126 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1758.
unexceptionable witncfles, that he mentioned the llrange circumftan- ccs of the Duke's meeting and fpeaking to him, both in the Park and in the Abbey, among his friends and acquaintance, openly on the day when they happened, and very frequently afterwards : that his father is citablidied in a very reputable and profitable bufi- jiefs, in which his fon is likely to fucceed him, being extremely capable of the employment, and very diligent in it. It is alfo proved by feveral perfons of the higheit charafler, particularly Dr. Markham, the prefent worthy maf- ter of Weliminfter fchool, that he is in plsntifuicircumilancesjveryfar from beinp- in any exigence which might urge him to obtain money at fuch a rlfic, iv)t only of his reputa- tion but his life; that his conduft had always been irreproachable ; and his ndeliiy often tried.
The fourth letter Hill remains an infcrutable myftery. No man could imagine, from what Mr. Barnard had faid from time to time, concerning the Duke's be- haviour to him, that * he was ac- « quaintcd wiiii feme fecrets which
- nearly concerned his Grace's
' fafcty ;' and why any perfon, who might hear that the Duke had re- ceived threatening letters, without kn .wing from whom, fhould men- tion Mr. Barnard, cannot eafily be gueffed. • The only conjefture that fecms probable, if on fuch an occanon a cor.j.clure may be allowed, i?, that feme ofiicious perfon, who had received fome flight information of the Duke's bufinefs at the Abbey, and obferved himfpcaking toMr.Barnard, might watch him home ; and taking for granted that if he fhould, in con- feq'jence of this information, be detected in any evil defign, the informer, whenever he fhould think fit to reveal himfelf, would be re- warded, might be induced to make the information at a venture, and conceal himfelf till the event fhould be known.
As to the Duke, he appears to have aded with the utmofl tender- nefs and generofity through the whole affair, to have undertaken the profecution purely from public principle*, and to have been more defirousthat theprifoner flxould ap- pear innocent than guilty.
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