ou will contribute all you can to an extension of that mercy which the
gentlemen of the jury have been pleased to show to Mr. Merchant, who
(allowing facts as sworn against us by the evidence) has led us into
this our calamity. I hope this will not be construed as if we meant to
reflect upon that gentleman, or remove anything from us upon him, or
that we repine the more at our fate because he has no participation of
it. No, my Lord! For my part, I declare nothing could more soften my
grief than to be without any companion in so great a misfortune."

Mr. Savage had now no hopes of life but from the mercy of the Crown,
which was very earnestly solicited by his friends, and which, with
whatever difficulty the story may obtain belief, was obstructed only by
his mother.

To prejudice the queen against him, she made use of an incident which
was omitted in the order of time, that it might be mentioned together
with the purpose which it was made to serve. Mr. Savage, when he had
discovered his birth, had an incessant desire to speak to his mother,
who always avoided him in public, and refused him admission into her
house. One evening, walking, as was his custom, in the street that she
inhabited, he saw the door of her house by accident open; he entered it,
and finding no person in the passage to hinder him, went up-stairs to
salute her. She discovered him before he entered the chamber, alarmed
the family with the most distressful outcries, and when she had by her
screams gathered them about her, ordered them to drive out of the house
that villain, who had forced himself in upon her and endeavoured
to murder her. Savage, who had attempted with the most submissive
tenderness to soften her rage, hearing her utter so detestable an
accusation, thought it prudent to retire, and, I believe, never
attempted afterwards to speak to her.

But shocked as he was with her falsehood and her cruelty, he imagined
that she intended no other use of her lie than to set herself free from
his embraces and solicitations, and was very far from suspecting
that she would treasure it in her memory as an instrument of future
wickedness, or that she would endeavour for this fictitious assault
to deprive him of his life. But when the queen was solicited for his
pardon, and informed of the severe treatment which he had suffered from
his judge, she answered that, however unjustifiable might be the manner
of his trial, or whatever extenuation the action for