TRIAL Of Doctor John Wolcot OTHERWISE PETER PINDAR, ESQ, CRIMINAL CONVERSATION with thj. wife of Ma. KNIGHT 3f we ROYAL NA.VY. BEFORE t^f ■, . LORD ELLENBOROUGIIv King's Bench, Westminster ; Me 27 M, 1307. added, an E or Dr. WOLCOT, C?*EF.-?lATEt v THE TRIAL OF Doctor John Wolcot, OTHERWISE PETER PINDAR, ESQ. FOR CRIMINAL CONVERSATION WITH THE WIFE OF Mr. KNIGHT, of the ROYAL NAVY. BEFQR.B P fa\Q*hX&*#t 0 The Right Hon. LORD ELLENBOROUGIT, In the Court of King's Bench, Westminster ; On JUNE the 21th, 1307. To which is added, an ACCOUNT of the LIFE of Dr. WOLCOT. EMBELLISHED WITH C O PpER-PL A TE S . LONDON. Printed for and sold by J. DAY, 2% Fetter-lane, Fleetrstreet. (price one shilling.) EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 1. Peter 'and his young Landlady in the Characters or Romeo and Juliet. 2. The Doctor and Mrs. Billington in Comus and Eu- phrofyne — ce All I want of mortal man, is to love me while he can." 3. The Doctor in a moft interefling and feeling Scene, with his fair Pupil. 4. The Battle of the Barqs THE » TRIAL OF Dr. John Wolcot. COUNSEL. For the Prosecution— Mr. ATTORNEYS ENELAL and Mr. G ARROW. For the Defendant— Messrs. PARKE, JERVIS, and MARRY AT. Mr. GARROW Opened the pleadings, ftating, that this was an action brought againft the defendant to re- cover damages for criminal converfation with the plaintiff's wife, and for which he laid the damages at Two Thoufand Pounds. B 4- The attorney general Said that the action in'ftituted again ft the de, fendaiif was of a nature that required the moil ferious attention or the jury, which he was happy to nee compoled of gentlemen in a re- fpc c ta bl e fp h e re of 1 i fe , a n d w ho f ro m their intelligence would be able to eftimatc jufily and difcrmiinatdy, the pecuniary fatisfaction which, now, alas ! was all that could be got, due to hitrLon account of a moil: ferious in- jury, aggravated by many circumftances, winch added to the weight, and inflamed the poignancy of his. feelings. He had been de- prived of the affection of a once amiable wife, and affectionate mother to his children; he had been reduced to that fituation which at once makes a man an object of ridicule and companion — he was in grofs language what the world calls a cuckold, a name of re- proach ill to be borne by one who in no re- fpect deferved it ; one who- had proved the belt and kindeft, and moft cpnfiant of hul- bands, and whofe aciTteneTs of feeling for fo unmerited a wrong, could not but produce in his bread the acme of diihefs and of refent- •01 CJ imbi '-bo iti i f %a 1u .. i It was the j u it pride of the Englifh law tiiHit it I weighed every man's injury in an : equal balance ; that, founded upon the ■ basis I of immutable j a (lice, and the impartial admi- niftration of it in all cales, it wis accuftomed to regard every fubjecl: in the fame light, to imooth the inequalities of rank, and prop up the caufe of the poor and lowly ; and by a fp -cies of divine beneficence, to approximate all cafes to one uniform flandard, and one common fcale of eftimation. If it were faid, and it is certainly laid with juftice, that in the holy temples of our faith, " the poor and the rich meet together, there is no ditlincUon in the fight cf the Lord," it may be faid, with equal juftice, becaufe the maxim is bor- rowed from that lacred fource, that in a court* of juftice, all are equal. We here know no- thing of title and of rank, any further than to refpect k according to its proper deierts ; you, gentlemen, pronounce your verdict without any reference to the character it affedts — you fhoot your bolt at vice ; and fo long as you obtain the object of your aim, which is to punifli crimes and protect innocence, you are carelefs of future confequences. Thefe remarks are general, and encroach, perhaps upon your time. I will inllruci you, therefore, in the narrative of this cafe, with all poflible llmplicity and brevity. In fub- jecls of this fort it is ufual to appeal to the feelings of the jury - } I (hall not — your juftice is the bt& anchorage, ot my client's hopes. ; he will trull to that, lie demands no more,. 6 Tn the month of November 1797, my cli- ent, whofe name is Knight, was married to a Mis Pranks, a lady extremely young, and of a moil attractive perfon. The marriage was what may be fli icily called a match of affec- tion. My client was bred to the ieafaring life, and was in the fervice of his king and coun- try. For fix years they lived together in the ntmoft harmony - y they had four children^ two of whom are dead ; the two youngeft are iiill living, to (hare the difgrace and mifery of their father, and to lament the lots and alie- nation of a parent, b) the artifices of a feducer. Of the affection that fubfi fled between them, 1 will give ycu abundant proof, up to the time when the train oi the prefer) t crime was laid. T hey endured many hardlhips, amongft the reft fhipwreck ; but adverlity knits toge- ther thofc whom profperity separates. Hew- ever obftru&ed by occasional misfortune, their dream of lifo might yet have rolled on in peace and mutual contentment, but for the practices of the defendant. In the year 1806, Mr. Knight took a fmall hpufe in Fratt Place. Can den Town. This houfe he let out in lodgings. Jn the month of Awj&iMH Dr. Wolcot, the defendant, was re- commended to thefe lodgings, and he accord- ingly engaged a bed chamber, which he rented at cu>lu lh.ilmgs per week. Shortly after, he removed from his attic to the firfr floor, and 7 became tenant of the drawing room . and ad- joining bed room. I ihould inform you that he had lodgings in town likewife, and was ac- cuftomed upon every open and fine day, to walk thither, flaying at home chiefly in wet weacher. The defendant, I mud tell you, is a man in