being quite unprepared to meet such an accusation, hung down his head and withdrew. But he lost no time in communicating this reverse to my ordinary, Doctor Coppinger, who was equally astonished at these assertions; but who seized the opportunity, until a refutation of all could be procured, to point, in the interim, to the designing and notorious falsehood of Mr. Green's catholicity. In a very few days Mr. Green himself spontaneously furnished my bishop with a peremptory denial of the above particulars, under his own hand: declaring moreover in a written acknowledgement, that no conversation had passed between him and the prisoner, but as between a medical man and his patient. This same gentleman also ingeniously presented himself at the parish chapel of Ballymacoda, offering to make oath, that he had not given the evidence here attributed to him. The Deputy Judge Advocate General, Major Ellis, has been pleased to transcribe these minutes, as far as they regarded Mr. Green, for the express purpose of contradicting this forgery. I shall now insert them, with his letter to the said Mr. Green.

Youghal, 28th July, 1800. SIR," Your application to me for a copy of the evidence you gave at a Court of Inquiry, by order of Major General Graham, at which, by the said General's orders you were obliged to attend, I have not the smallest objection to give you, which I have taken verbatim from the original, now in my possession, and in which I cannot be mistaken, as you know I have acted as Deputy Judge Advocate General at the said Court.

I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, RICHARD ELLIS." "Evidence given by Mr. Benjamin Green, apothecary, at a Court of Inquiry, which sat at Youghal, on the 28th of August, 1799, to inquire and investigate the conduct of the Rev. Peter O'Neil, formerly parish priest of the parish of Ballymacoda.

Question by the Court.-As the prisoner

has set forth in his memorial to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, that he was kept in a dungeon, and, after punishment, was neglected; not having his back dressed; the Court call upon you to declare what you know, as to that part of his memorial.

"Answer by Mr. Benjamin Green.—In less than two hours after O'Neil, the Priest had been punished, I attended him, and dressed his back; and gave him such medicines as I deemed necessary. The prisoner was confined in an airy, comfortable, healthy room, in the upper part of the gaol, where I visited him every day, and dressed his back, and

administered every assistance I judged recesary; not only to preserve his hea'th, but likewise to heal his back; and when the prisoner was removed from the gaol to the guard-room, in order to be put on board of a boat, I then dressed him, and gave him a lotion to use afterwards, in order to preserve bis health. And am sorry to be ob liged to state, that I never received any payment for my medicines or trouble.-This is the whole of the evidence given by Mr. Benjamin Green.

RICHARD EI LIS,

Dep. Judge Advocate Gen." Another respectable gentleman is represented in these minutes to have said, that immediately after my punishment, I acknowledged to him that I was privy to the murder of two soldiers; that I knew of a gun kept in my parish for the purpose of murder, and remarkable for the certainty of its aim he is there beside stated to have said, that I made this declaration, not under any apprehension of punishment, but I seemed rather to speak, as one clergyman would to another, in a moment of contrition: such at least is the substance of this gentleman's words, as far as my friend in Dublin, to whom the evidence was read, could recollect it. Now from the nature of the communication, which it is here asserted I made, it will be naturally supposed, that the gentleman had a private interview with me after my punishment: but he himself is thoroughly persuaded that he had not. I never laid my eyes on him since I saw him at that time, in the public Ball-ally. During my flagellation he stood opposite me, close to the triangle, with a paper and a pencil in his hand, noting down whatever then occurred to him. He asked, did you know that the fire arms were taken from my house? My answer was rather too short-Sir, I heard you say so; but I felt at the moment, by heavier strokes, the consequence of my impoliteness. I really considered that gentleman, on account of his apparent insensibility at the time, as the very reverse of a friend; and while I now positively deny my having made the acknowledgment above reported, I shall take the liberty to ask; first, whether it be consistent with likelihood, that, when such a severe punishment and so witnessed by him, was over, I had selected that very gentleman in order to criminate myself to such a confident, without any possible advantage? I beg leave to ask, in the second place, if I had made this acknowledgment at the Ball-ally, why it certain. subaltern, declaring that he had power to act as he pleased by me, should take me (naked and bleeding as I was) into a small

