The Sun.
London, England, 1817-10-25 00:00:00

CONCLUSION OF THE STATE TRIALS.

Yesterday evening these Trials terminat-
ed. Upon the ease of the prosecution agains.,
tGeorg,e Weightmati 'being closed, Mr: Caoss ad-
dressed the Jury. He said he should lint any far-
ther controvert the law laid dOwn by the Sedges,
with, respect to High TreasoO, nor should he
enter into any lengthened comment upon the
evidence. That evidence had no doubt made
a due impression with regard to the disposi-7
rion and character of the prisoner. It was

tanifest that this unfortunate triad, however 'be

might be led by delusion into a riotous assem-
blage, was incapalde of committing any out-
rageous act. On the contrary, he had evinced,
even in the midst of tumult and violence, a

very strong disposition to I►nmanity and
mildness. This circumstance would, he was
persuaded, incline the minds of the Jury
to grant a gracious reception to that appeal
which he felt it his duty to make in favour of

this unhappy man. Recollecting that he was
only the instrument of others, considering that
lie was young and inexperienced, and that he
had yet, if it pleased those who had the dis-
pensation of his fate, a long life before him, in
which, no doubt, he could never fail to reflect

upon the suffering in which the incaution of early
youth had involved him. This reflection, there
was every reason to hope, would serve to correct

his errors, and to restore him to his country, a
faithful and a grateful subject of that Sovereign,
to whose mercy a just appeal was never made
in vain. He therefore took leave to implore
that the Jury would recommend the prisoner to
mercy. He was encouraged to hope that his ap-

plication would not be unavailing, anti that which

was the anniversary of the accession of our gra,
clinks Sovereign, would form a new sera in restor-
ing good harmony to the country.
Strong testimony was offered as to the character
of the prisoner.
Mr. DENMAN made a pathetic appeal to the Jury:.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in his address to the
Jury, said, that unless impelled by duty, he would
never step in between any prisoner and the Royal
mercy.

- The Judge briefly summed up, and the Jury
brought in a verdict of Guilty, but strongly recom-
mended the Pc isoner to Mercy.

Ili consequence of iproposition from the Crown
Solicitor to the Agents for the Prisoners who may
not have been tried, that mercy would be extended
:o them if they would withdraw their plea of Not
Guilty, the latter have acceded.
The ,whole ot the prisOners will this morning he
brought into Court. Brandreth, Turner, and Lud-
lam, who were last night committed to the con—
demned cells, will no doubt receive sentence of
Death, which sentence, it is understood, will be
speedily carried into execution. G. Weightman,
with tl►ree of the other• prisoners who have not
been tried, will, it is said, be sentenced to Trans-
portation. The remainder of the prisoners will
be sentenced to different terms ot imprisonment,
according to their youth and character.

[From The Tinz,es.]

DERBY, THURSDAY, OCT. 23.—The Court met
at 8, and the trial of Isaac Ludlam the elder was

resumed.

Mr. CROSS,opened the defence, by submitting
that the prisoner must he acquitted, not withstand,.
ing the explanation of the law of Trcason con-
tended for by the prosecutor, and sanctioned by
the Court, since there was no proof of a definite
general 'purpose having ever existed in his mind.
He insisted that it-was mere delusion on the part
of the ignorant villagers of Wingfield, that the
simple are ever the dupes of audacity, and that it
would he both cruel and unjust to punish for a
delusion which they could neither detect not re-
sist. After having examined the.evideuce with
great ingenuity and .feeling, he concluded by a
most solemn caution to the-Jury against intimi-
dation from the former verdicts, or from the cen-
sure of their neighbours.
Mr. Caton, the gaoler, gave evidence in a very
humane and feeling manner of the prisoner's ge-
neral good conduct and affection to his sons since
his confinement. • • •

Mr. I)ENMAN began by pointing out the pecu-
liar circumstances of the prisoner's case. His
innocence could not be proved for want of wit-
nesses, his sons being indicted, and his wife inad-
missible. He repeated his challenge to the public
prosecutor to produce the evidence which they pos-
sessed of the origin of the mischief. The pri-
soner, as Well as all the other prisoners, was but
an instrument in the hands of Brandreth ; and lie
was'but the instrument of deeper, darker, and
more ingenious persons—of infamous spies and
informers, who created the evils they were•em-
ployed to detect. Jeremiah Brandreth's character
and. influence over the deluded inhabitants of
Wingfield he embellished by a quotation from
The Corsair." . He reprobated the insinuation,
that the prisoner bad led his sons into danger, in
the finest strains of 'eloquence-; and animadverted
at great length on the character of the first two
witnesses, and on the undecisive nature of the rest
of the evidence ; concluding by soliciting the com-
passion of the Jury with great warmth.
The SOLICITOR-GENELAL replied. The law
was laid down to them by the Court, and they
were bound by their oaths to receive it. The pri-

soner was proved to have willingly and actively
engaged- in. the treason and outrage; ht. must
therefore be convicted.

Mr Justice ABBOTt summed up with pr,Tisit
and candour.

The Jury retired, but in less than ten minutes
returned With a verdict of—Guilty.
the.Jurs was out, LudlaM looked paler
than usual, but he heard the verdict with the ut-
most firmness and composure his face has a re-
markable expression .of steady tranquillity.
The Court then proceeded to the trial of George
Weightinan. He 'seems to be about 22. years of
age, and very good looking. His youth, the
simplicity of his looks, and strong apprehension
of his ,future fate, excited a visihlc interest in an
who saw..hitn take his place at the-b.ir.
The SOLICITOR-GENgRAL opened the case for
the prosecution with much brevity; and Martin,
Ashnry, Shipman, and Turner repeated their
den& for:the fourth tirrie.—At hatlf•past six the
Court adjourned to eight to-morrow morning.