The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-11 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THU': SDAY EVENING, AUGUST 11, 1853.

first-rate solicitors, but they wanted to bind me down to be
stewards of the property. I refused it upon those terms.
One attorney, in Lincoln's-ion-fields, said he was going to he
married, but he would sell off everything, and take up the
cue. I went to Ireland last Christmu ; that was six months
after I had seen Mr. Catlin. Mr. Catlin went with me. I
hail not the most distant idea we sheath' obtain everything
we wanted. It to happened Providence brought everything
to light. Ou my return from Ireland I gave notice to the
'clients. The notices were issued in March. I assumed
the title of baronet by the advice of a gentleman in Bristol,
on my seeing Mr. Stone. I had made up my mind to pur-
sue it with vigour; I was driven to it by circumstances. I
took up the name and arms, and issued cards, expecting if I
was wrong I should be prosecuted, and made the defendant,
I did fairly and freely. I got the portrait from Provis's
two yens after his death. I did not obtain it from Provia's ;
I obtained it from his daughter, Mrs. Heath, living at
Mere, in Witte. I placed it in the hands of a person at
Bath, when it remained three years. Ile lived in West-
gate street, in Bath. His name is Thompson. Ile was
prosecuted some time back for removing the marks tram
plate. The name is Thompson and Fuller. I received
this (the letter from Sir Hugh to his alleged wife.) I could
not be accurate as to the time without vast recollection. It
was in the autumn in last year. I first saw it in Mr. Cat-
lin's hands. I saw Reed at a public-house. He was sent
for from the eoalpits, where he was at work. I told him
who I was. What he stated I took down in writing. Ile
signed it, and it was witnessed, 1 forget the date. Reed
said he would search his mother's papers, and see if there
was anything that would correspond. I first heard of the
existence of the letter after my interview with Mr. Shadwell.
I beard of it from Mn. Mattick, to whom Heed had sent.
Mrs. Mattick went down and fetched the letter. I first
saw the letter in the hands of Mr. Brahma, I think, or
Mrs. Mattick. I took or sent the letter to Mr. Catlin. I

_ ...... _
saw the largo parchment first. I never saw the small one
till now, 1 tint saw the large parchment (the deed of 1823)
some time in March last. It came to me by railway from
London. There was a letter enclosed with it. The letter
is dated March the 7th, but I think I did not receive the
parcel till the 17th. 1 know Lewis, the butler, who was
examined here. I showed him the parchment of 1823, just
after the receipt of it. I went to all I coals find who could
test the document. I went to Marlborough. I afterwards
sent it by Mr. Geary, my landlord, to Mr. Catlin. Mr.
Geary is a house-agent at Ciitton. Geary assisted to trace'
out the witnests to the document. I first heard of the
Ismail parchment of 1822 when Mr. Catlin spoke of it to
me. I first sew this parchment (the small one) to-day. I
don't know where it came from. After I took steps to
obtain the rent., paragraphs appeared in the London
and provincial papers *bout it. I have a mark on my
thumb, done in birth. (The thumb on the witness's right
hand was drawn back. lie eshibited his hand to the jury.
His wrist appeared marked in several places with scene,
like the cicatrices of scrofulous sores.)
- -

Cross-examined by Sir F. Thcsiger—l have a good
memory on things that interest me. I have a perfect recol
lection of things which occurred after I wax three years and
a half old. Mr. Peoria's family consisted of himself and two
boys—John and Thomas. I only knew one, the youngest,
Thomas. John was living with his father at the time.
Mr. Provis was engaged at the Marquis of Bath'e, cutting
timber, and John was with him. Provis did not come
home to his house after his work. I saw Provis at times.
I do not believe I knew him residing at his house. lie was
occasionally backwards and forward., and so was John. I
knew there was such a boy, but I hadn't much intercourse
with him. Your questions aro quite irrelevant sad unbe-
coming. I could not recollect John. I saw him. Ido not
recollect him there. I should say not. There is no doubt
he was there. I do not recollect him. I saw boys there.
I was treated with the utmost respect. I wore red morocco
shoes, and was never allowed to be without my nurse. I
remember some of my little actions at Provis's. I was a
mischievous child.
Sir F. Thesiger—That I can well believe. (Laughter.)

