SECRECY appointed by the HOUSE of LORDS, to infpect 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 Houfe of Wednesday the 2ift of the fame Month, were empowered to fend for Perfons, Papers, and Records, and to receive fuch Communication as may be made to them by His Majefly's Orders, or by the Committee of Secrecy appointed by the Houfe of Commons, and to report thereupon, from Time to Time, as they thall fee Caufe.

Ordered to be printed 7th June, 1794,

ORDERED TO REPORT,

THAT your Committee has proceeded in the farther examination of the books and papers referred to them; and, in pursuance of the powers given to them by the Houfe, have alfo taken under their confideration the depofitions and examinations of feveral perfons, papers found in the custody of thofe who have been appehended, and intelligence communicated to them by one of his Majesty's Secretaries of State.

After a diligent investigation of all thofe fources of information, the conclufions they had formerly stated to the Houfe, and the facts and propositions contained in the Report of the Secret Committee of the Houfe of Commons referred to them, appear to be incontrovertibly established. The extent and danger of the extravagant and fatal defigns entertained by a number of difaffected perfons, and the rapid progrefs lately made in the meafures taken to carry fuch defigns into execution, are illuftrated and made manifeft in as fatiffactory a manner as circumstantial evidence can admit.

The first object to which the attention of your Committee hath been directed, was the preparation of arms, referred to in their firft Report, of which they were then only authorized to say, that strong indications had appeared. The evidence which they have fince examined, as well as fubfequent difcoveries providentially made, have brought that important part of the case more fully to light.

But in order to place that object in its juft point of view, and to illuftrate its connection with other parts of the general confpiracy for the deftruction of the conftitution, it has appeared to your Committee that it would be fit to ftate, in the first place, the circumftances which preceded that preparation of arms, and thofe under which it took place.

From authentic and public documents it appears, that, fubfequent to the imprisonment of the late French King, the abolition of monarchy, and the establishment of a democratical revolutionary government, in France, a direct and avowed correfpondence was carried on between the Convention in France, and certain perfons in his Majesty's dominions, for the undifguifed purpose of an union of principles and conduct.

The Addrelles fent to the French Convention in the month of November 1792, and the Antwers returned to them, are matters of public notoriety.

The Committee, referring to the statement given of them by the Report of the Secret Committee of the Houte of Commons, have further to observe upon thefe Addreffes, that it now appears that the idea was first conceived after the maflacres at Paris, in the beginning of September 1792, was drawn into form after the invasion of the Netherlands, and that it was not the fudden act of a few individuals, or even of one particular fociety, but was long under deliberation, communicated to other Societies in different parts of the kingdom affembled under various names, and the common pretext of Parliamentary Reform, adopted by many, and finally tranfmitted as a declaration of the fentiments of a majority of the English nation.

The Committee has bestowed a particular attention to inveftigate the proceedings of that Society which affume the name of the London Correfponding Society; becaufe, from the character, habits, and condition, of those who compofe it, compared with the ftyle and language, as well as the method and contrivance difcovered in their proceedings, it is moft probable that it must have been guided by perfons of a fuperior education, and more cultivated talents, than appeared amongst the Members of this Society. For the direct and avowed connection which took place in the beginning of April laft, between this Society and the Society for Constitutional Information, and the plan of co-operation then established between them, the Committee again refer to the Report of the Secret Committee of the House of Commons now before the House.

The London Corresponding Society, in the first formation, which was about January 1792, appears to have been planned and directed by leading Members of the Society for Conftitutional Information, and in the courfe of its fubfequent proceedings, the measures they purfued were in many inftances privately concerted with perfons of the fame defcription. The number of perfons firft affembled did not exceed two hundred. In the courte of a few months, their communications with fimilar Societies in various places became very frequent, and they began to affume a form and method of proceeding by subdivifions and delegations, which have to them an appearance of confequence, and of increasing numbers. They were the oftenfible promoters of the Address to the French Convention, prefented in November 1792, and the inftruments to carry on the correfpondence upon it in the country; from whence they have taken every occafion to extend their communication with thefe other Societies which they have induftriously drawn to a clofe, intimate, and dependent, connection.

The War, commenced against his Majefty by the perfons exercising the powers of government in France, fuppreffed the open communication with the French Convention; but neither that circumftance, nor the repeated declaration of Parliament, had any effect to restrain the avowal of thofe doctrines which had led that Convention to all thofe exceffes which have proved fo deftructive in France to the principles of focial order, of religion, and of morality.

In the courfe of the year 1793, a plan appears to have been conceived, and in fome degree brought into a regular fhape, for uniting the different meetings, formed by the artful diffemination of feditious publications, inviting men to follow the example of France, into fuch a body as might be brought to act to one given object, and be subject to one general direction.

The most marked effect of this plan was, the affembling a body under the name of a Convention, which made its first public appearance at Edinburgh on the 29th of October 1793.

