The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-09


The pretext and the stimulus were at length fur
nished by the old business Of Oyerbury. How this
TRANSFERRED is point that still remains somewhat in
the dark. The best authenticated story to be
the popular one; that LobcFs boy, who gave the
clyser, and had beeni sent abroad out Of the way,
was touched with remorse, and revealed the whole
secret to the minister the Hague This being Of
high nature to be intr,ised 10 writing the minister
obtained leave to visit England and made the matter
known 10 Sir Ralph Winwood, then Secretary of
State, from whom II went Immediately to the king.
James WAS at RoysOn, on one OF his royal progress
es and Somerset was with him. Some rumors, IL
seems, injurious TO the latter, 'havng got abroad in
London, he was about TO go thither and "iace them
down" His parting with James, who had just
heard the news, and the kings profound dissimua-
ton are matters with which the reader is doubtless
familiar. Two versions Of the story pass current,
from one of which would appear if Somerset was
actually arrested in the king presence: but
pondence published by Mr.. Amos proves this 10 be
impossible. There can be no doubt, however, that
when James took leave Of the carl, with every express
sion of endearment and Impotence for his return he
knew that Somerset going TO the Tower and
| that, as he said himself, "he should see him no
| more"
Whilst Somerset was engaged in buoying up Over
bury with false hopes and secretly conrivng 10 keep
him fast Lady Frances, on her part medtaed more
deadly project. Ii the former had cause to wish
Overbury Of the way for fear Of Vaccinations or
disclosures conie the latter was still more power
fully impeed to seek his destruction i'm revenge for
what she looked upon us wrongs and insults past
Her first attempt rid herself Of Overbury having
failed she now cast about for and more secret
instrument OF destruction There is no proof that
her intentions were disclosed 10 Somerset; and the
presumptions seem 10 point the other way Lady
Frances had not ventured 10 speak To him of the
assassination, though his concurrence would have
| been necessary for that project to succeed: here,
where his concurrence was not required, she was
still less likely TO volunteer communication that must
| risk so much Inscriptions she was, she was
not hardened in guilt her selirespect might be gone
and yet she might cling all the more enaciously to
the good opinion of Others and, above ALL Of Somer
set She dared notrisk the FORGETTING of that alice
ton which was the only thing that prompted her en-
lerprise. She could not foresee that his love- like
her own, would prove strong enough to survive the
shock OF suspicion disgrace, public exposure, and
conscious crime. lfit be true that Somerset himself
had wished for Overburys death, and nnskifully at
tempted to produce it, yet that was unknown TO her.
1t would seem, then, that the guilty projects Of the
husband and wife Went side by side, but were dis
tinct and hidden from each other.
| Very shortly after Overbury's imprisonment, Lady
Francis must have begun 10 mediate his death by
poisoning The subject OF secret and slow poison
was that, in the reigns of Elizabeth and her
cessor, much occupied mems iinaginations. This
WINS doubt owing, primarily, to the recent intro
duction of chemical science into England. The AR,
Of healing by means OF herbs and simples begin
ing TO be superseded by the more potent agency Of
drugs and chemicals. The herb-woman, or leech,
was but Just suppanted by the apothecary; for the
establishment Of apothecaries shops throughout Eu-
rope is an event that belongs to the 10th and begin
ming Of the 18th centuries 1t only natural tha
the wonders Of the new science should excite III
terror of the Ignorant and be the subject of thou
sand exaggerations. It's powers OF destruction fur
nished reader theme for the marvel loving than lis
! power Of healing few true stories OF poisoning
formed the nucleus OF thousand more that Were the
creation Of fancy, terror, or malignty Hence IL is
that the reigns vi these soyeregns abound with SO
| many tales OF mysterious deaths and indefinite sus-
picions. Camden, in his Annals tells us that when
ever popular distinguished man died, there inev-
\ itably went round whisper Of poisoning 1t was
even believed that the professors of this art could
regulate their doses produce death In any given
number OF days. nay, they could simulate the appear
ance OF natural disease This latter refinement and
possibly the former, indeed afterwards attained
when chemical science more advanced, by the
notorious Tophana, and the Marchioness OF Brnvl-
lers; but they must certainly be deemed beyond the
reach OF any Englishman in the reign Of James L..
th.h laf ody Erap thnt
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,roost sh,re of he ,,uilt Al nil cv,,s sha had In
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r,har FIRST care was To nrovide the prisoncr with
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