
as appeared by the rough draughts of his letters, which lately contained more important intelligence, as well with respect to the disposition of our fleets and armies, as to the secrets of the cabinet, which is sur prising how he could obtain ; nor can it be otherwise
accounted for than by his frequenting such coffee houses where it is supposed subjects of this nature
were usually most spoken of. It appears he gave intelligence of Admiral Holbourne's destination to America, a few davs after the admiral's instructions were signed ; and was particularly minute with respect to the number of ships and troops on-board, with the
george ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 19
day of their departure, &c. This improvement in his intelligence is to be attributed to the increase which his salary now received ; for instead of five hundred livres a quarter, he was promised that sum every month ; and was also given to understand, that if
there were any hopes of procuring intelligence of great consequence, not to spare expense, as he might assure himself of all possible encouragement. But this rich endowment was of short duration ; for he received merely one month's salary before he was
taken into custody, when his poverty was so great that all his cash, both in his pocket and his bureau, did not amount to a guinea.
his confinement at the messenger's he was particularly reserved, very seldom entering into any conversation, and never mentioning any thing relative to his own affairs. This precaution was of very little use, as he afterwards found ; but he all along imagined that proceedings against him would not be carried to any great extreme, and that he could, by the intercession of friends, procure a mitigation of his punishment ; but, alas ! his friends were like most others, merely temporary ; his coffee-house ac
During
all disowned him ; and those persons who had been connected with him were, through
quaintance
20
necessity, obliged would have been
son, and liable
MEMOIRS OF [George
evidences; otherwise they guilty misprision high-trea
have suffered accordingly. The
facts were too glaring suffer him escape with
impunity; and was high time make exam
ple some, deter others from the same practices.
On his examinations before the secretary-of-state,
made the most trifling excuses: pretending his
ignorance
though,
enormity
counselling
England.
nesday, the 9th March,
the Earl Holdernesse, one
cipal secretaries-of-state, being charged with high treason, adhering and assisting, the king's enemies. his finances were low the time of
his being taken into custody, they were still greater ebb the time his commitment, after near
seven months confinement the messenger's, during which time he had more than exhausted the small
remains his stock for superfluities; fine, he found himself under the necessity pawning his sword for guinea, pay garnish, and was much
the consequences his conduct,
the same time, his offence,
was conscious the actually inviting and
the French make invasion
He was committed
Newgate Wed
the Right Honorable his majesty’s prin
*
at on an a of
a
of inofofat atIf of
to
to
of
at
an
to
in
of
at
by to to
of
to,
be of
of
it to to
by he of
on
II.
of
to
he
of
to
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 21
in arrears for the room in the press-yard, which he was to pay five shillings a week for. His confine ment in Newgate all along resembled that at the messenger's ; and he scarce spoke to any but his confessor, who frequently visited him.
He was indicted at Easter-term, in the 31st of George II. , the solicitor of the treasury being pro secutor for the crown ; and the indictment was found at Westminster, by the grand inquest for the county
of Middlesex. The same being returned to Banco
Regis, he was brought from Newgate that term to the bar of the court, and arraigned for high- treason, in adhering to the king's enemies, and carry ing on, by letters, a treasonable correspondence with one ha Roche, and P. de France, as appeared by the answers he received from these French corres pondents ; to which he pleaded not guilty. A copy of the indictment being delivered to him, the
court ordered him to prepare for his trial, on Monday, the 12th of June following.
george ii. ]
He was, in consequence,
conducted from Newgate in a hackney-coach, the irons which he wore being taken off ; and, between nine and ten o'clock that morning, brought into the court of King's-bench by Mr. Richard Akerman,
VOL. IV. E
on the 12th of June
/
22 MEMOIRS OF
[GEORGE
head-keeper Newgate, whose custody was when, after the usual forms for silence, &c. the jury being called, the prisoner was arraigned the indictment.
