The National Register. — London, England, 1820-05-01 00:00:00

..... .b EVIDENCE ON TIIF. TRIAL OF ARTHUR . TH4S'I'LEIVOOD. 'M'e ties day give th' conclusion of *iv proceed ings under the Special Commission. We were in terdicted by the Order of the Court from giving the EVIDENCE until the whole proceedings should be finished ; we now subjoin the most important a the evidence which was given on the trial of A. Thistlewrxxl—that on the subsequent trials was merely a repetition of it. Tile first silt I, -ss caned was Robert Adams, examilie.l by the Solieitor-General. — l live at No. 1, I lode-iii-tlie-NVall• passage. Brookes's-mai ks I; am a •hoeinaker. I. was in the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards. It is Is years last Christmas since I left them. I knew Brunt at Cambray, in France, he went then by the name of Thomas Morton, It is is years ago since I first knew I • . I know Thistlewouil. I knew him tiist on the I tith of .J notary last. He then lived in Stanhope street, Claio-111:11ket. I was introduced to him by Brunt and logs. I saw him nt his own place. When I went in, Brunt said to Toustlewood, this is the man I was speaking to ton about. l'ltistlewood said, butt were once in the Life Guards?" I said, " No, I was not, I originally be longed to the Blues." Thistlewood said, " You are a good so in skin:Ill?" I said, " I could use a sword to de fend myself; but I could nut use it very expert, as I had not used any arms fur a Wog tnne." Thistlewood said, there sta• one vino was worth 101. who ow: worth any iiing for the good of his country. As to the shopkeepers tit London, they were all a set of aristocrats together, and were ail working under the same system of govern teem ; he should glory to see the slay that all the shops tole slim up, auil well plundered. He then alluded to Mi. Hut, and said, he (Ham) was a 11—ti coward, and Were he ( ril;Ailewoo:1) to go to 11'hitchaII, he gas sure he would hod his (Hunt's) name there, as a spy to govern ot. He then turned the eonveisittion to Mr. Cobb."', and said, he was equally the same as limit, and his writings, be 11411 no doubt he was also P ,• , . etisti•il the consei Patient them I was afterward.. (.001 fur debt in Whitecross.street Faison. The nest inter , se I had with 'lnistlewood was on the 16th, at the WI uitt Hart pulilic•honse ; it ails ill a 1101111 111 tilt hat t. yard: Thistie uod was preset'', and lugs, Brunt, iti•.l Hall, ats before they broke up, Tidd. On the lith I wt. ,• 0 son, and remained 14 days there. I came out coo Sat . the day after the death of the King . I saw Thistlevrou. oi. ale Monday evening following. I saw lion in the sail. i'mor in the house where Brunt lived, in a back roan:,, in Fox-court, Gray's lon-lace. There were Brunt, Hall, and Davidson, present. There was nodal •ir, path eider took place that night. To the best of my recollec tion, I met them nest on the Wednesday (by them lie meant Thistlewuod, Brunt, Davidson, Hari ism), and logs. I went into the room and saw a number of pike staves, 411JTItistlewood wanted to have them ferruled. Thistle wood then asked why Iltailhorn (the prisoner) was not present, and he added that Bradburn was entrusted witlt money to purchase ferrules, mid was not satisfied lest he should not buy them. 'the staves were green, and seemed as if they lido jas; t me lions the country. Thistlewood said he vr (mid nut iise a damn fur a man who would spend the money in such a way. Ido not recollect any thing :lather then. 'the meetings were held twice a day from thetce to the 23d of February. The room was hired by Brunt and logs; Brunt said so. I remember one cir conestance that occurred : one evening, about ten days before the Call-street business, I went in and sate Hat tison, Th:stl , woud, and Brunt. Harrison said, lie had been speaking to one of the horse guards, and lie had told him. that Itte whole of them would be down at 'Windsor at the Is. hg's funeral; and Harrison said, this would be ae. id sprat yto do somethim that night (the night of the Thistlewood said it was a good p 1.,. e, and added, that if they could get the two pieces of c.iiiiiun In Gray's Inn-last, and the six pieces in the Al tillers-groom', they could so help themselves as to have pas.ession of London before inorninz ; and he said, that w:,ea the news should reach Windsor, the soldiers would be so tired as not re ;ie able, when