Chapter X: Appendix: II

COPIES OF ORIGINAL LETTERS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM AND PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, RELATING TO THE CASE OF MARY BLANDY.

(_Hitherto Unpublished._)

I. LORD HARDWICKE TO DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.

(B.M. Add. MS. 32,725, f. 216.)

Wimple, Sept. 27th, 1751.

My Dear Lord,--I received from Mr. Jones, by your Grace's
directions, the inclosed papers relating to the Murder of Mr. Blandy
of Henley. I apprehend, by his letter, that the Question, upon which
your Grace desires my Opinion is, whether it is proper that the
Prosecution should be carried on by the order, and at the expense,
of the Crown? Your Grace observes by Mr. Pauncefort's letter, who is
a Gentleman of Character & writes like a man of sense, that, as the
Relations of the Deceased (who must necessarily be also relations to
the Daughter) are circumstanced, & seem at present disposed, no
effectual Prosecution can be expected from them; and therefore I am
clearly of opinion that, if upon Examinations there appears
sufficient ground to proceed, it is necessary & will be for the
honour of the Government, that the Prosecution should be carried on
at the expense of the Crown, & that Mr. Sharpe should be forthwith
ordered to take the proper steps for that purpose under the
direction of Mr. Attorney General. There have been several Instances
of such flagrant offences having been prosecuted at the Government's
expence. I remember two when I was Solicitor & Attorney General; one
against two Welshmen, Athowe by name, for a Murder in Pembrokeshire;
the other against a Woman in Oxford Road, who, in concert with her
Gallant, murdered her Husband privately, & afterwards cut his body
in pieces, & packed it up in a Basket.[14] The reason which
prevailed for both these orders, was that there was ground to
apprehend that the Criminals might have escaped Justice without such
an extraordinary Interposition; and that Interposition was much
applauded by the Public. In the present case it would be a Reproach
to the King's Justice, and I am sure would create the justest
concern & Indignation in His Majesty's own mind, if such an
atrocious Crime of Poisoning & Parricide should escape unpunished,
by means of the Prosecution being left in the hands of the
Prisoner's own Relations.

There is one circumstance in Mr. Pauncefort's letter, which deserves
particular attention. He says it is thought the Maid and Charwoman
(who I presume are two material Witnesses) cannot long survive the
effects of ye Poison they partook of. If that be so, my opinion
would carry me so far as to think, that a special commission should
be sent into Berkshire, some days before the next Term, to find a
Bill of Indictment there, & then the Trial may be had at the King's
Bench Bar within the next Term; for otherwise no Trial can be till
the next Spring Assizes, before which time these Witnesses may
probably dye, if what is repeated be true.

I have said all this upon a supposition that the Informations &
Examinations lay a sufficient foundation for a Prosecution, for I
have not seen any Copies of them. If they do not, _id neo dictum
esto_. But there your Grace will be pleased to refer to Mr. Attorney
or Mr. Solicitor.

There is another matter arising upon the enclosed Papers, which
ought not to pass without some notice; and that is the behaviour of
Mr. Carre, the Sheriff-Depute of Berwickshire,[15] and of Richard
Lowe, the Mayor of Henley's Messenger. The Sheriff-Depute's letter
contains a strong Charge against Lowe, & Lowe in his examination,
swears several odd circumstances relating to the Sheriff-Depute, &
to some relating to himself. Mr. Carre is a Gentleman of good
Character, but this matter deserves to be enquired into; and I
submit it to your Grace whether it may not be advisable to transmit
copies of Lowe's Examination, & of these Letters to my Lord Justice
Clerk,[16] that he may, in a proper manner enquire into the facts, &
take such Examinations upon Oath, as he shall think fit. This will
tend to Mr. Carre's Vindication, if he has done his Duty. If there
are any material circumstances against Lieut. Cranstoun, some
further enquiry should be made after him.

Forgive me for adding one thing more--that it should be pointed out
to Mr. Attorney to consider whether the crime of the Daughter, who,
as I apprehend, lived with & was maintained by her Father, may not
be Petty Treason.