He stood charged by the name
physic, late the parish the county Middleser,
his country, and not obeying the duty his allegiance our Sovereign Lord George the Second, King Great Britain, France and Ireland, &c. the months May and June,
1757, and divers other times, well before after, the parish aforesaid, and county aforesaid, with force, and arms, feloniously, traitorously, and
his malice aforethought, did write certain letters
Florence Hensey, doctor St. Clement Danes,
with being “traitor
the agents and subjects
Lewis, the French king, open war, giving ac our fleets and armies that
with whom we are now
count the strength
were then preparing Great Britain and inviting the said Lewis, the French king, his subjects and vassals, invade these realms, and make most
bloody slaughter his majesty's subjects. ”
To this indictment pleaded Not guilty, object
ing eleven the jury before they came
sworn and, having finished his challenges, special jury was summoned, composed twelve gentle
of
a
to ; a
as of
of of
;
to
to
in
at
of
he
of a In
of
to be
an
on
on
in
of
to in of
of
at of
of to
in
to of
of
as
he
of ; it.
ceorge ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 23
men of great property in the county of Middlesex. The counsel for the ciown opened the indictment,
by setting forth that " the prisoner at the bar, though a subject of this realm, and living under the protection of its laws, had for a considerable time past held a treasonable correspondence with the enemies of our gracious Sovereign Lord the King, and stood accused of other high crimes and misdemeanors. They fur
ther set forth, that the prisoner had solicited for a pension from the French ministers, in order, as far as lay in his power, to betray the secrets of our Sovereign Lord the King; and give such intelligence to his said enemies of the destination of his majesty's fleets, and number of ships they were composed of, and by whom commanded ; as also of the number of troops in Great Britain, and the English colonies abroad, whereby any design to annoy the enemies
of these kingdoms might be frustrated, his majesty's territories invaded, and even his sacred life endan gered ; as it is reasonable to conclude, from his known valor and love for his subjects, he would head his own troops in so perilous and critical a situation. That, as to the crime for which he stood indicted, it was
as mu,ch more fatal in its consequences than an act E2
24 MEMOIRS OF [george n.
of open rebellion, as the power of a whole nation was superior to that of a single person. "
The counsel then proceeded to shew, that notice
having been received by the government of such
treasonable correspondence, messengers were sent to
the prisoner, who found in his bureau copies of twenty-nine letters of intelligence, which he sent to France ; some being of the most dangerous
apprehend
not only giving advice of our fleets and armies, their destination, but also advising a descent on this island, in order effectually to prevent our
successes abroad.
The witnesses were then examined : —
The servant-maid at Mr. Blount's, and another
witness, (his washerwoman,) proved that he lodged in a room up one-pair of stairs at Mr. Blount's, and that the bureau, in which the letters were found by the messengers, was in the prisoner's said room. The prisoner's counsel remarked, in regard to this
evidence, "That as the house was a common lodging- house, and at that time full, those papers and letters might have been put in by some other person, Mrs. Blount, the landlady, having a key to the same. " But this objection was soon set aside, by its being proved
tendency,
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 25
that the key Mrs. Blount, the landlady, had in her
possession, could not open the upper part of the bureau where these papers were ; but only the drawers of the under part of the bureau, where the doctor's
linen was.
The identity of the hand-writing was the principal
point to be proved, which was done by several cre dible witnesses ; namely, Mr. Mendez, on whom he had various bills of exchange ; Dr. Wilbraham, of Westminster, and several apothecaries, who had received prescriptions from the doctor, for patients under his care, which they had kept on their files.
