The Sun.
London, England, 1820-10-13 00:00:00

SEDITIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

Yesterday- Mr. PEARSON and other Gentlemen
waited upon Mr. BtamE at Bow-street, and having had some
conversation with the worthy Magistrate, Vickery was sent
furl() fetch Mr. Williams, the person who became answer-
able to Sir It. Baker for the appearance of William Franklin,
alias Fletcher, alias Forbes, on Sunday. last.
Mr. Williams, on his arrival, was shewn into a private room,
and Mr, Pearson was ahout to interrogate him, when Mr. W.
objected to he examined, except Mr. Birnie was present. Mr.
Pearson told bins Mr. Birnie was engaged, that he would take
his examination, and Mr. B. would afterwards administer the
oath to him. Mr. Williams said, he would rather that Mr.
Birnie were present, and having waited some time the Magis-
trate came in.

Mr. Dialyze said—Mr. Williams, I do not know what to
make of this busioess, which has assumed a much more seri-
ous aspect than at first. Pray tell me, hare you-or nut seen
Franklin since Sunday night?
Mr. have. not.
Mr. Bl:ollE—Hare you or your wife received any communi-
cation from him ?—lly wile took in a letter, the envelope of
which was addressed to Mr. or Mrs. Williams, and within was
enclosed a letter to Miss Franklin, his daughter.
Mr. lit RNIE—Do you know whether that letter came by the
post ?.—No.
Hare you the envelope or cover ?—Nd; I have destroyed it.
When ?—Yesterday, I believe.
Who delivered it at your house ?—I don't know.

Did you know it tame from Franklin at the time you re-
ceived it ?—I did not.

Did you suppose it came from him ?—I did not; though
when I saw the address I might have supposed it came Irons
him.

Have you been in the habit of being a letter carrier between
Franklin and his family ?—No, this is the first time.
Mr. BIRNIC.—Yon may remember, Mr. Williams, that when
you were at my house on Sunday, with this Gentleman (with
emphasis,) whom I never saw or heard of before in my life, I
asked you what he was ? You said he was a gentleman : and
I asked. you if be was a retired tradesman? You said no—
you had known him a longtime as a neighbour. Now, did you
ever hear him say he knew me, or was known to me ?—I
never did.
Mr. Br llNlE.—Because it has gone forth to the world, that
he told you he was well known to me, and if he came before
me, all would beset straight at once. I believe you will do me
the justice to say, that his introduction to me was entirely
owing to the circumstance of my knowing you as a respecta-
ble fellow-parishioner ?—Certainly, it was entirely so.
Mr. Br RNI c—Well, I am glad you are conic, as it has pre-
vented the necessity, on my part, of taking some steps that
would have been very unpleasant. There is one part of your
condnct that, with my long knowledge of you as a respectable
man, strikes me with wonder. When you were leaving my
.house on Sunday. I called you back, and seriously warned you
not to have any thing to do with this man. Now, having given,
you this advice, how do you account for going directly to Sir
Robert Baker, who knew nothing about you, and become an.
swerahle for his appearance? It is to me inexplicable how
you could do so.
Mr. Williams seemed much confused, and said—l did not
exactly understand you. I thought you said—" We can have
nothing to da with this business." I did not comprehend it.
Mr. BraNte—You could net suppose. that, for I told the
officer to keep him in custody. However, I have sent for you
now to say, that it behoves you, as a good subject, to do al
in your power for the apprehension of this mall, and ti►e more
-open and communicative you are with these Gentlemen the
better.
Mr. Pea 'lsms: then examined Mr. Williams as follows:

What time did the letter you have spoken of come to your
hand ?—About twelve o'clock on Tuesday, hut whether by
the post or not, I cannot say ; my wife, however, I think, told
me that it had the Gerrard-street post mark.
Did you not suspect it was from Franklin ?—I did.
Had you any previous understanding, either with him or
his daughter, that you were to be the medium of their corre-
spondence ?—No, I had not,
Did you receiveranother letter under cover on Monday
morning from hint ?—Yes, I think there was one.
Did you not know that that also came from Franklin?—lt
appeared to me so.
What time was that ?—Between ten and eleven o'clock ott
the Monday morning.
Now, Sir, try and recollect if there was not another letter
beside these two ?—I really do not recollect.
Has Mrs. W. never mentioned that there was another ?—I
don't recollect hearing about another.
Will you swear yoti,have not ?—fcan't swear ; but I have
no recollection of it. There might have been a third letter.
One came by post, another not by:post, and a third might have
come some other way.
Now, Sir, do you not know he bad another name besides
Franklin ?—I never heard of any other.
Nor his wife, son, or daughter by any other name ?—Never.
Did you ever see his sons at their father's house ?—Yes.
They also went by the name of Franklin, and I never knew
then► by any other.
You have seen them both ?—I have frequently.
What situation does his second son hold ?—I have heard
that he holds a situation at the Board of Controul.
Do you know by whose iufluence that situation was procur-
ed for him ?—Not directly.
Directly or indirectly do you know?—Why, I have heard
Mr. Franklin say as much as induced the to believe that it
was by the influence of Mr. Canning: as a proof of which,
yon may remember. Mr. Pearson, seeing a portrait of Mr.
Canning over Franklin's chimney-piece.
Mr. PEA ttsoN—l do; but you know that the picture could
not give the situation, Mr. Williams.

Mr. W. smiled.
Have yew ever understood by whose interest hit other son
got into the army ?—No; but I believe he got his commission
by purchase.
I believe yon hare dined with Franklin at the house of Mr.
Denis O'Bryen ?—No' never. I saw Mr. O'Bryen once for a
quarter of an hour at Franklin's house.
,Now, on your oath, Mr. Williams, have you not seen him
strict Sunday night ?-1 swear I have not.
Nor had any communication with him directly or indirectly ?
—I have not.
Yon have known him, I think, fohr years ?—No, only two.
lie told me he had lived in furnished lodgings in. Edgware-
road, before he came to Clarendon-place. I don't know bit
hand-writing so as to he able to swear to it.
A paper was produced to Mr. Williams, nod he said, the
writing on it appeased to be Franklin's.
Have you looked fur the envelopes of the two letters spoken
of ?-1 hare, but could nut find them. They may be at home
now. I did not hear from Miss Franklin where the letters
were written front.
Do you wish we should understand, that having received
these letters front Franklin ; and having pledged your honour
for his appearance on Monday, you did not think it necessary
(your respectability having been made his shield) that you
should inform us of the letters did not think it necessary.
I had that sort of confidence in him that I did nut tbiiik it ne-
cessary.
What sort of confidence could you have in a man who bad
so deceived you ?
Mr. W. repeated the former answer.
DJ you know a Mr. Cranbourne or Knivelt ?—Nn.
- Here a fientleman came in, almost breathless, and said a
letter had just been received from a Orntleman at Dover,
who kttew Franklin,-aod it stated that the latter was thereon
Wednesday afternhoo, and had procured a passport fur
France, in the name of Hart ison. -
Mr. Pearson instantly dispatched a letter to the French
Ambassador, to acquaint him ith the circumstance, and
went Isiinself to Lord Castlereagh's Otlice,
where he as pti„,d
for and obtained the promise of two letters, one to t be FAist-
lisb Ambassador at the Court of France, and another to the
Secretary of Passports, in order to the detention of the fu-
gitive.
After some further conversation, Mr. Williams vets sworn
to the statements be had made, and Mr. Pearson and Vickery
were. it was understood, to start immediately to Dover in put-
; suit of Franklin.
To prevent the possibility of error, a new warrant was
drawn up, and signed, in which he was designated
!Pletcher, alias Franklin, alias Forbes, who was supposed to
I hare taken out 3 passport in the Milne of flartiion.