Cowper—Have you any more letters?
Mr. Marshall—Yes, I have another letter here, but before it is read, I think it will be proper to give the court an account of the occasion of its being writ. I waited on Mrs. Stout one evening at her lodgings in Houndsditch, and at our parting she appointed to meet me the next day; and to excuse her not coming according to that appointment, she sent me this letter.
Clerk of Arraigns—It is directed to Mr. Thomas Marshall; it is without date.
'Mr. Marshall,
I met unexpected with one that came from H——d last night, who detained me so long with relating the most notorious inventions and lyes that are now extant amongst those people, that I could not possible come till it was late; and this day was appointed for business, that I am uncertain when it will be finished; so that I believe I cannot see you whilst I am in town. I have no more at present, but that I am
Your obliged Friend.'
Cowper—Now, my lord, if your lordship please, I proceed to shew you, that I went not so much voluntarily as pressed by her to come to this house, and for that I will produce one letter from her to myself; and, my lord, I must a little inform you of the nature of this letter. It is on the outside directed to Mrs. Jane Ellen, to be left for her at Mr. Hargrave's coffee-house. For her to direct for me at a coffee-house, might make the servants wonder and the post-man might suspect, and for that reason she directed it in that manner. There was Mr. Marshall by whom I received it, and I can prove the hand by Mr. Beale.
Mr. Marshall—My lord, I verily believe I was by, and that Mr. Cowper shewed me this letter immediately on receipt of it, as he had done several others from the same hand.
Clerk of Arraigns—This is directed for Mrs. Jane Ellen. It is dated March the 5th, without any year.
'March the 5th.