The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-06-02 00:00:00

No. 11.

Storey's-Gate, May 29, half-past 5, p.m.
Sir—Your letter of this morning was brought to me by
Captain Rose at half-past eleven o'clock, when my cab was at
the door for me to take Mrs. Norton to make an affidavit before
a Master in Chancery, with whom we had an appointment at
eleven o'clock. 1 was obliged to go from the Master's house
to my office, and from there lam this moment returned ; these
engagements will account far my not immediately replying in
writing to your letter.
Your reasons for characterising my, supposed behaviour dis-
graceful as a magistrate and a -gentlernan are-Ist. An obser-
vation as to Mr. Sheridan's nerves at the 'Moment of departure;
—2d. My being present when Sir Robert M`Farlane was at'
Spring-gardens on the night of the elopement. As to the first,
the observation in
.question was made to Sir Robert by Mrs.
Norton, in my drawing-room, on the Sunday. and I believe I
then heard it for the first time. I could know nothing of Mr.
S.'s nerves of my own knowledge, nut ha%ing seen him on the
day of the elopement.
As to the second reason—Having to take Mrs. N. to Lans-
downe-house, I called for her at Spring-gardens on the night of
the elopement; I found Sir Robert MTarlane, Colonel Arm-
strong, &c. &c., in the drawing-room there, in the middle of a
conversation respecting an elopement which I had but just
learnt had take;] place on my arrival from the city.
"My wife took. little or no part in that conversation, though I
have since understood she had previously had a conversation
with Sir Robert M‘Farlane below stairs, and the only observa-
tion made by me was, that as you had recently said to me that
all you wished for your daughter was a gentleman and a man of
principle, " I trusted you would be consoled and reconciled to
the marriage when you became more acquainted with Mr. S."
I am given to understand that what you characterise as a
plot was contrived and settled by the married couple themselves,
and by no other person or persons, in one quarter of an hour.
Upon my honour, as a gentleman I was not present at the
elopement, and knew not of it until mauy hours after it had
taken place.

.
I have thought it due to your feelings to give this detailed
contradiction to your reasons for characterising my conduct as
you have done. I am the last person to provoke a duel ; but
after this answer to my letter, if you do not do me the justice to
retract it, on you the responsibility of any ulterior measures
that may result from it must rest. And if so, I have only to re-
peat what I said to Captain Rose, that 1 conceive that the
maintenance of my eharacter as a gentleman would justify me
in waiving my office as a police magistrate, and that I would
not for a moment suffer it to shield me from any personal re-
sponsibility. I think it right to mention that I have not shown
your letter to any one alluded to, as yet; being unwilling to
incur the responsibility of involving others in this affair.
Waiting your answer, I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Sir Colquhoun Grant, &c. - G. C. NonroN.

No. 111.

Sir—When Captain Itose undertook my message to Lord
Seymour, yesterday morning, he put this question to his friend
Mr. Bentinck, " Will Lord Seymour say upon his honour that
he was not aware of the elopement before it took place ?" be-
cause in that case I will recommend Sir Colquhoun Grant to
listen to his explanations.
Mr. Bentinck could not commit his lordship to the decla-
ration, and, therefore, matters proceeded, and a meeting► took
place. Now, sir, you have undertaken, on your honour as a
gentleman, to say that you were not present at the elopement,
and knew nothing of it till many hours after it had taken place.
I do not see, then, how I can refuse that respect to your word
that I should have paid to Lord Seymour's, and, therefore, will
not justify the terms contained in any letter to you, but leave
the case, with all the facts connected wi4h it, for the judgment of
the world.

I have the honour to he, sir, your obedient servant,
Grosvenor-square, May 30, 183. C. GRANT.
lion. G. C. Norton.