Sheridan entertained us with a circumstantial account of the whole affair at the theatre on the night of the assassination. He was in the Royal box when the pistol was fired, and saw most plainly the man take aim. Ld. Chesterfield advised His Majesty to retire to the back of the box, but the King said, ‘Not an inch, not an inch,’ and upon the Queen’s entrance he waved his hand to make her keep behind, upon the pretext of her fear of squibs. S., as soon as the poor wretch was dragged out of the orchestra, examined him. He declares his answers were collected and distinct, until Sr. Wm. Addington[113] questioned him, who was extremely drunk, and suggested to the man ye plea of insanity by his mode of examining--a plea the man craftily availed himself of. When Sheridan went to Court, the King spoke to him upon indifferent subjects and seemed undecided whether or not he should notice the occurrence. At length he said how much he was struck with the behaviour of the audience, which gave S. an opportunity of saying they only followed His Majesty’s example. After a few such flourishes the King ended by saying he should despise himself if he had acted otherwise, for every man ought to feel his duty, and his was to stay quiet and not add to the alarm. Mr. Abbot[114] has brought forward a Bill respecting Public Debtors, which alarmed us until it was explained, but it seems fair in principle, tho’ ultimately we may be affected to a degree. All who have balances in hand will hereafter pay interest upon such sums. The debt from this family now due to Government is 53,000_l._; the assets are near 46, the odd thousands Ld. H. must supply. The difference of the Bill taking effect will be that the interest must go to Governt., instead of making an accumulating fund, which in a few years would pay off the whole. Mr. Moore is afraid from rumour that a clause is to be moved by Mr. Baker to make the operation of the Bill retrospective. In that case, to the last shilling of Ld. H.’s property must go, as the amount would be enormous, but it seems so unjust that the alarm is, I trust, groundless. [Sidenote: SIR G. WEBSTER’S DEATH]