debt.

The offence with which they were charged was of the utmost importance to the peace and safety of the capital; for it not only had for its object the demolition of the King's Bench Prison, but involved the burning of other houses, bloodshed, and murder.

He lamented that five persons, all of education and respectable families, should, by their folly and imprudence, to call it by the softest name, bring themselves into such an unfortunate situation; one was a reverend divine, another an officer in the army, another had been in the profession of the law, and the others were of respectable parents, and, as he understood, set out in the world with fair prospects of being honorable and useful members of the community.

The attorney-general further said that this case was pregnant with the most alarming circumstances, which would be better detailed by the witnesses than described by him.

The prisoner, Burgh, was the private chaplain to the Duke of Leinster, and a relation to the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons.

The first witness was Mr. Justice Buller's clerk, who produced a record to prove that the prisoner, Burgh, was lawfully confined in the King's Bench Prison, for debt. Evidence was produced to prove that the other prisoners were also

Edward Webb said he knew all the prisoners about the beginning of May last; he was introduced into a society, called The Convivials,' held in a room in the King's Bench Prison, of which the prisoners were members.

M'Can expressed himself very freely upon the subject of Lord Rawdon's bill, then pending, respecting insolvent debtors, and said if that bill did not pass into a law, he and others were determined to do something to liberate themselves, and that there was a scheme in agitation for that purpose, but that the parties were sworn to secrecy, and therefore he could not divulge it; the witness said he might safely communicate the business to him; the prisoners, Cummings and Davis, were present at this very time.

M'Can afterwards opened the business to the witness; he said the plan in which he and the other prisoners were concerned, was to effect their own enlargement, by demolishing the walls of the prison, as they were determined not to be confined within those walls for debt; the execution of this plan would, however, depend upon the rejection of Lord Rawdon's bill: after they had effected their escape by setting fire to the prison, they would then go to the Fleet Prison, and libe rate the prisoners, after which they should proceed to the houses of Lords Thurlow and Kenyon, which they would destroy.

Davis said he should not hesitate, himself, to blow out the brains

of those noble lords; the same witness saw the other defendants, who conversed upon the subject; and it was proposed to procure some sailors to assist them; this scheme was, however, defeated by the vigilance of the marshal, who sent for the guards, and had the prison searched throughout.

Shortly afterwards the witness saw M'Can, Cummings, and Davis again, who said that though they were defeated in the former scheme, they were determined to put some other plot into execution.

The next day Cummings (who was called the captain) said to the witness, I have discovered the best plan that could be conceived for blowing up these damned walls, I'll show you the place.'

He then took the witness to the end of the bake-house, and pointed out to him a place where the drain had been opened; he then described the force necessary to blow up the walls, and said he had studied the scheme upon his pillow: he then said it would be necessary to have a box about ten inches wide, and as many deep, and described the tubes that were to convey the fire to the box, which he said must contain about fifty pounds weight of gunpowder, and requested the witness would get it made. In the evening of the same day the witness saw M'Can and Davis come out of the coffee-room, and, alluding to the plot, said it was a glorious plan, and they would support it to the loss of their lives they said no other person should be privy to it, excepting Mr. Bourne, who was concerned in the former scheme, and who had a large quantity of gunpowder ready; the witness observed to thein that the neighboring bake-house and coffee-room would be in danger, and that poor Martin,

who had a large family, would be killed; they replied it was no matter if they or a dozen more were killed, provided it procured the prisoners freedom.'

In a day or two afterwards the witness was walking upon the parade with Cummings, M'Can, and Rouen; he asked if Mr. Rouen knew of the plot. They said he did. Rouen said they should have the powder, and that Mrs. Rouen should bring it to the witness's house in small quantities: M'Can then proposed that, in order to raise money to purchase the gunpowder, a motion should be made in the club of Convivials, for a subscription of five shillings each, under pretence of feeing counsel, to know whether the marshal had a right to enter his prisoners' apartments when he pleased; this proposal was agreed to, and the motion was accordingly made.

After several other consultations, at which all the prisoners were present, it was agreed that the gunpowder should be deposited in a hole in the floor of Burgh's room, where it was afterwards found.

