he is a man charged with as heavy an offence as the traversers. Peter Cahill, in whose house the committee is said to have sat, swears that all Grimes deposed relative to a meeting in his house is absolutely false;-acknowledges that he has seen two of the traversers, Bird and Hamill in his house; --that he has a common room below stairs, in which a person once sat who, he was informed afterwards, was called captain Grimes; but swears he did not know him. James Sheridan swears, the traversers never came to his house about any business to his knowledge. He says, he has a back room in his house; but in neither of his rooms up stairs, is the furniture such as it has been described.

It is to be observed, that the evidence of these witnesses does entirely discredit the evidence given on behalf of the crown; but being persons implicated in the offence, it is for you to discover and distinguish what respect is due to it.

Three persons have been produced as to the character of Grimes, who all concur in giving him a character contrary to the certificate given by one of the traversers. It is observed on that certificate by counsel for the traversers, that it is signed by the traverser after three or four others. Another fact has been sworn by Patrick Tiernan to invalidate the testimony of Grimes as to what that witness alleged concerning paying for the coat. Grimes swore, he gave him money in the gaol to buy the coat, and Tiernan swears the contrary, with the particular circumstances. It is for you to discover the degree of credibility due to him.-Upon the whole, if the testimony of the witnesses for the prosecution appears to you worthy of belief, it does prove the charges of the indictment against all the traversers; but it remains with you, gentlemen, after considering all the circumstances as related on both sides, to determine what credit is due to it, and accordingly pronounce your verdict.

The Jury having retired for a few minutes, returned into the Court, and pronounced a verdict of NOT GUILTY, upon all the traversers severally.

Mr. Curran then said: As counsel on behalf of the traversers, I move your lordship that bills of indictment for perjury be sent up to the Grand Jury, against the two unfortunate men. It is necessary for the justice of the offences should be brought to condign punishcountry, that persons guilty of such enormous

ment.

Court. The persons concerned have liberty to lodge examinations before a magistrate.

[The following Case being in some degree connected with the foregoing, it is here inserted as a SUPPLEMENT.

On Wednesday, the 23rd of April, 1794, came on also the trial of JAMES SKELTON, Esq. M. D. of the town of Drogheda, on an indictment for having, on the 30th day of January, in the 33d year of his majesty's reign, taken an unlawful oath, to be a true Defender, not being compelled thereto by any necessity.

To this indictment Mr. Skelton pleaded the general issue-NOT GUILTY.

No evidence being produced on behalf of the crown,

Mr. Curran said: As I understand the learned counsel on behalf of the crown do not mean to bring forward any evidence on the present trial, I must consider that cir cumstance to be an unanswerable justification of the gentleman accused.

Mr. M'Cartney. My lord, we have reasons for not bringing them forward. Mr. Skelton was then acquitted, and discharged.-Orig. Ed.]

Court of King's Bench, Dublin.

Monday, June 2, 1794.

MR. MENALLY, on the part of the rev. William Jackson, a prisoner in his majesty's gaol of Newgate, moved the Court, that Mr.

From the notes of W. Ridgeway, Wilham Lapp, and John Schoales, esqrs. Barristers at Law.

Keane, the prisoner's agent, might have access to the prisoner, for the purpose of receiving instructions to prepare for his defence. Mr. Jackson was committed upon the 28th of April, 1794, by virtue of a warrant from lord Clonmell, chief justice of the King'sbench, upon a charge of high treason; Mr. Keane was refused access to Mr. Jackson, who was denied the use of pen, ink, and paper, as Mr. Keane swears he is informed and believes.

Mr. Attorney General.-I have no objection that every reasonable access should be had to the prisoner; but care must be taken that no improper use be made of it. The constant practice here and in England is, to admit of access at reasonable times; but persons are not to go in or come out without being searched, if necessary, so as that no opportunity be given of conveying instruments that might assist an escape, and also that no communications may be had with the king's enemies, that being the charge against the prisoner, that he communicated with the king's enemies for the purpose of levying war against this kingdom,

The counsel for the prisoner being satisfied with this declaration of Mr. Attorney General, took nothing by the motion.

