aken place since my
last Letter Dated 22d April 54 Makes it very difficult to
Commence this Letter. I deeply regret the truble and
anxoiety I must have cause you by not writing before. But
they are known to my Attorney And the more private details I
will keep for your own Ear. Of one thing rest Assured that
although I have been in A humble conditoin of Life I have
never let any act disgrace you or my Family. I have been A
poor Man and nothing worse Mr. Gilbes suggest to me as
essential. That I should recall to your Memory things which
can only be known to you and me to convince you of my
Idenitity I dont thing it needful my dear Mother, although I
sind them Mamely the Brown Mark on my side. And the Card
Case at Brighton. I can assure you My Dear Mother I have
keep your promice ever since. In writing to me please
enclose your letter to Mr. Gilbes to prevent unnesersery
enquiry as I do not wish any person to know me in this
Country. When I take my proper prosition and title. Having
therefore mad up my mind to return and face the Sea once
more I must request to send me the Means of doing so and
paying a fue outstranding debts. I would return by the
overland Mail. The passage Money and other expences would be
over two Hundred pound, for I propose Sailing from Victoria
not this colonly And to Sail from Melbourne in my own Name.
Now to annable me to do this my dear Mother you must send
me"--

The half-sheet is torn off at this point, but it has been stated by
Lady Tichborne's solicitor, who saw it when complete, that the ending
originally contained the words "How's Grandma?" This must have again
puzzled the Dowager, for Roger had no "Grandma" living when he went
away. The date "22d April 54" was also incorrect, for the "Bella"
sailed on April 20th. But there were other difficulties; Lady
Tichborne had never seen, and, what is more, had never heard of any
brown mark on her son Roger; she could say nothing about the "card
case at Brighton" (which referred, according to Mr. Gibbes, to the
Claimant's assertion that he had left England in consequence of having
been swindled out of L1500 by Johnny and Harry Broome, prize-fighters,
and others at Brighton races); and lastly, the anxious mother could
not recognise the handwriting. The Australian correspondent was
somewhat disappointed that the mother did not