I am, always, etc.,

HARDWICKE.

II. LORD HARDWICKE TO DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.

(B.M. Add. MS. 32,725, f. 218.)

_Private_.

Wimple, Sept. 27th, 1751.

My Dear Lord,--I have reserved for this private letter a few words
relating to Dr. Rooke's affair.... But before I enter into that,
permit me to make an observation upon the extraordinary method,
which was taken to apprehend Lieut. Cranstoun. I see, by the dates,
that the Informations must have been sent up to the Office when Your
Grace was in Sussex, & therefore the affair did not come before you.
But surely the right way would have been to have sent a Messenger,
with the Secretary of State's Warrant. That might have been executed
with Secrecy, whereas, in the other method, so many persons must be
apprized of it, that he could hardly fail of getting notice. Tho'
the Crime was not Treason, nor what is usually called an offence
concerning the Government; yet being of so black a nature, & the
Fact committed within the Jurisdiction of England, & the Person
charged being then within the Jurisdiction of Scotland, it was a
very proper case for bringing him up by a Secretary's Warrant, which
runs equally over the whole Kingdom. I say this to Your Grace only,
& beg it may not be mentioned to anybody. But the circumstances may
be worth your enquiring into; for I have heard the thing spoken of
accidently in conversation; & if Cranstoun got off at the time Lowe
supposes, it may create some clamour. May not this be a further
reason for the Government shewing a more than ordinary attention to
ye Prosecution?

I am, etc.,

HARDWICKE.

Duke of Newcastle.

III. DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO SIR DUDLEY RYDER.

(State Papers, Dom. Entry Books, George II., vol. 134, f. 90.)

Whitehall, Sept. 27th, 1751.

Mr. Attorney General,

Sir,--It having been represented to the King, that the Relations of
Mary Blandy, who is confined in the Castle at Oxford, upon suspicion
of having poisoned her Father, the late Mr. Blandy, of Henley upon
Thames, do not intend to prosecute her for that crime, and
application having been made, that His Majesty would be pleased to
give Orders for the Prosecution of the said Mary Blandy; I am
commanded to signify to you the King's Pleasure, That you should
immediately enquire into this Affair; and that, in case you should
find that the relations of the said Mary Blandy do not propose to
prosecute her for the Murder of her Father, you should forthwith
take the necessary steps for that Purpose; That so wicked and
henious a Crime may not go unpunished.

I am, etc.,

HOLLES NEWCASTLE.

IV. PETITION OF THE NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF HENLEY-UPON-THAMES TO DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, WITH THE OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL THEREON.

(State Papers, Dom. (George II.), Bundle 117, No. 45.)

Henley upon Thames, 4th Oct., 1751.

My Lord,--We the Noblemen and Gentlemen in the Neighbourhood of
Henley upon Thames, and the Mayor and Principal Magistrates of that
Town, having met there together this day to make farther enquiries
in relation to the inhuman Murder of the late Mr. Blandy, have
unanimously agreed to return our sincere thanks to Your Grace for
your great readiness in promoting all proper measures for bringing
to Justice the persons concerned in that Horrid and Shocking
Transaction. And we take this Opportunity of expressing the just
Sense we have of his Majesty's Paternal Goodness to his people, in
directing that the person, who is now in Custody, and with the
greatest reason supposed to be chiefly instrumental in that Uncommon
scene of Iniquity, should be prosecuted at His Majesty's Expence:
And we beg leave to assure Your Grace, that no endeavours shall be
wanting on our part, to render that prosecution successful, and to
bring to condign punishment not only the Unnatural Daughter of that
Unhappy Gentleman, but also the Wicked Contriver and Instigator of
this Cruel Design. But at the same time we take the Liberty of
representing to Your Grace, as our humble Opinion, that there will
be little Room to hope that the Original Author & Promoter of this
Villainous Scheme can be brought to Justice, unless His Majesty will
further be graciously pleased to offer by Proclamation a proper
Reward for apprehending Mr. William Henry Cranstoun formerly a
Lieutenant of Marines, but now an Officer in a Scotch Regiment in
the Service of the States General; And we Earnestly request Your
Grace to recommend to His Majesty the Issueing out such a
Proclamation. We are with the greatest respect,

Your Grace's Most Obedient And Most Humble Servants.

