Peccator Videbit Et Irascetur; Dentibus Suis Fremet Et Tabescet:
Desiderium Peccatorum Peribit.
AT the end of Mr. Aspinall's able oration, the jury appeared to me, to be
decidedly willing to let me go, with an admonition to sin no more:
because Mr. Aspinall took the same line of defence as Mr. Michie, the
counsel in the trial of John Manning; that is, he confessed to the riot,
but laughed at the treason. However rashly the diggers had acted in
taking up arms, however higgledy-piggledy had been the management of the
stockade, yet they were justified in resisting unconstitutional force
by force.
His Honour tried the patience of the jury; well knowing by experience,
that twelve true-born Britons can always afford to put up with a good
long yarn.
The jury retired at nine o'clock. My first thought was directed to the
Lord my God and my Redeemer. Then naturally enough, to sustain my
courage, I was among my dear friends at Rome and London.
To remain in the felon's dock whilst your JURY consult on your fate,
is a sensation very peculiar in its kind. To be or not to be; that is the
actual matter-of-fact question. Three letters making up the most
important monosyllable in the language, which if pronounced is life, if
omitted is death: an awkward position for an innocent man especially.
The jury, after twenty minutes past nine, were again in the jury-box.
I was satisfied by their countenances that 'the People' were victorious.
The Clerk of the Court: "Gentlemen of the Jury, have you considered
your verdict?"
Foreman: "We have."
The Clerk: "Do you find the prisoner at the bar Guilty or Not Guilty?"
Foreman, with a firm voice: "NOT GUILTY!"
'Magna opera Domini'--(God save the People)--thus my chains sprang
asunder. The people inside telegraphed the good news to the crowd
outside, and "Hurrah!" rent the air in the old British style.