instructed to spy upon my
correspondence. Mr. Fawcett subsequently denied that the letter-carriers
had ever been so instructed; but in that case the Post Office witnesses
must have committed perjury. I do not believe it. I am confident that
they merely obeyed orders, and that the scandalous abuse of a public
trust must be charged upon the district postmaster, who probably thinks
any weapon is legitimate against Freethinkers. As Mr. Fawcett refused to
censure the postmaster for exceeding his duty, or the letter-carrier
for committing perjury, I cannot hold him altogether guiltless in the
matter.

In opening my defence I took care to accentuate my appreciation of Judge
North's kindness, as the following passage will show:

"Gentlemen of the Jury,--I stand in a position of great difficulty
and disadvantage. On Thursday last I defended myself against
the very same charges in the very same indictment. The case
lasted nearly seven hours, and the jury retired for more than
two hours without being able to come to an agreement. They
were then discharged, and the learned judge said he would try
the case again on Monday with a new jury. As I had been out
on bail from my committal, and as I stood in the same position
after that abortive trial as before it commenced, I asked the
learned judge to renew my bail, but he refused. I pleaded that
I should have no opportunity to prepare my defence, and I was
peremptorily told I should have the same opportunity as I had
had that day. Well, gentlemen, I have enjoyed the learned judge's
opportunity. I have spent all the weary hours since Thursday,
with the exception of the three allowed for bodily exercise
during the whole interval, in a small prison cell six feet wide,
and so dark that I could neither write nor read at midday without
the aid of gaslight. There was around me no sign of the animated
life I am accustomed to, nothing but the loathsome sights and
sounds of prison life. And in these trying and depressing
circumstances I have had to prepare to defend myself in a new
trial against two junior counsel and a senior counsel, who have
had no difficulties to contend with, who have behind them the
wealth and authority of the greatest and richest Corporation
in the world, and who might even walk out of court in the
perfect assurance that the prosecuti