CHAPTER XXIII.

Public Fast--Extracts from Lady Huntingdon’s Letters--Prayer-meetings for the Nation--Mr. Venn--Mr. Berridge--Singular effects of his preaching--Mr. Romaine and Mr. Madan’s visit to Everton--Mr. Wesley preaches at Everton--Convulsive motions amongst the congregation--Letters to Lady Huntingdon--Lady Huntingdon visits Mr. Berridge--Mr. Venn and Mr. Fletcher preach at Everton--Loud cries amongst their hearers--Duke of York--Dr. Dodd--Murder of Mr. Johnson--Lord Ferrers--Tried by his Peers--Visited in prison by Lady Huntingdon--Singular conduct of Lord Ferrers--Execution.

At the commencement of the year 1759, we find Lady Huntingdon at Bath, accompanied by Lady Fanny Shirley and Lady Selina Hastings. On the 4th of January her Ladyship went to Bristol to meet Mr. Wesley, who accompanied her to Bath, and after preaching to several of the nobility at her house, proceeded to Salisbury, on his way to London.

Early in February, Lady Huntingdon returned to London; and Friday, the 16th, being the day appointed for a public fast, her Ladyship went to the Tabernacle to hear Mr. Whitefield, who addressed an immense congregation from those solemn words, “Rend your hearts, and not your garments,” &c. In the evening she heard Mr. Wesley at the Foundry, who preached to an overflowing multitude from “Seek the Lord while he may be found,” &c. Every place of public worship was crowded on this day, and an unusual air of seriousness pervaded all ranks.

“Surely (observes her Ladyship) the Lord has appeared remarkably for our sinful land. O that the prayers and supplications which so lately ascended from so many quarters may be heard and answered, and abundant blessings be poured down upon our sinful country! If our cup of iniquity is not yet full, gracious Lord, O spare us!--spare thy people, and hide them in the clefts of the Rock of Ages!”

Her Ladyship felt “a particular call in Providence” to wrestle mightily with God in behalf of our nation, and for the important work of intercession, prayer-meetings were established at her house. On Wednesday, the 21st of February, Mr. Whitefield, Mr. Charles Wesley, Mr. Maxfield, and Mr. Venn successively engaged in this solemn exercise; and on Friday, the 23rd, Mr. Romaine, Mr. Wesley, Mr. Madan, and Mr. Jones conducted the service at her Ladyship’s house, when a deep sense of the Divine presence seemed to penetrate every soul in attendance.

“I trust (says her Ladyship) great and permanent effects will follow, and national judgments be suspended. May the Lord graciously countenance this attempt, and grant that increasing prayer in the name of Jesus may ascend from every heart. Of late I have felt the most ardent desires for the exaltation of the Lord Jesus in every heart, and the most holy ardour of desire to promote his cause upon earth. I seem to have done nothing, and would lie down in the dust before him, and lament my unfaithfulness, my unprofitableness, and my unfruitfulness. May he increase my faith, animate my heart with a zeal for his glory, enlarge my sphere, and make me more faithful in the sphere in which I move.

“Thursday, the 27th (says Mr. Wesley), I walked, with my brother and Mr. Maxfield, to Lady Huntingdon’s. After breakfast, came in Messrs. Whitefield, Madan, Romaine, Jones, Downing, and Venn, with some persons of quality, and a few others. Mr. Whitefield, I found, was to have administered the sacrament, but he insisted upon my doing it: after which, at the request of Lady Huntingdon, I preached on 1 Cor. xiii. 13--”_And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three--but the greatest of these is charity_.”

On the evening of Wednesday, the 28th, the usual prayer-meeting was held at her Ladyship’s house, when Mr. Wesley, Mr. Venn, and Mr. Madan engaged in the solemn service, which was closed by a short exhortation from Mr. Whitefield. The following morning Mr. Jones preached, and Mr. Romaine concluded with a short scriptural prayer, and the usual benediction. At the prayer-meeting on Friday evening, Mr. Charles Wesley gave an address; and the other parts of the service were conducted by Messrs. Whitefield, Romaine, Downing, and Venn. The Lord’s Supper was administered on Tuesday, the 6th of March, by Mr. Whitefield, when he addressed the communicants in a most solemn and impressive manner. “All were touched to the heart (says her Ladyship), and dissolved in tears. My inmost soul felt penetrated at the height and depth of that love which passeth knowledge, and I was ready, with Peter, to say, ‘_It is good to be here_.’ Lord, teach me how to improve to the utmost these gracious visitations.”

