"I repeat that it is no more than fact, that the larger portion
of all truth has sprung from the collateral; and it is but in
accordance with the spirit of the principle involved in this
fact, that I would divert inquiry, in the present case, from the
trodden and hitherto unfruitful ground of the event itself, to
the contemporary circumstances which surround it. While you
ascertain the validity of the affidavits, I will examine the
newspapers more generally than you have as yet done. So far, we
have only reconnoitred the field of investigation; but it will be
strange indeed if a comprehensive survey, such as I propose, of
the public prints, will not afford us some minute points which
shall establish a direction for inquiry."
In pursuance of Dupin's suggestion, I made scrupulous examination
of the affair of the affidavits. The result was a firm conviction
of their validity, and of the consequent innocence of St.
