Edinburgh Bookshelf

Kay's Originals Vol. 2

Search

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 483 the Almighty Being to infuse into their mind a spirit of wisdom to enable them to come to a just conclusion upon this cause, Chief Justice Eyre having summed up the evidence, the jury then retired. After an absence of two hours, they returned with a verdict of-not guilty. On the acquittal of Mr. Hardy, he got into a hackney coach at the Old Bailey, amidst most violent shouts of acclamation from a numerous multitude which had been in waiting for several hours to know the issue of his trial. They requested permission to take the horses from the coach, that they might draw it themselves ; but he refused the proffered compliment, and ordered the coachman to drive with the utmost speed, which he so effectually obeyed, that the mob were not able to overtake him till he had reached the New Church in the Strand, when they insisted on the horses being unyoked, and all dissuasion to the contrary was in vain. Having thus obtained their desire, they drew him along the Strand, Charing-Cross, Pall Mall, St. James’s Street, and, by a circuitous route, brought him back to Lancaster-Court, in the Strand, to the house of his brother. On alighting from the coach, he thanked them for the honour they had done him, and entreated them peaceably to disperse, as the best token of respect they could show to the laws of their country, to the wise provisions of which he stood indebted for the power of being enabled then to address them, They instantly obeyed. Mr. Hardy had been a shoemaker, but latterly became unfortunate in business. For twelve years previons to his demise, he had been in the receipt of a gratuity of S50 a year from Sir Francis Burdett, which sum, on the death of Mr, Hardy, that gentleman generously continued to allow his sister. The following notice of her death appeared in the Scotsman of December 3, 1842 :--<A‘ t Falkirk, Mrs. Leishman, aged eighty-four, the sister of the celebrated Thomas Hardy, who was tried at the Old Bailey forty-eight years ago for high treason, and was acquitted, Upon the death of her brother, Sir F. Burdett generously continued to allow her 550 a year, which sum he previously paid for twelve years to Mr. Hardy’s use.” Mr. Hardy died in 1833, and his remains were interred in Bunhill Fields, City Road, London, where a monument, containing a suitable inscription, has been erected to his memory. His funeral was attended by nearly five hundred friends, one of whom, Mr. John Thelwall, delivered the funeral oration, which was printed in the London papers at the time. This gentleman had likewise stood trial for the same crime aa that of Hardy, but, being also found innocent] was acquitted. 361. FIELD-MARSHABL LUCHERt,h e illustrious Prussian general who, as one of their suite, accompanied the Emperor Alexander of Russia and the King of Prussia on their united visit to England in June 1814, when it is understood this portrait was executed.
Volume 9 Page 641
  Shrink Shrink   Print Print