A point of law was argued by the prisoner's coun sel, concerning a flaw in the indictment; as they asserted all the letters read in court were written in
London, and intercepted at the general post-office, in Lombard-street ; and that, therefore, the indict ment could not be laid in Middlesex ; but it ap
peared one of these letters was dated at Twickenham, and the court in consequence over-ruled this opposi tion. Various points of law being now started by the counsel for the prisoner, to oppose the proof of the overt-act of high-treason, they endeavoured to in: sinuate, that holding a correspondence with the king's
enemies was not in itself high-treason ; and that
george ii. ]
26 MEMOIRS OF [geouge ir.
if it were, as he had not actually corresponded with them but in Holland, Germany, and Switzerland, which were not parts of the dominions of the French king, hecould not be found guilty of the crime for which
he was indicted. But the sophistry of these argu ments was easily combated by the counsel for the crown, who made it plainly appear, that these letters were not written to those persons to whom the out side superscription was addressed, but directed to them to be forwarded to Paris ; that the correspon dence itself did not only render him guilty of treason, but also the nature of the correspondence, by which
he adhered to assist the king's enemies.
Lord Mansfield made a very candid and judicious
recapitulation of the various points upon which the evidence turned, remarking, at the same time, that though clemency was one of the most god-like at
tributes of humanity, it was necessary the gentle men of the jury should consider the heinousness of the crime, and the credibility of the witnesses, and then let their consciences give the verdict.
Dr. Hensey had hitherto supported himself with courage ; but, during the absence of the jury, which was about three-quarters of an hour, he trembled ex cessively, and repeatedly changed colour, while large
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 27
drops of perspiration ran down his face ; and the agitation of his mind was so great that he burst into tears. On the return of the jury, he had scarcely strength to hold up his hand at the bar^ A verdict of Guilty being pronounced, a rule of court was made for his being brought up to receive sentence on
the Wednesday following.
While Lord Mansfield was pronouncing sentence,
on the appointed day, the convict shed tears, turned pale, and trembled exceedingly ; and, after sentence, he begged a fortnight to make proper preparation for his death; but the court generously granted him a
month.
Early on the morning on which he was to have
been executed, a respite was received, and afterwards
a reprieve during the king's pleasure. He continued after this above three years in Newgate; and then embarked for France, on obtaining a free pardon. It was presumed, that the political reason for respit ing Dr. Hensey, arose from a view to discover his accomplices, if he had any ; but as no such discovery was ever made, it is but reasonable to suppose that
the favor shewn him arose from a different cause.
At the time Hensey was apprehended, his bro ther was secretary and chaplain to the Spanish
george II. ]
MEMOIRS OF [GEORGE It.
ambassador at the Hague. To this brother he wrote an account of his misfortunes ; in consequence of which, the Spanish ambassador at London was ap plied to, by the gentleman in a similar office at the
Hague ; and such representations were made to the English ministry, that the reprieve above-mentioned followed ; though King George the Second could not be prevailed on to grant him a free pardon. It was only after the accession of his late gracious majesty George the Third, that Dr. Hensey obtained his full pardon, when, on giving the usual security for his good behaviour, he was discharged.
i. \i
.
L
WILLIAM KI T C UK
I Hcndlc of Siii'i'i-tui Hill, thiti. hi Garden. St Ely Rents. )
«
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 29
William
This conceited coxcomb had the vanity to cause his effigy to be engraved and handed down to poste rity, recording that " William Kitchener enjoyed the
"very important office of beadle, for the liberty of Saffron-hill, Hatton-garden, and Ely-rents, all in the parish of St. Andrew's, Holborn. " Mr. Kitchener had the singular generosity at the festive season of Christ mas to pay his personal respects to every housekeeper within his diocese or liberty ; and on receiving the cus
tomary tribute of the ordinary fees on the occasion, would present them with a copy of his likeness, with the following complimentary lines :—
" My worthy masters of this liberty,
To your good ladies and posterity
A merry Christmas, plenty and good cheer,
Health, wealth, prosperity, and a happy year. "
It is probable he united with his office of beadle,
that of bellman to the parish ; and was no way dis
posed to drop the customary mode of composing VOL. IV. F
george ii. ]
£Utt$etter*
30 MEMOIRS OF [geobge ii.
annual poetry, which, from its elegant style and metre, was doubtless the offspring of his own pro lific brain. William Kitchener flourished his beadle's staff about the beginning of the reign of George the Second. He is represented in the print, with his staff in one hand and his wish in the other, importing
God bless my masters And their wives,
From all disasters Shield their lives.
