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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
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THE


SPEECH


OF TRE


RT. lION. FRANCIS BILACKBURNIE,


ON BEHALF OF


MISS NEYJIL


IN THE COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, ON THE IOQnr OF JANUAR~Y, 1838,
      AND STUDIOUSLY SUPPRESSED IN THE PUBLISHED
              ACCOUNT OF THE TRIAL.


    '      '. AS REPORTED
BY A BARRISTER.




        "Fiat justitia, ruaw lum."
    "He who allows oppression, shares the crime."




          DUBLIN:
PRINTED'FOR THE FRIENDS OF MISS NEVILL,


B3Y 'JAMES CHARLES, 57,


MARY- STREET.


1843.















<4<  , ._                                                           _  _ _ _ .    _ ,._    _ ___.











          THE SPEECH
                     OF THE
 RIGHT HON. FRANCIS BLACKBURNE,
                   ON BEHALF OF
             MISS NEVILL,
   AS REPORTED BY A BARRISTER WHO HEARD IT DELIVERED.


MR. BLACKBURNE, Q.C., stated the case on the
part of Miss Nevill. I am, said he, counsel for
Miss Nevill, as stated by my friend, Mr. Litton.
That the allegations made by a body of conspi-
rators, who wished to have made her a prey to
their plots, and that no ground might be left for
such a charge, and any impression arising from it
might be removed from the minds of the jury,
the other counsel, as well as myself, could pledge
their professional character they saw the lady
over and over, and that she was as anxious for the
result of that inquiry as it was possible for her to
be for any human event. The present case was
the first instance in this country where an appeal
was made from the decision of the Lord Chan-
cellor to a jury of the country and a court of
law; and it is, in fact, to be treated and consi-
dered as a criminal case demanding your utmost
attention.









                       4

  Miss Nevill received a fashionable education,
and enjoyed, on the death of her father, a pro-
perty of seven hundred pounds a year, together
with the interest of eight thousand pounds. As
to the vision which she affirmed she saw at an
early period of her life, it might be made a sub-
ject of ridicule or discussion ; but it is certain
that there are, and have been always, men of un-
blemished character and bright talents, who have
been obliged to admit the possibility of such
things. No man could pronounce it impossible.
She was a lady incapable of falsehood, and the
Court might be perfectly sure that the conviction
of the truth of that vision was fully impressed on
her mind.
  But should the jury even regard the delusion
as proved, that was not the question they had to
decide on, but had to decide whether she was
competent or not to manage her own afairs.
   Her whole life was devoted to works of charity
and religion. To be sure you have been told
that she impaired and encumbered her property,
and into that I will presently inquire. Let us
for the moment pass by the transaction at Liver-
pool, in 1831, and also the affair of Blundell, the
printer, and turn our attention to the important
point of the period which intervened between the
15th July, 1835, and the 9th of July, 1837, when
this Commission issued, and I shall be able to
prove the period included has been left untouched,








                       5

and not any act of Miss Nevill's brought up
against her; when, if any delusion existed, it
might surely have been proved. No one dared
put the question of whether she was of sound
mind or understanding, and able to manage
her own affairs to Doctor Reid, nor did they dare
to press a reply from Surgeon Belton. But the
question was asked-Of whom ? Why, of Doctor
Crampton, who never saw the lady but twice in
his life, when he visited her, as he tells you,
under the pretence of making inquiries for the
purpose of sending out medical men to Idumea l
I cannot, indeed, omit the gratuitous answer upon
this subject volunteered by Mr. Cornwall, to a
question not put to him at all, but shall leave the
rest until I come to the testimony of that gen-
tleman.
  Allow me now to observe that it is somewhat
singular that the year 1835 has been fixed upon,
as the period at which the alleged unsoundness of
mind commenced--a period which leaves alto-
gether untouched and unimpeached the bonds
passed by Miss Nevill to the different members of
her own family-to Messrs. Geary, Vernon, Grey,
and Roper. The former inquiry, you will ob-
serve, was altogether an ex parte proceeding.
Miss Nevill did not then make any defence, for
reasons which I shall advert to presently ; and,
therefore, why the parties conducting the prose-
cution, and having, in a great measure, the con-









                       6

trol of the jury, contend that this finding as to
the commencement of the alleged unsoundness of
mind, should limit the exact period, which, by its
porspective operation, would invalidate all future
acts of Miss Nevill. Leaving the transactions
regarding the bonds which I have mentioned
wholly unimpeached is rather singular.
  Much has been stated to you, and very strong
observations have been made, for the purpose of
proving the visionary and groundless nature of
Miss Nevill'sprojects regarding Idumea. But you
are aware, Gentlemen, that the history of the
country in question is a most singular one, and
I shall endeavour to explain to you the basis upon
which these plans and speculations were founded.
First, I shall observe, that with respect to the
conversion of the Jews, no Christian can doubt
that, sooner or later, that event will take place.
The particular period at which this event is to
happen is involved in much obscurity ; therefore,
have the signs of the times been continually the
objects of close observation, and public matters
and events have been always looked to in connec-
tion with this important subject. On these events
and matters Miss Nevill has always fixed an eager
contemplation.  Her correct and enthusiastic
mind must have been struck with the singular
situation of the Jews in the present time. Idumea,
too, which was formerly overrun by Barbarians,
has lately, and by mere chance, been, as it were,








                           7

   re-discovered, anid the m~eans if. egress and regress
   aftrded.. -Some years since. there was ,no, pro-;
   pect of thew restoation, of the. Jews *; but oew,
v.  odv changedo is. the tprospect of affairs. Th0
   Qttonnn empire is .at present s hken to its ver r
   base-?-its .power is gone--probably it miay .;asti
   but a few years longer. Among the Jews theni'
   selves, too, it is well understood that; a strong
   expectation of some importan event, now impend-
   ing, generally exists. Indeed, there is no doubt
   that .a ,large capitalist. of the Jewish persu~asin,
a- ove o2f the most wealthy and sensible men of the
   present day, actually did, at one time, entertain
   the, idea of carrying into effect a project, not  vo ;
   dissimilar to that which is now brought: forward as
   a proof of insanity on the part of Miss Nevill.
     The. Pacha of Egypt is now' independent of the.
   Turk, and undisputed lord of Egypt. He is ar,
   sensible man; very enlightened, and anxious= to
   carry into effect European policy, and European
   civilization. That such a person might be of
   essential service in bringing about the restoration
   of the Jews, was an opinion which took possession
   of Miss iNevill's mind; and that impression was
x; strengthened. by an event which took place in
   modern times, to which I shall now call your
   attention-I mean the recent discovery of Idumnea,
   an event which created a very strong sensation
   among those whose object it was to convert the
   Jews, aud restore them to their promised land.









                       8

The ruin and destruction of Idumea, or Edom,.
has been foretold in the Sacred Writings with
awful particularity.  The prediction was pro-
mulgated hundreds, nay thousands of years ago ;
yet, although the ruin of Idumea was plainly
foretold, the very existence of that country-
blotted, at it were, from among the nations of
the earth, until a few years , since, when    it
was accidentally discovered--was a matter of
mystery.
   There was found the city of Petra, and the
remains of thirty magnificent cities. The desola-
tion was so awful and impressive that it has been
stated in a modern review, that the traveller who
first saw these ruins, although an infidel, in
describing the scene, used unconsciously the
very words of Scripture, which have reference to
its state. The destruction of Jerusalem is not a
more direct instance of the fulfilment of Scripture
prophecy, than is that of Idumea.     It is not
extraordinary then, that Miss Nevill, impressed
with the idea of the certain restoration of the
Jews, and labouring for years in that sacred
cause, should have conceived projects, in which
the colonization of Idumea, in connection with
the restoration of the Jews, should have had some
share-projects,- which, perhaps, you may con-
sider somewhat extravagant, but to which the
circumstances of the time certainly lent some
shadow of reason.    I will now read you some








                        9

passages to show that men of talent and informa-
tion have conceived-the project of establishing the
Jews in Idumea to be possible ; and I shall also
read to you some passages from the Holy Scrip-
tures, furnished to me by my unhappy client
herself, to convince you these projects are borne
out by Sacred Writ.

            PROOFS FROM SCRIPTURE,
 That the restoration of Israel to Idumea is a part
   of the council of God, and neither a vain
   speculation nor delusion,-Read by Mr. Blck-
   burne, and extracts from Keith.
            Idumea is a land of dew.
   Proposition 1st.--The promise of Isaac to
Jacob gave him the land of Idumea, under the
character of Esau, and Esau was to have it for a
time.
  Promise 1st.-Genesis xxvii. 27, 28, (to Jacob
as Esau.)  "See the smell of my son is as the
smell of a field which the Lord bath blessed,;
therefore, God give thee of the dew of heaven,
and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn
and wine."
  This was, therefore, given to Jacob and Esau
first, as by the 39th verse :--
  "And Isaac his father answered and said to
him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of
the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above."
  Deut. xxxiii. 13. ".And of Joseph he said,























x


                       10

 Blessed of the Lord be his land for the precious
 things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep
 that coucheth beneath."
   It is a remarkable =fact, no rain falls in Idumea,
 but there is a heavy dew at night. Rain does fal
 in Palestine, which forms a marked distinction
 between the two countries.
   Idumea is a land of mines, of which there is no
 mention of any in Palestine.
   Deut. viii. 7, 8, 9. "For the Lord thy God
bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks
of water, of fountains and depths that spring out
of valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley,
and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates, a land
of olive oil and honey, a land wherein thou shalt
eat bread without, scarceness, thou shalt not lack
any thing in it, a land whose stones are iron, and
out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass."
  Idumea is the only country where native brass
is to be found. Solomon's riches came from Idu-
mea, where he had. a navy.
  1 Kings ix. 26, 28. " And King Solomon made
a navy of ships in Ezion Gaber, which is beside
Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of
Edom; and they came to Ophir, and fetched from
thence gold, two hundred and forty talents, and
they brought it to King Solomon."

