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

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

intention of which those who advised concessions to
time and circumstance were always accusei,it is
surely worth while, for once, to try what a manly
and honourable line of conciliation, and an open
admission of the principle of Parliamentary Reform
ut present, with respect to the United Kingdom, may
effixt. It was not, we do decidedly give it as our
opinion, the concession of the King of France,
Louis XVI., in calling together the States General,
or any other act of concession, that ruined that
King. It was the fault of not having adopted con-
ciliating measures with a good grace, and in suffi-
cient time. It was a want of sincerity manifested
in his advisers and adherents; and may we not say,
a want of steadiness to his people in himself; which
most materially contributed to the fall of his throne
and the excesses of the revolution. It was the want
of manly and just concession which lost America,
and they who treat these great subjects as matters
of party struggle in England, and who accuse the
genuine Whigs, who espouse the cause of the people
in a constitutional manner, of nothing but a wish to
get into power, do, we trust, a great injustice to the
Whigs in general, and (certainly) assist fatally, by
withholding from them their support towards the
acceleration of a crisis when the struggle is no
longer between parties, but between the governors
and the governed, the rich and the poor; between
power clinging to its scat on one hand, and on the
other the convulsive struggles of a population
writhing and wrenching themselves from the gripe
of power.

It is commonly asked, by witty ministerialists,
whether reform will make bread cheap? We may
say, Yes! it will because a rectified system of
admiaistration of public affairs would, sooner or
later, bring about that natural state of things when
labour would find a good market and liar wages ;
and whether this would happen as soon as could be
wished, or not, another event most certainly seems
near, and that is, a serious crisis in the finances of
the country, and against the arrival of such a crisis,
we are anxious to conciliate that vast body of refor-
mers who have so long foretold and remonstrated
against the consequences of the present system of
conducting public.affairs, and not, under such cir-
cumstances, to meet them in a state of mind exas-
perated by insult and injury. And such men, in any
part of the kingdom,it is uuwisc,iu any Government
not to conciliate ; but to reckon them enemies, be-
cause they wish to be in politics what, in the pulpit,
men are told every Sunday they ought to be in mo-
rals, " radically reformed from all vicious tenden-
cies." Is it not almost impiety ?—.lt is a common
cant, in answer to a cry fbr reform, that " people
should reform themselves;" but these good people,
with all their pretence of personal goodness, seem to
forget that one of the finest parts of that perfect
prayer, which our Redeemer has taught us, is,
" Lead us not into temptation," and to keep men
at all secure frotn vice and error, it is necessary to
remove temptation as fir from them as possible; .tad
why this necessity should not apply to political fo-
r:Angela:Nits, where our vountry, as well as to social
arrangements, where individuals are concerned, we
arc at a loss to guess.
It is a stale trick invented by knaves in time of
danger to ill-gotten power, or gains, and made cur-
rent by Mols, to cry out that Government and Re-
ligion are in danger, because same who cry out
rethrm may Drove worthless and dangerous men.
Was there never a Tory hung ? There must be good
and ha,l of all parties. Our frame of Government
is not so weak as to In! incapable of bearing medi-
'sines highly corroaive ; and because, among the
espousers of reihrm, there are some who treat reli-
gion with contetapt, does this affect the justice of
the general question of rethrm ? By no means. We
might with much stronger colour of reason charge
all Tories with hypocrisy, because it is notorious
that the greaten champions and n ritets of' Atheism
and enemies of Christianity have beca Tories; and
seriously to affirm, that the cause of christian truth
is essentially km danger because of the assaults of
impiety, although we would certainly warn and
protect all our fellow-countrymeu from the effects
thereof; as fa as possible by those aids, which are

141

most likely ti be effectual, of encreased seal and
sound reason ,—to affirm, we repeat, that christia-
nity, against which " the gates of hell," we are
assured, " shall never prevail," is in danger, can
be nothing cl a but impudence and impiety.

