ncy of evidence, they were careful to select such men as
were most likely to give a clear and distinct account of all the
circumstances as they occurred under their knowledge, taking care,
at the same time, to procure those whose different situations
afforded them an opportunity of witnessing that transaction, from
the commencement to the close. Such was the evidence the committee
had selected, to the number of about fifty, VERY FEW of whom were
ever examined, although they were kept waiting in the turnkey's
lodge (where they were ordered to stay until called for) during
the hours of investigation. In the course of the inquiry, it
seems, the commissioners found it necessary to survey the
particular situation of the prisons, and the points from which the
different attacks were made; they accordingly came into the yard
for that purpose, and after having been shown all the places from
whence the firing was continued, where the crowd of prisoners had
assembled on the first alarm, and where the hole, so much made a
handle of, had been made--after a slight survey of these different
places, they retired into their session room, leaving orders, once
more, with the committee to hold their evidence in readiness, as
they would soon be called upon for examination. The committee
replied that they had been in readiness since the commencement of
the inquiry, and were then only waiting their orders to appear
before them, feeling happy in the idea of having it in their power
to show to the court, and to the world, by the evidence they had
to produce, that the attack of Shortland on the defenceless
prisoners, was premeditated and unjustifiable in ANY point of
view.

After attending in the turnkey's lodge during the sitting of the
commissioners, until the middle of the third day, without having
but very few of the evidences sent for, and being fearful that
they might be waiting for them, the committee sent them word that
the witnesses were still in attendance. No answer being returned
to this message for some time, the committee became uneasy on
account of the long examination of the officers, soldiers, clerks,
and turnkeys, attached to the depot, without admitting the
prisoners to an equal privilege; and understanding the
commissioners were about closing their inquiry, they again sent
word t