Mr. Whitefield was assisted by Messrs. Romaine and Madan. The former prayed before and the latter after the distribution of the elements. Amongst the communicants were the Earl and Countess of Dartmouth, Countess of Chesterfield, Lady Gertrude Hotham, Sir Charles Hotham, Mrs. Carteret, Mrs. Cavendish, Sir Sidney Halford Smythe, Mr. Thornton, Rev. Messrs. Venn, Jones, Maxfield, Downing, and others. When this solemn service was concluded, the Earls of Chesterfield and Holderness, and several persons of distinction, with a few others, came in. Mr. Whitefield preached with his accustomed eloquence and energy from that passage--“Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” “On this occasion (her Ladyship observes), The Lord was eminently present. The word seemed clothed with an irresistible energy, and drew sighs from every heart and tears from every eye. Mr. Fletcher concluded with a prayer, every syllable of which appeared to be uttered under the immediate teaching of the Spirit, and he has told me since that he never had more intimate communion with God, or enjoyed so much of his immediate presence, as on that occasion. Ah! how poor and trifling does all created good appear when thus highly favoured of God. He in mercy keeps me sensible of my weakness, and dependent upon himself, for which I praise him. He has strengthened my body to undergo more fatigue than usual, without being hurt by it. But my pen would fail to testify of the goodness of my God. Bless the Lord, O my soul! and forget not all his benefits.”

It was now that John Berridge, the vicar of Everton, in Bedfordshire, and Mr. Hicks, vicar of Wrestlingworth, by their preaching, produced the same convulsions in their hearers as had formerly prevailed at Bristol.[197]

Lady Huntingdon wrote to Mr. Romaine from Bath, requesting him and Mr. Madan to repair immediately to Everton, and examine minutely into the circumstances. They were warmly received by Mr. Berridge and Mr. Hicks. At first they were astonished, and for a time doubted whether the work was genuine; but after they had conversed with several of those who had fallen in violent convulsive fits, and had accompanied Mr. Berridge and Mr. Hicks in some of their itinerant excursions, and witnessed the effects of their preaching, they were filled with a solemn awe, and felt fully convinced the work was of God, though occasionally mingled with the wild-fire of enthusiasm.[198]

Filled with astonishment at what God had wrought, and at the surprising work which he was carrying on in the hearts of multitudes, Mr. Romaine and Mr. Madan returned to London, and Mr. Wesley went to Everton, who, after describing the cries and convulsions, says--

“I have often observed more or less of these outward symptoms to attend the beginning of a general work of God. So it was in New England, Scotland, Holland, Ireland, and many parts of England, but after a time they gradually decreased, and the work goes on more quietly and silently. Those whom it pleases God to employ in his work ought to be quite passive in this respect. They should _choose_ nothing, but leave entirely to him all the circumstances of his own work.”

In a letter to Lady Huntingdon, Mr. Wesley says--

“The agreeable hour which I spent with your Ladyship the last week recalled to my mind the former times, and gave me much matter of thankfulness to the Giver of every good gift. I have found great satisfaction in conversing with those instruments whom God has lately raised up. But still there is I know not what in them whom we have known from the beginning, and who have borne the burden and heat of the day, which we do not find in those who have risen up since, though they are of upright heart. Perhaps, too, those who have but lately come into the harvest are led to think and speak more largely of justification, and the other first principles of the doctrine of Christ. And it may be proper for _them_ so to do. Yet _we_ find a thirst after something farther. We want to sink deeper and rise higher in the knowledge of God our Saviour. We want all helps for walking closely with Him whom we have received, that we may the more speedily come to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

“Mr. Berridge appears to be one of the most simple as well as most sensible men of all whom it pleased God to employ in reviving primitive Christianity. I designed to have spent but one night with him; but Mr. Gilbert’s mistake (who sent him word I would be at Everton on Friday) obliged me to stay there another day, or multitudes of people would have been disappointed. They come now twelve or fourteen miles to hear him; and very few come in vain. His word is with power: he speaks as plain and home as John Nelson, but with all the propriety of Mr. Romaine and the tenderness of Mr. Hervey.

