The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-20 00:00:00

iitELAND.

THE STATE TRIALS.

FOURTH DAY-BY EXPRESS.

~.;(FROM OUR OWN REPORTERS.)
bUBLIN, THURSDAY, JAN. 18.
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.
• THE QUEEN v. DANIEL O'CONNF.LL AND OTHERS.
The vicinity of the Four Courts presented a busy
seene this morning, it being generally known that the
evidence on the part of the prosecution would be com-
menced by the examination of Mr. F. Bond Hughes.
Though persons are only admitted to the body of the
Court by ticket, so that more than a certain number
ottnnot get in, the Rotunda is daily crowded with per-
sons who obtain some knowledge of what is going on
within from those who occasionally pass in and out.
The Court sat precisely at ten o'clock. The traversers
wore in punctual attendance. The jury having been called
over, and having answered to their names,
The Clerk of the Crown—Direct the crier to call Fre-
derick Bond Hughes.
Mr. Hughes entered the Court with a large bundle of
papers under his arm, and ascended the table. His ap-
pearance in Court excited much curiosity. Having been
sworn by the Clerk of the Crown, he proceeded to give
evidence.
SOLICIToR• GENERAL---What is your name? Witness
—Frederick Bond Hughes.
You are a short-hand writer? Witness—Yes, I am.
You have been constantly.in the habit of reporting ?
Witness—Yes, I have been reporting for the last seven-
teen or eighteen years.
-Upon different occasions ? Witness—Yes, upon dif-
ferent occasions.
-Do you remember having come over to this country in
September last ? Witness—Yes,l do.
.On what day did you arrive ? Witness—On the 29th
of September—on the 30th, I mean.
•On what day of the week'? Witness—On Saturday.
I never was in Ireland before. I recollect the following
day, the Ist of October. I went to Mullighmast on that
day. I think I arrived there about half7past twelve
o'clock. There were a •great many persons assembled
about the grounds when I got there—a large number.
I should think about thirty or forty thousand persons, as
near as I can guess. I could not see over the whole ex-
tent of the ground. I saw persons coming from different
places with banners.. If you will allow me to refer, to my
book I shall tell you the inscriptions I took on that occasion
—a note or memorandum .of what passed ; that is, of the
speeches. I haveit here. I saw the inscriptions. " Hurra.
for the Repeal !" was one of them. "A Nation of
Nine Millions is too strong to be dragged at the tail orally
other eountry ';" in front of the platform wasan inscription,
" The Man who commits a Crime is an Enemy to . this
Country," " Ireland must be a Nation." There were seve-
ral persons in and about the platformovith papers round
their hats, and staves in their hands ; there was an in-
scription on the papers, " O'Connell's Police." I know
the traverser, Daniel O'Connell. I see him' in . Coart.
[lre Mr. O'Connell who sat at the table, immediately
under the witness's chair, rose and boWed with a smil4 to
the witness.] Mr. O'Connell arrived 'at the place of
meeting abOut two o'clock. •I am not aware that I. saw
Mt. John O'Connell on that occasion. There were some
of the gentlemen present whose names I. learned, Mr.
Ray and Dr. Gray. •I think should recollect Mr.. Ray
(the witness here turned to the traverser's box in which
Ma Ray and Dr. Gray sat and- identified-both gentle-
men.) I know Mr. Thomas' Steele.' I -saw him at that
Meeting. I See him now in Court. Mr. O'Connell
was dressed that 'day in a sort of velvet robe,'
scarlet or claret colour. Some gentleman pro-
posed that Mr. O'Connell should take the chair.
That motion was put and carried. Mr. O'Connell
addressed the meeting on his taking the chair.; I took
notes of what Mr. O'Connell said upon that occasion to
the best of my ability.. I took my notes in short-hand.
I have both the transcript and the original notes here (a
large parcel which lay before the Clerk of the Crown was
here opened, and several neatly bound boo (s were taken
out,'one of which was handed to the witness).
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL then desired the witness to
read to the jury what Mr. O'Connell said, which he pro-
ceeded to do. When. he came to a particular passage the
Chief Justice desired him to read it over again, which he
did as follows 1-•:--u I admit that the union has the force
of law, because it is supported by the policeman's trun-
cheon, the soldier's bayonet, and the horseman's sword ;
but it is not supported by constitutional
CHIEF JUSTICE-What is the niimber of that paper or
page from which you are reading ?" • Witness—Page 5,
my Lord, from No. 1., book
The witness continued to read Mr. O'Connell's speech
on taking the chair. Wheri the witness had read as far
as the passage, " and take pitibm-xne that the union is
void,"
The SOLICITOR-GENERA:- said that if the traversers
wished they might extuidne him as to the other portions
of the speech.
Mr. HATcHELL, Q.C.,. said it would be better to read
the whole of it, as there were portions of it still unread,
which might be important on the cross-examination.
Witness—The whole of the speech?
. Mr. HATCIIELL—Yes ; there are passages here and
there interspersed that we think most material to the
traversers. • •
Witness then proceeded to read the remainder of Mr.
O'Connell's-speech at the meeting at Mullaghmast. I
&lard resolutions proposed at that meeting. The first
resolution was proposed by Mr. Aylmer, see page 313.
I heard the Second resoltition, which was proposed by
Joseph Hacket,of Kilkenny, and seconded by Alderman
.
Keshan; it was as follOws; We, , the . geetry, , clergy,
freeholders, and other inhabitants of the province of
Leinster, here assembled, do deelare,in the' face of Hea-
ven and our country, that no power on earth save the
Queen, Lords, and Commons-of ;Ireland, can make lawi
for Ireland." That resolution was put from the chair
and carried.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL—Who, was the chairman?—Mr.
O'Connell was. The resolution was carried. After
that I saw some gentlemen come forward and present
Mr.' O'Connell with a velvet cap. It was a round velvet
cap. It was presented to Mr. O'Connell by Mr. O'Cal-
laghan. Mr. O'Callaghan said he was deputed by the
Committee, whose names were attached to the address,
to present him (Mr. O'Connell) with the national cap.
Mr. O'Callaghan also presented an address to Mr.
O'Connell (witness read the address).
Mr. O'Connell—Who is that signed by?—By Mr.
White and other gentlemen.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL.—What was done with the cap
after that ?—lt was placed on the head of Mr. O'Connell.
Did he then say anything ?—Yes ; he said he ac-
cepted the gift with pride and pleasure. The witness
went on to read the observations of Mr. O'Connell on
the occasion. There Was another resolution read at that
meeting.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL—Look. "to page 46 of your re-
port. Witness—lt is before .me.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL—Read the resolution which you
find there.
The witness read the resolution, which was to the
*effect that a pittitioh ,be prepared and presented to the
Imperial Parliament for a repeal of the union.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL—WAS that resolution put and
carried ? Witness:---It was.
SOLICITOR-GENERA .--714c0k to page 49 of your report,
and read the resolution contained in it. ,
• ' Witness • read the resolution, which' was a vote of
thanks to, and of confidence in, Mr. O'Connell.
Witness in continuation,--That resolution was not put
by Mr.' O'Connell, but by. a' gentleman who took the
'ohair after him. The meeting was held in open air at
'the Bath of Mullaghtnast. I saw several gentlemen
there that dax. (lie•pninted out and identified Mr. John
O'Connell, Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Steele. He looked about,
.
apparently' for Mr. Barrett, but that gentleman was 'not
then in Court. He then. identified Dr. Gray and Mr.

