“‘Yours, “‘John Ward.
“‘Dear Sir,—I think that the shesions will be on the 18th of Novem.
“‘Henry Brion, 22, Philip-road, Peckham-rye, S.E., London.’
“The third letter was as follows:—
“From John Ward,
“for trial, H. M. Prison, Newgate.
“‘My dear Sir,—Mr. Brion, will you be so kind as to send me the directions of Mr. Nash, direct at once for I do want to suppine him to come on my trial to prove that I bougth my guitors of him, for the police have got them for to say that I stole them, but I bought them of him when I bought my ship of him. So do be so kind as to send me his directions this very day, and my dear sir you be so kind as to come and see me yourself on Monday, for I do want to see you Mr. Brion.—I am your an unhappy man, John Ward.’”
It will be seen by these documents, that Peace was a very illiterate man, but it must be admitted, however, that, in conversing with him, he did not appear, from his conversation to be nearly so ignorant as he really was.
He had a very small amount of education, but he had natural gifts, and was, moreover, a hypocrite and deceiver of the most pronounced type.
Peace’s arrest caused much consternation in the house in the Evalina-road.
On the morning that Mr. Thompson was missing, there was trouble at No. 4. Mrs. Thompson went to Mrs. Long in great distress. The infatuated woman seemed to be fond of the wretch she had taken up with, despite all his ill-usage.