county militias were completed, and the promoters of order and the Protestant succession seemed united in repelling the invader of the government and consitution.

The prowess of the Duke of Cumberland in the discomfiture of the rebels, re-animated the public mind; and his reception in London, after the battle of Culloden, was in the highest degree gratifying; the prisoners he had taken, were confined in the different prisons of England. The Duke's victory effectually crushed the rebellion; and the proper measures were pursued for establishing public tranquillity; and at a common council held the 23d of January, 1746, it was unanimously resolved to present the duke with the freedom of London, in a gold box. The same court also petitioned parliament, that the negative power of the court of aldermen, in common council might be abolished. Their petition was successful, and the grievance removed.

Addresses of congratulation were presented to the king on the successful termination of the late dangerous rebellion. Parliament voted thanks to the Duke of Cumberland; and the House of Commons granted the sum of 25,000l. per annum, as an addition to his revenue.

The founder of one of the most eminent and respectable banking-houses now existing in the metropolis, Sir Richard Hoare, was the lord mayor, during this troublesome year. His diligent attention to the duties of his office, added to the inviolable attachment to the interests of, his country, at such a perilous time, induced the court of common council to vote him particular thanks "for his constant readiness to call those courts together; and for his personal attendance and assiduity on every occasion."

It was at this time that the poor received the benefit of inoculation by means of the Small Pox Hospital; the first of the kind in Europe. A charitable foundation the more desireable, as being calculated to receive those miserable creatures, whom the rules of all other charities expressly excluded. This most useful charity was begun with two houses at a due distance from each other, in airy situations:

that

that for preparing patients for inoculation being situate in the Lower Street, Islington; and that for receiving them when the disease appeared, as well as for the reception of patients in the natural way, at the north-west corner of Cold Bath Fields.

An act of parliament passed at this time, dividing the Surgeons and the Barbers of London, into two separate and distinct companies.

It was now thought necessary to make public examples of justice; and the Earl of Kilmarnock, and Lord Balmerino, expiated their offences, August the 18th, on Tower Hill,The conduct of these two noblemen was widely different; and their merits have very opposite claims to commiseration. The earl, had been educate din Revolutionary principles, and had engaged himself in the rebellion merely from motives of resentment against government; his principles had been suspected, and he had therefore been deprived of a pension which the legislature had granted him; but Lord Balmerino had engaged from a principle, which, however mistaken, proceeded from a mind that he imagined was conscientious; and from this motive only, openly avowed what others secretly encouraged. The behaviour of both was consistent with their opinions.

On the awful day for the execution of justice, about six in the morning, a troop of the life-guards, with another of the horse-grenadiers, and about one thousand of the foot, marched through the city to Tower Hill.

At ten o'clock the block was fixed, and covered with black cloth; soon after, the two coffins were brought on the scaffold, covered with black cloth, with gilt nails, &c. On the Earl of Kilmarnock's, was a plate with this inscription, viz. "Gulielmus Comes de Kilmarnock, decollat. 18 Augusti, 1746: ætat. suæ 42." And on that for Lord Balmerino: "Arthurus Dominus de Balmerino, decollat. 18 Augusti, 1746, etat. suæ 58."

The sheriffs then went to the Tower, when the prisoners, after the sheriffs had given a receipt to the Constable for their bodies, were delivered to their custody; the procession VOL. I. No. 17.

3 E

then

then began; and having passed through the lines into the area of the circle formed by the guards, the passage was closed. The lords were then conducted into separate apartments in the house facing the scaffold, and their friends admitted to converse with them. The Earl of Kilmarnock was attended by the Rev. Mr. Foster, the Rev. Mr. Hume, and the chaplain of the Tower; and another clergyman of the church of England attended Lord Balmerino. Before his lordship entered the house, hearing several of the spectators ask, Which is Lord Balmerino? He answered, smiling, "I am he, gentlemen, at your service.”

While they were in the house, his lordship asked permission to have a conference with the earl in his apartment; which being granted, among other questions, he asked if the earl knew of any order being signed by the prince (meaning the Pretender's son) to give no quarter at the battle of Culloden? To this the earl answering in the negative; the Lord Balmerino added, "Nor I neither; and therefore it seems to be an invention to justify their own murders." The earl replied, "He did not think this a fair inference, because he was informed, after he was a prisoner at Inverness, by several officers, that such an order, signed George Murray, was in the duke's possession."--"George Murray! said Lord Balmerino, then they should not charge it on the prince." After this, he took his leave, embracing the earl with the most noble and generous compliments. "My dear Kilmarnock," said he, "I am only sorry, that I cannot pay this reckoning alone; once more farewell for ever!"

