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was inclined to recognize his claims, and ordered him a pension of £500 a-year, but by the influence of either Harley or St. John,-Guiscard himself believed the latter,-the sum was reduced to £400, which, moreover, was not permitted to be placed on the fixed establishment, and consequently was but irregularly paid.

Stung to exasperation by repeated disappointments, as well as by the neglect and contempt which he experienced from his former friends, Guiscard, (apparently aiming at the same time at revenge and advantage,) offered his services to the French government, and subsequently entered into a treasonable correspondence with that country. According to the rumours of the period, his guilt was not merely confined to treachery, but it was believed that he harboured a design against the Queen's person. This improbable fact, however, may reasonably be doubted. "If Guiscard," says Lord Dartmouth, "had any design upon the Queen, his heart failed him; for he had been with her the evening before, and nobody in the outer room but Mrs. Fielding, or within call but Mrs. Kirk, who was commonly asleep." Under what circumstances so notorious a profligate, and so dangerous an adventurer, obtained this secret and ill-advised interview with the Queen, it is now impossible to ascertain. Anne, however, informed Lord Dartmouth that Guiscard, during his interview, confined himself to "very pressing" solicitations for

an increase of his pension, and to complaints of the irregularity with which it was paid.

At all events, the fact of the adventurer's treasonable correspondence with the Court of France was placed beyond the possibility of a doubt. With the cunning and experience in the arts of low intrigue of which such persons are usually masters, he adopted the precaution of addressing his communications to the French government through the circuitous route of other European countries. One of these letters, having been forwarded to a person in Portugal, fell accidentally into the hands of the British Ambassador, the Earl of Portmore, who immediately transmitted it to his own government. From this period, Guiscard was closely watched; and, shortly afterwards, a second packet falling into the hands of the English ministry, a warrant, signed by his old associate, St. John, was issued for his arrest.

The Frenchman, unconscious of the danger awaiting him, was walking in St. James's park, when he was suddenly seized and disarmed by a messenger, and carried before the council, which was sitting at Whitehall. During the first moments which followed his arrest, his selfpossession is said to have entirely failed him, and he passionately implored the messenger to kill him on the spot. He soon, however, recovered his self-command; and while waiting in an antechamber to be summoned before the Privy Coun

cil, contrived to secrete about his person a penknife, which he found lying among some pens in an inkstand on the table.

On being brought before the council, Guiscard behaved with the utmost coolness, and stoutly and confidently denied the charges brought against him. However, when St. John put some questions to him, which clearly proved how well informed were the government in regard to his recent proceedings, and, more particularly, when Lord Harcourt showed him one of his own letters, he entirely lost his former assurance of manner, and after making a daring attempt to snatch the letter out of Lord Harcourt's hands, seems to have given himself up to despair.

Finding that the evidence against him was too clear to be controverted, and that in all probability he was fated to suffer an ignominious death, the Frenchman, with a desperate resolution, seems to have aimed at the last remaining alternative, revenge. The principal object of his hatred was, unquestionably, St. John, who he believed had not only deprived him of the free enjoyment of the pension granted him by the Queen, but who had added insult to injury; who had first courted and then contemned him; who had formerly been his boon companion and was now the imperious and unsparing inquisitor. St. John, during the examination, was, fortunately for himself, seated on the opposite side of the table, where it was impossible for the arm of the assassin to reach him. Guiscard, however, (determined, if possible,

to avail himself of this last opportunity of wreaking his vengeance on the man who he believed had most injured him,) made use of some plausible arguments for inveigling him into a personal conference, urging that he had matter to communicate which should only be entrusted to St. John's private ear. This request (as Guiscard was a prisoner for high treason) was very properly refused by St. John; a circumstance to which he was apparently indebted for his life.

During his examination, Guiscard had contrived to thrust himself between the Duke of Ormond and Harley; so closely, indeed, that he might easily have drawn the sword of the former, and used it for his purposes of revenge: either, however, in the perturbation of his thoughts, the circumstance did not occur to him, or he trusted in the insignificant weapon which he had secreted about his person. Guiscard continued so pertinaciously arguing with St. John on the necessity of granting him a private interview, that Harley, wearied with his importunities, or satisfied that the object of the investigation had been sufficiently attained, rose to ring the bell, for the purpose of summoning the messengers to remove their prisoner. Guiscard, observing his object, remarked," Voilà qui est dur!-pas un mot!" At the same time he made a step towards Harley, as if he had something to whisper in his ear. From a Frenchman's gesticulations, it is not always easy to discover whether he is an enemy or a friend. In a moment Guiscard had drawn the knife from

his bosom and thrust it into the breast of the minister. The blade broke at the first thrust, but the assassin, ignorant of the circumstance, continued desperately to repeat the stroke. For a moment the members of the council were stupified at the suddenness of the attack. St. John was the first to recover his self-possession, and made towards Guiscard;" The villain," he said, drawing his sword, "has killed Mr. Harley." The council - chamber was, of course, in an uproar. Some of the members drew their rapiers, and thrust at the defenceless assassin; others defended, or fancied they defended themselves, with chairs ; while Guiscard, on his part, rushed desperately against his assailants, as if desirous of meeting his death at their hands. It was not till further assistance was obtained, that the assassin was effectually secured, and conveyed to Newgate. From this period Guiscard refused all aid from medicine, and in a few days died of a mortification which ensued from one of his wounds.

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