“At Colchester, likewise, the word of God has free course--only no house will contain the congregation. On Sunday I was obliged to preach on St. John’s-green; the people stood on a smooth sloping ground, sheltered by the walls of an old castle, and behaved as men who felt that God was there.

“I am persuaded your Ladyship still remembers in your prayers your willing servant, for Christ’s sake,

“JOHN WESLEY.”

Mr. Berridge informed Lady Huntingdon of his call to Cambridge, to preach before the University, complaining of his ill health and want of assistance in his own parish. Her Ladyship applied to Mr. Fletcher, who volunteered his service till Mr. Madan or Mr. Romaine could relieve him.

Soon after he had gone to Everton, Lady Huntingdon, accompanied by Mr. Madan, proceeded thither, anxious to witness the astonishing effects which had there resulted from the preaching of the Gospel. She had intimated her intention to Mr. Berridge some days before her departure from London, and on the morning after their arrival, at an early hour, an amazing concourse of people had been collected from all parts. At seven o’clock Mr. Berridge preached in a field near the church, when the power of God fell upon all the assembled multitude in a very uncommon manner. At eleven o’clock public service commenced in the church. Mr. Hicks read prayers, after which Mr. Venn explained the “joy that is in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.” In the afternoon, the church being unable to contain a fifth of the people, Mr. Madan stood in the open air and cried to the listening multitude, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” The following day there was a public service again: Mr. Fletcher read prayers, and Mr. Madan spoke very energetically on “Ye must be born again.” The congregation was immense, the windows being filled within and without. In the afternoon Mr. Berridge read prayers, and Mr. Venn enforced these solemn words on an attentive congregation--“This is life eternal, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” Great numbers, who were unable to gain admittance, remained about the church after the service was concluded: Mr. Berridge addressed them from the words of the prophet--“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.”

The arrival of Lady Huntingdon at Everton, and the preaching of the ministers who accompanied her, was quickly reported for many miles round, and awakened considerable attention, insomuch that on the following day it was judged _ten thousand_ at least assembled to hear. While Mr. Venn was enforcing those awful words of the prophet--“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved,” several persons, both men and women, sunk down and wept bitterly. In the afternoon a still greater multitude collected. The evening being calm and still, all heard distinctly, whilst Mr. Berridge preached on these words--“Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.” Towards the close of the sermon, five persons, almost at once, sunk down as dead. Others cried with a loud and bitter cry, “What must we do to be saved?” In a little time all was silent, and Mr. Berridge finished his sermon, after which the service concluded with singing--

“Arm of the Lord, awake! awake! Thine own immortal strength put on,” &c.

Mr. Madan having consented to remain at Everton, to supply Mr. Berridge’s church till Mr. Romaine was at liberty to take his place, Lady Huntingdon returned to London with Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Venn, and Mr. Berridge, whom her Ladyship was desirous of introducing to the religious circles of the metropolis, with a view to his spiritual improvement. During his stay he preached two or three times in the city churches, assisted by Mr. Whitefield and the Messrs. Wesley, and expounded almost every morning and evening at Lady Huntingdon’s, besides his occasional lectures at Lady Gertrude Hotham’s, in New Norfolk-street, Grosvenor-square, and Lady Fanny Shirley’s, in South Audley-street.

It was about this time that Prince Edward, afterwards created Duke of York, paid a visit to the Magdalene. His Royal Highness having expressed a wish to attend the evening service, a party was formed at Northumberland House for that purpose. The Prince[199] was accompanied by Colonel Brudenel, Lady Northumberland, Lady Mary Coke, Lady Carlisle, Miss Pelham, Lady Hertford, Lord Beauchamp, Lord Huntingdon, and Horace Walpole. As soon as he entered the chapel the organ played, and a hymn was sung by the Magdalenes, about one hundred and thirty in number. After the prayers were read, Dr. Dodd preached an eloquent and impressive sermon from Luke xix. 20, which was afterwards published, by the express desire of the Prince; a hymn was then sung, after which his Royal Highness was conducted to the parlour, where the Governors kissed the Prince’s hand. He particularly noticed Lady Huntingdon and Lady Chesterfield, with whom he conversed for several minutes on the merits of the sermon and the excellence of the institution, expressed himself highly gratified at what he had witnessed, and at taking his departure left fifty pounds for the benefit of the institution.[200]

