concourse gathered at the Market
Hall on this day of the trial. The chamber was crowded to its utmost
limit by anxious and interested listeners. Many ladies were present.

His Lordship (the imported Judge) was late in ascending the bench,
unnecessarily prolonging the suspense of the waiting crowd.

The proceedings were commenced with every formality that could render
them impressive. A large number of armed men were stationed at the
entrance and about the Court-room. A prominent object in the
Court-room, one which immediately struck the eye of those entering, as
this was its first appearance during the trial, was a plain wooden
dock, low in front, high at the back, and large enough to hold four
men.

As in the preliminary examination, the Court proceedings were
conducted in the Dutch language, an unfamiliar tongue to a majority
of the accused.

After the despatch of some minor matters, Mr. Wessels, counsel for the
defence, made his address to the Court, closing by reading the written
statement of the four leaders, and asking the clemency of the Court.

He made no reference or protest to the tribunal as constituted--a
Court presided over by a Judge _not a_ citizen of the country whose
sovereignty had been offended by the treasonable acts charged.

Mr. Wessels was followed by the State Attorney, Dr. Coster, in a
bitter and vindictive speech.

He demanded that the prisoners at the bar should be punished under the
_Roman Dutch Law_, and that the four leaders should receive the
_death_ penalty.

This demand of the State Attorney was apparently a surprise to Mr.
Wessels, for he sprung to his feet in an excited manner and protested
most vigorously against the demand of Dr. Coster; his language and
manner were such as to impress many present that it was provoked by a
breach of good faith.

At the conclusion of the speech of the State Attorney, Gregorowsky
(the imported Judge) summed up the case at length, and held that the
prisoners were guilty of high treason as charged in the indictment,
and that the Roman Dutch Law governed in such cases; and that the
sentences imposed would be in accordance therewith.

The Sheriff then with a loud voice commanded silence whilst the
sentence of death was pronounced.

A deep hush fell upon the Court-room--a profound, breathless silence
that became oppressive before the next official utterances disturbed
it.

'Lionel Phillips, George Farrar, Francis Rhodes, John Hays Hammond!'