APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 



269 



challenged the array, on an allega- 

 tion that the panel had been re- 

 turned at the suggestion of the 

 prosecutors. The counsel for the 

 CIrown joined issue on the chal- 

 lenge, observing, that such a pro- 

 ceeding was only calculated to 

 encourage that hostile indisposition 

 to the laws which was spreading 

 fast through this country. 



After a reply from tlie counsel 

 on the other side, triers were ap- 

 pointed to decide upon the chal- 

 lenge. 



The Crown solicitor, after an 

 examination of unusual length, 

 proved, that his application to the 

 sheriff for a copy of the panel, to 

 which he conceived himself entit- 

 led as of right, was>esisted ; but 

 he admitted that he had obtained 

 a copy from theunder-secretary of 

 state. This being produced, was 

 found to contain private marks 

 made by the Crown solicitor, and 

 was numbered with figures, in some 

 instances corresponding with, and 

 in others differing from the order 

 of the panel returned into court. 

 On this circumstance the traverser's 

 counsel appeared principally to rely 

 in support of the challenge, and at 

 length closed his evidence, insinu- 

 ating that the difference had been 

 caused by the interference of go- 

 vernment. 



Mr. James, one of the sheriff's, 

 was then called on by the Crown, 

 and examined ; he contradicted the 

 insinuation, and explained the few 

 clianges which had been made in 

 the panel. The traverser's coun- 

 sel, Mr. Burrows, then spoke to 

 evidence, and was replied to by the 

 Attorney-General ; when the chief 

 justice addressed the triers, who 

 retired for a few moments, and 



brought in a verdict against the 

 challenge. 



On Tuesday the Court proceeded 

 with the trial, when an affidavit on 

 behalf of Mr. Kirwan was brought 

 forward, the object of which was 

 to postpone the trial, that the tra- 

 verser might have the same advan- 

 tage of time for inquiry, which the 

 Crown had had with respect to the 

 persons on the panel. The affi- 

 davit contained also an allegation, 

 that he believed many of the panel 

 were Orangemen, and enemies to 

 Catholics ; and he named Mr. 

 Blackwood, the first on the panel, 

 as one. Mr. Blackwood publicly 

 and solemnly denied the fact. The 

 solicitor for the traverser being then 

 called on by the Court to deny his 

 possession of the panel on behalf 

 of the traverser, at as early a time 

 as the Crown had become possessed 

 of it, refused to be sworn, screen- 

 ing himself under his character of 

 attorney in the cause. The jury 

 were then sworn, and the trial 

 proceeded. 



The Attorney-General opened 

 the case at great length. He stated 

 the charges to be, that on the 9th 

 of July last, an assembly, calling 

 itself an Aggregate Meeting of 

 Roman-Catholics, did assemble in 

 Dublin ; Lord Fingal presided in 

 the chair ; and that assembly did, 

 of itself, order county elections to 

 be held in the several counties of 

 Ireland, for the purpose of electing 

 or returning ten delegates for each 

 county. These resolutions were 

 published, and Lord Fingal's name 

 to them, as chairman. The indict- 

 ment then stated the assembling so 

 proposed to be convened, as an 

 unlawful assembly, and pregnant 

 with danger ; it was enough to 



state 