years, old in vice, and the experience of wickedmfs, but with the paffions of youth, which we mould have thought quelled in one of his age. Being intimate as a lodger, he meditated the feduction in the following rnanrer: He fisft pradtifed upon the lady's vanity ; he told her that me had powers which were loll in her prefent obfeurity, and which if employed in th:ir right direction, would bring fame and emolument to herefelf and husband. He flat- tered her into an opinion that fhe would make an excellent actrefs ; got her to recite to him ; corrected her enunciation ; fhe wed her the more graceful attitudes of the ftage ; and taught her much of that gefticulation and manner which we fee upon the boards of the theatre. He told her that he had taught Mrs. Siddons ; that he would gladly ufe his endeavours to make her as good an adrefs, and did not doubt of his fuccefs. He added, that he could rea- dily obtain her an engagement at the theatre ; and that her falary would be confiderable. 3 The wife believed him; the husband believed him likewife ; in fhort, it was a flattering re- prelentation, and could not be doubted. By means like thefe, gentlemen, he obtained the frequent company of this iady; and at lengih accomplished thofe purpofes which I fhall difclofe to you in evidence ; at the fame time, ifany 'thing could add to the infamy of defendant's behaviour, it was that he taught this formerly fober as well as chafle wife, ha- bit's of intoxication, and put her off her guard, and lay her vigilance asleep. Under thefe cir- cumftances, 1 leave, gentlemen, my client's cafe with confidence in your hands. Nothing can repair the injury he has fuftained in the infidelity ot an affectionate wife; the only compenfation he can get is a pecuniary one ; and which may at the fame time ferveas fome punimment to this hoary letcher. THE EVIDENCE. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Knight was proved by banns, on the 17th of Novembei, 1799. Mrs. POTTER Examined by Mr. Attorney General. Q. Do you know Mrs. Knight.— A. I do. Q. How long have you known her. — A. About fix years. 0. Where did you firft know ' er. — A. By lodging at my houfe in Great Cafile (Ireet, Cavendifh fqu^re. Q. How did {he fupport herfeif. — A. She was a fancy drefs maker. Q. Where was her husband at this time — A. He was in the Navy, abfent on fervice j he went to fea with cap- tain Rowley. Q. Mrs. Knight fupponed herfclf in his abfence by her induitry. — A. Yes, by ntedle-vvork and c re fs mak- ing. Q. Do ycu know whether from your own knowledge, fhe had any remittances from her husband ; did not her husband contribute to her fupport, or did (he fuppor her- feif wholly by her trade. — jf. She was very ailiduous ro her bufinefs, but had, I believe, remittances from her huf- band. Q. Did he p?.y you any arrears for lodgings when he came home. — A. Yes, fir, he did. Q. Mr. Knight then, from what you obferved, was a very affectionate husband, and contributed to the fupport or his wife during his abfence. — A. He did fo. G 10 Q. And what did Mrs. Knight appear to you. — A. She appeared to me a mod excellent young woman ; a tender mother and molt aliectionate wife. Cross-examined. Q. Don't Caftle ftreet lead into Newman ftreet. — A. It is near Newman ftreer, fir. Q. Were Mrs. Knight's earnings fufficient to fupnort her, and fuflicient to fciisfy you for the lodging. — A. Yes-, She got a good deal of money, being very induftrious. Q. You never faw any thing improper in her behaviour. — A. Nothing but what was very proper. MARY CROWE. Examined by Mr* G arrow. Q. How long have you known Mr. Knight. — A. More than fix years. Q. How long have you known Mrs. Knight. — A. A- bout the fame time. Q. Did they appear to you to live happily together. — A. Yes, he was a very good husband, and (he a very good wife. Q. You know fhehad fome children, what kind of mo- ther was (he* — A. A good mother, and very careful in all refpecls. Q. In facl, they were a happy couple. — A. I do not think there could be a happier couple. THOMAS KNIGHT. . You are the plaintiff's brother. — A. I am. Q, What doyouknow of his domeftic concerns ; do you know any thing of Dr. Wolcot. — A. I know that he lodged up two pair of flairs at my brother's houfe, and p..id eight fniilings a-week. Q. Do you remember any thing elk— A. No, fir. II ELIZABETH CARTER. Examined by Sir Vickery Gibbs. Q. You are fervant to Mrs. Knighr. — A. I was. Q. You are not feivant now. — A. No, I left Mrs. Knight three weeks before Chriftmas. Q. Did you matter and mistrefs live happily together. — A. Very much fo. Q. Your miftrefs drelTed decently, was fober, a good wife, and careful mother. — A. She was all that you (ay, fir. Q. Did Dr. Wolcot lodge there while you was there. — A. He did ; I left him there when I went way. Q. What part of the houfe did the doctor occupy. — -A* The bed -room two pair only at firft, but afterwards he had the dining room and the back dining room. Q. Did you ever fee him behave rudely to your miftrefs. A. He ufed to behave very rudely to me. Q I dont enquire about yourfelf ; did you ever fee him behave rudely to your miftrefs, any thing which you thought was not right. — A. I have feen her go into the doctor's room very nearly drefled, and when (he came out {he has bten tumbled, and her drefs very much pulled about. Q. What room have you feen her go in and come out in this manner. — A. The dining room. Q. What do you mean by her drefs being pulled about, defcribe it. — A. Her handkerchief was unpinned, and £he was indecent altogether. Q. What do you mean by .indecent ; ftate it — the court will ask you nothing which you need be afhamed to fay. — A. Her bofom u as naked Q. is this all you faw, — A. Once when I came into the room without knocking, the