these is Mr. Adam Lodge, M.A., a lawyer-poet, whose exquisite and popular translation of Schiller's "Bride of Messina," proves his thorough knowledge of German, as well as his powers of verse. The other is Mr. James H. Wilson, an active magistrate of the County of Middlesex, whose choice and curious collections and whose published essay relative to the criminal history of the metropolis add interest and importance to the subject. With these remarks, the author respectfully and hopefully anticipates for this second series of the "Romance of the Forum," a welcome from the public, as kind and as indulgent as have experienced his former similar attempts to lay agreeably and harmlessly before every class of readers the interesting and instructive lessons, which abound in the legal memorials of the faults and follies of mankind. TEMPLE, LONDON, THE ROMANCE OF THE FORUM. REVENGE MADE A POINT OF HONOUR. THE unchristian thirst for vengeance has in it one characteristic of natural thirst. The parched, however eager for a draught, wonder at their own earnestness, when their want is satisfied. So is the avenger amazed, when he has slaked his fierce thirst in blood; but then it is with him not wonder only but horror. The following narrative is a true and terrible instance of how a man may long cherish a spirit of revenge, even to making it a point of honour, and how, when he has done the deed of his intent, VOL. I B he will experience an agony of sorrow and repentance. The unfortunate subject of this tale is Robert, sixth Lord Crichton, of Sanquhar, a peer of Scotland, and a scion of that distinguished family from which sprung the Viscounts Frendraught and the Earls of Dumfries. This Lord Crichton, when on a visit at Lord Norreys' seat, in Oxfordshire, about 1605, lost his eye in fencing with one John Turner, a master of the science of defence. His lordship suffered under this accident and deprivation so acutely that he gradually conceived a feeling of revenge against Turner, which was heightened by the following circumstance. Crichton happening to be at the Court of France, the then monarch, Henry the Great, asked him how he came to lose his eye. His lordship, without entering into particulars, stated that it was by the thrust of a sword. The king, a man of a fiery and chivalrous nature, supposing the accident the consequence of a duel, immediately exclaimed, "Is he who did it still alive?" Crichton made no reply, but from that moment, the idea of a murderous retaliation upon the poor fencing master became with him a point of honor. Nothing would satisfy him but Turner's death. This he had not an opportunity of effecting till the year 1612, when he prevailed on Gilbert Gray, one of his servants, and Robert Carliel, a dependant, both Scotchmen, to undertake it: but Gray afterwards declining the attempt, Robert Carliel associated himself with one James Irwing, another Scotchman; and these two, on the 11th of May, 1612, about seven in the evening, went to a public-house, in Whitefriars, London, which Turner frequented, as he came from his school; and finding Turner there, they saluted him, and fell into conversation with him; when Carliel, on a sudden, fired a pistol at Turner, and shot him in the breast; and he immediately dropped down dead, saying only, "Lord have mercy upon me, I am killed." To the honor of James I., this bold, nefarious act was very deeply resented at court, and the King's commands were so active for apprehension of the murderers, that they were all three taken; one upon the borders of Scotland, so far had his fears carried him; another in a ship bound for Hamburgh, where, escaping in a storm, the seas delivered him up; and the lord himself, being broken down with terror and anguish of soul, hearing £1,000 was offered to bring his head, so liberal was the King for justice, threw himself into the arms of his mercy, by the mediation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, to whom he presented himself an object of pity. Carliel, the principal assassin, and Irwing were |