room in a corner of the Ball-ally, and sternIv tell me, that if I would not now make an avowal of guilt, I should be brought out to receive a reperition of my punishment; and afterwards to be shot. And why he should repeat that menace the same evening in the gaol, and still more forcibly the day following. The circumstances of his exertions on that oc asion, are too striking to be omitted. After I had answered him in the corner of the Ball-ally that I would suffer any death rather than acknowledge a crine whereof I was not guilty, he told me I should be set at liberty if I would agree to a certain proposal which he then made; but justice and truth commanded me to reject it. When conducted to gaol, after a lapse of three hours, I was presented with a refreshment: it appeared to be wine and water, but must have had some other powerful ingredient; for it speedily brought on a stupor. The same officer soon roused me from my lethargy, with a renewed effort to extort this avowal from me: he drew his sword; he declared he would never part with me until it were given in writing; he threatened that I should be forthwith led out again, flogged as before, shot, hanged, my head cut off to be exposed upon the gael-top, and my body thrown into the river: that he would allow me but two minutes to determine. Then going to the door, he called for a scrip of paper, while the sentinel swore terribly at the same time, that he would blow my brains out if I persisted longer in my refusal. Under this impression I scribbled a note to my brother, which they instantly cried out was what they wanted; the precise expressions of it, I do not at this moment recollect; it purported a wish that my brother might no longer indulge uneasiness upon my account, for I deserved what I got. The officer withdrew; my sister-in-law then got admittance: she told me, she liad just heard the sentinel say, that during my entire punishment, nothing was against me: however, that the paper I had just written would assuredly hang me. I exclaimed that their dreadful threats had compelled me to write it; which exclamation being carried to the officer, he returned the next day: he called me to the gaol window commanding a view of a gallows, whereon two men were hanging; their bodies so bloody," that I imagined they wore red jackers. A third halter remained yet unoccupied, which he declared was intended for me, should 1 per

sist in disclaiming the aforesaid note. Look, said he, at these men, look at that rope, your Treatment shall be worse than theirs, if you disowno what you wrote yesterday: adding

that it was still in my power to get free. I imagined from this, that he wanted money from me; or a favourite mare which I had. occasionally lent him. My answer was, if you liberate me you shall always find me faithful; there is nothing in my power that I will not do. Do not then attempt, said he, to exculpate yourself, and so retired. I now procured your paper, whereon I wrote a formal protest against what he extorted from me as above; that, should I be executed, this protest might appear after my death. I wrote a second, with the same design; but left them both after me in the gaol; apprehensive, that should they be found in my possession, they might cause me to be treated with additional severity. Neither did I afterward, while in gaol, openly assert my innocence for that reason. Now, so little credit seems to have been attached to this paper, in any subsequent proceeding, that it was never after, to my knowledge, produced against me. Indeed there is reason to imagine that what this gentleman is reported to have advanced in the above minutes, was never said by him because the same audacity which forged a declaration for Mr. Green, might be daring enough to forge a similar declaration for this gentleman. Thus by the providence of God, what was maliciously intended to ruin me, has in the event effected my release. Lord Cornwallis, whose discernment perceived, and whose generosity recoiled at this questionable proceeding, unhesitatingly issued an order for my removal from the transport: The following letter announces that order to my friend in Dublin:

"Dublin-Castle, 30th June, 1800.

"SIR,I have had the honour to receive, and to lay before my Lord Lieutenant, your letter of the 28th instant, with its enclosure, and am directed to acquaint you, that his Excellency's commands have been this day conveyed to Major General Myers, to take the Rev. Peter O'Neil from on board the Ann, Botany Bay Ship, in Cork Harbour, and to cause him to be imprisoned until further orders, but not to treat him with harshness or severity. I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

E. B. LITTLEHALES."

I bad sailed before this order arrived.