The dreadful calamity by which Lady Huntingdon’s family was afflicted in 1760 had a powerful effect on her Ladyship’s mind for a season. Lawrence, fourth Earl of Ferrers, eldest son of her uncle, the Hon. Lawrence Shirley, by a daughter of Sir Walter Clarges, of Aston, in Hertfordshire, Bart., though he was at times a very intelligent person, and a nobleman conversant in the constitution of his country, yet, on divers occasions, exhibited symptoms of constitutional insanity. For more than a twelvemonth he had supplied a topic for conversation by an attempt to murder his wife, and every body that took her part. Having broken the peace, which the House of Lords had bound him over to keep, the cause was again brought before them; but instead of attending it, he went to the assizes at Hertford to appear against a highwayman.[201] The Countess was sister to Sir W. Meredith, and had no fortune. The Earl always said she had trepanned him into matrimony, having met him at an assembly where he was intoxicated, and having kept him in a state of drunkenness till the ceremony was over. As he was seldom sober before or afterwards, it is hardly fair to impute his excesses to this pretty, and, unless it were a crime to wish to be a Countess, very blameless person.

His misfortunes, as he called them, were dated from his marriage, though he had been guilty of horrid excesses unconnected with matrimony, and is even believed to have killed a groom, who died a year after receiving a cruel beating from him. He had a mistress before his marriage, by whom he had two or three children, and he took her again after the separation from his wife. He was fond of both, and used both ill: Lady Ferrers so ill--always carrying pistols to bed, and threatening to kill her before morning, beating her, and being jealous without provocation--that she obtained a separation from him by Act of Parliament, in which were appointed receivers of his estate, to secure her allowance. This he could not bear. However, he named his steward as one of these receivers. Afterwards, finding out that Mr. Johnson[202] had paid Lady Ferrers fifty pounds without his knowledge, and suspecting him of being in the confederacy against him, he determined, when he failed of opportunities of murdering his wife, to kill the steward, which he effected.

Having ordered Mr. Johnson to attend him at Stanton, his Lordship contrived to send all the men-servants out of the way, so that there was no person in the house but himself and three female servants. On Mr. Johnson entering the room, Lord Ferrers locked the door. His lordship then ordered him to settle an account, and after a little time produced a paper, purporting, as he said, to be a confession of his villany, and required Mr. Johnson to sign it. Johnson refused; on which his lordship, drawing a pistol from his pocket, ordered him to kneel down, which the terrified man did, upon one knee; but Lord Ferrers cried out so loud as to be heard by one of the women at the kitchen door, “Down on your other knee--declare what you have acted against Lord Ferrers--your time is come, and you must die.” He fired, and the ball entered Mr. Johnson’s body just below the last rib, yet he did not drop, but rose up, and expressed the sensations of a dying man both by his looks and broken sentences. An alarm was soon given, and Dr. Kirkland was sent for.[203]

At the time of his arrest, Lord Ferrers was armed with a blunderbuss, two or three pistols, and a dagger. From Ashby-de-la-Zouch his Lordship was sent to Leicester gaol, and from thence, about a fortnight afterwards, was brought to London, in his own landau and six horses, under a strong guard. He was dressed like a jockey, in close riding frock, boots, and cap. Immediately on his arrival, he was carried before the House of Lords. It is impossible to conceive the shock which the evidence contained in the coroner’s inquest gave the court: many of the Lords were standing to look at him, but they soon turned from him with detestation. He was then committed to the custody of the Black Rod, and ordered to the Tower.

After two months’ imprisonment in the Tower, on the 16th April, 1759, Lord Ferrers was brought to his trial in Westminster Hall. He would not plead _guilty_, and yet had nothing to plead; and at last, to humour his family, pleaded _madness_, against his inclination. It was melancholy to see two of his brothers brought to depose to lunacy as existing in their own blood, in order to save their brother’s life.[204] On a former affair, in the House of Lords, he is said to have behaved with great shrewdness; no such thing, however, appeared at his trial; and it was afterwards pretended that his being forced by his family, against his inclination, to plead insanity, prevented his exerting his parts; but Lord Ferrers did not act in anything as if his family had influence over him.[205]

The trial lasted three days. His Lordship was sentenced to be hanged, and to have his body dissected and anatomized, the evidence of his insanity not proving satisfactory to their Lordships. But the Right Hon. Lord Henley, late Earl of Nottingham, who acted as High Steward at this awful solemnity, with consent of the Peers, respited his Lordship’s execution till Monday, May 5th. On receiving sentence, the unfortunate nobleman begged his Peers to recommend him to mercy: but all application from himself and friends proved ineffectual, and he was left for execution.

