study between themselves; they got up, and Thistlewood said, "well, it is agreed on, that if nothing happens between this and next Wednesday night, on Wednesday night to go to work." Did any thing further pass at that meeting? -Yes; Thistlewood gave instructions to Brunt. Did he assign any reason why they must go to work the next Wednesday night?-The reason he assigned was, that they were all so poor they could wait no longer; he gave instructions to Brunt, and those in the room, that there should be a meeting sit the next morning at nine o'clock, to draw up a plan to settle how they should act. Did they separate after that ?—Yes, at least they went away. Ďid a meeting take place on the next morning ?-Yes. Was that meeting larger than usual? It Tell us what passed on Sunday morning, the 20th of February; what time did you get there? Just before eleven o'clock; Thistlewood said, on looking round, "there are twelve of us, it is time to proceed to business;" he proposed Tidd to take the chair. Tidd takes the chair with a pike in his hand; and he began by stating, that "we," he said, "have come to a determination, that if nothing transpires between this and next Wednesday night, we intend to go to work, for we have been waiting so long expecting the ministers to dine together; finding they do not, we intend if nothing happens, that they do dine together between this and that, to take them separately." On this, he began to propose his plan, saying, he intended to take the two pieces of cannon in Gray's-inn-lane, the six cannon in the Artillery-ground, and for Mr. Palin to take upon himself to set fire to the different buildings. Was Palin to do that alone, or how?—He was to have assistance from men that he had collected himself. Mr. Thistlewood said, this was an outline of the plan at present; and as Mr. Brunt had got a plan to propose respecting the assassination, he should drop it for the present, and leave it to Mr. Brunt to speak. Upon this what took place?-Upon this Brunt came forwards to explain his plan; Thistlewood stopped him, saying "let my plan first be put from the chair; if any one in the room has any thing to say upon it let him speak." Was it put from the chair?-Yes; and agreed to by all present. The prisoner, Tidd, being in the chair?— Yes. After this was put from the chair and agreed to, what took place? did Brunt come forward? Brunt came forward, and spoke to this effect: Brunt said, as we cannot get the mi nisters all together, as it was proposed to take them separate, I propose to you there shall be as many as we think we can take; as many men as we can get shall be separated into so many parts, and from each allotment there shall be a man drawn, and that man that is drawn, is the man that is to do the deed. The men should be divided into a certain number of parts, and from each part a man drawn for the purpose of committing each murder?-Yes, just so; that man that the lot fell upon, if he attempted it and did not do the thing, if there was any signs of cowardice, he should be run through upon the spot directly; upon this I got up myself; I asked him if he thought it was impossible for a man to attempt to do a thing of that kind and fail; says I, "if a man fails, is he to be run through on the spot immediately;" he said "no, unless there is signs that he is a coward." This mo tion was put from the chair as before, and agreed to; directly after this, in came Palin, Potter and Strange. Palin, whose name you have before-mentioned, and Potter and Strange, came into the room?—Yes. Was that the Palin who was to head the party for firing?-Yes. On their coming into the room, were the circumstances that had passed communicated to them?-Yes, they were; and they agreed to them after Thistlewood and Brunt had communicated the same to those as he had to all in the room before; Palin got up to speak to the chairman, saying he wished to say something, that he had paid due attention, and that he amongst the rest had agreed to what had been proposed; but he wished to know how those things, as they had so many objects to be carried at the same time, were to be done; "you talk of the West-end job taking from forty to fifty men." Had that number been mentioned for that called the West-end job?—Yes, it had been by Thistlewood. What was the meaning of the West-end job? -That meant the assassination of the ministers; it was so called. "You And from forty to fifty men were thought necessary for that purpose? Yes. talk of taking the two pieces of cannon from Gray's-inn-lane, and six pieces of cannon from the Artillery-ground, and my setting fire to the buildings; I wish to know how this is to be done; you ought to know whether you have men to depend upon sufficient: I cannot give you any satisfaction on that point till I can see what men I can speak to; I wish to have instructions from here whether I can communicate to them what has passed here this morning." What was answered to that?—It was said from the chair, Thistlewood and Brunt, that there was no doubt that Palin certainly knew the men he had spoken to respecting it; if Palin was satisfied within himself that he had got such men as he could depend upon, he was at liberty to act, and to tell them what had passed. Upon that was he satisfied?