TRIAL BY JURY,

The Grand Palladium of British Liberty.

               A SONG,

SUNG AT THE CROWN AND ANCHOR, FEB. 4, 1795,

In CELEBRATION of the Late TRIALS for HIGH TREASON,

         and TRIUMPHANT ACQUITTALS of

THOMAS HARDY, JOHN HORNE TOOKE,

                                 AND

        JOHN THELWALL;

      AND IN HONOUR OF THEIR COUNSEL

THOMAS ERSKINE, AND VICARY GIBBS.

         BY EDWARD WILLIAMS,

Author of POMES, LYRIC and PASTORAL, lately published.

Here, Brothers, we meet in th' abundance of joy,
Prepar'd with our feſtival ſtrain,
The ſtroms, tho' ſevere, did but little annoy,
Their thunders exploded in vain :
See how firmly the mountain ſuſtains ev'ry ſhock,
Tho' lightenings ſly, raging, around,
And INNOCENCE, like an immoveable rock,
Is ever invincible found.

Come hither ! ye Spies and Informers of State !
With Conſciences offer'd for ſale ;
Come hither ! and all your atchievements relate !
Whilſt Ridicule joys in the tale !
Or will ye, diſgrac'd, to your PERJURER throng,
Nor Memory wiſh to poſſeſs ;
Then haſte ! gnaſh your fangs ! whilſt we call for the ſong
Of Triumph's exulting exceſs !

Th' ASSERTORS OF TRUTH that were trampl'd awhile,
That Villainy fiercely purſued,
Claim the ſong of our gladneſs—true Sons of our Iſle,
With virtues gigantic endued.
What joy to the world ! theſe to MAN and his CAUSE,
The JURIES OF BRITAIN reſtor'd:
Our JURIES—our themes of eternal Applauſe !
Let their names be for ever ador'd.

Boaſt, BRITAIN, thy JURIES ! thy glory ! thy plan !
They treat the ſtern Tyrant with ſcorn !
O ! bid them deſcend, the beſt Guardians of Man,
To millions of ages unborn:
Far and wide as the light, of true FREEDOM the foul,
Be thy BLEST INSTITUTION proclaim'd;
With ERSKINE, with GIBBS, on Eternity's roll,
In the language of Glory be nam'd.

The Principle of Trial by Jury originated in Britain.