Monday, 30th June, 1794.

A bill of indictment having been preferred against the rev. William Jackson, before the term grand jury for the city of Dublin, and they having returned it a true bill, Mr. Jackson was this day brought to the bar of the court of King's-bench, and having prayed that counsel might be assigned him, he was desired by the Court to name his counsel; he named John Philpot Curran and George Ponsonby, esqrs. two of his majesty's counsel, who were assigned by the Court to be counsel for the prisoner.

Clerk of the Crown. hold up your right hand.

William Jackson,

Mr. Jackson accordingly held up his right hand, and was arraigned upon the following

indictment:

County of the City "The jurors for our lord of Dublin, to wit. the king upon their oath present, that an open and public war on the third day of April, in the thirty-fourth year of the reign of our lord George the third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth, and long before, and ever since, hitherto by land and by sea, was, and yet is carried on and prosecuted by the persons exercising the powers of government in France against our most serene, illustrious, and excellent prince, our said lord the now king; and that William Jackson, late of the parish of St. Andrew, in the city of Dublin, and county of the said city, Clerk, a subject of our said lord the king, of his kingdom of Ireland, well knowing the premises, but not having the fear of God in his heart, nor weighing the duty of his alle. giance, and being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, as a false traitor against our said lord the now king, his supreme, true, lawful and undoubted lord, the cordial love and true and due obedience which every true and dutiful subject of our said present sovereign lord the king towards him our said lord the king should bear, wholly withdrawing, and contriving and with all his trength intending the peace and common VOL. XXV.

tranquillity of this kingdom of Ireland to disquiet, molest, and disturb, and the government of our said present sovereign lord the king of this kingdom of Ireland to change, subvert and alter, and our said lord the king from the royal state, title, honour, power, imperial crown, and government of this his kingdom of Ireland to depose and deprive, and our said lord the present king to death and final destruction to bring and put, he the said William Jackson, on the said third day of April, in the said thirty-fourth year of the reign of our said lord the king, and on divers other days and times, as well before as after that day, at the parish of St. Andrew aforesaid, in the city of Dublin aforesaid, and county of the said city, with force and arms falsely, wickedly and traitorously, did compass, imagine and intend the said lord the king, then and there his supreme, true and lawful lord, of and from the royal state, crown, title, power, and government of this his realm of Ireland, to depose and wholly deprive, and the same lord the king to kill and bring and put to death: and that to fulfil, perfect and bring to effect his most evil and wicked treason, and treasonable imaginations and compassings aforesaid, he the said William Jackson, as such false traitor as aforesaid, during the said war between our said lord the king, and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, to wit, on the third day of April, in the thirty-fourth year afore said, at the parish of St. Andrew aforesaid, aforesaid, with force and arms, falsely, maliin the city and county of the city of Dublin ciously and traitorously did come to and land in this kingdom of Ireland, that is to say, at Dublin aforesaid, for the purpose of procuring and obtaining information and accounts of, and concerning the situations and dispositions of the subjects of our said lord the king of his kingdom of Ireland, and of sending and causing to be sent such information and accounts to the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, and being enemies of our said lord the king as aforesaid, with intent to aid and assist the said enemies of our said lord the king, against our said lord the king in the war aforesaid: And that afterwards and during the said war between our said lord the king and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, to wit, on the twenty-first day of April in the said thirty-fourth year of the reign of our said lord the king, and on divers other days, as well before as after that day, with force and arms, at the parish of St. Andrew aforesaid, in the city and county of the city of Dublin aforesaid, the said William Jackson, as such false traitor as aforesaid, in further prosecution of his treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, did, with divers other false traitors, whose names are to the said jurors unknown, falsely, wickedly, and traitorously meet, propose, consult, conspire, confederate and agree to raise, levy and make insurrection,

