the dispatches that were received from sir Henry Clinton; I think it was on the 16th, though I will not be particular to the day; whilst I was there Dr. Ingram came in, and after some little conversation, he said lord Mansfield writes a very plain hand, or a good hand, words to that import; he then had some letters in his hand; upon which he delivered me over a note from lord Mansfield, as he said. He asked me if I knew lord Mansfield's hand? I said I had been in possession of his name, and I believed that to be his lordship's hand-writing; it was a complimentary card from lord Mansfield to him; I think lord Mansfield was then sitting at Guildhall; the import of the card I do not remember particularly, but I think it was, "Lord Mansfield sends compliments to Dr. Ingram, he is much obliged for some information, and probably he might hear from him;" something of that import. He also produced another letter, which he said was the handwriting of lord Stormont; and further he said he had breakfasted that morning with lord Stormont, or was to breakfast with him. I then congratulated him on having an interview with such great personages. I told him that I hoped he would be provided for; in answer to which he said he was provided for. My curiosity did not lead me to inspect the letters he said he received from lord Stormont. What passed else? That is all I know of the business. What did you understand from Mr. Ingram, when he said he was provided for?--I understood he was provided for in the way of his profession. I have not the least idea of the circumstances. you have Did he say any thing more than mentioned? Not a syllable more. Would you believe Mr. Ingram upon his oath? I would believe him as soon as any man in the kingdom upon his oath; I have indeed heard the character of him which I mentioned, but I would believe him. Counsel for the Crown. Mr. Ingram, I wish you would explain this conversation about the note you had from lord Mansfield. Ingram. Here is a letter I received from lord Mansfield, in consequence of a letter I wrote to his lordship. Relative to this subject was it?—I wrote a long letter on the Thursday. Is that the letter you wrote to lord Mansfield, in consequence of which you received that note in answer?-It is. "Lord Mansfield sends his compliments to Mr. Ingram, and returns him many thanks for his letter, he will probably hear of it." Richard Shearsmith sworn. What are you?-A perriwig-maker. How long have you known Mr. Ingram ?Thirteen or fourteen years. What is his general character?-His gene ral character has been, that he is a man rather that would romance. Is that his general character?—Yes, it is. Is he a man that you would believe now upon his oath ?-No, I would not. Upon your oath you would not?-Upon my oath I would not. And you have known him thirteen or fourteen years?-Yes, or thereabouts. Cross-Examination. What, do you think he would romance upon his oath?—I cannot say about that any more than what hearsay is. He is called a man given to romance?Yes, much so. George Furnace sworn. Do you know Richard Ingram?--I do. How long have you known him?-These three years. What is his character?-He lodged and boarded with me all last winter from August till March. What do you know of his character?-I know he eat and drank my property, and did not pay me any thing. What is his general character?-Not to pay any debts he contracts. Court. You are not called here to speak to any particular parts of his conduct, or to any other part of his character, but that of veracity. What is his character with respect to veracity?-A. He gave me a note here for payment of money. Court. You were told you was called here only to speak to his veracity?-A. He told me a great many falsehoods, that he had something to receive at the War-office; when I came to examine, he had nothing. Do you think him a man to be believed? -No, I do not, he has told me so many falsehoods, Is he a man you would believe upon any occasion?-No, I would not, he has deceived me so often. Is he a man that you would believe upon his oath?-No, he has deceived me upon his word so often, that I would not believe him upon his oath. Atkinson Bush, esq. sworn. What evidence, Sir, are you come to give? -Between the prisoner and Mr Ingram, respecting his veracity. Did you know any thing of his credit ?--I know nothing of his credit, but much of his discredit. Where do you live?-In Great Ormondstreet. I have known him 30 years. During that time has he been a man of a fair and good character, or not?-When I went to school with him he was known by the same appellation by which he has now been described, that of Lying Dick. Has he deserved that name from his infancy even until now?