194 LIFE OF MYTTON. 



which he then appeared placed, he asked me, as he 

 lay in his bed, to get a sheet of paper and write what 

 he dictated. I did so, and it consisted of the following 

 lines : — 



" Condemn'u in youth to meet the grave, 

 I hope to be receiv'd above ; 

 Render my soul to Him who gave, 

 My latest breath to you, my love." 



He then requested they might be placed in his view 

 on the door of his chamber (where they remained 

 for a considerable time). " And," said he, " when I 

 die, I trust to your sending them to my wife." I told 

 him I would do so ; and had he died at that time, I 

 should certainly have complied with the request. 



non sponle sua, nee voluntate meorum filiorum." Here it appears his 

 Latin is not quite so correct, but he alludes to the impression, that he 

 ■was not aware on what account his liberty was denied him. This last 

 ■ epistle was succeeded by another the same day, which shows that the 

 brain became more disturbed. " Dear Ram," H — 1 to pay ; come here 

 .instantly, they are all found oul— poison. Ever J. M." I have a hundred 

 such notes, the dates of all which I marked, and I suppose Mr. Roberts, 

 the proprietor of his hotel, had as many. On perusing several of them, I 

 .could have exclaimed with Shakspeare, — 



" Oh, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown ! " 