■ i
»
4
oboroe ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 31
dprajer, LORD LOVAT.
Lord Lovat was a nobleman of uncommon abi lities, and refined education ; but the whole of his conduct through life was of that unaccountable na ture that distinguished him from every other person
of his time: among many other glaring faults, insin cerity, and want of principle, were the particular marks of his character.
Having addressed the heiress of Lovat in 1693, a marriage might have ensued, but that the lady was engaged to Lord Saltoun's son. On this Lovat took some of his dependants to the house of that nobleman,
and having caused a gibbet to be erected, swore he would hang the father and son unless all pretensions to the young lady were resigned. This was com plied with through terror, and even the contract of
Simon
The next object was to seize the young lady's person ; but was disappointed, by her mother, a widow lady, having effectually secreted her,
F2
marriage given up.
32
MEMOIRS OF
[george n.
Foiled in his purpose, he resolved upon revenge, and going to the house of the mother, with a clergyman, and attended by several armed ruffians, he compelled the old lady to marry one of the persons that accom panied him. Such being done, he cut off her stays, and obliged her to go to bed ; while he, with his asso ciates, waited till the consummation of this forced marriage.
For this infamous transaction,
an accessary to the rape, and was capitally convicted ; but received a pardon from the lenity of King William the Third. In 1698 he went to France, and turned papist, by which he acquired the good opinion of King James the Second, who employed him to raise recruits in Scotland ; but he revealed the substance of his commission to the British
ministry ; which cir cumstance being discovered by some Scotch catholics,
an account of it was transmitted to France ; so that, on his next visit to that country, in the year 1702, he was lodged in the Bastile, where he continued some
years ; when at length obtaining his liberty, he went to St. Omer's, where he entered into the order of Jesuits.
Returning to Scotland on the demise of Queen Anne, he succeeded to the title of Lovat, to which a
Lovat was tried, as
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 33
fortune was annexed ; but, in the following year, when the Pretender landed in Scotland, he for a while abetted his cause ; when, on finding his interest decline, he raised a regiment in opposition to him.
This latter part of his conduct coming to the know ledge of King George the First, Lovat was sent for to court, where he was highly caressed.
At the time he was supporting the rebellion of 1745 with men and money, the Lord President Forbes wrote to him, and conjured him, in the most earnest
way, to take a decisive and vigorous part in behalf of government ; and Lovat answered him in such a manner, as seemed to assent to all he urged ; though, at this very time, the men he had sent to assist the rebels were commanded by his own son. He was apprehended in his own house, some days after the battle of Culloden, by a party of dragoons : but, being so infirm that he could not walk, he was carried in a horse-litter to Inverness, whence he was sent in a landau to Edinburgh, under the escort of the same party. Having been lodged one night in the
castle, he was conveyed to London, and committed to the Tower, only two days before Kilmarnock and Balmerino suffered the dreadful sentence of the law. Several of the witnesses, whose presence was judged
george ii. ]
good
34 MEMOIRS OF
[george n.
necessary on the trial of Lord Lovat, residing in the north of Scotland, it was thought proper to postpone it till the commencement of the following year; and he was accordingly brought to his trial before the house of peers in Westminster-hall, on the 9th of March, 1747, Lord Chancellor Hardwick
on the solemn occasion.
On the first day of the trial, Lord Lovat objected
to a witness, because he was his tenant ; but his com petency to give his deposition being allowed, after a long argument, he deposed that his lordship had been active in raising supplies for the Pretender, who had made a descent on the kingdom in consequence of his advice. This was the substance of the first day's pro ceedings ; and a great part of the second was spent in debates respecting the admissibility of Mr. Murray,
who had been secretary to the Pretender, as an evi dence. It was urged that his evidence could not be allowed, as he stood attainted ; but the attorney-general having read the record of the attainder, and produced the king's pardon, all further objections fell to the
ground. On the following day, Mr. Murray was examined, and proved that Lord Lovat had assisted the rebels with men and money ; and that he had commissioned two of his sons to cause his tenants to
presiding
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 35
take arms in behalf of the Pretender. Lord Lovat's servants proved that the Pretender had been assisted . with money by his lordship; and, on the fourth day, several gentlemen from the Highlands gave their tes
timony to the same purpose.