doctor had his hand round her boiom. Q. Did you fee this more than once. — A. No. Q. Did you ever fee any thing elfe. — A. Yes, one time when 1 came in at tea, the doctor had his hand on my miftrefs's knee. Q. State what elfe you may have feen. — A. I have feen the donor often lying on [he fofa without his coat whilft Mrs. Knight was in the room. 1 2 Q. Where was Mrs. Knight at this particular time. — A. At the window. Q. When you have feen her come out of the doctor's dii ing-room, have you obferyed any thing more about h r than the Hi, order of ! cr c!o.h s — A. 1 have feen her hair down ab ur her fho Iders, and ver her face. ( 1 *as no. to when {he entered the room. — A> No, fir. Q How i i I H e ufually wear her hair. — A. Under a bori- ng . fir, • nd a l ancuau i the front. Q When Iht came out of the room her hair was down, as ti Ihc had l.e.ntc -.bled — A. Yes, fir, <2 When your i, iitnfs had Le ft the doctor's room did heru'rels (how an part of htr pe- ("on which was not ihown before.-'-^ Nothing but her boiom, nr. Q. la what ft . v were the v\ indows of the dining-room Tfrhilft >our mtttrefsa; d the- doctor were together. — A. The window (h utters were half fhu'. t*. in the day time- — A. Yet, fir. Crofs- examined by Mr. Park. You lived fervant with Mr. Knight before the doclor lodged there. — A. Yes, fir. 1 left him there ivhen I went Q. vVh< n di i you quit your place. — A. About three Week? before Chriffmas. . Wei theie any other lodgers befides the doctor. — A. Yes, feveral. Q. The hbufe is not very 1 rge. — A. There are four rooms en a floor, and three floors j a pafiage went through the imdf'le, o that on each floor two rooms on one iide were oppofite to each other. Q. Doctor Wolcot is a very old and infirm man, almoft blind; upwards of leventy years of age. — A. Yes, fir, he is feventy. Q. Ke is fikewife a very dirty man. — A. Very much fo. Q. He was very asthmatic, and ufed frequently to lay down without his coat for want of air. — A. I have feen him of.cn v ithout his coat Q. You have very often feen him wiihout his coat ; fometim s when Mrs, Knight was in the room, and fome- times when (he was not there, — A. Yes, iir. *3 r Q. What fum did the doctor pay for his lodgings. — A* He paid eight (hillings a week, as I undeiltood. Re-examined by Adr. Gat- row. The doctor you fay was very infirm — pray was he fo when he was rude to you. — A* No, when he warned to pull any one about, he was veiy itrong. Re-examined by Lord Ellenboroifgh* Doclor Wolcot was u fed to teach your miflrefs to fpeak verfes, to recite, to act. — A. Yes, my lo;d. Q. You have oken fcen him give her leflions. — A. Yes, my lord. Q. When you entered the room at tea-time, without knocking ai the door, and the doctor had his hand round your miftrefse's neck, did they appear to you as if they were acting. — A. No, my lord. Q> You nave faid that once, when you entered the room unexpectedly, .he doctor had his hand on your miftrefTes's knee ; was it on the point of her knee. — A. Yes, my lord. Q. You mentioned like wife that you have feen the doc-tor laying on the fofa without his coat ; have you ever feen him in the fame manner laving on the fofa with his coat oft when your miiireis was not there. — A. Yes, my lord. Mrs. DYKE Examined by Mr, G arrow. Q. You were a lodger, I believe at Mr. Knight's. — A> Yes, nr. Q. Doctor Wolcot was likewife a lodger there. — A. Yes, he came in Auguft lafL Q. Are you well acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Knight. — A. Yes, fir. I had no fervant, and therefore as I did the work my felt', 1 law Mrs. Knight almoftevery minute. Q. What kind of a woman did Mrs. Knight appear to you to be. — A. A very prudent woman. Q. She apparently lived happy together "with her huf- band.— A. Ye% they appeared a happy couple. Q. Tnat was before the doctor Lame. — A. Yes, sir. Q. There was a great change afterwards. — A. She was net tne fame woman, Q. What apartment did the doctor occupy when he firfl cann.'. — A. A bed room on the two pair, but afterwards he had the dining room, and the back bed room. Q. When did you nrft notice any change in Mrs. Knight's conduct. — A. About six weeks after the doctor changed his apartment. Q. What was that change. — A. bhe weaned her child, and was carelefs of her domeftic concerns, and was intoxi- cated. Q- Did fneufually drefs very neat.— A. Yes, very neat and gent el. Q. State any thing that you have teen, and which ftruck you at the time as improper. — A. I have teen her go into the doctor's room very neat and genteel, and when tne has come out her domes have been mach tumbled and herfelf in great difurder. Q. Have you ever feen her enter the room fober and come out intoxicated. — A. I have, frequently. Q. How came you fir ft to notice her conduct. — A. By the report of the maid. Q. After the report of the maid, what did you obferve. A. I faw hei one day come down with all her clothes nearly bit her back, and go into the doctor's room. Q, How long was she in the room at that time. — A. Two houis at lcaft. Ha\e you at any other time feen her enter the doc- tor's loom, under c rcumftances which jou thought im- pr< per — A. Frequently, fir. Q. State tne circumitances. — A. I have repeatedly feen rui enter 'he doctor's dining room very neatly drefled, and come out with her drefs tumbled in an indecent manner. Q. Cm you ftate any particular time when fhe did this- — A. Yeb, one day in particular when fhe had put on a clean white gown, and went up ftairs to the doctor's bed- room. Well j be particular. How long did fhe flay. — A, Tne whole time between dinner and tea. Q. Did you hear any thing during that time. — A. No. J 5 all was quiet ; it feemed as if they had been to fleep toge- ther. 0. When (he came down how did she look. — A % As if she had not been right ; as if they had been asleep toge- ther. Q. How was her drefs. — A. She had changed her drefs, and conie down in a green gown. Q. Are you fure the gown she went up in was clean. — A. Yes, it had not been an hour from the mangle. Q. Where was her husband at this time. — A. Gone to Norwood, it was fuppofed. Q. Did the doctor and (he drink tea together. — A- Yes, fir, in the dininging-room. Q. And remained together the whole evening till bed time.