As soon as he was gone, the earl, with the company present, kneeled down, and joined in a prayer delivered by Mr. Foster; after which, having refreshed himself with a bit of bread and a glass of wine, he expressed a desire that Lord Balmerino might go first to the scaffold; but being informed that he could not be indulged in this, he being first named in the warrant, he appeared satisfied, saluted his friends, and said, he should make no specch on the scaffold, but desired the ministers to assist him in his last moments.

The

The multitude, who had been long expecting to see him on this awful occasion, on his first appearing on the scaffold, dressed in black, with a countenance and demeanor testifying contrition, shewed the deepest signs of commiseration and pity; and his lordship, at the same time, being struck with such a variety of dreadful objects at once, turned about to his friend Mr. Hume, and said, "Hume, this is terrible!" though without changing his voice or countenance.

After repeating several short prayers, one of which was for his majesty king George, and the royal family, his lordship embraced and took leave of his friends. The executioner, who had previously taken something to keep him from fainting, was so affected with his lordship's distress, and the awfulness of the scene, that, on asking him forgiveness, he burst into tears. His lordship bade him take courage, giving him at the same time a purse, with five guineas, and telling him he would drop his handkerchief as a signal for the stroke. He proceeded with the help of his gentleman, to make ready for the block, by taking off his coat, and the bag from his hair, which was then tucked up under a napkin cap; but this being too wide, the contracting it occasioned some delay. The hair being adjusted he turned down the collar of his shirt and waistcoat, kneeled down on a black cushion before the block, and drew his cap over his eyes; in doing which, as well as in putting up his hair, his hands were observed to shake; but, either to support himself, or as a more convenient posture for devotion, he happened to lay both hands upon the block, which the executioner observing, prayed his lordship to let them fall, lest they should be mangled, or break the blow. He was then told that the collar of his waistcoat was in the way, upon which he rose, and with the help of a friend, took it off; and the neck being made bare to the shoulders, he kneeled down as before. In the mean time, when all things were ready, and the baize which hung over the rails of the scaffold was, by direction of the colonel of the guard and

the sheriffs, turned up, that the people might see every circumstance of the execution; in about two minutes after

his lordship had kneeled down, he dropped his handkerchief, when the executioner, at one blow, severed his head from his body, except only a small part of the skin, which was immediately divided by a gentle stroke. The head was received in a piece of red baize, and, with the body, put into the coffin, and carried in a hearse to the Tower.

The executioner was obliged to shift himself, by reason of the quantity of blood that flew on his clothes; and in the mean time the scaffold was cleansed, and fresh strewed with saw-dust.. This being done, the sheriffs went for the Lord Balmerino, who, during this time, had conversed chearfully with his friends, refreshed himself twice with a bit of bread and a glass of wine, and desired the company to drink to him, saying, that he had prepared a speech, which he should read on the scaffold, and therefore should not there say any thing of its contents.

When the under-sheriff entered his lordship's apartment to let him know the stage was ready, he prevented him by immediately asking if the affair was over with the Lord Kilmarnock; and being answered in the affirmative, he enquired how the executioner performed his office; and upon receiving the account, said it was well done: then addressing himself to the company, he said, "Gentlemen, I shall detain you no longer ;" and with an easy, unaffected chearfulness, saluted his friends, and proceeded to the scaffold. He was dressed in his regimentals, which were blue faced with red; and his appearance, with the apparent composure of his mind, astonished the spectators.

As soon as he arrived on the scaffold, he took off his coat and waistcoat, together with his neckcloth, and threw them on his coffin; he then put on a flannel waistcoat, which had been provided for the purpose, and taking a plaid cap out of his pocket, he put it on his head, saying, he would die a Scotchman. After kneeling down at the block to adjust his posture, and shew the executioner the signal for the stroke, which was dropping his arms, he once more turned to his friends, and took his last farewell: then, looking round on the spectators, he said, "Perhaps some may think my

behaviour