and he was asked, if he wished to ftate any thing in explanation of that

evidence?

Mr. Thompson defired to explain and alter it; and obferved, that in the account given of his evidence before the council, he is stated to have faid, that at the Meeting on the 4th of April he does not recollect any other perfon, befides the perfon he mentioned to the Privy Council and himself, opposed the propofition for a Convention; he now begs to say, that he meant to fay, that he does not recollect what other perfons, befides himself and the perfon before alluded to, oppofed that propofition.

It is stated in the evidence, that Mr. Tooke figned the Letter to requeft a contribution for Mr. Skirving. Mr. Thompson meant to say he was to fign the Letter, as Chairman of the evening.

It is ftated in the evidence, that he was afked, if he ever faw the printed Refolutions of the Society? To which he is ftated to anfwer, he did not recollect he did: Mr. Thompson defires to fay, that he had never feen before the Book fhewn to him by the Attorney General at the time that question was put to him.

And as to the laft queftion, Whether he had ever attended any Meeting fince the 2d of May? he begged now to fay, that he went once, with an idea of taking his name out of the Books of the Society.

}

With refpect to Mr. Thompson being present when the toasts were drank; he begged to say he certainly was, but that he did not drink them all, being unwell, and the wine being bad. On being fhewn the toafts at the council, he faid, he thought fome of them very abfurd.

Mr. Thompson was then afked by the Committee,

If there was any individual, besides the person before alluded to, that joined you in oppofition to the propofition for a Convention?

I cannot recollect—but there must have been several, as the question was negatived.

When and where did Mr. Thompson first see or hear the list of those toasts?

From the Attorney General in the Privy Council Room. Mr. Thompfon was not prefent at any Meeting of the Stewards when the toafts were drawn up, previous to the dinner.

Do you recollect Mr. Sharpe being prefent on the 11th of April, during the Debate on a proposed Refolution containing the word "Convention ?"

I no not.

Have you any recollection of Mr. Horne Tooke, in the courfe of fuch a debate, remarking, that the debate about the word "Convention" was all nonfenfe; it was only between a Latin word and an English one?

I do not.

APPENDIX H.

Copy of a Letter from the Bristol Society for Conftitutional Information, to the London Correfponding Society. Fellow Citizens, Briftol, 28th January 1794. I am again authorized to write to you, fignifying the gratitude of our Society for your fecond Epiftle, which came to my hands the 3d inft. After reading its contents, I collected as many of our friends as I conveniently could that evening-we read-we blushed-we took courage we did more, for we refolved on re-affembling, as we had appointed prior to the determination we announced in our laft. We

d dz

intend

น

intend publishing an addrefs, or fomething declaratory of our fenti. ments, with all convenient speed;-as foon as this is effected, we shall fend a copy or copies to you. From the Courier and Evening Gazette, we have had information of the trial of Mr. Margarot, and his fentence to 14 years tranfportation. We are by no means at a lofs in forming a judgment of the noble caufe in which he with others are embarked, nor would we be frightened at fuch fentences. You fee, Citizens, your fecond epiftle has quickened our courage, and vivified our patriotifm, and rouzed us to refolution; and more, our number is now confiderably increafed-perhaps your third epiftle may do greater things till;-we are fenfible 'tis a noble-tis a virtuous tis a Godlike and immortal cause in which we are now mutually embarked; and though for parts our effort can be but a feeble one, yet the caufe we efpoufe is mighty-is energetic-It will finally prevail and profper: It is our firm opinion, could we but arouze them, that patriots would become nearly the majority of our City. We expected to have had the dozen of The Englishmen's Rights, which you mentioned in your first epiftle.-Hope you will fend them speedily.

We are, Fellow Citizens, yours fincerely,

The Bristol Society for Conftitutional
Information, &c.

At a General Meeting of the Delegates of the United Societies at Norwich,
held 24th Feb. 1794;

It was unanimoufly refolved, "That one or more Delegates fhall be fent to the next General Convention, foon as called for by our London Correfpondents."