The defign of this Meeting had been known and concerted for fome time with Societies in England, particularly with the Society for Conftitutional Information, and the London Correfponding Society. Two Delegates to this Meeting were chofen, and fent from the London Corresponding Society; a regular allowance for their journey and expences, at a rate very confiderable

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in respect to the apparent funds of that Society, was voted for their fupport, and actually paid: Thefe Delegates were Margarot and Gerrald. They ap peared, by the fequel, to have been, in effect, not only Delegates but conductors of the affairs of the intended Meeting; and deriving a confiderable confequence from the fuppofed reprefentation of the Society which fent them, and other Societies in England, from which they afterwards produced commitfions. Two Delegates were alfo chosen from the Society for Constitutional Information-Sinclair, and a perfon known under the name for Yorke.

After fitting four days in expectation of the English Delegates, the Meeting, which had confifted of about 150 perfons from different parts of Scot land, feparated, because the English Delegates had not arrived. In two days afterwards they came: a Delegate from Sheffield alfo arrived; and Sinclair, One of the Delegates from the Society for Conftitutional Information. Mr. Hamilton Rowan and Mr. Simon Butler, ftating themselves to come on the part of a Society called the United Irishmen, but having no commiffion, made their appearance likewife, and were all introduced to a General Committee of the Convention, and received as Delegates.

A Meeting of the Convention, which had feparated before the appearance of thefe perfons, was immediately fummoned by Skirving the Secretary, and by public advertisement, for the 19th of November, on which day it was held, and consisted of about 160 Perfons.

The first four days of their Meeting were employed in fettling forms, and in an examination of the Commiffioners of the Delegates fuppofed to be given by Meetings of the inhabitants of the places from which they were dated, but which Meetings were in very few places known to have exifted, or to have been called for any fuch purpose. All thefe Commiffions were of courfe allowed to be valid. On the 22d day of November, this Meeting voted itself to be The British Convention, and affumed that style in their minutes and other proceedings, which were dated in the first year of the British Convention, and in fome inftances," in the first year of the British Convention One and Indivifible."

The Meeting thus formed, proceeded to act in exact imitation of the French Convention, adopting all its forms, phrafes and modes of proceed. ing, forming committees of organization, of inftruction, of finance, of fe crecy, decreeing honours of the fitting, honourable mention of fervices, and what may merit more ferious attention than the affectation of this ftyle, attempting to inftitute primary focieties, provincial affemblies, and de partments in the country. On the 28th of November they came to a refolution of declared oppofition and refiftance to the authority of Parliament, under a referve that it should not be entered on the minutes till the clofe of their fittings.

After this, the spirit and activity of the magiftrates were exerted to dif perfe this Convention; and on the 5th of December 1793, the ringleaders were apprehended, their papers feized, and fome of them have fince been tried and convicted of the crimes laid to their charge.

Notwithstanding the juft and laudable exertions of the civil authority to fupprefs this enormous diforder, the mischief intended has been in part effectuated, for there has exifted a Meeting formed on the model of the French Convention, affuming the name of the British Convention, which, from the 19th of November to the 5th of December 1793, has been exhibited in this kingdom, with an open publication of all its tranfactions, in a Newspaper conducted by one of its members, to ferve as a pattern of the form and method in which a future Convention might proceed to act.

It also appears from the fequel, that there still remained a Committee of Secrecy and Emergency formed in that Meeting, which had continued to conduct fubfequent operations in Scotland.

The

The Committee have thought it important to call the attention of the House to this transaction, because it appears, by the evidence produced to them, to have been concerted at least, if not directed, by the difaffected Societies in England, and to have a most intimate connection with the sequel of the confpiracy carried on here.

From the time of the meeting and difperfion of the Convention at Edinburgh, the Societies in England began to act with increased vigour and activity. Their Refolutions expreffed a warm approbation of the proceedings of the Convention at Edinburgh; ftrong declarations were made in behalf of those who had been brought to trial and convicted; fubfcriptions entered into for their encouragement and fupport; and fome projects appear to have been entertained for their rescue.

The London Corresponding Society had continued to extend its Correspondence, and alfo its influence with the other Societies difperfed in the Country, and had, in the month of February laft, adopted a Refolution to arrange the Members into divifions of thirty, compofed of those who lived nearest to each other, that they might eafily be affembled together upon any emergency. They had alfo procured about that time a plan of a Conftitution to be formed, which was printed and circulated amongst the several divifions, by some of which it had been approved, and at the time when the Secretary was appre hended, was about to be referred to the General Meeting of Delegates for its final fanction. By this plan, hefides the Section of Thirty, claffed fo as to be ready to come forth at the fame time, there were to be fecondary Sections of Ten each, under the reprefentation and direction of a tythingman. There was alfo a general Committee of Correfpondence.

This Committee, in fact, appears to have exifted for a confiderable time, to have confifted of a number not exceeding Five, to have tranfacted and directed all the Secret Business of the Society, and they were authorized to communicate to the larger Meetings only fuch matters as they thought advifeable.