On this passage out a mutiny arose among the convicts, who, taking advantage of the moment when the captain was fumigating the ship, suddenly set upon, and tied him. The sentinel, a Malais, cried out to me in his own jargon, as I was walking the main deck, that there was war below; offering me his drawn word, in order to fortify my in

terference. What my conduct at that critical moment was, will come better from others. I shall only say that the most prompt and athletic exertion preceded my entrea ties and rendered them essential. How, as well as by whom, the captain was extricated, without even the intervention of an officer, he himself can tell. Another gentle man, Mr. Piper, of the New S. Wales. Corps, can tell. Mr. Roberts, the surgeon, told it so circumstantially to the Lieutenant Governor, Major Foveaux, that he afterwards treated me with particular kindness. This powerfully con ributed to reconcile me to my fate: I had almost made up my mind to remain there for ever: the thoughts of home ceased to be importunate. In the mean time the exertions of my friend were indefatigable: he contrived to bring my case under the eye of our present Chief Governor, Lord Hardwicke, whose firmness, tempered by that clemency which distinguished his illustrious. predecessor, was not to be warped by partyopposition. An injured subject, in the very Antipodes, was alike within the range of his power and attention. He listened with patience; he examined with impartiality; he decided with justice. An order from him hath set me free. At my return to Ireland I waited upon my ordinary, Doctor Coppin ger; I represented to him the many hardships I had undergone; I referred him to the several proofs of my innocence, which had passed through his own han is, and which were now officially authenticated, by my warranted return to my native country. I reminded him that as I bad a regular colla tion of my parish, and could not forfeit it by the unfounded charges alleged against me, nor by any subsequ-nt misfortunes, I could not in justice be deprived of it, nor opposed by him in resuming my functions in that pari-h. He suggested in answer, that the strong prejudices which still seemed to prevail against me, rendered it in his mind imprudent, not to say unsafe, for me to return thither. Yet, when I remarked to him that the sending me to any other quarter, beside the injustice of such a step, would in a great degree reflect a censure upon me; that it would be an extreme of severity, while I was acquitted in the eyes of the government, and by the act of Lord Hardwicke, that he, my ordinary, and as I hoped my friend, should seem, in this way, to asperse me; he yielded to my remonstrance; I again took charge of my parish, where, with the assistance of God, I shall persevere in the most strenuous endeavours to maintain peace, industry, loyalty, and good order among my parishioners. A circumstance occurred upon

the present occasion, very trivial in itself, but which, as it gave rise to a most injurious representation, I feel myself bound to notice. Six or seven of Doctor Coppinger's clergy had been engaged to dine with him on the following day: he was picased to ask me to join them, which, baving done, I was since, in addition to my other crosses, extremely inortified to learn, that this plain private repast was magnified into a most sumptuous banquet, given in honour of Mr. O'Neil's return This glaring mis-statement, which of itself would not have affected my ordinary, has been the cause of much uneasiness since: as seemingly connected with an intimation from a respectable character in Dublin, informing him that a personage in that metropolis of high rank and great power, misled by this false intelligence, had complained that Doctor Coppinger restored me to my parish, as a martyr in triumph, with insult to the of fended justice of the laws, &c. &c.

I am neither commissioned nor qualified to vindicate the character of Doctor Coppinger, in this or in any other particular: I can only express my sorrow at having been thus the unintentional cause of this painful impu, tation. His character, wherever it is known, will be its own support; little does it stand in need of adventitious aid, much less of that which my poor depreciated suffrage can administer. He has, I learn, drawn up a narrative, which such misrepresentation, if long continued, will call upon him to pub lish. I have now, my lords and gentlemen, to apologize for the tedious length of this elucidation, which I humbly submit to you, in the hope that I am not now in your mind the sort of person you have been taught to consider me. I will also hope that the urgency of my case will effectually plead in excuse for my presumption in thus publicly addressing you; a liberty I shall never again, upon any account, assume. I commit my self with confidence to your humane consideration; and have the honour to be with the most profound respect, My lords and gentlemen, your most devoted, and most faithful, humble servant, October 23, 1803.

INTELLIGENCE.

