rought people to Holloway Gaol to welcome
me on the morning of my release. The total population of New Ross,
including men, women and children, is less than seven thousand; a number
that fell far short of the readers of the _Freethinker_ even then.
Representing a mere handful of people, Mr. Redmond had the audacity to
ask for the summary suppression of a journal which is read in every part
of the English-speaking world.

Nothing further of an exciting nature in connexion with my case occurred
until early in May, when a prosecution for Blasphemy was instituted at
Tunbridge Wells against Mr. Henry Seymour, Honorary Secretary of the
local branch of the National Secular Society. This Branch had been the
object of continued outrage and persecution, chiefly instigated, I have
reason to believe, by Canon Hoare. The printed announcements outside
their meeting-place were frequently painted over in presence of the
police, who refused to interfere. Finally the police called on all the
local bill-posters and warned them against exhibiting the Society's
placards. Stung by these disgraceful tactics, Mr. Seymour issued a
jocular programme of an evening's entertainment at the Society's hall,
one profane sentence of which, while it in no way disturbed the peace or
serenity of the town, aroused intense indignation in the breasts of the
professional guardians of religion and morality. They therefore cited
Mr. Seymour before the Justices of the Peace, and charged him with
publishing a blasphemous libel. He was committed for trial at the next
assizes, and in the meantime liberated on a hundred pounds bail. Acting
under advice, Mr. Seymour pleaded guilty, and was discharged on finding
sureties for his appearance when called up for judgment. This grievous
error was a distinct encouragement to the bigots. Their appetite was
whetted by this morsel, and they immediately sought a full repast.

My own attitude was one of defiance. In the _Freethinker_ of May 14 I
denounced the bigots as cowards for pouncing on a comparatively obscure
member of the Freethought party, and I challenged them to attack its
leaders before they assailed the rank and file. This challenge was cited
against me on my own trial, but I do not regret it; and indeed I doubt
if any man ever regretted that his sense of duty triumphed over his
sense of danger.

CHAPTER II. OUR FIRST SUMMONS.

Some day in the first week of July (I fancy it was Thursday, the 6th,
but I