It seems almost unneceffary for the Committee to point out to the obfervation of the House, that a Society (whatever be the condition of the individuals who compose it) so organized, (the phrase they adopt in their printed plan,) and fo connected with other Societies in various parts of the Island, is capable of giving the immediate effect of an united operation to whatever measures may be propofed by their leaders, especially when the recent example of France affords fo striking an inftance of the deftructive effect of such a combination. The Committee muft at the fame time remark, that this Conftitution (as it is called,) in the declaration of principles by which it is introduced, the tests required of the Members, and the general frame of the provifions, evidently fhew that the model on which it is formed is that which has led to the annihilation of all regular Government in France, and to the despotifm of a few demagogues through the power and influence of the Clubs.

Under this ftate of things, and when all his arrangement had been previoufly formed, the project of procuring arms was brought forward. The precife date when it took place cannot be afcertained, for it appears to have been conducted in moft places with peculiar fecrecy and caution.

So early as the time of the Meeting at Edinburgh, the facility of procur ing arms, particularly pikes, the ufe and efficacy of them as it had been proved in France, had been difcuffed at fome of the Divifion Meetings; but no specific measure to this effect had been taken till a much later period.

About the month of March, 1794, private Meetings had been held twice a week, in various places of and adjoining to the metropolis, for the purpose of inftructing men in the ufe of the firelock; the places of fuch meeting were changed to avoid detection; and were chofen by a Committee. They exercifed chiefly by night; and no perfons were admitted but by a printed ticket, with the infcription, Liberty to those who dare to be free. The number of

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firelocks

firelocks actually provided, as far as it has been discovered, may feem incon fiderable for the execution of any defign, although, for the purpose of teach ing the exercise, it had a moft dangerous extent; but in respect of the cir cumftances of the perfon who purchased, or fubfcribed for the purchase, the number is an object of fome confideration; and it appears that the Artillery Houfe, and gunsmith fhops in various parts of the metropolis, were looked to as furnishing a ready refource upon occafion, and as the means of providing an abundant supply of arms to perions already instructed in the use of them. The Committee has ftated the number, fo far as already discovered, to be inconfiderable; but they must add, that after they fuppofed their inquiry to be closed, a recent difcovery communicated to them has added largely to the number.

The ufe of pikes formed a ftill more confiderable part of the intended armament. The effect of this weapon had often been difcuffed at Meetings, and a correfpondence had been entered into with perfons at Sheffield for providing a fupply of them. The price for the iron work was fixed so low as a fhilling; and if the coft exceeded that amount (which it appears it must have done) the overplus was to be paid by a person at Sheffield, who was to be reimbursed by the Society. In purfuance of this plan, Letters, dated the 24th of April, were fent from Sheffield to the Correfpondent Society, and, under their cover, to another Society at Norwich, advertifing them that the pikes were in a forward ftate of preparation, and fixing the terms on which they were to be delivered.

The Committee think it proper to fubjoin a hand bill, printed in April for the London Corresponding Society, and distributed at a Meeting:

"Countrymen, you are told by thofe who are in office that you are in danger of a French Invafion; you are told by those who are cut of office that you are in danger of a Heffian or Hanoverian Invation: in either cafe arms will be of ufe to you. Agree among yourselves. Get arms, and learn the ufe of them."

At Sheffield, the measure of arming with pikes, after the example of the French, was more openly purfued: it had been recommended in April laft, in public harrangues, by a perfon whofe name often occurs in the courfe of this confpiracy, but who has not yet been apprehended, to great numbers of people, as well as by hand bills diftributed, exciting them to arm. The pikes were made under the orders of that perfon, who particularly directed the form and fize of them. Several perfons were employed in the manufacture, which was making a confiderable progrefs, before the alarm given by the apprehenfion of the Secretaries of the two Societies in London. Befides the pikes, another fort of inftrument was produced at Sheffield, the use of which was (as explained) to be thrown about in the night on the road, for laming the men and the horfes who might be employed to quell any commotions.

In the progress of the examinations into this confpiracy, an accidental difcovery was made in Scotland, which has more fully explained the extent of the danger, and the ample range of the whole defign.

From the nature of the proceedings carried on in Scotland, in confequence of that discovery, it was impoffible for the Committee to examine particularly into the evidence of it; they have therefore tranfmitted to the House the information communicated to them on this head, in the form in which they have received it, and added it in an Appendix to the Report. All the obfervations they are authorised to make upon it is, that the evidence which they have examined, clearly proves, t. A decided purpose of forming another British Convention in fuch central place as fhould be afterwards communicated. 2d. Measures concerted, and in part actually taken, for affembling that Conven. tion. 3d. A preparation of arms to oppofe and withstand any attempt to difperfe iuch a Meeting. 4th. A continued connection and Correfpondence

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