"The Homestead,

August 3d, 9 P. M.

"My Dear Alexander,--You made me promise to send you the full account of

this day's proceedings, or I do not think I should attempt it, when you

may be so sadly engaged. Indeed, I should hardly have gone to Avoncester

had the sad intelligence reached me before I had set out, when I thought

my sudden return would be a greater alarm to my mother, and I knew that

dear Fanny would do all she could for her. Still she has had a very

nervous day, thinking constantly of your dear sister, and of Rachel's

alarm and inexperience; but her unlimited confidence in your care

of Rachel is some comfort, and I am hoping that the alarm may have

subsided, and you may be all rejoicing. I have always thought that, with

dear Rachel, some new event or sensation would most efface the terrible

memories of last spring. My mother is now taking her evening nap, and

I am using the time for telling you of the day's doings. I took with me

Fanny's two eldest, who were very good and manageable, and we met Mr.

Grey, who put us in very good places, and told us the case was just

coming on. You will see the report in detail in the paper, so I will

only try to give you what you would not find there. I should tell you

that Maddox has entirely dropped his alias. Mr. Grey is convinced that

was only a bold stroke to gain time and prevent the committal, so as

to be able to escape, and that he 'reckoned upon bullying a dense old

country magistrate;' but that he knew it was quite untenable before a

body of unexceptionable witnesses. Altogether the man looked greatly

altered and crest-fallen, and there was a meanness and vulgarity in his

appearance that made me wonder at our ever having credited his account

of himself. He had an abject look, very unlike his confident manner

at the sessions, nor did he attempt his own defence. Mr. Grey kept on

saying he must know that he had not a leg to stand upon.

"The counsel for the prosecution told the whole story, and it was

very touching. I had never known the whole before; the sisters are so

resolute and uncomplaining: but how they must have suffered when every

one thought them ruined by their brother's fraud! I grieve to think how

we neglected them, and only noticed them when it suited our convenience.

Then he called Mr. Beechum, and you will understand better than I can

all about the concern in which they were embarked, and Maddox coming to

him for an advance of £300, giving him a note from Mr. Williams, asking

for it to carry out an invention. The order for the sum was put into

Maddox's hands, and the banker proved the paying it to him by an order

on a German bank.




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