twenty of the ablest young men at the bar volunteered their services; and the traversers saw arrayed at their side an amount of professional ability and chivalry such as was never united on such an occasion.  The most respectable solicitors in the profession, too, contended for the honour of being their recorded attorneys.  The juries disagreed in both cases; and the charge against Mitchel lapsed into that more formidable prosecution which sealed his fate.

Mitchel’s arrest under the Treason Felony Act was not unexpected.  But as soon as it was ascertained that he was lodged in Newgate, his fate engaged the entire care of his co-Confederates.  The question at once arose whether, if a rescue were attempted, there were resources to ensure even a decent stand.  It was ascertained that the supply of arms and ammunition was scanty and imperfect, and the supply of food still scantier.  The people had been decimated by three years of famine:  and no want could be more appalling than the want of food.  On inquiry, it was found that there was not provision for three days in the capital, which depended on daily arrivals for its daily bread.  Throughout the country, the supply was even more precarious.  The Government had in their own hands the uncontrolled power of preventing the arrival of a single grain of corn; and, if so minded, could starve the island in a fortnight, supposing the people were even able to possess themselves of all the cattle in the country.

These were some of the considerations which influenced the decision of Mr. Mitchel’s comrades.  Whether the opinion were or were not a correct one, they acted on the conviction that, under all circumstances, any attempt to rescue him would eventuate in a street row which would entail not only defeat but disgrace.  If they could but persuade themselves that a blow might be struck, even though defeat and death followed, they most certainly would have attempted it.  It was generally understood, on the day before the trial, that the idea of a rescue was abandoned; and the trial commenced amidst gloomy presentiments and blighted hopes.  After hours of quibbling and legal fencing, a jury was selected, by the crown, to convict.  From the moment they went through the blasphemous process of swearing to give a true verdict, John Mitchel’s fate was sealed.

I pass over the details, and come to the last act in the infamous drama, called his trial.

The following account of the closing scene is not mine.  Feeling inadequate to describe a scene of which even a distant recollection is exciting, I asked a friend who felt the deepest interest in the trial to describe it.  With what he has written I entirely agree, save one sentence.  He says that it was owing to the action of the council of the Confederation John Mitchel’s personal friends were allowed to be assaulted, with impunity, by the police.  I do not think so.  With respect to the decision of the council, I feel bound to assume my share of its responsibility, although I yielded to it with the utmost reluctance and regret:—­