and yet that she was at the same time
determined to accept Castro as her son.
"You do not tell anything at all about
my son," she wrote to Cubitt, "and I
hardly know anything at all about the
person you suppose to be my son;" yet in
the same envelope she encloses a letter to
the supposed son, taking him to her heart
as her "dearest and beloved Roger," and
begging him to come to her. While he is
making up his mind, not without much
hesitation, whether he should accept her
invitation, it may be worth while to ob-
serve what sort of reputation, as appears
from the evidence taken by the Australian
Commission, Tom Castro at this period
enjoyed among those who knew him.

house, but Castro could think of no means
of procuring a little money except by ab-
ject appeals to Gibb's compassion. If
Gibb's could not give him money, would
he at least speak to one of the store-
keepers to let him have the necessaries for
the house? "I expect," he says,
"Mrs.
Castro to be confined before Saturday.
And beleave me Sir I am more like a
Manick than a B of B K to think that
I should have a child born in such a
hovel."

Notwithstanding his desperate circumstances, Castro was in no hurry to accept the Dowager's pressing invitations to help himself to 15,000l. a year down, with half as much again in reversion. It was clear He had been for some time at Wagga- from her letters that she was determined Wagga, and was allowed to be a good to be convinced that he was her son, and slaughterman. He was fond of "blowing' that his absurd blunders about the family or boasting about himself, declaring at one and about the principal incidents of time that his mother was a duchess, and at Roger's career did not disturb her. It is another time that he was a peer of the possible that her extraordinary eagerness realm. Occasionally men came to Wagga- to adopt a man whom she had never seen, Wagga who had known Castro in other and about whom she knew absolutely parts. It appears that he had led a wan- nothing, for all information had been withdering and uneasy life, alternating between held, may have suggested a suspicion that stock-riding, butchering, and horse-stealing. she wanted the heir for some purpose of In Gippsland "he had bought some horses her own and did not care who played the that turned out to be stolen, and he was part. "Let him come; I will identify him afraid he could not find the party he and it will be all right". this was the bought them of." At Reedy Creek he got gist of her letters, and a strong desire was into another scrape with horses. Down to also expressed that the discovery of the this time he was known as Arthur Orton, heir should be kept secret from the family. but he appeared at Wagga-Wagga as Cas- As she was in this mood, and evidently not tro. Two of his mates had been hanged; disposed to stick at trifles, the Claimant another had been shot by the police; had perhaps some reason to complain that "Ballarat Harry" had been murdered by she would not recognize his handwriting a friend of his own and Castro's after at once as that of Roger. "You have spending an evening with the latter. A caused a deal of truble," he says, by not lady, satirically called "Gentle Annie," identifying the writing; and he hints that was also a member of this agreeable so- unless she does so at once he will stay ciety, and lived with Castro before he where he is:- "But it matters not Has married. Before 1859 he went by the have no wish to leave a country ware I inname of Arthur Orton, Arthur the joy good health I have grow very stout." Butcher, or Big Arthur, and afterwards as While in this hesitating mood, he somehow Thomas Castro, with a short interval when falls in with Guilfoyle, who had been garhe borrowed Morgan's name. These cir- dener at Tichborne Park, and with Bogle, cumstances were partially known at valet of the late Sir Edward Doughty. Wagga Wagga, and Castro was naturally From them he might of course learn all annoyed when allusion was made to them. about the Dowager's peculiarities, her In 1865 his bragging about his family ap-craze about Roger, her visits to the pears to have become more definite and grounds round Tichborne Park on dark systematic, and he began writing and cut- nights with a lantern to guide the longting out the initials "R. C. T." At the lost heir if he happened to be there, the time he fell in with Gibbs he was very hard pushed for money. While the Dowager was writing over about the 15,000l. a year awaiting her son in England, Castro was begging for a few shillings to save him from destitution. Roger had left a good balance at Glyn's and credit at another

lamp set in the window, and the other gossip of the servants' hall. If there was any resemblance between Castro and Roger it would also be remarked. Castro's hesitation is now gradually dissipated. On September 2, 1866, accompanied by his wife and child, and by Bogle, he sailed

in Paris, but none were sent for except Chatillon who at once pronounced him to be an impostor.

