338 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1810. 



Some casual obstructions had 

 hitherto prevented hisbeingon the 

 spot when the trial was to come 

 on ; and she had delayed it until 

 be could, as on this day, discharge 

 a duty which he felt one of the 

 most painful and most important 

 that ever was imposed upon him. 

 He felt that there could be no 

 hope of throwing aspersions on 

 her character : for if the attempt 

 were made, it could only enhance 

 the damages. 



A book- keeper of the defend- 

 ant's was then sworn to give 

 evidence to the hand-writing of 

 the letters. 



Examined by Mr. Marriot. 



Q. Do you know that hand ? — 

 A. I can't say that — 1 believe I do. 



Q. Do you swear you don't 

 know ? 

 —-A. I am not sure that I don't. 



By Lord EUenborough. — Q. If 

 you received that letter in your 

 hand, would you act upon it as if 

 it were the defendant's writing ? — 

 A. I believe not. 



Q. Answer me promptly, sir, 

 a witness who hesitates as you 

 liave done only implicates his own 

 character \—A. My lord, I hope 

 my character is well known in 

 London ; but Mr. Flower used to 

 write dift'erent hands ; he was often 

 unwell ; he used to write short- 

 hand ;he was shy of letting me see 

 him write. 



Q. What, sir ! in his ordinary 

 business did he use short-hand > 

 You must see the improbability, 

 the gross improbability of your 

 testimony where you attempt a 

 fact, and its prevarication where 

 you hazard a conjecture : Pray, 

 sir, in what capacity were you 

 connected with Mr. Flower?— 

 A. 1 was his book-keeper. 

 Q. " Hie book-keeper, and not 



have the faintest recollection of 

 his hand? Go down from that 

 box, sir, you have told us enough. 

 Go along, you may read your 

 history in the eyes of the gentle- 

 men around you." 



Another witness was then call- 

 ed, who proved the hand-writing. 



The letters were then read. 

 The first was that which we have 

 already given ; the second was 

 dated October, and was in sub- 

 stance as follows :— ■ 



'• My dear Mary, — This ap- 

 pears a long silence; but as I was 

 going out of town, I was afraid 

 your letters might fall into other 

 hands than my own ; I am truly 

 weary of living alone. Oh ! for 

 the dear comforts of a woman's 

 society ! I long to see you at the 

 head of my table— to see you my 

 wife ; that is the only hope that 

 can make life desirable." 



The next was November, 1804. 



" My Dear, — Oh, how I long to 

 see you ! You say you have been 

 too open with me. Don't be afraid 

 of being too open ; I shall soon go 

 to the country ; then I expect 

 to find you ready to obey. I must 

 have you all passive obedience and 

 non-resistance. We have preach- 

 ing every day and night in town 

 here, but 1 still find that I want a 

 taste for divine tilings. Keep 

 your hand in, my love; your first 

 letter was very legible, but your 

 last I could not make out. God 

 bless you ! Yours, B. F." 



Some of the succeeding letters 

 were occupied with censures of 

 the talkative spirit of the country 

 people. The last was dated April, 

 1805:— 



" Dear Mary, — I regret to hear 

 that you are unwell ; but if ever I 

 should see you in thejlesh, I will 

 make it up to you ; I know you 



