expected (probably it will terminate in
nothing) by Mr. Cochrane Johnstone, that he would derive great benefit;
this gentleman, being consulted on the plan first proposed, recommended
another from which he conceived Mr. Cochrane Johnstone would make a
great deal more money; there is nothing in the connexion more than that.
Are you from that circumstance to infer that this gentleman was guilty
of any conspiracy? as to any negociation on this subject, you hear
nothing nor see nothing. You do not find him at any one period of time
with Mr. Cochrane Johnstone. You hear of his dining twice in company
with him at the house of Mr. Basil Cochrane; you do not hear of him at
all there, except about this Ranelagh; but you are desired from that to
infer criminality.

But gentlemen, this is a most important transaction; my learned friend
has told you he will more satisfactorily explain it by the evidence upon
the subject; there is no doubt of the gentleman who sits before me being
in distress of circumstances, but at the same time a most ingenious man;
and having done various works of art for Mr. Cochrane Johnston, the
latter thought himself indebted to him about two hundred pounds, and
paid him the money. Gentlemen, all I can say upon this is, that there is
no conspiracy amongst us here, for I do assure you, that until I came
into this place, and saw my learned friends, except my learned friend
Mr. Topping, with whom I had spoken on the subject, I did not know that
the others were concerned for the defendants upon this occasion; but I
hear my learned friend state that which I trust he has the means of
proving, but which my unfortunate client has not, not only because many
of his papers have been immediately taken from him by the messenger, in
the manner described, but because he is himself a close prisoner in
Newgate, under a warrant of the Alien Office, and therefore has not the
same means and opportunity of conferring with his Counsel; for I have
never placed myself in that situation, and do not mean hastily to go
there, for it is not a very agreeable service, and I would take no man's
retainer, if I thought that I must do so; there has not therefore been
that communication which we should have had, if our client had been a
free man. But I shall prove by some witnesses of my own, that which will
give a considerable colour to my case, and shall pray in aid all the
evidence given by any other witnesses on this side of the question.