employment, and, being a smart and active youth, was very much noticed in the family. As he paid particular attention to the horses, he soon made astonishing progress in the management of them.

About a year afterwards young Dick came to London with the family. During their stay in town the postillion was taken ill, and Dick was appointed to supply his place till he recovered, which was not very long.

Dick was now stripped of his fine livery, and sent back to his station as a stable-boy. This his haughty spirit could not brook. Fond of dress, and being thought a man of consequence, he resolved to look out for another place. Accordingly he told his father of his resolution, and asked his advice. His father, knowing he was well qualified, in respect to the management of horses, told him he would look out for one for him.

A circumstance happened that very afternoon, highly gratifying to our hero's pride. A lady who frequently visited the family, being in want of a postilion, asked Dick's master what had become of his late one. Being informed that he was in his place, and was very fit for her employ, he was sent for and hired.

- Dick was now completely his own master; and for some time behaved to the satisfaction of his mistress. He was a great favorite in the family, particularly an.ong the female part. He was now in his twentieth year, and, though not what may be termed handsome, there was certainly something very agreeable, if not captivating, in his person. For some time he lived happily in this family, until his mistress discovering him in an improper situation with one of her female servants, she

discharged him immediately; nor could any intercession afterwards prevail upon her to reinstate him.

He soon afterwards got another place, in which he did not long remain. He had at this time got connected with some other servants of a loose character, and their manner of drinking, gaming, and idleness, suiting his disposition, he soon became one of them. After losing several good places, by negligence. he applied at a livery stable in Piccadilly, and obtained employment.

One

Dick's father now died, and left him the sum of fifty-seven pounds, which he had saved during the time he lived in the family. With this sum Dick commenced gentleman. He left his place, bought mourning, frequented the theatres, &c. evening, at Drury Lane, he got seated by a female, who particularly engaged his attention. He took her to be a modest lady, and was very much chagrined at finding her readily granting his request to conduct her home. He resolved to leave her, but found his resolution fail him; and at the end of the play he conducted her home to her residence in St. George's Fields, and stopped with her the whole night.

Next morning, after making her a handsome present, he took his leave, with a promise of soon repeating his visit: He went home; but this artful courtezan had so completely enamoured him, that he could not rest many hours without seeing her again, and, but for the accidental visit of some companions, would have returned immediately. With them he reluctantly spent the day, and in the evening flew again on the impatient wings of desire to his dear Nancy.

She, suspecting him to be a per son of considerable property, from the specimen she had of his gene

rosity, received him with every mark of endearment in her power. Indeed she was as complete a mistress of the art of wheedling as perhaps any female of the present day. At the time Richard Ferguson became acquainted with her, she was the first favorite of several noted highwaymen and housebreakers, -who, in turn, had all their favored hours. While they could supply cash to indulge her in every species of luxury and extravagance, she would artfully declare no other man on earth shared her affections with them; but, their money once expended, cold treatment, or perhaps worse, compelled them to hazard their lives for the purpose of again enjoying those favours which any thinking reasonable man would have spurned at.

Unfortunately for himself, Ferguson became as complete a dupe as any she had ever insnared. What money he possessed, what he could obtain by borrowing or otherwise, was all lavished on this insatiable female, and he was, after all, in danger of being discarded. He was a total stranger to her connexions with the gentlemen of the road, though he knew she bestowed her favours on others.

Not able to bear the thoughts of entirely parting with his dear Nancy, he went to an inn in Piccadilly, offered himself as a postilion, and was accepted. Whenever he could obtain a little money, he flew with impatience to his fair Dulcinea, and squandered it away in the same thoughtless manner.

As he drove post-chaises on the different roads round the metropolis, he frequently saw his rivals on the road gaily mounted and dressed. One day, driving a gentleman on the no th road, the chaise was stopped by the noted Abershaw and another, with crapes over their faces. Aber

show stood by the driver till the other went up to the chaise, and robbed the gentleman. The wind, being very high, blew the crape off his face, and gave Ferguson a full view of him. They stared at each other; but, before a word could pass, some company coming up, the two highwaymen gallopped off.

At this period Ferguson was under the frowns of his mistress, for want of money. They perfectly knew each other, from having often met together at Nancy's. Abershaw was very uneasy at the discovery, which he communicated to his companion. A consultation was immediately held, and it was resolved to wait at an inn on the road for the return of Ferguson, and bribe him, to prevent a discovery, They accordingly went to the inn; and when Ferguson came back, and stopped to water his horses, the waiter was ordered to send him in. After some conversation, Dick accepted of the present offered him, and agreed to meet them that night, to partake of a good supper.

With this fresh recruit of cash he flew to his Nancy: but she being otherwise engaged, and not expecting him so soon to possess sufficient for her notice (being now acquainted with his situation in life), she absolutely refused to admit him, and shut the door in his face. Mad with the reception he had met with, he quitted the house, and never visited her more.

Ferguson, nettled to the soul, was proceeding homewards, when he met the highwayman who accompanied Abershaw, and went with him to the place of rendezvous in the Borough, where he was received by those assembled with every mark of attention. They supped sumptuously, drank wine, and spent the time in noisy mirth. This exactly suited Ferguson; he joined in their mirth,

and, when sufficiently elevated, very eagerly closed with a proposition to become one of their number. He was, according to their forms, immediately initiated.

When the plan of their next depredations on the public was settled, Ferguson was not immediately called into action, as it was suggested, by one of the members, that he could be better employed in giving information, at their rendezvous, of the departure of gentlemen from the inn where he lived, &c. whereby those who were most likely to afford a proper booty might be waylaid and robbed. This diabolical plan he followed too successfully for some time; taking care to learn from the drivers the time post-chaises were ordered from the other inns, &c. He shared, very often, considerable sums, which he quickly squandered away in gambling, drunkenness, and debauchery.