We have received the Paris Papers up to Saturday
last. The Censeur Europeca states, that the Cabinet
of St. James's has replied to the official notification
of the changes recently produced in the Government
of Spain, that it sees with pleasure the adoption of a
system which England had long considered useful,
and even necessary, fur the welfare of the Spanish
nation. The intelligence from Paris is uninterest-
ing. The Journal de Paris says, "We can inform
certain propagators of disastrous reports, that their
efforts are useless; no one believes either their
affected good intentions or their bad news. What-
ever they may do or think, France enjoys in every
quarter the most perfect tranquillity." We arc
unacquainted with the circumstances to which this
mysterious paragraph alludes, except they are the
rumours of discontents and troubles in Britanny.
The accounts from Corfu in the Paris papers are
of the Bth instant. The Lord Commissioner, Sir
THOMAS MAITLAND, has opened the third Session
of the legislature of the lonian isles, in whick he
congratulates them on their perfect tranquillity,
which had been momentarily interrupted by the
tumult at Santa Maura, the instigators of which
had been detected and brought to justice. Allud-
ing to the cession of Parga, he observed, that it took
place by virtue of treaties to which England had
ever been fitithful. She had indemnified the Per-
guinots and granted them the rights of Citizenship in
the lonian isles. This subject, however, we believe,
will again come under the consideration of the Par-
liament of the United Kingdom.
The Madrid Gazette has published an order from
the Minister at War, by command of his Majesty,
calling on all military men, especially those nearest
the Kings person, to abstain from disturbing the
public tranquillity; and to pay a due regard to the
solemn compact entered into between the King and
his People, by his spontaneous adopron of the poli-
cal Constitution. This order arose from a tu-
mult which took place at the political club
Lerencino, where one of the King's body guard,
inadvertently protested agains, iris sovereign's ad-
hesion to the charter. It is said that the prime
movers of the Revolution correspond together from
Pampeluna to Castile, but that they are nut altoge-
ther in accord with the Central Junta.

MELtNCHNLY Quaker sailed
from Boston on the 9.Bth of February, with cables
and cordage for the Columbus, 74., fitting for sea in
the Chesapeake waters ; she had on board 39 men,
which had been recruited fin. the Co'umbus, three
naval officers and six marines, inclnding Captain
Juarnagati-48 persons in all. On the morning of
the 6th of March the schooner was struck by a
squall, and in spite ut•every exertion capsized, and
the p issengers and crew were washed overboard by
the surge. Willia:a Miller, the mate, succeeded
in hauling hints.lf into the main cross-trees, where'
he found tour others. Captain Joroagan, when last
seen was hulling to the main chains ; the mate and
his four companions remained in this situation until
the 7th lost , when three of them perished front
cold and fatigue, and were washed away by the
surge, which was continually heating over the
mate and his surviving tomoanions. They remained
without a prospect of escape from death, until the
forenoon of Wt daesdav, Mare() 8, when they dis.
covered a vessel standing tawarris them; they con-
trived to hoist a signal of distress, and the vessel
approached, sent a boat, and took from the wreck
the two sufferers, who, after a lapse of 56 hours,
were nearly exhausted ; the preceding particulars.
of this melancholy shipwre.•k, by which 46 human
beings unfintunately perished, are derived from a.
very minute statement drawn up by the mate.ll

Monday se'nnight a lad named Bigmore, for a
wager, engag►d to run i 6 miles in two hours, is
Mr. Finch's Garden, in Norwich, which he accom.
plished within a minute and a half of the time. Oa
Monday last he undertook• to go, at the saute place,
24 miles in three successive hours, but the time ex-

Aired witcu he haLl r crib:a:ea :::32:614.:5.

ilill

li?

HIGII TREASON.

