Monthly Chronicle.

TRIALS FOR HIGH TREASON . SPECIAL COMMISSION » l . vl AIDS TO N K , MONDaV , MAY 21 , 1798 . The KING against ARTHUR O'CONNOR , Esq . JAMES O'COIGLEY , JAMES JOHK FIVEY , JOHN ISINNS , JOHN ALLEN , and JEREMIAH LESRY . Mr . Justice Buller , Mr . Justice Heath , Mr . Justice Lawrence , and Mr . Serjeant Shepherd , took their seats on the Bench by seven o ' clock . . Previous to the names of the Jurors being called over

, Mr . Plomer observed , that ii was far from his intention to interrupt the pro - ceeeings of the day by any unnecessary observation ; but he felt it his duty , in order to preserve the puritr of the adminis'ration of public justice , nol to lose a moment in slating the contents of an affidavit which had been just sworn . It respected a charge of Ihe foulest nature ; a charge of one of the most daring attempis lo violate the public justice of th country- —of one of the grossest contempts of ihe court that ever was practised . The charge was nothing less than that of a nicked attempt to tamper with the Jury appointed to try the guilt or

innocence of the prisoners at the bar , and was founded on the affidavit of " a most respectable person , concerning whose veracity and honour there was not the slightest doubt . Their Lordships would be surprised to hear that endeavours had been made , in conversations , by indirect means , with Jurors , known to he such , to prejudice their judgments , and induce them 10 come into court with minds predetermined to convict the prisoners at the bar , guilty or not guilty . 1 he court would be still more surprised , when they heard that the person against whom he had to complain bore the sacred character of a clergymanyet he

; should slate , under his own hand-writing , . in account of the conversation lie had with several of the Jurors ; and he had no doubt but the court ,. when in possession of the facts , would mark his conduct by the severest reprehension . [ The letter was then read from ihe Kev . Arthur Young , of which the following is an extract ; the observations in the concluding part not being relevant to the business . ] ' Dear Sir , I dined yesterday will ) three of the Jurymen of the Blackburn

Hundred , who have been summoned to Maidstone to the trial of O'Connor anil Co . and it is not a lit lie singular , that not one yeoman of this district should have been summoned to an assize for this county , nor to any of the Quarter Sessions , excepting the Midsummer , for more than fifty years . These three men are . wealthy yeomen , and partisans of the High Court Parly . Now , this is as it ought to . be ; and , as they are good farmers , and much in my interest , to be sure , I exerted all my eloquence to convince them how absolutely necessary it was at the present moment , for the security of ( he realm , that the felons should swing-. 1

represented to them , that the acquiiial of Hardy and Co . laid the foundation of the present conspiracy , the Manchester , London Corresponding Society , & c . & c . I urged them , by all possible means in my power , to hang them through mercy , a memorial to others ; that had oihers suffered , the deep laid conspiracy which is coming to li ght would have been necessarily crushed in its infancy . These , with many other arguments , t pressed uiih a view thai they should go into court avowedl y determined in their verdict , no matter what Ihe evidence . An innocent mancommitted to gaolnever otfers a bribe to a turnkey to let him escape .

, , O'Connor did this to my knowledge ; and , although the Judge is sufficiently stern , and seldom acquits where hanging is necessary , the only fear I have is , that , when the Jury is impannelled , the Blues may gain the ascendancy . In short , I pressed Ihe matter so much upon their senses , that if any one of these three is chosen , I think something may be done . These three men have gained their good fortunes by farming , and 1 think they are now thoroughly sensible that they will lose every shilling in acquitting these felons . ' This lettercontinued Mr . Plomer , was UIUUT the hand-writing of the Rev

, Arthur Young , and was addressed to Gamuliah Lloyd , Esq . a gentleman of Bury St . Edmund ' s . Notice had been given to Mr . Young of this application , ancl he had acknowledged the letter to be his writing . He had been called on to state who the three yeomen of Blackburn were , in order that they might be made the subjects of distinct challenge ; but he had refused to name them . Mr . Plomer said , he was persuaded it could not be the wish of the Court , or the