they
have hitherto held, or whether they are to be completely degraded and
ruined.

Gentlemen, allusions in the course of the day have been made to that
which passes at the Old Bailey; no sentence that can be passed there,
can be felt more by the persons on whom it is passed, than a verdict of
Guilty will be felt by these three persons.

Gentlemen, from the attention I have observed every one of you giving to
the evidence, and from the accuracy of the notes that have been taken by
the noble and learned Judge, I have, at this late hour, this consolation
left to me, that whatever I may omit, you will supply; whatever I shall
not be able to impress upon you, in the manner it ought to be impressed
upon you, will be brought to your consideration by his Lordship, and
that that explanation which I shall feel myself unable to give, he will
be in a situation to give; and with this hope, I proceed to call your
attention to the case of these gentlemen:--My Lord Cochrane, Mr.
Cochrane Johnstone, and Mr. Butt; the interests of the other defendants
being committed to much abler hands.

Gentlemen, there are very few of the introductory observations that were
made to you by my learned friend, which I am in a condition, or feel any
disposition to dispute. I by no means dispute, that what is charged in
this indictment is not an offence of very considerable magnitude; if I
was satisfied that it was not an offence which the law of the country
reaches, I protest to you, that I would not take any objection upon that
score; because I am quite convinced that acquittal, upon such a ground
as that, would be an acquittal that would not answer the purpose of the
respectable gentlemen that I represent before you.

Gentlemen, I have observed some of my learned friends asking questions,
which seemed calculated to obtain answers on which some legal objection
might be founded. I hope you will recollect, that I have never asked any
such questions; on the contrary, I have avoided looking at the
indictment, lest I should see any thing that should force an objection
upon me, and prevent this case from being decided upon its merits.

Gentlemen, I certainly do admit, that it is a crime, and a crime of a
great magnitude, for any person, by means of the circulation of false
news, to attempt to raise the price of the public funds; in consequence
of which, individuals who are fair purchasers of such funds, are
compelled to pay more than the stock they purch