were
beheaded, in the month of August, on Tower-hill. Kilmarnock was a
nobleman of fine personal accomplishments; he had been educated in
revolution principles, and engaged in the rebellion partly from the
desperate situation of his fortune, and partly from resentment to the
government, on his being deprived of a pension which he had for some
time enjoyed. He was convinced of his having acted criminally, and died
with marks of penitence and contrition. Balmerino had been bred up
to arms, and acted upon principle: he was gallant, brave, rough,
and resolute; he eyed the implements of death with the most careless
familiarity, and seemed to triumph in his sufferings. In November, Mr.
Ratcliffe, the titular earl of Derwentwater, who had been taken in
a ship bound for Scotland, was arraigned on a former sentence passed
against him in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixteen: he
refused to acknowledge the authority of the court, and pleaded that he
was a subject of France, honoured with a commission in the service of
his most christian majesty. The identity of his person being proved, a
rule was made for his execution; and on the eighth day of December he
suffered decapitation, with the most perfect composure and serenity.
Lord Lovat, now turned of four-score, was impeached by the commons, and
tried in Westminster-hall before the lord high-steward. John Murray,
secretary to the prince-pretender, and some of his own domestics,
appearing against him, he was convicted of high treason, and condemned.
Notwithstanding his age, infirmities, and the recollection of his
conscience, which was supposed to be not altogether void of offence,
he died like an old Roman, exclaiming, "Dulce et decorum est pro patria
mori." He surveyed the crowd with attention, examined the axe, jested
with the executioner, and laid his head upon the block with the utmost
indifference. From this last scene of his life, one would have concluded
that he had approved himself a patriot from his youth, and never
deviated from the paths of virtue.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

THE STATES-GENERAL ALARMED AT THE PROGRESS OF THE FRENCH.

The flame of war on the continent did not expire at the election of
an emperor, and the re-establishment of peace among the princes of the
empire. On the contrary, it raged with double violence in consequence of
these events; for the force that was before divided being now united
in one body, exerted itself with great vigour