I will confess it, that I desired an open resistance of the people to that government, which, in my judgment, entailed these sufferings upon them.  I have used the words open and honourable resistance in order that I might refer to one of the articles brought in evidence against me, in which the writer suggests such things as flinging burning hoops on the soldiery.  My lords, these are no sentiments of mine.  I did not write that article.  I did not see it or know of it until I read it when published in the paper.  But I did not bring the writer of it here on the table.  Why?  I knew that if I were to do so, it would be only handing him over at the court-house doors to what one of the witnesses has very properly called the fangs of the Attorney-General.  With respect to myself I have no fears.  I trust I will be enabled to bear my sentence with all the forbearance due to what I believe to be the opinion of twelve conscientious enemies to me, and I will bear with due patience the wrath of the Government whose mouthpiece they were; but I will never cease to deplore the destiny that gave me birth in this unhappy country, and compelled me, as an Irishman, to receive at your hands a felon’s doom for discharging what I conceived, and what I still conceive, to be my duty.”

Mr. Duffy’s trial was postponed.  His final escape is known to most of my readers; but as I cannot approve of the character of his defence, I prefer saying no more of it in this place.

It is here needful to refer to myself, a topic always disagreeable to others, but painfully so on this occasion to me.  The proposal to form a league with the remaining members of the Association originated with certain gentlemen, among whom the Rev. Mr. Miley held a prominent place, who personally waited on Mr. O’Brien to testify their abhorrence of the outrages offered to him in Limerick.  Some very questionable politicians, who watched with the eye of traffic the current of public opinion, and sought to make the same profit of the reflux they had formerly made of its unimpeded tide, attended on those occasions.  Others, of purer motives, and loftier patriotism, joined in these interviews, and contrived to have them repeated.  Among these were the poet, Samuel Ferguson, and Richard Ireland, two recent and brilliant converts to the cause of nationality.  There were others, whom I need not name, of equally unquestionable purity.  But for several weeks, while these interviews were held, there was no exact delegation from either the Confederation or Association.  I am not, indeed, aware whether any such delegation was ever formally given or assumed.  However, negotiations proceeded, and though they were never brought to a satisfactory adjustment, the dissolution of the Confederation was formally proposed and adopted.  On that day the greatest hope of Ireland perished.