475, 476.
The same historian remarks in another work,--"From several hints
obliquely thrown out by friends as well as enemies, this man appears to
have been a very wicked person, of a cast and character very uncommon in
those unreflecting times." "There certainly was something very
extraordinary about the man, which, amidst the feodal and knightly
habits in which young persons of his high rank were then bred, prompted
him to speculate, however unhappily, on any metaphysical subject. Now,
whether this abominable persuasion were the cause or the effect of his
actual guilt,--whether he had reasoned himself into materialism in order
to drown the voice of conscience, or fell into the sin of murder because
he had previously reasoned himself out of all ideas of responsibility,
does not appear; but his practice, as might have been expected, was
suited to his principles, and Hornby was too rich a bait to a man who
hoped for no enjoyment but in the present life, and feared no
retribution in another. Accordingly, we find him loudly accused of
having poisoned his brother-in-law, John Harrington, by the agency of a
servant; and he is suspected also of having, through subornation of
perjury, proved, or attempted to prove, himself tenant of the honour of
Hornby.
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