— A. Yes, fir. Q. State what further you know. — A. My husband and myfelf flept in the room under the bed-room, and we heard the doctor and Mrs. Knight laughing and playing toge- ther like two people in bed. Q. Did they laugh all the time you heard them in bed. ■ — A. No, fir, after laughing and playing forne time, they feemed as if they had fallen afteep. Q. Had this laughing or playing any appearance as if they were acting together. — A. It did not appear like any thing of the kind, fir. Q. Have you ever feen any thing fimilar to this at any other time. — A. Yes, very frequently. Q. Did her conduct appear changed towards her huf- band and children ; was her manner altered from what it had been before the doctor came down into the dining- room, — A. Yes, fir, fhe was no longer the fame perfon ; (he became negligent to her husband, and children. Q. You have ftated, I think, that before the doctor came down into the dining-room, fhe was very neat, in her drefs.— A. Yes. Crofs -examined by Mr. Marry at. Q. In what line of life did you underftand Mr. Knight, the husband of this woman, to be. — A. A Navy officer fir. Q. When the fervant left Mrs. Knight, fihe ufed to do all the work of the houfe herfelf. — A. -Yes^ fir. i6 0. She was in fact, who |n a gent'eman's family would have been called the houfe maid. — -4. Yes, fir. Q. Was it not you who put the husband under the fofa, —A. Me ; no, fir; Q. Lid not you fay th.it vou did. — A. Not that I recol- ka. Q. It is irtipoflihle but voimul recollect if you faid To or not* Did you never fay 1 1 any one that you advifed the husband to go under the fofa. — A. I do not remember, fir, to have faid f •>. 0 I murr. have an anfwer. — A. I never did fay fo. Q. And when you received the fubpeena milling, di ! not you fay, here goes the fubpeena (hiding for hill" a pint of gin. — A Me, fir, fa y fo « No, fir, I never did fay fo. Q. What, you never drink gin, [ fuppoD — A. I have often fetched gin for my husband, but never by a (hilling's wo r :h at a time. Q. And did vou not fay that you had taught the fcheme of the fofa, and that you w uld make the old rascal pay one thoufand pounds. — A. I don't remember, fir, I ever faid fo. Q. You muft remember — I muft have a direel anfwer — did you fay fo or no:. — A. 1 did notadvife the fofa. 0. I do not afk you ifyou advifed rhe fcheme of the fofa I afk \ou if you did not fay that you advifed it — did you not fay the words I have mentioned. — A. I did not advife the husband to go under the fofa. Q. This is equivocation — on your oath I ask you, did you not fay that you had taught the fcheme of the fofa, and would rm-ket lie old rafcal pay one thoufand pounds.— A, I might have faid fo, fir. Mil WILLIAM DYKE. Exa?nincdhy Sir Vicary Glbbs. Q. Are you the husband of the !aft witnefs. — A. I am. Q. You lodged at Mr. Knight's houfe in December lafr. yi. Yes, fir. 0. Where did you fleep in the courfe of December lad. A On the floor under doctor Woicot. Q, Do you remember any thing about that time. the2>d December iail, which excited your attention — A. I was one night in bed, when theie was no one in the houfe but An Hieroglyphical Letter by Peter Pindar. Lovely , Sf&gee f»day chVflS # ^ have © ^ :cn 3, 4$ UUJ| £ w(> my ^ts^ t^ *^ Vort ^oor \eter my f . my A & -L w ^ n ^ ® w ^ & floj^^ng 4|CC, ^ th^nk of J^, J^r \yy sh^n JpfeMfi as the 0 the gj are dj^ll them. £ h^mi ®sh landf, has JgloUUed \ U at Axil at the & g ^nn on 'xlay. Farcg^ my *a.t<€5va!^ng g , ^eter ^ing toge- ther. — A. Like t A»o people in bed, lir. Q. Was any one in bed with you when you heard this — A. My wife, fir. Q. And did you make any remark to your wife upon the occalion. — A. Yes, I faid thi>t the dodtor and Mrs. Knight feemed very comfortable together. LOPvD ELLENBOROUGH. And was that all the obfervation that you deemed it rie- cellary to make- — A: Yes, my lord. Q. And having made this cbfeivation you were per- fectly fatufied, and fell afleep. — A. Yes, m^ lord. Q. And how could you in any way reconcile it to your own mind to think and fpeak of fuch a crime with fuch an indifference, and to employ fuch an expreflion. No reply • Mr. PARKE My Lord, and Qentlemen of the Jury. I will not take up much of your time in making any comments upon the evidence — it does not require ic — it speaks for itfelf, I remember, my lord and gentlemen, that when I was a young man, and fir ft began the ftudy of the law, reading a cafe in my lord Hale, which made a 'mo ft lehous impreifion upon me — an impression, my lord, winch no • D 1 8 time will erase. Lord Hale hirtlfelf relates it as a warning to all juries, and therefore 1 (hall mention it in fome detail. An infirm old man, gentleman, like my client, was indicted for a rape. The evidence was full, on precise, and pofitive.