176 = Frialof Colonel Defpard, &e. for High Treafon. [March 1, 
Mr. Attorney General then proceeded to 
ftate the facts, namely, that in the month of 
March latt, a confpiracy was formed to overturn 
the Government, and an affcciation eflablifked, 
e° which two men, Francis and Wood, were 
very aCiive members. They frequently at- 
tempted to feduce foldiers, and adminiftered 
unlawful oaths-te teveral, particularly two who 
would appear as witnefles, Windfor and Blades, 
‘That Windfor having become diffatisfied, gave 
motice of a confpiracy to a Mr. Bonus, and 
fhewed him the copy of the oath, and this 
gentleman, who is an army agent, and belongs 
to the Traniport Office, advifed Windfor to 
continue a member of the affociation, that he 
might learn what perfons of confequence were 
engaged in it. ‘This affociation had meetings 
at different public houfes, to which foldiers 
were invited, and every incitement held out to 
induce them to join in the moft atrocious atts. 
The great blow was to be ftruck on the 16th of 
November, when it was underftood the King 
was to meet Parliament, He wasto beattacked, 
topped, and deftroyed as he went to the Houte 
of Lords. This plan was concerted at a meeting 
held atthe Flying Horfe, Newington, where-the 
prifoner at the bar attended, and when fome 
objection was made as to the difficulties, on 
account of the guards, the prifoner exclaimed, 
‘if no one elfe will do it, I myfelf will; I have 
well weighed the matter, and my heart is cal- 
Yous.’* It would alfo appear, from the evidence, 
that the prifoner repeatedly attempted to feduce 
William Francis, and three times feyerally 
prefied him to take the unlawful oath. And 
that various other meetings were held, and 
treafonable confultations took place. Govern- 
ment, aware of their proceedings, at length h¥d 
about thirty perfons, of the loweft defcription, 
arrefted while holding one of their meetings at 
the Oakley Arms, in Lambeth, and with thefe 
the prifoner at the bar. Qn fome of the pri- 
foners, and on the floor, were found copies of 
€1¢ oath—none of them indeed were found on 
Colonel Defpard ; but his then affocisating with 
and mixing with a fet of men meditating a 
defperate treafon to be executed the following 
week, was a convincing proof that he was a 
~teaitor, and party to the conipiracy. 
The frit witnefs proved the arreft of the 
perfons at the Oakley Arms on the 16th of 
November, and that there were found in the 
Foom three printed papers, one on the oor, 
aid the cthers.on the perfons of fome of the 
individuals. hele papers were as follow :— 
““Constitutrron—The independence of 
Great Britain and Ireland—an equalization of, 
civil, polincal, and religious rights—an ample 
grovilion ier the heroes who fliall fal! in the 
cunieit—a liberal reward tor diftinguifhed merit, 
Thete are the objects tor which we contend ; 
and % obtain theie objects, we twear to be’ 
mited; In the awtul preience of God !”? 
FORM OF THE GCATH, 
‘¢ 1A. Be do voluntarily detlare, that I will © 
endeavour, to the utmojt ot my power, <o obtain 
the obje¢ts of this union, namely, to recover 
thoie rights which the Supreme Being, in his 
infinite bounty, has given to all men: that 
DEler Hopes, fears, rewards, ner punifhments, 
> ee 
fhall ever induce me to give any informationy. 
diretly or indireétly, concerning the bufinefs,or 
ot any member of this or any fimilar Society. 
So help me God!” pM es 
Thoinas Windfor {wore to his having received 
printed papers from John Francis, which he 
fhewed to Mr. Bonus fan Army Agent) who 
gave him his advice what to do, and he-after- 
wards took the oath—he declared that the fo- 
ciety was divided into different companies or 
divifions, and eftablifhed for the purpofe of 
overturning the prefent Government. 
faw Colonel Defpard at the Flying Horfe at 
Newington, y whither he was condutted by. 
Broughton, and when the converfation took 
place as to the attack en the King, Colonel 
Defpard faid it muft be made on the day when 
his Majefty was going to the Parliament Houle ; 
that he himfelf would make the attack, if he 
could get no affiftance on the Middlefex fide of 
the water; that he had weighed the matter 
well, and his heart was callous. Wood, one 
of the prifoners, faid, that when the King was 
going to the Houfe he would poit himfelf as 
centry over the great gun in the Park, and. 
would load ity and fire it'at his Majefty’s coach 
as he paffed through the Park. - ; holy Naa 
Mr. Bonus confirmed Windfor’s teftimony of 
his fhewing him the papers, and his advice to 
him on the fubject, ane 
' Thomas Blades, a foldier, fwore to his 
having been prefent ata meeting at the Oakley” 
Arms, where Colonel Defpard was, and when 
there was a good deal of talk refpeéting the 
attack on the King. He acknowledged, on 
his cro{s- examination, his having been thrice 
tried for defertion, and his having been charged 
with ftealing leather from his mafter, aged 
William Francis, a foldier, fwore that he was 
applied to by Colonel Defpard in the month of 
September Jaft, on Tower Hill, aad alfo by 
John ‘Wood and his brother, John Francis, 
to take an oath. Colonel Defpard, after afking 
his principles about thé attack .on the 
Yawer, which was*o have taken place that’ 
gay, faid it ‘was poftponed, as’ he expeéted 
money and news from France; that there was 
a great aflembiage ot people near the Tower, 
whodifperied by the orders of ColonelDefpard 5 
that Colonel Defpard afterwards preffed him 
twice to take the oath, which he refufed, ata 
meeting at the Coach and Horfés, At this . 
meeting the foldiers drew their bayonets, and 
faid they were ready to die in the caufe.’ On 
his crois-examination he acknowledged a con- 
nection with one Cattles, charged with ftealing 
Watches. be ey OS Ea ote 
John Emblin, watchmaker, gave evidence 
fomewhat fimilar to that of Windior, réefpecting 
the meciing at the Flying Horfe; and the ex? 
preflioas made ufe of by Colonel Defpard, and 
alfo ot the converfation at'the Oakley Arms, 
He firik - 
—— 
a a a  -. m 
about loading the gun in the Park, and firing — 
at the King. ; 
‘The evidence for the profecution being clofed, 
Mr, Serjeant Beft addrefied the Jury in a fpeech 
repie e with the mott irigenious argument, and 
delivered with the moft perfuafive energy. He 
prefled on the Jury the caution neceffary to be 
obferved in weighing a cafe of this kind, no 
only as being the higheit crime known eh 3 
ra er CS 