Cron-examination continued—l was the little gentleman
of the place, and slid a little mischief en the town with the
shutters of the place. I remember the proclamation of
peace. I cut the triumphal arch, the string that bound it
to the pole, and it fell down. I had a pocketknife. An old
woman snatched me away, and saved my life. I think that
WAS in the year 1800. (The witness here said he would only
answer such questions as were put to him.) I wee always a
rood boy. The mischief I did was according to m station
in life, as you might have done. They were not allowed to
check me. My nurse guarded me. Grace came and took
me to Lower Court, Ashton. I did not know who be was.
I knew when he came. I might have known by whom he
was sent. I didn't know, that Grace was butler e f Sir
Hugh. I Seat knew that after I h.d resided at Lower
Court. I was removed there at three years and a-half.
That was in 1801. I lived at Lower Court about two
years. I saw Grace, the butler, almost every day I was
there. I remember old Phillips, the gardener. I can't
' mention three living servants who saw me there; but there
are some coming forward whom I have not been allowed to
see. 1 was placed at a school with a lady in the village. There
wasa Mrs. Hall or • Mrs. Smyth living at Lower C met.
There was an old catholic chapel in the garden. I recollect
Sling up a tub as a pigeon-house there, and I remember its
falling down upon me as I was getting up. The other im-
;intent circumstance is that the house was on the right
h.nd of the precinct, and it was chanted to the left. I have
inquired about this in the village. There are only a few
who knew it. I found that the house had been charged
from the right to the left. I went through the village and
found that. I saw old Sir John Hugh more than Sir Hugh.
I can't say how often I saw Sir Jolla Hugh. I don't know
whether it was Sir John Hugh or Sir Hugh, except from
the descriptions since given. I was then at Mee. Hell's at
Brislingtoo. It was a boarding-school. Mrs. Hill bad a
few young gentlemen under her care in a separate house.
I did not go home. I had no home to go to. I believe I
went to Bath and to Stapleton, to Miss•Whi•eburch, a rela-
tive of thomu Smythb wife. I pasted one holiday at Miss
Whitchurch's. She might have been middle-aged. I know
the name of Thomas Smyth's wife from the " Peerage." I
once spent my holiday/ with Mr. and Mrs. Fetland,
friends of Sir Hugh's. They must have known who
I was. They
dener at Heath House came over and took me. I have
since learnt it must have been the gardener. I spent ene
holiday at Longleate, the test of the Marchioness of Bath.
I was about eight years of ago when I went to Warminster.
I might have been nine. At that time I always spent my
hnlydays at Lenten. House, except when I was at Lord
Cork's. I was more intimate et Lord Cork's. There were
more boys there. I cannot tell whether the Dowager Mar-
chioness of Bath was at Longleate. No doubt I saw her
there. I remained at Winehester till 1810. I did not re-
main till I was 18 years old. From the Marchionees of Bath
I brat heard of my father. This letter (of the 28th of
August, 1852) is in my handwriting. I put in it the words,
" My mother arrived in England in 1796, and died at the
Marchioness of Bath's." In the same letter 1 also said, " I
remained at Winchester till I was 18, and spent my holy-
days at the Dowager Marchioness of Bath's." I did not
remain till I was 18. I wrote that because I knew no
better. I only wrote it as a supposition. I suppose it
was the Marchioness of Bath gave me the 1,5001., the
jewellery, and the pictures. I received them from her in
Grosvenor-street. This letter of the 20th of September,
1852, to Lady Caroline Mynas is in my handwriting. In
this I said the Marchioness of Bath did me the honour and
maternal kindness to adopt me as her " portagee." I also
slid, the Marchioneu of Bath gave me the money, jewels,
and pictures of my mother. This letter, of the 26th of
September. 1852, is in my handwriting. n this I repeated
that the Marchioness of Bath gave me the money and
jewels left me by my mother, and an obituary ring which
she had had made in memory of my mother, with an in-
scription, "Its memory of Jane, wife of Hugh Smyth;
married May, 1796, and died February, 1797.. There was
such a ring, but there is not one such in the box now. I
have seen such a ring. I don't remember when I saw it
last. It was in Mr. Catlin's possession.
Sir F. Thesiger, looking at the plaintiffs letter, asked
him how be spelt " vicissitudes 2"

