osecuted at the Government's
expence. I remember two when I was Solicitor & Attorney General; one
against two Welshmen, Athowe by name, for a Murder in Pembrokeshire;
the other against a Woman in Oxford Road, who, in concert with her
Gallant, murdered her Husband privately, & afterwards cut his body
in pieces, & packed it up in a Basket.[14] The reason which
prevailed for both these orders, was that there was ground to
apprehend that the Criminals might have escaped Justice without such
an extraordinary Interposition; and that Interposition was much
applauded by the Public. In the present case it would be a Reproach
to the King's Justice, and I am sure would create the justest
concern & Indignation in His Majesty's own mind, if such an
atrocious Crime of Poisoning & Parricide should escape unpunished,
by means of the Prosecution being left in the hands of the
Prisoner's own Relations.

There is one circumstance in Mr. Pauncefort's letter, which deserves
particular attention. He says it is thought the Maid and Charwoman
(who I presume are two material Witnesses) cannot long survive the
effects of ye Poison they partook of. If that be so, my opinion
would carry me so far as to think, that a special commission should
be sent into Berkshire, some days before the next Term, to find a
Bill of Indictment there, & then the Trial may be had at the King's
Bench Bar within the next Term; for otherwise no Trial can be till
the next Spring Assizes, before which time these Witnesses may
probably dye, if what is repeated be true.

I have said all this upon a supposition that the Informations &
Examinations lay a sufficient foundation for a Prosecution, for I
have not seen any Copies of them. If they do not, _id neo dictum
esto_. But there your Grace will be pleased to refer to Mr. Attorney
or Mr. Solicitor.

There is another matter arising upon the enclosed Papers, which
ought not to pass without some notice; and that is the behaviour of
Mr. Carre, the Sheriff-Depute of Berwickshire,[15] and of Richard
Lowe, the Mayor of Henley's Messenger. The Sheriff-Depute's letter
contains a strong Charge against Lowe, & Lowe in his examination,
swears several odd circumstances relating to the Sheriff-Depute, &
to some relating to himself. Mr. Carre is a Gentleman of good
Character, but this matter deserves to be enquired into; and I
submit it to your Grace whether it