The conduct of Lord Ferrers after his condemnation was singular and extraordinary. The very night he received sentence he played at picquet, and would have continued to play every evening, had not permission been refused, at the particular request of Lady Huntingdon and other members of his family. Lord Cornwallis, Governor of the Tower, shortened his allowance of wine after his conviction, agreeably to the strict acts concerning the crime of murder which had passed both Houses of Parliament. This his Lordship much disliked, and at last pressed his brother to intercede, that at least he might have more porter; “for (said he), what I have is not a draught.” Mr. Shirle remonstrated, but at last consented. Then said the Earl, “Now is as good a time as any to take leave of you. Adieu!”

Very great exertions were made by Lady Huntingdon and other branches of the family to save his life. Two petitions were presented to the King--one by his mother, and the other by all the members of his family; but his Majesty said, as the House of Lords had unanimously found him guilty, he would not interfere. Another petition was presented by my Lord Keeper, but the King refused to hear him.

Dr. Pearce, Bishop of Rochester, offered his services to his Lordship: he thanked the Bishop, and said, as his own brother was a clergyman, he chose to have him; but Lady Huntingdon was more frequently with him than any other relation. The Earl, although by no means disposed to pay attention to the subjects she brought before his mind, allowed her to visit him frequently, and often sent for her _for the sake of company_. He grew tired of her Ladyship’s unwearied exertions to produce effect upon a conscience so hardened and impenetrable, and complained that she was enough to provoke anybody; yet he permitted her to visit him to the last, even after he had declined seeing his brothers; and had two interviews with Mr. Whitefield, to whom he behaved with great politeness. At Lady Huntingdon’s request, Mr. Whitefield repeatedly offered up public prayer for Lord Ferrers; “and that impertinent fellow (says Horace Walpole) told his enthusiasts, in his sermons, that my Lord’s heart was stone.” The very hardened conduct of Lord Ferrers, through every intricacy of this most horrid affair, even to the last moment of his departure out of life, but too well justified Mr. Whitefield. Witness his fearful insensibility the night before his execution, when he made one of his keepers read _Hamlet_ to him after he was in bed; he paid all his bills in the morning as coolly as if leaving an inn; and half an hour before the arrival of the sheriffs to convey him to the place of execution, corrected some verses he had written in the Tower, in imitation of the Duke of Buckingham’s epitaph:--

“_Dubius sed non improbus vixi._

In doubt I lived--in doubt I die,-- Yet stand prepared the vast abyss to try-- And undismay’d, expect eternity!”[206]

On the morning of the 5th of May his body was demanded of the keeper at the gates of the Tower by the sheriffs of London and Middlesex. His Lordship being informed of it, sent a message to the sheriffs requesting that he might go in his own landau, instead of the mourning coach that had been provided by his family; and his request being granted, he entered his landau, drawn by six horses, with Mr. Humphries, chaplain of the Tower, who had been admitted to his Lordship that morning for the first time. The landau was conducted to the outer gate by the officers of the Tower, and was there delivered to the sheriffs. Here Mr. Sheriff Vaillant entered the landau of Lord Ferrers, and expressing his concern at having so melancholy a duty to perform, his Lordship said “he was much obliged to him, and took it kindly that he accompanied him.”

He was dressed in his wedding clothes, which were of a light colour, and embroidered in silver, and said he thought this, at least, as good an occasion of putting them on as that for which they were first made. Soon after Mr. Sheriff Vaillant came into the landau, he said, “You may perhaps, sir, think it strange to see me in this dress, but I have my particular reasons for it.”