The witnesA, after some hesitation, spelt it " visicitudeo."
(Loud laughter.) I received a letter from Caroline
Thynne, of the 25th of September. (The witness was here
cross-ezamined at great length ou letters which he had
written, with a view to show that he was extremely inac-
curate as to the lacta connected withhis history.) I can't
recollect which of the Lady Baths gave me the picture.
They were always together. I received it ia Grosvenor-
street, of course. The money was given to me into my
hands-1,600t. I was 13 years old. I suppose that is about
the truth. I was 13, but I was a very large boy of my age.
(Laughter.) I never received a picture of my father from
Mrs. /.'orland. This letter of 20th May, 18.32, to Mr. Itugh
Piggott, is in my handwriting. In it I said, "I have an
oil Aeneas of Sir Hugh when a very young man, which
was given to me by Mrs. Forland as the gift of my mother."
I only imagine Mrs. Furland gave it me. This is not my
artificial memory. It was only " feelers " to Sod out my
pedigree. I was seized with the smallpox at the house in

Oroseenor-street—the Marchioness of Bath's. Sho was not
at home. 1 had been four months at Wycombe. I went
by invitation. I don't know by whose invitation. It is
spelt " Whycombe." I spent my holidays several times at
Wycombe Abbey—Lord Carrington's. I never have as-
serted that I was a relative of the Carrington family. I
have said I might be. I was placed at Dr. Williams's
by the servants in the house. I was ill with the',,
small-pox. I suppose the servants visited me. I did not
pay for my hoard and lodging at Dr. Williams's. I had
1,5001. in different notes. I changed them abroad—dis
counted them rather. When I was at Wycombe Abbey
Imy money was in my box with my clothes. I think
ILord Knox's name was Henry. Ile was at Warminster
Grammar School. I have since understood be is the son
of Lord Hanfurley. In this letter 1 have spelt Lord
Knox's name " Nox," and the same in another. In tbat
letter I said that I had " mad, rapid stride in my edu-
cation." On being asked how to spill "rapid" the wit-
ness spelt it " rappid," and this being received with loud
laughter, said be would produce authority for that made
et spelling. (Laugnter.) I was 18 in 1815. I was not a
prisoner under Napoleon. (The witness's letter was here
read, in which he said he was a prisoner in France) I
was not in prison. I was at Brussels. I was in
Paris at the commencement of 1815. We were all free
when the Emperor went to bottle. (The witness here
seemed much bothered, and said it was " very disgusting ;"
to which Sir I Thisiger replied that he hail nut half done
with him yet.) I was at the ball at Brussels. I was at
Faris when the allied sovereigns were there. They were
there the day alter the boll. The allied sovereigns entered
; France in the commencement of 1815. I know nothing of
it. I joined Dell and Lancaster. I was opposed to them.
They did out give joint lectures. They always l ctured in
English to tic English, or to those who understood the
English language. lam not a good French scholar. I slid
not learn much Latin at Winchester. I got soy degree of
of LL.D. from Mmachal College, Aberdeen. LL.D. means
" a doctor learned in the law." (Laughter.) It was an
bosomy degree aim fox a come of lectures gives. It