- — To make mort of it the man was convicted. The judge, according to the usual form demanded of him what he had to fay why fentence mould not be palled upon him. " My Lord, and Gentlemen of the Jury," replied the infirm criminal," the evidence is full and pcfi- tive — I knew, therefore, that what I fay will not be believed — -1 know that you muft not believe my word in contradiction to the pofitive oaths of the witnefs— I will not, therefore, fay any thing. But I declare mo ft folemnly that I am innocent— I will declare more, that I cannot be guilty of this crime : and, if your lordfhip will but permit fome of the gen- tlemen of the jury to retire with me, I will convince them that I am innocent/' The necefiary permifiion was given — the jury retir- ed with the criminal, and in five minutes after ieturned into Court, declaring to the Judge, that from phyfical incapabilities he could not be guilty of this crime. Mr. Park, faid, this was the moll infamous confpiracy that ever was trumped up in a court of juftice. The defendant was upwards of feventy years or age, blind, afihmatic, and altogether a very antidote to love. lie x 9 was fo helplefs, that he conftantly required attendants, and that fort of perfonal assift- ance for which the female fex are bed: adapt- ed — he wanted a nurfe, not a bedfUlow. — Mrs. Knight having no 'fervant, performed thefe offices — tucking up the clothes w,en he went to bed, placing a bottle of warm water to his decrepid feet, in order to give fome warmth to his enervate frame. From his profeffed kindnefs to her Ihe devoted her- felf to thofe little attentions ; and now the husband of this woman avails herfelf of an opportunity to charge this decayed old man with the crime of adultery, in order to plun- der him by the fentence of a court of juf- tice. I willi to God, gentlemen, you could fee this man, this Peter Pindar ! You would foon difcover that he had no Pindaric fire, or any other fire whatever. Let him ftep into the jury-box, and he will infallibly plead his caufe better than I can. Gentlemen, if the thing were not indelicate in itfelf, I might adveft to circumftances which would prove to you that fuch were the natural infirmities of this man, that he was phylically incapable of the crime; and as to money, inftead of being able to pay two thou- fand, pounds he is almoft in a iiate of want, fubfifting on an annuity from the bookfellerfor whiph he formerly wrote poems, if fo could be called, the verieii tralli I ever faw. T}>e adultery proved in no fingle part or poiLble caufes. The evidence of the maid fervant ordy inftructs you that her miftrefs was once in a lidordered drefs ; one of her breails being urccvered, and her hair difhevel- led. — Well! the doctor was teaching her to acr. She was, perhaps, at that nicmert, Eu- phrafia in the Giecian Daughter, employed in the charitable office of adminiftering her breat for nourifliment to the lips of her exhaufted parent. The maid faw the doctor fometimes with his coat on fometimes off what then ? He had once his hands round her neck ; what then ? He was inftructing her to to acf . Once he laic his hands on her knee ; he was blind, and knew not where he put them. As to Mrs. Dyke's evidence, it was little fhort of the guilt of perjury. She mainifeflly equivocated, and denied what (lie afterwards confeffed to be true in part. In a word, gen- tlemen, if the crime of adultery be proved in this cafe, 1 know net any old man, in limilar circumftances with the doctor, who would not ftand a chance of being impleaded on the fame charge in a court of juftice. 01 LORD ELLENBOROUGH Made sereral observations upon the equivocal nature of the circumstances against the defendant, which he considered might possibly $trise from the freedom which might take place between the defendant and Mrs. Knight, considering the difference of' their a;e, and the circumstance of his teaching her to act. The putting his hand upon her knee might also be very na- tural in the heat of conversation. When teaching her to act he must put her hands into certain postures, and declaiming and acting would probably disorder her dress — but the jury must decide whether the fact proved exceeded the measure of that allowance whicii must be made for the education of the parties. The principal fact relied upon, was the history of the day when the husband was at Norwood, and he very much disapproved of the jocular manner in which Dyke treated the supposed guilt of Mrs. Knight. If he really suspected her he should have gone up stairs and ascertained the fact. If he found she remained longer im the doctor's room than was proper, he should have remonstrated with her, and communicated his suspicions to the injured husband. He considered also that there was some improbability in the account of the transaction of that day, considered with a view to the actual criminality of the defendant. He was represented as old and feeble, yet it was suggested that the repeated excesses of his wicked passions were on that day, insatiable beyond ail dergees of ordinary probability. In this case the whole depended upon the evidence of circumstances, which were equivocal, and there were other means of ascertaining the facts with great certainty, to which the curiosity of the witnesses would have been naturally led, and which commonly existed in other cases, but not adduced in this. The jury almost instantly gave a verdict for the Defendant. MEMOIRS of Dr. WOLCOT. " Old as I am, for ladies' work unfit, " The pow'r of* beauty I remember yet." Dr. Wolcot is a native of Devonfhire. He was born about the year 1734., and was educated at Kingsbridge, a village near his birth place. At an early age, however, his uncle, an apothecary at Fowey in Cornwall, took him under his charge, with a view to his fucceeding him in bufinefs. Here he acquired a tolerable fhare of medical knowledge, and was in great elteem with his kinf- man and the neighbourhood. At his leifure hours he cultivated his mind by reading, and made a considerable progrefs in drawing and painting. He alfo made mufic a ftudy ; and to complete the round of the fitter arts, he exhibited fome ju- venile productions in poetry, very creditable to his tafle. He remained in this fituation, amfling his un- cle, and assiduonfly