MACCLESFIELD.[17] GISM. COOPER.
CADOGAN.[18] EDWD. PAUNCEFORT.
JAMES LAMBORN, Mayor. FRANCIS MASON.
THO. PARKER. RICHD. MILES.
GEO. LANE PARKER. EDWD. PRASSEY.
JOHN FREEMAN. JOHN CLARKE.
SAMBROOKE FREEMAN. THOS. HALL.
WILLIAM STOCKWOOD, Rectr.

[Annexed to this petition is a copy of the same, with the names of the petitioners, also copied, and underneath them is written--]

Mr. Sharpe received this additional paper from the Duke of Newcastle
with directions from His Grace to lay the same before Mr. Attorney
General and to desire his opinion.

_Qu._ Whether it may be advisable to Issue a Proclamation with the
Offer of a Reward for apprehending Lieut. Cranstoun.

This is a matter of mere discretion in His Majesty, and as there is
no objection in point of Law to the Issueing such a Proclamation, so
if there is any prospect of success in apprehending Cranstoun by
that means I should think it an advisable measure. But as he has
certainly notice of an Intent to apprehend him it is probable he may
be gone beyond sea, to his service. If so the most probable means
would be to get him seized by the order of the States General or any
other State where he may be found to be.

D. RYDER, 14 Oct., 1751.

[Endorsed] The Noblemen & Gentlemen in the Neighbourhood of Henley
upon Thames, and the Mayor & principal Magistrates of that Town to
the Duke of Newcastle.

Oct. 14th, 1751.

For your Opinion hereon.

Mr. Attorney General.

3 Gs. Sharpe.

V. LORD HARDWICKE TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.

(B.M. Add. MS. 32,725, f. 259.)

Wimple, Oct. 9th, 1751. 4 o'clock p.m.

Dear Cousin,-- ... I enclose the Representation of the Noblemen
etc., in the Neighbourhood of Henley relating to the issueing a
Proclamation for the apprehending of Lieut. Cranstoun. It is
impossible for me to judge whether this is a proper Case for
issueing such a Proclamation, without seeing the Examinations &
proofs of his Guilt, & of the probability of his having fled for it.
But, if there is proper Evidence of his Guilt, & a probable one
of his Flight, I think it is a just foundation to issue such a
proclamation in so flagrant a Case. I submit to My Lord Duke whether
he will not think it proper to refer the Papers to Mr. Attorney
General....

I am, etc.,

HARDWICKE.

VI. EARL OF MARCHMONT TO DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.

(B.M. Add. MS. 32,725, f. 291.)

Redbraes Castle, 15th Oct., 1751.

My Lord,--In obedience to your Grace's commands to the Lord Justice
Clerk, informing him it was His Majesty's pleasure, he should
enquire upon oath into the conduct of Mr. Carre of Nisbet advocate,
our Sheriff, in relation to the apprehending of Mr. Cranstoun; I
yesterday waited on his Lordship at Duns; & gave him an account of
what I knew of that matter upon oath. I heard some other examinations
taken at the same time, & have the pleasure to see that your Grace
will receive entire satisfaction from this Inquiry.

I cannot omitt My Lord, upon this occasion expressing to your Grace
the grateful sense all his Majesty's faithful subjects here have of
your goodness in ordering this enquiry to be made, without which the
misrepresentations contained in Lowe's affidavit, with the Justice
of peace's Commentary, might have lurkt & crept about unobserved in
the South of England, & his Majesty's subjects here could have had
no opportunity of removing the injurious imputations cast upon them.

