sulted for giving testimony in her favour as sometimes to endanger their lives.

Uncommon pains were now taken by Sir Crispe Gascoyne, assisted by Judge Gundry, who had presided upon the trial, and, like that gentleman, been dissatisfied with the verdict, to ascertain the real facts; and it clearly appeared, that Mary Squires was at Abbotsbury, in Dorsetshire, from the first of January to the ninth of the same month; that she was at various places in Dorsetshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, &c. from that time to the eighteenth, and that she did not arrive at the house of Mother Wells till the twenty-third. The evidence of Virtue Hall, also, which had been given in corroboration of Canning's, was overthrown by her subsequent recantation, from which it appeared that she " had been threatened and frightened into what she had sworn," in order to save herself from being prosecuted as an accessary to the felony.

The full particulars, of what has here been briefly stated, with an accompanying memorial, were laid, by Sir Crispe Gascoyne, before the King, and, fresh evidence having been likewise offered by the friends of Elizabeth Canning, his Majesty directed the whole to be referred to his Attorney and Solicitor Generals, on whose report that the weight of testimony was in favour of Mary Squires, the latter received a free pardon.

At the next Sessions, the Lord Mayor preferred a Bill of Indictment against Elizabeth Canning, for Perjury; and her supporters did the like against the

witnesses from Abbotsbury, &c. in behalf of Squires. The Abbotsbury people appeared to answer the charge, but no evidence being offered against them, they were honourably acquitted. Canning, who had been admitted to bail, at first absconded, but afterwards she surrendered to her trial, which continued, by adjournment, five days. Numerous witnesses were examined on both sides, and the contradictions were remarkable; but the falsehood of many parts of Canning's testimony having been rendered apparent, she was adjudged guilty, and committed to Newgate. During this trial, Sir Crispe Gascoyne was highly insulted by the mobs that assembled near the Sessions House, and the disorders committed were so great, that the Court of Aldermen offered a reward for the discovery of any of the rioters.

When Canning was brought up to receive sentence, a new trial was moved for, by her Counsel, on the ground, that two of the Jurymen had made affidavit, that they had acted contrary to their consciences in finding her guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury; for although they believed her to have sworn falsely, they did not believe it to have been wilfully done.' The argument on this point was postponed till the following Sessions; and Canning was remanded to Newgate. At length, on the thirtieth of May, 1754, after hearing the evidence of nine of the Jurymen, who averred their decision to be just, and a similar affirmation from the tenth, who was absent, as well as the opinion of the Judges who sat on the trial, the Court adjudged the verdict to be good, and consonant

to evidence.

Sentence was then pronounced, that

the Prisoner should suffer one month's imprisonment, and afterwards be transported to America for seven years.

This cause had divided the Londoners into parties, and Canning could yet number among her supporting friends many persons of rank and respectability, by whom great exertions were made to procure a pardon; yet all their interest could obtain her the permission only to transport herself for the term of the sentence. She accordingly was conveyed to America in a private ship, having every accommodation that money could secure, and much property, which she had received in presents, &c. Measures, also, were taken to ensure her a favourable reception at her arrival in that country.

Sir Crispe Gascoyne, on the other hand, obtained the entire approbation of the more discriminating and unprejudiced portion of the whole metropolis; and, on the expiration of his Mayoralty, a unanimous vote of thanks was given to him by the Court of Common Council," for his steady perseverance in the cause of justice, his generous protection of the distressed, and his remarkable humanity."

Many pamphlets were issued from the press on this extraordinary subject, a complete collection of which is now considered to be of much value. The effervescence in the feelings of the public did not subside for many years, and the writer can well remember the pertinacity with which, in his youth, the question of the guilt or innocence of Canning was accustomed to

be argued. But whether the general tale related by her, was true or false, the innocency of the parties she accused is unquestionable.

BLACKFRIARS-THE FATAL VESPERS.

In the year 1623, a dreadful accident occurred within the precincts of the dissolved monastery at Blackfriars, by which ninety-four persons lost their lives, and many others were maimed and miserably wounded. This event, which is historically commemorated as 'The fatal Vespers, or doleful Even-Song,' happened on Sunday, the 26th of October, in the above year; or, according to the New, or • Romish' Style, on the 5th of November, as was afterwards triumphantly noticed by those who affected to consider it as a judgment on the Catholics. The Count de Tillier, ambassador in ordinary from the court of France, had for a considerable time been a resident in Blackfriars, and it was probably under his protection that the meeting took place which led to so fatal a result. In an old building, adjoining to the gate of his residence, and with which it appears to have been likewise connected, on an upper floor, upwards of 300 persons assembled, to hear a sermon preached by the learned Father Drury, of the Order of the Jesuists, who was a descendant of the Druries of Norfolk, and the son of Dr. Drury, a late civilian professor in the Court of Arches. In the midst of his discourse the flooring gave way under the overbearing weight of the assembled multitude, and the pressure of the falling mass broke down the next floor, which fell with accelerated

weight upon the lower story, but that having been built upon arches remained firm. Every possible assistance was immediately rendered to the unhappy sufferers; and by the direction of Mr. Sergeant Finch, Recorder of the City, guards were placed at all the avenues and passages of the Blackfriars, and also at the French Ambassador's, where, on the following day, the Recorder and Sheriffs made a strict enquiry into the cause of the accident. The public mind was in a state of great excitation, but the confusion and alarm at length subsided, on its being clearly proved that the disaster arose from the defective state of the building. Father Drury was himself killed, together with two other Romish priests. Various pamphlets were written on this occasion, descriptive of the circumstances, and mingled with such reflections as either the bigotry or the belief of the writers gave birth to. One of the most curious, composed by the Rev. Samuel Clark, "Pastor of Bennet Fink," and first published in 1657, is here reprinted.

THE FATAL VESPERS: a True and Full Narrative of that Signal Judgement of God upon the Papists, by the fall of the House in Black friers, London, upon their fifth of November, 1623.

On the Lords day, October the twenty sixth according to the English account: but November the fifth according to the Popish account, went far and near, that one Drury, a Romish Priest (a man of parts and eminent gifts) would preach that day in the afternoon in a fair house in Black-Friers, London, whither all that would might freely come and hear him.

Upon this report very many, Protestants as well as