“I have a very few words more to say. I have a very numerous family, and a wife that never earned me a penny in her life. All my distress arose from the consideration of the helpless situation of my family. Were it not for that, I would not care what became of me. Like Isaiah it may be said of me, ‘He was persecuted, yet he opened not his mouth.’ As a father, I wish to discharge my duty,—for them I wish to live—and for their sakes I wish, if possible, to clear up the black charge which has been brought against me.
“First of all, Mr. Adams positively swore that he had not seen me in the loft, and that I was down stairs; and then comes Mr. Monument, who said that I addressed the congregation, and told those that were afraid of their lives to walk out. They must see that this was an exaggeration, and in fact altogether an invention, or would not both of these men who were present at the same time have agreed in the same story? I admit that I was in Cato-street; but even admitting this, what does it amount to?
“I now very well know that Mr. Goldworthy was an accomplice of Edwards, and it is clear that by these persons, for purposes best known to themselves, I was entrapped into this snare. As for myself, my Lord, I have served my country, and done all that I could do for it. I have supported my family by honest industry, and I never directly or indirectly associated with any persons at public places. I never attended any meeting but as a common spectator.
“I know nothing of these men (Tidd and the other prisoners). I have no knowledge of their plots; I do not blame the gentlemen of the crown for the manner in which they have conducted this case; because they have done no more than their duty, according to the evidence which has been brought before them; but I say, the witnesses, as far as regards me, are altogether false sworn. I have selected a few passages from the Bible, which I wish to read on this subject, and these I offer, not for the purpose of insulting the court. The indictment charges that I did certain things ‘not having the fear of God before my eyes, but having been instigated by the devil.’ Now, I always had the fear of God before me, and always cherished the feelings of virtue and humanity. I always subscribed to the beautiful lines of Mr. Pope:—
“If I am right, thy grace impart,
Still in the right to stay;
If I am wrong, oh! teach my heart,
To find that better way.
Teach me to feel another’s woe;
To hide the fault I see: