The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 222: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AN INTERVIEW IN NEWGATE 191 declaration that he possessed a key to the reading of the mystery and would give startling explanations when put upon his trial. But the reporters did insert the concluding incident of the proceedings at the police court; namely, that as Arthur Eaton was being led away, the assembled spectators testified their compassion by sundry remarks, proving that they looked upon him as a monomaniac swayed by an irresistible instinct for blood. If such, then, was the impression made upon the minds of the persons who had attended the proceedings and heard the prisoner’s address to the magistrate, it cannot be wondered at if the same opinion should be adopted by those who knew nothing more of the matter than what they gleaned from the imperfect reports in the newspapers. In fact, these reports were precisely of a nature to encourage the belief that Arthur Eaton was a monomaniac, and that he had no explanation in reserve nor any defence to offer when the day of trial should come. Such was the general impression upon the public mind; but there were of course a few individuals who thought differently and more profoundly upon the subject. Lord Marchmont, the prisoner’s father, for instance, could not possibly imagine that his son was guilty of the crime imputed to him; although the shock occasioned by such a tremendous calamity had thrown the old nobleman on a sick bed and brought him to the very verge of the grave. Then again, there was Pauline Clarendon, who entertained too sublime a confidence not only in the rectitude of her cousin, but likewise in the strength of his mind, to believe for a single moment that he had perpetrated the deed either wilfully or under the influence of a dominant mania. Lord and Lady Holderness had likewise, no doubt, strong opinions upon the same subject; but up to the hour when they en- countered Caroline Walters disguised as a midshipman, they Had felt convinced that Arthur Eaton must inevitably succumb, on the day of trial, beneath the circumstantial evidence that weighed so tremendously against him. | Nearly two months and a half, we said, had elapsed since the committal of the young gentleman to Newgate. During that period there was one sitting of the criminal tribunal at the Old Bailey; but it followed so closely upon Arthur’s consignment to gaol, that his trial was postponed until the ensuing session. In the meantime he recovered somewhat COnnNICLOOKS (S©)