-From the time I have known him, from the general character he bears, he has. You think he still deserves that appellation? That was his character at school, and from that character I have never been intimate with him since; that is the character he has now at the coffee-house I frequent, the Ormond-street coffee-house. One of the Jury. Pray, Sir, what are you? -A. I believe one among the jury can inform the rest. Is he a man that you would believe upon his oath --No, I say so upon my oath, and I believe the Solicitor General, and many more here, will believe me upon my oath. Ingram. I am in a disagreeable situation, my character has been attacked here; there is not a debt I owe which I have not written down, and have not delivered in to the solicitor in this cause, knowing such an attack would be made upon my character; every circumstance of my life, from my first setting out, I have put down the general heads of; and some general officers, the first officers in the army, have promised to be here, because I was told that such an attack would be made upon my character, and that my debts and misfortunes in the world would come out in court. I appeal if I did not make the remark myself, and desire that such an appeal might be made to gentlemen, as to my character. [Several witnesses were called, none of whom appeared.] Counsel for the Prisoner. Mr. Maskall opened in his defence, that he would call some witnesses to his character; if he will be determined by me, I think it quite unnecessary. Verdict, Not Guilty. Tried before the Lord Chief Baron Skynner. 1 564. The Trial of FRANCIS HENRY DE LA MOTTE, for High Treason: Before the Right Hon. Sir Watkin Lewes, knt. Lord Mayor of the City of London; the Hon. Francis Buller, esq. one of the Justices of his Majesty's Court of King's-Bench; the Hon. John Heath, esq. one of the Justices of his Majesty's Court of Common Pleas; James Adair, Serjeant at Law, Recorder; and others his Majesty's Justices of Oyer and Terminer of the City of London, and Justices of Gaol Delivery of Newgate, holden for the said City and County of Middlesex; July 14: 21 GEORGE III. A. D. 1781. "Middlesex. BE it remembered, That at the general session of Oyer and Terminer of our lord the king, holden for the county of Middlesex, at Hicks's-hall in St. John's-street in the said county, on Tuesday the 24th day of April, in the 21st year of the reign of our sovereign lord George the 3rd, king of Great Britain, &c. before William Mainwaring, esq. the rev. sir George Booth, bt. George Mercer, David Walker, esqrs. and others their fellows, justices of our said lord the king, assigned by his majesty's letters patent under the great seal of Great Britain, directed to the same justices before named, and others in the said letters named, to enquire more fully the truth by the oath of good and lawful men of the said county of Middlesex, and by other ways, means, and methods, by which they shall or may better know (as well within liberties as without) by whom the truth of the matter may be better known, of all treasons, mis * Taken in Short-hand by Joseph Gurney. prisions of treason, insurrections, rebellions, counterfeitings, clippings, washings, false coinings, and other falsities of the money of Great Britain and other kingdoms or dominions whatsoever; and all murthers, felonies, manslaughters, killings, burglaries, rapes of women, unlawful meetings, conventicles, unlawful uttering of words, assemblies, misprisions, confederacies, false allegations, trespasses, riots, routs, retentions, escapes, contempts, falsities, negligences, concealments, maintenances, oppressions, champarties, deceits, and all other evil doings, offences, and injuries whatsoever, and also the accessaries of them, within the county aforesaid (as well within liberties as without) by whomsoever and in what manner soever done, committed, or perpetrated, and by whom or to whom, when, how, and after what manner; and of all other articles and circumstances concerning the premises, and every of them or any of them in any manner whatsoever; and the said treasons, and other the premises, to hear and determine according to the laws and customs of England, by the oath of John Tilney, Miles Dent, John Thomas, John Dawson, James Smith, Richard Snow, Joseph Cary, John Tayler, John Clark, Thomas M'Carty, Isaac Watson, William Cock, Richard Stapleton, Timothy Tomlins, and Joseph Muskett, good and lawful men of the county aforesaid, now here sworn and charged to inquire for our said lord the king for the body of the same county. It is presented in manner and form following (that is to say): "Middlesex. The jurors for our sovereign lord the king, upon their oath, present, that an open and public war, on the 11th day of January, in the 20th year of the reign of our sovereign lord George the 3rd, 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 Lewis the French king against our most serene, illustrious, and excellent prince, our said lord the now king; and that one Francis Henry De la Motte, late of the parish of St. George, Hanover-square, in the county of Middlesex, gentleman, a subject of our said lord the king, of his kingdom of Great Britain, well knowing the premises, not having the fear of God in his heart, nor weighing the duty of his allegiance, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, as a false traitor against our said most serene, illustrious, and excellent prince George the 3rd, now king of Great Britain, and so forth; and contriving, and with all his strength intending, the peace and common tranquillity of this kingdom of Great Britain to disquiet, molest, and disturb, and the government of our said present sovereign lord the king of this kingdom of Great Britain, 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 Great Britain, to depose and deprive; and our said lord the present king to death and final destruction to bring and put, and the faithful subjects of our said lord the king, and the freemen of this kingdom, to bring into the most miserable