performing the duties of his profefllon until the year 1769, when fir William Trelawney, a diftant relation of his own, and a great friend of his family, being appointed gover- nor of Jamaica, he was anxious to accompany him, and 44 by labourfome petition, wrung from his uncle his flow leave," The old gentleman was difappointed in his favourite fcheme refpecl- ing him, and was to be deprived of a moft ufeful affiftant, but he could not withftand his nephew's folicitations , therefore, he waited on the go- 2 3 vefnor, who readily agreed to take him as his private fecretary. During the voyage, the veiTel touched at Madeira ; where, enchanted with the beau- beauties which Nature fo luxuriantly exhibits In this ifland, he wrote fome excellent fonnets. Du- ring his refidence in Jamaica, his fatirical pro- penfity began to mew itfelf. He was the author of fome pretty (harp lampoons on perfons in the army of confequence, who at a future period did not fail to remember them, fo as to put a (lop to his favour with government. Not long after the dotlor had been in Jamaica, the incumbent of the mo ft valuable living in the ifland, the parifh of St. Andrew, paid the laft tri- bute to Nature, and the governor was ready to confer the rectory on our author, but unfortu- nately he was not in orders. However as there was no clergyman at hand to fupply the place of the deceafed, he actually took upon him the charge, and for a time officiated. Fearing, how- ever, that he fhould be fuperfeded by a regular minifter, properly inftituted to the living, the doctor fet fail for England, carrying with him earned letters of recommendation from fir Wil- liam Trelawney to the bifhop of London. But though this application was backed pretty ftrong- ]y by fome confiderable friends in England, the bifhop refuled to admit him, on the ground, we believe, of his having prefumed to perform the minifterial duties without ordination. Being thus difappointed, he obtained from the tiniverfity of St. Andrews in Scotland, a degree of M. D. and went to Truro in Cornwall, where he practifed for feveral years as a phyfician with credit and fuccefs. About this time his uncle died, and left him nearly 2000! He gave dur- ing his residence here considerable vent to his latirical mufe, and alfo got himfelf involved in fome troublefome law 1 aits, in confequence of which he refolved to quit the country for a fphere more congenial to his difpofition and ta- lents ; and about the year 1780 he repaired to London. It may be proper here to mention that during his relidence in Truro, the doctor had an oppor- tunity of bringing forward an eminent natural genius, the late lamented John Opie, whofe rude drawing in common chalk, especially like- neffes, the doctor viewed with curiofity and pleafure, in his rides through the village of St. Arne. where Opie was a parifh apprentice to one Wheeler, a houfe carpenter. Thefe draw- ings were fuch as induced doctor Wolcot to take him into his houfe, and inftruct him in the art of drawing ; and he loon profited fo by the leffons of his patron, as greatly to furpriae and gratify the latter. Opie loon after went to Exe- ter, where he acquired fome knowledge of oil painting. From that city he removed to London, and fludied under fir Jofhua Reynolds. His firft exhibition, at the Royal Academy, was in 1786, and his fubfequent merits are now as well known as his death is generally lamented. It may be further neceflary to fay, that doctor Wolcot was at great pains in bringing forward this artift, not only by recommendations among his acquaint- ances but by his writings. To return to the doctor's own hiftory : his re- moval to London, was made principally wich a view of being appointed to the medical daff; and which he ftrongly folicited but without fuccefs; *6 principally we believe from the oppofition made by certain officers of rank, whom he had lam- pooned at Jamaica. His refufal made him at once turn Patriot, for fuch is the name alHimed oy thofe difcontented characters, who endeavour to harras a government. " I can eafily," faid fir Robert Walpole, 44 make twenty patriots a- day ; only by refufing fome unreafonable applica- tion." The fame circumftance will account for the do&or's marked feverity againft the king. Doctor Wolcot now took up authorfhip as a profefiion ; and has ever fince fubfifled on the fruits of his Mufe. All his productions have been publifhed under the affumed name of Peter Pindar, a name by no means appropriate, as his poetry, and that of the Grecian Pindar, are al- together of a different character and defcription. The firfh publication was in 1782, entitled Epif- tle to the Reviewers, a laughable piece of fatire, but which remained for fome time unnoticed, till at length fome perfons of tafte brought into noto- riety, and it was reviewed a very confiderable time after its publication. Such a work could not expect the moft favourable character from thofe it was intended to lam. — His next performance was Odes to the Royal Academicians, in which is a happy mixture of wit and elegance, but not al- ways impartiality. Thefe odes, however, (lamp- ed his fame, and the novelty of his manner brought him into great fafhion. About the fame time he produced a performance of {till more ori- ginality and boldnefs, the Loufiad, a mock heroic poem, which came out at different periods in E 26 cantos, in which he ahufes his majefty and the toffA family with very little ceremony. It would be occupying too much time time to go through all his numerous publications. One o1 the bell: of them is Bozz/i and Piozzi, in which the folly of Dr. Johnfon's tittle-tattle biographers is expofed in the happiefl manner. Peter has had the misfortune to quarrel very frequently with his bookfellers ; the