Nor ever expressed to that friend or to any other, at the time, your opinion with respect to the impropriety of the step?—I had no other friend to speak to.
Did you speak to him?—I did not go down into the room again.
Probably you might, being a gentleman of considerable acquaintance, meet with some friend on going home, and might ride home with some gentleman, at least part of the road?—Part of the road I did.
Mr Markland, I presume?—I overtook Mr. Markland.
Did you express any opinion to Mr. Markland upon these proceedings?—Probably I did; but I have not the most distant recollection.
I ask you, upon your oath, Mr. Stanley, if you did not express to him your entire concurrence in, and approbation of, the measures adopted by the magistrates?—I answer, upon my oath, that I do not recollect having said any such thing.
Can you tell me whether you expressed any disapprobation of the measures which it had been deemed necessary to adopt?—I have no recollection whatever of the conversation.
Then you mean to represent to us now, that your feelings upon the subject were so indifferent, that you cannot tell now, whether you approved or disapproved of these steps at the time?—I have not the most distant recollection of any conversation I had with Mr. Markland.
That is not an answer to my question. I ask you whether you mean to state that at this time, you don’t remember whether you entertained feelings of approbation or disapprobation of those steps?—I thought it was a dreadful occurrence; but I hoped that there were some grounds for it.
Mr. Justice Holroyd: You are speaking of what you thought?—It was in answer to the question.