At length he lost his place, and consequently his knowledge respecting travellers became confined, and he was obliged himself to go on the road. As a highwayman, he was remarkably successful. Of a daring disposition, he defied danger, and, from his skill in horses, took care to provide himself with a good one, whereby he could effect his escape. Of this we shall mention one remarkable instance. Two others and himself stopped two gentlemen on the Edgeware road, and robbed them; soon after, three other gentlemen coming up, they pursued, and Ferguson's two companions were taken, tried, and executed. When his associates complimented him on his escape, he triumphantly asserted that he would gallop a horse with any man in the kingdom.

He now indulged himself in every excess his amours were very numerous, particularly among those married women whom he could, by

presents or otherwise, induce to listen to his brutal desires. He prevailed upon the wives of two publicans in the Borough to elope with him, and carried on several private intrigues with others.

At one of the last places in which he lived he was frequently employed to drive post-chaises between Hounslow and London; and notwithstanding he drove close by his old companion, Abershaw, where he hung in irons, it had no effect in altering his morals.

We have now given a faithful detail of the early part of the life of this noted highwayman, and the manner of his first taking to the road. To follow him through the various wicked exploits in which he was afterwards engaged would fill volumes. We shall therefore only state, that the number of robberies committed round the metropolis, in which he was concerned, was very great.

At the same time that he lived at different inns, as a post-chaise driver, he went on the road, and kept up a connexion with almost every infamous character of the day.

He was repeatedly in custody at Bow Street, suspected of different highway robberies; aud had been tried at the Old Bailey; but nothing could be fully brought home, till the crime for which he suffered. He was apprehended by some patrols belonging to Bow Street, and conveyed to Aylesbury, Bucks; there tried at the Lent assizes, 1800, for a highway robbery committed in that county; and convicted.

When he found himself left for execution, he seriously prepared for his approaching end, and met his fate with a becoming resolution, and such a religious resignation as could only be inspired by the firm hopes of the pardon of all his trans

THE trial of James Hadfield, for shooting at his late majesty at Drury Lane Theatre, on Thursday, the 15th of May, 1800, came on in the Court of King's Bench, on the 26th of June. The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty,' and the attorneygeneral addressed the jury at considerable length.

Mr. Joseph Craig was the first witness examined: he was a musi cian, and saw Hadfield above all the rest, with a pistol in his hand, pointed at his majesty; it was instantly fired, and dropped down: he assisted at dragging the prisoner

over the rails into the music-room. Mr. Sheridan and the Duke of York came in; he said God bless your royal highness! I like you very well, you are a good fellow. This is not the worst that is brewing.'

Mr. John Holroyd sat uext the prisoner, spoke to him, and remarked he was a pitiable object; saw a pistol presented across his face, and immediately discharged; he assisted in securing him.

Mr. J. Parkinson, a musician, was next examined: he confirmed what the first witness had deposed; and being asked if the situation was a

good one for firing at his majesty, he replied that the prisoner could not have chosen a better.

Mr. Wright, the fourth witness, was in the first row next the orchestra; he heard the report of a pistol as his majesty entered his box; turned round, and caught the prisoner by the collar. A young lady, who sat behind, immediately pointed to the ground, where he saw and picked up the pistol, which he produced in court.

Miss Elizabeth Ormeston deposed that she sat on the third row, but could not say whether it was at the first or second bow to the audience from his majesty the pistol was fired; but immediately he threw down the pistol.

Mr. Law, one of the counsel for the prosecution, here desired that the Duke of York might be called; upon which the prisoner, in a paroxysm of enthusiasm, cried out, God bless the duke! I love him.' The Court, seeing his agitation, immediately gave directions that he should be permitted to sit down; and Mr. Kirby, the keeper of Newgate, (who all the time sat next to him,) told him he had permission of the Court to sit down; which he did, and remained composed during the remainder of the trial.

The Duke of York was present at the examination; remarked at the time that he knew the prisoner; that he had been one of his orderly men. The prisoner said He knew his own life was forfeited; he regretted the fate of his wife only; he would be only two days longer from his wife said, The worst is not come yet. His royal highness said the prisoner appeared to be perfectly collected. After his maiesty had retired, his royal highness

directed a search to be made in the king's box, where a hole was discovered, evidently made by the impression of a shot, fourteen inches from his majesty's head. It had perforated the pillar. In searching below, some slugs were found; by the smell, they had been recently. fired off. Mr. Erskine asked his royal highness if the most loyal and brave men were not usually selected to be the orderly men. His royal highness answered that the most tried and trusty men were appointed orderly men. When the prisoner was asked what could induce him to commit so atrocious an act, he said he was tired of life, and thought he should have been killed.

The evidence for the prosecution being closed, Mr. Erskine addressed the jury at considerable length.

Major Ryan, of the 15th light dragoons, in which the prisoner was a private, Hercules M'Gill, private in the same regiment, and John Lane, of the Guards, all knew the prisoner, and deposed to different acts of his insanity.

Mr. Cline, surgeon; Dr. Crichton, physician; and Dr. Letherne, surgeon to the 15th regiment, as professional gentlemen, gave testimony to their belief of the prisoner's insanity.

Captain Wilson, and Christopher Lawton, of the 15th light dragoons; David Hadfield, brother to the prisoner; Mary Gore, sister-in-law to the prisoner; Catharine Harrison, and Eliabeth Roberts, detailed different acts of insanity, particularly on the day previous to, and on which he committed the crime for which he stood indicted.

The prisoner was found by the jury to be insane.*