they came back to I. 01140.; but that by activity some might go to Hyde-park, and prevent any person ur messenger from going to Windsor. lie also said, that they should go over the water and take the 'telegraph, to preveut any eommuua•mlol vvuh t% tollalell. He then said that they should total a l'lovistutial Government, and send to the sea-port., in pier mit soy gentlemen titan leaving En gland animal passports. He particularly 111e11110111.11 to semi to Dust r, tSi.Stun, Margate, 41111 Itaitisgate, and tie particulaity of lied Brigion—not that he thought the new King would tie mete ui al Ile funeral. He stud the the present had mheuitt d Ilse throne twig enough, and it was no use let the piesent King to BMA of being crowned. Brunt and logs tunic in anti tills, and 'lbis tlevvood mentioned to them what passed; but they said nothing would sans!) , diem out their plan of assassisiation. They had lsokcii at a former Meeting Of this plait of as sassination. 'lwo Ur !Ince of them had Massa out a plan of assassinating his Majesty's Ministeis at 1114' first public dinner they tido. 'they talked of assassination at esti) one of thrill meetings, I could not say tittle %%etc pikes in the room mime this. I met tiktu tut Saturday, the t 1 tb of io nary, a. II or twelve w the tui enoosi. 1 sat, 04Y1113011, BI lags and Hall. They were all set 'taloa the the, 41111 seemed a conver sation betwixt themselves. 'racy all got do and turned round aim said ~ I t is agietif, if iisalioig turns out be fore next tt tabiesday night, next Wednesday we Mill go to 01 k.' oa s •,mi, they woe all sWoln not to wait any lonl;eu. Thistleosios proposed they smlld meet the follon i, anus mu' at 11.11 e, to draw Out a plea to go by. said to 111 you had better go round this aftet,,ion 411.1 mention' it, in order to have the eons 'naive to mot-tow." WWII s,id , he did nut Batik he should be mew to go, at he Itittl suttee NMI, to do, but lie should gu tin the nest morning, and perhaps ile might see some of them ; it was nut necessary to to isig a great many. Boum appeared to lie leaving the room thee, and Thistle Newt called to 111111 And :4111, " 0, 8111111, It Will be highly necessary tor those 11141 come to-mortow morn ing to bring b.. 41111 , with uhue Ui , in case Ally Wheels should cow. . On whom Brunt said, " I)—u my eyes, if ally . • sli 1 runic in here, the time is so near now, S e.•. s sin I tin tough the hotly. I auuid murder liltu law e sootier than we should he diA!uvvi On the next nor g I went about eleven o'clock -- it was a little dark on my eyes wlivu I went iu after THE NATIONAL REGISTER ✓ the snow. There wet e Thistlevrood, Brunt, Har rison', Cooke, Ittadbaru. 'Fluid, Edwards, and Wilson. myself, viol ..... 'her. W. Cooke, on looking round the rosin, There are twelve in the room, and I think it eniutieli to tot in a committee." •fltistleivooil propose that Tiad should take the chair. 'laid took the (dent aw d l sat with a p•ke in his hand. ThistleWtoonl Was on his right anol Blunt oil les fell. Thistlewood said, i't eutlenlein,you all know w eat we are flirt for," and then he terned to the der, as if mow Iling to mention it, and snit " the west end jou." Ittrint then held, " 1) n iii' , ' eyes, name it." Ois which 'ltiistiewilool again said, "Gentlemen, we are come 10 the determination to do thi• job, that we are talking about so hung, and as tie find there is too) pi obabi lily of meeting them (Minisiess) altogether, we shall, if no opportunity of doing them altageiho r occurs, take them separately, at their own houses, and 41,1 as many as we can. If we can only get three or four at a tone we must do them." He alsosaid, " I suppose it will take IS men to do this west end job; and I propose to take the two pieces of catmint in Gray's Inn-lane and the six pieces in the artillery-ground." He proposed Cooke to lead this party, and he himself wood(' e issid. Ile said they should take the Nlatision-house the seat of the l'rovi• :lomat Government. They veto next to take the Ile itk of England ; and Pining should be the 111411 will) sheet.] set lire to the is:in . :mks:mil seer ial parts of London. This was the p 1 hailed part of the plan, but if' any thing else oc curred he lore Wednesday, they would think of it.