name is to the said jurors unknown, that an account of the situation and dispositions of divers of the subjects of our said Lord the King of his kingdom of Ireland, was sent for the said last mentioned person unknown to be communicated to the said persons exercising the powers of government in France and being enemies of our said Lord the King as aforesaid: And that afterwards and during the said war between our said Lord the King and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, to wit, on the same day and year last aforesaid at the parish of St. Andrew, aforesaid, in the city and county of the city of Dublin, aforesaid, the said William Jackson as such false traitor as aforesaid, and in further prosecution of his treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, with force and arms, falsely, wickedly and traitorously delivered and caused and procured to be delivered the said last mentioned letter into the said office of the post at Dublin, aforesaid, to be from the said office conveyed and delivered to the said Benjamin Beresford: and that during the said war between our said Lord the King and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, to wit, on the same day and year last aforesaid, at the parish of St. Andrew, aforesaid, in the city and county of the city of Dublin, aforesaid, the said William Jackson as such false traitor as aforesaid and in further prosecution of his treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, with force and arms, falsely, maliciously, and traitorously did compose and write and cause and procure to be composed and written divers accounts and instructions in writing to publish and declare to the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, and being enemies of our said Lord the King for the purpose of inciting the said persons to invade this kingdom of Ireland, and to raise and make war therein against our said Lord the King, divers matters and things of and concerning the people of this kingdom of Ireland, and amongst other things that the Dissenters were steady republicans, devoted to liberty, and through all the stages of the French revolution had been enthusiastically attached to it, that the peasantry of Ireland manifested a degree of discontent by various insurrections, that there was no where a higher spirit of aristocracy than in all the privileged orders, the clergy and the gentry of Ireland down to the very lowest, to countervail which there appeared a spirit rising in the people which never existed before but which was spreading most rapidly as appeared by the Defenders as they were called and other insurgents, that in Ireland the name of England and her power was universally odious, save with those who had an interest in maintaining it, a body however only formidable by property and situation, but which the first convulsion would level in the dust, that on the contrary the great bulk of the people (meaning the people of Ireland,) would be ready to throw off the yoke (meaning the government of our said Lord the King in that country) if they saw any force sufficiently strong to resort to for defence till arrangements could be made, that the government of Ireland was only to be looked upon as a government of force, that the moment a superior force appeared, it would tumble at once, as being founded neither in the interests nor in the affections of the people; that there seemed little doubt but an invasion (meaning an invasion of Ireland, by the said

enemies of our said Lord the King) in sufficient force, would be supported by the people (meaning the people of Ireland) that there was scarcely any army in the country (meaning in Ireland) and that the militia, (meaning the militia of Ireland) would to a moral certainty refuse to act if they should see such a force as they could look to for support: And also that the said William Jackson as such false traitor as aforesaid, during the said war between our said Lord the King and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France to wit, on the same day and year last aforesaid, at the parish of Saint Andrew aforesaid, in the city and county of the city of Dublin aforesaid in further prosecution of his treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid with force and arms did falsely, wickedly and traitorously compose and write, and cause and procure to be composed and written divers other accounts and instructions in writing of and concerning the people of this kingdom of Ireland to incite, move and persuade the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, and being enemies of our said Lord the King as aforesaid, to invade this kingdom of Ireland and to raise and make war therein against our said Lord the King, all which said accounts and instructions in writing herein before mentioned to have been written and composed, and caused and procured to be written and composed by the said William Jackson, he the said William Jackson as such false traitor as aforesaid, and in further prosecution of his treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, afterwards and during the said war between our said Lord the King and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, to wit, on the same day and year last aforesaid at the parish of St. Andrew aforesaid in the city and county of the city of Dublin aforesaid with force and arms falsely, wickedly and traitorously delivered and caused and procured to be delivered into the said office of the post at Dublin aforesaid, to be from thence conveyed into foreign parts beyond the seas, and there, to wit, in foreign parts beyond the seas to be delivered to certain persons on the behalf and for the use of the said persons exercising the powers of government in France and being enemies of our said Lord the King as aforesaid, for the information, encouragement and assistance of the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, and being enemies of our said Lord the King as aforesaid: And that during the said war between our said Lord the King and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, to wit, on the same day and year last aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the city and county of the city of Dublin, the said Wm. Jackson as such false traitor as aforesaid, and in further prosecution of his treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid with force and arms falsely, wickedly and traitorously delivered and caused and procured to be delivered into the said office of the post at Dublin aforesaid, to be from thence conveyed into foreign parts beyond the seas and delivered to the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, and being enemies of our said Lord the King as aforesaid, for the purpose of inciting the said persons to invade the kingdom of Ireland and to raise and make war therein against our said Lord the King, divers other accounts and instructions in writing of and concerning the people of this kingdom of Ireland, whereof he the said William Jackson then