Copy of a Letter from the Briftol Conftitutional Society to the Secretary
of the London Correfponding Society.
Fellow Citizen,
Bristol, 24th April, 1794.
You may be fenfible, from our laft communication, that in the
infancy of our patriotic efforts we had many difficulties to overcome,
and many ftrong prejudices to combat. We laid open to you our
real fituation; we told you our determination to addrefs the public;
and affured you of our unalterable perfeverance in the glorious caufe
of Freedom. This perfeverance, however, and thef exertions of
an individual Society, can but little avail, if the Societies in the
different parts of the kingdom are in themselves difunited, or do not
aid and aflift each other, agreeable to the principles of philanthropy
and fraternity which they fo warmly profefs. Under this idea, we con-
ceive ourselves treated with a degree of incivifm, by your Society not
anfwering our laft letters; the reafons may be good.-At prefent we
are candid enough to confefs, that the circumftance does not appear
to us in the most favourable point of view. Our Addrefs, of which
we fend you a few copies, we find to have a good effect, and is likely
to beget us the affiftance of many friends, while our enemies acknow-
ledge there is fomething very fair and reasonable in the production.—
This is an abfolute victory; and we have reafon to congratulate our-
felves on the profpect of fuccefs it opens to us. With a mixture of
pain and pleafure, we faw an account of your laft General Meeting;
we lament that the ftrong hand of defpotifm fhould fo often interfere
to prevent the affertion of the Rights of the People, while we rejoice
in your manly conftitutional perfeverance, and applaud and approve your
refolution of forming another General Convention: Our increafing
numbers give us every reasonable hope of foon being able more effectu-

ally

1

ally to co-operate with you; while, for the reafons formerly stated, we cannot yet make a pofitive promife on that head. We hope for an immediate answer.-Favour us with your opinion of our Addrefs, and tranfmit a sketch of your plan refpecting the General Convention.

By Order of the Committee of Delegates appointed by the
Bristol Conftitutional Society.

Copy of a Letter from Newcastle to the Secretary of the London Correfponding Society.

Newcastle upon Tyne, 24th April, 1794.

By defire of a number of friends to a radical reform in the Conftitution here, I make free to trouble you. We live in a place where an aristocrat magiftracy endeavours to ftop the genial and benign spirit of national liberty from fpreading, notwithstanding a very great number are found here that dare affert the natural and unalienable Rights of Man, and bear their te limony againft the tyrannical encroachments of affumed power on those Rights: a good number have formed themfelves into Societies, and meet weekly, admitting none but known friends; and have affumed no name but that of newfpaper companies; thefe were in great fpirits while the British Convention continued to act; but after their fuppreffion a damp was caft on the Whole.Subfcriptions were ready to be fent off the very night they were fuppreffed, and the Gazetteer ftopped, which has fince been remitted to London, for the ufe of he perfecuted worthies, Muir and Palmer.— Being charmed with your masterly and bold approbation of the conduct of your Delegates and noble Martyrs for truth, Margarot and Gerald, and finding your name figned Secretary to the Correfponding Society, we with to copy your example; and beg, if you think us worth your notice, give us your views and intentions as foon as convenient, which, I hope, will be a means to ftimulate and increase our numbers. Left this fhould not come to you, as I have an uncertain direction, I forbear troubling you more at prefent, in hopes of being favoured with your future correfpondence.-Farewell, hoping the hydra of tyranny and impofition fhall foon fall under the guillotine of truth and reafon. Your's, with all due Respect, &c.

Copy of a Letter from the Conftitutional Society at Norwich to the Secretary of the London Correfeponding Society. Citizen Norwich Societies, 29th April, 1794. It is with great fatisfaction we view the manly conduct of you and your colleagues, especially when, furrounded as you are, by a domineering ariftocracy, who, notwithstanding their great blufter, are but chicken-hearted ;-Witnefs our Norfolk Quixotes, who, after being completely foiled at the County Meeting, were determined to fubfcribe to fupport an armed ariftocracy: But, pray, tell it not in the metropolis, that a Noble Marquis fubfcribed no more than f. 200. and another high-penfioned Lord but .co; an Alderman and leader, and very fierce for Church and King, the enormous fum of £. 20: These are the men who are ready to spend their lives and fortunes;but enough of fuch privileged beings! We fhould be glad to know whether the Friends of the People confent to a Convention, and whether they will take an active part.

Please to accept of a few of our bills. We fhould esteem it a favour that you would fend us a few of your late declarations.

P. S. Many of our friends are fully convinced of the neceflity, legality, and rationality, of a Convention: But, query, Whether the time be expedient?

Copy

Copy of a Letter from the Secretary of the London Correfponding Society to Newcastle. ift May, 1794.

