what the gentlemen intended to do with her, or how it would go.  I said I was afraid very hard, unless she could produce some letters to bring Mr. Cranstoun to justice.  She said, “Dear Mr. Fisher, I am afraid I have burnt some that would have brought him to justice.”  She took a key out of her pocket, and said, “Take this key and see if you can find such letters in such a drawer.”  There was one Mrs. Minn stood by.  I desired her to go with the key, which she did.  But no letters were found there.  Then Miss Blandy said, “My honour to him will prove my ruin.”

What did she mean by the word “him"?—­Mr. Cranstoun—­when she found there were no letters of consequence to be found.

[Sidenote:  Mrs. Lane]

Mrs. LANE, examined—­I was with my husband at Henley at the sign of the Angel on the other side of the bridge.  There was Miss Blandy.  The first word I heard Mr. Lane, my husband, say was, if she was found guilty she would suffer according to law, upon which she stamped her foot upon the ground, and said, “O that damned villain!” then paused a little, and said “But why should I blame him, for I am more to blame than he, for I gave it him, and knew the consequence?”

Did she say I knew or I know?—­I really cannot say, sir, for I did not expect to be called for to be examined here, and will not take upon me to swear positively to a word.  She was in a sort of agony, in a very great fright.

[Sidenote:  Mr. Lane]

Mr. LANE, examined—­I went into the room where the prisoner was before my wife the day after Mr. Blandy’s death.  She arose from her chair, and met me, and looked hard at me.  She said, “Sir, I have not the pleasure of knowing you.”  Said I, “No, I am a stranger to you.”  She said, “Sir, you look like a gentleman.  What do you think they will do with me?” Said I, “You will be committed to the county gaol, and be tried at the assizes, and if your innocence appears you will be acquitted; if not, you will suffer accordingly.”  She stamped with her foot, and said, “O! that damned villain!  But why do I blame him?  I am more to blame.”  Then Mr. Littleton came in, which took off my attention from her that I did not hear so as to give an account of the whole.

[The letter which Littleton opened, read in Court.] Directed to the hon.  William Henry Cranstoun, Esq.—­

Dear Willy,—­My father is so bad, that I have only time to tell you, that if you do not hear from me soon again, do not be frightened.  I am better myself; and lest any accident should happen to your letters take care what you write.  My sincere compliments.  I am ever, yours.

The Prisoner’s Defence.[12]

[Sidenote:  Mary Blandy]