pire them with vindictive sentiments, and a
firm resolution to hurt me, if ever they had it in their power. My
cook-maid was more inflamed against me than any of the rest; and yet,
for very good reasons, I was absolutely obliged to keep her. My
mother's maid was disagreeable to me; but yet, on account of money due
to her, which I could not pay, it was not then in my power to dismiss
her. But this most melancholy subject I shall not now chuse any
farther to expatiate upon. I have brought down the preceding narrative
to my father's death, where I at first intended it should end.
Besides, I have now not many days to live, and matters of infinitely
greater moment to think upon. May God forgive me my follies, and my
enemies theirs! May he likewise take my poor soul into his protection,
and receive me to mercy, through the merits of my Mediator and
Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who died to save sinners! Amen.

The foregoing narrative, which I most earnestly desire may be
published, was partly dictated and partly wrote by me, whilst under
sentence of death; and is strictly agreeable to truth in every
particular.

MARY BLANDY.

Witness my hand.

Signed by Miss Mary Blandy, in the Castle at Oxford, April 4,
1752, in presence of two Clergymen, members of the University
of Oxford.

APPENDIX V.

LETTER FROM MISS BLANDY TO A CLERGYMAN IN HENLEY.

(From No. 8 of Bibliography, Appendix XII.)

The following is an answer to a letter sent Miss Blandy by a worthy
clergyman in Henley, upon a very extraordinary subject, and highly
deserves a place here:--

Rev. Sir,--I received yours, and at first felt all the horror
innocence so belied could do; but now, Sir, I look on it as a
blessing from God, both to wean me from this world, and make the
near approach of death less dreadful to me. You desire me, in your
letter, if innocent of my poor mother's death and that of Mrs.
Pocock, to make a solemn declaration, and have it witnessed; which
I here do. I declare before God, at whose dread Tribunal I must
shortly appear, that as I hope for mercy there, I never did buy any
poison, knowingly, whatever of Mr. Prince, who did live at Henley,
and now lives at Reading, or of Mr. Pottinger, an apothecary and
surgeon in Henley; nor did I ever buy any poison in Henley, or
anywhere else in all my life; that as for mother's and Mrs. Pocock's
death, I am as innocent of it as the child unborn, so help me God
in my las