— Wiest was then going to put a proposition which he had lOr assassinating the Ministers, hut 'lllistiewouil said his plan should be first ;old from the chair, as they were all agieed on it. He desired the 011411111411 to Ask It nay of them had any thing to communicate. and that they should say it ; none of them saying any thing the plan was carried ittieninsously. Brunt then came forward e Oh his plan. w filch was, that they should assas sinate as many of his Majesty's 31inisters as possible; that they should draw lots to assassinate some of the Minis ters; and whoever the fellow was on whom the lot led he sleould murder the Minister, or be tourdered hiulseh ; and • hat if any 111411 failed in the attempt, lie (Brunt) swore by Lill that was good lie should be run through the burly. On which I got 1.111 anal said, " Mr. Brunt, do you think it poedble for a man to attempt such a thing and not suc ceed in it; and do yon meat) to say lie should be sun Biro' the body fur not doing it ?'"lia which he sold, " 1 do not , if a man should attemptit and nut succeed, lie is a good man; hat if he shows any cowardice, lie deserves to Le rim throitgli the body." This proposition of Brunt was then lat to the meeting. Soon after this, Patin, Putter, and Strange, came iu. They were welcomed, and were desired to sit near the fire, as they Were wet. ('alit' said, " Thule is one filing I went to know ; it it Can be done, it will be a great assistance to our plan ; 1 Wdlit 10 know .altat men are to perform each part of the plan, and who ale to take the Cannon. I want to know, 111 callilig 1111011 the meal, whether 1 call tell theta in part or whole what is to i a dune." '(lie chairman said, he did not see where ru e was of telling what was to be done. .Jr. Patin, seeing Ile lied that liberty, sat down quite satisfied. No• thing regsthoir was transacted in the emir after that. alr. Thisilewood said, "0 Brunt, that is well thought of; as Petits is here; you and Pelin go and see if the house Rea' Eon nival's-inu is tit ter fretting fire to. They went (Patin and Brunt) and reported it would make a d—il good tile. Thistiewoud talked ell gettitug means for a (rest Oil Ines , day and Wednesday. Ki tint said, lie would be d--d but lie would contribute the only 11. note he had earned for a lung tune. They proposed the While Hart for the house. Thistlewood proposed Ms own room, but afterwards thought it wo u ld not du, as it might create suspiciong. This was all us. the Suenay mut . g. Ou Alunday mut is lug tail met again Witness then told them what Iluoues told him on Sunday night, of imputes made respecting radical meetings at his house, and that iefoimatiun of it was given al Bow-sheet ()thee, and at Lord siditioutles office. Harrison turned 1 (mud on witness like a 11011, and Said, " Adams, you have ecteil il—tl w one. ' Bluth seld so too, and added, " Whatever you have to cui ttttt onicate, you have no business to cot 11111 l usicate utit tu the aid tu Thistle is oud." Witloess said, it cence I nett all, and lie stiould telt all ut at. 'they repeated the same umervatioes. They talked oh calling a ineetilig of the Merylehune limos', as Intl wanted some money; and Damn said, it vculud be of use fug that ;impose. Witness and Puttee went in the evening to tile White Hart, Palm and &isthmus pitied them. Next mut g they weir there too, a n d aim went 'flusher+ mitt, Tidd, Ines, Harrison, and Brunt. LolWal ds Came dud told them there was to be a cabinet duolll neat night. Thistlewood said he did nut think it was true. A or a Ap•pci - was sent tor, and read by losistiestrod—tic said that they were to dine at Lord Hallow uy's, Gross euus square. Brunt then seid," be d—d of 1 iiu'ist not-lies. clime is a God. l have mum prayed that he would Li nog all these thieves togetiser, w order to destiny them. lie lies answered my prayer." Thistlewtem proposed, that they should forma CO 11111 l Mee, 41111 bit 1111illeditilel). Wit took the chair. Thistlewood plopused 1111 l ediatety a fresh plan to be t illicit respectiug the 4364,silialluii. 1V line's exist essed a 1101ie they had paid due comsat's.' alum to What lie said yortleillay. All gut tutu ll:Andaman. (lat. fawn said," ll—lt that 111‘181 who attempted 10 11110 W cold water on tar piano, bull he would milli him through with the Witill's• sett the chair, /Mil lldd took it. Biota 'noted that a ',retell simond beset on the Earl not ilastrow by's house diet night. The uoject was to see it ally Men ut solobeis wrest bib) Lail Hai lowoy's. 