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neighbourhood, which had already had three or four crops of 

 unhappy dupes. The miserable thing again soon collapsed — not, 

 however, before getting hold of what plunder they could lay hands 

 on, as hundreds of such bogus companies, promoted in the 

 interests of swindledom, continue still to do — yet not before many 

 innocent, unsuspecting ones, were 'taken in and done for," among 

 whom was Dr. Gibson, to a considerable amount in his way, viz., 

 the savings of a considerable period of his later years. This no 

 doubt was pain and grief to him, and a source of much chagrin, 

 embittering his declining days ; not so much from the pecuniary 

 loss to himself alone — though he could ill spare it — as from 

 thinking how he had been duped ; and others too, through his 

 example in some degree, had been victimized also, who otherwise 

 might not have been. 



" The following affecting and affectionate letter — affectionate in 

 its loving memory of him — in reply to a word of sympathy, was 

 received from his widow, by an old friend in Coniston, not long 

 after his death, telling somewhat of his long suffering and un- 

 complaining patience under it, may perhaps not be considered out 

 of place here : — 



"Bebington, July 9th, 1874. 



" Dear Mr. B , 



' ' Your sympathy is truly kind. My loss is very great. Sometimes I 

 scarcely know how to bear the great loneliness. He has been so long my 

 companion and my care, which makes me miss him more now. 



" He was so patient and so cheerful all through his long illness, and never 

 murmured. His death has left a sad blank in my life, but I would not recall 

 him now, for life was becoming to him weariness. 



" He always retained for you a warm friendship, and never forgot your 

 kindness. ■ • • • 



' ' Believe me, ever your very faithfiil friend, 



"S. CRAIG GIBSON." 



Miss Powley is amongst the last of our Cumbrian poets, and of 

 her the following graphic account appeared about the time of her 

 death : — 



"We record with deep regret, at Langwathby, on Saturday, 

 December 23rd, 1883, the death of Miss Mary Powley, whose 