The evidence for the crown being summed up on
the fifth day, Lord Lovat was acquainted by the lord- high-steward that he must prepare for his defence ; and accordingly, on the sixth day, his lordship insisted that the parties who had given evidence against him were his enemies, and that they had been induced to give their testimony by threats of subornation ; and he endeavoured to support his allegations by the de positions of two Highlanders ; but what they said had little influence against the concurrent testimony of the other witnesses. The peers, being assembled in parliament on the seventh day, determined on their verdict ; and, having returned to Westminster-hall, the culprit was informed by the lord-high-steward, that he had been found guilty by his peers. To this Lovat said, that he had been ill-treated while undef misfortunes ; and this he declared with so much acri-* mony, that the high-steward reproved him for the
indecency of his behaviour, and then passed the sen tence of the law.
oeohge ii. ]
MEMOIRS OF [george 11.
After conviction, Lord Lovat behaved with uncom mon cheerfulness, appearing by no means intimidated at the fate that awaited him : his friends advising him to apply for the royal mercy, he declined saying, that the remnant of his life was not worth asking for.
He was always cheerful in company entertained his friends with stories, and applied many passages of the Greek and Roman histories to his own case. On the
arrival of the warrant for his execution, Lord Lovat
read and pressing the gentleman who brought to drink bottle of wine with him, entertained him with such number of stories as astonished the visitor, that his lordship should have such spirits on so solemn
an occasion. The major of the Tower inquiring after his health one morning, he said, " am well, Sir; am preparing myself for place where hardly any
majors go, and but few lieutenant-generals. " Having procured pillow to be placed at the foot of his bed, he frequently kneeled on to try how he should act his part at the fatal block and, after some practice, thought himself sufficiently perfect to behave with propriety. Waking about two in the morning on the
day before his death, he prayed devoutly for some time, and then slept till near seven, when he was dressed by the assistance of the warder. This day
;
it,
a
a
a a it,
I;
I
it
it,
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 37
he spent with his friends, conversing cheerfully both on public and private affairs. He was even jocose in a high degree, and told the barber who shaved him to be cautious not to cut his throat, which might baulk many persons of the expected sight on the following day. Having eaten a hearty supper, he desired
some veal to be roasted, that he might have some of it minced for his breakfast, being a dish of which he was extremely fond : he then smoked a pipe, and retired to rest.
Waking about three in the morning, he employed some time in devotion ; and then reposing himself till five o'clock, he arose, and drank a glass of wine and water, as he was accustomed to do every morning.
He then employed himself about two hours in reading, which he could do without spectacles, notwithstand ing his advanced age, for he had lived a life of temper
ance, and his eye-sight was uncommonly good. He now conversed in the customary manner, exhibiting no sign of apprehension ; and at eight o'clock sent his wig to the barber : he also desired the warder to pur chase a purse, to receive the money that he intended for the executioner ; and he particularly desired that
it might be a good one, lest the man should refuse it. The waider bringing two purses, his lordship took one,
george ii. ]
38 MEMOIRS OF [george if.
which though he did not entirely approve of, he said few persons would refuse with ten guineas for its contents.
Having called for his breakfast of minced veal, he ate heartily of and drank some wine and water, to the health of his surrounding friends. The coffin, with his name and age, and decorated with ornaments proper to his rank, being placed on the scaffold, Mr.
