The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-17

sents awretehed and dangerous appear
ance. -.
The Duke OF MarlborOugh's Cores
pondens-.An UnsOlved Mystery.
IL It is lust one hundred and ten years ago
since the English public were much occu-
pied with the question Of who was the
Duke of Marlborough's mysterious cores
popdent. The curious story to which this
refers was thought 50 important by Smol-
llet. that he introduced it into his /" con
tinuation Of the complete History OF Fog
land" though it could not, as he said, be
properly enumerated among those occur
rences that appertain to general history.
Smollet's version Of the affair furnishes
me with the substance of the following
narrative, the facts in which are strictly
authenticated by contemporary papers,
and by the proceedings on trial to which
| the case gave rise: :,
/ Towards the end of November in the
year 1857, Charles Spencer, second Duke
of Marlborough, and grandson of the great
general who first bore that title, received
through the post letter in an unknown
hand, bearing the direction, "To His
Grace the Duke of Marlborough. With
care and speed" The contents of the let
ter were as follows:
"My Lord,-As ceremony is an idle
thing upon most occasions, more especially
to persons in my state of mind, shall pro-
coed Immediately to acquaint you with the
motive and end Of addressing this epistle
to you, which is equally interesting to US
both. You are to know, then, that my
20 So hot II
should prefer annihilation to continuance
in it. Desperate diseases require despe-
rate remedies; and you are the man have
picthed upon, either to make me or un-
make yourself. AS never had the honor
to live among the great, the tenor of my
proposals will not be very courtly; but
let that be an argument to enforce belief
of what am now going to write. 1t has
employed my invention for some time to
find out method of destroying another
without exposing my own life; that have
accomplished, and defy the law. Now,
for the application of it. I am desperate,
and must be provided for. You have it in
your power, it is my business to make it
your inclination, to serve me; which you
must determine to comply with, by pro-
curing me genteel support for my life, or
your own will be at period before this
session of Parliament is over. have more
motives than one for singing you out upon
the occasion, and give you this fair warn
ing because the means shall make use of
are too fatal to be eluded by the powers
of physic. If you think this of any con-
sequence you will not fail to meet the au-
thor on Sunday next, at ten in the morn
ing, or on Monday Gf the weather should
be rainy on Sunday, near the first tree
beyond the stile in Hyde Park, in the foot
walk to KensiDgton. Secrecy and COM
pliance Gay preserve you from q double
danger of this sort, as there is certain
part of the world where your death has
more than been wished for upon other mo-
tives. l know the world too we'll to trust
this secret in any breast but my own. A
few days determine me your friend or
enemy. You will apprehend that mean
you should be alone, and depend upon it
that discovery of any artifice in this az
fair will be fatal to you. My safety is en-
sured by my silence, for confession only
can condo mn me-"
This letter was signed "Felton," the
name of the assassin of the Duke Of
Buckingham. The Duke, in compliance
with this strange remonstance, appeared
at the time and place appointed, on horse
back and alone, with pistols before him,
and the star of his order displayed, that
he might be the more easily known. He
had likewise taken the precaution of en-
gaging friend to attend in the Park, at
such distance, however, as scarcely to
be observable.
1t is difficult for Londoner at this day
to imagine the loneliness Of Hyde Park a
century ago. A portion of May Fair was
then the extreme western limit Of the me-
tropolis. The aristocratic region, Of
Park Lane was then-and, indeed, at o
much later period-a wild and desolate
region, in which dust contractors had
been permitted to carry on their business,
and to accumulate mountainous cinder
heaps, stretching far away towards the Ok
ford road. Except the few houses and
ancient roadside public-houses, which
formed the village of Knightsbridge, there
were no habitations on the southern side
save cottage here and there in the broad
fields between Knightsbridge and Chelsea.
On the northern side lay Tyburn fields,
famous as the scene of executions of
malefactors. The park was notorious as
place where footpads prowled, and where
duels took place without much danger of
observation or interference.
The Duke continued some time in the
Park without seeing any person he could
suspect Of having written the letter, and
then rode away; but CHANGING to turn his
head when he reached Hyde Park corner,
he perceived man standing at the bridge
and looking at the water, within twenty
yards of the tree which was described in
the letter. He forthwith rode back at a
genteel pace, and passing by the person,
expected to be addressed, but as no ad-
vance of this kind was made, he, in re-
passing, bowed to the stranger, and asked
if he had not something to communicate.
The man replying, emo, l don't know
you," the Duke told his name, adding,
"Now you know me, I imagine you have
something to say to me-"
The stranger still answered in the mega
tive, and the Duke rode home. In day
or two after this transaction another letter
was received by the Duke in the follow
ing terms:
"My Lore, -You receive this as an &C
acknowledgement OF your punctuality as to
the time and place of meeting on Sunday
last, though it was owing to you it an
swered no purpose. The pageantry of
being armed, and the ensign of your order,
were useless and too conspicuous. You
needed no attendant; the place was not
calculated for mischief, nor was any in-
tended. II you walk in the west aisle Of
Westminster Abbey towards eleven O'clock
on Sunday next, your sagacity will point