servitude and slavery under the said French king; he, the said Francis Henry De la Motte, on the said 11th day of January, in the said 20th year of the reign of our said lord the king, and on divers other days and times, as well before as after that day, with force and arms, at the said parish of St. George, Hanover-square, in the said county of Middlesex, falsely, wickedly, and traitorously did compass, imagine, and intend our said present sovereign lord the king, of and from the royal state, crown, title, power, and government of this realm of Great Britain, to depose and wholly deprive, and the same lord the king to kill, and bring and put to death and to fulfil, perfect, and bring to effect, his said most evil and wicked treason, compassings, and imaginations aforesaid, he VOL. XXI. the said Francis Henry De la Motte, as such false traitor, during the war aforesaid, to wit, on the said 11th day of January, in the 20th year aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the county of Middlesex aforesaid, falsely, wickedly, and traitorously, did compose and write, and cause to be composed and wrote, divers letters and instructions in writing, to shew and inform the said French king and his subjects, then and yet enemies of our said present sovereign lord the king, of the state, condition, and force, of several of the ships of war of our said lord the king, and the number of the ships and forces of our said lord the king, then and there designed and prepared for the defence of this kingdom, and the enemies of the said kingdom to attack, repel, and resist; and how some of the ships of war of our said lord the king were manned, and for what time divers ships of war of our said lord the king were furnished with provisions, and of the stations of divers squadrons of ships of war of our said lord the king, employed in prosecuting and carrying on the said war; and the names of the commanders of such squadrons, and the number and force of the ships of war of which such squadrons consisted; and also of the service in which divers other ships of war of our said lord the king were then employed in prosecuting and carrying on the said war; and also the number and force of the ships of war of our said lord the king, within certain ports of this kingdom, and of the state and condition of several of the said ships; and of the numbers of the land forces of our said lord the king, in this kingdom and the dominions thereunto belonging; and of the times of the sailing of divers ships of war of our said lord the king, and the destination of the said ships, and the services in which such ships were employed; and of the times when other ships of war of our said lord the king were then expected to sail from this kingdom, and the voyages, cruizes, and services, upon which such ships were sailed; and also of the times when other ships of war of our said lord the king, employed in the prosecution and carrying on of the said war, were expected to arrive in this kingdom; and also of the times of the sailing of several ships and vessels belonging to divers subjects of our said lord the king, from this kingdom to the dominions of our said lord the king, and other places, in parts beyond the seas; and also of the times when other ships and vessels, belonging to divers other subjects of our said lord the king, were expected to sail from this kingdom to the dominions of our said lord the king, and other places, in parts beyond the seas; and also of the times when other ships and vessels, of divers other subjects of our said lord the king, were expected to arrive in this kingdom from the dominions of our said lord the king, and other places, beyond the seas: and that afterwards, and during the said war, to wit, on the said 11th day of January, in the 20th year 2 Y aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the county of Middlesex aforesaid, he, the said Francis Henry De la Motte, as such false traitor as aforesaid, in prosecution of his said treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, falsely, wickedly, and traiterously composed and wrote, and caused and procured to be composed and wrote, a certain letter to be sent to certain subjects of the said French king, in parts beyond the seas, then and yet enemies of our said lord the king; in which said letter the said Francis Henry De la Motte, among other things, wickedly, falsely, and traiterously notified, disclosed, and revealed to the said enemies of our said lord the king, that certain regiments of the army of our said lord the king were preparing to go to the West-Indies; and also of the number of land forces of our said lord the king to be sent to North America and Canada; and of the stations of divers ships of war of our said lord the king, then employed in prosecuting and carrying on the said war of our said lord the king against the said Lewis the French king: and afterwards, and during the said war, to wit, on the 30th day of June, in the 20th year aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the county of Middlesex aforesaid, he the said Francis Henry De la Motte, as such false traitor as aforesaid, in prosecution of his said treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, falsely, wickedly, and traiterously composed and wrote, and caused and procured to be composed and wrote, a certain other letter, to be