Trying To Change A Sovereign.

eminently respectable monarch ) had deprived the proceedings of much of the dignity of a State trial by enacting that investigations into this peculiar species of overt acts of treason should be conducted in the manner observed in ordinary trials for murder ancl wilful and malicious shooting . All that remained for glory , then , was the grand , rolling , high-sounding , fine old English sentence that British law in its wisdom had left unchanged ; the

doom to suspension and decapitation , to mutilation and evisceration , that Emmett had heard unmoved—that , on that very spot , ancl only twenty years before , Thistlewood had received with a smile and a pinch of snuff . But , of even that melancholy triumph a low-souled jury were bent upon depriving poor Witless . He , or his advisers rather , said that he was mad , and the round dozen in the box believed it . The evidence in support of the insanity theory

was curious . When his lodgings were searched , the clay after the attempt , the Police found a sword and scabbard , a black crape cap with two red bows , a powder flask with gunpowder , a bullet mould , five bullets , ancl twelve or fourteen percussion caps . But , in addition to these articles , they discovered some documents in manuscri pt . One purported to be the rules and regulations of a club called " Young England , " the members of which assumed fictitious or ,

as the manuscript had it , "factitious , " names , such as "Justinian , " "Auguatia " ( sic ) , "Fredeni , " " Othoe , " etc . The nonsensical production , evidentl y inspired by some hazy , ignorant recollection of the constitution of the famed Vehmgericht , need be but very briefly alluded to here . One or two extracts are rather funny , however . Take the eleventh rule , for instance , which seems to have been the result of Hibernian inspiration : — " That no member will be

allowed to speak during any debate , nor allowed , to ask 'more than two questions . " The first and fifth are conceived in the true " 'Ercles vein : "— " 1 . That every member shall be provided with a brace of pistols , a sword , a rifle , ancl a dagger ; the two latter to be kept at the committee room . " " 5 . That every member shall ,

when he is ordered to meet , be armed with a brace of pistols ( loaded ) ancl a sword to repel any attack ; and also be provided with a black crape cap , to cover his face , with his marks of distinction outside . " One more excerpt . Observe the supreme silliness of the following : — " 9 . That whenever any member is ordered down the country , or abroad , he must take various disguises with him—as the labourer , the mechanic , and the gentleman , all of which he can obtain at the committee-room . The other papers purported to be three

letters or summonses to attend meetings of this mysterious body , too good not to be disinterred . No . 1 is addressed to Mr . Oxford , at Mr . Minton ' s , High Street , Marylebone , and dated from "Young England , " May 16 th , 1839 , wherein a Mr . Smith , signing himself " Secretary , " informs the pot-boy that " Our Commander-in-Chief was very glad to find that yon answered his questions in such a straightforward manner . You will be wanted to attend on

the 21 st of this month , as we expect one of the country agents to town on business of importance . " The next , also from Mr . Smith , and addressed to "Mr . Oxford , at Mr . Parr ' s , Hat ancl Feathers , Goswell Street , " has the true conspirators' chorus ring about it , and , as bathos , the conclusion is incomparable . It is dated from "Young England , " Nov . 14 th , 1839 : — " Sir , —I am very glad to hear that you improve so much in your speeches . Your speech

the last time you were here was beautiful . There was another one introduced last night by Lieutenant Mars—a fine , tall , gentlemanly-looking fellow ; ancl it is said that he is a military officer , but his name has not yet transpired . Soon after he was introduced , we were alarmed by a violent knocking at the door . In an instant our faces were covered , we cocked our pistols , and with drawn swords stood waiting to receive the enemy . While one stood over the

fire with the papers , another stood with lighted torch to fire the house . We then sent the old woman to open the door , and it proved to be some little boys who knocked at the door and ran away . " The last letter , subscribed as before , dated from "Young England , " 3 rd April , 1840 , a couple of months