         Promise to the Jews of Assher.
  Deut. xxxviii. 25. "Thy shoes shall be iron








11


aid brass, and as thy days so shall thy strength
be."
        Promise to Zebulon and Issaehar.
  Deut. v. 19. " They shall suck of the abundance
of the seas and of the treasures hid in the sand."
  Chap. v. 28. " The fountain of Jacob shall be
upon a land of corn and wine, also his heavens
shall drop down dew."
  Idumea called the land of the ancient moun-
tains and everlasting hills.
  Habakkuk iii. 6. " God came from     Teman,
and the Holy One from Mount Paran."  (Teman
and Paran were two cities of Idumea, on moun-
tains which were opposite each other.)  " He
stood and measured the earth, he beheld, and
drove asunder the nations, and the eveAastiig
mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did
bow ; his ways are everlasting."
  Promise that the everlasting hills should be
given to the tribe of Joseph.
  Deut. xxxviii. 13, 15.  " And of Joseph :he
said, blessed of the Lord be his land, and for the
chief things of the ancient mountains, and for- the
precious things of the lasting hills."
  The Israelites to be brought in again by Egypt.
  Deut. xxiii. 68. " And the Lord shall bring
thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way
which I spoke unto you."
  Promise that God will bring Israel to a second
pleading in the wilderness, different from  the









                       12

first, by their being commanded to build the waste
cities.
  Ezekiel xx. 35. "And I will bring you into
the wilderness of the people, and there will I
plead with you, face to face, like as I pleaded
with your fathers in the land of Egypt, so will I
plead with you, saith the Lord God."
   Psalm cvii. 35. "He turneth the wilderness
into a standing water, and dry ground into water
springs, and there he maketh the hungry to dwell,
that they may prepare a city for habitation, and
sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which  may
yield them fruits of increase."
   Proof from Scripture that Idumea was only to
 be desolate for a certain time, and after that to be
 inhabited by Israelites, to whom God will give the
 land, the denunciation against it being limited by
 the word " UNTIL," which bounds the expression
 " for ever" to a certain period, which word,
 " Oolam," is of limited extent in seventy places of
 Scripture, as well as in this case.
   Isaiah xxxii. 13. " Upon the land of my people
 shall come up thorns and briars; yea, upon all
 the houses of joy in the joyous city, because the
 palaces shall be forsaken, the multitude of the
 city shall be left, the forts and towns shall be for
 dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture for
 flocks, UNTIL the Spirit be poured upon us from
 on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and
 the fruitful field be counted for a, forest. Then








13


judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and right-
eousness remain in the fruitful field, and my
people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and
in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places."
   lx. 16. "Whereas thou hast been forsakenand
 hated, so that no man walked through thee, I will
 make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many
 generations."
   There never was any time when people did not
 pass and repass through Palestine, which was
 never forsaken or wholly desolate, though Idumea
 was, since the seventh century after Christ. The
 fact of so many travellers having written accounts
 of the land, and given drawings of the ruined
 towns and other buildings, shows that time has
 passed over, and that the forsaken land will soon
 become " an eternal excellency" in the hand of
 the Lord of Hosts.
   Ezekiel xxxvi. 33. "Thus saith the Lord God,
in the day that I have cleansed you from all your
iniquities, I will also cause you to dwell in the
cities, and the wastes shall be builded, and the de-
solate land tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the
sight of all that passed by, and they shall say, this
land that was desolate is become like the garden
of Eden, and the waste, and desolate, and ruined
cities are become fenced and inhabited."
  Proof from Scripture that Edom is named as
the place for the Israelites to dwell in at the com-
mencement of their restoration.









                      14

  Amos ix. 1L "In that day will I raise up the
tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up
the breaches thereof, and I will raise up his ruins,
and I will build it as in days of old, that they
may possess the remnaut of Edom and of all the
heathen that are called byw my name, saith the
Lord that doeth this. And I will. bring again the
captivity of my people Israel, and they shall build
the waste cities, and inhabit them, and they shall
plant vineyards and drink the wine thereof; they
shall also make gardens and eat of the fruit of
them, and I will plant them upon their land, and
they shall no more be pulled up out of their land
which I have given them, saith the Lord thy

  Obadiah v. 17. "Upon Mount Sion shall be
deliverance, and there shall be holiness, and the
house of Jacob shall possess their possessions, and
the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house
of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for
stubble, and they shall kindle in them and de-
vour them, and there shall not be any remaining
of the house of Esau, for the Lord hath spoken
it; and they of the south shall possess the Mount
of Esau, and saviours. shall come up on Mount
Sion to judge the Mount of Esau, and the king-
dom shall be the Lord's."
   Psalm lx. 9, and Psalm cvii. 9, where these
words are repeated.
   "Over Edom will I cast out my shoe," (the




x


                         15

   mode of purchase ii the East,) u~Ipon.ni re tne
   will' I triumphis Who will bring 'me into: he
   strong city? who will lead me into Edom ?
     Proof from' Scripture that when {the Lord comes
   to reign on earth he will appear "in 1dwue%, wich.
   will thani be inhabited by Israelites. t
     Mieah ii. 12, 13. «1 will surely assemblej,O(
   Jaeob, all of thee; I will surely gather the rem-
   nant of Israel: I will put ,them, together as the
   sheep of Bazrah, as: a flock rin the .midsat of their
   fold, they shall make-.a great noise: by reason.o
   the.- multitude of men. }The B~reaker :(Messiah)
   is come ;up before themi; they- have broken mim
   and have passed. through the gate, and are gone
   out by° it, and their King shall pass before them;
   and the Lord on the head of them.".a
     Isaiah lxiii. 1 ."Who is tthis that cometh from
   Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah," &c.
     Bozrah is the second city of Idumea- Christ
   was never there in his frst advent. -
     Isaiahm xviL 1. " Send ye the Lam to .)
  ruler of the land from   Selak (margin Petra)
  ;to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter
fofio.
    lProof that the promise. of G-od lto Abraham in-
    elides~ x not >only Paleatino, bUt Idume, :Moab;
    Ammon, and Chaldea, from the Nile to the ,Eu-
    phrates, which is conclusive.
    Genesis xv, 18. "In that sa~me: day the; Lord
rc made a, covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy


                                                              }4N









                       16

seed have I given this land, from the river of
Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates."

        EXTRACTS FROM KEITH, p. 101.x
   "Idumea is situated to the south and south-
east of Judea. It is bordered on the east with
Arabia Petrma, under which name it extended
southward towards the eastern gulph of the Red
Sea.   A  single extract from   the  Travels of
Volney will be found equally illustrative of the
prophecy, and of the fact :-
   " ' This country has not been visited by any
traveller ; but it well merits such an attention, for
from the report of the Arabs of Bakir, and the
inhabitants of Gaza, who frequently go to Maan
and Karak, on the road of the pilgrims, there
are, to the south-east of the Dead Sea, within
three days journey, upwards of thirty ruined
towns absolutely deserted.'
   "'We cannot be surprised at these traces of
ancient population, when we recollect that this
was the country of the ancient Nabotheons, the
most powerful of the Arabs, and of the Idumeans,
who, at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem,
were almost as numerous as the Jews. Besides
the advantage of being under a tolerably good

  * It is a singular fact, that all the preceding passages of
Scripture, and the extracts from Keith and La Borde's Travels,
were all charged by Dr. John Crampton as evidence of Miss
_Nevill's insanity.



                       17

 government, these districts enjoyed a considerable
 share of the commerce of Arabia and India, which
 increased their industry and population.   We
 know that as far back as the time of Solomon,
 the cities Ezion Geber, and Eloth, were highly
 frequented marts. The Idumeans, from whom the
 Jews only took their ports at intervals, must have
 found in them a vast source of wealth and popu-
 lation. Evidence, which must have been unde-
 signed, which would be suspected of partiality,
 and which no illustration can strengthen, and no
 ingenuity prevent, is thus borne to the truth of
 the most wonderful prophecies. That the Idu-
 means were a populous and powerful nation a
 long time after the delivery of these prophecies-
 that Idumea contained many cities, but that these
 cities are now absolutely deserted--that it was
 a commercial nation, and possessed highly fre-
 quented marts--and that it forms a shorter route
 than the ordinary one to India, and yet had not
 been visited by any traveller, are facts stated and
 proved by Volney.
   "'Burckhardt says-The traces of many towns
and villages are to be seen in Edom, and a
Roman road passed directly through the country.'
Of the remains of ancient cities still exposed to
view, he describes the ruins of a large town, of
which nothing remains but broken walls, and
heaps of stones; the ruins of several villages in
its vicinity ; the ruins of an ancient city; also
                                       13









                       1$

the extensive ruins of Gherandel Arundela, an
ancient town of Palestina Tertia ; and enu-
merates the remains of nine different towns within
p{ount Sin.
  "'In the, vicinity of Mount Sin are the extensive
ruins of a large city ; heaps of hewn stones, founda-
tions of buildings, fragments of columns, and
vestiges of paved streets, are spread over a valley,
which is enclosed on each side by perpendicular
pliffs, varying from four hundred to seven hun-
dred feet in height, which are hollowed out into
innumerable chambers of different dimensions,
rising in the cliffs tier above tier, until it seems
impossible to approach the uppermost.' Columns
also rise above columns, and adorn the fronts of
the dwellings ; horizontal grooves, for the con-
veyance of water, run along the face of the cliffs.
Flights of steps form the means of ascent, and the
summits of the heights, in various places, are
covered with pyramids cut out of the rock."