firft of thefe was Mr. Jervis of Vv'ild court, but they foon dropped th-ir connection. He then employed Mr. Kearfl y of Fleet ftreet, who publimed a number of his belt performances. An in:ident, however, occurred, which could hardly fail to difguft our poet. He was never married ; and by way of econo* my he has never kept a lervant, but wherever he has lodged, has made an agreement with the mif- tress that me or her fervants fhould attend on him. Being always of an amorous turn, the beauty and apparent corneatability of miftrefs or maid have always had a great influence on him in the choice of lodgings, and many a time, like a great num- ber of others, has been a dupe to his own over economy, being obliged to pay hufh money for the indulgence of his whimfical propenflties. At the time we are now fpeakrng of, he had chambers in the Temple, where he employed a haadfome laundrc fs, whom he called his Cleopatra. A near relation of Mr. Kearfley, who was in the habit of attending him with proofs, cafl an eye of affection on this damfel, and vifited her in his abfence. One unlucky day, however, the doctor 2 7 coming in, rather inopportunely, in the midft of a fcene of courtihip, the youth made the be ft of his way by another door. The confe.quence was the doctor turned off his bookfellcr, difmifted his Cleopatra, and quitted his chambers. His next bookfeller was Simmons of Paternofter Row, but thedoctorcould not Long brook hisaver- ice petulance and ignorance. He left him, and ap- plied to Mr. James Evans ; he publilhed the Eplftle to Lord Lonldale, who commenced a profecution. This alarmed Peter not a little ; he however con- foled himfelf by thinking it could not be brought home to him; but Evans told him plainly, " they may not perhaps be able to prove again!!: you, but they can againft me ; and depend upon it I am determined to give you up." Peter with all his bullying is a coward at heart ; and thisthreat com- pletely difcompofed him. He made the moft ab- ject fubmhiions, and through the interference of fome friends, the profecution was dropt. His next bookfeller was Mr. Walker, who pub- lished a good many of his publications. Mr. Walker knew well how to manage him. The doctor at this time wifticd to fecure himfelf a permanency, and he made a propofalto Mr. Wal- ker to alflgn to him the copy right of all his works on receiving an annuity of 250I. fecured on real property. Mr. Walker propofed to Mr. George Robinfon (a very eminent bookfellcr, but with whom the doclor himfelf would never have any dealings) to join with him; but neither being .able to give freehold fecurity, they were obliged to take in a third, to wit, Mr. Golding, and the agree- ment was acceded to. At this time he appeared 28 very ill : and the Morning Poft, and other papers in his intereft, had repeated paragraphs of the dangerous (late he was in. When he called at Mr. Walker's too, he made it appear that he had acquired a great cuftom of drinking brandy, or ft'-ong brcindy and water. This manoeuvre had fo good an effect that Mr. Robinfon in particular was terrified lead he mould die before the deeds w re executed. One day he fent over to Mr. "Walker, begging him to bring the agreement. The latter could not find it; on which Robinfon told him 44 you are a ftupid ignorant blockhead; it will lofe you a thoufand pounds; the doctor is dying and we fhall not get the agreement exe- cuted At length it was found ; the deeds were prepared, and the doclcr requefted to fign them, which he mod readily did. Next day he was up and well, and would drink no more brandy, to the great mortification of the triumvirate. About this time he publifhed his Port Folio of (traps, which had a tolerably good fale. His affigns mo ft abfurdly pretended a right to this, and indeed to all he mould thereafter write ; the doftor laughed at them ; they flopped his annui- ty, and he brought an action, and after being at bonfiderable expence, they gave it up, without coming to a t rial. Since that time he has publifhed little, and that little has fold but indifferently. His wri- tings had loft their novelty. He had in fact overwrite n himfelf. and the world was difpleafed with his principles and conduct of dragging fo many characters into notoriety and ridicule. 2 9 About fix years ago fome fcurrilous articles appeared in the Times, and which no other news- paper would infert, inflnuating, we fmcerely be- lieve very falfely, that the doctor was addicted to certain propenfities, and which were fnppoicd to be from the pen of Mr. Giffard, a notorious minifterial fcribbler. This naturally enraged our hero, who fwore the firft time he met the rafcal he would cane him. They met ; a few days after at the mop of Mr. Wright, book- feller in Piccadilly. Th? doctor immediately acculed Gilfard with of the author of the pa- ragraphs alluded to, and infifted on his acknow- ledgment or denial ; the other having given an evafive anfwer, the doctor lifted up his cane and broke his head. A fcuffle enfued ; the doctor loft his hat and wig, and unfortunately the waill- band cf his breeches burft, and they fell down to his heels. In this fituation, the byflanclers in the (hop, taking the part of Giffard, turned out poor Peter, and threw after him his hat and wig. Fie, however, went off in a coach, exulting that he had kept his word. The rencontre was for a time a fource of general merriment, and the caufe of confiderable inkfhed, under the title of the Battle of the Bards. (See the Plate.) Although the doctor was never on the ftage, he has paid much attention to dramatic action, and a variety of female performers have fludied under him. He glories in having been an in- ftructor of Mrs. Siddons ; but whatever may have been the tutor's inclination, that lady's correctnefs of behaviours prevented any attempt at impro- per liberties. Some of his fubfequent fchoJars, however, have not been fo fastcdious. 