Mr. Wedgwood thinks the name of the Governor of the fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo was Banier; but he says this would not be a test, as he knew it. He is going to see if he can find anything in Napier's Peninsular War corroborative of what is said about the sword.

"Look. I have tried to tell you what you can verify".

Mr. Wedgwood reports his verification as follows:-

When I came to verify the message of planchette I speedily found that Colonel Gurwood, the editor of the Duke's despatches, led the forlorn hope at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo, in 1812 [note error in date], "and received a wound in the skull from a musket ball which affected him for the remainder of his life." - Annual Register, 1845. In recognition of the bravery shown on that occasion he received a grant of arms in 1812, registered in the College of Arms as having been passed "upon the narrative that he (Captain G.) had led the forlorn hope at Ciudad Rodrigo, and that, after the storming of the fortress, the Earl of Wellington presented him with the sword of the Governor, who had been taken prisoner by Captain Gurwood."1

The services thus specified were symbolised in the crest, "Out of a mural coronet, a castle ruined in the centre, and therefrom an arm in armour embowed, holding a scimitar."2

It is plainly this crest that is aimed at by planchette in his very rude design, which represents the arm and sword as issuing from the mural coronet alone, omitting the ruined castle as too complex a subject for the powers of the designer. The drawing was given merely as a test, and if it pointed unmistakably to the Gurwood crest it would fulfil its purpose.

In accordance with the assertion of planchette, Colonel Gurwood killed himself on Christmas Day, 1845, and the Annual Register of that year, after narrating the suicide, continues: "It is thought that this laborious undertaking (the editing the despatches) produced a relaxation of the nervous system and consequent depression of spirits. In a fit of despondency the unfortunate gentleman terminated his life." Compare planchette: "--Pen was too much for me after the wound".

I continue the quotation from Mrs. R.'s journal:-

Mr. W.: "Can you tell me where else to look?"

"I have no power to direct you. We have exhausted, but I wished to tell you about poor Quentain ... to tell you a secret of poor Quintain's, which is on my mind. It might once have made a difference; but not now".

1 Information received from the College of Arms, July 15th, 1889. 2 The Book of Family Crests, Washbourne, 1856.

We had a difficulty in reading the name. Mr. W. thought it Quinlon, and asked if this was right?

"Not quite: a t. . . . Quentain. Not quite [right], but nearer: try again to-morrow".

Mr. W.: "Is power exhausted now, and shall we stop?"

"Yes".

Saturday, September 2$tA.

Mr. Wedgwood and I sat again this morning. First came some preliminary scribbling and circling, and then the right spelling of the name at which John Gurwood was trying last night.

"Quentin. I knew him, and a secret of his that might have made a difference, but I was pledged".

Mr. W.: "Tell us what the secret was?"

"I should like to try".

Mr. W.: "What difference would it have made to you?"

"Might have done to him: on my mind".

Then followed a word here and there among much that was illegible. I copy what we succeeded in reading. "--in the army--scrape--the sake of another--very foolish, but nothing--wrong--for verdict-was unfortunately--what there was let me go on, I am trying--say that, but quite mistaken--case in all its--his commission--of second (company?) private soldier going out gave to his Colonel very strong feeling about it all".

The above filled four pages. We pondered over it, but could not make out any more. When planchette was put back, the following was volunteered:-

"Tell James I remember him quite well. He will recollect about Quentin's trial".

Mr. Wedgwood's friend, Captain James, of course, was meant. Mr. W. said he would write and ask him; but did the writer mean that Captain James knew the secret?

"No one knew it." (Two lines illegible.) "James will tell you, I have not power. He was tried by court-martial".

Mr. W.: "This Quentin was in the army then?"

"Yes,--rest of them would have--but--I cannot write plainly in answer, though I try. I wanted to tell you about poor Quentin, but have not power without further practice. I knew a secret of his at the time of his scrape --conduct--offices--. The--court-martial-- I did not".

Mr. Wedgwood here suggested we should stop for a time, to see if rest would increase the power. We sat again for a few minutes before lunch, directly after which he left by train; but the control was then different, and the few words written did not appear to have any special interest or meaning.

Mr. Wedgwood writes on October 31st, 1889:-

I find that there was a famous court-martial on Colonel Quentin in October 1814, in consequence of a round robin signed by twenty-four of his officers. I had a vague recollection of the name of Colonel Q. as a friend of George IV., and something must have turned up about the court-martial in the early twenties, when the 10th Hussars became notorious, as I found I had heard of the round robin. The accusation, too, was of a want of proper directions to his subordinates in action, so no reticence of anybody could have made any difference, and he was himself the Colonel of the regiment.

With respect to the capture of Banier, the only chance of verification would be from the family, and Miss Gurwood has not answered my letter.

Captain James writes to me from 10 Hereford Road, London, June 29th, 1891:-

About the year 1830 my regiment was quartered at Portsmouth, and Colonel Gurwood was then on the staff of the garrison there. The Colonel was an honorary member of our mess, and dined with us nearly every day. I remember I used to be very fond of sitting next to him, and conversing with him about the various events that occurred during the Peninsular War. Of course the Quentin trial must have taken place when I was a mere child, as I was born in 1804.