"Besides, it must needs occur to every one, that an action
of this atrocious nature is never heard of, but, when its
springs are laid open, it appears that it was to support some
indolence, or supply some luxury; to satisfy some avarice,
or oblige some malice; to prevent some real, or some imaginary
want; yet I lay not under the influence of any one
of these. Surely, my Lord, I may consistent with both
truth and modesty affirm thus much; and none who have
any veracity and knew me, will ever question this. In the
second place, the disappearance of Clarke is suggested as an
argument of his being dead; but the uncertainty of such an
inference from that, and the fallibility of all conclusions of
such a sort, from such a circumstance, are too obvious and
too notorious to require instances; yet superseding many,
permit me to procure a very recent one, and that afforded
by this castle. In June 1757, William Thompson, for all
the vigilance of this place in open daylight and double ironed,
made his escape; and notwithstanding an immediate enquiry
set on foot, the strictest search and all advertisement,
was never heard of since. If then Thompson got off unseen
through all these difficulties, how very easy was it for Clarke,
when none of them opposed him? But what would be
thought of a prosecution commenced against any one seen
last with Thompson. Permit me next, my Lord, to observe
a little upon the bones which have been discovered. It is
said, which perhaps is saying very far, that these are the
skeleton of a man. It is possible indeed it may: but is
there any certain known criterion, which incontestably distinguishes
the sex in human bones? Let it be considered,
my Lord, whether the ascertaining of this point, ought not
to precede any attempt to identify them. The place of their
depositum too claims much more attention than is commonly
bestowed upon it; for, of all places in the world, none
could have mentioned any one, wherein there was greater
certainty of finding human bones than a hermitage, except
he should point out a church-yard; hermitages, in times
past, being not only places of religious retirement, but of