-Upon that he sat down satisfied. After this had taken place, did the meeting break up ?—The chair was left upon this. Did any thing further take place?-They were pretty well all standing; at this time Thistlewood suddenly turns himself round, "Oh, Brunt, well thought of, now as Palin is here, you may as well take him to this spot close by here, and let him see whether he thinks it is practicable." What place was that?-That place was Furnival's-inn-buildings. Furnival's-inn-buildings was at that time not finished?-The back part of it was not. Was that near the back of Fox-court? Yes. In consequence of that, did Brunt and Palin go out? They did. Did they return before you quitted the place? They did. What passed, on their return?-On their return, Mr. Palin gave it in that it was a very good job, and a very easy one, and would make a very good fire. Tell us whether you had seen any arms-in that back room at different periods?—I had. Had you seen among other things, any pikestaves?-Yes: In what state were they?-In the rough. Had any thing been doĥe to the ends of them?-No more than just as they were cut from the tree they grew on. Was any thing done after they were brought in there?-Bradburn sawed the ends of them off with a saw, and ferruled them. Was that done in that back room?—Yes. Were there any sockets or holes made in them?-Yes. After those ferrules had been put on in the manner you described, by Bradburn, what passed? There was an alteration, it was considered, after the ends of the pike stick had been pared down to the ferrule that was knocked down, that the pike staff was so weak it would not support the pike; in consequence of that, every ferrule was cut off again, and bigger ones were got and put on. Was that done also in the room ?—Yes. Besides those pike-staves, were there any hand-grenades brought there?-There were some that were brought in there ready made, and some made there. Did you see Davidson do any thing there? kind of a thing that was wound round a tin case first, and some pitch that was melted in an iron-pot; after this was put in, there were some nails bound round. Did any thing further pass on that occasion? -Yes; Thistlewood said, that it would be highly necessary (if it was possible) to get the men together, and to communicate their in--Yes, Davidson and Harrison; there was a tentions to have them, if possible, to give them a treat; but he said he did not know how it was to be done, for they were all so poor; on this, Brunt turned himself to the fire, walked across the room and back again, and said he had a pound note he had reserved for the purpose, though he had done little or no work lately, but he would be damned if he did not spend it upon his men; Thistlewood said, "where shall we take them to? I suppose Hobbs would have no objection to letting us have the room up stairs." Hobbs kept the White Hart ?Yes. Had there been any meetings at the White Hart previous to those meetings held in the back room at Brunt's lodgings?—Yes. Were those meetings held in a room at the White Hart, or in a back room?-In a back room in the yard. Those meetings were discontinued while you were in prison for debt? -Yes. Now proceed. Brunt said, he did not much like it after what had dropped from my mouth "but never mind," says Brunt, "we can go there, as time gets so short; I do not see what occasion we have to fear the traps," or some expression of that kind. Had you, in point of fact, made some communication to them of what had passed between you and Hobbs ?-Yes; he said he would call on Hobbs, and hear what he had to say; on second recollection, he said he would give his boy a holiday that day, send his wife out, and what men he had to collect together, to have them in his own room. After this conversation had passed, I believe you separated?—Yes.. Did you see Harrison make any of them? Did you see Davidson also do any thing towards making them ?—I did. Was there any other place where they were afterwards carried to?-They were carried to Tidd's. To Tidd's lodgings?—Yes, in Hole-in-the wall passage. What was that called?—The dépôt. Who was it that suggested they should be removed from the room?-Thistlewood. What reason did he give?—He assigned the reason, that there should be nothing kept in that room, in case there should be any persons come to that room who might give information. In consequence of that, were the things from time to time removed to Tidd's? were. They Do you remember a meeting which took place on the Tuesday morning, the 22nd of February?—Yes. The meeting of which you have been speaking was the Sunday?—Yes. Where was that meeting on the Tuesday held ?-In the same room as Brunt's. About what time?-About ten o'clock. Who were the persons present?—There was Thistlewood, Brunt; there was Hall; there was Ings at this time; and, just after this, Edwards comes in, and brings the account of the information he had seen in the paper, of a dinner that was to be held on the Wednesday night. A cabinet dinner?