THE TRIAL

OF OLIVER BOND FOR HIGH TREASON.

OYER AND TERMINER.

AT a court of oyer and terminer and general gaol delivery, consisting of the Right Hon. Lord Carleton, Hon. Mr. Justice Chamberlaine, Hon. Mr. Baron George, Hon. Mr. Jus tice Crookshank, and the Hon. Mr. Justice Day, held for the county of the city of Dublin, Oliver Bond, of Dublin, merchant, was arraigned and tried on an indictment, of which the following is an abstract:

First count-That Oliver Bond, not regarding his allegiance, falsely, wickedly, and traitorously did compass and imagine the king, off and from his royal state, crown and government of this his kingdom of Ireland, to depose and deprive, and the said king to kill, put to death and murder.

Overt acts-That the said Bond, in order to effect the said evil purpose, did conspire together, and meet with divers other false traitors, &c. 2. That he did with other traitors meet and make resolutions for the purpose of procuring arms, ammunition, &c. 3. That he did meet and conspire with others to overturn the government, &c. 4. That he did with divers others meet and assemble together to raise rebellion, and to procure arms to assist in said rebellion. 5. That he did persuade and cause one Thomas Reynolds to become a colonel in the county of Kildare, for the purpose of aiding in said rebellion. 6. That he administered the United Irishmen's oath to the said Thomas Reynolds, &c. Second count-That the said Oliver Bond, with intent to VOL. II.

A

subvert the government and constitution, unlawfully and traitorously was adhering to, aiding and comforting the persons exercising the powers of government in France, and the men of France under the government of the said persons, then being enemies of the king.

The same overt acts were laid in support of this count as of the first.

Mr. Attorney-General, on the part of the crown, opened the case to the court and jury. He observed, that he never, in any moment of his life, had risen under impressions of more solemn feeling, or on an occasion the importance of which claimed more exertion on his part, or attention from the public. "On the very night (said he) that Lord Moira, with a degree of captivating eloquence, for which that nobleman is distinguished, was arguing with the lords of Ireland, where he had been so long a stranger, and respecting which he had obtained very bad intelligence indeed, for I cannot suppose his lordship guilty of deliberate misstatement-on that very night when he was endeavouring to show that there were no traitors in Ireland, that the innocent were accused, the accusers were guilty; conspirators, in the same capital, were, by a formal resolution, giving the lie to what this able, eloquent, and popular character was urging in parliament." He then proceeded to state what he had been instructed to say would turn out in evidence, and concluded with some remarks as to the manner in which the treasons of which the prisoner was charged had originated out of the French revolution, the evils and destructive tendency of which were incalculable.

EVIDENCE ON THE PART OF THE CROWN.

Thomas Reynolds,* being sworn, said, that in February,

* As the trials of W. Byrne and O. Bond were so very much alike, we have omitted the former, who was condemned and immediately executed. The evidence of the arch-traitor Reynolds is nearly similar in both the trials;

1797, he was made a United Irishman, by Oliver Bond, at the Brazen-Head in Bridge-street, Dublin. That he was well acquainted with Bond, and has conversed with him on political affairs frequently—that the object of the society called United Irishmen, was to overturn the existing constitution, and to establish in its stead a republican form of government-that the society was spread over the whole kingdom-that it was divided into provincial, county and baronial assemblies, which last, when too large, were again divided into districts-that the districts and baronies sent representatives to the county, which sent delegates to the provincial meetings-that Lord Edward Fitzgerald wished this deponent to become a delegate for the county of Kildare-that Bond renewed the request of Lord Edward, and also pressed this deponent to become a colonel for the barony of Kiltea. Bond said, that every man who wished well to the cause ought to step forward as a delegate. This deponent attended a meeting at the 19-mile house, where he and every other member took an oath of secrecy-there was then an election of delegates to serve three months. Michael Reynolds, who was present at that meeting, said there was to be a meeting on the Monday following at Bond's, and told this deponent to ask for M'Cann, or Ivers, from Carlow, and he would be admitted; which meeting this deponent could not attend, owing to its being so far off. When he went to Dublin, M'Cann refused to tell him when the next meeting would be at Bond's, as he had not his returns with him, and accordingly he went to the country to procure them.

This deponent dined at Sir Duke Giffard's at Castle Jordan, in company with Mr. Cope, Captain Fitzgerald, Lord Wycombe, Mr. Maxwell and Sir Duke. There was some

we only learn in Byrne's, "that if he, Reynolds, could come on terms, he would furnish government with proofs of the conspiracy, and disclose the whole of the transaction. Mr. Cope said, that such a man should be gratifled to his wish, if a thousand a year and a seat in parliament would content him!

conversation on the current politics of the times, and the affairs of the United Irishmen. The next day, this deponent returned to Dublin in a chaise with Mr. Cope, who, resuming the conversation of the preceding day, lamented very much the injurious tendency of the United Irishmen. This deponent told Mr. Cope that he had a friend who was of that fraternity, whom he would endeavour to persuade to give information to government, to atone for the crime he had committed by his having joined them; to which Mr. Cope replied, that such a man ought to be considered the Saviour of his country. This deponent said, if his friend did come forward, it would be merely to satisfy his own mind; that he would call on Mr. Cope in a day or two, and in the interval, see his friend and speak with him. Mr. Cope said, such a man ought to be gratified with a thousand or fifteen hundred a year, and a seat in parliament. This deponent said he mistook him; his friend only wanted to be reimbursed his expenses, as it was necessary that he should leave the kingdom for a little time, and to stipulate that he was not to give evidence against United Irishmen, and the channel whence the information came was to be kept secret. Mr. Cope bid this deponent mention any sum and he would agree to it. This deponent said, his friend's expenses might amount to 500 guineas, and desired he might be at liberty to draw on him for that sum. Mr. Cope agreed to every thing, and this deponent then gave all the information in his power, and told of the meeting at Bond's on the 12th of March, &c. On the Saturday previous to the meeting, this deponent saw M'Cann at Bond's house, and showed him his returns, whereupon M'Cann told him the meeting was to be at Bond's on the Monday following, and to ask for M'Cann, or Ivers, of Carlow, and he would be admitted. This deponent went immediately, and informed Mr. Cope of all that had passed, which he promised to keep secret. nent did not attend the meeting.

This depo

On Sunday, this deponent called at Leinster House, and saw Lord Edward Fitzgerald, who showed him a paper from