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(meaning the government of our said lord the king in that country) if they saw any force sufficiently strong to resort to for defence till arrangements could be made, that the government of Ireland was only to be looked upon as a government of force, that the moment a superior force appeared it would tumble at once, as being founded neither in the interests nor in the affections of the people; that there seemed little doubt but an invasion (meaning an invasion of Ireland, by the said enemies of our said lord the king) in sufficient force, would be supported by the people; (meaning the people of Ireland) that there was scarcely any army in the country, (meaning in Ireland) and that the militia, (meaning the militia of Ireland) would to a moral certainty refuse to act if they should see such a force as they could look to for support: and also that the said William Jackson as such false traitor as aforesaid, during the said war between our said lord the king and the said persons exercising the powers of govern ment in France, to wit, on the same day and year last aforesaid, at the parish of Saint Andrew aforesaid, in the city and county of the city of Dublin aforesaid, in further prosecution of his treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, with force and arms did falsely, wickedly, and traitorously compose and write, and cause and procure to be composed and written, divers other accounts and instructions in writing of and concerning the people of this kingdom of Ireland, to incite, move, and persuade the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, and being enemies of our said lord the king, as aforesaid, to invade this kingdom of Ireland, and to raise and make war therein, against our said lord the king, all which said accounts and instructions in writing herein before mentioned to have been written and composed and caused and procured to be written and composed by the said William Jackson, he the said William Jackson as such false traitor as aforesaid, and in further prosecution of his treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, afterwards and during the said war between our said lord the king and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, to wit, on the same day and year Jast aforesaid, at the parish of Saint Andrew aforesaid, in the city and county of the city of Dublin aforesaid, with force and arms falsely, wickedly, and traitorously delivered and caused and procured to be delivered into the said office of the post at Dublin aforesaid, to be from thence conveyed into foreign parts beyond the seas, and there, to wit, in foreign parts beyond the seas, to be delivered to certain persons on the behalf and for the use of the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, and enemies of our said lord the king as aforesaid, for the information, encouragement, and assistance of the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, and being enemies of our said lord the king as aforesaid: and that

during the said war between our said lord the king and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, to wit, on the same day and year last aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the city and county of the city of Dublin, the said William Jackson as such false traitor as aforesaid, and in further prosecution of his treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, with force and arms falsely, wickedly, and traitorously delivered and caused and procured to be delivered into the said office of the post at Dublin aforesaid, to be from thence conveyed into foreign parts beyond the seas and delivered to the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, and being enemies of our said lord the king as aforesaid, for the purpose of inciting the said persons to invade the kingdom of Ireland, and to raise and make war therein, against our said lord the king, divers other accounts and instructions in writing of and concerning the people of this kingdom of Ireland, whereof he the said William Jackson then and there well knew the contents, purporting and containing therein amongst other things that the dissenters were steady republicans, devoted to liberty, and through all the stages of the French revolution had been enthusiastically attached to it; that the peasantry of Ireland manifested a degree of discontent by various insurrections, and there was nowhere a higher spirit of aristocracy than in all the privileged orders, the clergy and the gentry of Ireland down to the very lowest, to countervail which there appeared a spirit rising in the people which never existed before, but which was spreading most rapidly as appeared by the Defenders, as they were called, and other insurgents; that in Ireland the name of England and her power was universally odious, save with those who had an interest in maintaining it; a body, however, only formidable from situation and property, but which the first convulsion would level in the dust; that on the contrary, the great bulk of the people (meaning the people of Ireland) would be ready to throw off the yoke, if they saw any force sufficiently strong to resort to for defence till arrangements could be made; that the government of Ireland was only to be looked upon as a government of force; that the moment a superior force appeared, it would tumble at once, as being founded neither in the interests nor in the affections of the people; that there seemed little doubt but an invasion (meaning an invasion of Ireland by the said enemies of our said lord the king) in sufficient force, would be supported by the people (meaning the people of Ireland), that there was scarcely any army in the country (meaning in Ireland) and that the militia (meaning the militia of Ireland) would to a moral certainty refuse to act if they should see such a force as they could look to for support: and also that the said William Jackson as such false traitor as aforesaid, during the said war between our said lord the king and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France,