Page:Blanchard on L. E. L.pdf/200

200 at the Colonial Office. The public press teemed with accounts that my sister had either committed suicide, or fallen a victim to poison. This latter supposition was corroborated by my own inquiries among those long familiar with Cape Coast—by the medical comment of Dr. Thomson, my sister's physician, while in England—by the unsatisfactory nature of the inquest—and by the apparent detention of the principal witness. On these and on other grounds, which I submitted in writing, together with Dr. Thomson's medical comment on the inquest, investigation was promised. Subsequently Mr. Labouchere assured me that Lord Normanby had kindly signified that every requisite and expedient inquiry should be instituted. I have received no communication from the Colonial Office, and I now entreat your lordship to authorize my being informed of the result to which the promised investigation has led; and, if at hand, that my papers be returned.

"'It were unbecoming to burden your lordship with any detail, how, on the one hand, I have been charged as unjust towards Mr. Maclean; and, on the other, as slack in the investigation of my sister's memory. I have done only what I felt to be my duty; but it is necessary for me to state, that Mrs. Bailey, the principal witness, has recently returned, and adds little to her deposition, except admitting the fact, that two letters were entrusted to her by my sister the evening before her death; that one of those letters was for me, and so addressed; and that they were given to Mr. Maclean. Those letters have not been received. It is a mournful satisfaction for me now to say, that the statement which at first I submitted (whatever the issue), was substantially correct in every particular.