have treated both gentlemen, not only with candor, but with kindness-with candor, in stating the information of the former in the exact words sworn to by the latter-with kindness, in endeavouring to reconcile, or remove, the seeming inconsistencies which they contain: Under this impression I would willingly have taken leave of them: but the volume before me obliges me to keep Mr. Magin a little longer in view, as it contains a document, of which I had never heard until the book came into my hands. This is entitled, "extracts from the examinations of John Hughes of Belfast, bookseller, given upon oath before general Lucius Barber, and since confirmed on oath before the committee of the lords, and on his examination before the committee of the commons: " and contains matter which not only presents Messrs. Hughes and Magin as differing from each other, upon oath; but Mr. Hughes as differing from himself, in an instance, where mistake could hardly have been expected. In this document his words " he ( ) called on him on Friday the 1st of June, and told him that the colonels of the united regiments of the county of Down, had had a meeting in Saintfield the day before as ( ) had stated;" whereas, in his examination before the lords he swears that Dickson on the first of June, told him that the meeting on the day before had been in a field as Mr. Magin had stated." Let these statements speak

are:

for

for themselves! I shall only observe that the meeting thus doubly reported to Mr. Hughes as having taken place on the day before the 1st. of June; and that recorded by Mr. Magin, and introduced thus, " meeting of Colonels-May 31st.Saintfield," must have been the same.

men.

This admitted, let us advert to the accounts of this meeting, given on oath, by these gentleMr. Hughes, on the alleged authority of dr. Dickson and a previous statement by Mr. Magin, calls it a meeting of the colonels of the county" and speaks of twenty three as being only a part of the number assembled. Mr. Magin's minute says: persons assembled represented ten regiments," without specifying their number. This leaves room for conjecture, both as to the number of colonels who attended this meeting, and the number appointed to each regiment. In order to reconcile the two accounts, we must attach three colonels, at least, to each of Mr. Magin's regiments, as a smaller number would not admit of twenty three being only a part of the attending colonels as already stated. Perhaps, however, this difficulty, like, many others, must be referred for solution to those who created it. For my part. I made the attempt again and again. At one time I flattered myself that I had succeeded. As Mr. Magin mentions a meeting of twenty three colonels, I endeavoured to identify it with that of Mr. Hughes. But, after many struggles. I

was

was obliged to brought into one,

desist. They could not be either as to time, circumstances, or result. The one took place, May 31st. the other a few days after it-the one consisted of a number of colonels, of which twenty three was only a part; the other of only twenty three in all of the one, twenty three agreed to fight and commence the rebellion; of the other, two only resolved to fight, while the other twenty one refused to act on any plan but the invasion of the French or success to the insurgents about Dublin.

While this diversity of circumstances rendered the solution of one difficulty impracticable, the frequent review of the conduct of the Down colonels, and the versatility of mind exhibited by them, in the short space of six days, involved me in another not less perplexing. The view of these, in the page before me, is thus exhibited.

May 31st. twenty three colonels agree to fight. June 3d. or 4th. twenty one, out of twenty three decline fighting; yet appoint a meeting to be holden on the 5th. for the election of an adjutant general. June 5th they meet accordingly, elect a general; unanimously urge him to put the county in motion, and threaten to cashier him if he would not; yet on a flying report of the arrest of an individual at a distance, and which turned out to be an arrant lie, they dispersed, and concealed themselves." Per

haps,

haps, all this may be true. Yet its truth ap pears to me very questionable. However, 1 shall leave my readers to pronounce upon it, in common with all the other parts of the examinations laid before them; and to answer the following short questions to the satisfaction of their own minds:

1. Does the information of John Hughes, taken in mass, prove that dr. Dickson ever was an adjutant general?

2. Does not the information of Nicholas Magin, if it proves any thing concerning him, prove clearly that he never was?

3. Do not these informations, whether considered separately, or compared together, exhibit such glaring absurdities, inconsistencies, contradictions, and notorious falsehood, as prove their authors totally unworthy of all credit on any oaths, however solemn, or frequently repeated?

4. When it appears, by their own information, that the lives of both had long been forfeited; and when it is known that Hughes was a bankrupt, and Magin a poor man; is it not probable that these informations were extorted under the fear of immediate death, or elicited by promise of reward and future support?

5. What

5. What are we to think of the committees who, under such circumstances, received them implicitly as evidence; of the houses of parliament which gave them sanction by an acquiescence equally implicit; or those who, without trial or farther inquiry, acted upon them, not only to the distress of individuals, but the ruin of families? This question I asked before. I repeat it here, on account of its peculiar importance.

D

Leaving these questions as they stand, I shall only observe, that the informations, from which they arise, fully justify the acknowledgment of Mr. secretary Cooke; as formerly stated, in respect to an individual, for whom trial was demanded. "O no:" said he, "the information against him will not admit of its being brought forward in a court of justice. It is sufficient to SATISFY US, but not to CONVICT HIM."

Here I gladly take leave of Messrs. Hughes and Magin and I beg they may rest assured that I do not entertain a sentiment that would prompt me to do them an injury, or a wish inconsistent with their best interests and their only real happiness. However, the informations before me carry something on their face, and in the mode of their introduction by the right hon. and hon. the committees of the lords and commons, which prevents my shaking them off H h

at