sent to certain subjects of the said French king, in parts beyond the seas, then and yet enemies of our said lord the king; in which said last-mentioned letter, the said Francis Henry De la Motte (among other things) wickedly, falsely, and traiter'ously notified, disclosed, and revealed to the said enemies of our said lord the king, that sir George Brydges Rodney, bart. then being one of the admirals of our said lord the king, was at the island of Barbadoes, in parts beyond the seas, with 14 ships of war of our said lord the king, part of a squadron of ships of war of our said lord the king, employed in prosecuting and carrying on the said war, under the command of the said sir George Brydges Rodney, being such admiral as aforesaid; and that seven other ships of war of our said lord the king, other part of the said squadron, kept at sea; and that other ships of war of our said lord the king, other part of the said squadron, were under repair at St. Lucia, in parts beyond the seas: and also that Francis Geary, esq, then being one other of the admirals of our said lord the king, was cruizing, with a squadron of other ships of war of our said lord the king, between the Scilly islands and Ushant; and that certain ships and vessels were getting ready with provisions for the said squadron; and that a certain ship of war of our said lord the king, called the Marlborough, had sailed from Spithead, on Tuesday then last past, to join the said squadron; and that certain other ships of war of our said lord the king, em ployed in prosecuting and carrying on of the said war, were off Cherburgh, in the kingdom of France and afterwards, and during the said war, to wit, on the 1st day of August, in the 20th year aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the county of Middlesex aforesaid, he the said Francis Henry de la Motte, as such false traitor as aforesaid, in prosecution of his said treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, falsely, wickedly, and traitorously composed and wrote, and caused and procured to be composed and wrote, certain accounts or lists, to be sent to certain subjects of the said French king, in parts beyond the seas, then and yet enemies of our said lord the king; in one of which said accounts or lists, the said Francis Henry de la Motte falsely, wickedly, and traitorously notified, disclosed, and revealed to the enemies of our said lord the king, the number, force and station of a certain squadron of ships of war of our said lord the king, then employed in prosecuting and carrying on the said war, under the command of the said Francis Geary, then being one of the admirals of our said lord the king; and in another of the said accounts or lists, the said Francis Henry de la Motte falsely, wickedly, and traiterously notified, disclosed, and revealed, to the said enemies of our said lord the king, the number, names, and force of certain ships of war of our said lord the king, then in certain ports of our said lord the king, in this kingdom; and the state and condition, and destination of the same ships of war: and in another of the said accounts or lists, he the said Francis Henry de la Motte falsely, wickedly, and traiterously notified, disclosed, and revealed, to the said enemies of our said lord the king, the times of the sailing and destination of divers other ships of war of our said lord the king, which had lately before that time sailed from this kingdom; and also the number, state, condition, and force of divers other ships of war of our said lord the king, then in the ports of this kingdom: and in another of the said accounts or lists, he the said Francis Henry de la Motte falsely, wickedly, and traitorously notified, disclosed, and revealed, to the said enemies of our said lord the king, the stations of divers ships and vessels of our said lord the king, then cruizing against the enemies of our said lord the king: and afterwards, and during the said war, to wit, on the said 1st day of August, in the 20th year aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the county of Middlesex aforesaid, he the said Francis Henry de la Motte, as such false traitor as aforesaid, in prosecution of his said treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, falsely, wickedly, and traitorously composed and wrote, and caused and procured to be composed and wrote, an account, or state, to be sent to certain subjects of the said French king, in parts beyond the seas, then and yet enemies of our said lord the king; in which said account, or state, the said Francis Henry de la Motte notified, disclosed, and revealed to the said enemies of our said lord the king, from the dominions of our said lord the king, the number of the naval forces of our said and other places in parts beyond the seas; lord the king, employed in prosecuting and and the times when certain other ships or vescarrying on the said war, under the command sels, belonging to certain other subjects of our of certain admirals of our said lord the king: said lord the king, were then expected to sail and afterwards, and during the said war, to from this kingdom to the dominions of our wit, on the 9th day of August, in the 20th year said lord the king, and other places in parts aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the county beyond the seas: and afterwards, and during of Middlesex