OLD BAILEY, NIONDAY. Aram 24.
The Court hiettig wet at nit Wiwi hoar, and the
Judges, namely, the Chief "talon, Mr. Baron Clarrovv,
and Mr. Justice Richardson, having taken their seats,
the prisoner next in rotation, John Thomas Brunt, was
placed at the Bar. and Mr. Shelton proceeded to call
aver the pannels, the following persons were sworn on

the Jury :
Alexander Barclay, Thomas Goodchild, Thomas S.
Altiersey, James He
John Fowler, Worter, Gibbs Roberts,
John Dickinson, John Smith, and John Woodward.-
36 Jurors were challenged by the Crown, and 35 for the

prisoner.
The Jury havitig, been sworn, the rest of the panuels
were excused itmil Wednesday.
Mr. Shelton then read the indictment, and
The Attorney General rose at the conclusion of` it,
and, addressing the Court, spoke as billows:
1 y
Louis, I think it my duty to bring before your Lordships
a circumstance which has occurred since our last meet-
ing under this Commission. It is, 1 ant sure, within
your Lordships recollection, that bel'ore these trials
commenced the Court desired that nothing which oc-
curred, either its part or in the whole of any one trial,
should be published, until the whole of the trials were
terminated. The Court stated as the reason of this pro-
hibition, that it was intended to prevent any thing gointz.
forth which might have a tendency to prejudice any of
the parties on trial, or any person liab'e to h, called on
their Jury, in a case where men were on trial for their
lives. that iojunction I think it right to state the
whole of the tlaily press, I may say, most properly com-
plied. But yesterday, in a paper called The Ulmer,
w rich 1 hold its my hand, the whole of the trial of
Arthur Thisilewood is published, and a short account
of the trial that followed of lugs. Tnis has been dune
too by the publisher with a full knowledge of your Lord-
ships prohibitory injunction, for he actually publishes
what fell from the Court on that occasion in the very
paper in winch he 11.1$ violated your Lordships' order.
It is not Inv intention to interrupt the proceedings of
the trials at the present moment b) submitting any mo-
tion on this most daring and flagrant contempt of the
order of this Court; but, my Lords, 1 think 1 owe it to
the dignity of this Court, as well as to the situation
which.l hold, not to suffer the publication of these pro-
ceediogs to pass unnoticed. Undoubtedly, some pro-
ceedlog will be taken, when the means are furnished
for bringing, tile matter forward in a proper shape, and
wheat the mode of proceeding shall be determined
upon.
Tile Learned Judge bowed , and Mr. Bulland shortly
opened the indictment against the prisoner.
Brunt entreated permission to have the occasional in-
dulgence of a chair, which the Court granted without
hesitation.
The Attorney-General rose about half-past ten, and
adtaressed the Jury till a quarter before twelve. The
speech consisted of a request that the Jurors would dis-
miss from their minds all knowledge of the subject from
any other quartet, and confine their attention exclusively
to the evidence, and to a narrative of the facts and cir-
cumstances to he detailed by the witnesses.
Robert Adams was now called, and examined by the
Solicitor-General.—His evidence, with some little ad-
ditions, was in substance the same as that given on the
two former trials. lo detailing some particular observa-
tions which he said fell from the prisoner,
Brunt rose hastily from his seat, and said —" My Lord,
can the witness look into my face, and into the faces of
those gentlemen (pointing to the jury), and say that 1
have said so?"
Adams (turtling towards the prisoner, and laying his
hind on his breast) —1 can declare it with a sale and
clear conscience.
Brunt.—Then you are a bigger villain than ever I
thought you to be.
The Court interfered to prevent any further conversa-
tion between the parties.
This witness was cross-examined at some length by
Mr. Curwood.
The other witnesses examined were Eleanor Walker,
Mary Rogers, Joseph Hale, Thomas Sharp, Charles Bis-
set, Henry Gillam, Edward Simpson, J. H. Morrison,
James Allous, John Nlonument. After hint, Thomas
Monument was the next witness examined. His evi-
dence corroborated that of his brother, John Nlon 'mem,
who was afterwards recalled, sad examined as to certain
facts.
The next witness was Thomas Ryden, who repeated
the evidence which he had given on former 'vials. Ile
was closely cross-examitud by Mr. Curwood. After his
examination had closed, he evinced a disp,sition to stay
in Court, on which toe prisoner Brunt obstraed, " Nly
Lord, the witness stays in Court." WIIMAI,
the prisoners, then rose, and said, with great indignation,
" My Lord, let that pi rioted villain be turned out of
Court." Mr. Hydcn Immediately withdrew front

