on the battlefield. So I look to the mercy of God. May God
forgive all who have sworn my life away. As I am a dying man,
I forgive them from the bottom of my heart. God forgive them."

As Larkin ceased speaking, O'Brien, who stood to the right of him,
moved slightly in advance, and intimated by a slight inclination to
the Court his intention of addressing them. His stalwart form seemed
to dilate with proud defiance and scorn as he faced the ermine-clad
dignitaries who were about to consign, him to the gibbet. He spoke
with emphasis, and in tones which seemed to borrow a something of the
fire and spirit of his words. He said:--

"I shall commence by saying that every witness who has sworn
anything against me has sworn falsely. I have not had a stone
in my possession since I was a boy. I had no pistol in my
possession on the day when it is alleged this outrage was
committed. You call it an outrage, I don't. I say further,
my name is Michael O'Brien. I was born in the county of Cork,
and have the honour to be a fellow-parishioner of Peter
O'Neal Crowley, who was fighting against the British troops at
Mitchelstown last March, and who fell fighting against British
tyranny in Ireland. I am a citizen of the United States
of America, and if Charles Francis Adams had done his duty
towards me, as he ought to do in this country, I would not be
in this dock answering your questions now. Mr. Adams did not
come though I wrote to him. He did not come to see if I could
not find evidence to disprove the charge, which I positively
could, if he had taken the trouble of sending or coming to see
what I could do. I hope the American people will notice that
part of the business. [The prisoner here commenced reading