Star.
London, England, 1820-08-08 00:00:00

HIGH TREASON.

SPECIAL COMMISSION—STIRLING, AUGUST 4.
At half-past eleven o'clock, the LORD PRESIDENT,
the LORD CHIEF BARON, and Lord PITMILLY, took
their places on the Bench. -
The following prisoners were then put to the bar:
John 31,11111 an, Nailer in Camelon. -
James Aiken, Grocer in Falkirk.
James Burt, Nailer in Cameton.
Andrew Burt, junior, Nailor there.
James Aitken, Wright there.
Daniel Turner, Nailor there.
Andrew Dawson, Nallor there.
John Johnstone, Shoemaker in Falkirk.
Mr. J. P. GRANT) before a Jury was sworn, inti-
mated that M,Millan and Dawson wished to with-
draw their plea of Nat Guilty; and by that means to
throw themselves' on the thetsTi of their country.
Mr. GRANT then' hdd,ressed the ourt.--In these
prosecutions, his Right Hod. and Learned Fiiend,
the Lord Advocate, had conducted himself as his
duty to his King and to hie country required ; and
there was nothing in point of candour towards the
unfortunate prisoners that had been wanting on the
part of his Right Hob: arid Learned Friend, who
had united every consideration that had reference
to the due administration of public justice.
. "In pleading guilty, the prisoners throw them-1
selves not only on the generosity, but the pru-1
derive of the public prosecutor. lam satisfied the
Lord Advocate will think enough has been done for
public justice here; and when these men, by their
plea, shall confess the guilt of which they are ac-
cused, he will take it into his own favourable and
candid consideration, he will represent it favourably
where mercy will be disposed to prevail, and he will
trust to the returning good sense of the people that
they will take care how they themselves, or any per-
son over whom they have an influence, will yield up
, themselves, and everything dear to them, to the ad-
vice and influence of such despicable persons as I
have alluded to. Those base wretches who have
been at the bottom of the business are as cowardly as
they are wicked ; for, after forming the conspiracy,
'• they have fled from justice." The address of the
Honoutable an' Learned Gentleman did much ho.
'`,, nour both to his head and his heart.
The LORD ADVOCATE followed Mr. Grant. He
said, that it was doing no more than justice to say
that the public prosecutor had not any other motive
r. ' than a sense of public duty when he instituted the
. present trials. " I agree with the prisoners' Counsel
that enough has been done, and that justice will be
satisfied with the examples already made; and I ;m.
willing, therefore, to take the great responsibility of
ailowing the other prisoners the benefit of acquittal
by the Jury, as I will not lead any evidence against
them. No less than 22 persons have already been
convicted in this County, and against all these indiT
i victuals the sentence of death must be pronounced
c':
, It I were to do otherwise than act leniently, it might
...- glee rise to a supposition that their trials had been
A conducted in a spirit which I disclaim on my own
1 .'4l part and that of the Government:" The Lord Ad-
, I.,,cate then paid a most handsome complirpent to
, the abilities and conduct of Mr. Grant. His Lord.

•InniiiiMMINIIIIMMINII ' .