It was also agreed that on the day the plot was to be carried into execution, M'Can and Bourne were to have a sham fencing-match for a great deal of money: this was to collect together all the prisoners at the time the gunpowder was set fire to, and thereby afford them a chance of making their escape.

The day was at length fixed to be on a Sunday, about seven o'clock in the evening, being a time at which a number of strangers were in prison.

Cummins had the sole management of this plot. Burgh said that the noise and confusion it would create would, he hoped, bring about a revolution in this country.

The box was produced in court. H. T. Hendacre confirmed the substance of the evidence of the last witness, as did Mr. Battersley. These witnesses stated, by way of addition, that Davis gave half a guinea to purchase some gunpowder; that the prisoners carried on a correspondence with a society in the borough of Southwark; that Mr. Dundas's house was one that was fixed on for destruction; that the prisoners had two schemes in contemplation to effect their escape: the one was to tie down all the turnkeys; the other the gunpowder plot in question, of which Cummings had the sole conduct, he being considered the engineer.

A seditious song, stated to be written by M'Can, was also produced, and read in court.

Mr. Rouse made a very able speech on behalf of the prisoners. He called three witnesses to impeach the credit of those for the prosecution, but their evidence was of little effect.

Lord Kenyon summed up the whole of the evidence in the most able and impartial manner; after which the jury retired for short time, and upon their return found all the prisoners guilty.

On Tuesday, February 12, 1793, the prisoners were brought to receive the judgment of the Court.

The prisoner, Cummings, produced a petition, in which he stated that he had been for several years an officer in his majesty's service, and had then two sous in the army, who, in consequence of the calamitous situation of the prisoner, were deprived of the education and support necessary to their station and rank. He stated several other circumstances in mitigation of punishment,

The prisoner, Townly M.Can, produced an affidavit, in which he stated that he was a student of law, and had formed an opinion from several writers, that imprisonment for debt was illegal; he disclaimed any criminal intention, and positively denied that he or his fellowprisoners had carried on a correspondence with the Revolution Society in the Borough, or ever had a design to kill the two great law lords, as alleged by a witness ou the trial, but which was a fabrication of that witness, to recommend himself to the favour of government.

Mr. Burgh addressed the Court in an elegant speech, and with great emotion, in the course of which he spoke in the highest terms of the humane conduct of Mr. Kirby, the Keeper of Newgate, to all his pri

soners.

They were severally sentenced to three years' imprisonment, but in different prisons,

THOUGH many writers have attempted some moral excuse for suicide, yet we find it inexcusable in any point of view. Hamlet says, The Almighty fix'd his canon 'gainst self-murder.'

The prince, therefore, though robbed of succession to the throne of Denmark, and with the knowledge that his father was basely

murdered by his uncle, yet would not, after mature deliberation, take away his own life, which belonged to God alone.

Laurence Jones, who, to avoid the punishment due to one crime, committed another-that of selfmurder-was born in London, of respectable parents, whose too great indulgence towards him in his early.

years probably led to his untimely end. He received a genteel education, and, possessing a good address, introduced himself into the first company, which unfortunately led him into habits of extravagance, to which bis income was not equal, though he enjoyed a lucrative cmployment in one of the public offices. Being detected in some mal-practices, he was discharged; and, his means of subsistence being now entirely gone, he found himself under the necessity of doing something, in order to support himself and a lady of easy virtue with whom he cohabited, to whose extravagance there was no end.

In this emergency he commenced swindler, which he continued for some time with success, but was at length apprehended, and committed to Newgate. On his trial, however, he was acquitted for want of evidence.

Once again at liberty, and having a considerable sum of money left him by a relation about this time, he resolved to set up his old trade of swindling on a very extensive scale, for which purpose he took a very handsome house in St. James's, had it elegantly furnished, and kept his carriage and servants, who, by-the-by, were accomplices to carry on the deception, which he did with great success for some months.

