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1797, he was made a United Irishman, by Oliver Bond, at the Brazen-Head in Bridge-street, Dublin. That he was well acquainted with Bond, and has conversed with him on political affairs frequently-that the object of the society called United Irishmen, was to overturn the existing constitution, and to establish in its stead a republican form of government-that the society was spread over the whole kingdom-that it was divided into provincial, county and baronial assemblies, which last, when too large, were again divided into districts-that the districts and baronies sent representatives to the county, which sent delegates to the provincial meetings-that Lord Edward Fitzgerald wished this deponent to become a delegate for the county of Kildare-that Bond renewed the request of Lord Edward, and also pressed this deponent to become a colonel for the barony of Kiltea. Bond said, that every man who wished well to the cause ought to step forward as a delegate. This deponent attended a meeting at the 19-mile house, where he and every other member took an oath of secrecy-there was then an election of delegates to serve three months. Michael Reynolds, who was present at that meeting, said there was to be a meeting on the Monday following at Bond's, and told this deponent to ask for M'Cann, or Ivers, from Carlow, and he would be admitted; which meeting this deponent could not attend, owing to its being so far off. When he went to Dublin, M'Cann refused to tell him when the next meeting would be at Bond's, as he had not his returns with him, and accordingly he went to the country to procure them.

This deponent dined at Sir Duke Giffard's at Castle Jordan, in company with Mr. Cope, Captain Fitzgerald, Lord Wycombe, Mr. Maxwell and Sir Duke. There was some

we only learn in Byrne's, "that if he, Reynolds, could come on terms, he would furnish government with proofs of the conspiracy, and disclose the whole of the transaction. Mr. Cope said, that such a man should be gratified to his wish, if a thousand a year and a seat in parliament would content him!

"

conversation on the current politics of the times, and the affairs of the United Irishmen. The next day, this deponent returned to Dublin in a chaise with Mr. Cope, who, resuming the conversation of the preceding day, lamented very much the injurious tendency of the United Irishmen. This deponent told Mr. Cope that he had a friend who was of that fraternity, whom he would endeavour to persuade to give information to government, to atone for the crime he had committed by his having joined them; to which Mr. Cope replied, that such a man ought to be considered the Saviour of his country. This deponent said, if his friend did come forward, it would be merely to satisfy his own mind; that he would call on Mr. Cope in a day or two, and in the interval, see his friend and speak with him. Mr. Cope said, such a man ought to be gratified with a thousand or fifteen hundred a year, and a seat in parliament. This deponent said he mistook him; his friend only wanted to be reimbursed his expenses, as it was necessary that he should leave the kingdom for a little time, and to stipulate that he was not to give evidence against United Irishmen, and the channel whence the information came was to be kept secret. Mr. Cope bid this deponent mention any sum and he would agree to it. This deponent said, his friend's expenses might amount to 500 guineas, and desired he might be at liberty to draw on him for that sum. Mr. Cope agreed to every thing, and this deponent then gave all the information in his power, and told of the meeting at Bond's on the 12th of March, &c. On the Saturday previous to the meeting, this deponent saw M'Cann at Bond's house, and showed him his returns, whereupon M'Cann told him the meeting was to be at Bond's on the Monday following, and to ask for M'Cann, or Ivers, of Carlow, and he would be admitted. This deponent went immediately, and informed Mr. Cope had passed, which he promised to keep secret. nent did not attend the meeting.

of all that

This depo

On Sunday, this deponent called at Leinster House, and saw Lord Edward Fitzgerald, who showed him a paper from

Captain Saurin, of the lawyers' corps, of orders to that corps, stating, in case of any tumult to repair to Smithfield, and be furnished with ball-cartridges, and, in a note, to 66 keep their orders secret." After Lord Edward read the paper, he said he thought that government intended to arrest him, and that he would go off to France, to hasten an invasion of this country, and to send frigates, as he had interest with one of the French ministers; said he did not approve of a general invasion at first, and remarked, that if any accident happened to overturn it, it would totally destroy the business both here and in France. He said he thought Wexford an unprotected place, and would answer for a rallying point against the country, and if it were committed to him, he would engage it would answer. After this, Lord Edward paced the room a while, and then said, "It is impossible, government cannot be informed, no, it is impossible -government can never be able to find out where the provincial meetings meet! This deponent replied " it was impossible!!!"