66

from Sydney to Panama on his way to England. At Panama he dallied awhile; then he went to New York, where there was another delay, and at last he started Returning to London, the Claimant befor England. Here again, however, he gan to get up his case. If he had been preferred the tedious route by the Thames under the impression that on his identifito the Victoria Docks at Poplar. He ar- cation by the Dowager he would at once rives on the afternoon of Christmas Day, step into the enjoyment of a handsome and almost immediately he hurries off to fortune, he discovered his mistake. He Wapping. Muffled up in a large pea-coat, must make good his claim at law, and with a wrapper round the lower part of it was necessary to collect evidence. We his face and a peaked cap overshadowing have seen what blunders he committed the upper part, he enters the "Globe about the family affairs in Australia, bepublic-house, makes his way to the bar- fore he met Bogle. At Wagga-Wagga he parlour like an old acquaintance, and over had given Gibbs directions to prepare a a glass of sherry questions the landlady will disposing of the Tichborne property, about the Ortons. He tries to see one of not one item of which was stated corArthur Orton's married sisters that night, rectly. The Dowager's Christian names but she is out; and early next morning, were wrongly given, and the names both without waiting for breakfast, he is off of persons and places had nothing whatagain to the neighbourhood of Wapping. ever to do with the Tichbornes, but oddly He picks up all the information he can get enough were associated with Arthur Orabout the Ortons, and sends a letter ton's career. When in London he wrote under an assumed name to one of the mar- to Mr. Henry Seymour as "My Dear Unried sisters. Afterwards he sent them cle," spelling the name Seymore." Mr. photographs of himself and of his wife and Seymour was, in fact, Roger's uncle, but child as portraits of Arthur Orton and his the relationship was never alluded to befamily, and he also supplied the sisters and tween them, the Dowager, Roger's mother a brother with money. The Dowager was and Mr. Seymour's half-sister, having been impatiently expecting him in Paris, but he an illegitimate child. Some of his relawas in no hurry to go to her. He avoided tions having with great difficulty obtained all Roger's relatives, and went to Grave- interviews with him, he took his uncle send to be out of their way. Next we Nangle's butler, a young man, for his unhave a glimpse of him, under the name of cle, who is an elderly gentleman; mistook Taylor, hidden in his big muffler and his uncle, who is an elderly gentleman; peaked cap, driving round Tichborne Park mistook his cousin Kate for another cousin, and studying a catalogue of pictures in calling Kate Lucy, and Lucy Kate. On the house, with Bogle in attendance. many points, however, he showed an intiBogle refreshes his recollection of the mate knowledge of the Tichborne affairs, house by a visit to it. It was necessary to and as the time went on he began to talk have an attorney, and, passing by all the more freely about them. It happens that legal advisers in any way connected with there is a great stock of information about. the Tichborne family, he took one who was the family which is easily accessible. It is introduced to him by a gentleman whom an old family with a history, and there is he is said to have met in a billiard-room at a great deal about it, in County Histories, London Bridge. At last he felt equal to Baronetcies, and similar works. There is confronting the Dowager. He reached Roger's will at Doctor's Commons. There Paris, accompanied by the attorney and have been administrations and various the "mutual friend," at nine o'clock at suits in Chancery, and the documents are night, but deferred his visit to his mother open to inspection on payment of a till next day. But next day he was so small fee. It is certain that Roger kept a overcome with emotion that he had to send diary, and was very particular about prefor her to come to him. He then, it is al-serving accounts and letters; and the leged, went to bed, where he anxiously Dowager herself was a mine of informaawaited her. It is obvious that bed-cur- tion. Bogle also knew, as a servant knows, tains, blankets, and the dingy light of a the private history of the family in our Parisian bedroom are not favourable to the distinct recognition of a doubtful face. We do not know exactly what took place at the interview, but the result was that the Dowager agreed to recognize him. There were many old friends of Roger's

own day. Rous, the landlord of the "Swan" at Alresford, had been a clerk to Dunn and Hopkins, the attorneys to the late baronet; and the Claimant quickly established a good understanding with Rous, although it afterwards broke down.

With his scraps of information picked up so on. He has names, dates and incidents
from the Chancery papers and from talk at his finger's ends. At first he begins
with Rous and Bogle, Hopkins was next with the privates. Carter spends a day
angled for and hooked. Then there was at Sandhurst, standing beer to his former
Baigent, who at first, declared the Claim- comrades, gossiping with them about old
ant to be an impostor, and who suddenly days, and preparing them for a meeting
discovered that he was the real man. The with the Claimant. Separate interviews
adhesion of Miss Braine, who had been were arranged; the Claimant received
Miss Doughty's governess, and of Moore, each man as an old friend, went through
Roger's servant in South America, were the familiar stories, hobbled about the
not obtained till 1868. On the 12th of room to show that he was in-kneed, and
March the Dowager, who had been for made the most of his assumed French ac-
some time restless and disturbed, died cent. Next there was an expedition to
suddenly. This was so far a loss to the Colchester, with similar proceedings, and
Claimant that it deprived him of the pe- after that visits to various barracks in the
cuniary help which he had obtained from North of Englaud. Carter was an active
the old lady, but on the other hand it ren- missionary; there was plenty of beer flow-
dered it impossible that his chief witnessing, and an occasional distribution of half-
should turn against him; and when the crowns. One man brought over another,
Dowager died, she knew nothing of the and the Claimant collected not only wit-
Wagga Wagga will and other remarkable nesses, but information. When he found
circumstances in the Claimant's career. he had got a good hold on the privates, he
Tichborne Park was in 1866, as now, tackled the officers, and won over four or
let to Colonel Lushington, and it was in five, who had no idea how the twigs had
every way a good haul when the Colonel been limed for them. The interviews were
was landed. The Colonel, who had never always pre-arranged.
seen Roger, was mainly influenced by the As the ball rolled, it gathered bulk.
Claimant's recognition of the Dowager's The affidavits of the witnesses who were
picture, and of a stuffed cock pheasant first secured proved a fruitful nest-egg.
alleged to have been sent home by Roger They were cleverly concocted and then
from South America, and by his intimation circulated among people whom it was de-
that the backs of some miniatures would sired to catch. They were drawn up so as
prove to be gold if scratched. The Claim- to fasten upon Roger several of the Claim-
ant had, however, seen the Dowager, and ant's peculiarities of expression or feature,
had studied a catalogue of the pictures; and, being unconsciously accepted as evi-
the pheasant had not been sent home from dence of what Roger was like, facilitated
America, but was an English bird; and the recognition of the Claimant, who
the miniatures had been framed by Bai- was found of course to be very like him-
gent who appears to have mentioned it. self. Then there were little "test" inci-
Towards the end of February an import- dents ingeniously contrived. When the
ant auxiliary arrived this was Carter, an Claimant went to Burton Constable, Sir
old trooper of the Carabineers, who was Talbot Constable the first day could not
always in attendance on the Claimant. recognize him. The next day the Claim-
A few weeks later Carter is reinforced by ant fired off one or two stories, possibly
another old soldier who had been Roger's acquired in the interval from servants or
regimental servant-McCann. Previously others, about having played in private
the Claimant had either shirked or blun- theatricals at Burton, and handed the
dered about military matters, and Baigent wine round when a servant was tipsy, and
had never even heard him make an allu- about an old hedge being cut down; and
sion of any kind to his connexion with the Sir Talbot gave in. Mr. Biddulph, a second
army. But now he plunged boldly into cousin of Roger's, is the only member of
Roger's military history, and converted the family, with the exception of the
military witnesses by his wonderful knowl- Dowager, who has recognized him; and
edge of minute incidents. There were old Biddulph has confessed that his opinion
stories about a horse that killed a trooper, was influenced by a story about two death's-
about another trooper who got drunk, head pipes, which might have been known
about the practical jokes played off on poor to many persons in the Tichborne house-
Roger, such as "chucking all the things' "hold. Colonel Sawyer similarly succumbed
out of his window and sending a don- to the Claimant's recollection of the Cara-
key clattering into his bedroom, which he bineer's having been landed at Herne Bay
took for the devil; about the two dogs from Dublin. This fact had been got from
Spring and Piecrust, Mrs. Hay's crow, and the War Office. At a railway station the

Claimant captured Mr. and Mrs. Deane by the Bella has ever turned up. Neither the going up to them and addressing them by captain nor any of the crew of the vessel name. They had the instant before been which he said picked them up can be dispointed out to him by one of his insepara- covered. First he said it was the Osprey, ble attendants. Mrs. Sherstone knew him a Scotch schooner, then the Themis, and at once because she has such a faculty for then again he tried back to another recognizing faces. Mrs. Hussey, who Osprey. The Chili Commission proved danced with Roger once at a servants' ball that, whereas Tichborne was not known, when she was fourteen years old, was con- Arthur Orton was known to the people fident as to his looks twenty years after- whom the Claimant had mentioned as his wards. friends at Melipilla. The Chili Commission taken in connexion with the Australian Commission and other evidence would seem to point to the Claimant as being Arthur Orton, but who he is is of no practical importance if he is not Roger.

A great body of evidence was thus collected by the end of 1867. There was a sort of grand rehearsal in the examination before Mr. Roupell at the Law Institute; and then the Claimant had four years more to get up more facts, and to As to Roger's appearance at the time he study his part, as the actors say. It is left England there is a substantial agreetrue he recollected a great deal of loose ment in the different portraits. His odds and ends of information when in the friends generally describe him as a slight, witness-box, but, considering the time he dark, pale man, with a soft melancholy had had for preparation, there was noth-eye, with thin, straight, very dark brown, ing surprising in this. Indeed, the most almost black, hair, and with large and remarkable feature in the whole affair is rather bony hands. His mother adds that he did not attempt to learn more; to some flattering but fanciful touches, that get up a little French, for example, a few he was tall and had blue eyes. General facts about Paris and Stonyhurst, some Custance's picture is in another style:notion of cavalry drill, and so on. His "A little, wretched, unwholesome-looking memory, like his French accent, was capri- young man, about 5 ft. 6 in., or at most cious-sometimes very strong, at other 5 ft. 7 in., very pale, thin, and dirty-looktimes a blank. He had a distinct recollec-ing, and apparently not likely to grow." tion of his pipes, of the number on a The General's picture is perhaps too harsh, trooper's horse, of the stag's head and but we suspect it is nearer the truth than mauve stripes on his shirts and handker- the more complimentary likeness. Roger chiefs; but he could remember scarcely anything about his life at Paris, or at Stonyhurst, and only such incidents in his military career as were the common gossip of the barrack-yard. He confounded a troop and a squadron, and did not know the difference beween close and open order, or what telling off and proving meant, and he thought the Carabineers were al thousand strong. He had never heard of Lord Fitzroy Somerset. Roger had some knowledge of Latin, and the Claimant thought Cæsar was in Greek. He was sure he learned Hebrew at Stonyhurst, where no Hebrew was taught. Roger was fond of music and could play the horn; the Claimant, when shown some music, and asked why the horn was written in such a key and the pianoforte in three flats, said it was because the horn could not get down to the flats. The Claimant pronounced the Dowager's name Felicite. The letters of Roger and the Claimant in handwriting, composition, and grammar are as different as letters can be. His story of the shipwreck of the Bella, and his escape with eight others in a boat, was absurd and contradictory. No survivor of

was rather a weak, insignificant youth. When he first joined the regiment he was so under-sized and odd-looking, and talked so curiously in his French way, that the Colonel thought he must have come to see the cook, and directed an orderly to conduct him to the kitchen. He had to explain that he had come to see the Colonel and not the cook. It is possible that there really was a stronger resemblance in expression, if not in feature, between Roger and the Claimant than the counsel for the defence were willing to admit. 'But the physical evidence against the Claimant was overwhelming. It is possible that a man might increase in bulk, so that, having been once slender as Roger, he should become gross and ponderous as the Claimant; but the latter is an inch or more taller than Roger, who was twenty-four when he left England-an age at which men cease to grow in height. His head is larger; Roger's helmet, which was too loose for him, and had to be padded with a newspaper, was a painfully tight fit for the Claimant. Roger's hair was straight and lank; the Claimant's is curly. Roger's ears adhered to the side of his head; the Claim

trine is that we may, -if we will act soberly and on sufficient knowledge, adopt a policy of physiological intervention even in regard to some of those natural organic growths of our own bodies which are usually assumed to be amongst the absolute data of our life. Sir William Gull rejects with some scorn what we may call the physiological quietism of those who simply watch and wait upon Nature, and proclaim themselves non-interventionists with regard to her processes. And indeed all except the very small school who regard vaccination as a culpable intervention in the physiology of the body-nay, all who would not condemn an operation for cataract, or the extraction of a diseased tooth, or the amputation of a mortifying limb as an audacious "flying in the face of Nature," - must admit that there is a just limit to the quietist policy somewhere. But Sir William Gull goes further; he quotes with approbation a saying of Professor Haughton's with regard to the theory that the most painful of the effects of cholera are "an effort of Nature to cure the disease,"

I will tell you what Nature wants; she wants to put the man in his coffin; and that is what she succeeds in doing, for the most part;" and he maintains that medical and surgical science is bound to assume that Nature wants to do some things which SIR WILLIAM GULL, in a remarkable we must check her in doing, if we are to address read on the 26th January before make the best of the world, and wants not the Clinical Society,* threw out a sugges her to do. Even this doctrine, however, to do other things which we may compel tion of which any layman is competent to appreciate the very wide possible bearings. in the abstract would hardly be questioned He began by avowing for himself, and by ordinary physiologists; but Sir William Gull gives it a rather unexpected applicaclaiming (we know not on what grounds) for the whole Clinical Society, an optimist tion, - namely, in relation to positive orview of Nature, a belief in the steady prog- gans which may, on adequate investigation, ress of Creation from better to better in appear to be the superfluous monuments or the past, and a profound faith that that relicts of a lower state of being. He reprogress would never be terminated in the marks that organs which exist in the emfature,-(a faith which, of course, rejects bryo, and which usually fade away as the the physical possibility of an astronomical body grows into its perfect human form, catastrophe), but he maintained that do sometimes, from some physiological ecfrom the point at which the human mind centricity of the individual, develop themcomes into active being, that law of prog- other animal species, and that where this selves as fully as they are developed in ress can be secured only by the active cooperation of that mind, and that that co- is the case, disease, if it comes at all, is esoperation implies not merely a careful pecially likely to concentrate itself on this study and use of Nature, but perfect readi- deformity, as we should call it, that is, ness, wherever we have the adequate on the eccentrically developed organ which means and knowledge, to override Nature, in most other men is rudimentary only, if "Those parts to make her something different from what traceable in them at all. she would be without our interference, whose functions are indefinite," he says, something better than she would be if we are apt to be "the foci of pathology," that did not meddle with her. In fact his doc- is, we suppose, the seats of disease. He instances the case of a particular duct which is usually undeveloped in man, and can be of very little if any use to the

And published in the Lancet of 3rd and 10th
February.