Sheriff Alsop went to the gate of the Tower at eleven o'clock, to demand the body. This intelligence being conveyed to Lord Lovat, he requested few minutes for his private devotions which being ac ceded to, he returned cheerfully, and said, " Gentle men, am ready and having descended one pair- of-stairs, General Williamson requested him to repose himself few minutes in his apartment. Complying with this invitation, he staid about five minutes, be haved with the utmost politeness to the company, and having drank glass of wine, got into the governor's coach, which conveyed him to the gate of the Tower, where he was received by the sheriffs. Being con ducted to house near the scaffold, he told the sheriff " he might give the word of command when he pleased for (added he) have been long in the army, and know what to obey. " Having drank some
it is
it*
;
a
I a
I
a
;
a
george n. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
and bitters, he ascended the scaffold, and taking a survey of the surrounding multitude, ex
burnt-brandy
his astonishment that such numbers could assemble to witness the decollation of so ancient a
head.
Observing a friend on the scaffold who appeared
very desponding, he put his hand on his shoulder, and said, " Cheer up thy heart, man; I am not afraid, and why should'st thou ? if you do not, and I am able to rise again, I shall be much displeased with
He now sat down on a chair, and having
pressed
you. "
lines from the classic authors, he stripped himself, and laid his head on the block. After a few minutes spent in devotion, he dropped his handkerchief, on which his head was
cut off; and being received in a cloth of red baize, was put into the coffin with the body, and conveyed to the Tower i n a hearse.
Immense crowds of spectators were on scaffolds on Tower-hill, to behold the final exit of this extraor dinary man, but some of them suffered for their curio sity ; for, before he was brought out of the Tower, one of the scaffolds broke down, by which several persons were killed on the spot, and a great number had their bones broken, and were otherwise terribly
c2
repeated
some sentimental
40 MEMOIRS OF [george u.
bruised, to the distress of many families, and the total ruin of others. Thus was this man, whose life
had been a scene of tyranny, and perfidious duplicity, the occasion of injuring many others, almost in the moment of his death.
Lord Lovat was beheaded on the 9th of April, 1747. Beside his legitimate children, his lordship left a son, Col. Frazer, of whom there is a portrait, engraved by Worlidge.
«Ti'. S
YORK
ceorge ii. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 41
Captain Lowey appears to have been one of the many who might have passed quietly through life, but, from becoming slaves to the intemperance of violent passions, too frequently precipitate themselves in consequences, equally, if not more calamitous, in tendency, than to the innocent victims of their cul
•
of Admiralty, held in the Old Bailey, February 18, 17^2, for the murder of Kenith Hossack, mariner. It appeared, from the evidence of James Gatherah,
chief-mate, that, on the 28th of October, 1750, he set sail from Jamaica in the Molly, a merchant-ship, commanded by the prisoner, with fourteen men on board; that, on the 24th of December following, between four and five in the afternoon, he came upon deck, and saw the deceased, Kenith Hossack, seized, or tied up, one arm to the halliards, and the other to the main shrouds, and the prisoner beating him with a rope about an inch and a half thick, called a crot
pability.
He was indicted at the sessions of the high-court
42 MEMOIRS OF [georgb ii.
ched brace ; that he went forward with his business, and returned about five, when the deceased, to relieve the operations of nature, begged he would let him down ; the Captain being then below, the witness went to him, and obtained permission, but withal, orders that he should be almost immediately seized up again. When the deceased was let down, he was not able to stand, but lay and crawled upon deck, of which he informed the captain, who said, "D n the rascal, he shams Abraham," so seize him up again ;
and consequently he was tied up a second time, though not so fast as before, which the captain observing, ordered him to be seized, with his arms extended to the full stretch. The prisoner then took the rope and doubled and, with the bite or double of the rope, beat him on the back, breast, shoulders, head, face, and temples, for nearly half-an-hour, walking about during intervals to take breath. was near six o'clock, when the captain, observing that the
deceased appeared motionless, ordered him to be cut down, and called to witness, and said, " am afraid Kenny (for so the deceased was called by the ship's
crew) dead;" when he replied, "lam sorry for hope not. " Witness then went to the deceased to feel his pulse, but could find none he also placed
;
I
is
I it,
It
it,
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 43
his hand to his breast, and not discovering any pulsa tion, observed, '. '. lam afraid he is dead, indeed! " on this the prisoner struck the deceased slightly on the
face, and cried, " D n him, he is only shamming Abraham now. " A sail was then brought, and the
george ii. ]
deceased was carried in it down to the
where the captain whetted a pen-knife, and the witness opened a vein, but there was no issue of blood. The deceased, prior to this, was gradually
recovering from the effects of a tedious and severe fever, and though not capable of going aloft, yet he could do many things about the vessel.
