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DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

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The Duke, at the appointed hour, did not fail to make his appearance in the west aisle of Westminster Abbey; when, to his surprise, he encountered the same mysterious person whom he had previously met in the Park. The Duke immediately approached him, and again inquired if he had any communication to make to him; but the man replied, as on the former occasion, in the negative. Shortly afterwards he received a third letter.

"TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH. "MY LORD,

"I AM fully convinced you had a companion on Sunday. I interpret it as owing to the weakness of human nature, but such proceeding is far from being ingenuous, and may produce bad effects, while it is impossible to answer the end proposed. You will see me again soon, as it were by accident, and may easily find where I go to, in consequence of which, by being sent to, I shall wait on your grace, but expect to be quite alone, and to converse in whispers. You will likewise give your honour upon meeting, that no part of the conversation shall transpire. These and the former terms complied with, ensure your safety; my revenge, in case of not compliance, or any scheme to expose me, will be slower, but not less sure, and strong suspicion the utmost that can possibly ensue upon it, while the chances would be tenfold against you. You will possibly be in doubt after the meeting, but it is quite necessary the outside should be a mask to the

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in. The family of the "Bloods" is not extinct, though they are not in my scheme."

About two months afterwards the Duke received a fourth letter:

"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE,

"I have reason to believe that the son of one Barnard, a surveyor, in Abingdon Buildings, Westminster, is acquainted with some secrets that nearly concern your safety. His father is now out of town, which will give you an opportunity of questioning him more privately; it would be useless to your Grace, as well as dangerous to me, to appear more publicly in this affair.

"Your sincere friend,

ANONYMOUS."

"He frequently goes to Storey's Gate Coffee House."

On the receipt of this letter, the Duke despatched a person, in whom he could confide, to the coffeehouse at Storey's Gate, who, having easily obtained an interview with Barnard, persuaded him to accompany him to Marlborough House. The Duke immediately recognised him as the person whom he had encountered both in Hyde Park, and in Westminster Abbey. Barnard, however, positively denied having been the author of the three threatening letters; and as to the fourth, he said, the writer must be out of his senses. The Duke then told him, that as he himself was principally concerned in the transaction, it was his duty to assist in discovering the

DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

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writer. To this Barnard only answered with a smile, and, with the Duke's permission, took his leave.

Immediately after his departure, Barnard was arrested by a warrant from Sir John Fielding, the celebrated Justice of the Peace for Westminster; who, we are told, proceeded "at twelve at night to the New Prison to search his pockets." Barnard delivered up his keys and pocket-book with great readiness; and, in the search which was made over his house and premises, nothing whatever was found to implicate him in the recent unaccountable transaction.

In due time he was brought to trial at the Old Bailey. The letters addressed to the Duke of Marlborough were produced in court, but they were proved to bear not the slightest resemblance to the hand-writing of the accused. It was shewn, moreover, that he was a person in affluent circumstances; that he could have no object whatever in extorting money; and that he was a gentleman of unspotted character, and eminent in his profession of a surveyor. The Duke's evidence might have been supposed to have proved fatal to him; but, even on this point, evidence was brought forward that he had occasion to be in Hyde Park on the morning on which he was encountered by the Duke; and that his being in the Abbey, on the occasion of the second singular rencontre, was purely accidental. It was further proved, that Barnard had mentioned these interviews with the Duke, to several persons,

as singular incidents for which he could in no manner account.

The whole affair at the time appears to have been generally regarded as a "detestable plot." We are rather inclined, however, to believe that it was a clever practical joke, played by Mr. Barnard and his friends, one of whom seems to have proved a traitor in the camp, and to have parried back the jest on the principal accomplice, without imagining, perhaps, that it would lead to a serious trial at the Old Bailey.

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MAY FAIR, GROSVENOR, PORTMAN, CAVENDISH, AND HANOVER SQUARES.

MAY FAIR.MAY FAIR CHAPEL.-SINGULAR MARRIAGES.— - CURZON STREET.-SOUTH AUDLEY STREET.— GROSVENOR SQUARE.-PORTMAN SQUARE. CAVENDISH SQUARE.-HANOVER SQUARE.-BOND STREET.-BERKELEY SQUARE.

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MAY FAIR, the site of which was anciently known as Brook Fields, derives its name, it is almost needless to remark, from the celebrated fair which was held in its green meadows from the reign of Henry the Eighth till the middle of the last century. May Fair," says Pennant, "was kept about the spot now covered with May Fair Chapel, and several fine streets. The fair was attended with such disorders, riots, thefts, and even murders; that, in 1700, it was prevented by the magistrates, but revived again, and I remember the last celebrations. The place was covered with booths, temporary theatres, and every enticement to low pleasure."

Malcolm, in his "Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London," quotes an advertisement which appeared in the London Journals of the 27th of April, 1700, which affords us a curious picture of this memorable fair. "In Brookfield

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