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from the whole of this part of the evidence； that there was no rational ground to doubt any other difference； either in the personal resemblance or the handwriting； than what might naturally exist in the same man； at the ages of eighteen and thirty…seven。
The statement offered to the defendants some months since； tracing the last career of the plaintiff was now introduced； and the principal facts legally proved by different witnesses。 Officers and sailors of different vessels in which he had sailed； were sworn。 Among others； Captain …； of the packet ship ***； testified to the plaintiff's having sailed in his vessel； under the name of William Stanley； nine years previously； and it was very clearly proved； that at different intervals since then； he had continued to bear the same name； although he had also shipped under those of Bennet； Williams； and Benson。 The statement； as given already in our pages； was borne out satisfactorily in most of its important facts by the evidence； although on some points the counsel for the plaintiffs confessed； that they had not been able to obtain all the legal proofs they had wished for。 After tracing the plaintiff's steps as a sailor； the fact of his having been long endeavouring to bring forward the claim he now made； was examined。 Mr。 G…； a highly respectable lawyer of Baltimore； testified to the fact that several years previously； the plaintiff had applied to him to undertake the case then before the court； to speak frankly； this evidence surprised the defendants； who were scarcely prepared for it。 Then came proof of the different applications to Mr。 Clapp； his several visits to Longbridge； and his presence at Wyllys…Roof six years previously； when locked up in the out…house by Hazlehurst； Mr。 Clapp repeating at this moment； a very broad insinuation； that the defendant knew the claims of the individual he had put in confinement。 His willingness to be examined； his ready consent to an interview with Mr。 Wyllys； Mrs。 Stanley； and Hazlehurst； the close examination which he bore at Wyllys…Roof； were brought forward； and Mr。 Clapp managed to introduce most of the important questions of the defendants at that time； with the accurate answers of the plaintiff； in his account of that meting。
The court adjourned at this time； and many individuals among the audience seemed to incline very decidedly towards the plaintiff。 The personal friends of the defendants looked somewhat anxious； although Mr。 Wyllys and Hazlehurst still showed a steady front。 The testimony which we have given so briefly； as much of it has already appeared in the narrative； occupied the court more than one day； including the different cross…examinations of several witnesses； by the defendants： this duty fell to the lot of Mr。 Grant； who carried it on in his usual dry； sarcastic manner； but was unable to effect any important change in the state of things。
The following morning； the plaintiff's papers were laid before the court。 The volume of the Spectator； and the letters already produced at Wyllys…Roof； were shown。 In addition to these； the following papers were now brought forward： A letter addressed to the name of Benson； on board the British sloop…of…war； Ceres； another directed to William Bennet； on board the Dutch barque William； when at Batavia； nearly eighteen years since； this letter was important； as it was evidently written to an American sailor； and alluded to his having been recently shipwrecked on the coast of Africa； and taken up by a Dutch vessel。 These documents were all received with great interest； and their probable authenticity seemed generally admitted。 Mr。 Reed then observed： 〃We shall close our evidence； gentlemen； by laying before you testimony； sufficient in itself to prove triumphantly the identity of the plaintiff； when connected with a small portion only of that which has preceded it。〃
He drew from his papers an old Russia…leather pocketbook； with the initials W。 S。 stamped upon in large Gothic letters。
Mr。 Wyllys made an involuntary movement as it was held up for examination； that very pocket…book； or one exactly like it； had he given himself to the son of his old friend； the very last time he saw him。 He watched the proceedings at this moment with intense interestevident to everybody。
〃This pocket…book； gentlemen； is the property of the plaintiff；〃 continued Mr。 Reed。 〃The initials of his name； W。 S。； stamped upon it； are half…effaced； yet still sufficiently distinct to tell their story。 But the contents of this precious book are of still greater importance to the interests of my client。〃
Mr。 Reed then opened it and drew from one side a letter； and read the address； 〃William Stanley； New York； care of Jonas Thomson； Master of the ship Dorothy Beck。〃 〃This letter； gentlemen of the jury； is signed John Stanleyit is from the father of William Stanley； in whose name I now submit it to your examination。〃 The letter was then read； it corresponded entirely with the circumstances already known to the reader； its date； nature； handwriting； all were perfectly correct； and the signature was sworn to by several witnesses。 Mr。 Wyllys was evidently moved when the letter was read； he asked to look at it； and all eyes were turned on his venerable countenance； as he silently examined the paper。 It was remarked that the hand which held the letter was not steady； and the features which bent over it betrayed perceptible agitation。 Mr。 Wyllys turned to Hazlehurst； as he finished reading the sheet。
〃It is undeniably genuine； the letter of John Stanley to his son！〃 he said。
A short consultation succeeded between the defendants。 Hazlehurst wrote a line or two on a slip of paper； and handed it to Mr。 Wyllys； and then to Ellsworth and Mr。 Grant。
〃Will the counsel for the plaintiff tell us； why these documents were not produced at the interview with the defendants？〃 asked Mr。 Ellsworth。
〃We had several reasons for not doing so；〃 replied Mr。 Clapp。 〃Had our client not been received so coldly； and every effort employed to misunderstand him； we should have produced them earlier； although it would have been impossible to have shown them at that meeting； since they were not then in our possession。〃
〃Will the plaintiff state where； and from whom he first received that pocket…book？〃 asked Mr。 Grant。
Here the counsel for the plaintiff consulted together a moment。 It seemed as if their client was willing to answer the question； and that Mr。 Reed advised his doing so； but Mr。 Clapp opposed it。
〃The defendants must be aware；〃 he said； 〃that they had no right to question his client； Mr。 Stanley therefore declined answering； he had already； at the proper time and place； answered many inquiries of theirs； in a manner which had； doubtless； appeared satisfactory to the court； although it had not satisfied the defendants。 Mr。 Stanley had lost all hope of answering any question of the defendants； in a manner SATISFACTORY TO THEM。〃
Here the defendants were engaged for a moment in making notes。
Mr。 Reed proceeded with the contents of the pocket…book。 〃The letter of the father to his erring son； is not the only testimony we shall produce from the pocket…book of my client； gentlemen。〃
A printed slip of newspaper； soiled； and yellow with age； was then drawn from one of the pockets； and read by Mr。 Reed： 〃Married； Wednesday； the 10th； at Trinity Church； New York； by the Rev。 Charles G。 Stanley； John Stanley； of Greatwood； Pennsylvania； to Elizabeth； daughter of the late Myndert Van Ryssen； of Poughkeepsie。〃
Again the defendants showed evident interest。 Mr。 Wyllys passed his hand over his face； to drive away melancholy recollections of the past； the present Mrs。 Stanley was Miss Van Ryssen； and at that marriage he had stood by the side of his friends； as the priest united them。
〃Is not that a touching memorial； gentlemen； of the workings of natural feeling in the heart of a misguided boy？ He had left his father； left his home； left his friends in a fit of reckless folly； but when he meets with the name of the parent from whom he is estranged； in an American paper； in a distant land； he cuts the paragraph from the sheet； and it is carefully preserved among his precious things； during many succeeding years