and there well knew the contents, purporting and containing therein amongst other things that the Dissenters were steady republicans devoted to liberty, and through all the stages of the French revolution had been enthusiastically attached to it; that the peasantry of Ireland manifested a degree of discontent by various insurrections, that there was no where a higher spirit of aristocracy than in all the privileged orders, the clergy and the gentry of Ireland down to the very lowest, to countervail which there appeared a spirit rising in people which never existed before, but which was spreading most rapidly as appeared by the Defenders, as they were called, and other insurgents; that in Ireland the name of England and her power was universally odious, save with those who had an interest in maintaining it; a body however only formidable from situation and property, but which the first convulsion would level in the dust; that on the contrary, the great bulk of the people (meaning the people of Ireland) would be ready to throw off the yoke, if they saw any force sufficiently strong to resort to for defence till arrangements could be made; that the government of Ireland was only to be looked upon as a government of force: that the moment a superior force appeared, it would tumble at once as being founded neither in the interests nor in the affections of the people; that there seemed little doubt but an invasion (meaning an invasion of Ireland by the said enemies of our said Lord the King) in sufficient force, would be supported by the people, (meaning the people of Ireland,) that there was scarcely any army in the country (meaning in Ireland,) and that the militia (meaning the militia of Ireland,) would to a moral certainty refuse to act if they should see such a force as they could look to for support: And also that the said William Jackson as such false traitor as aforesaid during the said war between our said Lord the King and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, to wit, on the same day and year last aforesaid, at the parish of St. Andrew aforesaid, in the city and county of the city of Dublin aforesaid in further prosecution of his treason and treasonable purposes aforesaid, with force and arms, falsely, wickedly and traitorously delivered into the said office of the post at Dublin aforesaid, to be from thence carried into foreign parts beyond the seas, and delivered to the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, and being enemies of our said Lord the King as aforesaid, divers other accounts and instructions in writing, of and concerning the people of this kingdom of Ireland, whereof he the said William Jackson then and there well knew the contents, to incite, move and persuade the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, and being enemies of our said Lord the King as aforesaid, to invade this kingdom of Ireland, and to raise and make war therein, against our said Lord the King, against the duty of the allegiance of him the said William Jackson, against the peace of our said Lord the King, his crown and dignity, and contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided.

And the said jurors for our said Sovereign Lord the King, upon their oath, further present; that an open and public war on the said third day of April, in the thirty-fourth year of the reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the Grace of God of Great

Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth, and long before and ever since, hitherto by land and by sea was and yet is carried on and prosecuted by the said persons, exercising the powers of government in France, against our most serene, illustrious and excellent Prince, our said Lord the now King; and that the said William Jackson, a subject of our said Lord the King of his kingdom of Ireland, well knowing the premises, not having the fear of God in his heart, nor weighing the duty of his allegiance, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil; as a false traitor against our most serene, illustrious and excellent Prince, George the Third, now King of Ireland, and so forth; and contriving and with all his strength intending the peace and common tranquillity of this kingdom of Ireland to disquiet, molest, and disturb, and the government of our said present Sovereign Lord the King of this kingdom of Ireland, to change, subvert and alter; he the said William Jackson, during the war aforesaid, to wit on the said third day of April, in the thirtyfourth year aforesaid, and on divers other days and times, as well before as after that day, with force and arms at the said parish of St. Andrew in the city of Dublin aforesaid, and county of the said city, unlawfully and traitorously was adhering to, and aiding and comforting the said persons, exercising the powers of government in France, and then being enemies of our said present Sovereign Lord the King as aforesaid; that in the prosecution, performance and execution of the said traitorous adhering of the said William Jackson to the said persons exercising the powers of government in France then being enemies of our said Lord the present King afterwards and during the said war between our said Lord the King and the said persons exercising the powers of government in France, to wit, on the said third day of April, in the thirty-fourth year aforesaid, at the parish of St. Andrew aforesaid, in the city and the county of the city of Dublin aforesaid, he the said William Jackson as such false traitor as aforesaid with force and arms falsely, maliciously and traitorously did come to and land in this kingdom of Ireland that is to say at Dublin aforesaid, for the purpose of procuring and obtaining information and accounts of and concerning the situation and disposition of the subjects of our said Lord the King of his kingdom of Ireland, and of sending and causing to be sent such information and accounts to the said persons exercising the powers of government in France and being enemies of our said Lord the King as aforesaid, with an intent to aid and assist the said enemies of our said Lord the King against our said Lord the King in the war aforesaid."

[The indictment then proceeds to enumerate the same overt acts mentioned in support of the first charge.]

Clerk of the CROWN.-How say you, William Jackson, are you guilty of the treason whereof you stand indicted, and arraigned or

not?

Mr. JACKSON.-Not guilty.

Clerk of the CROWN-Culprit, how will you be tried?

Mr. JACKSON.-By God and my country.

Clerk of the CROWN.-God send you a good deliverance.

Mr. ATTORNEY-GENERAL.-I am now humbly to move your Lord

ships, that a day may be appointed for the trial of the prisoner. If the prisoner be not ready for his trial this term, I have no objection to its being postponed until the next term.

Mr. CURRAN. I have been assigned by the court as connsel for the prisoner. It is rather the duty of my client in his present situation, to wait until he is apprized of what the inclination of the court may be, before he expresses his wish upon the subject.

Lord CLONMEL, Chief-Justice.- Undoubtedly the first duty of this court is to dispose of the crown business, which may come before it.

Mr. CURRAN.-If my client is to understand that the inclination of the court is to appoint a day for the trial in this term, it will be necessary for me to address a word or two to the court. I make no difficulty of saying in this case, that being concerned as counsel for a man in a perilous situation, I cannot think of wasting any claim he may have to indulgence. It is better he should submit to any order made by the court, than urge any application from himself.

Lord CLONMEL, Chief-Justice.-I do not exactly see the object of this address.

Mr. CURRAN.-I mean to enquire whether the court wish to try the prisoner this term.

Lord CLONMEL, Chief-Justice.

The court have no wish about it.

Their first duty is to go through the business.

Mr. ATTORNEY-GENERAL.-I will put an end to this, I move to appoint the first return day in the next term for the trial.

Lord CLONMEL, Chief-Justice.-The prisoner is in a country where he will have every possible advantage to prepare for his trial.

Friday, the 7th of November, being appointed for his trial, he was remanded to Newgate without any objection.

FRIDAY, 7th November. 1794.

The Court having sat, Mr. JACKSON was put to the bar, and the Sheriff of the city of Dublin was ordered to return his venire, which he did, and the Clerk of the Crown called it over.

Mr. CURRAN. This trial was appointed for this day. It is more becoming, not to wait to see whether the counsel for the crown will say anything as to putting off the trial, but to state how my client is circumstanced. He has been in goal for many months. He was arraigned last term, when he pleaded, and the court were pleased to appoint this day for his trial. All the interval he has employed in the most deliberate preparations for his defence. Though a native of this country, his life has been spent out of it. He sent his wife to England to attend upon such witnesses as he thought necessary for the trial. She spent part of the summer in England where an agent was employed, and Mr. Jackson himself sent another upon the same business. These circumstances are ready to be proved by affidavit. Mrs. Jackson remained in England some time, and came back to prepare for the necessary attendance. Some property, which was the joint property of both, has been sold for about one-tenth of its value, to defray the expense of bringing over witnesses, who cannot be