The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-08
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THE TRIAL
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FOR THE POISONING OF
SIR THOMAS OVERBURY.
ny ANDREW AMOS, ESQ.

The interest which the story OF the poisoning o
Sir Thomas Overbury has always excited in the stu
dent of English History cannot be ascribed to any
great sympathy either with the victim or the reputed
criminals proiligac favorites in corrupt and aban.
doned courl--but must be traced principally TO the
mystery that overhangs the transaction, and its sup
posed conneXion with still darker secrets. This muir
der was generally believed, at the time TO be connect
ed with the death of Prince Henry, the hope and
darling of the nation, and with plot eXiensiv,
and more horrible than that of Guy Faux the char
acler of James |. supposed to have been deeply
implicated; and many thought that by his direction
the public mind was set wrong scent at the trial Of
the dcnuucnts Later researches whilst partly prov
ing these suspicious to be unfoundcd, have by no
means cleared up the matter Mr.. Hallam, who seems
to have studied the subject very attentvey and gone
to all the sources of information then within reach
says after detailing or two points which he consd
ers settled "Upon the whole, cannot satisfy myself
as to this mystery" He also says, 1.-THE circum-
stances connected with the murder of Sir Thomas
Overbury might furnish materials for separate dis
sertation had leisure TO stray into these bypaths.
The task here suggested has been undertaken by
Mr.. Amos, who has not only collected together, we
believe all the information on the subject that was
previously open the public, but has added various
documents, yet unpublished, from the State Paper
Office, and manuscripts in the British Museum. OF
this new matter the most valuable portion is the writ
ten examinations of prisoners and witnesses, taken
privately by Sir Edward Coke, who was employed
to collect the evidence for the prosecution. These
place tho transaction in very different light from,
that in which il has been commonly viewed. If they
nhy be depended on, they tend greatly TO diminish
the criminalty of Somerset and they likewise serve
to explain what has been hitherto so unaccountable
the difficulty that found in putting overbury
Il. lac. 4
acknowledged as valuable accession TO English his.
torcal literature. At the time, il unfortunately
happens that the materials so diligently accumua-
ted have been unartfuy put together with so per-
verse disregard of method and chronology, and are
so much ovcrlaid with general commentary, that they
not only fail Of producing their due effect, but are
utterly uninIelible To the hasty reader. What the
book wants is some kind of Introductory narrative
or summary Of the results that might serve as index
and key to its very heterogeneous contents
Thomas son Of Sir Nicholas Overbury, one of the
Judges Of the Marches born at Boston on the.
Ill., in Gloucostershrc He studied at Oxford, and
coming up TO London, resided for some time in the
Middle Temple Finding the law not to his taste. he
soon after east anchor at court" "thc then haven OF
hope" says his biocrapher Wnstanloy for all aspi.
ring spirits" Here he became distinguished for his
rare accomplishments. lie wrote both in verse ant
prose, win ease ana elegance Besides poem call
ed the "Wie, and some minor pieces, he published
Characters prose essays in the manner afterward.
successfully adopted by DR. Earle Mr.. Amos gives
some specimens Of his style. They are much de-
Formed by the vice of the age tendency to fantastic
conceits and strained antithesis; but contain many
happy turns, arealwayScurt and energetic, sometime,
humorous, and indicate lively and cheerful tone q
mind.
That however which was the making of Oyerbu
rvs fortunes his Introduction To the notice an,
friendship OF Robert Carr, afterwards Viscount Ro
chester and Earl Of Somerset This young gentle
man, coming up from Scotland in the stream Of 10,
tune seekers, had, by lucky accident attracted III