order to make you acquainted with the present situation of this unhappy business, it is necessary for me, Madam, to recount the regular process of it, from the moment I had

been informed of the event, by an anonymous billet, to this time. I soon guessed the writer, and as quickly suspected the author of the tragedy—Upon these hints, I immediately applied to a magistrate in the neighbourhood, and after having given in my depositions, according to the notice I had received, I became armed with proper force and authority, and rode directly to Castle W—.


"I was not denied admission, and upon opening my commission, Mr. W— charged you, Madam, directly with the fact; said you had absconded immediately after the murder, and that he had just then issued a warrant, and dispatched a pursuit after you, in order to have you apprehended and

delivered over into the hands of justice—Then, by way of supporting his assertion by circumstances, led me up stairs into the room where the corpse lay extended on the ground, shewed me the discharged pistol lying on the bed, and pointed to the blood, with which the coverlet had been stained in many places.


"I wept over the body of my dear friend,"
said he,
"then turning to Mr. W—, shewed him the note I had received, and asked him if he knew the hand? Yes (he replied quick) it is my wife's, and one line in it I think sufficiently certifies against her—I do not mean by this notice to call even for justice against his assassin. Whose danger, I pray you, do you imagine she should be so tender of? Would

she not have named the assassin, if that might have been done, with safety to herself?


"Sir, I replied, you will now give me leave to reason upon the circumstances relative to this melancholy affair, in turn. It cannot be difficult, considering the several parties, both separately and connected, to suppose the motive of Sir Thomas's errand hither; and whether it were most natural for the fond mistress, or the jealous husband, to have been the murderer, is a question sitter to be argued in a court, than discussed here. For which reason, (concluded I) I shall pretend to act but ministerially upon this occasion, and therefore I do now, in the name of justice, arrest you and your whole houshold, in

order to take your trials, jointly and severally, for this murder.


"Mr. W— seemed startled at this discourse, but talked