-JET. 42.] THE TRIAL. 389 



" CHELTENHAM, September 13, 1820. 



" You state so clearly and fully all that can be said 

 on either side of the question as to our course of pro- 

 ceeding, that one has nothing to do but say on which 

 side one votes ; but I will mention how the matter 

 struck me, as far as I had considered it, before your 

 letter came. I have persuaded myself, on a careful 

 perusal of the evidence, that we are now entitled to 

 the verdict. The inconsistencies, the meannesses, the 

 marvellous non-confirmation, the poverty of cogent 

 proof, considering the means possessed and unspar- 

 ingly employed, the uncandid and cunning course of 

 prosecution, convince me of this, even independently 

 of the never-failing topics of Italians, discarded ser- 

 vants, foreign manners, &c. But this is the strength 

 of our case ; what can be added will be comparatively 

 feeble at least, if not actually injurious. The Lords 

 have been tired of the subject; but they will return 

 to it with some curiosity, to hear not only what is to 

 be proved, but what can be said. Our complaints of 

 being silenced when the case closed will be almost as 

 useful as the liberty of answering immediately would 

 have been. But this is the crisis of the case, and here 

 you must be heard at large, and tear their case into a 

 thousand pieces. The opening of ours I expect to be 

 nothing, in fact ; but if we are fortunately better pro- 

 vided with facts, my impression is that Williams should 

 state them. With the frankness of which you gave 

 me an example, I own that I think either you or I 

 should sum up, under which name the whole case may 

 be fully discussed, and the weakness of the original 

 proofs for the prosecution again denounced. Unless 

 our case turns out much better than I anticipate, your 



