At the earnest solicitation of the Rev. Leigh Richmond, she, however, consented to undergo another watching, assenting to its propriety as necessary to the establishment of truth. In April 1813, the watch was commenced by a committee of nineteen gentlemen, four remaining at one time in the room. She caught a severe cold whilst removing her from her bed, and at the end of a week she had a very severe attack of fever. On the ninth day she thought herself dying, and was very anxious to make an affidavit as to her innocence of all imposition. With great solemnity, she said, “In the face of Almighty God, and on my dying bed, I declare that I have used no deception, and that for six years I have taken nothing but once, the inside of a few black currants; for the last four years and a half, nothing at all.” In spite of this protestation, strong suspicions of fraud were excited, and, finally, evidence of guilt and falsehood were discovered. Concealment was now useless, and at last she publicly expressed her contrition for her long-continued imposture. At one time, two hundred pounds, from the contributions of a wondering and credulous population, was placed for her in the hands of two respectable persons in the town; but this sum was subsequently withdrawn. The total amount of what she received was not known; but, as her children and one or two attendants lived with her during the six years of deception, it must have been pretty considerable. CHAPTER X. LITERARY IMPOSTORS AND DISGUISES. Controversy respecting the Works of Homer; Arguments of the Disputants--Controversy on the supposed Epistles of Phalaris--Opinion of Sir William Temple on the Superiority of the Ancients--Dissertation of Dr. Bentley on the Epistles of Phalaris--He proves them to be a Forgery--Doubts as to the Anabasis being the Work of Xenophon--Arguments of Mr. Mitford in the Affirmative--Alcyonius accused of having plagiarised from, and destroyed, Cicero’s Treatise “De Gloria”--Curious Mistake as to Sir T. More’s Utopia--The Icon Basilike--Disputes to which it gave rise--Arguments, pro and con, as to the real Author of it--Lauder’s Attempt to prove Milton a Plagiarist--Refutation of him by Dr. Douglas--His interpolations--George Psalmanazar--His Account of Formosa--His Repentance and Piety--Publication of Ossian’s Poems by Mr. Macpherson--Their Authenticity is doubted--Report of the Highland Society on the Subject--Pseudonymous and anonymous Works--Letters of Junius--The Drapier’s Letters--Tale of a Tub--Gulliver’s Travels--The Waverley Novels--Chatterton and the Rowley Poems--W. H. Ireland and the Shakspearian Forgeries--Damberger’s pretended Travels--Poems of Clotilda de Surville--Walladmor--Hunter, the American--Donville’s Travels in Africa.