Citizen, It is with pleafure the London Correfponding Society hear that a Society on a fimilar plan, and with the fame patriotic objects in view, is likely to be established at Newcastle upon Tyne-If ever a crifis arrived that required the exertions of the people to ftop the torrent of corruption, infamy, and defpotifm, that feems likely to overwhelm them, it is the prefent-In God's name then, let us ufe thefe exertions. We are called upon by every thing that is dear to us, as men and as Chriftians. The caufe of truth and liberty muft finally be omnipotent; therefore doubt not that the glorious reign of Liberty and Equality will ere long be established, and modern governments, with every appendage of wickedness and corruption, will flee in time from their genial influence, as beafts of prey to their dens of rapine and darkness from the rifing fun. The London Correfponding Society have beheld with indignation the rapid advances of defpotifm in Britain, and are ready cordially to unite with every other Society in the three Kingdoms, who have for their object a full and effectual reprefentation of the people; they therefore have deputed fix of their Members to meet fix Members of the Society for Conftitutional Information, to form a Committee of Correfpondence and co-operation: this Committee meets regularly twice a week at No. 2, Beaufort- Buildings, Strand, where any Member delegated by your Society will meet with every information required. We inclofe you a few of our Refolutions, entered into at our General Meeting on the 14th of April, which will be fufficiently explanatory of our fentiments and views. We heartily unite with you in withing that the hydra of tyranny and impofition may foon fall under the guillotine of truth and reason.

Copy of a Letter from the Secretary to the Conftitutional Society at
Sheffield, to the Secretary of the London Correfponding Society.
Friend and Fellow Citizen,
Sheffield, May 11th, 1794.

The Friends of Peace and Reform in Halifax having held a general Public Meeting in the open air, on Monday April 21ft, 1794, at which were many Friends from Leeds, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Bradford, and the adjacent neighbourhood. The Friends of Freedom, after the Meeting, agreed to hold a General Meeting of Delegates at Bristol, in order to confider on the meafures to be adopted by them preparatory to a General Convention. After which our worthy friend Citizen of Halifax, being ordered to Sheffield to get the proceedings of the Meeting printed, and confult with us upon the fubject, they were advised by us to defer at prefent the Meeting of Delegates, until further information from you on that fubject. I was therefore ordered, at our laft Committee Meeting, to write to you, requesting the favour of as early intelligence as poffible on that important bulinefs. We are not in the leaft intimidated in Sheffield, as we can call and hold a Public Meeting whenever circumftances render the fame neceffary; befides, in the house where I refide, we have a large commodious room where the Society can peaceably meet in rotation.

By Order of the Committee,

* Secretary.

The FIRST REPORT from the COMMITTEE of SECRECY appointed by the HOUSE of LORDS, to inspect the Report and Original Papers, and the Book fealed up in a Bag, delivered on Monday the 19th of May laft, by a Meffage from the Commons; and who, by the Order of the House of Wednesday the 21ft of the fame Month, were empowered to fend for Persons, Papers, and Records, and to receive fuch Communication as may be made to them by His Majefty's Orders, or by the Committee of Secrecy appointed by the House of Commons, and to report thereupon, from Time to Time, as they fhall fee Cause.

Ordered to be printed 7th June, 1794.

ORDERED TO REPORT,

THAT the Committee have met, and, having carefully compared the said Report with the Original Papers referred to them, have come to an unanimous Refolution immediately to report to your Lordships, That they are fatisfied and convinced by the Evidence contained in these Papers, that a Traiterous Conspiracy hath been formed, and Acts done in purfuance thereof, by certain Societies and Perfons in different Parts of the Kingdom, for the Subverfion of the established Laws and Conftitution, and the Introduction of that Syftem of Anarchy and Confufion which has fatally prevailed in France.

The fame Evidence contains ftrong Indications that Measures have been recently taken, and are ftill continuing, for providing Arms of the moft pernicious Sort to be diftributed amongst the Favourers of this Confpiracy, for effectuating, by open force, the Purposes for which they have confpired.— The Committee have therefore thought it their duty to continue the further Examination of the Matters referred to them, and to fubmit to the Confideration of the House, Whether it may not be proper that they should be empowered to fend for Perfons and Papers, and to receive fuch Communications as may be made to them by His Majefty's Orders, or by the Committee of Secrecy appointed by the Houfe of Commons; whofe Vigilance and Activity, in providing for the Public Safety, cannot fail to excite a proportionable Zeal and Emulation in your Lordships for detecting this Scene of Iniquity, and thereby averting the Calamities in which the further Progrefs of fuch Confpiracy might have involved the Nation.

THE