   It is true that these passages may have been
misinterpreted by Miss Nevill, or even miscon-
strued ; but surely the misinterpretation, or mis-
construction of a text of Scripture, is not an
indication of unsoundness of mind. Miss Nevill,
who had succeeded in collecting large subscrip-
tions to aid in the conversion and restoration of
the Jews, also opened an extensive correspond-
ence with persons of distinction in many parts of








                       19

1urope. She had influence enough with the
King of Prussia to establish schools for the
instruction and: conversion of the Jews in that
country ; and in that correspondence you will
perceive, that the designs which she had formed,
did not appear to those persons, with whom she
corresponded, as either extravagant, or absurd.
It is true that Mr. Litton has denied that MissI
Nevill had any such correspondence, and ham
challenged me to produce these letters. Gentle-
men, THE LETTERS ARE IN COURT, and you may
satisfy yourselves of the truth of my assertion.
But to return to the subject of Idumea. You will
mistake very much, from what you have heard
regarding Miss Nevill's statenent as to the paper
currency, if you think that she meant, or intended
it to be employed upon the Idumean project,
unconnected with other means. She never for
one moment, thought that it' could be accom-
plished, except through, the influence of the
Pacha of Egypt; and at the period when the
letters upon the subject, which have been read to
you, were written, Miss Nevill, having a balance
of one hundred and forty-five pounds in the hands
of her agent, Mr. Cornwall, she proposed to apply
that sum in opening the way to a negociation
with the Pacha of Egypt, through which she

  * Eight guard-books of original foreign letters were here
produced, in Modern Greek, French, Italian, and English.
They are swcrn to have been lodged in court.





                                                 at









                      20

hoped to be able to induce him to co-operate in
her endeavours to colonize Idumea, and to estab-
lisli and guarantee the payment of the paper
money, which has been mentioned to you. Now,
there was no misapprehension whatever upon the
part of Miss Nevill, as to the real state of Idumea,
which has been totally misrepresented to you by
my friend, Mr. Litton ; and all that can be said
on the other side was, that her projects were of
such an extraordinary and impracticable nature,
as to be in themselves evidence of unsoundness of
mind. But if those who were in communication
with her craftily led her on, and deceived her, and
that those projects of hers were, in fact, the crea-
tion of their device, surely that cannot be called
inherent unsoundness of mind. There is not a
particle of evidence upon this subject, either in
the letters of Miss Nevill, which have been read,
or in the communications with her, which have
been so detailed to you, some part of which was
obtained by means of a simulated acquiescence in
her plans. The period of her alleged insanity
has been made to commence upon the 15th of
July, 1835, and these communications end in
June, 1837 ; and there are none of these docu-
ments of earlier date than the month of January,
1837. The interval between the 15th of July,
1835, and the first of this communication being
wholly untouched, save by the account given by
Mr. Minchin, the clergyman, of his drinking tea







21


with Miss Nevill, in comipany 'with- Doctor de
Graves.
  Gentlemin-t appears that Miss Nevill Wa
some reason to complain of the manner in which
her accounts had been kept by Mrt Oornwald
This she did net conceal from him ; upon whiM
he furnished her with her accounts, ,commencing
about the period of her father's death, in 1822,
and continued up to the year 183.7. These
accounts, Miss ,Nevill herself (being a sgood
accountantV) examined,: and was assisted in, their
investigation by a friend. Here then we have
Mr. Cornwall, dealing with this lady as a. peg' o4
of business, in _the investigation of her account
,at the~ very1 time. when. he would have yow believe
;that he uconsidered her 'incompetent to manage
her ownr affairs.
  No*, with respect, to the correspondence -of
Miss Nevil, which has been read uppn the other
eide,, all of :them were replies to letters addressed
to her by her nephew, Sir William Geary, .which
I shall read to you, and were, each and every one
of her an~swers, induced and extorted from her by
those letters of Sir William Geary.
  The first of :SirWilliam Geary's letters, which
I shall present to you, is dated the 18th Febuary,
1837, and is addressed to Miss Nevill :$-
                   "tOxon oath, February t 8, 183.7..
     "tMy : lEARt 'Aor4T7
     "I have looked, carefully over your account-









                       22

 lbook, with Mr. Cornwall, and have looked back
 to the accounts of several years. The complaint
 you make against him for having, in January
 1828, paid you only sixty pounds, instead of one
 hundred and eighty-four pounds, twelve shillings,
 and fourpence, arises from a= mistake on your part,
 as he paid the full amount as usual. In every
 respect the accounts seem to be perfectly correct,
 and unless he has paid any things WITHOUT your
 order, or permission, or has paid any thing impro-
 perly, - they are without fault. In England
 V.e. Kent) we always allow our tenants one
 uarter's rent back ; for instance, what is due by
 them in October, is paid in January. ,In Ireland
 I know the general practice to be the same ; but
 with the addition of half a year-allowed on first
 entering a farm. So that supposing a tenant
 takes a farm in England in the month of May,
 his first half year is due in October, and collected
 in January. But as, in Ireland, you allow, the
 tenant half a year more, he does not pay until
 your June renat day. He then pays for his first
 half year; and as, in the account, it is always
 stated that the rent is paid up to a certain date,
 you never can be cheated. As in the case of a
 tenant dying (say in June), you receive a whole
 year's rent at once. I will endeavour to explain
 it more fully by putting a case. A hires a farm
 of me in May, 1830; he comes to me in January,
1831, and pays his half year, from May to Octo-








23


ber, 1830. In :Ireland, A takes a ,farm .of you i
May, ;1830- ilrst:.half, year, .payableL in January.
1831, is not taken.at-that: time, 'but he is allowed
hjalf a. year to settle himself :in his new.Jfarm,, and
he .pays the. first rhalf y-eaar in Junte . T31 ; (hir
the accoountstates-' Received for h~lfyear  exuding
October, 1830,' so .much').- This arrangemient:I
do not suppose that you could. now'change,-uules~
a new tenant was, taking a Vfarmn; and, even then,
I .doubt .very much whether it would be. toa your
advantage .to .depart fIrom. the :usual practice
The ~time for collecting .the; rents'' is, most probea-
bly, in the months of January and June, althou~gh
the half years are 'reckoned .-by tha farmer's ~yari
.which, dates from, -Michaelmas 'to- Michaelmas,
which. makes :the half year full in October and
May.:1 - You have_ received -your January incowe;
and there appears ,now? by, the book to. he as, much
as. one hunidred and& twenty .pounds,: deducting'
Mr.: Roper's twenty-five . pounds, now .in #Mr.
Cornwall's h ands, :belonging to you. _This; of
course, you have a right to do what you like with i
but, my dear aunt, let me ask you, how you
intend to pay your regular expenses, between this
time and next .June, :if ,you'pay away any qpart of
this sum at present ? As you do not tell mne, I
cannot know' what,_ plans you :are' meditating,
which .will require you .to 'sell :your, plate; but
this I feel sure of, that ".your. intentims are .the
lbest. Do not w6ithholdl our "confidencwe from mne,*.









                      24

and I will advise you to the best of wy pouwer;
and, although I may run the risk of differing from
you in opinion, I shall never hesitate to give you
mine without reserve. As your regular expenses,
between this time and June, will, as you must
know, come to a considerable sum, and as I
believe you follow my plan of settling all house
expenses regularly every month, let me advise
you not to think of paying away any money until
the end of the half year ; the overplus may then
be devoted to any purpose without fear of injus-
Lice to any one. If you do not adopt this plan,
but pay away your money now, what are the
tradesmen who supply you to do? You will not
be able to pay them, and they will be sufferers
for your want of thought beforehand. You will
say, perhaps, that you can borrow money to pay
them; but remember, that if you continue to do
so, from year to year, you are gradually reducing
your own resources, and instead of being able to
assist others in distress, and follow the dictates of
your own charitable feelings, you will have no-
thing left you to give away. Only manage well,
pay first your regular expenses, and then apply
the overplus, is my advice to you at present."

  Now, gentlemen, at the period when this letter
was written, Miss Nevill was anxious to have at her
command a sum of from one hundred and twenty-
five pounds, to one hundred and fifty pounds, and








25


for that purpose she determined upon selling her
plate. She expressed her intentions of doing so
openly, and never contemplated effecting it by
stealth ; accordingly, she had the plate valued by
a silversmith, and being family plate, the refusal
of it was offered by her to her nephew, Sir
William Geary; who when he heard of her inten-
tions, represented to her that the plate would
sell to much greater advantage in London than
in Dublin, but declined becoming himself the
purchaser. Accordingly, it was sent over to
England to Sir William Geary, who sold it cer-
tainly, but did not think proper to return Miss
Nevill the money it produced. He, however,
after a very considerable delay, and repeated ap-
plications from Miss Nevill, sent it-To whom ?--
To Mr. Cornwall ; and that money forms one of
the items in his account. This, gentlemen, will,
I hope, serve to explain some of the allusions
contained in the letter which I have just read
to you, and upon which I 811ll not at present
make any other commentary than this-that its
whole tone and style lead to this inevitable con-
clusion, that when, upon the 10th of February,
1837, Sir William   Geary ,wrote and addressed
this letter to Miss Nevill, he considered, ad-
dressed, and dealt with her, as a person capable
of understanding, and     conducting   her own
pecuniary affairs. ; yet this was at a period
more than eighteen months after the time,









                      26

when they would have you to believe this lady
was insane, and incapable of managing her own
affairs.