'Tao were to go at 10 Ott relieved at 1011 0, mid they well to CWll'llll6 till lathe. The watch was to be le:01 , 11er, at four 'lest nar long. Thistlewund said lie hoped they would he satisfied their , : %vete no butane-. 1,11-y Wuillt,l du what they had 'lmes mined hensiouuw evening, mid added, that it is ullOl aiosvi el their pill 1 ,0-eN tinsels better thau to shack tiles. loot's: s Si'a' ateiy , worn only two or three could be got toAether ;—liere Intl it instil have It or to; a mare hewl to to r them all. •• I piopuse (cuistinwed he) whim the !limy is opened, to lush Su, seize the servatits, present pistols, affil tlii eaten 10 kill them 'laity snake ally 11..15,-; la 0 10 Make the viiii . .ilice to We stalls upwards, and two milers to the J 14.1510 Ilse loiter pailot lilt- boullse, rlll3Cli frith himelerbot•sts ,oisil 11.111 d alitl 11 olio) 4do-11111t 10 11110* 114,01 gleioaile.o, 411th ilestiOy them all. 0111CI'S ace 10 go. Noi• le low Aliaisleis arc, to 'Mader them all, It shah .44 ails ;oie,i an "r kill them tut seeping bail t oolononio) " ••id lie %mild go w Insi, wino 1/I.le, AblIVC5a 'flat 000kilA uoil 011 ail ilieio ; and Castle' eagii's and abolllll be 11111.1:; 1.. t Lag by tueinselves. Ile add td , I shall ease gut as good men lucre as the Manchester yeomanly ; cuter citacus, and do your daty." Ilatrisou and wttutw acre to be the swordsmen. After the execution of Lord liar rowby, at his house, I litrrixon proposed that some should go to King-street horse barracks, and set tire to the pre. anises by throwing tire into the straw in the stable. Har rison and Wilson were to go to Gray ' s Inn-lane, and in ease they could not carry the cannon out of the military school, they were to wait till a p art y came to ass ist them; —thence they were to proceed to the artillery barracks, to assist Cispke in taking taw cannon limit. It they linnet their strength sufficient to proceed. they were to advance to the Mansion-home, and plaid three of the cannon on each side of the Ilauswu house, and to demand the Man sion-house. If it were refused, they were to tire, and t h en i t would be gi up. M 411.i101141011sie Was to be made the seat fur the Provisional Goverhisient. ' the Bank of Engiatill was next to be taken ;--they would lake the books, which would enable them to see fainter into the villainy of the Govt . ' isment. ' ! ' lie further pail* of the plan were delayed till Wednesday.. They agreed upon a sign and collide' sign. The wield was " Button;' the man who came up was to say 11-u-t; the other was to reply T-om.---Beirtg asked as to the watch, witness said, There are other things which L wish to stale. 1 went there net imbruing, and tumid Edwards, bogs, and making fuses tier the hand-grenades. Davidson went on the watch at six. Witness mid Brunt went to rellicet, the wateil. They saw Davidson in the !Opiate, u the watch. They weld into a pubic-house, Where Brunt played at domino with a young man. Aetna 11 they (sent into the square, and walker for slime tone, till is one's get ashamed lit himself. They went assay al o'clock. He went next day to Fox-court, between two and mice; he found Brunt these. Strange came in, and in a few minutes atterwards two snore strangers ;gauge and another were trying the dints—they went into a baek room to .15,411 the :di angers, where witness saw elltlasses, latitude' busses, &c. Thistlewood, lugs, and hall came iii . 1 his lewoutl " Well, my lads., this looks like strumming to be done." lie touched Willie's on the "Mountie', and asked b o a, lie Was. Winless Irplied that he was %el y unwell, mud iu lOW spirits. Thistlewood sent for beer mid gin; lie then wanted sonic paper to write bills on. Witness said, cart , Ike paper would do. The paper was brought; and table and Chair were got;—the tells wet e then writ ten ; they were to he set oh the houses, to let the people know what had welt done. Thastlewood read as part, " Your tyrants are destroyed—the fiends of liberty are called upon to collie for wai d—the Provisional lievern meld is mow sitting. James Lugs, Secretary. Feb. 23. " Thistle% ood was ninth agitated, and could write only Brice. Anothei bill was written, which was ;in address to the soldiers ; another peitun was elliployed to write it, and remit. wood dictated to Wm.