—Yes. At what place?-Lord Harrowby's, in Grosvenor-square. In consequence of this, was a newspaper sent for?-Yes; Hall fetched it. Did it appear by the newspaper that the information was true?-Yes. What passed on this information being communicated?-On this being communicated, Brunt expressed himself, "now, damn my eyes," says he, "I believe there is a God; I have often prayed that those thieves may be called together, that we may have an opportunity to destroy them, and now" says he, "God has heard my prayer." Was any thing else said, that you remember? -Ings was equally alive to it; upon this Thistlewood proposed that there should be a committee sit directly, in order to alter the plan of assassination which had been agreed on on the Sunday. Referring to the plan of individual assassination?—Yes; my sitting in the chair, Thistlewood proposed me to take the chair; I takes the chair, and called to order. Thistlewood was going to speak'; I interrupted him; I said, "Gentlemen, I hope from what fell from my mouth yesterday morning, you have given it a due consideration." That was the communication that had been made to you by Hobbs, the landlord of the White Hart?-Yes. Suggesting something, I believe, respecting the police officers having inquired at Hobbs's; -Yes. You communicated that to the meeting?-I did. the other I cannot remember, and Brunt and Tidd were to relieve them. When were they to relieve them?—At nine o'clock. It was to be a three hours watch?—Yes. Were Davidson and Tidd both present in the room at that time?—Yes. Was it said why that watch was to be appointed?-That watch was to be appointed to see if there were any police officer entered the house, or any soldiers; if there was any thing of that kind entered the house of lord Harrowby, it was to be communicated to the committee; if there was nothing of that kind seen, Brunt insisted upon it that the business should be done the following night. After this did you separate?-No, we did not; after this proposition of Brunt's was settled, Thistlewood directly proposed Tidd to take the chair, in consequence of my interrupting their business.. Did Tidd take the chair then?—Yes, he did; then Thistlewood came forward with the proposition of a fresh plan, respecting the assassination of the ministers; he proposed going himself to lord Harrowby's door with a note in his hand, for the servant to give to his master, telling him he must have an answer; at the time he got in, the others were to rush in after him, and to secure the servants, presenting a pistol to their breast, threatening them with instant death in case they made any resistance; at the same time other persons were to go to take command of the stairs leading to the bottom part of the house; another party to take the command of the stairs to the upper part of the house, and two men to the area; these men were to take, to each station, a hand-grenade a piece, as well as pistols and blunderbuss; if any servants attempted to retreat from the upper or lower part of the house, or the area, a hand-grenade, was to be thrown among them, with a view to destroy them; at the same time it was proposed that they should enter the room. Ings was the man that offered himself to take the command, to lead into the room. Ings proposed to go in this kind of way; as soon as he entered the room he was to accost their lordships by saying, "Now, my lords, I have as good men here as the Manchester yeomanry; enter citizens and do your duty;" and two Tell us what took place?-Upon this Brunt put himself into a bit of a passion, and so did all of them, and particularly Harrison, so much that he walked about andthreatened the first man that attempted to fling cold water upon the concern, he would run that man through directly with a sword; upon this I opened my coat in this way, and said, Harrison, if you have any conception that I am not a friend to you and every man in this room, do it now; Palin and Potter and Bradburn were in the room; Palin got up, surprised from what he had seen, and walked across the room; and Palin was the man that holla'd out, insisting on my being heard. Was Hall in the room at that time?-He swordsmen were to follow in after him. was. In consequence of this conversation that took place, did Brunt make any proposal?On Mr. Palin insisting on some explanation being given of that I had alluded to, Brunt got up and said he would get up and tell the whole; Brunt got up and communicated it. Did Brunt make any proposition ?-He made a proposition, that lord Harrowby's house should be watched. When was that watch to commence ?-At six o'clock that evening. Who were the two men that were at the first on the watch?-Davidson was one, but Who were the two swordsmen ?—I was one myself, and Harrison another. Harrison had been in the Life-guards ?— He had; on this being done, the swordsmen entering the room, followed by the pike-men, Ings declared he would follow and cut every head off as he came to them. What was Ings by trade?-I always was led to believe that he was a butcher; and as well as that, he proposed to cut one of lord Castlereagh's hands off. Ings had two bags with him. What was he to do with the bags?