  The next letter of Sir William Geary, bears
date the 3rd of March, 1837, written from London,
addressed to Miss Nevill, and is an extremely
important one :-

     "MY DEAR AUNT,
  "I have been waiting until the arrival of your
plate before I answered your last letter ; but as
no packet is now expected before Sunday, I delay
no longer. I can assure you that you are quite
right in supposing that I am quite ready, at all
times, to assist you with advice, if you think it
worth having, and will place confidence in me.
I did not mean to say in niy last letter to you, that
you' had no right to receive the balance due to
you at the end of a half year-there can be no
doubt of that-and then to lay out your surplus,
as you may like. It would be easy for you to
do this-First, take a pen, and put down your
household expenses-rent, interest of loans, &c.,
which you will have to pay between this and July,
and you will at once see how much you can
afford to spend at once, for the object on which
your mind is intent. I will write to Cornwall
soon, and make inquiries about the property, and








27


your house, &c.,* and will let you know the result.
I think it very probable that I may give you a
great deal of information about the East, from
personal acquaintance with the countries to which
you allude, as well as. through friends whom    I
have in    Syria, = in Palestine, and  in Egypt.
Mehemet Ali, the Pacha of Egypt, was particu-
larly kind to me and my party, when in that
country, and I know many of the leading Beys
there. Who is it to whom      you are to pay the
sum necessary immediately ? Is it to go by way of
Damascus, Jerusalem, or Alexandria? As I have
friends in each of those places, I might ensure the
proper application of any funds you might wish
to lay out there..  I wish you would let me know
what your plans are, if you have formed any
which I suppose you have not, as you have only
given me a general outline of your ideas, which
wants filling up. by. details, before I can be ,of use
in promoting it. I dare say I shall be able to sell
that part of your plate which is old, to more
advantage than in Dublin. I mean, when it
arrives, to show it to several of the great silver-
smiths here, and get . all their valuations, which

  * It was her agitating about her just claim to the moiety of
a large property which was bequeathed to her in her dear
father's will, and enjoyed by the Geary's, with the connivance
of the person who should have been its guardian, which brought
on her a charge of lunacy ; but every farthing -of the main-
rates must be now restored.--Ep.









                       28

will enable me to obtain the highest price. I am
sorry to hear that influenza is so bad in Dublin-
pray take care of your health*-Louisa sends
her love.
           "Believe me your affectionate nephew,
                     "WILLIAM R. P. GEARY.'
  Now, gentlemen, I shall here take leave to say,
that the statements made by Miss Nevill, are by
no means so visionary and groundless as has been
represented bymylearned friend, on the other side.
Mr. Litton, indeed, would have you believe that
Idumea is a barren waste-a sandy desert, filled
with all manner of noxious reptiles, and such as
could never be rendered fit for the habitation of
man. He likewise ridiculed the supposition of
either mines or precious stones being found there.
Allow me to read you a few passages from a most
eminent author, in connection with the present
subject, which supports Miss Nevill's opinion.
This book, probably, is known to most of you,
gentlemen, and is entitled-" Count Leon La
Borde's Journey    through   Arabia, Petra, and
Mount Sinai; together with his visit to the City
of Petra, the Edom of the Prophecies :"-(Reads,
page 84.)
   "Hussein attended me during my labours ;
and in order to find occupation for the time that

    Let the persecutors all take care of their mental health,
for there is retributive justice even in this world, and some of
them have already been severely visited.-ED.










to hin appeared tedious, in the midst of heaps of
rubbish, which he deemed so insignificant, he
searched among the ruins for turquoise stones,
which are found here in great abundance, being
brought to the surface by the rains. He gave me
five of these stones, which were of considerable
size, parting with them without the least reluc-
tance. A person spending a few days on this
mountain, where he will be exposed to no danger,
and which is not more than six days' journey from
Cairo, might make a large collection of turquoise,
which, though not to be ranked among the best of
precious stones, nevertheless, possess a certain
value."
   The next extract I shall read speaks of the ex-
istence of the copper mines, formerly worked by
the Romans:-
   Page 81. " I was informed by our Arabs, and
I knew also in consequence of my different jour-
neys across the peninsula, which familiarized me
with its geological strata and conformation, that
an extensive bed of freestone, commencing in the
plain of Tih, and extending as far as Nasb and
the mountains of Sasboul el Cadem, and in a
southerly direction, towards Waddy Magara, which
was stained more or less deeply with oxide of
iron, exhibited in a horizontal strata, and in dif-
ferent proportions, but always announces unequi-
vocally the presence of copper. These strata the
ancients worked at three different places-first, at









                       30

Waddy Magara, which was discovered before the
others, on account of its proximity to the ordinary:
route of the caravans from the coast, and, there-
fore, offered greater advantages ; secondly, at
Sasboul el Cadem,' which seems to have been more
productive; and thirdly, at Nasb, which was
abandoned before the experiments with respect to
it were completed."
   Now, Gentlemen, you will judge if the follow-
ing ac'count of the country in the vicinity of
Petra be what you understand to mean a barren
and sandys desert, unfit for man or beast, without
water.-(Reads, page 175.)
   "We went on amid excavated rocks, but the
ravine gradually opened, the wall on each side
became lower, and the brook irrigated a verdant
pasturage, intermingled with herbs, flowers, fig-
trees, and laurels. ~ It would have been interesting
to trace these waters to their fountain head, which
issued to lave the feet of so many splendid monu-
ments.
   "The waters followed a regular descent, more
gentle than that of the ravine itself; and, at' an
elevation of about thirty feet, they passed through
pipes of baked earth, partly broken away, but
which might be repaired at a trivial expense, if
fresh inhabitants were to establish themselves in
the valley."
   Page 203. " There is to be found at Karak a
species of bearded wheat, that justifies the text of






















r






                                                                                                                                                 rn.


4




_r


I


7z6


;ezie??


e~wdc


697'/'L.








                       31

 the Bible against the charges° of exaggeration
 (see engraving of seven-eared Idumean wheat)
 of which it has been the object ; and the vines,
 also, of this country, of the fruit of which we
 saw some specimens,, account for the enormous
 grapes which the spies brought to Moses from the
 places they visited."-(See engraving; the natu-
 ral size of each grape is that of a mogul plum!
 the length of the bunch four feet eight inches, and
 some. five feet long, by two feet and a half.)
 I beg leave to point out, that no country can be
 called " desolate and barren" when it produces
 such fruits and corn as are here described. Ins
 deed, Count Leon La Borde   goes much further
 than 'Miss Nevill ever did, in point of what her
 friends would represent as chimerical speculation.
 That gentleman even assumes the practicability of
 the river Jordan being turned through Idumea !
 from a little above the Dead Sea, through Waddy
 Araba, which, he asserts, was its ancient channel,;
 before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah,
 which would at once fertilize the whole country.
 I could read you several passages from this vera-
 cious traveller to establish these facts, but I think
 I have now read sufficient to show you, Gentle-
 men, that Miss' Nevill had suficient grounds for
 the belief which she formed as to_ the wealth of
 the country, and that the statements of my learned.
friend, Mr. Litton, are not only unfounded, but
directly at variance with .the published statements









                       32

of modern travellers, as. well as with the admitted
ACCOUNTS OF THE SACRED WRITERS.
   But to return to the subject from which I di-
gressed. You shall see that Sir William Geary
was not only aware of the efforts which Miss
Nevill had made, for establishing the tribes of
Israel in Idumea, but she was aware of the
recent stir among the Jews, in "consequence of
Mehemet Ali shaking off the dependence of
Egypt on the Ottoman Porte, and she natu-
rally looked on him as the power whom God
had so raised up to further the restoration of
Israel; and it was evident that her nephew, Sir
William  Geary, who was her nearest relative,
and the friend on whom she supposed she had the
most reason to rely, not only approved, but encou-
raged her plans; otherwise, would he have written
in another letter-" It is my duty, as well as my in-
clination, to assist you?" And if he offered her his
co-operation, that circumstance might be called
his imposition, but not her insanity. Her friends
might have acted a more just and equitable part,
in using their influence to show her the impracti-
cability of her designs-which exertion, on their
part, would have been most successful, if such
impracticability could be proved ; but on the con-
trary, it did not appear that any advice had ever
been given her on the subject by those who
should have been her friends. Let me now call
your attention to the other letter of Sir William









                          33

 Geary's, in which not a syllable of remonstrance
 is offered.  Sir William. Geary, when appealed to
 as a nephew, as a dear friend and relative, ought
 surely to have advised her ,upon the subject. He,
 as his letter states, had every means of doing so
 with effect, from  his local and other informatio;
 but he does not do so.       On the contrary, his
 local and personal information is used, not for the
 purpose of disabusing her mind, but to delude, and
 deceive her. The whole of the management of
 this Commnssion has been carried on in precisely
 the same spirit, even the very witnesses for the
 prosecution   have been    actuated   by  the same
 principle.*
   First--There    is  Mr. Darley.      His visit to
 Miss Nevill was a deception ; he goes there

     Numerous tricks were played to prejudice the jury and the
public. It was asserted that Miss N. was influenced by the
prophecy of -a mouse, (Amos,) and another prophecy of
Huckabach, a kind of diaper. A hostile juror evinced his
knowledge of the case and of the Scriptures by asking when
would Mr. Idumea be examined. A clergyman, who is not
canonized in the opinion of his brethren, not only accompanied
the jurors daily down to Kingstown, with a view to prejudice
their minds, but intruded himself secretly into the jury-room
while the panel were deciding. The jury wished to have given
Miss N. the control of her property, and sent the foreman to
the judge upon that subject. Wearied at a late hour on
Saturday, after a whole week's attendance, they came to a kind
of forced agreement, to avoid being locked up until the follow-
ing Monday.--Some men, we know, " must hang while jurors
dine."-Ep.