—lugs had two black bells on, one for two pistols, the other tor cutlasses;—lie had two bags on his shout 'ens like soldiers' haversacks ; he looked at himself And said, lie was nut complete yet, lie had forgot Isis steel; lie took out a large Kurile, and brandished it about, and said, it would cut ott the heads j of Castlereagh and Sidiuoitili, and it would be thought a great deal lit at sonic future time; —it wits a large broad kiiite, 12 inches lung, the handle hound sound with wax to keep a firm held of it. Others trete busy at other arms. '! ' hey began to leave the room alsout half past four or tire, to go about the business. Palm came in half an hour before; he said, they ought to be aware of what they were about, and to 111111 k within tiiimiselves whether they were to du their country sr, vice or not, and whether the Assassination would tie countenanced try their country. If they thought their cumuly uutitiljoin Wein, then the matt who flinched should be roil througli on the spot. Unless they came to this &lei ‘IIIIIAIIOII to - y would do no 1;ood.- , e A tall man came 111, anti asked what tile busiuess they weir about was. WllllebS had meter sees, 111111 before. The tall 1114113 AM, It Illey wire to serve their country, he was their 111411, and ti airy one was ottani of his life, lie ought to have nothing to do with such a toneetii its that. Thistle wood was Weil guise. 1111111 t Was told, that inqui ries were made by some wnu welt present, as to the plan they were abuut. Ilium said, that was not the loom for tereng that, but they bliuuld go with into, and they would know Brunt promised spirits; and the tail nom can tainted against drunkenness, as 111111011 S to a calve like thisi;—they went along the streets, two and two. sod at some distance, that tile. out be uoserveil. These was a eupuoar d .ll the rOOlll used fur swoirls, band gre- I lia.,rs, and dauurl wigs for cartridges, one lit which' was toil; —the rtsioh die alms was in Tidd ' s 'omit ; that was die depot. 'fiustrewood was always 111 a thirty to carry every dung that was gut seady into the depot, lest any ollieer should see u. WitUeSS canoed a mass-barrelled u 1111 l des rniss;—there were pikes made of eta tiles. Wit ries, as he went on missed all his associates; lie returned mick, owl met Brunt, who remelted rack with him along the 1.11 they met ThlsllvaMid ; they Wellt all togeme, to tic std lilt: IU Cidu•bli eet. ll itie - ss staid behind till Hai IsUil came up, and made him go in; lie saw there, Davailsou and W 11s4A1 below, Tinsilewood, logs, Brodutllll,3itallge, Coupe r, the [all luau, and others above; Diet ewe* e, as ThlStleWOOd ealeilla,l . ll, at last, IS 111101/e, 1111,1 two tieluw. 'Here was a Ueliell dii4)V a', 1111 d 41111 S out It; 30,11 e titer was standing MI the tame; diet e were tights; there was a Chest. BelMe came, 'Fhistleistol went out for some trine. Wont'' , heard a deal of talk below, and he found flestle wood, Brant, Hawser', I)avitlsori, Arid ;—the spoke ill the good news, they heal II that tile tan 'ages were al 11‘ . log at Lord lierrowlry's as rest as they could. Witness event tip to the lull, stunt saw liostlewourl and Brunt tutu lo 4ltatrti ; they spoke of Tod* absence. Brunt pledged his wolit that he would chute; lie sums allerW a• came. Thistle- WOUII Said, " 1 hope you will out gill! 1111 what you arc going to du; if you du, this will be atwitter Despard's business." lie then counted 20 pee suns, and said that Was enough, 14 would ire sufficient to go into the louni, and the Miler tax would take care el tire set suits and doors. * limy their set apart 11. The gin bottle was then started. 'llestlewouil said, it Lord Itairowey had iii atsat YalilS,lhat Was ..untingois they would not he to epared. A 110/se was heard below. Thistlewoml took a candle amid looked down to see who they - were, mid then set down the candle quite Cl/111 mined, stet), dlllg to N jadg 'lwo UltiCela took command of the room, hording small ',lshii., and said, " A pretty nest tilele o, lit soil. We nave gut a wariant to apprehend yl.lu all, and hope . you unit go peat:l.:4llly." A Mail Who W. 15 to, the step lit tut' udder said, •• Lee the coot IM al IC" this was the eau iiiiii (lett 41, A grunt, et pelbOlai haul got into th e Mlle 10 ttttt 111111 cause lot Watd, and gnu of them -,tietelied for weld AU arm, wilite•• .I.tw nothing its it, and aiwthcr presented a pilau'. l he: elan fell. It Was impos sible for him to give a particular account of the rther trausectious. lie gut itway, went home, was apprehended