“The WIVES and FAMILIES of the _unfortunate persons_ now
imprisoned for an _alleged conspiracy_ against the present
government, venture to intrude their helpless and unprotected
situation on the immediate attention of their countrymen, and to
offer this imperfect, but they trust not unsuccessful, appeal.
“Into the truth or falsehood of the charges, by virtue of which
their husbands and parents are suffering under the double weight
of public obloquy and rigorous confinement, they do not now
presume to enter; they merely put in their claims in behalf of
their unhappy relatives, that they may not be deprived of the
benefits common to every Briton, _viz._, that of being at least
not condemned until _legally_ proved guilty, nor excluded from all
possibility of a fair and unbiassed trial, _before a jury of their
peers_.
“They beg to remind their countrymen that, hitherto, the
unfortunate accused have had no opportunity of proving their
innocence, or offering any thing in their own defence; that
all is _ex-parte_ statement, consisting of the testimony of
_Bow-street Officers_, and the exaggerated reports contained in
the public Journals, the former of which in many instances have
been _interested parties_, and have even been _proved_ to have
instigated to the commission of crime, that they might afterwards
_betray the delinquents, and obtain the promised reward_; and the
latter are notoriously guilty of loading their daily columns with
the most scandalous falsehoods and misrepresentations.
“Under these impressions, they trust that a generous and humane
Public will suspend their judgment, until the whole of this
unhappy business has undergone the solemn and final adjudication
of a Legal Tribunal, when the guilt or innocence of the respective
parties may be rendered manifest to the world at large. Of this
they are naturally the more solicitous, because it will be
recollected, that when upon a former occasion, some of the persons
who now stand charged with the crime of High Treason, were accused
and tried for a similar offence, it was found, after a patient and
impartial investigation, to the perfect satisfaction both of the
Jury and the British Public, that the alleged Conspiracy was (as
they verily believe the present will also be proved,) nothing more
than the artful invention of _hired Spies_ and _secret Agents_,
who endeavoured to instigate to the perpetration of crime, that
they themselves might reap an ample harvest from the blood of
their deluded victims, and recommend themselves to their employers.
“Waiving for the present, however, all further discussion upon
this painful and distressing subject, it is earnestly hoped that
whatever opinion or prejudice may be entertained respecting the
guilt or innocence of the accused, a generous Public will not
confound the innocent with the guilty, or suffer the defenceless
and unprotected Women and Children, who have no share or concern
in these melancholy transactions, to perish for want of timely
relief, while their Husbands and Parents are lingering in solitary
confinement, unable to stretch forth a helping hand to save them
from impending ruin: they are at this moment actually destitute of
the means of subsistence, and dying for want of food.
“It is hoped that this imperfect but faithful statement of their
real situation and circumstances, will induce the benevolent to
step forward and contribute their liberal aid, to rescue those
distressed objects from famine and despair.
“Subscriptions will be received by the Printer, 10, Duke Street,
Smithfield; Mr. Griffin, 10, Middle Row, Holborn, (opposite
Gray’s-Inn Lane:) Mr. Walker, Gun Street, Spitalfields; and by the
Relatives of the accused Persons The smallest Donations will be
thankfully acknowledged.
_Mary Brunt_, for herself and one child.
_Mary Tidd_, and eight children.
_Amelia Bradburn_, and eight children.
_Mary Strange_, and two children.
_Charlotte Preston_, and three sisters.
_Susan Thistlewood_, one child.
_Sarah Davidson_, and six children.
_Caroline Harrison_, and three children.”
Mr. HARMER was employed by the Committee for all the prisoners, except
Bradburn, having been previously employed for Bradburn by that man’s
relations and friends.
Mr. ADOLPHUS and Mr. CURWOOD, were retained as counsel for Thistlewood,
Brunt, Davidson, Ings, and Tidd; and Mr. WALFORD and Mr. BRODERICK, for
the remainder of the prisoners.
It may be proper here to state, that during the whole time the
prisoners were in custody, on the awful charges which we have so
minutely detailed, the greatest attention possible was paid to their
personal comfort and convenience, consistent with their safe custody;
and indeed the unhappy men themselves felt and acknowledged the humane
attention with which they had uniformly been treated.