C









                      34

instructed, and prepared by a communication of
her own, for the purpose of building cities in the
country, where her dear nephew, Sir William
Geary, has local and personal knowledge. Then
there is Vernon, who tells you (to use his own
expression) " that he humoured her, and drew
her out," as much as he could. These are the
witnesses who deposed to the making of notes, for
raising money in Idumea; and here, let me tell
you, that there is no evidence whatever, that
Miss Nevill even contemplated the making. of
these notes, previously to the letters which she
received from Sir William Geary, when in May
last he counterfeited an acquiescence in her plans
and projects ; and I will ask you, ought such evi-
dence as this, so elicited, so drawn forth, to be
now brought forward against the feeble, and the
weak? Is a moral fraud to be practised for the
purpose of entrapping this unhappy lady? Here,
at the critical period, when every preparation was
made, every engine set in motion, for the purpose
of carrying this Commission into effect, not only
was no advice offered her, but every effort made
to plunge her into difficulty and distress. No
notice is given her of the period ,when these
designs are concocted and arranged, to be put
into execution against her ; nay, when by mere
accident she does hear, upon the evening pre-
ceding the day on which her fate, her doom for
lfe, is to be sealed, the very means of defending








                        35

herself from a fate--to her worse than death
itself-are  pertinaciously withheld   from  her ;
thirty pounds are all that can be spared to her
out of her own funds, to enable her to defend
herself,* even' were defence practicable at such a
period, while her own agent, Mr. Cornwall, can
afford to pay, out of her own money, to the
attorney employied against her, the sum of one
hundred and eighty pounds, for the purpose of
getting her made a lunatic !    Vernon tells you
that he knows her well-that he humours her,
and draws her out as much as he can.
   Now, for this, is she to forfeit her liberty ?
Is the first, the greatest blessing, which is given
to a human being to enjoy, to be taken from
her ?  Now, with respect to Doctor Crampton.
It is undoubtedly necessary that a physician
visiting this lady, under the circumstances which
he did, should have been previously well-in-
structed as to the facts relating to her case ;
but he ought not to have gone to her in the cha-
racter of a person about to engage in the prose-
cution of a scheme such as he has detailed to
you. But, forsooth, he too is sent to "draw her
out and to humour her."   He is to represent the
assumed character of a person seeking patronage

  * The public may not be aware that poor Miss Nevill had to
sell her books, music, drawings, and to send half her furniture,
even her bed,: to a pawnbroker, to obtain a solicitor, and fee
counsel for her defence.









                       36

for some of his young medical friends. Surely,
surely, Miss Nevill's family, instead of amusing
her with impossible projects, ought to have se-
riously and constantly remonstrated with her.
The obligation upon them to take this course was
imperative, and if the advantage of the supposed
lunatic was considered the first object, that course
should have been pursued. You have heard that
in the year 1833 it was proposed to issue a com-
mission of lunacy against this lady; Doctor Reid
was then consulted, and he has told you that he
then gave his opinion that such a step could not
be taken without the greatest risk of bringing
upon her total and perpetual insanity. You have
heard the opinion of this sensible man, yet the
present proceedings have been instituted without
consulting a physician, and without intimation or
warning of any kind. In this case, before you
can find a verdict against the lady, two proposi-
tions must be established to your complete satis-
faction. You must be perfectly convinced,, not
only of her unsoundness of mind, but also of her
utter incapacity to manage her own affairs.
   There is not a word of truth in the statements
 which have been made as to the mode in which
 she contemplated realizing her plans regarding

   * Since the commission issued, its victim never gets a
 minute's sleep, from the time she retires at night until about
 nine o'clock next morning, when wearied Nature is refreshed
 by a few hours' repose.








                       37

Idumea. The project was not to be carried on at
her own expense. The only sum of money which
she ever intended to expend on it was the sum of
one hundred and fifty pounds already mentioned.
It has been said that she signed Idumean notes,
but these notes imposed no liability on her what-
ever, for you see they are only payable upon the
contingency of the mines of Idumea being
worked. As to the building of cities, the erect-
ing of walls and fortifications, and other matters
connected with this project, none of the expenses
of these were to come out of her own pocket, and
you will perceive that even the persons going out
to Idumea were to do so at their own expense.
   Now, Gentlemen, you have nothing whatever to
do with the extravagances of Miss Nevill's no-
tions, save as far as they relate to the waste of her
property. Let her notions appear to you to be
ever so strange or absurd, you cannot conscien-
tiously return a verdict against her, unless you
are satisfied that these notions are likely to lead
to the destruction of her property. But you have
been told that she has wasted her property al-
ready, and the transactions which took place at
Liverpool in 1831 are triumphantly appealed to
as evidence of this fact; and while i an upon this
subject, let me recall to your recollection the case
which my learned friend, Mr. Litton, was in-
structed to state upon this- subject.
   He told you that, some time in the year 1831,









                      38

 Miss Nevill, without the knowledge or sanction of
 her friends, " absconded," as he described it,
 "from Dublin to Liverpool, where she fell into
 the hands of a certain Mr. West, who represented
 himself as an emissary of Bishop Chace of Ohio,
 and of sundry other persons, by whom she was
 indueed to accept bills of exchange to the amount
 of three hundred pounds, two of which were
 afterwards paid by Mr. Cornwall." Now, there is
 no doubt whatever that Miss Nevill did go to
 Liverpool, in the latter part of the year 1831, for
 the purpose of carrying some of her benevolent
 plans into execution-that she did there become
 acquainted with the Mr. West alluded to-that
 for the purpose of establishing an   episcopal
 church in Liverpool, she did incur the liability
 stated-and that in so doing, she was deceived
 by this Mr. West, to the extent which you have
 heard.
   Gentlemen, you will recollect that Doctor
Singer has described that person as possessed of
very considerable talents and address, and as
having succeeded in imposing himself upon some
of the highest and wisest persons in this country
as an emissary of the Bishop of Ohio-that he
was received and treated as such by the Protes-
tant clergy, having succeeded in deceiving the
late Archbishop of Dublin and many others of the
clergy, is it, then, to be wondered at that he
should have imposed upon Miss Nevill ? But








39


how is the charge of Miss Nevill having abscoande4
and eloped to Lierpool, for some clandestine pur-
pose, without the knowledge or sanction of her
friends, proved,? Mr. Cornwall, the only witness
whom, they thought proper to examine on this
charge, tells you that he was perfectly aware of
Miss Nevill's intention of going to England, in
the latter part of the year 1831, to Bristol and to
Bath; but that she did not think fit to communi-
cate to Mr. Cornwall her land agent, her inten-
tion of going to Liverpool; he, however, dares not
venture to say that she did not communicate her
intentions to her own family. The question was
put to him. Now, I shall not suffer this imputa-
tion to rest upon what Mr. Cornwall has said, or
what he has not said. I shall prove to your com-
plete satisfaction that Miss Nevill's family werq
perfectly acquainted with her visit to Liverpool
and of the object and purpose of that visit ; and
so far from her proceedings there being clandes-
tine, that not only her sister, Lady Geary, knew
and approved of these proceedings, but that they
received the sanction and support of the bishops
of the Protestant Church.
  Now I pray your attention to the following
letter, written by Lady Geary to Miss Nevill,
when in Liverpool, in the month of May, 183.1
The period when Mr. Litton tells you, this poor
lady had absconded from her friends and family,
for some clandestine purpose.   It is addressed









                      40

to Miss Nevill, 26, Nelson-street, Great George's.
square, Liverpool and bears the post-mark of May
23, 1831 .--(Reads.)

                          " Sandlings, 'May 19, 1831.
     "MY DEAREST MARIANNE,
     This morning (not above an hour ago) I re-
ceived your letter, telling me of the opening of
your Hebrew Church, and most sincerely do I
congratulate you on the success of your great per-
severance and zeal in the cause. It must indeed
have been very gratifying to you, and I hope it
will lead to the conversion gradually of sufficient
to fill your church to overflowing. I can fully
imagine your feelings of joy on the occasion. I
could not help thinking of your being like some of
the Polynesian missionaries, whom I have just been
reading of; after so many years working apparently
in vain, their labours were at length rewarded.
I hope your converts may become as sincere
Christians as the Polynesian ones became.     I
never read a more interesting account than is
given of them. I wish our nominally Christian
population felt as they are represented to have
done. Pray let me soon hear from you again,
and tell me how you get on; but direct through
Edward, Cavendish-square, as your last coming
round by Oxen Hoath, made it two days longer on
the way to me than it would otherwise have been.








                      41

Adieu my dearest Marianne, remember me kindly
to Thespina,
             " And believe me your affectionate
                       " HENRIETTA GEARY."

  There are several other letters from    Lady
Geary to Miss Nevill which were written about
this period, and addressed to her at Liverpool,
which I shall not detain you by reading, as I con-
sider the one I have just read is sufficient, not
only to falsify this most groundless charge of ab-
sconding to Liverpool, but also to prove to you
that at this very period Miss Nevill's own family
knew and approved of her proceedings. I have
already told you of the exertions of Miss Nevill at
Liverpool and Bristol in opening Hebrew churches
and otherwise, which received the sanction, not only
of Miss Nevill's own family, but of some of the most
eminent and pious of the Protestant bishops ; and
I shall now trouble you with two of their letters.
The first is from the bishop of Norwich, furnished
by himself, dated Norwich, September 16, 1830,
addressed to Miss Marianne Nevill, 55, Park-;
street, Bristol. It refers to a Hebrew church she
was about to open there previous to her visit to
Liverpool.-(Reads.)

      " MADAM,
    " Every friend to the Established Church, every
  one who has sincerely at heart the interest of









                      42

Christianity, must approve of and admire the
abilities and zeal you have displayed in promoting
the most important of all objects. From a man,
who may say with poor old King Lear, that he
is fourscore and upwards, much active exertion
cannot well be expected ; but if it be in your
power to point out any mode by which I can pro-
mote the success of your generous, pious, and
enlightened views, no effort on my part shall be
wanting which I am able to make.
               Believe me sincerely yours, &c.,
                          " HENRY NORWICH
  "Norwich, September 16, 1830."

  The next letter from the bishop of Bristol was
written a year before Lady Geary's; and shews
Miss Nevill's designs of establishing Hebrew
churches did not depend on the Primitive Epis-
copal Church of Liverpool, as Mr. Cornwall
would have you suppose.-(Reads.)

