Guy Mannering.

48 WVAVERLEY NOVELS.
them fell on their knees to thank Heaven for his preservation, embraced his legs, and shed tears of joy for his
return."
Lord Anglesey became so much alarmed at the probable result of the now threatened trial, that he expressed
his intention to make a compromise with the claimant,
renounce the title, and retire into France; and with this
view he commenced learning the French language. But
this resolution was given up, in consequence of an occurrence which encouraged the flattering hope that his
opponent would be speedily and most effectually disposed of.
After his arrival in England, Annesley unfortunately
occasioned the death of a man by the accidental discharge
of a fowling-piece which he was in the act of carrying.
Though there could not exist a doubt of his innocence
from all intention of such a deed, the circumstance offered
too good a chance to be lost sight of by his uncle, who
employed an attorney named Gifford, and with his assistance used every effort at the coroner's inquest and the
subsequent trial to bring about a verdict of murder. In
this, however, he did not succeed, although "he practised
all the unfair means that could be invented to procure
the removal of the prisoner to Newgate from the healthy
gaol to which he had been at first committed;" and " the
Earl even appeared in person on the bench, endeavouring
to intimidate and browbeat the witnesses, and to inveigle
the prisoner into destructive confessions." Annesley was
honourably acquitted, after his uncle had expended nearly
one thousand pounds on the prosecution.
The trial between James Annesley, Esq., and Richard
Earl of Anglesey, before the Right Honourable the Lord
Chief-Justice and other Barons of the Exchequer, com