My Lord Justice Clerk has spared no pains to make the account
compleat, and it gives me particular pleasure My Lord that your
Grace will thereby be enabled to form a character of Mr. Carre from
vouchers free from all suspicion of that partiality which perhaps
might be thought to attend my recommendations of a friend &
relation. Your Grace will see that Mr. Carre came from his own house
with the Lord Justice Clerk, in his Lordship's post-chaise, to dine,
by a previous appointment, at my house, which is only distant from
his own half an hours driving; & this in order to have the advice &
assistance of the Lord Justice Clerk. I am persuaded your Grace will
think, you could not have wished him to choose a more judicious
adviser, or a more sagacious Inspector into his conduct. Upon
examination your Grace will find, that the Lawyers here will reckon
Mr. Carre rather to have stretched a point to get over the provision
in our Act of Parliament, in order to grant his Warrant, than to
have affected any doubt, or dilatoriness upon the occasion. And that
those Scots Lawyers who have not studied our Law with the same
superiority of capacity & genius that Mr. Carre has, would hardly
have consented to give a Warrant, upon the grounds Mr. Carre granted
it....

I am, etc.,

MARCHMONT.

Duke of Newcastle.

VII. DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO MR. PAUNCEFORT.

(Sate Papers, Dom. Entry Books (George II.), vol. 134, f. 97.)

Whitehall, Oct. 31st, 1751.

Mr. Pauncefort,

Sir,--Having by His Majesty's Command, directed an Enquiry to be
made into the Conduct of Mr. Carre, the Sheriff of Berwickshire,
upon the application that was made to him for causing Lieut.
Cranstoun to be apprehended; and such an Enquiry having been
accordingly made by the Lord Justice Clerk; I send you inclosed a
Letter, which I have received from His Lordship together with the
several Examinations that have been taken upon that occasion.--I am,
etc.,

HOLLES NEWCASTLE.

_P.S._--I send you the original Papers above mentioned, which you
will be pleased to return to me as soon as may be.

VIII. MR. PAUNCEFORT TO DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.

(B.M. Add. MS. 32,725, f. 380.)

Early Court, Nov. 7th, 1751.

My Lord,--I have had the honour to receive from your Grace, the Lord
Justice Clerk's Letter, and the Examinations that have been taken in
persuance of an Enquiry made into the conduct of Mr. Carre the
Sheriff of Berwickshire, upon the application that was made to him
for causing Lieutenant Cranstoun to be apprehended, & I should have
acknowledged the receipt of them by the last Post, but I did not
return from a Commission of the Navigations, held at a remote part
of the county, till Wednesday.

I have in consequence sent an Express to the Earl of Macclesfield,
to desire a meeting of the Corporation & the neighbouring Gentlemen
of the County of Oxford at Henley; in order to lay before them the
several Examinations; and its a particular Happiness to me that I am
in this instance employed to represent to the Gentlemen of the
County the Watchfulness & unwearied attention of the Crown to the
vigorous Execution of the Laws, by having ordered this strict &
immediate Enquiry to be made into the suspected Neglects & Delays of
the Sheriff, tho' grounded upon a single Information; as likewise
that I am made instrumental in the justifying as well as accusing
the Conduct of the Sheriff; That the complaints of the Messenger
were without any foundation; & that every thing was done by the
Sheriff that was consistent with a cautious Magistrate.

I shall in obedience to your Grace's commands return the
Examinations to you.

I am, etc.,

EDWD. PAUNCEFORT.

IX. MR. WISE TO MR. SHARPE, SOLICITOR TO THE TREASURY.

(State Papers, Dom. (George II.) Bundle 116, No. 36.)

[No date.]