                        "Durham, October 5, 1830.
     "My DEAR MADAM,
  "If the French Protestant Chapel has been
consecrated or licensed I trust that the corpora-
tion will not consent to let it for a Jewish syna-
gogue. I will write however to a friend who has
interest with the corporation, upon the subject.
If you can secure it, as you have stated, for a few
pounds a year, you would do well to obtain a








                       43

lease of it for a twelvemonth. I cannot, however,
license any gentlieman as preacher to it, till the
concurrence of Mr. Sirtees be obtaiind, and the
assurance of a certain number of persons be given
that they will attend,' and some rules submitted to
me for the performance of divine service upon the
principles of the Church of.England.
   "Mr. Brett will have a license to open a school
very soon from Mr. Barden. A delay has arisen
from his being engaged in the country, and he
has my positive instruction to forward it imme-
diately. Mr. Brett may begin the school imme-
diately ; he may assemble and teach his scholars
young and old. The license, however, will not
authorize him to perform divine service, though
no objection will be made to the reading and con-
men ting on the    criptures. The school to be
opened in St. Bidulph's parish is decidedly the
first means to be adopted. Have the Jews who
wished to be baptized, been admitted to that
ceremony, and by whom?
    " I remain, dear Madam, your most obedient servant,
                                " R. BRISTOL."

  With this letter and several others which will
hereafter be laid before you, but which I shall not
trouble you by reading, I shall close this part of
the case. But then it has been stated on the
other side, that Miss Nevill has in other ways
wasted and squandered her property ; and you









                      44

have heard a most pompous description of the
equipage and establishment with which this lady
commenced life, and how she has gradually fallen
from her high and palmy state.
  Now, you will bear in mind, that it has been
stated and proved to you, that Miss Nevill, from
the time of her father's death up to the year 1834,
always had a person resident with her, in the
character of a companion, whose name was Evans.
That this Mrs. Evans had the entire management
of Miss Nevill's household and pecuniary concerns
until the year 1834, when she died; and that
during Mrs. Evans's management, Miss Nevill
was involved in debt. In the year 1829 she was
in debt from living beyond her means, supporting
this fine equipage and establishment of which you
have heard so much, and received such a glowing
description of from Mr. Litton, to such an extent
that when she received her legacy of two thousand
pounds, that sum had to be applied to pay those
debts incurred by Mrs. Evans; after which a
balance of six hundred pounds only remained in
her favour, and even that soon melted away.
Since 1834, however, when Miss Nevill com-
menced to manage her own afairs, she has strictly
economised, and the only period during which it
is alleged, upon the part of the prosecution, that
she was incapable of managing her own affairs,
happens to be precisely that period-when she
was most economical. The lavish expenditure








                      45

which has been complained of, is traceable not to
Miss Nevill herself BUT TO Mus. EVANS, whose
improvidence is shown by the yearly balances which
appear in the accounts against Miss Nevill during
the time she managed her affairs. It is shown by
the debts which she incurred during that period
to bakers, brewers, and butchers. The accounts
which are now in evidence before you, show, that
at the death of Mrs. Evans, Miss Nevill was
deeply involved in debt. Take a few instances:
To a butcher she owed £220; to a brewer £115;
and for tea £37 odd. But surely this improvi-
dence ought not to be visited upon Miss Nevill, but
upon Mrs. Evans, who bith the full knowledge of
Mr. Cornwall, incurred these expenses. Indeed
this expenditure has not been put forward on the
part of the prosecution as evidence of Miss Nevill's
insanity. But let her only give ten pounds for
missionary purposes, or one hundred and twenty-
five pounds towards a project which she consi-
dered to be of vital importance, and then forsooth
matters are altogether changed, and the affair
must be forthwith brought before a jury. Now,
Gentlemen, I shall detain you for a few moments
by stating, from Mr. Cornwall's own accounts,
which have been given in evidence, how the
balances of these accounts stood between 1834,
the period when Mrs. Evans died, and the month
of December, 1837, when the last of these accounts
was settled.









                     46

  Upon the 5th of August, 1834, the day on which
the first account was settled, after Mrs. Evans's
death, a balance is stated to be due by Miss
Nevill to Mr. Cornwall of £214 Os. lid., exclu-
sive of the large sums due to different tradesmen,
as I have before mentioned.  Upon the 27th
December, 1834, that balance against Miss Nevill
was increased to a sum of £336 13s. 6d.; this,
however, was in consequence of Mr. Cornwall's
having been obliged to pay several of the debts
which I have told you were incurred by Mrs.
Evans, previous to her death. For you will per-
ceive, in this account, Miss Nevill is charged with
a sum of £120 paid to a butcher, named Gannon,
£37 5s. 8d. to a Mr. Tandy for tea, and several
other sums paid to tradesmen for debts incurred
by Mrs. Evans. The next of these accounts was
settled upon the 1st of August, 1835, when there
appears to have been a balance of one pound in Miss
Nevill's favour, which, upon the 8th of February,
1836, was increased to a sum of £67 19s. 72d.
Upon the 12th July, 1836, there was a balance in
Miss Nevill's favour of £79 3s. 8d., which, on
the 21st of January, 1837, was increased to
,145 19s. 8d. This last balance was, however,
decreased, upon the 1st of August, 1837, to a sum
of £6 9s. 71d., partly in consequence of Mr.
Cornwall's having charged Miss Nevill with the
expenses of the prosecution of the former inquiry
against her, including a sum of ten pounds to Mr.








47


Darley, a witness who was then examined against
Miss Nevill, and whose expenses, amounting to
that sum, are in this account charged, with a
liberality somewhat    premature, against M:iss
Nevill. However, upon the 2nd December, 1837,
when the last of these accounts was settled, there
is an admitted balance of £204 2s.. 2ad. due to
Miss Nevill, exclusive of a sum of seventy pounds
paid by Mr. Cornwall to Mr. Simmonds, the
attorney for the prosecution, .and which sum is
charged against Miss Nevill in this account in the
following manner ;-" To paid cash advanced on
the 7th   July, 1837   last, to Mr. Simmonds,
on  account of proceedings against you, £20.
To cash advanced to Mr. Simmonds, on account
of proceedings relative to you, £50." Here,
then, is the evidence furnished by Mr. Cornwall's
own accounts, and I would ask you, does it appear
from them   that Miss Nevill is in debt, or has
lavished or squandered her property ?   She has,
as you have heard, an income of nearly seven
hundred pounds a year, arising from property in
Cork.*   She has not encumbered that. Then,
she has also a sum of eight thousand pounds. It

  * This small part of Miss N.'s income is only mentioned by
Mr. B. as being what the opposite party swore to, but as she
was co-heiress to five estates, belonging to her father, Mr. N.,
which ought to give her £2500 a year, and that circumstance
would at once render the charge of ruining her property, by
spending E150 a she pleased, quite absurd.


-  -                    '~j~ <9~              -









                       48

 is quite true that two thousand pounds of her
 fortune have been spent, and that she has bor-
 rowed one thousand pounds from Mr. Roper, but
 why has this been done ? Because Mrs. Evans
 was extravagant, squandered Miss Nevill's money,
 and left her involved in debt. Then there was
 the debt due to Blundell the printer, and what is
 the cause of all?  Why, it is this :-That the
 whole of the debts due at Mrs. Evans's death,
 and before, had been incurred for household pur-
 poses alone ; and the debt due to Blundell was
 for printing geographical cards, and, therefore,
 that none of those expenses were incurred on
 account of the project relied upon on the part of
 the prosecution, as evidence of this poor lady's
 insanity.
   With the exception of the two thousand pounds
 spent by Mrs. Evans, no instance of prodigality
 has been shown ; and for the purpose of paying
 off the debt of one thousand pounds due to Mr.
 Roper, Miss Nevill has a uniformly increasing
 balance, since she began to manage her own
 affairs. If this commission had issued in the year
 1834, immediately after the death of Mrs. Evans,
 I would be glad to know what act of extrava-
 gance could have been proved against Miss
 Nevill ? And in the interval between that and
 July, 1837, I ask you whether any further acts of
 extravagance have been committed?    But the
fact that Miss Nevill had an increasing balance in









her favour was noe ve state to the- ju ry who trie
this case in July last, and *verdict of ;ipusanit
was found agaus Miss . evill by that jury, t ese
   fabt eig axlt  gthr upp ysi y   d ear 'a1o4
frm   he. If amiss Nevill, in 1835, va na~
h  w  col    Mr   Con   al h  v  cosi   niulattested the execution of the bond for five hm *
dred pounds to Mr. Geary in 1836?  Surely
the attestation of that instrument is a :guaranteo
of the sanity of Miss Wevill at that time, "and it
is altogether a mistake upon his part to sayt tat,
i  wa  no  so   N o ,I d   pr t s th t .  a nt.1understand  this  part  of  M .  Cornwall's  tpstimony
He appears to "think the attestation oif a bodI for.
five hundred pounds az very trfling mnatter; '444
he would, "no question or doubt of %t'" hve
attested ANY TH[Ni Bey mter what, provided he
had the assent of .Miss Nevill's f am*! But I
boldly assert that no jur~y, being. aware. that
Cornwall has attested a bond for fiv bu'r :
pounds, executed by this lady, can believe that
he supposed her to have been inone when he so
attested it. This is not all. Inthe year 103
Mr. Francis Geary, the   petitioner, aceptd
bond from Miss Nevill for no less a 8Um) than
five thousand pounds, and this at a time., actor-
Zing to the case now.made, when he must have;
believed her to be incoupetsnt to execute it for>
ifsh :was' a hlunatic in 1835, she W s soQ in
18,33. T'.hisi  a most: w0himsical proceeding;
      "                                D











for it now appears, that in April, 1836, Miss
Nevill, with the assent of her family, executed
a bond for five thousand pounds, in favour
of Mr. Geary, and that there actually has been,
upon   the  part of   the  persons prosecuting
this Commission, an    acceptance of property
from Miss Nevill, to the amount of six thousand
five hundred pounds, at a period when, according
to the case now made by them, she was in a state
of mental incapacity.   Will you believe them
when they assert, that the only time when this
poor lady is sane is when she is conveying her
property to her own family ; that this is the only
act which she is considered competent to do.
Another transaction has been deposed to by this
same witness, Cornwall:-
   Recollect that evidence has been given by Doctor
Singer, and relied upon by those prosecuting this
Commission, which tends to show, that Miss Nevill
was a lunatic in 1825, but Cornwall says in his
letter of December, 1834, when he speaks of re-
signing his agency, that he would then have ac-
cepted a service of plate from Miss Nevill; nay,
upon his cross-examination he states that he would
have taken a gift of seven hundred and fifty pounds
from her. Now, Mr. Cornwall then stood in cir-
cumstances of peculiar delicacy, and confidential
character in relation to Miss Nevill. He was her
agent, and gifts to agents from their employers
have been always looked upon with extreme sus-