This deponent saw Lord Edward several times after the arrest of Bond; at one of the interviews, he gave this deponent a paper, an address to the United Irishmen of Kildare county; he said he had some money in his hands as treasurer of the Barony of Ophaly, which he would pay over to this deponent, as treasurer of the county. This deponent carried the address down to the county meeting, it was read, and then, at the request of a member, burnt-the substance of the paper was to fill up the vacancies made by the arrest of Bond, &c. as soon as possible, for very soon they should be called upon, they might rely upon his being in his place on a short day, and desired them not to think any thing of what had happened. Some time after, Lady Fitzgerald gave this deponent 137. to be laid out in defence of the prisoners to be tried at Nuas. This deponent was told by a delegate from a baronial committee, that his practices were known, and also heard, that a delegate from Carberry committee said, that

Michael Reynolds had brought down a charge against him for the information which they said he had given about the meeting in Oliver Bond's house. He was afterwards summoned to meet at Bell's house in Kildare; he there gave the most solemn assurances that he had not given any information! This deponent was preparing to leave the country, but a party of the Cork militia came to his house, put him under arrest, staid seven or eight days, drank his wine, and broke things. This deponent afterwards set out for Dublin, but changing his mind on the way, he returned to his house, and was there arrested by the Slane cavalry, who brought him up to Dublin. On his arrival he was censured by both parties; by one, for being a United Irishman, and the other, for giving information: he therefore determined to lay his whole conduct before the court and his country at large. About four or five days before the meeting at Bond's, this deponent drew upon Mr. Cope for 300 guineas, and some time after, for 200: it was his determination to leave the kingdom; his losses amounted to about 63Ɔl. After Bond's arrest, he went down to attend the county meeting, that he might not be suspected.

This deponent directed a servant to administer a dose of tartar emetic to his mother-in-law, and Captain Withrington (her son) said he had poisoned her. She was a large corpse, and on the fourth day, there was a pitched sheet got to wrap her corpse in. This deponent was indebted to Mrs. Cahil, who was old and blind, in the sum of 757. he gave her his bond for 50l. and his note for 257. but, by mistake, the bond he gave her was not perfected; the money has been since paid, except 107. which he had tendered. This deponent took an oath when made a United Irishman, and when he was made a colonel; he also took the oath of allegiance, and had taken an oath in this court, which he consi

dered as absolving him from all oaths he had taken as a United Irishman.*

Bellingham Swan, a magistrate, deposed, that having been apprized of the meeting to be held at Bond's on the 12th of March last, he took with him fifteen serjeants of different regiments, dressed in coloured clothes, and by means of the pass word, "where is M'Cann, or Ivers, of Carlow," was admitted; he apprehended Bond in the warehouse; he then darted up into the room, where he found M'Cann, Byrne, and some others, all of whom he arrested, and seized all the papers he could find. Bond made not the least resistance, neither did he appear to be at all alarmed at his apprehension.

Mr. Cope confirmed the testimony of Reynolds as to the conversation and intercourse between them.

Mr. CURRAN. My lords, and gentlemen of the jury, I am counsel for the prisoner at the bar-it is my duty to lay his case before you. It is a duty that at any time would be a painful one to me, but at present peculiarly so; hav ing, in the course of this long trial, experienced great fatigue both of mind and body, a fatigue I have felt in common with the learned judges who preside on the bench, and with my brethren of the bar. I feel, as an advocate for my client, the awful duty of an obligation that has devolved. upon me. I do not mean, gentlemen, to dilate on my own personal fatigues, for I am not in the habit of considering my personal ill state of health, or the anxiety of my mind, in discharging my duty to clients in such awful situations, as in the present momentous crisis; I have not been in the habit, gentlemen of the jury, to expatiate to you on personal

* "An approver comes forward; the plan which he discloses may be true, or it may be of his own formation-but, if convicted, in the smallest instance, of wilful and corrupt perjury, I do not see how any man can say that it does not create a doubt of his testimony; and you have been truly told, 'that doubt in the present case is acquittal.'" Mr. Justice Chamberlaine, in Finney's trial.

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