P. O'NEIL

FOREIGN. The latest French and Ger man newspapers confirm the account, that the Beys of Egypt, after stipulating for certain privileges, hive,, finally, agreed to the cons vention proposed by the Turkish govern, ment, by which the possession of that coun try is secured to the Porte. -Ali Pasha has succeeded in driving the Sulliotes, a Greek

tribe situated near Janina, from their native mountains; and Chiaffa and Cogna have been taken by capitulation, and the inhabi tants permitted to retire to Parga.-It is said that intelligence has been dispatched to Constantinople of the arrival of an adjutant of General St. Cyr, in the Morea; the avowed object of his visit is to purchase Turkish horses in the peninsula, for the use of the French army on the opposite side of the Adriatic, but the attention with which he inspects every thing, the Pasha of Janina is suspicious of his intentions.It is reported that the First Consul of France has, unexpectedly, required from his Sicilian Majesty, the surrender of three fortresses of importance on the coast, which are to be gar risoned by French troops during the war: this request, however, the king, after holding a council of state, is said to have refused. Throughout the whole Patavian Republic, the French are enforcing the decrees relative to British merchandize, with unrelenting severity. Wherever property of that description is discovered, it is immediately seized and confiscated. Some remonstrances have been made against these proceedings, and particularly one hy the government of Zealand to the French General, Monnet, but they have all been ineffectual. Buonaparté is at Paris, and the legislative body is engaged in the discussion of the civil code.Te Deum has been sung at Malaga, for the restoration of health to that eity.

DOMESTIC-According to some late accounts from Ireland, it appears that the spirit of rebellion in that country has not yet subsided. Eleven persons have been very recently arrested at Cork, accused of belonging to a treasonable committee; and it has been rumoured that a rising was expected to take place in the county of Antrim. The city of Dublin, on the night. of the 14th instant, was completely alarmed, and all the military were called out, but the circumstances which gave rise to this extraordinary vigilance is not yet known.-Astlett, who was, some time ago, convicted of taking exchequer bills from the Bank of England, and whose case was left for the decision of the judges, received sentence of death at the Old Bailey on the 20th inst.-During the two last weeks, nothing of particular importance has occurred in parliament, except the passing of the Irish Bank Restriction Bill by the House of Commons, Lord Grenville's motion relative to the issues of bank papers, and Mr. Yorke's motion relative to the volunteers, have been postponed, in consequence of the illness of his Majesty.

著

The committee appointed to try the petition of Sir Thomas Turton, against the Southwark election, have decided in favour of Mr. Tierney. The King has been pleased to grant unto Major-General Sir John Francis Cradock, Knigt, Companion of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, his royal licence and permission, that he may receive and wear the Badge of the Ottoman Order of the Crescent, conferred on him by the Grand Signior.He has, also, been pleased to appoint Major-General John Stuart to be Lieutenant Governor of his Majesty's island of Grenada. —— His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, has been pleased to appoint Mr. Sheridan, Receiver General of the Duchy of Cornwall, in the room of Lord Elliot, deceased.Sir James Bontier, who succeeded Mr. Clapham, as Collector of his Majesty's Customs in the island of St. Lucie, is since appointed Ordnance Store-Keeper to the colony of Demerara. On the 14th inst. the public was informed that the King had been so much indisposed, that Sir Francis Millman, Dr. Heberden, and Mr. Dundas had been called in to attend him; and a bulletin was communicated to the different branches of the royal family, stating that "His Majesty "is much indisposed to-day."-A cabinet council was held in the evening, which continued from eight until past three o'clock.On the 15th the bulletin was, that "His "Majesty is to-day much the same as "he was yesterday," signed by "F. Mill66 man aid W. Heberden." These two gentlemen, together with Mr. Dundas sat up all night with the King. The Council met again at eight o'clock in the evening, and sat until past midnight.-On the 16th the Bulletin was, that "no material altera"tion has taken place since yesterday. F. "Millman, W. Heberden." A meeting of the Council was held during the day, and another at night.-On the 17th, the Bulletin was, that "his Majesty has had several "hours sleep, and seems to be refreshed by F. Millman, W. Heberden." Sir Lucas Pepys and Dr. Reynolds were also called in to attend his Majesty. The Council sat again on that day. The reports generally circulated were, that the King was certainly better.-On the 18th, the Bulletin was, that his Majesty is much the

66 it.