-He proposed to bring away the heads of lord England, and plunder it; but the books were not to be meddled with, as Thistlewood thought, by preserving the books, they would communicate to them something more than they were aware of. Castlereagh and lord Sidmouth in the bags; he would have one of lord Castlereagh's hands, saying, that he would cure that, as it would be thought a great deal of in a future day. Ings had on a former day said, he would exhibit those heads on poles, and carry them through the streets; on the house being left, after they had done what they had to do, it was proposed, and Harrison undertook it, to go to the Kingstreet barracks, and set fire to the shed where the straw and hay were deposited, and to destroy the whole building. Was any further use to be made of the heads, when they were brought away?-Yes, this thing was often talked of; this discourse finished on the Wednesday afternoon; those heads, after they were brought away, which had been proposed by Ings, saying he would exhibit them about on a pole, Thistlewood said, "no, the best way of carrying them will be to put them on a pike each, and carry them behind the cannon to terrify the people, to make them believe that there was somebody of more consequence than they were aware of at the head of them." Was any further use to be made of either of them after that, of lord Castlereagh's head for instance?-It was proposed after this, by Bradburn, after it had been exhibited about the streets for two or three days, says he, "I will make a box and inclose it, and send it to Ireland, or take it over myself to be exhibited there." | You afterwards broke up, for the purpose of making preparations?—Yes, that is the outline of it. On the Wednesday, what time did you go there?-I went up about two o'clock, as near as I can guess. Was any thing said as to a sign or countersign?-Harrison was the man that proposed this; saying the men that had to go round to communicate it to what men they could collect It was proposed, then, that the persons there should go round for the purpose of communicating what they had in view to their associates?—Yes. What was proposed as to that?-Harrison proposed that button should be the countersign. How was that to be?-The man appointed to stand in Oxford-road was to pronounce the letters b, u, t, and the man in waiting to say t, a, n; on doing this he was to be considered a man friendly to their concern. Where was that station to be?-The end of Oxford-road, by Tyburn-turnpike. After they had made those arrangements did you separate for the purposes of preparation?-Yes. Did Davidson and the other men go upon the watch on the Tuesday, as had been appointed? Yes, I found Davidson on the watch; but the other man I did not know. At what time did they go upon the watch? They went upon the watch at six o'clock. You state it had been originally proposed, that Tidd and Brunt should go upon the watch at nine o'clock for the purpose of relieving Davidson and his associate?—Yes. Did any thing further pass at that meeting, as to the plan?—Yes, it was proposed that after they had done at lord Harrowby's, Harrison was to go to the horse barracks, support. ed by Wilson, to set them on fire, by a ball prepared for that purpose, and others were to proceed to Gray's-inn lane; if they met with any interruption from the people, it was proposed to run the pikes through them, and to fire upon them occasionally; and after they met Did they go upon that watch?-They setthe party in Gray's-inn-lane, to assist them in tled for that; but Brunt came back in about taking those two pieces of cannon at the Light-five minutes, saying, that Tidd had called at horse stables, and to proceed from there to the his house, and found the man that he had Artillery-ground to take the six cannon there. appointed; and that he was a man of too Who was to head the party that was to take much consequence to be left, and that therethe six cannon at the Artillery-ground?-fore he could not go on the watch. Cook; after Cook had got the six pieces of cannon he was to load them, and bring them into the street, and if there was any interruption to fire; if he found the people came over to him, to enable him to advance, he was to advance to the Mansion-house, divide the cannon into two parts, place three on each side of the Mansion-house, and demand an entrance; and if it was refused, fire upon it on both sides. What was to be done with the Mansion house? The Mansion-house was proposed, by Thistlewood, for the seat of the provisional government. Cook was not to be of the party at lord Harrowby's?—No, he was to command the party that was to go into the city; then it was proposed that they should take the Bank of VOL. XXXIII. In consequence of that, what proposal was made?-For me to go instead of Tidd. Did you, in consequence of that, go upon the watch with Brunt instead of Tidd ?—Yes, I did. When you got upon the watch did you see Davidson there?—Yes. Did you and Brunt continue on the watch till twelve?