The National Register.
London, England, 1818-01-25 00:00:00

lAN. r;.

twelvemonth secretlyimpri toned through your instrumentality.
You have deliberately and repeatedly put your hand to an
assertion that some person has made oath before you to an
extent which involves me in the charge of hilt treason. You
know best whether your assertion is true : I will not suspect
you of falsehood, unless you attempt to screen this sapposed
person from the penalties of the law. I have made every
effort consistent with my sense of political duty to obtain my
deliverance from unmerited incarceration. Every avenue
liberty was stopped. i have been calumniated in all modes,
and in all places—by the meanest hirelings of the most ex•
halted suborners—some who shall be rendered amenable to
the law—by others in the senate • • • • Having emit', ed all
these wrongs, I ant not of a temper that would teach me to
sacrifice my reputation firr the sake of an enlargement under
auch couditions as are now insolently offered. I insist upon
being brought to trial for the offence imputed to me, or
being liberated honourably and without stain of suspicion.
r cannot comprehend why I should enjoy my liberty more
conditionally than any other Englishman. I will not submit
to such degradation.
Sir Nathauiel, who had listened with evident displcasnre,
now stated that law commission did not extend to any con-
sideration beyond the present offer, and that he would nut
treat uu any other subject.
ale. E. jun.—The subject, Sir, is my present situation. I
am HOW ill custody 011 suspicion of high treason, and I will
not stoop to :Accept of any conditional enlargement without a
renunciation of that groundless suspicion. Y ou, Sir Nathan-
iel, Its ve again and again put your hand and seal to a solemn
legal declaration, that some person has appeared before you
and achused me of high treason. Bring that person forth,
or I must euncludc that:iou—
Da). the officer, at this juncture, rudely interposed be-
tween Sir Nathaniel Conant and Mr. Evans, jun. lifting up
tis arm and exclaiming," I will not allow you to go on. I
have just heard your father grossly insult Sir Nathiniel, and
1 will not allow his son to do the same." Mr. E. jun. some-
what surprised at the interposition of this underling, bade
him lower his arm anti stand off, adding, that his interference
only tended to place Sir Nathaniel in the unpleasant &talc.
tion of admitting that his actions would not bear recital with-
out conveying reproach. Mr. E. jun. was proceeding with
Sir Nathaniel, when Mr. Evans re.entered the office attended
by the titulary. Sir Nathaniel immediately exclaimed,
l" Take bins away !" Mr. Evans echoed," Who'll take hint
away ?" Mr. E. jun. advised his father to depart from Guth
a scene, and they quitted the office in the custody of Mr.
Walter. Mr. E. on passing the staircase, animated by the na-
tural warmth of disposition, vehemently arraigned the pro-
ceedings of the day as a wanton and designed insult, super-
added to the cowardly and hypocritical falsehoods fabricated
against his character.

Tuesday evening, between 4 and 5 o'clock, the two
tvanses, latherand son, were liberated by special order front
Lord Sidmouth, together with a Mr. Benbow, who had been
confined under a similar charge, and who, we believe, is a
shoemaker and resided formerly at Manchester. Mrs. Evans
who has been in the daily habit of visiting her son and hus-
band, went on Tuesday to Horseinonger-lane prison, and at
4 o'clock, when she came away, had not the slightest notion
that either of thou would be liberated : butt a very short titne
after she 11.111 arrived at 110111 e, both her husband aad her
sou, who had been confined about iro weeks, returned. We
wnderstand, that a very short time alter four o'clock a
Messenger art ived at florsemonger-biou Prison, with official
orders from Lord Siihnouth to liberate the State prisoners,
and directed to the Governor of the gaol. The Governor in
person then went to the two Evanses and formally delivered
the orders be had rtecivecl. 'These orders were immediately
complied with, and they quitted the prison. An act'
it is said will lie immediately instituted against Sir
N. Conant. Young Evans is to conduct his own cause, in
imitation of Wuoler and Hone.

John Roberts, John Smith, Francis Ward, John Johnson, James
Knight, Samuel Brown, John Haguelly. and several others, late at
Manchester, Derby, /t.c. appeared on the floor a the Court of Kings
Bench, on Friday, (being the first day of term) and claimed to be
heard separately.
• John Roberts, of Manchester, said, that he had been confined in
Glocester•gaol, under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act, and had
been liberated at the beginning of the present month, under a recog-
nizance to appear in the Court of King's Bench on the first day of
this term. ll e wished to know if Lord Ellenborough had any charge
eptinst him.
Lord Elknbomugh.—l a charge against you ? You must couch
your application properly; I have au charge against you.
Roberts.—Then, will your I airdship counsel me what I am to do,
and where I am to obtain redress for my unjust imprisonment.
Lord Ellenborougho—l am a Judge, not a Counsel. You have
appeared, and therefore you have satisfied your recognizance.
John Smith, of Derby, now begged to be heard ; but bethre he bad
proceeded tar, he was interrupted by Francis Ward, who rend a copy
of the recognizance by which he had been bound to appear thisday,
and so from day to day. whenever he should be called, upon under a
penalty of tool.. lie insisted that that recognizance ought to be eiis.
charged.
Lord Ellenborough observed, that this was quite a voluntary ob-
trusion. and if such persons were listened to, the term ought to be
extended to double its present length.
Mr. Justice Bailey informed Smith and the rest, that the reogni-
zance was mtistied by their appearance, which would he recorded ;
the Court had no power to discharge the recognizance, which was to
continue fora year.
Another of the persons on time floor here insisted that it ought to be
discharged; he was 1.3./ miles front home, without a penny in his
]locket; and if he wen.! to reach home, he might be called upon next
week to appear again ; or, indeed, front day to day, during the pre-
sent tent).
James Knight de sanded either to be put upon his trial forthwith,
or to be set at large entirely; it was not just that hi. ietogoirance
should be hanging over the head of an innocent man, to compel hint
to atibmis.sion, or to silence the expression of his opinions.
John Johnson said, that the object of it was to allow hint to go at
large, while he was a good lad, but to punish him it he were a naughty
lunge,
Ellenborough desired him to avoid such foolish and indiscreet
language.
Another of these persons presented an affidavit, which he desired
might be read, that he might found a motion upon it, hut it was re-
jected ; and Samuel Brown was about to read a statement of his ease,
when he was stopped by the Court, as it had nothing to do with the
qus.tion.
Mr. Justice Abbott said, that their appearance on the floor would
be sufficient for the present and they might now go home until called
upon to appear again in case of misconduct.
They did not seem at all t.atislied with this answer, but spoke of
redress and unjust imprisonment. One of iltem said that he had
been dragged from his family and immured for 22 weeks in adungeon
several hundred miles distant. After the peremptory paper had
been gone through, I .ord Ellenborough, Mr. Justice Abbott, and Mr.
Justice Holroyd, withdrew, leaving Mr. Justice Bayley, who read
an
nifidavit, presented to bin by Ward. His Lordship said that he twilit