a given time. As he could not answer this question, without consulting them, he and I left the court, for that purpose. However, all that could be effected was their consent to enter into personal recognizance for their appearance, when called on. This, being reported to the attorney general, was accepted with eagerness, and they were all released, on the day following. And, as their liberation was, principally, attributed to my intermeddling, the resentment of their prosecutors arose almost to madness. In justice to the gentlemen of the country, I add, that few prosecutions were conducted, with eagerness, except where outrages were committed, which justly deserved the vengeance of the law; and, among these few, that of the people from my neighbourhood was conspicuous. The quarter, from which this proceeded, was suspected, from the zeal and activity of the Rev. John Cleland, who had been private tutor to lord Castlereagh, and then was vicar of Newtown Ards, and agent to the earl of Londonderry. This zeal was obvious, both at the Spring and Summer assizes; and presumptions were so strong, of his having returned packed panels to the sheriff, that the array was twice challenged, on that account. That he made returns. was not denied, so far as I recollect, but the triers determined that they were not partial. That my persecution proceeded from the same quarter I was tempted to believe, for reasons to

be

be mentioned afterwards, as well as from what I have already written; and, from which the public may judge, whether or no, my belief was well founded..

Thus far, I have detailed every part, which I can possibly recollect, of my public conduct, from my first interference in the political concerns of my country. In this detail, I have neither concealed, nor attempted to palliate, either act, or motive. I have even related more than my. enemies knew, or all their band of informants could communicate, that the public may be enabled to view my character, in all its bearings, and in every light; and form an impartial judgment of my merits, and demerits, as a member of the state. And I have paused here, because I can prove that, previous to this period, my arrest was frequently in contemplation, which implied that, some parts of that conduct, were politically criminal, or, at least, deemed so to be. *

That my conduct, from the Summer assizes, 1797, until the time of my arrest, may be known, as well as that of the period, which I have detailed, I shall now recount every cir

cumstance

* For the reasons of my mentioning the family of Stewart so frequently, and, in some measure, embodying a part of their political history with my own, see appendix, No. 3.

cumstance of it also, so far as would claim any public notice, or be supposed to implicate me in crime.

During the latter end of 1797, and Spring of 1798, I passed unnoticed, being mostly confined by bilious attacks, frequently accompanied with fever. Early in March, I set out for Scotland, to visit an uncle of Mrs. Dickson, who, as I was informed by express, was dangerously ill. His death, and the unsettled state in which he left his affairs, detained me there, till the month of April. On my return, my servant, who brought my luggage from Donaghadee, was stopped in the street of Portaferry, and carried to the guard-house. There, every thing was scrutinized with a minuteness, which excited the ridicule of the officers, who were obliged to perform the task. After every thing, in which dangerous concealments seemed likely to be contained, was tossed, shaken, and turned outside in, to no purpose, a large tobacco-box, which had formerly belonged to a sea-captain, and which I had brought from Scotland, as a curiosity, was eagerly laid hold of. As this box, supposed to be fraught with more evils than that of Pandora, was of steel, and had lain by, time immemorial, it was so rusted that the inquisitors could not force it open. In their hurry, they overlooked the cause of its obstinacy, and, attributing it to a concealed spring, were about

to demolish it, till captain Marshall, hereafter to be mentioned! having pointed out their error, saved it from destruction. The cause of all this was first a surmise, and, afterwards, an assertion, that my visit to a dying friend, in Scotland, was only a pretext, while my real business was to form and promote united societies there, and a correspondence, between them and those of this country. This being taken for granted, it might be naturally supposed that my common documents were concealed in my luggage, and my diploma in my tobacco-box.

Though my bilious complaints were nearly removed by sea-sickness, change of air, and exercise, during my excursion, yet the symptoms returned soon afterwards; and I was advised, by a medical friend, not to resume my usual sedentary life, but to take exercise on horseback daily, and drink the Ballinahinch waters. The former part of this advice I immediately adopted; and, as the sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered, in the month of May, not only in my congregation, but in others, where I assisted, the riding from place to place, and the services which I had to perform, afforded exercise in abundance; but, at the same time, prevented my going to Ballinahinch, as soon as I wished. In the third and fourth week of May, I spent several days in Newtown Ards, on sacramental duty; daring which, I

rode

rode twice into Belfast, and returned, on the morning following. As, about this time, the king's troops and insurgents had frequent engagements, in the counties of Wicklow and Wexford, the public mind was very much agitated, and the public ear occupied, by rumors, often as inconsistent and unfounded, as they were numerous and alarming. In Belfast, I had not only an opportunity of reading those contained in the public papers, but of hearing such as were communicated by private letters, or wafted by the breath of popular fame. These reports, I freely, and, as far as I could, correctly mentioned, in company, on my return to the house of Mr. Sinclair, presbyterian minister, at Newtown Ards; not passing, without remarks, the extravagance of some, and the glaring inconsistency of others. Among these, I mentioned one, viz. "that a party of the Black Horse had gone over to the insurgents;" which, by the bye, was confidently asserted, and generally believed, for several days. The cause of my now recollecting this, more correctly than others, will soon appear, and, at the same time, shew, how eagerly cause of crimination against me was hunted for, and, on what slight pretences I might expect to be laid hold of.

On Tuesday morning, May 29th, I left Mr. Sinclair's with a view to spend the day at Crawford's-burn, the seat of John Crawford, Esq.