Aged eighty-two, consigned to Old Bethlem in August 1786. The name of
this female, connected as it is with an occurrence which once excited
so much consternation in the country, will not be forgotten in English
history.
It is near thirty-seven years since this unfortunate maniac was
committed to Old Bethlem, and during that long period she has been
considered a lunatic.
The following account of the circumstance which caused her confinement
was published at the time.
“On the 2d of August 1786, as the King (George III.) was alighting
from his chariot at the garden entrance of St. James’s, a woman, very
decently dressed, in the act of presenting a petition, which his
Majesty was receiving with great condescension, struck a concealed
knife at his breast; which happily he avoided by drawing back. As she
was making a second thrust, one of the yeomen caught her arm, and, at
the same instant, one of the King’s footmen wrenched the knife from her
hand. The King, with great temper and fortitude, exclaimed, “I am not
hurt: take care of the poor woman; do not hurt her.”
The same day she underwent an examination before the Privy Council;
when it appeared her name was Margaret Nicholson, daughter of an
industrious couple at Stockton-upon-Tees, and that she had lived as an
upper servant in several creditable services. Being asked where she
lived since she left her last place, she answered in a frantic manner,
“she had been all abroad since the matter of the crown broke out;” and
on being asked what matter, she went on rambling “that the crown was
hers; she wanted nothing but her right; that she had great property;
that if she had not her right, England would be drowned in blood for
a thousand generations.” It was ascertained that she then lived at
Mr. Fisk’s, stationer, in Wigmore-street; and on being questioned as
to her right, she said she would answer to none but God. She stated,
rationally enough, that she had petitioned about ten days previously;
and on looking among the papers, a petition was found full of nonsense,
about tyrants, usurpers, and pretenders. On the interrogation of Mr.
Fisk, he stated that Margaret had lodged with him about three years;
and that, although she sometimes appeared odd, and talking to herself,
he never observed any proofs of insanity about her; she lived by taking
in plain work, &c.
Doctor Munro being sent for, he said, “it was impossible then to
ascertain whether she was insane or not;” but in ten days after, she
being examined before the Privy Council in the presence of Drs. John
and Thomas Munro, their Lordships were unanimous in their opinion as to
her insanity, and she was forthwith conveyed to a cell in Old Bethlem.
Addresses of congratulation to his Majesty, upon his happy escape, were
voted by the City of London; the loyal example was followed by all the
cities, corporations, and other great public bodies throughout the
kingdom, and many knighthoods were conferred on the occasion. It is,
however, worthy of remark, that Margaret has not only outlived all the
knights then created, but even the venerable monarch himself, who in a
very old age, and after the longest reign ever enjoyed on the throne of
these realms, died after many years of deplorable insanity.
Margaret herself, when much more communicative than of recent years,
has given a very different account of the transaction which led to
her confinement, from that which appeared in the public prints of the
time. She has declared, that she had not the remotest intention to
injure his Majesty; on the contrary, “that she had a great notion
of him.” She had lived with a great family where his Majesty used to
visit occasionally, and the King frequently looked at her in a manner
which she thought bespoke kindness and regard. That being afterwards
out of situation for some time, she imagined the King a likely person
to recommend her to a good one, and considering that he had always
regarded her with a look of more than common attention, she had,
therefore, determined to petition his Majesty as her last resource.
She inquired, and learned the time and place most likely to meet with
his Majesty, and that he would be at St. James’s on a particular day;
she attended with her petition, and took her post at the garden-gate
leading to the palace. That, unfortunately, having a knife in her
pocket along with the petition, and being rather anxious and confused,
and afraid of missing her presentation, as the King passed from his
carriage, in the hurry of the moment she drew out the knife instead
of the paper, and rushed forward to deliver it into his royal hand;
when she was instantly seized, and accused of attempting to stab his
Majesty, than which nothing could be farther from her intention.
But it appears that her story, if she told it at the time, was not
believed; and she has now been a sojourner in confinement above
thirty-six years, and has never evinced any prominent symptoms of
insanity beyond the occasional irritation, perhaps, naturally enough
resulting from her situation. She was transferred from Old Bethlem
hither when this building was finished; has long since made up her mind
to her confinement, and appears perfectly tranquil and contented; she
very seldom speaks, has totally lost her sense of hearing, nor would
the discharge of a cannon at her ear in the least disturb her. Snuff
seems to be her favourite luxury, of which she takes a great quantity,
and seems to enjoy it with peculiar satisfaction. She has contracted a
singular aversion to bread, and never can be induced to eat any. The
cause of this antipathy is unknown, but she is allowed gingerbread and
biscuits, which she eats with good appetite, in moderate quantities.
Tea is also allowed her, and she has, besides, the exclusive privilege
of living apart from all the other criminal patients, in a ward
appropriated as a nursery for the aged and infirm, and such as are
quiet and harmless. She enjoys a good state of health, is regular,
cleanly, and attentive to her little concerns, and is desirous to
render herself useful, so far as her great age will permit.
Reports of her death have been circulated from time to time: but
Margaret is still living, and healthy evidence in refutation of such
premature rumours.