“George Pickard, 15, Hare-Street, Bethnal Green, says, I know Edwards. I first saw him before the first Smithfield Meeting. I never much associated with him, I considered him so much of a blackguard. I knew his brother also, who was secretary to the Spencean Society. I met him some time about July, at the White Lyon in Wych Street; there were two or three others there. He knew me, better than I did him. He asked me how I did, and said, ‘What a pity it is, Pickard, that we can’t destroy these b—— vermin.’ A trifling conversation took place; at last, ‘I’ll tell you what it is,’ said he, ‘any body can get into the House of Commons with an order, nor does it require that they should go clean. Suppose we have an iron case made in the shape of a book (for any person is allowed to carry in a book,) and have some old gun or pistol barrels, which may be got cheap, cut into pieces about three or four inches long: let them be plugged up at each end with lead, and the centre filled with powder, and a touch-hole made; half a dozen of cases may be made full of them, for a similar number of men to take into the House. One man might have a bottle of phosphorous, and a lighted match might be taken with a piece of a rope, without giving any alarm to the persons present, and applied to the fuse, which would communicate with the contents of the cases—they should be thrown when the House was full, from the gallery. The opportunity should be taken when some important business was going forward. ‘What b——y destruction it would make,’ said he, seemingly quite pleased, and laughing at the idea. He next said, that Thistlewood would soon be out, and he was the boy for doing business. When he comes, we will set all things to rights. After some further talk, he drew out a grenade, saying, ‘What do you think of this?’ ‘What do you call it?’ said I; ‘Oh, you are a d——d fool, you know nothing;’ and then he told me it was a hand-grenade. He asked me if I would make one of thirty or forty men for some desperate purpose, which he did not explain; but such things he added, should not be entered into without having a guard against the b——y police. Upon which he drew forth a curious instrument from his waistcoat pocket, and said, it might be put into a common walking cane by having a hole bored in the bottom, and be instantly fit for use. I told him I must know him better before I would have any thing to do with him. He replied, that Thistlewood knew him well, and that that would be a sufficient recommendation. I met Edwards and Thistlewood previous to the Cato-Street business, on the Saturday. Thistlewood asked me various questions respecting business, and after shaking hands he bid me good day. Then Edwards turned quite round, and after looking for some minutes, held his hand out to shake hands. I do not recollect the first few sentences that passed, but on parting he said, ‘You b—— Pickard, you must fight before long.’ On the following Monday two persons called at my lodgings, when I was absent, and inquired for me. One of them answered the description of Edwards. They left no message, but called again on Tuesday, but I was away; I never heard of him since then. Previous to the last time of my seeing Edwards I went to the Scotch Arms, in Round-Court, Strand, and saw Adams and Edwards there. They both talked about destroying the Ministers, and invited me to go to a meeting, and Adams gave me a grenade, and Edwards gave me a small pike. I told Whadman of the circumstance; he advised me to have nothing to do with the business. Adams and Edwards called at my lodgings the day before the Cato-street business, but I had left.”
[7] Chamber’s deposition, is as follows:—
“I, Thomas Chambers, say, that I am a bootmaker, residing at 3, Heathcock Court, Strand, and have been in the employment of Mr. ——, shoemaker, Tavistock-street, for seven years, and still continue to work for him; that about five months ago I became acquainted with George Edwards, by meeting him by accident at the White Lion, Wych-street; that some time after he called upon me, at which I was much surprised, not knowing much of him; he at the same time talked about politics in a strange violent manner; he came to me again soon after, and held the same sort of language, saying, ‘It was nonsense talking, people must arm themselves.’ On Christmas Eve he again called on me, with several persons, among whom were two Irishmen, who were drunk, and whom I had never seen before. Edwards at this time had with him an old cavalry sword which he kept under his coat, and also a sword stick in his hand. He said to the Irishmen, ‘would not you wish to have Castlereagh’s head to carry about on a pole, for the good he has done your country.’ One of the Irishmen said, ‘He,’ meaning Lord Castlereagh, ‘is a big rogue;’ on which Edwards said, ‘Here is what will cut off his b—y head.’ One of the Irishmen said he would not enter into any thing until he was sworn. Edwards then asked me for a Bible to swear the man: I said, I will have no swearing here, and being at work, and not liking their language and noise, I bid them to leave my house, and they went away. Edwards called on me again about a week after, much against my wish, and held forth, in violent language about the government, and said, ‘that after the tyrants (meaning ministers) were cut off, Hunt and Cobbett must go to pot.’ Finding I did not like their language, he went away. About a fortnight before the Cato-street business, Edwards called on me, and said to me, ‘the tyrants must fall,’ and added, ‘all must come together armed, and you must come with your sword and pistol, as I suppose you have got them.’ I told him I had nothing of the kind: he then said that I should not want for them. Some short time after this he came to my lodgings quite down in spirits, and said he could not find any one to have courage to join, and he had a great mind to cut his throat. A short time after this Edwards came again with two men, and in good spirits, and said, ‘I suppose you will go with us, you know what I mean;’ I answered, I do not; he said, ‘you are not such a fool, as not to know there is something on foot, we mean to destroy ministers.’ I answered, that I would not be in such a Despard’s business. He then clapped his hand on the wall of the house, and said, ‘this is all lath and plaster, and you shan’t be safe, we’ll blow you out of your bed.’ I did not see Edwards after this till Monday, the 21st of February, when he came, in company with a very tall man, who had a cast in his eye, and Edwards had a large bag with him, which he requested me to allow him to leave in my room. I asked him what it contained, he replied, ‘Oh! only a few pistols, and such like.’ I instantly bid him take them away, that I would have nothing to do with such things in my place. He urged me very much to permit the bag to remain, but I would not. I again told him I would on no account have any thing to do with such things, and immediately made him take the bag away, assisted by the persons who came with him. Since then I have seen nothing of Edwards.”
[8] See Mary Barker’s evidence on the Trials, pages 191, 277,315.