Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-06-29
From the New-York Com. Advertiser
IMPORTANT TRIAL.

Ht iUiiVWtHS, "a 10 otNN 80 =. -
{ Sir Robert Wilson and Messrs. Bruce
md Hutchinson, together with Bruce's
interesting speech before the French
court. Will be read with much interest.
We received the article this morning.
from an obliging friend in Boston.
case Of Sir Robert T. Wilson, Jagged So
a British major general, not active
service j Michael Bruce, gentleman,
q aged Of; John B. Hutchinson, aged s6,
captain LIST regiment Grenadier Guards
to the King Of England-the two for
mer bornin England, the latter in Ire
land.
Their trial for assisting in the escape
of Lavalette, (tbe Post Master Genelal)
ended before the Court of Assize, at
Paris, s4th April. The trial appears to
have been quite interesting. The speech,
es on the last day OF the trial of M. Du-
pin, their advocate, Wilson & Bruce, are
wo til peiusing. he conduct Of the &C
cuscd. in rescuing Iavalette, partcok OF
and romance their sentiments
are candid aid bold,-and. being releas
ed, as they we're, from the original charge
of attempting to subyert the government
OF France. they open thereccsses of tier
i1ea, IS. expose their inmost thoughts, az d
no esay pl AIDED guilty to he socu alton
oi assisting state criminal IN his con-
cealment and final escape. Their mo-
lives were the force of political opinion
and h manity. Tie freedoms ofthinkif g
douhtless belonged to them and however
their daring andingenuous conduct and
generous devotion may be admired, yet
it is doubted b. many " ether they can
be yindica ed in Their interference. to save
A man condemned tooeath by the laws
OF the state in which they reside. tire
Fleets credit on the French Court of As
US, in that. when they conid have sem
Fenced them to ans period of imprisen.
|ment, they only sentenced them to the
shortest period possible
NJ. Dupin, after ably Vi dicatirg The
character. etc. of the accused and pour-
|traying the military renown of Sir Robert
said:
How manners change with the tines!
Emong the Athenians. a 'eGple pvover
|hiaI Cor lesity. but whose Areopasus re-
|aowned Tor It's justice, young man was
sentenced to death, because he killed a
dove which, when pursued by hawk,
had sought refuge between his legs, be-
cause it WIS inferred that a person des-
|titute of nifty could not be good citizen.
nd among US, in the 10 h centu y, shall
ae see men condemned tor having saved
The life OF fellow creature, who placed
lis fate in their hands ? Has then our
nation. once so Wanted far mil,Iness and
% likeness, diyested itself of every feeling
|of humapity ?-lie went on in ibis strain
at spme length. aud closed as follows /:
=. Should it even require snail de-
gree of favor to acqult them. still, am
confident, Won Will scquit them in order
20 verify this expression OF one of our
most ila,trious Chapceliors, Foreigners
are priv sed persons in France, when
they imelore the justice of the King
Sir Robert folowed-contessed the
facts as to the escape Of Y.avalette, AID
vindicuted isprinciples and conduct in a
bold and impressive manner.
(Iis speech, as well as that of Nj. Du-
hin, was app|apded by tie spectators &
the Pres;d eut had to cheek them.l
Af.er Sir r. w. had concluded, Mr..
Hutchinson was called upon. but having
;uothing further to ay--
Mr.. B'uce then spoke as follows
/. Gentlemen. I appear before this tribu.
nal accused ofhaving favored the escare
,of Lasalette. fit be crime to have
saved the life OF man. admit that
ar, guilty. | will make no beast Of whal
I have done. An appeal was made tc
tmy humanity. ard ny honour compelled
me to answer it. l
II the charge were confined to the
affair of iavalette, | should have but a
| few worda to say o you: but have beer
accused Of having conspired against the
political system Of Europe, of having ex.
icited the people to take up arms against
the authority of the king. 1t IS true
THAT this absurd, ridiculous, ard totally
untounded charge. which has excited ST
strong an indignation throughout all Eu.
rope. has been rejected by the wisdom
| OF the French magistrates but yet the
motives upon which it vas grounded still
Isubsists. The Attorney General ba:
presumed to say, in the pieamble to the
President Accused, you speak
French very fuentiy: in speaking Of a
iMaoistrate, and of so worthy hlapiS