The Sun.
London, England, 1820-09-13 00:00:00

mou TnEASON.

YORK, MONDAY, SEPTINEER )1.

The` Court met this morning at 0 o'clock, 4c-
Cording to adjournment, for the trial of the
unfortunate men who were arraigned here, ou
Saturday, upon a charge of high treason.
So early-as 8 o'clock the doors of the Court
were thrown open, and in a few minutes it be-
came crowded in every part. The prisoners, xl.
in number, were soon after placed in the dock by
Mr. Stanley, the gaoler. All but two were young
men ; the whole had the appearance of being

humble mechanics or labourers. The men, them--
selves )vere calm and collected ; but some fe-
males, who were said to be the wives and mothers
of some of the prisoners, appeared in Court in the
greatist agitation and distress. Soon after nine
Mr. Justice BATLEY and Mr. Justice
PARt took ,their seats on the Bench. Mr. RAINE,
leading Counsel for the prosecution, Sergeants
IluLLocK and CROSS, and Mr. LITTLEDALE, who
were also for the Crown, with the Treasury Soli-
citor, also took their places. Mr. WILLIAms,
Mr. STARKIE, and Mr. BLACKBURN, appeared for
the prisoners. _ _

Mr. WILLIAMS rose, and addressed the Court.

My- Lords,—Since the arraignment of the pri-
soners on Saturday, they have considered this sub-
ject, and are now desirous, with your Lordship's
permission, to withdraw the pleas they then gave
in, and to plead guilty.
Mr: Justice BAYLEY.—I take it for granted
that the prisoners at the bar are all in hearing of
what is passing in Court, and are ready to with-
draw their plea of not guilty.
William Comstive, a young man, who was evi-
dently the most intelligent of the prisoners, and
to whom they appeared to look with confidence,
immediately said, 4C They are all acquainted
with it, My Lord."
Mr. RAINE.—My Lords, we have no objection

to it on. the part of the Crown.
It is right to explain the arrangement in conse-
quence of . which the prisoners withdrew their
plea of Saturday, and took the course now
adopted.
Soon after the arrival of Mr. WILLIAms yester-
day, Who was known to be the leading Counsel
for all the prisoners, an intimation was made to
him, that, if the prisoners chose it, they might
have their lives spared upon making submission.
This communication was simply conveyed to the
prisoners, without one word of recommendation
or desire either one wav or the other, and the
men were allowed one -hour to consider the pros
posal. At the termination of that period they all
expressed a wish to submit ; and again, upOn the
attorney's attending them in prison this morning,
they all said, that they had had the night to re-
flect upon the subject, and that they adhered to
theii wish of availing themselves of the prOposal.
Accordingly, when they came into Court this
morning, they were humanely apprised by Mr..
LuAyis, in a conversation with them, that they
had still to undergo the form of receiving sen-
tence in the usual terms for high treason. The
prisoners expressed themselves prepared.
Mr. Newstead, the Clerk of the Crown, then
called, over the several names of the prisoners,
who respectively withdrew the plea of not guilty,
and pleaded guilty.

The following are the names and ages of the
prisoners :---

Aged
- 2$

William Com‘tive

JOhnVerryMond

RichaEd Addy
-Cita' les Stanfield -
Benjamin Hanson
Joseph Cjiarpiel
!James Flowers

Abraham Ingham
George Brien -
John Hobson -
,Gtorge Burkinshaw
Win. Holland -

Ben*iin Rogers
vmi.~ni Rice
John llorhinshaw

Mieltael Downing
Jjlin• Lindley
Nathan lincicley

Joseph Furth

- 26

Tho6as Blackliume

Join; Vallance

- 24

John Peacock

The:.prisoners were-an labourers, weavers, and
cordwainers.

Alr."Newstead, then asked the prisoners save-
rally, in the usual terms, what they bad to say
why sentence M death should not 'be passed upon
'them according to law.
The prisoner Comstive explained thislortp, as
he did the preceding, to his fellow-prisoner
Flowers, who was very deaf.
Flowers replied, '" I 'wish to agree with: the
rest of my comrades."
Mr. justice-BAYLEY then rose to pronounce
the awful sentence of the laW, Mr. Ju-stice•PAtia
standing by his. side:--" Prisoners at the , bar,
hoW thankful I feel in being able to announce to
you that your lives Will be spared is more
than I am able to eipress. (His Lordship'
here becaMe affected to tears, and was for
a moment unable) to proceed.) It is, indeed,
mast distressing. to see so many in the
.prime of
life; 'hi the full enjoyment of health,. guilty
of committed an offence which might
have made it the duty of. thoSe,whcrbave to dis-
pense the administration of justice to consign you
to an untimely end. I am glad most heartily, and it,
is most fortunate, that, in the-several cases, you
have to answer for, no blood has beep shed, and
n
4as been sacrificed. That has laid the
ofoundationf°li on which the Crown,::.in the exercise
of the duty it.owes the public, has extended you
that mercy, which, under different circumstances,
it would have been its bounden duty to 'withhold.
The Government of this Country has a great.
stake to answer for to the community at large,
for it is. the great guardian of the public peace,
and the community have a right to look to it for
that description of conduct which is best calcu
ate-
protection of property- and safe-
guard
of fife. And' when an attempt is made
ld for the
to put life or to put property in hazard, the Go-
vernment is bound to consider carefully each parii-
cular case ; and though it must always be high',
gratifying to extend mercy. where mercy can .be
extended, yet it has also anotherduty to perform,
of a painful character—that of exeCutingiustice-..
. most cordially thank God, that in your cases mercy
maybe extended, and that an opportunity will'be
'afforded you,by yourfuture. conducthere, to make
amends for the offence. which you hEye conithitted.
The offence to which you have pleaded .guilty is
in this, and' has been treated in. every other.
i country, as' the highest offence *hid.' a member