“I went to Mr. Williamson, who was waiting to know the result, and told him what had passed. He then said that he wanted to get some money, and I proposed pledging the blunderbuss with a pawnbroker. He agreed, and requested me to take it for him. I did so, and got seven shillings upon it from Mr. Aldous, who knew me. The money I gave to Mr. Williamson. I afterwards went to see Mr. Williamson on board the Belle Alliance, which was about to sail for the Cape. He made me a present of the ticket.
“On the 22d of February, Edwards called upon me, and told me that he had been to see Mr. Williamson, and that he had given him an order to get the ticket for the blunderbuss. I said very well, and consented to go and get it out of pledge for him, as, he said, he was to get ten shillings by it, part of which I was to have, and he gave seven shillings and two-pence for that purpose. He told me to meet him at the corner of Oxford-street, which I did; when he said he would take me to Fox-court, where there was a countryman of mine; a man of colour he meant. I objected to going.
“My Lord, I never associated with men of colour, although one myself, because I always found them very ignorant.
“I now pass over to the sword concern; I shall state the truth. On a Monday after the Manchester massacre, I met a person of the name of George Goldworthy, to whom I had been apprentice in Liverpool; he expressed his surprise at seeing me in London; I told him I was out of employment, and that there was nothing worse than being a small master, as all the rest of the trade, from jealousy, set their face against me; he said he had a little business of his own in the country, and that he would employ me if I would go. I agreed to go at 30s. a week. He then appointed me to meet him at a house he called the Horse and Groom, in John-street, Edgware-road, on the Wednesday following. All this time I did not know that Goldworthy was an acquaintance of Edwards’s, but he was.
“On Wednesday evening accordingly I went to the Horse and Groom. I looked into the house, but did not see Goldworthy. I stopped at the corner to wait for him, my lord, which your lordship and gentlemen must well know I being a conspicuous character would not have done, if I was about any thing improper. I saw Adams there; but I went on to walk a little further. On my return I saw several persons going in and out of the house, but still Goldworthy did not come. A little after eight o’clock, while I was in the Edgeware-road, up came Goldworthy. He asked me if I was not surprised he had not come. I said I was. He then said he was going to call upon a friend, and gave me a sword, which he said he carried for self-protection against thieves about the country.
“At this time I had not the least intention of any thing directly or indirectly concerning the business in Cato-street. I went down the street accidentally, and hearing two or three pistols fired, I went to see what was the matter. I never was afraid of any man. I then heard a cry of “Stop thief!” and I was seized and taken to gaol. I never drew the cutlass nor offered to strike; but gave myself up quietly.
“I have ventured my life fifteen times for my country and my King, and ask you, gentlemen, if you think it possible that I should be so vain as to attempt to join a few weak men to trample down that well-founded constitution, in which this country has so much reason to glory? I would scorn such an act—and I solemnly protest there was nothing found on me but the sword which I received from Goldworthy, and a little block.
“It was said, that I said ‘I would die for liberty’s cause,’ and that I was searched in a public house; this is not true; and if the landlord was here he would prove the contrary. I know nothing at all of the plot in Cato-street, directly or indirectly. I know nothing of a plot to plunder—to burn houses—or to massacre the Ministers. I did not know that any such plot was in existence.
“I will now, my Lords and Gentlemen, give you an instance where one man of colour may be mistaken for another—as must have been my case. Whenever I had any leisure time I employed it as a teacher in a Sunday-school: there a similar mistake was made. A person, a man of colour, insulted one of the female teachers at Walworth. The young lady said it was me, and I found I was slighted, although nothing was said. I sent in my resignation, when the gentlemen waited upon me in a body, and stated what had been alleged to my charge. I was so confounded, that I could not say any thing, and let them go away without making any defence. I afterwards, however, set myself to work, and actually found the man who had committed the offence, made him acknowledge it, and beg the young lady’s pardon. The young lady could not look me in the face, knowing how she had injured me, but held out her hand as a token of her regret.
“Now, my lord and gentlemen, this shows how one man may be mistaken for another. I would as lieve be put to death as suppose that you, my lord, or the gentlemen of the crown, should think me capable, for one moment, of harbouring a thought to massacre any person whatever.” (Here the prisoner applied for a glass of water, which was handed to him.) “Although I am a man of colour, that is no reason that I should be guilty of such a crime. My colour may be against me, but I have as good and as fair a heart as if I were a white.