"'Anxious as my family and friends are to close a source of so much aggravated sorrow, and despairing now of any positive proof of her true fate, your lordship's kindness will, I am sure, comply with my request, and enable me as far as possible, to lay at rest the memory of my poor sister.
⁠"'I have the honour, &c.
⁠(Signed)⁠"'W. H. Landon.'

"To the above letter I received the subjoined reply: —

⁠"'Downing-street, 26th Dec, 1839.
"'Sir,
"'I am directed by Lord John Russell to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, requesting to be informed of the result of the inquiries which you were led to expect his predecessor in office would institute into the causes which led to the melancholy demise of your sister at Cape Coast Castle, and I am to acquaint you in reply, that Lord Normanby had found so many difficulties in the way of a proper investigation, that might with any hope lead to a satisfactory conclusion; that he was forced to abandon his original intention; and Lord John Russell is now, with great regret, for the same reasons, compelled to decide to the same effect. The papers to which you allude, having, from their confidential nature, been diverted from passing through the ordinary official channels, are at present mislaid, but will be returned to you as soon as they may be found.
⁠"'I am, Sir, &c.
⁠"'R. Vernon Smith.'

"I have only to add to this the expression of my belief, that could any further information have been elicited it would not have been wanting.
⁠W. H. L."