humanity and love
of freedom; and that, as blasphemy has been an offence less
and less proceeded against during the past century, so there
will probably be fewer and fewer proceedings against it in the next.
Indeed, there may never be another prosecution for blasphemy,
and I am sure you would not like to have it weigh on your minds
that you were the instruments of the last act of persecution--
that you were the last jury who sent to be caged like wild
beasts men against whose honesty there has been no charge.
I am quite sure you will not allow yourselves to be made the
agents of sending such men to herd with the lowest criminals,
and to be subjected to all the indignities such punishment involves.
I am sure you will send me, as well as my co-defendants, back
to our homes and friends, who do not think the worse of us
for the position in which we stand: that you will send us,
back to them unstained, giving a verdict of Not Guilty for me
and my co-defendants, instead of a verdict of Guilty for the
prosecution; and thus, as English juries have again and again
done before, vindicate the glorious principle of the freedom
of the press, against all the religious and political factions
that may seek to impugn it for their own ends."

The court officials could not stifle the burst of applause that greeted
my peroration. I had flung all my books and papers aside and faced the
jury. I spoke in passionate accents. My expression and gestures were
doubtless full of that dramatic power which comes of earnest sincerity.
I felt every sentiment I uttered, and I believe I made the jury feel it
too, for they were visibly impressed, and their emotion was obviously
shared by the crowd of listeners who represented the greater jury of
public opinion.

Mr. Ramsey followed me with a speech which he read from manuscript. It
occupied half an hour in delivery. It was terse and vigorous, and it
really covered most of the ground in debate. I listened to it with
pleasure as an admirable summary of our position. But it lost much of
its force in being read instead of spoken extemporaneously, and its very
virtues as a paper were its defects as an address. The points wanted
elaboration. Before they had fairly mastered one argument, the jury were
hurried on to another. Mr. Ramsey is by no means incapable of making
a forcible speech, and I think he should ha