Court.
The earl of Harrowhy was then called, and repeated
his former.evidence.
John Baker, the butler to the Earl of Ilarrowbv, cor-
roborated his Lordship's evidence
Richard Mundy and George Caylock proved thc pre-
sence of the prisoner in .Cato-sireet on the evening on
which the plot is as discovered.
Georae Ituthsen, James Ellis, Thomas Wesicott, and
others 'whinging to the police-office iii Row-street, were
then examined as to the seizure of the gaud Caw.
street.
Lient. Fitzelarence repeated the evidence which he
had given on the former trials.
Alt. Gurney then stated to the Court, that the case for
the prosecuoon was closed, except so far es related ill
tut
examination of the arms, amniuniiion, Litc., which had
been seized in Cato-street, or on the premises of the con-
spirators. As it would be most prudent to examine
them by day-light, he hoped that the Court would ad-
journ their examination until the morrow.

-

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

The Lord Ctiief-Baron acquiesced in the proposition,
and jtijourtsed the Court till to-morrow morning at nine

o'cloeL.
During the whole of the day Brunt was engaged in
taking notes of weiat occurred ; so also were two of the
prisouers—Harrison aid NVilstm.

•
TUESDAY, APRIL 25.
At nine o'clock, the Lord Chief Baron, Mr. Baron
Garrow, and Mr. Justice Richardson, entered the Court,
which was hut thinly attended. I ediately after-
wards John Thomas Brunt was put in the bar, and
accommodated with a chair, as he had been the day
pre% iously. lie looked rather paler than he then did,
nut was quite lirm and composed in his demeanour.
The witnesses examined to-day were, Gem Ruthven,
Hector Morrison, Samuel Taunton, and Sergeant Han-
son; and with their examination the case for the pro-
secution closed.
It was then directed that the muskets, pikes, swords,
and hand-grenades, which had been taken either at the
house in Cato-street or at the lodging of the conspira-
tors, and which had been submitted to the inspection
of the jilt-v. should be removed nut of Court. The
exeetinou of this order excited souse blight confusion in