'Ray.) . •
. SOLICITOR-GENERAL—Did you know the persons
.o,f the traversers before that day ?
Witness—No, I 'did not. I knew• the persons of .
Mr. Daniel O'Connell and Mr. John O'Connell. Mr.
John O'Connell was in the chair after dinner. I heard
him speak after dinner when proposing the toast " The
Queen." (He read the speech): I heard several letters
read ; there was one read from Mr. Thomas Ffrench,
of Castle Ffrench. (He read the letter). It was dated
the 2Gth of September. There was a gentleman pre-
sent at the dinner who, I was told, was Mr. Barrett.
That person spoke, on that occasion. (He then read a
report of the speech made by Mr. Barrett).
To SOLICITOR. GENERAL—Mr. O'Connell spoke at the
banquet. This followed the meeting. (Referred to his
notes, page 27.) Mr. O'Cennell then said—This was
a most delightful day for him, a day full of consolation
and hope. How glad he was to be at Mullaghmast.
Mr. O'Connell—Speak a little louder.
Witness continued to read from.his notes the speech
of Ms. O'Connell to the part, " We had not one So-
vereign of her family who was not a decided enemy of
Ireland ?"
Mr. HATCITELL, Q. C.—You have omitted the refer-
ence to the' Queen. -
Witness—" We had not a Sovereign save herself, who
was not a decided enemy of Ireland.'
Mr. O'Connell—Read correctly, Mr. Hughes.
Witness continued—" She was the first sovereign of
tie House of Brunswick that treated this unfortunate
country withjustice, and it is nfflicting to think that her
Ministry are so base and perfidious, So paltry and selfish,
as to endeavour to obtain advantages for themselves and
. their party at the expense,of the high andchivalrous feel-
- ing of exalted allegiance which the people of Ireland
bore,
aye, and still bear, to their Queen." Witness read
. till he came to say, f. a proof that each man
• Witness-4 might have misunderstood him.
He proceeded to read to the words present ori,-
' pressore—=
Mr. FrriainnoN, Q.C.—Oppressors? •
• Witness continued And when he came to that
" portion of the speech in which Mr. O'Connell spoke of
the hostility of the Minister to Ireland, considerable ex-
• citement was manifested in Court, at the different allu-
: sions and expressions, of the Hon. Gentleman. The fol-
lowing passage in, reference to the Duke of Wellington,
was received with great laughter. " The poor old Duke!
what shall I say of him? To be sure he was born in
Ireland, but being born in a stable does not make a man
a horse." The witness continued to read to the close of
the speech, when the examination was resumed.
The SOLICITOR.;GEDIERAL—Tarn to pages 6,7, and
8 ; see if the name of Mr. Ray is mentioned there.
Witness—Yes,- it is there. The Chairman having
given the toast attic " Re.al Association," called upon
.Mr. Ray to answer it. Mr, Ray rose and spoke to

toast.
[The witness here read Mr. Ray's speech, and then at
Ake direction of the Solicitor-General, tnrning,to 7,8, 9,
read Dr. Gray's speech in answer to the toast7,-" The
dismissed magistrates, and Repeal Arbitrators."
Natantiaation continued--I remember attendinl

a mee