Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-03-15
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.
Third and Last Lecture of Hon.
Arthur Macarthur.

The third and last of the series Of lee
lures by Judge Macarthur, on " Mary,
Queen of Scots" was delivered last eve,
ming, at the Music Hall, Crosby's build.
ing. Resuming the thread of his pre-
vious lecture, he said:
The council of Westminster resulted in
Mary's acquittal. Even Elizabeth was
forced to admit that nothing had been
proved against the fair fame of "her
sister" as she was pleased to term her.
The forged letters had been the only ev-
idence, and the publication of documents
unearthed since that day had stamped
their falsity even more clearly than was
then supposed. 1t was now established,
not only That they were forged, but their
authors were known. They were then
said to have been discovered in silver
casket in the hands of servant of Both
we'll, near the castle of Edinburg, the
servant himself being soon after put to
death. The lecturer touched upon the
improbability that letters of such mo-
ment would be placed unsealed in an
open casket, or intrusted to servant,
and then proceeded to critical examin-
alton of their contents and their history.
1t was an important fact that Murray
and Morton were the only ones who ever
saw the original documents. They were
without dates, signatures or seals, and,
as is now known, were originally written
in the Scotch tongue, contrary to the
statements ofthat day. From the Scotch
they were translated into Latin, and
again into French They were, in the
original, filed with Scotch saws and say
ings, such as Mary never used, and,
indeed, was never acquainted with;
and, to crown all, were loaded with
the most disgusting obscenity. Even
the sagacious old virgin who sat
upon the English throne, well posted as
she was in such matters, knew by her
own experience that they were forged,
and so confessed. If further evidence
were needed, it might be found in a PEI
rusal of the real correspondence of Mary,
and also in the fact that all who could
certify to the forged documents we're in
some way deprived of life A critical
examination and comparison of the We
sions in the three different tongues was
sufficient to show their spurious charac-
ter. With few remarks upon Mr..
Froudi's view of the case, Mr.. Macarthur
closed this part of his subject.
For 10 years Mary was confined, being |
from prison to prison, the |
last of all being that of Fotheringay.
Durins this time many schemes to effect |
her release were planned by her friends,
and two attempts we're made to assassin
ate her, both of them by order Of Eliza
beth. They failed, however, and at last
the prisoner became such an elephant
upon her hands that Elizabeth decided
that she must be made way with. The
sympathies of christendom were awak
sned in her behalf, and the safety of
England was at stake. In this emer-
rency it was determined that Mary must
be convicted Of completely in some of
he plans formed against Elizabeth's
hrone. Her secretaries we're suborned,
ler private cypher obtained, her letters
Intercepted, and false passages interpo-
ated therein. Upon this charge she was
,aled to trial and examined without
counsel or assistance of any kind. She
vas not even allowed to confront the
Witnesses brought against her. She de-
ended herself with a dignity of de-
neanor and a ssgacity which even con
ounded the queens counsel, and an
to the star-chamber was
,rdered. Here a different course of
procedure was instituted, and the wit
lesses were examined, while Mary, the
.coused, was not allowed to be present
)f course there could be but one Issue to
uch trial. and Mary was convicted.
Yet such was the horror created by the
Unlawful course of the prosecution, that
ven Elizabeth hesitated to give the
rider for execution. 1t came at last,
owever, after various Suggestions of
,oison, etc, had been but aside, and
iary was brought to the block. With
that dignity and pisty and innocence
be met her fate, has become matter Of
istOry.