Page:New Yorker Obituary.pdf/5

 The next deposition is that of George Maclean, who deposeth and saith: That deponent saw nothing particular about Mrs. Maclean this morning, except that she complained of weariness; and after having, as usual, given him some tea and arrowroot, at six o'clock went to bed again for about one hour and a half. Deponent attributed her weariness to attendance upon himself while sick, and want of rest for three previous nights; that she was very subject to spasms and hysterical affections, and had been in the custom of using the medicine contained in the small bottle produced, as a remedy or prevention, which she had told him had been prescribed for her by her medical attendant in London, (Dr. Thomson;) that on seeing her use it, deponent had threatened to throw it away, and had at one time told her that he had actually done so, when she appeared so much alarmed, and said it was so necessary for the preservation of her life, that deponent was prevented from afterwards taking it away; that he had been called by Bailey that morning, when he found Mrs. Maclean on the floor near the door, quite senseless; that he immediately sent for the doctor, and assisted to carry her to bed; that the efforts of the doctor to restore life were in vain, and that deponent cannot assign any cause for her death. Mr. Maclean added that an unkind word had never passed between them.

At this period of the proceedings, Mr. Maclean submitted a letter, dated 15th October, written by Mrs. Maclean, and intended for immediate dispatch to a female friend in England, in which there appears no depression of spirits. The only passage which at all savors of discontent is one certainly of no great importance. The following is the letter: