But to proceed.  On my writing to Mr. Cranstoun, that it would not mix in tea, he told me to mix it in gruel.  I received the powders in June; but did not put any into his gruel till the 5th of August; when I fatally obeyed Mr. Cranstoun’s orders, and was innocently the instrument of death, as they say, to the best of fathers; brought disgrace to my family, and shameful death to myself, unless my hard case, here truly repented, recommends me to Royal pity, clemency and compassion.  And as I here declare, and as I look upon myself as a dying woman, I never did design to hurt my father, but thought the powder innocent, as Cranstoun told me it was.  Let me be punished for my follies, but not lose my life.  Sure, it is hard to die for ignorance, and too good an opinion of a villain!  Must the falsities and malice which I have been pursued with, prevail so far as to take away my life?  O consider my misfortunes, and indeed it will fill your eyes with tears; you must pity me, and say, never was poor soul so hardly used.  But peace, my heart.  I gave my father the powder on Monday night; on Tuesday he complained.  I sent for the apothecary; who came, and said he would send him some physic.  In the evening my father said he would have some water gruel.  I never went out to order this, and knew not whether it was the same or no as he had on Monday, as that he drank on Monday was made either on Saturday or Sunday.  However, on the Wednesday my father took physic, and was better; came all Thursday down into the parlour, as also on Friday; Mr. Norton, by my desire, all this time attending him very often.  And Mr. Norton did in the Court declare, that I was the person that did send for a physician, and would have sent before, if thought necessary.  When I found my father so ill, I sent, unknown to him, for Dr. Addington.  The doctor said, he believed he was in great danger.  I desired Dr. Addington to attend him, and come the next day; which he did.  On Monday morning going into my father’s room early (for though I never from his first disorder left him long in the day, yet his tenderness would not let me sit up all night with him), I was denied to see him.  This so surprised and frightened me, that I cried out, What?  Not see my father?  On which I heard my father reply, My dear Polly, you shall presently; and some time after I did.  That meeting and parting, and the mutual love, sorrow, and grief, is truly described by Susanna Gunnel; though poor soul she is mistaken in some other respects.

I was after this confined in my room by Dr. Addington’s own orders; during which confinement, as I am informed, my father wanted to see some body, and it was imagined to be me.  But, alas!  I was not suffered.  The night before he died, my father sent his blessing to me, with his commands to bring that villain to justice.  I sent him answer back, I would do all in my power to hang that villain, as he rightly called him.