During his abode in this place he defrauded Mr. Hudson, a silversmith, of plate, to the value of near three thousand pounds; Mr. Kempton, a mercer, of silks, and other goods, to a large amount; and Mr. Bailey, a watchmaker and jeweller, of a gold repeater, and other goods, to the value of three hundred pounds.

his pretensions to property, he thought it time to decamp, which he effected just in time to avoid a warrant out against him.

After this he lived privately for some time, that suspicion might die away, before he again began his fraudulent practices, which he carried on with his usual success, till the failure of the affair for which he was condemned; the particulars of which are as follow:

Mr. Campbell, the collecting clerk to Vere, Lucadou, and Co. bankers, in Lombard Street, in the course of his business called at a house (which was hired for the express purpose of preying upon the unwary) for the payment of a bill, a scheme previously concerted by the villains. No sooner had he knocked at the door than it was opened by a person, in appearance a gentleman, who desired him to walk into the counting-house, when a man came behind him, and covered his head and face over with a thick cap, so that he could see nothing. They then threw him on the floor, and wrapped him up in a green baize, in which condition they bound him hand and foot, and carried him down stairs, when they proceeded to rob him.

They took from him his pocketbook, with bank-notes and bills to the amount of nine hundred pounds. They then took measures to prevent a discovery before they could receive the money for the bills, &c. for which one of the gang immediately went out, while the rest, in the mean time, handled the unfortunate young man in the following manner:

They first laid him flat on his back on a board, and chained bim hand and foot, and then carried him down stairs into a back kitchen, where they chained him to the bars of a copper grate, threatening that

if he made a noise they would blow his brains out.

They then left him, after placing before him some bread, some ham, and some water.

In this condition ne remained for about eight hours, not daring to make the least noise, expecting every moment to be murdered if he spoke: but Providence preserved him from this dreadful fate; for, hearing no more of them for so many hours, he at last had the courage to call out, thinking it better to have his brains blown out at once than perish in that miserable condition.

After crying out with all his might for near three hours, his cries were at last heard by a man who was at work in a house behind that in which Mr. Campbell was confined. This man had the resolution to break open the door of the house from whence the noise proceeded, when, directed by the cry, he went down stairs, and there discovered the unfortunate man almost expiring, exhausted with struggling and crying out. It, of course, was not long before he was set at liberty. Jones was apprehended by Jealous and Kennedy, officers of Bow Street, at the King's Arms, in Bridge Street, Westminster. Kennedy seeing that he agreed with the description of his person, as lodged at Bow Street, respecting the man that pened the door to Campbell, he ook him into custody, with the Assistance of Jealous.

Before they attempted to search bim, it was judged expedient to call in some assistance, Jones being rather of a refractory disposition, and a rescue apprehended, there being a great concourse of people in Palace Yard, some of whom might have been his companions. For that purpose Jealous went out, and left his prisoner with Kennedy till

he should return. During Jealous's absence Jones became very importunate with Kennedy respecting the cause of his being apprehended.

On Jealous's arrival with a reiuforcement of four, viz. M'Manus, Carpmeal, Townsend, and Lavender, Jones was searched, but nothing of consequence found upon him, except a direction to his lodgings, which he attempted to snatch from Townsend's hand, but failed.

They then proceeded to conduct him to a place of safety; but, just as they left the room, Kennedy desired Carpmeal to return, look into the fire-place, and see if there was any thing there, the prisoner having stood with his back against that place; which he did, and returned with a handful of bills and notes: they then proceeded to a place of security, where they left him, and immediately set off for his lodgings in Peckham Rye Lane, which was the place specified in the paper found in Jones's pocket; and, on their arrival there, found his wife, his brother, and two other persons, all of whom they brought to town, together with a great quantity of papers. On his examination he behaved very insolently.

Being committed to Newgate, he was afterwards tried, and found guity, when he received sentence, and was ordered for execution on Wednesday, December 8, 1793, in Hatton Garden, near the house where he committed the robbery ; but on the Saturday previous, about six o'clock in the morning, when the turnkey entered the cell to prepare him to hear the condemned sermon and to receive the sacrament, he found him dead. It appeared that he had made several attempts on his life before, but was prevented; and the manner in which he at last accomplished his purpose was very extraordinary: he had taken the