Hely Hutchinfon, in 1773 and 1776 bySir Lucius O'Brien, and in 1780 by Mr. O'Hara. It is with peculiar fatisfaction I can aver from unquestionable authority, that the rights of individuals are as attentively confidered in Ireland as in England. The lord lieutenant by virtue of the king's authority has a right to pardon, but neither the nor any judge or judges to whom his authority is delegated can condemn a man as a criminal, except he be first found guilty of the crime alleged against him by a jury of twelve men, who must be fworn to do juftice according to the evidence which ap- pears on the trial, which men must be his peers or equals, and the prifoner hath a right to object to as many of the jury, as he may suppose to be influenced against him, and thofe objected againft are replaced by others to make up the number. number. The prefent king hath fixed the falaries of the judges for life, and not during pleasure as formerly, that they may not be influenced by any, and it is very probable a law may pafs to render them intirely independent of the crown. Neither can any man be deprived of his liberty for more than 24 hours without proof of his alleged crime being given upon oath before a magistrate, and then he has a right to be brought to his trial the next feffions, or be reftored to liberty on giving bail for his appearance. If a capital offence is committed, the evidences VOL. I. D of of his gullt must be laid before the grand jury, when if the bill is found, he must ftand his trial before other twelve men, whofe opinion is definitive. If a man is accused of a crime and he confeffes it, yet on the trial, fuch confeffion is not admitted to be taken any notice of. Juries have always been confidered as the judges from whofe fentence the prifoner is to expect life or death, for upon their understanding and integrity he is to rely, and from their verdict there lies no appeal; they are confequently to be all of one mind, and after they have fully heard the evidences they are confined, without meat, drink, or candle, till they are unanimous in acquitting or condemning the prifoner; every juryman being invefted with fuch a folemn and awful truft he cannot too minutely confider the evidence, for he is not to yield in compliance to any other juryman, or to the judge if he has the least doubt on his mind to the verdict. These are the glorious privileges which by our happy conftitution we enjoy, a conftitution which breathes nothing but liberty and equity, for to the meaneft and pooreft perfon as well as to the greatest, all poffible indulgence is allowed; and therefore we may say with Shakspeare, Be juft and fear not. In other parts of Europe, racks and tortures are made ufe of, to make a man criminate himself, but here they are unknown, and he he only who refufes to plead in his own defence, is punished without conviction, which indeed very feldom happens. And if he should be incapable of vindicating his own cause, council are allowed by the crown to plead for him. The courts of justice, their terms, and manner of proceeding, the affizes, ! justices of the peace, &c. are much the fame here (as has been obferved) as they are Ein England. This kingdom is divided into four provinces, namely, Leinster, Connaught, Munster and Ulfter; and these again into five circuits, containing thirtytwo counties, of which Tipperary is a palatinate, but that of Dublin is not comprehended in any of the circuits. Thro' this kingdom the judges go the circuits for the administration of juftice; the circuit roads are, viz. CIRCUIT ROAD S. MUNSTER CIRCUIT. I Waterford, miles from Dublin 71 Carrick D 2 Il Tralee |