66

same as yesterday, and we do not appre"hend him, to be in danger. L. Pepys, "H. M. Reynolds, F. Millman, W. He"berden." The orders which had been

These appointments were made previous to his Majesty's illness.

given at the Queen's House for the exclusion of all persons, except the Royal Family, the medical gentlemen attending the King, those of the household, and Mr. Addington, were strictly observed. During

the dav, Mr. Addington had an audience with the Royal Family.-On the roth, the Bulletin was, that his Majesty has had a good night, and is rather better to-day. "L. Pepys, H. M. Reynolds, F Millman, "W. Heberden." Besides the gentlemen who signed the Bulletin, Dr. Symmonds, of St. Luke's, was called in. The general opinion during the day was, that his Majesty was better. A Cabinet Council was held at noon.- -On the 20th, the Bulletin was, that his Majesty continues much "the same as he was yesterday. L. Pepys, "H. M. Reynolds, F. Millman, W. Heber"den." From the favourable symptoms which appeared during the day, considerable hopes were entertained of the King's recovery. The Council met again at noon. -On the 21st, the Bulletin was, that "his "Majesty continues much the same as he "has been these two last days. L. Pepys, "H. M. Reynolds, F. Millman, W. He"berden." One of the physicians was in constant attendance on the King during the whole day. On the z2d, the Bulletin was, that his Majesty has had a good night,

and is rather better this morning. L. "Pepys, H. M. Reynolds, F. Millman, W. "Heberden." Besides the physicians already mentioned, Dr. Turton has attended the King. The Council sat again at eleven that morning For the two last days the Equerry and Groom in waiting attended at the Queen's House.

NAVAL. The naval preparations in the enemy's ports are again represented to be in such a state of forwardness as to enable them almost immediately to attempt an invasion. Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather which has prevailed in Holland for some time past, all the small vessels which have been built at different places, for the flotilla at Flushing, have passed along the canals to the place of rendezvous. About sixty vessels of from four to six hundred tons burthen remain at Amsterdam, intended for the troops at the Helder: at New Diep also, a large number of transports remains; on board of which troops are to be immediately embarked. At Flushing, which is the grand place of assemblage for the Batavian boats, &c. &c. the flotilla is com plete, and it is said, only waits for orders to sail. At Boulogne, too, notwithstanding the extent of the preparations there, it is reported that every thing is ready for immediate action, although it was asserted in

the accounts received last week, that all the armed vessels, transports, &c. which were to be assembled there could not be collected before the end of March.-An'embargo has been laid on all vessels in Bourdeaux, and all the merchantmen at that place, amounting to upwards of fifty, have been taken imo the service of the Republic. It is also said, that there are about two hundred and fifty flat-bottomed boats there, and that much exertion is made-to get them ready for service. The two frigates and twelve gun-vessels which were directed to be built in the ports of France, by the Italian Republic, are completed.On the 17th instant, Capt Brown, in the Squirrel, captured the French No. 626, called L'Esperanel, of forty tons burthen, and fitted to carry eight horses. She left Ostend the night before, and was bound to Boulogne.

IRISH BANK PAPER-The third reading of the bill for continuing the restriction on the Bank of Dublin brought forth, on the 21st instant, some facts and observations, which the public must consider as interesting. To the bill itself no objection was made; but, on the principle of it, and as to its general tendency, Lord Archibald Hamilton begged leave to state, that his opinion was not at all changed; and, Mr. Corry remarked, that he should say nothing upon these topics, seeing that they were "not regularly before the House," the simple question being, whether the restriction

on the Bank of Dublin should be continued or not. This is a new and very favourite way of shortening discussions, or rather of preventing them altogether; for, if the principle and general tendency of restriction bills were not proper topics to be discussed upon this occasion, it is hard to say what were proper topics: indeed, if such doctrine prevails, there will soon be an end to all discussion whatever; and the pious Doctor, amongst his other achievements, will have reduced the conversation of the House of Commens to yea yea, "and nay nay."Sir John Newport took occasion to make, on this occasion, some very pertinent remarks. He very clearly and concisely exposed the absurdity of the opinions given by Mr. Thornton, in a former debate upon this subject; * and, he reminded those gentlemen, who seemed to attribute the loss upon the exchange between England and Ireland solely to the degradation of Irish bank paper, that there * See the preceding sheet, p. 247, et seq.