On being asked ifthere had been any quarrel or dispute between him and the prisoner, before or since the death of Hossack P answered, there had been fre
steerage,
for the captain had treated him, and every person on-board, in a very cruel and tyrannical
manner during the whole voyage.
In answer to the question, whether the prisoner
did not use the men with great humanity and ten derness? he replied, " that his conduct to the whole crew, excepting James Smart, was invariably most inhuman and despotic ;" and, in corroboration, he mentioned several instances of his barbarity.
Lowry here complained to the Court, that he was
quent disputes,
44 MEMOIRS OF [george n.
not confined till several days after the death of Hos- sack ; and that Gatherah, who was at the head of the conspiracy, seized the ship, altered her course, and carried her to Lisbon, where they were all appre hended, and sent home by the English consul for piracy ; and that the crew had sworn this murder, to prevent him punishing the witness and the rest for
mutiny.
The Court demanded of Gatherah the reason (the
murder being committed on the 24th of December,) he did not confine the prisoner until the 29th. He observed, that after the death of Hossack, the men on-board were very uneasy about the murder, and were for confining the captain ; but he (the witness) represented to them, that, as the ship was very leaky,
so as to require two pumps to be kept going night and day, and the men sickly, they could not spare one hand that was able to work ; that the captain, so long as he was on-board the ship, was perfectly se cure ; and that the fate of Hossack would, no doubt,
influence him to treat them better during the re mainder of their voyage; and that they could, on their arrival in England, bring him to that punish
ment he merited. To this proposal they all agreed ; but instead of the prisoner's behaving better, in two
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 45
or three days he went on as before, having broke the finger of one man, and bit another man's so dread fully, that he was advised by the witness to let him cut it off. At another time, he fractured the skull of one
man with his great cane ; another he beat very severely on the side, and, if he had disabled one man more, in all probability the whole must have perished. On this they resolved to deprive him of his command, and confine him, but so that he had the use of his cabin, and might come on the quarter-deck whenever he pleased. He had a light in his cabin, that he might know at any time what course was steered. The log-book was shown to him every day as soon as it was made up.
Such was the leaky condition of the vessel, and the despair of the men, that expecting she must go down before the rising of the morrow's sun, and that a watery grave awaited them, they abandoned the pumps, resigned themselves to the Divine will, and took an affectionate farewell of each other.
By the witness's persuasions they were induced to take to the pumps again ; and, with the prisoner's advice, they made for Lisbon, where they arrived on the 13th or 14th of January. On reaching the rock of Lisbon, they hoisted a signal for a pilot, and a fishing-boat came with one ; yet, as they had no
VOL. IV. H
oeorge ii. ]
4(5
r MEMOIRS OF [GEORGE II.
product, they were not allowed to come in, but compelled to anchor where they were. By this pilot the captain sent a letter to the British consul, with a complaint against the ship's company, and they were presently put under arrest ; soon after
which, the consul came on-board, examined them, and re-instated the prisoner again in his ship, when the witness, with the rest of the crew, was put on
board a man-of-war, and sent home to England. This witness further said, that in his examination
before the consul, he had given the same account of the murder as he had now done ; and when on board the man-of-war, they were not treated as pri soners, but worked in the ship during the passage, in the same manner as the ship's company did. On their arrival in England, they were put into the cus tody of the marshal of the Admiralty, not as close prisoners, but allowed to go and return as they pleased, without a keeper : and that they looked on themselves, in their confinement, not as under an accusation of mutiny and piracy, but as witnesses
against the prisoner.
