The trial (at large) of James Hill; otherwise James Hind; otherwise, James Actzen: for feloniously, wilfully, and maliciously, setting fire to the rope-house, in His Majesty's dock-yard at Portsmouth. Tried at the Assize, at Winchester, on Thursday, March 6, 1777. Before the honorable Sir William Henry Ashhurst, knt. ... and Sir Beaumont Hotham, knt. ... / Taken in short-hand ... by Joseph Gurney. And published by permission of the judges.

John the Painter

Date:: [1777?]

Credit: The trial (at large) of James Hill; otherwise James Hind; otherwise, James Actzen: for feloniously, wilfully, and maliciously, setting fire to the rope-house, in His Majesty's dock-yard at Portsmouth. Tried at the Assize, at Winchester, on Thursday, March 6, 1777. Before the honorable Sir William Henry Ashhurst, knt. ... and Sir Beaumont Hotham, knt. ... / Taken in short-hand ... by Joseph Gurney. And published by permission of the judges. Source: Wellcome Collection.

24/38 page 26

[ 20 ] or any other motives whatlbevcr your LorJiliip can confider that in your own mind, much better than I can Ipeak it, as I am not endowed with oratory. Coi rt. Do you reft your defence on that obfervation, or do you intend to call any vvitneftes ? . , . . Prifoner. With refpeft to any other witnefles tliat may be called againft me, if there is any pofiiive fact can be proved agair.ll me, 1 will then prove the negative, or otherwife the court will proceed according to the laws of the country. .1 have one thin'-’-more to fay; I would put a few queftions to this man, Mr. Baldwin. Frtfcner. I think you gave evidence, that I fhould have faid to you, that on Friday the 6th of December laft, I went into the.FIemp-Houfe, belonging to his Britannic Majefty’s yard, in Porifmouth Baldwin, I did. Prifo7ier. And that I went in there with feme combuftibles, and liglued fome hemp ? Baldwin. Yes; in order to fet fire to the combuftibles. Prifoner. Do you fpeak of lighting a flame, or laying the thing lighter ? Baldwin. You faid it was matted, that it was to make it lie light. Prifoner. It is not my bufinefs to deny going to Canterbury, or confefs it ; do you fay, that I faid, I went to Canterbury and had the tin machine made ? Baldwin. Yes. Prifoner. You alfo fay, that I faid, that I went into a houfe on Portfmouth Common, and left the paflport Baldwin. Yes^ among other things. Prifoner. There are fome other evidences fay, that I was at Canterbury, one fays, about fix weeks before Chriftmas, another fays, about fix or feven, another between Michaelmas and Chriftmas, anotlier, before or after the 2oth of November ; of the other three, two fpeak of it as fooner : refpefling the French paflport that has been found at Portfmouth, it feems to me inconfiftent how it can be my paffport, and .at the fame time, I to be at Canterbury, or anywhere in England at the time mentioned; the date of the palTport is the 13th of November; if I can bring thefe two articles to bear, it feems veryunintelligibe to me, for it .is fworn, that I faid, that is my pafT- -port, and again it is fworn, that I was in England at that time ; that is equal to the good gentleman, that faid I had power to alter the colour of my own hair ; if there is any thing brought againft me that is pofitive, I am ready with the greateft pleafure, by the help of Almighty God, to receive the puniflrmentof the laws of the country, be what it will; there are other things furprize me more than that. I have nothing more to fay, my Lord. Counfelfor the Crown. We have done with our evidence. Court, Will you call any witneflTes ? Prifoner. For what end .? till fomething is proved pofitive againft me, I intend no defence in the world. I am ready to live or die according to juftice.

Licence and re-use

Contents