“WAGGA-WAGGA, Jan. 17 66. 
     MY DEAR MOTHER,—­The delay which has taken 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 at once acknowledge him as her son.  But the Dowager soon declared her unabated faith; sent small sums and then larger, and finally made up her mind to forward the four hundred pounds.  Meanwhile she sent to him, as well as to her other Australian correspondents, much family information.  Among other things she told him that there was a man