may not be advisable to transmit
copies of Lowe's Examination, & of these Letters to my Lord Justice
Clerk,[16] that he may, in a proper manner enquire into the facts, &
take such Examinations upon Oath, as he shall think fit. This will
tend to Mr. Carre's Vindication, if he has done his Duty. If there
are any material circumstances against Lieut. Cranstoun, some
further enquiry should be made after him.
Forgive me for adding one thing more--that it should be pointed out
to Mr. Attorney to consider whether the crime of the Daughter, who,
as I apprehend, lived with & was maintained by her Father, may not
be Petty Treason.
I am, always, etc.,
HARDWICKE.
II. LORD HARDWICKE TO DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.
(B.M. Add. MS. 32,725, f. 218.)
_Private_.
Wimple, Sept. 27th, 1751.
My Dear Lord,--I have reserved for this private letter a few words
relating to Dr. Rooke's affair.... But before I enter into that,
permit me to make an observation upon the extraordinary method,
which was taken to apprehend Lieut. Cranstoun. I see, by the dates,
that the Informations must have been sent up to the Office when Your
Grace was in Sussex, & therefore the affair did not come before you.
But surely the right way would have been to have sent a Messenger,
with the Secretary of State's Warrant. That might have been executed
with Secrecy, whereas, in the other method, so many persons must be
apprized of it, that he could hardly fail of getting notice. Tho'
the Crime was not Treason, nor what is usually called an offence
concerning the Government; yet being of so black a nature, & the
Fact committed within the Jurisdiction of England, & the Person
charged being then within the Jurisdiction of Scotland, it was a
very proper case for bringing him up by a Secretary's Warrant, which
runs equally over the whole Kingdom. I say this to Your Grace only,
& beg it may not be mentioned to anybody. But the circumstances may
be worth your enquiring into; for I have heard the thing spoken of
accidently in conversation; & if Cranstoun got off at the time Lowe
supposes, it may create some clamour. May not this be a further
reason for the Government shewing a more than ordinary attention to
ye Prosecution?
I am, etc.,
HARDWICKE.
Duke of Newcastle.
III. DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO SIR DUDLEY RYDER.
(State Papers, Dom. Entry Books, George II., vol. 134, f. 90.)
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