                       151

 picion ; and I can tell Mr. Cornwall, that to have
 accepted such a gift from Miss Nevill, under cir-
 cumstances such as he has stated, would, if true,
 have most seriously damaged his reputation and
 character. Again, it is said that Miss Nevill has
 injured and squandered her property, by those
 Idumean projects. I deny that she has done so,
 and I challenge my learned friends to prove it.
 Look to the measures she has undertaken and
 planned, and to the evidence by which they have
 been brought before you, and it will appear per-
 fectly plain, that she never intended to spend
 more than one hundred and fifty pounds upon
 those projects. I have proved incontestibly from
 the accounts, that 'so far from Miss Nevill having
 involved her property since 1835, the only period
 during the whole of her life in which she appears
 not to have spent anything for religious purposes, but
 appeared to be strictly economical, is the period
 during which you are called upon to say that she
 was incapable of managing her own affairs. With
 the exception of this sum of one hundred and fifty
 pounds, nothing was intended to have been spent,
 and nothing actually was spent, except indeed the
 the sum of six thousand pounds, five thousand of
 which was given to Mr. Francis Geary, the peti-
 tioner ; five hundred to Mr. Vernon, and five
hundred to Mr. George Gray.
  Gentlemen, we now come to a most important
era in this matter, namely, the opening of the pre-









                       52

 sent Commission ; and as the fact of a former
 jury having found a verdict against this lady, has
 been strongly urged upon your consideration, and
 may possibly have some influence on your minds, I
 think it my duty to mention a few circumstances
 connected with that transaction. First, you will
 observe that Mr. Francis Geary had not seen Miss
 Nevill since the month of October, 1834, yet that
 gentleman, on the 6th of June, 1837, presented a
 petition to the Lord Chancellor, containing the
 following matter contained in the order in the
 petition:-

   Copy of the Order on the Petition of Francis
   Geary, Esq., Nephew of the supposed Lunatic,
   dated 8th June, 1837.
   "Whereas Francis Geary, of Albany, in the
 city of Westminster, barrister at law, nephew of
 the lunatic in this, this day petitioned the Right
 Honourable the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, set-
 ting forth that it appeared by the affidavit of
 Charles Roper, of Fairfield, in the county of
 Dublin, Esquire, that he has known the said
 Marianne Nevill, spinster, for many years, and
 has always been in habits of intimacy with her
 and all her family.
   " That for several years back, the said Charles
Roper has considered the said Marianne Nevill to
be of unsound mind, and incapable of managing
her affairs, and that the said Charles Roper's








                       53

opinion has been formed from her general con-
versation, and letters, and papers in her hend-
writing.
  "That the said Marianne Nevill, spinster, has
been from time to time swindled and defriauded
of large slums of money, and that he, the sai
Charles Roper, long since stated to her family
the necessity of proceeding to restrain her, the
said Marianne Nevill, from further waste, but
until the present time they have been unwilling
to do so, from feelings of delicacy, and wishing
to avoid expense, but that they now find it im-
possible to avoid such proceeding, in consequence
of her, the said Marianne Nevill, spinster, being
under the influence of designing persons, from
whose connection with her the most ruinous and
disgraceful consequences are to be apprehended.
   "That it also appears, by the joint affidavit of
Messrs. Crampton and Read, Doctors of Medi-
cine, that, on the 4th day of June instant, they
visited and had a personal interview with the
said Marianne Nevill, spinster, in her residence
in Rutland-street, in the county of Dublin, when
they conversed with her, the said Marianne Ne-
vill, and say that from the nature of the said
Marianne Nevill's conversation, and from  the
documents in her handwriting, as they verily be-
lieve, and produced by her to them, they verily
believe that the said Marianne Nevill is of un-
sound mind, and incapable of managing her
affairs.









                       54

  " And the said John Crampton saith, he has
since received a letter, signed Marianne Nevill,
and bearing date the 5th day of June instant,
addressed to him, and which letter he verily be-
lieves is in the handwriting of the said Marianne
Nevill, and from the contents thereof he is fur-
ther confirmed in his opinion, as above stated.
   "Petitioner, therefore, prayed his Lordship to
order that a Commission, in the nature of a writ
de lunatico inquirendo, might issue, to inquire of
the lunacy of the said Marianne Nevill, spinster,
directed to such persons as his Lordship should
think fit. Whereupon, and on reading the affi-
davit of Charles Roper, filed the 6th day of June
instant, (1837,) and the affidavits of Drs. Cramp-
ton and Read, filed same day, 6th day of June,
1837, it is orded by his Lordship-
   "That a Commission, in the nature of a writ
de lunatico inquirendo, do forthwith issue in the
usual form, directed to William Henn, Roderick
Connor, John Sealy Townsend, and Thomas
Goold, Esquires, the four Masters of the High
Court of Chancery, and to Bertrand Mitford and
Francis Beatty, Esquires, barristers at law, or
any three of them, to try and inquire whether the
said Marianne Nevill is or is not a person of un-
sound mind, and incapable of managing her own
affairs, and if so, at what time she became so, and
whether she then was or now is seized, possessed,
or entitled unto any real, freehold, or personal










estate, and the nature and amount thereof, and
who isor are her heir or heirs at law, and next
of kin.
                                  " So ENDS."

  Observe, Gentlemen, this affectionate nephew
never called to see Miss Nevill before he lodged
the petition, to ascertain the state of her mind,
nor did she know he was in Dublin till he came
to see her the 11th of July, after she had been
condemned.*
  Gentlemen, the jurisdiction of the Lord Chan-
cellor, in lunatic matters, is a trust reposed in
him  by the Crown, a part of whose especial
prerogative it is to have the care and protection
of those whom  the law considers incapable of
taking care of themselves, and this is one of the
most delicate trusts reposed in the Chancellor.
The petition which I have stated to you was ven-
fled by the affidavits of Messrs. Francis Geary
and Charles Roper, who had seen Miss Neyill
only once since 1834, and that not for more than


five minutes,
unsoundness
petition, and
ported ; and
allegations in
would sustain


you will perceive the nature of the
of mind which is detailed in that
the affidavits by which it is sup-
I am ready to admit, that if the
  those affidavits were true, they
  one of the several species of insa-


  * He was three weeks in
the trial.


Dublin at


Mr. C. Roper's,











nity mentioned in Mr. Shelford's treatise upon
that subject. But I here impeach, as false and
unfounded, the suggestions upon which that Com-
mission issued-a Commission which, if the real
benefit of this lady had been considered, ought
never to have been issued at all. In a case in the
first volume of Vesey and Bourne's Reports,
Lord Eldon, in speaking of the propriety of
issuing a Commission of lunacy, in a case before
him, says--
   " It has not been intended, on either side, that
the person exercising the office of Lord Chan-
cellor is, in the exercise of that authority which
he holds by especial commission, bound to issue a
      ission wherever the fact of lunacy is estab-
         It is not, therefore, necessary to state
the grounds of the opinion on which I have acted
in that respect, and I should be sorry if I had to
exercise such an authority, as the object of such a
proceeding being the welfare of the party, I know
that by granting it, in many cases, it might for
ever prevent the cure."
  He then mentions a case of unquestionable
lunacy, where he had refused to issue the Commis-
sion, and says-
   " The true point in this application for me to
consider, in the exercise of this most delicate and
important authority committed to me, is, whether
it is really necessary for the benefit of his mental
health and his property, that a Commission should
issue.










   ,And now, Gentlemi,: let m:ask'yu rzIr
 Eldon's words,. -was itfrtebenefit of:°Miss
 Nevill's mental health ,that this Comission shouIli
 hav e ;issued? W   t were the :expressions o
 Doctor Read when that question was put tol him
 "You may," said he, "by so' doing, mxake that stn
 incurable case, which, by care and attentiou, may
 be cu red. " That suggestion was acted 'upon in
 1833.. Why is it  not acted -upon- now?  The
 solemn judgment of that humane man was, that-
 noCommission ought to have issued against this
 unhappy lady. Should she, the, be   rose.cutod
 now ? °It is true that, in the event of you $nd- t
 ing a verdict ag6ans phis lady, she will not be
 sent to a lunatic asylum ; the Ohancell~r,, hmself =
 will, no doubt, attend, and have regard to her
 comfort. .But, in point of fit =-4n recz'iy-s e
 will still be a prisoner. The charm-:the very
 essence of her existence will be taken from h er,
 FOR SUP, WILL E D3EPRIVED 'F TF6PWE~O
 DOING GOOD!
 But to proceed with the affdavit, on which f is
 Commission issued. Mr. Roper states-

 "Affidavit of Charles Roper, sworn 5th, and fid
               fitlai June, 3.37.:
   "Saith he has known the said Mairianne Nevill,
now, of Rutland-street, -in the county of' Dbli ,
spinster, for, many years, and has: always been in
habits. of intimacy with her: and all her fawily.










