libertine, the murderer, have left their footprints in the dust;
here, on this spot, where the shadows of death surround me, and
from which I see my early grave in an unanointed soil opened to
receive me--even here, encircled by these terrors, the hope
which has beckoned me to the perilous sea upon which I have
been wrecked, still consoles, animates, enraptures me. No I do
not despair of my poor old country, her peace her liberty, her
glory. For that country I can do no more than bid her hope. To
lift up this island--to make her a benefactor to humanity,
instead of being the meanest beggar in the world--to restore to
her her native Powers and her ancient constitution--this has
been my ambition, and this ambition has been my crime. Judged by
the law of England, I know this crime entails the Penalty of
death; but the history of Ireland explains this crime, and
justifies it. Judged by that history, I am no criminal--you
(addressing Mr. MacManus) are no criminal--you (addressing Mr
O'Donohoe) are no criminal--I deserve no punishment--we deserve
no punishment. Judged by that history the treason of which I
stand convicted loses all its guilt, is sanctified as a duty,
will be ennobled as a sacrifice. With these sentiments, my lord
I await the sentence of the court. Having done what I felt to be
my duty--having spoken what I felt to be the truth, as I have
done on every other occasion of my short career, I now bid
farewell to the country of my birth, my passion and my
death--the country whose misfortunes have invoked my
sympathies--whose factions I have sought to still--whose
intellect I have prompted to a lofty aim--whose freedom has been
my fatal dream. I offer to that country, as a proof of the love
I bear her, and the sincerity with which I thought, and spoke,
and struggled for her freedom--the life of a young heart, and
with that life, all the hopes, the honours, the endearments, of
a happy and an honourable home. Pronounce then, my lords, the
sentence which the law directs, and I will be prepared to hear
it. I trust I shall be prepared to meet its execution. I hope to
be able, with a pure heart and perfect composure, to appear
before a higher Tribunal--a tribunal where a Judge of infinite
goodness, as well as of justice will preside, and where, my
lords, many--many of the jud