Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-04-13

tnIuSb lnIO MS pOCheS, iSn uOWu III the
scuffle, and l almost tainted away through
grief and disappointment. One of the
gentlemen in waiting picked up the petit
ton; and as knew that it ought to have
been given to the lord of the bed-cham
Der, who was then in waiting. wrote to
him and entreated him to do me the fa-
yor to read the petition which had the
honor to present to his majesty. Fortu-
nately for me it happened to be my Lord
Dorset. with whom Mrs. Morgan was We.
ry intimate. Accordingly she went in the
drawing-room, and delivered him the let
ter. which he received very graeiously "
He could not read it then as he was a!
cards with the prince but as soon as ev-
er the game was over, he read 1t and be-
hayed, (as afterwards learned } with the
warmest zeal for my interest. and was Sc
conded by the Duke of Montrose, who
had seen me in the ante chamber, and
wanted to speak to me. But made him
a sign not to come near me. lest his ac-
quaintance might thwart my designs
They read over the petition several times,
but without any success; but it became
the topic of their conversation the rest OF
the evening, and the harshness with which
had been treated soon spread abroad,
not much to the honor of the king
This painful scene happened on Mon
day. the 18th of February, and seems to
have produced no result, unlessit it may be
supposed to have fastened the fate of the
prisoners. for on the following Friday. it
was decided in council that the sentence
against them should be carried into eff
feet
In the meanwhile, Lady Dernwater
whose husband was one of the condem-
ned, and other ladies of high rank. were
strenuous in their efforts to avert the ex-
ecution of the sentence. They succeeded
in obtaining an interview with the king,
though without any favorable issue
They also attended at both houses of par
Lament to present petitions to the mem
bers as they went in. These eXertions
had decided influence on the feelings Of
both houses. In the commons, a motion
to petition the king in favor of the deiin-
quents was lost by only seven votes and
among the Lords still stronger person
al feeling and interest was excited but
all proved unavailing; and Lady Niths
dale. after joining with the other ladies in
this Intellectual attendance, at length found
that all her hope and dependence must
rest on her long formed scheme of bring
ing about her husbands escape. She
had less than twenty four hours for ar
ranging it in all its details, and for per-
suading the accomplices who would be
GUS project. In these. she seems to
have been peculiarly fortunate. The fe-
male friend to whom she communicated
her intentions indeed. appears to have
been possessed of, fortitude and good
sense, which equalled her own. In an
interview with the Earl. Lady Nithsdale
mentioned her project, but fearful of en-
dangering the safety of his beloved wife,
for wife who assists her husband in
the case of high treason, is alnendablc to
the laws, the Earl refused his consent for
some time, till seeing her trust in Provi-
dcnce was so firm. he resolved no longer
to oppose her wishes, and allowed her to
make the necessary arrangements with
him.
The following extract of a letter writ
ten some little time after this event by
the Countess of Nithsdale to her sister,
the Countess of Traquair. will serve to
explain the manner in which the extraor-
dinary escape Of the Earl was effected.
"As the motion had passed generally
(that the petition should be read in the
House of Lords, which had only been car
ried after a warm debate), l thought l
would draw some advantage in favor of
my design. Accordingly. Immediately
left the House of Lords and FASTENED to
the Tower, where, affecting an air of Joy
and satisfaction. l told all the guards
passed that came TO bring joyful tidings
to the prisoner. l desired them TO lay
aside their fears, for the petition had pas
sed the House in their favor. then
gave them some money to drink to the
Lords and his Majesty, though it was but
trifling for l thought that if L were too
liberal on the occasion. they might sus-
pecs my designs. and that giving them
something would gain their good humor
for the next day, which was the eve of
the execution. The next morning l
could not go to the Tower, having so ma
ny things on my hands to put in readi-
ness but in the evening, when all was
ready, sent for Mrs. Mills, with whom l
lodged. and acquainted her with my de-
sign of attempting my Lords escape, as
there was no prospect of his being par
doned and this was the last night before
the execution. l told her that Ihad eve
~ thing in readiness, and that trusted
she would not refuse to accompany me,
that my lord might pass for her. pres
sed her to come Immediately, as We had
no time to lose. At the same time l
sent for Mrs. Morgan. then usually known
by the name of Hilton. to whose acquain-
tance my dear Evans* had introduced
me, and to whom l Immediately conmu-
nicated my resolution. She was of We
ry tall and slender make, so begged her