                       58

  "Saith that for several years back he has con-
sidered the said Marianne Nevill to be of unsound
mind, and incapable of managing her affairs, and
that his said opinion has been formed from her
general conversation, and letters and papers in
her handwriting.
  "Depoient further saith she has been from
time to time swindled and defrauded of large
sums of money, and that he long since stated to
her family the necessity of proceeding to restrain
her from further waste, but until the present time
they have been unwilling to do so from feelings
of delicacy, and wishing to avoid exposure, but
that they now find it impossible to avoid such
proceeding, in consequence of her being under
the influence of designing persons, and disgrace-
ful consequences are to be apprehended."*

   You perceive, Gentlemen, that Mr. Roper's
 affidavit states as the reason why this Commission
 ought to issue, that there were improper persons
 about Miss Nevill, and that unless she was pro-
 tected from them by the interposition of the
 Court, consequences the most ruinous would
 ensue.
    Who are these persons thus sworn to be about
 her?  Where are they ? What are they ? Does
 it appear that they have got her property ? No.
   * The whole of this last paragraph is founded on a letter
 written by Mr. Long, an apothecary.








                       59
 Those, and those onl, who HAVE got her property
 are they who prosecute this Commission.  They
 have told you of a person named Tatam-where is
 Tatam ? Why has he not been examined?      But
 to resume the subject of the issuing of this Com-
 mission. It appears that the Lord Chancellor,
 two days after this petition was presented, being
 induced to do so by FALSE INFORMATION and un-
 justifiable statements, this being represented to
 him as a case of urgency and danger, deemed it
 his duty to issue this Commission. I have told
 you I impeached, as false, the suggestions made
 to induce the granting of this Commission, and I
 shall now prove the falsehood from the lips of
 Mr. Francis Geary, the petitioner himself! written
 after the former inquiry had taken place.-
 (Reads.)

   "I believe that proceedings were instituted
against Miss Nevill, in consequence of fr. Long's
letters, and her own letters.
                           "FRANCIS GEARY.
  " 11th July, 1837."

  "So, then, Mr. Long did write letters respect-
ing Miss Nevill's alleged insanity, but there has
not been one word said about Mr. Long or his
letters in the statement for the prosecution. His
evidence has been suppressed and kept back, so
have his letters ; and I feel assured that the jury









                       60

will find as much difficulty in finding a verdict,
upon suppressed evidence, as they will, upon
evidence extracted from this poor lady, by a
feigned acquiescence in her views and opinions.
The order from the Chancellor, that the Commis-
sion should issue, was granted upon the 12th of
June last. Upon the 4th of July following, the
precept issued for an inquiry to be held on the
7th of the same month, and upon the evening of
the 6th of July, without any notice whatever to
Miss Nevill, a summons was issued upon one of
Miss Nevill's servants, requiring her to attend, to
give evidence upon a trial affecting the liberty of
her unhappy mistress, which was to take place
the following morning ; and this was the first-
the only intimation which the prosecutors thought
fit to vouchsafe this unfortunate lady, of proceed-
ings which so vitally concerned her. I admit
that, if a person is in a state of mental imbecility,
it would be absurd to serve him with a notice of
the proceeding, and, therefore it is, that these
proceedings are frequently ex parte, and notice
not considered necessary. But here, a lady, in
the vigour of her intellect, to all appearance, has
had a proceeding taken against her, which may
have the effect of for ever disquakfying her from
taking any part in the ordinary concerns of fe, and
this without any notice or intimation of such pro-
ceeding. Miss Nevill does, however, by chance,
late on the evening of the 6th of July, obtain








                       61

 intelligence that the trial of her liberty is to take
 place upon the following morning. The very first
 idea which enters her mind is a determination to
 defend herself, and a resolution to resist the pro-
 ceedings to the utmost. For this purpose, she at
 once employs an attorney, a Mr. Wauchob, a
 most respectable gentleman, who, upon the mor-
 ning of the 7th of July, attended before the
 commissioners, for the purpose of procuring a
 postponement of the trial. Will you believe it,
 Gentlemen, that this application was opposed 4
 the COUNSEL on behalf of those who prosecuted
 the Commission ? The trial was, however, post-
 poned until the Monday following.
   Meanwhile, Mr. Cornwall was applied to for
money to enable this unhappy lady to defend
herself and you have already heard how that
application was answered--thirty pounds (a sum
totally inadequate to meet the expenses of a pro-
ceeding of this nature) was all that would be
granted out of her own funds, to defend her in
this exigency, while Mr. Cornwall thought fit to
apply this unfortunate lady's money, with no
sparing hand, in remunerating the attorney and
the witnesses who appeared against her.
  Upon the Monday, an application was made to
the commissioners for a further postponement of
the trial, as it was quite impossible to have been
able to procure witnesses, to instruct counsel, and
to make the several other preparations absolutely









                       62

necessary for the conducting of so important an
inquiry, with only the short interval between the
evening of the 6th July, and the morning of the
10th of this same month. This application WAS
REFUSED! and Mr. Wauchob, acting under the
advice of his counsel, and having, in fact, no
other course to pursue, retired from before the
commissioners. No defence whatever was then
made upon the part of Miss Nevill, and the jury,
of course, found a verdict against her. How-
ever, upon the 4th of November, 1837, a petition
was presented to the Lord Chancellor, in Miss
Nevill's behalf, praying for liberty to traverse the
finding of that jury. The matter of that petition
was directed to be moved in Court, upon which
motion, counsel on behalf of those who had pro-
secuted the Commission appeared, and, as far as
they could, endeavoured to prevent Miss Nevill
from having an investigation of that ex parte
finding, notwithstanding which, the Lord Chan-
cellor was pleased to grant liberty to traverse the
former finding, and thus to put the matter in a
train of fair investigation.
   Immediately upon     the  Chancellor having
granted liberty to traverse, which was, in effect,
directing that the question should be fairly tried,
it became of vital importance to Miss Nevill to be
furnished, not only with evidence to meet the
accusations brought against her, but also with
money to enable her to defray the expenses of an








                      63

 inquiry so very important, and you will naturally
 expect that every facility would have been af-
 forded her, by those who professed to be her
friends, in preparing for this investigation, or, at
least, that no obstacle would have been thrown in
her way. It was but a mockery, to give her a
trial, and, at the same time, to withhold from her
the means of prosecuting it with effect. But what
was the conduct pursued? I have told you, and
so has Mr. Cornwall, that Miss Nevill's accounts,
furnished by Cornwall himself, had, in January
last, been lent to Sir William Geary for investi-
gation. These accounts-Miss Nevill's own pro-
perty--after much entreaty, had been sent back
by Sir William Geary to Mr. Cornwall, but were
by him kept and detained from her. Now, Gen-
tlemen, you will at once perceive the importance
of these accounts, as evidence, in any investigation
regarding Miss Nevill's competency to manage her
own pecuniary affairs. They are, in fact, the car-
dinal points of her case ; and you will expect that
those accounts would at once have been given up
to her when a trial was granted. But far from it.
They were withheld-pertinaciously and obsti-
nately withheld from her.     Upon the 9th of
December last, a notice was served upon Mr.
Cornwall, calling upon him to f'urnish these ac-
counts, to enable her to prepare her defence.
This was refused ; the consequence of which was
that a petition had to be presented to the Chan-









                      64

cellor, on Miss Nevill's behalf, at an expense of
upwards of forty pounds, praying to have access
afforded her to these accounts, and money fur-
nished to defray the expenses of the trial. The
result was, that these accounts were directed to
be lodged in the Master's office, for her use, and
an order of reference was procured, directing an
inquiry as to the sum necessary for the ap-
proaching trial, the funds in Mr. Cornwall's
hands applicable thereto, and empowering the
Master to order, that whatever sum he should
deem necessary for this purpose, not exceeding
four hundred pounds, should be paid to Miss
Nevill's attorney. This order was procured upon
the 4th of November last, the trial, upon which
the accounts were to be made use of, being fixed
for  the  20th of November, notwithstanding
which, these accounts were not lodged in the
Master's office, nor any access to or inspection of
them afforded, until several days after that upon
which the trial was to have taken place.
   Meanwhile, Miss Nevill, being wholly destitute
of funds to meet the expenses of the trial, the
evidence upon which the event of that trial must
mainly depend being kept back from her and
withheld, had to make an application to the Court
of Queen's Bench, founded upon      an  affidavit
detailing the facts which I have mentioned, for a
postponement of the trial. This application was,
however, opposed by the counsel on the part of










the prosecution, notwithstanding which, Mr ATs-
tice Crampton, -to whom that .application was
made, feeling that it would not be reasonable to
force this unfortunate lady to trial,~ without either
money-or evidence, with a humanity which does
him credit, -directed that her case should stand
over until the 9th of this present month. The
last act of this disgraceful drama with which I
shall trouble you was performed in~ Master Town-
send's office ; for when Miss Nevill's attorney ap-
peared in that office, upon the order of reference
which I have mentioned, to procure the funds
which the iLord Chancellor thought it reasonable
this poor lady should be furnished with, to enable
her to have her case tried, counsel upon the
part of the prosecution--the leading counsel
-Sir Henry Meredyth himself-was instructed
to appear, and did appear in Master Townsend's
office, to oppose the granting of these funds ; but
notwithstanding all these obstacles and impedi-
ments thus perseveringly heaped in the way of
my unhappy client, she has .at length been enabled
to lay her sad history before a jury of her coun-
trymen. You, Gentlemen, I make no doubt, will
anxiously apply your minds to the evidence which
has been offered, and to that which I shall now
offer to you. You will give it that calm and dis-
passionate attention which a case of such impor-
tance deserves ; for upon your verdict depends
the liberty, perhaps the existenc~e, of this ill-used










ir:* y         i. t     "rue, indeed, that should you fi d a .

  v .dict ainsther, 8Te °may not, perhaps, (shul
  1r reso survive the shook- shoauld the opiann
  efthe humrane. Dfr. Jead prove unfounded,) be
  huirr ed "into 'a,_lnatic asylum; but ;a verdiet
  *ge4inst ihei will d4 ive her of her liberty-Of
  tt ihichl has: been the charm. and .object of, her
  fife- the power Qf doing good-the privilege of
  relievixg: th0 distressed. The poor, indeed, may
           Arfor arelief, to such she must then say
           =as'poor as thou."




    The Court then rose at a quarter past seven.






                     THE END.







          P13ntetby s T p~ Cieir s,; aryrdmet, public