of infamy a colour which is associated with so many recollections, not of party triumphs, but of national glories—­not with any sect, or creed, or party, but with a nation and a race whose children, whether they were the exiled soldiers of a foreign state, or the soldiers of Great Britain—­whether at Fontenoy or on the plains of Waterloo, or on the heights of Fredericksburgh, have nobly vindicated the chivalry and fame of Ireland!  It is for them that the green has its true meaning.  It is to the Irishman in a distant land this emblem is so dear, for it is entwined in his memory, not with any miserable faction, but with the home and the country which gave him birth.  I do hope that Irishmen will never be ashamed in this country to wear the green, and I hope an attempt will never again be made in an Irish court of justice to punish Irishmen for wearing that which is a national colour, and of which every man who values his country should feel proud.

When Mr. Crean resumed his seat—­which he did amidst strong manifestations of applause—­it was past three o’clock in the afternoon.  It was not expected that the case would have proceeded so far by that hour, and Mr. Martin and Mr. Sullivan, who intended each to speak in his own behalf, did not expect to rise for that purpose before next day, when it was arranged that Mr. Martin would speak first, and Mr. Sullivan follow him.  Now, however, it was necessary some one of them should rise to his defence, and Mr. Martin urged that Mr. Sullivan should begin.

By this time the attendance in court, which, during the Solicitor-General’s speech and the crown evidence, thinned down considerably, had once more grown too great for the fair capacity of the building.  There was a crush within, and a crowd without.  When Mr. Sullivan was seen to rise, after a moment’s hurried consultation with Mr. Martin, who sat beside him, there was a buzz, followed by an anxious silence.  For a moment the accused paused, almost overcome (as well he might have been) by a sense of the responsibility of this novel and dangerous course.  But he quickly addressed himself to the critical task he had undertaken, and spoke as follows:—­[Footnote:  As Mr. Sullivan delivered this speech without even the ordinary assistance of written notes or memoranda, the report here quoted is that which was published in the newspapers of the time.  Some few inaccuracies which he was precluded from correcting then (being a prisoner when this speech was first published), have been corrected for this publication.]

My lords and gentlemen of the jury—­I rise to address you under circumstances of embarassment which will, I hope, secure for me a little consideration and indulgence at your hands.  I have to ask you at the outset to banish any prejudice that might arise in your minds against a man who adopts the singular course—­who undertakes the serious responsibility—­of pleading his own defence.  Such a proceeding might be thought to be dictated