3° Among the doctor's pupils was the enchantrefs Billington, for whom he wrote a variety of longs, and whofe recitation was much improved by his inftruriions, in the many private rehear- fals they had together. Their favourite per- formance was Miiton's charming mask, in which Peter, fantaftically drefTed and decorated with flowers,^ perforated Comus ; and the lady in loofe and liowing attire reprefented Euphrofync: — when flie fang All I as£ of mortal man, Is to Jove me while he can, Peter's extacy was unfpeakablc. (See the fecne in the Plate). Another lovely woman was a favourite pupil, Mrs. Crouch, whom he not only taught to acl, but they occasionally performed duets, and drank brandy and water together. For this lady and Mr. Kelly, he wrote the admired duet, " O thou wert born to plcaie me," introduced in Comus, and alledgedtobe compofed by Kelly. Dining once at her houfe with a considerable party, the doctor begged her to fmg this as a folo; she with ftriking empbafis began, 44 O Ihoa w^ert born to telze me" which fo offended the irritable bard, that lie immediately turned on his heel, and never after honoured her with his company. Having been affected by an afthmatic complaint ever fmce his return from Jamaica, he has al- ways had a lodging out of town as w r ell as in town. In 1804. he went to lodge at Delaneey-place, Camden Town, where he remained till Augufl laft; then he removed to Mr. Knight's in Pratt- place, attracted, it would appear, by the charms 6 l borh of miftrefs and onaid. As to the maid, fhe has fworn that he " repeatedly offered to be rude to her but according to her own account, fhe did not furrender her virtue. °The immaculate virgin, however, left the place about three months after the doctor took the lodg- ings, and Mrs, Knight afterwards did all the family duties herfelf. The doctor foon perceived that Mrs. Knight was a gay young woman ; one that would not long ftand a fiege ; and as {he ufed to ailift him in going up and down flairs, placing bottles of warm water to his decrepid feet, rub- bing hfs limbs in the manner of the fair beguine to corporal Trim, tucking up the bed clotht-s, Szc. he had much opportunity for his purpofe. With this view he perfuad- ed her to ftudy acting, for which Nature had eminently fitted her. He faid he had inftruc-ted Mrs. Siddons, and would be happy to inftruct her, and he had no doubt she would foon be able to make 2000I. a-year. This propo- rtion charmed the lady, as well as her Tender Husband, who had no difficulty in leaving the amourous tutor and his willing pupil together. On thefe occafions it is pretty clear that more was acted than plays, and that fhe imbi- bed fomething elfe beiides dramatic knowledge We had almoft forgot to mention, that the better to attain his conqueft, "the doctor not only taught the lady to act plays, but to drink brandy and water, to fo great excefs as fometimes to occafion ftupefaction. Although Knight was blind, and certainly acted the Carelefs Husband, Mrs. Dyke, a lodger in the houfe, was fufficiently attentive to the fcenes that were perform- ed " behind the curtain." She had often feen Mrs. Knight's drefs difcompofed and rumpled after their re- hearsals ; nay, fhe and her husband, who slept under the doctor's room, one night heard them diftinctly " very comfortable together," and apparently playing the part of Man and Wife. Mother Dyke, big with the news, informed Mr. Knight what fhe had feen and heard, and propofed to him to pretend to fet out for Norwood, but fo to manage, as to fecrete himfelf under the doctor's fopha. The now Sufpicious husband took her advice, and played the part of Peeping Tom. Shortly after, the theatrical dou made their appearance on the ilage. They rehearfed fomeofthe moft pathetic fcenes in Romeo and Juliet, perfectly con amore. Next as Euphrafia the ten- dered hei tempting breaftsto the feeble Evander, Then, afluming the character of Califta, me exclained, " Strike home, and I will blefs thee for the blow/' in a manner fo fascinating that our hero, wound up to a pitch, was proceeding to act his part on the fopha, when the Provoked Hufband fuddenly appearing from behind the fcenes^ he abruptly made his exit. Whether the guilty lovers have fmcemet, we are not at libeitv to difclofe, but a feparatioi took place betw r een the Cornuto and the Fair Penitent, and an adtion of damages was inftituted againft the antient Ranger, The trial has taken place and the doctor obtained a verdict. The doctor once more threatens to be an author, aye and a moral one I ! ! The following advertifement ap- peared in the Sunday Review, of the 31ft of May, 1807, which we copy verbatim. " NEWGATE BIRDS. PETER PINDAR proposes publishing something new every week for the amusement of the Public, seriousand comic, irt prose or verse. M His first exhibition — A humorous Description ofNew* gate Birds in St. Stephen's Chapel, as they were surveyed by an Honorable Member of Parliament m the Year 1802. '* Second Week — Church in Danger, or Knaves and Fools all alive, performing the Comedy of Much ado about Nothing. A Satire. " Third Week — A serious Letter to John Walbrook. Esq. respecting his extreme Ignorance of the Dignity, Wisdom, and Power of the Creator. f< Fourth Week — The Methodist in Heaven. A Satire. *' Subscribers may give what they please to the Author, who does not publish from Pecuniary Motives, but to exalt their Ideas of the Creator, and (if possible) humble the silly Prrde of Man. " Letters (post paid), addiessed to P. P. No. 12, Little- Quilford-street, Russel Square, will be strictly attended to. ,; E N D. Butters, Fetter-lane, 20196