Declares that the declarant first became acquainted with George Smith in Michael Henderson’s a long while ago, when Smith was indisposed and bedfast there; that the declarant has been in George Smith’s house in the Cowgate. And being interrogated, declares that he cannot say positively whether he was in Smith’s house any day of the week before the declarant left Edinburgh, which, to the best of the declarant’s recollection, he did upon the 9th of March last, and upon a Sunday, as he thinks. Declares that, having received a message that some person in the jail of Edinburgh wanted to see him, he went there and found it was either Smith or Ainslie who had been inquiring for him; but the declarant, when going there, was told by the keeper that neither Smith nor Ainslie could be seen; and that this was the night preceding his departure from Edinburgh. Being interrogated, If reports had not been going of the Excise Office having been broke into the week before the declarant left Edinburgh, if he, the declarant, would have taken that step?--declares that it was not in consequence of that report that he left Edinburgh, but that the declarant, being acquainted with Smith and Ainslie, then in custody, did not know what they might be induced to say to his prejudice, was the cause of his going away. Declares that the declarant has frequently been in company with John Brown, _alias_ Humphry Moore (as is reported to be his real name), Andrew Ainslie, and George Smith, and drank with them. And, being shown three letters, one dated Thursday, 10th April, 1788, directed to Mr. Michael Henderson, Grassmarket, signed W. B.; another dated Flushing, Tuesday, 8th April, 1788, directed to Mr. Matthew Sheriff, upholsterer in Edinburgh, and signed John Dixon; another, dated Thursday, 10th April, 1788, directed to Mrs. Anne Grant, Cant’s Close, Edinburgh, signed, W. B., and, desired to say whether or not the said three letters are holograph of the declarant?--declares that he does not incline to give any positive answer, the appearance of writing varies so much. This he declares to be truth. WILL. BRODIE. ARCH. COCKBURN. COPY of a LETTER from William Brodie, under the name of John Dixon, to Mr. Matthew Sheriff, upholsterer in Edinburgh. Flushing, Tuesday, 8th April, 1788, 12 o’clock forenoon. My dear Friend,