Part 172

A. Yes, it is.

Mr. Scarlett. If your Lordship will allow that to be read.

Lord Ellenborough. When did you write that?

A. I wrote that the 23d of February, the day after I received the letter.

Q. It is addressed to Mr. Cochrane Johnstone.

A. It was sent to Mr. Cochrane Johnstone.

Q. How came your answer to be in your hands?

Mr. Scarlett. It was handed over by us just now; it was given me by Mr. Cochrane Johnstone's attorney.

"My dear Sir,

"In reply to your favour of yesterday, I beg to inform you, that the only sum I have paid the Baron on your account, since you advanced him the L.50, is a trifle of about L.7 or L.8, which he paid for the printing of the prospectus's of Vittoria. You are very kind in assisting him so much; I have done it till my purse is empty; but had it been otherwise, I would still have assisted him to the extent of my means, notwithstanding the little foolish difference between us.

"I will attend to your wishes respecting the annuities, I will settle with Dawson and Wrattislaw as speedily as possible.

"The Wendover business is proceeding; but I am awkwardly circumstanced, not having all the documents before me; in Lady M. L. Crawford's business I should wish to attend with you on the spot. Pray excuse haste

I am, dear sir, your's faithfully Gabl Tahourdin."

Temple, 23d Feb. 1814.

Lord Ellenborough. Where is the cover of this letter: the cover should be produced, for letters of this sort may be written after their date, and one wishes to have some external thing that cannot deceive; there is no post-mark to any of these letters.

Mr. Scarlett. Did you write that letter on the day of which it bears date?

A. Yes, I did; it was not sent by the post, I believe; I cannot charge my memory, whether it was or not?

Q. I see there is a lady alluded to, Lady Mary Crawford Lindsey; was she a tenant to Mr. Cochrane Johnstone?

A. No, she was not a tenant; she had purchased a house of his.

Q. There was a business to settle with her?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you know the fact, that in consequence of this correspondence which has been read, Mr. Johnstone did pay Mr. De Berenger any sum of money?

A. Only from the parties having acknowledged, the one the having paid it, and the other the having received it.

Q. You were not present when the money was paid?

A. No, I was not.

Q. Was there any receipt taken for the money?

A. Yes, there was.

Q. Did you take the receipt?