Sir William Meredith, and even Lady Huntingdon, were strongly convinced that his courage would fail him at last; but they were deceived. His courage rose where it was most likely to fail. The mixture of pageantry, shame, ignominy, and even of delay, could not shake his resolution. He set out from the Tower at nine, amidst crowds of spectators.[207]

The procession was two hours and three quarters on its way; but during the whole time Lord Ferrers appeared perfectly easy and composed, though he often expressed his desire to have it over, saying, “that the apparatus of death, and the passing through such crowds of people, were ten times worse than death itself.” At first his Lordship talked on indifferent matters, and observing the prodigious confluence of people, he said, “But they never saw a lord hanged, and perhaps will never see another.” One of the dragoons was thrown in consequence of his horse’s leg becoming entangled in the hind wheel. Lord Ferrers expressed much concern, and said, “I hope there will be no death to-day but mine,” and was pleased when Mr. Sheriff Vaillant told him that the man was not hurt. He told the sheriff “that he had written to the King to beg that he might suffer there where his ancestor, the Earl of Essex, the favourite of Elizabeth, had suffered, and was in great hopes of obtaining that favour, as he had the honour of being allied to his Majesty, and of quartering part of the royal arms; he thought it hard (he said) that he must die at the place appointed for the execution of common felons.” The sheriff made excuses to him on his office. “On the contrary (said the Earl), I am much obliged to you. I feared the disagreeableness of the duty might make you depute your under-sheriff. As you are so good as to execute it yourself, I am persuaded the dreadful apparatus will be conducted with more expedition.”

Mr. Humphries, chaplain of the Tower, who sat backwards, then thought it his turn to speak, and began to talk on religious subjects; but Lord Ferrers received the overture with impatience. However, the chaplain persevered, and said he wished to bring his Lordship to some confession or acknowledgment of contrition for a crime so repugnant to the laws of God and man, and wished him to endeavour to do whatever could be done in so short a time. The Earl replied, “he had done everything he had purposed to do with regard to God and man; and as to discourses on religion, you and I, sir (said he to the clergyman), shall probably not agree on that subject. The passage is very short--you will not have time to convince me, nor I to refute you; it cannot be ended before we arrive.” The clergyman still insisted, and urged that, at least, the world would expect some satisfaction, and would naturally be very inquisitive concerning the religion his Lordship professed. Lord Ferrers replied, with some impatience--

“Sir, what have I to do with the world? I am going to pay a forfeit life, which my country has thought proper to take from me. What do I care now what the world thinks of me? But, sir, since you do desire some confession, I confess one thing to you: I do believe there is a God, the Maker of all things. As to modes of worship, we had better not talk of them: all nations and countries have a form of religion by which the people are governed, and whoever disturbs it I look upon as an enemy to society. Whatever my notions may have been, I have never propagated them, or endeavoured to gain persons over to my persuasion. I always thought Lord Bolingbroke in the wrong to publish his notions on religion: I will not fall into the same error. The many sects, and their disputes about religion, have almost turned morality out of doors: and I can never believe what some sectaries teach, that faith alone will save mankind; so that if a man just before he dies should say only, ‘I believe’--that _that_ alone will save him.”

The chaplain represented to him that it would be expected from one of his calling, and that even decency required, that some prayer should be used on the scaffold, and asked his leave, at least, to use the Lord’s Prayer there. Lord Ferrers replied, “I always thought it a good prayer: you may use it if you please.”

The landau being now advanced to the place of execution, his Lordship alighted from it, and, with the same composure and fortitude of mind he had possessed from the time he left the Tower, mounted the scaffold: it was hung with black by the undertaker, at the expense of his family. Under the gallows was a newly-invented stage, to be struck from under him. He showed no kind of fear or discomposure, only just looking at the gallows with a slight motion of dissatisfaction. He said little, kneeled for a moment at the Lord’s Prayer, and afterwards, with great energy, uttered the following ejaculations, “O God! forgive me all my errors--pardon all my sins.”

His Lordship then, rising quickly, mounted the upper stage. He had come pinioned with a black sash, and was unwilling to have his hands tied or his face covered, but was persuaded to both. When the rope was put round his neck he turned pale, but recovered instantly. Within seven minutes after leaving the landau the signal was given for striking the stage, and in four minutes he was quite dead.[208]

Mr. Shirley remained in London some time after the execution in order to pay his brother’s debts, that no further dishonour might be reflected on his memory. Lady Huntingdon, likewise, continued in London till the end of June. This is confirmed by an extract of a letter from the Countess of Northumberland to Mr. Lindsay, dated June 17th:--

“As I am in doubt about your direction I shall send this to Northumberland House, and order them to carry it to Lady Huntingdon, where, I conclude, they will be able to learn how to convey it safely to you. My Lord desires his compliments to you, and I beg to trouble you with mine to Lady Huntingdon, Lady Selina, and Mrs. Hastings.”[209]