Sir,--I was favoured with yr two last letters, and also with yr
answer to my letter of the 24th Novr. last, wch I acknowledged in
another letter wch I wrote to you from Mr. Aldworths at Stanlake,
wherein I gave you an Acct. of a Threatening Letter from Cranstoun
to Betty Binfield, and wch I find you had sent up to you by Lord
Macclesfield. On Receipt of your last I set out yesterday morning to
Ld. Macclesfields, where I lay, and came this day to Oxford, and
immediately on my arrival went to the Castle where I found Miss
Blandy with the very same Iron on her Leg wch I saw rivetted on
myself when last here, and wch I now believe has never been off
since, for her leg is considerably swelled, and the Red Cloth wch
was round the Iron before has been cut off to give her room, but it
is still so close, as renders it impossible to be slipt over her
Heel. I also find by what I saw myself and by the Report of a
Gentleman or two in whom I can confide, that Wisdom has kept a much
stricter Guard over Miss Blandy ever since I was here before than he
used to do, and that she has not been permitted to walk in the
Garden once since. However I repeated the contents of your letter to
him, and remonstrated how very absurd it wd be in him now, not to
continue ye strictest watch over a person whose Trial will be made a
Matter of so great Consequence to the Publick, and on whose safe
custody, for that purpose, his future character & Livelihood would
intirely depend. I also sent for Mrs. Deane (the person who is with
Miss Blandy) into the Room with Wisdom, and told her that it would
be impossible for Miss Blandy to make an Escape without her Privity
& Assistance, and that if such a thing shd happen, not only the
Goaler wd be answerable for what ever Act she did towards it, But
that she herself wd also be imprisoned for Life etc, so that upon
the whole I dont imagine there is now any fear of her making her
escape. Parson Swinton is very angry wth the Freedom the letter
writer has taken with (his) name, and is endeavouring to find out
the Author of that and many other Reports of the same kind. It is
owing to his Credulity of her Innocence, that these Jokes have been
spread, and I find that he is a great favourite of Miss Blandy's. I
will endeavour to get the Briefs settled in the best manner I am
able and as soon as I have done, will send you a copy, and
am--wishing you many happy years.

Sir,

Yr Obliged humble Servt.

EDWD. WISE.

_P.S._--I promised to write to Ld. Cadogan who went to Town
yesterday, but as the Post is this instant going, must beg you to
acquaint his Lordship all is safe.

[Addressed]

To John Sharpe Esq. Solicitor to the Treasury at his Chambers in
Lincolns Inn, London.

X. MR. SHARPE TO MR. WISE.

(State Papers, Dom. (George II.) Bundle 117, No. 90.)

Dear Sir,--I beg leave to trouble you with another Lre I have reced
from Lord Macclesfield by last night's Post, and which shews pretty
plainly that the threatning Lre I gave you yesterday was wrote and
sent by Cranstoun and that there is great Reason to believe that
Cranstoun is lying concealed either here in London or in the
North--I beg you will lay the enclosed before his Grace with my most
dutifull Respects--and believe me to be with the most real truth and
esteem,

Dr Sir, Your most obliged and ever faithfull hble Servt.,

JN. SHARPE.

Friday morning, 6th Decr., 1751.

XI. EXAMINATION OF FRANCIS GROPPTTY.

(State Papers, Dom. (George II.), Bundle 118, No. 22.)

The Examination upon Oath of Francis Gropptty of Mount Street, in the Parish of St. George Hanover Square taken this 3rd Day of Febry 1752.

The Examt says that upon the First Day of September last he was sent for by the Revd. Mr. Home to his lodgings in the Haymarket, who told the Examt. that a Gentleman of his, Mr. Homes, acquaintance, was going to Calais, & as he spoke no French, desired the Examt. to go with him. The Examt. asked who it was, & after some hesitation Mr. Home told him it was Capt. Cranston Bror. to Lord Cranston who was accused of having sent poison to a Miss Blandy, who was suspected to have poison'd her Father; but that he was inocent, & only wanted to get out of the way till his Tryal came on, when he would surrender himself.

The Examt. says he made an objection to going & told Mr. Home, that as he had expectations, from the Recommendations of Lord Home[19] and Sir Walter Blacket, to the Duke of Grafton, of being made one of the King's Messengers he was afraid it might hurt him, but Mr. Home assured him that he could not be brought into the least trouble, and added that he would oblige him, Mr. Home, Ld. Home & all the family & that for his satisfaction he would give him a note to Capt. Alexander Hamilton, who would assure him of the same.

