In this manner the Captain entertained his Companions on their Journey to Paris.  Where being arrived, they took a Lodging in a By-street....  Every day for a fortnight, they spent in visiting the most remarkable places in Paris....  But finding their Exchequer pretty near exhausted, they began seriously to think of returning home to their good Landlady.  Accordingly they set out on their journey and on the third day reached Furnes, where they again met with a kind reception.  Mr. Ross, their Landlord, was likewise then just returned from England, where the Captain had sent him to receive Money for a Bill of 60l. which was the only Remittance that was sent him from his Arrival in France to the Time of his Death.

Not long after his return to Fumes he was taken with a severe Fit of Illness, from which however he recovered....  In this miserable condition he languished till he bethought himself that possibly he might receive some spiritual Belief from a Father famed for his Piety in a neighbouring Convent.  To him he addresses himself and entreats his assistance & advice.  The good Father having probed the wounds of his Conscience, and brought him to a due sense of his Sins, applyed the healing remedy of Absolution, on the Penitent’s declaring himself reconciled to the Church of Rome.

After this, Cranstoun seemed to be pretty easy in his mind, but e’er long was seized with a terrible desease in his body, which was swoln to that Degree that it was apprehended he would have burst, & felt such Torments in every Limb & Joint, as made him wish for Death for some days before he died, which was Nov. 30, 1752....  After the Funeral was over, a Letter was sent to his Mother, the Lady Dowager Cranstoun; to which an answer was soon returned with an Order, to secure & seal up all his Papers of every kind, & transmit them to his Brother the Lord Cranstoun in Scotland and his cloathes, consisting chiefly of Laced & Embroidered Waistcoats, to be sold for the Discharge of his Debts; All this was punctually complied with.

I shall only add, that by the Captain’s Death, his wife came to enjoy the 75l. a year, the Interest of the 1500l. which was his Paternal Fortune; and by his Will, Heir to the Principal, to support her and her Daughter; which was some Recompense for the Troubles and Vexations he had occasioned her.

II.—­Captain Cranstoun’s Account of the Poisoning of the Late Mr. Francis Blandy.

(No. 20 of Bibliography, Appendix XII.)

PREFACE TO THE PUBLICK.

As the Publick are in great Doubts concerning the Truth of the cruel, and almost unparalleled Murder of the late Mr. Blandy, of HENLEY UPON THAMES, in Oxfordshire, by Reason of the mysterious Accounts published as the Confession of his Daughter, who was executed for that cruel Parricide, and which were done by her own Desire and Direction:  the following Pages are thought necessary to be made publick, by which