278 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1794. 



this country, where such an < vent 

 must rest on the broadest founda- 

 tions of popularity, it was unrea- 

 sonable to think that so insigniii- 

 cant and diminutive a set of men 

 could seriously, with any remains 

 of sanity in their minds, have en- 

 gaged in such an undertaking. 

 He concluded a long speech of 

 great animation, by recommend- 

 ing principles of moderation as the 

 firmest security of government, 

 and finally moving to omit that 

 part of the address which speciiied 

 the perstiasion of the House, that 

 a conspiracy bad been carrying on 

 against the constitution. 



Sir William Dolbeu warmly re- 

 jected the proposed amendment, 

 as disrespectlui to the Lords, and 

 tending to expose the proceedings 

 of both Houses on the subject be- 

 fore them, to public derision. Were 

 such an amendment adopted, we 

 should then have, he said, a pas- 

 sive obedient King, non-resisting 

 Lo'ds, and a rampant repubhcan 

 House of Commons. 



The Auorncy General, in sup- 

 port of the address, contended that 

 the societies had incontestribly the 

 most treasonable views. He con- 

 sidered, in particular, that which 

 was styled the Friends of the Peo- 

 ple ; and another instituted for the 

 Liberty of the Press, as peculiarly 

 dangerous, from the persons of 

 birlh aiui distinction that formed 

 them : the latter of these societies 

 made it thf'ir business to applaud 

 and patronize individuals convicted 

 of misdemeanours against govern- 

 ment, and to extol the integrity 

 and pat' iotism of those members of 

 the' law v.ho had pleaded their 

 cau?e, as if thost retained on the 

 opposite side merited reprobation. 

 He warmly maintaiiicd the pro- 



priety of the address. The cx» 

 pressions it contained relating to 

 the conspiracy, were founded on 

 indubitable facts ; and to retrench 

 thetn, would deprive it of the most 

 essential part. The measures pro- 

 posed by ministry, were tiie most 

 apposite to the threatened evils ; 

 they went to prevent them ; which 

 was certainly better than to wait 

 till the punishment became neces- 

 sary. Had government taken pre- 

 ventive measures in the year 1780, 

 much mischief would have been 

 obviated. — The issue of this long 

 and warm debate, was the reiectiou 

 of Mr. Fox's amendment, and tho 

 passing of the address. 



In this manner terminated the 

 pariiunientary discussions on tho 

 apprehension of the members of 

 the societies, and the susper.sian of 

 tiic Habeas Corpus act, 'I'hoso 

 'members remained, in coviscquence, 

 close ))risoneis in the Tower, till 

 they were brought to a solcnm 

 trial before a special commission at 

 the Old Baik>y, on the 25th of 

 October. A bill of indictment had 

 been previously found by the grand 

 jury, at the Sessions-House, Clerks 

 enwell, on the second of October, 

 ac;aiust Thom;i.oHardy,.John Home 

 Tooke,,!. A.r;onney,Stc\vartKydd, 

 .Jeremiah Joice, Thomas Wardell, 

 Tiiomas Holcrcft, John Richter, 

 Matthew Moore, John ThcUvjill, 

 R. Flodso!), John Baxter, and John 

 Martin. — Tlie first person tried was 

 Mr. Hardy: — His trial began with 

 a long 5tat:"ment, specifying nine 

 overt acts of treason, whereiii his 

 fenow-j)risoncro were etjually in- 

 volved. They were accused of hav- 

 ing conspired to raise a rebellion 

 in the kingdom, in order to sub- 

 vert tlie government, and deposo 

 the King. For this purpose they 



iiad 