the Court.
As soon as a conversation respecting the accommoda-
tion of the students had terminated,
Mr. Curwood rose to address the Jury on the part of
the prisoner.
Mr. Curwood contended his address at 11 o'clock.
He then called John Bennett.
Mr. Gurney begged to ask the purpose for which this
witness was called.
Mr. Curwood stated, that he was to contradict part of
the testimony given by the witness llyden, in his cross-
examination.
Mr. Gurney then read his notes of the evidence in
question, from which it appeared that die answers of
Ryden were not of such a positive nature as to render
such a contradiction necessary. Hyden had not sworn
positively to the point which was meant to be contra-
dicted.
The Chief Baron referred to his notes, and cotafirmed
the statement of Mr. Gurney.
Mr. Curwood, under these circumstances, declined
calling the witness.
Mr. Adolphus then shortly addressed the Jury on the
same side with Mr. Curwood. He took a comprehen-
sive view of the whole of the evidence; denied that the
evidence of Adams, the accomplice, was entitled to the
slightest credit; and contended that, as it was not sup-
ported by more credible witnesses, the offence of which
the prisoner had been guilty, however great, did not
amount to the charge in the indictment of high treason.
Ile concluded his address, in which he displayed much
zeal and ability, by appealing to the Jury on the danger
to society of receiving the unsupported evidence of an
avowed accomplice, in a crime of a nature so serious as
that with which the prisoner stood charged. He en-
treated them not to convict the prisoner because he was
a bad man, but to examine how far the charge against
him had been substantiated.
Chief Baron.—John Thomas Brunt, your Learned
Counsel have concluded their very able defence; but if
you wish to say any thing on your own behalf, this is the
time.
Brunt then rose, and with a firm voice said, that a
written defence had just heen put into his hands ; but, as
he had not had time to read it, he would make a few ob-
servations on the evidence. lie then stated the origin of
his acquaintance with the witness, Adams, and attempted
to impeach the whole of the witnesses who had appeared
against I • . He alluded to a person, in the list of wit•
messes on the part of the• Crown, whose name has often
been mentioned in the course of these proceedings, but
who has not been called upon. He declared that he had
been seduced by this man, and had often received reftesh-
ment of meat and drink at his expense. He concluded an
address of halt' an hour by appealing solemnly to God for
the truth of his assertions; and declared that, whatever
might be his fate, he would not die unworn thy a descendant
of the Ancient Britons.
The Solicitor-General rose to reply.—He remake('
upon die several parts of the evidence touched ou by the
Counsel on the other side, and concluded with a solemn
Call upon the Jury to give au impartial verdict, according
to the evidence.
The Chief Baron began to sum up a short dine before
two.
tt bile his Lordship was summing up, Brunt said, " My
Lord, there are some of die witnesses for the prosecution
in Court, and as their hearing the evidence slimmed up
may prejudice the trial of some ut my fellowinisotters,
hope your Lordship will order them to withdraw."
Gurney—My Lod, they are only those witnesses
who were permitted to terrain by common consent; they
are the officers.
The Lord Chief-Baron.—They are only those whom
your Counsel base consented to remain.
Mt. Bet on Gal now IT pro led tilt some oh•ervation to the
prisoner, who bowed tespecltully to the Court, and re-
sumed his seat.
The Lord Chief-Baron continued to sum tip the evidence
with great precision to the cod.
As soon as his Lordship concluded, and before the Jury
retired, one of them addressed the Court :—"My Lot d,
1 hope your Lordship will allow me to ask a question as
to a point of law."
The Lord Chiel-Baron.—Certainly, Sir, any thing you
please.
Juror.—My Lord, we are bound to take the law from
your Lordship, and no doubt you will give it to us most
correctly. 1 wish to know whether, if the evidence bore
out that an armament had taken place, and that there was
a resistance to the civil power, would that, in the law, be
a levying of war.
The Lord Chief-Itaron.—Undonbtedly.—After a short
pause his lordship said,—Gentlemen, do I understand the
question rightly Please to repeat it again.
The Juror Ivpcated the' question, and his lordship re-
plid, that a resistance to the civil &Windily would not
constitute a levying of war.
The Jet or.—My lord, if there was an armament for the
put pose of inducing his Majesty to change his measures,
would that be a levying of war?

The Lord Chief-Baron.—That, gentlemen, would con-
stitute a levying of war; and if you believe that it was
proved in evidence, it would support the itodietment under
the act of his late Nlajesty. I put only thr first and third
counts to yon, gentlemen, not to coati's ra.s the ease.
Tht same Juror,-1 would wish to considel the whole
of the indictment. 1 hope your lordship will excuse my
asking these questions.
The Lord Chief-Baron.—Certainly, gentlemen' it is
your province to consider the whole of the rase before
you. You lot, also an tandoubted right to ask any goes-
-1 you 111.1‘ thick necessary.
The Jury then tensed at 20 minutes before four ; and
in ;thole lo minute,: ri mined with a verdict of Guilty on

the third and fourth counts.
The prisoner's appearance was in no degree altered by
Ilse annunciation of the verdict. lie bowi•d slightly to
the Court, and was removed in the care of two of the

Gaoler's assistants.
In answer to a question from one of the jurors, they
were told that their attendance would not be required
before Friday morning; but that the attendance of the
oilier jurors would be necessary tomorrow (this) n►orn-

ing.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL, v. THE PROPRIETOR OP THE