That the Examt. went to Capt. Hamilton, who told him that he knew where Capt. Cranston was & that if the Examt. would see him safe at Calais, he would very much oblige Lord Cranston, Ld. Home & all the Family. The Examt. asked Capt. Hamilton if there had been any proceedings against Capt. Cranston or if any orders were given to stop him at Dover? Capt. Hamilton said he would enquire, & the next day Sepr. 2nd told the Examt. he had enquired & that there had not been any proceedings against Capt. Cranston nor were there any Orders to stop him at Dover.

The Examt. says that he lived with Lord Home several years & now does business for him; that he was willing to oblige his Lordship & not doubting from the assurances of Mr. Home yt he was doing a right thing, consented to go to Calais with Capt. Cranston.

That upon the said 2nd of September Capt. Hamilton brought Capt. Cranston to the Examt's. House; that Capt. Cranston said he had been rob'd in his way to town of his Money & Portmanteau & seem'd in great distress. That the Examt. by the Direction of Capt. Hamilton bought for Capt. Cranston such necessaries as he wanted & Capt. Hamilton went to Lord Ancrum[20] to borrow Twenty pounds to defray the expence of the Journey & repay the Examt. the money he had expended. That upon his return he told Capt. Cranston that Lord Ancrum wd not lend him the money; says, that Capt. Cranston cried very much & said for God's sake dear Hamilton get Money somewhere & get me abroad.

That the Examt. seeing the great distress both of Capt. Hamilton & Capt. Cranston, said that if ten Guineas wd. be of service he wd. lend Capt. Hamilton that sum, which he accordingly did & took Capt. Hamilton's Note of Hand, which is still unsatisfied.

That he set out with Capt. Cranston in a Post Chaise for Dover, where they arrived the next morning Sept. 3rd about 9 o'clock.

That they went to bed at the Post House about 4 o'clock in the afternoon in the same room, & about half an hour afterwards the Capt. of the Packet came into the Room & said he was informed they were going to Calais & desired they would go with him, which they agreed to & the next morning went with him to Calais & paid a Guinea for their passage.--Says they had no discourse at all with the Capt. of the Packet during the Passage.

The Examt. says he took Lodgings & agreed for Board for Capt. Cranston at Calais at the Rate of Fifty Livres a Month & upon the 6th Sept. returned in the same Packet to Dover. That upon his passage back the Capt. of the Packet said he believed the person who went with the Examt. to Calais was very glad to be landed, for that he seemed very uneasy; The Examt. answered may be so, & no other discourse happened upon the subject.

That the Capt. of the Packet observed that he thought he had seen the Examt. at Harwych, the Examt. said very likely for that he had passed from thence to Holland with his master Lord Home during the War.

The Examt. absolutely denies that he passed or attempted to pass for a King's Messenger, or that he mentioned the name of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, nor was his Grace's name mentioned; nor did any Discourse what so ever pass about Messengers.

That upon his return to London he waited upon Mr. Home to acquaint him that he had landed Capt. Cranston safe at Calais. Mr. Home expressed himself very much obliged & assured the Examt. he would represent to his Brother & Lord Cranston the trouble he had had, & did not doubt but they would be equally obliged & reward him very well. The Examt. said he did not expect any reward, that what he had done was out of gratitude to Lord Home & his family & was very glad he had had it in his power to oblige them: & the Examt. said the same to Capt. Hamilton & never kept it a secret from any body, but talked of his having gone over with Capt. Cranston in common discourse & before anybody.

That the Examt. made out an Acct. of the Expences he had been at & delivered it to Capt. Hamilton, which amounted, with the money lent, to eighteen pounds, for which sum Capt. Hamilton gave him a Bill of exchange upon Ld. Cranston, which Bill the Examt. sent to Scotland to Lord Cranston, who having kept it near six weeks return'd it unpaid; and the Examt. has not yet recd. the money.

And lastly the Examt. says that he arrived in England with his Master at the end of the late War, & has not been out of England since that time except to Calais with Capt. Cranston as aforesaid.

FRANCIS GROPPTTY

this 3rd Feb., 1752.

Taken upon Oath; before L. Stanhope.