—Not in the square all the while. Did you, part of the time, go into any public-house in the neighbourhood?—Yes. Where was that public-house situate?—At the back of the square; a public-house at the corner of the mews. Did Brant do any thing there?-He played at dominos there. Did you, during that time, go out into the square to see whether all was quiet, and re4 S turn again?--Yes; and I went out at eleven o'clock, and stopped till the turn of twelve, and then went home. You found all quiet?—Yes. Do you recollect on Tuesday afternoon, or evening, going to Fox-court, and smelling any strange smell?-Yes; on going up stairs, I smelt a strange smell; on going in, I found Edwards, Ings, and Hall. Ings and Hall were employed in making illumination-balls to fire the buildings, and Edwards in making the touch-paper for the grenades. Hall was laying the paper on the floor, to receive the balls, to prevent their sticking to the hand. Did you stay there any time, or go away? The next day, I believe, you did not go very What time did you go?-About two o'clock. room. While you were in that front room, did Strange come in?-Strange was the first man that came in after myself. Did Strange come in by himself, or accompanied by other persons?-By himself; there were one or two strangers came in afterwards. What were they employed about?-There were some pistols laid upon the drawers in Bront's room. How many?--I saw half a dozen. Was any thing said by Brunt?-On these last men coming in, Brunt proposed they should go into the other room. Did they in consequence of that go with the pistols into the other room ?-Yes. You went into the other room too ?—Yes. Whom did you find at that time in the other room?-There were no other persons in the room at that time, except those who followed from Brunt's room. -- my shoulder, and asked me how I did; I said “I am rather unwell, and very low in spirits ;" in consequence of this, he proposed to Brunt to send for something to drink to put me in spirits; and he proposed directly after this, that there should be some paper fetched, as he wanted to draw up some bills, and money was produced from Thistlewood to Brunt. Was any thing said about the sort of paper? Thistlewood wanted such paper as the newspapers were printed upon; he did not know the name of it, and I proposed to him to have some cartridge paper; in consequence of this, cartridge paper was sent for, and Brunt said his apprentice or his boy should fetch it. Brunt has a son as well as an apprentice? -Yes. Did Brunt go out for that purpose?—Yes, and the cartridge paper was brought. Was there any table in the room?-A table and chair were brought in from Brunt's room at the time. What was done with them?-Thistlewood sat down, and wrote three bills? What were the contents of those bills?Thistlewood wrote "Your tyrants are destroyed. The friends of liberty are called upon to come forward. The provisional government is now sitting. James Ings, secretary. February 23rd, 1820." As he was writing the third bill, did you make any observation upon him?--On my looking at Thistlewood, I perceived him to be very much agitated, and he could not write any more, and he wished somebody else to take the pen, and proposed Hall to take the pen; Hall refused it; there was another man, a strange man, in the room, who refused at first to take the pen, but afterwards took it. Did he proceed to write any other bill?— Yes, he did. We must not ask you the contents of that bill; what was to be done with those bills?— Those bills were to be stuck up at the side of different buildings that were to be set fire to, in order to communicate to the public what had Who came in afterwards? Thistlewood been done. came in soon afterwards. Was Ings there?-Not at that time. Did you see him there in the course of the afternoon?-Yes. What was Ings doing?--Ings, within a very little time after he came into the room, began to equip himself. Did any thing take place before Ings came in?-The different strangers that were then in the room were busy in fixing the different flints to their pistols, and likewise the slings to the cutlasses that I saw lying in the room. Did any body make any proposition to them? -Not as yet; on Thistlewood coming into the room, he looks round. When Thistlewood came in, were they preparing themselves?-Yes, they were; and he said, "this looks something like as if you were going to work;" he claps his hand on After those bills were written, what further took place at the meeting? how was Ings equipped ?-Ings equipped himself by putting a black belt round his loins, another hanging upon his shoulder to support the cutlass with, with a couple of bags in the form of a soldier's haversack. Were these under his great coat ?-One over each shoulder. Under his great coat?-Under the coat he wore at top, he put on his great coat afterwards; the belt round his loins was to contain a brace of pistols, a belt for his cutlass; and on viewing himself, he perceived that he had forgotten to bring his steel. Had he any knife?—Yes, a large butcher's knife, with wax-end round the handle. Was he asked any question why the waxend was wound round the handle?—Yes, he |