74 ANNUAL REGISTER, 
which was, that a convulsion in 
the state, was not to be effected by 
extensive associations, thro’ which 
1803. 
constitution, than on any other 
Causes; and that nine tenths of the — 
felons who suffer in the ordinary — 
in all human probability, the design 
would transpire, and of consequence 
be frustrated ; but by a smai! party 
of desperate men, who having struck 
One great blow (such as the assassi- 
nation of the king) and having filled 
the city with consternation; would 
find, then, 2rd not before, thousands 
of coadjutors: and that though many 
chances were against such a scheme, 
yet that it held out infinitely better 
prospects of success, than one 
founded on numerous and exteii- 
sive combinations among a people, 
far from being universally disposed, 
to countenance conspiracy and re- 
bellion. If such were the delibe- 
rate opinions of the leaders of this 
plot,—and that they were, was ad- 
mitted on all hands—that which 
appeared too romantic, to be seri- 
ously embraced by any man of ac- 
knowledged sense and talents, as 
was Colonel Despard; assumes the 
appearance of arrangement, and 
leaves not ashade of doubt on his 
individual criminality ; whatever 
may be thought of the practica- 
bility of his designs.* In reply to 
those who adduced proofs of his 
innocence, from. the fortitude he 
evinced, and the steady denial of 
his guilt at the place of punishment; 
it must be called to their recollec- 
tion, that the former quality de- 
pends more on temperament and 
course of justice, evince to the full” 
as great a share, as Colonel Des- 
pard. In fact, any other hne of 
conduct would have been incompa- 
tible with the character, and incon~ 
sistent with the nature, of the man : 
and when it is remembered, that 
he manitested not the smailest ves- 
tige of religious education, habit, or 
opinion, during the period of his con 
finement; nor even at the approach © 
of his painful and ignominivus pu- 
nishment ; it cannot be going too 
far, if we assert, that his conducton 
that awful occasion, was more owing 
to the desire, of appearing a martyr ~ 
to the oppressive systems of go- 
vernment, and thereby to increase 
the strength and numbers of the 
cause for which he suffered; than 
from a consciousness of inno- 
cence. Indeed the evidence of his 
machinations were so convincing, as 
not to leave a doubt of his guilt, up- 
on the minds, of the most prejudiced; — 
and the complete oblivion into 
which his memory, and even the 
transaction whieh we have gone so 
much into detail upon, fell, almost 
immediately, were the best proofs 
of the siightimpression, his cause or 
his sufferings, had made upon the 
public. It is but justice to say 
that the conduct of administration 
throughout the whole of this trans- 
action was highly commendable ; 
* Nor even an this part of the subject, are we prepared to say, to what extent the execu 
tion ofa scheme, projected and executed by such a leader as we have described, and 
a set of determined desperate men, might be carried; when we recollect the circum- 
stances of the daring attempts, which were made upon the persons of the kings of Por- 
tugal and Poland, within the period of a very few years: and which were nearly 
crowned with complete success, 
capitals, ; 
almost within the precingts of their respective 
caution 