aforesaid, he the said Francis the said war, to wit, on the 17th day of NoHenry de la Motte, as such false traitor as vember, in the 21st year of the reign of our aforesaid, in prosecution of his said treason said lord the king, at the parish aforesaid, in and treasonable purposes aforesaid, falsely, the county of Middlesex aforesaid, he the said wickedly, and traitorously composed and Francis Henry de la Motte, as such false traiwrote, and caused and procured to be compos- tor as aforesaid, in prosecution of his said treaed and wrote, a certain other letter, to be sent son and treasonable purposes aforesaid, falseto certain subjects of the said French king, in ly, wickedly, and traitorously composed and parts beyond the seas, and then and yet ene- wrote, and caused and procured to be commies of our said lord the king; in which said posed and wrote, a certain other letter, to be last mentioned letter, the said Francis Henry sent to certain subjects of the said French de la Motte, (among other things) falsely, king, in parts beyond the seas, then and yet wickedly, and traitorously notified, disclosed, enemies of our said lord the king; in which and revealed, to the said enemies of our said said last mentioned letter, the said Francis lord the king, that certain ships of war of our Henry de la Motte, (among other things) said lord the king had then lately sailed to re- falsely, wickedly, and traitorously notified, disinforce a squadron of ships of war of our said closed, and revealed to the said enemies of our lord the king, under the command of the said said lord the king, the time when a squadron Francis Geary, then being one of the admirals of ships of war of our said lord the king, of our said lord the king; and that certain under the command of George Darby, esq. other ships of war of our said lord the king, then being one of the admirals of our said lord were then preparing to join the said squadron; the king, and then employed in prosecuting and that certain other ships of war of our said and carrying on the said war, was expected to lord the king, had sailed under the command return to this kingdom: and afterwards, and of Murray, esq. then being one of the during the said war, to wit, on the said 17th officers in the navy of our said lord the king, day of November, in the 21st year aforesaid, and the place of the destination thereof: and at the parish aforesaid, in the county of Midafterwards, and during the said war, to wit, dlesex aforesaid, he the said Francis Henry de on the 5th day of September, in the 20th year la Motte, as such false traitor as aforesaid, in aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the prosecution of his said treason and treasonable county of Middlesex aforesaid, he the said purposes aforesaid, falsely, wickedly, and traiFrancis Henry de la Motte, as such false trai- torously composed and wrote, and caused and tor as aforesaid, in prosecution of his said trea- procured to be composed and wrote, a certain son and treasonable purposes aforesaid, false account, to be sent to certain subjects of the ly, wickedly, and traitorously composed and said French king, in parts beyond the seas, wrote, and caused and procured to be compos- then and yet enemies of our said lord the king; ed and wrote, a certain other account, to be in which said last mentioned account, the sent to certain subjects of the said French said Francis Henry de la Motte, (among other king, in parts beyond the seas, then and yet things) falsely, wickedly, and traitorously noenemies of our said lord the king; in which tified, disclosed, and revealed to the said enesaid last mentioned account, the said Francis mies of our said lord the king, the number of the Henry de la Motte (among other things) land and sea forces of our said lord the king in falsely, wickedly, and traitorously notified, this kingdom, and other the dominions of our disclosed, and revealed to the said enemies of said lord the king beyond the seas; and also our said lord the king, the number and force the number of seamen in the service of our of the ships of war of our said lord the king, said lord the king: and afterwards, and durthen being in certain ports within this king- ing the said war, to wit, on the 1st day of Dedom, equipped for service; and also the num-cember, in the 21st year aforesaid, at the ber and force of other ships of war of our said lord the king, then cruizing against the enemies of our said lord the king, under the command of Robert Digby, esq. then being one other of the admirals of our said lord the king; and also the number and force of the ships of war of our said lord the king, then repairing in certain ports within this kingdom; and the times when certain other ships or vessels, belonging to certain subjects of our said lord the king, were expected to arrive in this kingdom, parish aforesaid, in the county of Middlesex aforesaid, he the said Francis Henry de la Motte, as such false traitor as aforesaid, in prosecution of his said treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, falsely, wickedly, and trai torously composed and wrote, and caused and procured to be composed and wrote, a certain other letter, to be sent to certain subjects of the said French king, in parts beyond the seas, then and yet enemies of our said lord the king; in which said last mentioned letter, the |