Captain Lowry here desired that the log-book of the
29th of December might be read, to show they were guilty of mutiny and piracy, when it appeared :
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 47
" December 29. Unanimously agreed to confine the captain, and make the first port. "
The prisoner then demanded of the witness, if he did not see Roberts, the second mate, beating him ; and if he did not part them ? The witness answered, he certainly saw the prisoner and Roberts engaged, and that he took the prisoner off him as they were down together ; but this was after the prisoner was deprived of his command, and that he had committed the aggression by knocking Roberts down. As to the prisoner's charge that Roberts sold rum to the people, whereby they got drunk and neglected their duty, the witness knew nothing of, and indeed they could not well get drunk, for the prisoner would not allow them what was their due.
Several of the crew gave their evidence, all in support of that given by Gatherah ; and among them James Smart, a foremast-man, who, being questioned by the prisoner, whether he was not always tender of his men, when they were sick ? answered, that to him indeed he was very kind ; but used him bad enough when he was well, as he did every one on-board the ship.
Being asked by the Court, whether he thought the
the deceased received from the prisoner was u2
george ii. ]
usage
48 MEMOIRS OF [George the cause his death? answered, they had
done, he did believe
him had been stoutest man living. Captain Lowry,
was, and would have killed health and strength, the
his defence, attributed the proceed from conspiracy
had not been long
charge against him
among his crew, and observed,
sea before discovered
most wicked, drunken, idle fellows, that ever came
had got set the
into ship, which informed the Nancy, who left Jamaica
Captain Dalton his company;
but who did not appear his trial.
He said, had witnesses call, but thought the log-book
would sufficient support what had said his defence, the witnesses, who had sworn against
him, had sworn with halters about their necks, order screen themselves from their wicked acts
mutiny and piracy, well knowing, that es caped, they must hanged. He then proceeded call several gentlemen testimony his character, some of whom were tradesmen, others who had sailed
with him, and many who had known him for several
years, which gave him the character - good natured humane man.
Mr. Stone, the Marshal the Admiralty, was then
of
all
to
be
of a
of in as he aa
be in
to in
in it
of noof
at a
as
to
of to
he
if
he he of
or
all
II.
to inin
at
he
he
he
he
of
oeorge ii. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 49
called upon, and deposed, that, on the 7th of March last, he received a warrant from the Lords of the
Admiralty to apprehend the prisoner.
quiry he found the ship was not come home : that when he received intelligence of her being in the river, he went thither, and was informed the prisoner
had quitted the ship on coming into the Downs, and had gone to London by land. He made diligent inquiry after him, but so ineffectually, that upon re ceiving a reprimand from the Lords of the Admiralty,
they thinking he had neglected to take him, he ad vertised ten guineas reward for his apprehension,
which was paid to the person that discovered him. The judge having summed up the evidence, the
jury withdrew, and, in about half-an-hour, returned with a verdict, guilty, death.
He was executed pursuant to his sentence, and hung in chains, by the river's side.
Upon in
50 MEMOIRS OF
3&amally isolationally,
[GEORGE
THIs young Scotchman was nearly related, not brother, the celebrated Flora Macdonald, who
made herself conspicuous by her attachment to, and following the fortunes the second Pretender,
the year 1745. The rebellion was greatly accele rated Scotland, the severity with which govern
ment treated the Highland regiment that deserted from Highgate, under impression, that after having
been the instruments disarming their northern brethren, their services were rewarded being
disbanded and draughted into different regiments, far removed from their native country. Four these unfortunate men were shot the Tower of
London, example; and several others under
went less severe punishment. The Scotch nation felt bitterly the affront put and induced many, who otherwise would least have remained neuter,
flock round the young Pretender; and among
many others was Ranald Macdonald, the whole
whose known
personal history comprised
of to
in
is
in
in
of
II.
at
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on it,
to be
of,
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***** ***
Public
George II.