acted under its authority, or rather usurped and exercised its powers, seem to have founded their proceedings, and inflicted my sufferings.

That the evidence against us, northern prisoners, in mass, was not only defective, but unworthy of the name, I have already shewn, by a variety of circumstances. To these however, another may be added, of the same complexion. That is, that, in July 1798-the awful month of terror, rage, and blood-they were repeatedly served with notice of trial, and even cited before a court-martial then daily sitting; and, as repeatedly, reconducted to their prison, without having proceedings of any kind instituted against them.

In respect to me, the vile means used to procure information, not only to the last hour of my confinement, but for many months after my release, amount, nearly to a demonstration of the same fact. Nay, my liberation itself in such circumstances, demonstrates more. It demonstrates that evidence sufficient to satisfy either jury, or court-martial could not possibly be procured, or created, and carries, in its bosom, an acquittal as fair, full, and honorable, as ever man enjoyed.

Of the actual information received respecting me, or the foundation which it might lay for

the

1

the severities under which I was labouring, I had no knowledge, during my confinement; except from reports, equally vague and inconsistent. However, about a year after my return from Fort-George, after much enquiry, and some trouble, I procured a part of the report of the secret committee of the house of lords, containing 90 pages, in folio. On finding that this contained, at large, the informations of John Hughes, formerly mentioned, I was highly gratified; and, on reading the part, relative to myself, not less surprised.

As this precious record, I believe, has not been in general circulation-and, as the cause of my surprise may, therefore, be unknownI shall transcribe what relates to me, as delivered on oath, August 3d. 1798. It is, literally, as follows.

"He has known the reverend Steel Dickson of Portaferry these two years intimately-saw him at the assizes of Antrim and Down at lent assizes 1797. He saw him acting with Lowry, Turner and Teeling as one of the committee for the conducting the prisoner's defenceNicholas Magin called on him with a message from doctor Dickson, that Dickson was going to Ballinahinch to remain there till Tuesday, and that he would be at Mr. Pottinger's till seven o'clock of that evening. Dickson called

upon

upon him Friday the first of June at his house in Belfast, and told him that the colonels of the united regiments in the county of Down had a meeting in a field, on the day before, as Mr. Magin had stated; that twenty three of them had agreed to fight and commence the rebellion, provided the county of Antrim and the other counties of Ulster, as he believes, would act with them, and as he (Dickson) knew there was to have been a meeting of the colonels of the county of Antrim that day, (viz. the first of June) Dickson wished to know whether he had heard any thing from it-he said he had not heard of the meeting-he knew there was to be such a meeting-Hunter told him so-Dickson said he would go out to Mr. Pottinger's that evening, and requested he would send him intelligence of what should be done in the Antrim meeting; that he would go from Mr. Pottinger's to Ballee, where he was to preach on Sunday; from thence he would go to Ballinahinch and remain there till Wednesday.

On the Sunday, Mr. Keane, of Finlay's bank, came from Dublin, and asked him where dr. Dickson was-he told him he would find him at Ballinahinch-Keane went there on Monday, as he believes.

On Friday the 1st. of June, Dickson told him that he was one of the adjutant generals of the

united

united Irishmen's forces in the county of Down, and that he (Dickson) would go to Ballinahinch and remain there till Wednesday, as it was a central place, from which he could issue his orders to his officers-Dickson told him that the reason why he would remain at Ballinahinch till Wednesday was, that the Antrim colonels had adjourned till the Tuesday, and that he could receive their determination in Ballinahinch on Wednesday."

Though the inconsistency, self-contradiction, and insignificance, of this solemn memoir, must appear, at once, to every man of sense who reads it, a few observations may not be unneces sary, for the use of the inattentive, or the cre dulous: and, in these, I shall endeavour to follow the order of the text.

1st. Then: "has known Dickson for two years intimately-saw him at the lent assizes of Antrim and Down, acting with Lowry, Turner and Teeling, as one of the committee for the conducting the prisoners defence."

That I was at the spring assizes, in both places, and the Summer assizes in Down, I have already stated; and the active part which I took, in behalf of five of the prisoners in Down, I have acknowledged and detailed. positively deny that I had any connexion with

But I

Lowry,

Lowry, Turner, and Teeling, as

one of the

committee for the conducting the prisoners defence;" though I was frequently in their com pany.

I also deny that Hughes could possibly see me with them, at the lent assizes for Antrim, as he asserts; no one of them having been there, at that time so far as I know.* Nor was I there as member of any committee, or for any general purpose of prisoners' defence. The cause of my attendance was well and extensively known; and my justification requires that the knowledge of it should not be lost. Be it known then, that some young men, very respectably connected in Belfast, were to be tried on charges affecting their lives. The principal evidence, on which their conviction was hoped and feared, was that of the notorious and celebrated BELL MARTIN. She had grown up, almost from a child, under my eye, in Portaferry. Her family was very poor, partly from her mother's decrepitude and long confinement to bed. The respectable families of the town and neighbourhood were well disposed to assist them; and Bell was encouraged to call on them occasionally for milk, cold meat, and other little comforts. This

Сс

* Lowry, Turner, and Teeling might have been at these assizes, unknown to me, as I was not then acquainted with one or other of the three. My first introduction to them or any of them, was, at Downpatrick, on the following week.