HC Deb 05 March 1807 vol 9 cc1-48

"How long have you been acquainted, with lieut. Drake? I saw him for the first time upon the 10th of Feb.—Where?. At Mr. Homan's in Frith street.—At what time of the day? About 8 or 9 in the evening.—Did you go away in company with him? I did.—Who else were of the party that went away in company with him? Mr. Johnston and Mr, Edwards.—Where did you go to? To Mr. Edwards's house in South-street.—Whom did you meet at Mr. Edwards's? I did not go into the house.—Where did you go, afterwards that evening? To the next door, Mr. Thomas Sheridan's.—Did you Meet Mr. T. Sheridan there? Yes.—Had you previously gone to Mr. Homan's, by appointment of Mr. Sheridan, the father, or Mr. T. Sheridan? I was at Mr. T. Sheridan's at dinner, and Mr. S. desired me to go to Mr. Homan's to see this Drake.—Do you mean, that Mr. S. the father, or Mr. T S., desired you? Mr. S., the father.—What was the conversation that took place between you and Mr. S , as, to what had passed at Mr. Homan's, or in the coach? I started the intentions of Drake, and that he wanted very much to see him; that it was necessary for him to go out of town the next morning to his ship, and that he must go that evening to his agents for money,—What answer did he make? That he would see him.—Was he brought in, and did Mr. S. see him? No; Mr. S. went into the adjoining house.—How many persons were in the room where Mr. S. and Mr. T. S. were, when you went. in and stated this? Only Mr, T. S., who sent for Mr. S.—Did Mr. S., before you went from dinner to the house of Mr. Homan, tell you the reason he wished you to go there to see Mr. Drake? Yes.—What was the-reason? That he understood Drake, had something of importance to communicate to him, and that he wished me to go and ascertain what it was before he saw him, being reluctant to see him.—Did Mr. S. say any thing against the character of Mr. Drake? He stated generally, that he believed he was a bad character.—Did Mt. S. state. any reason for believing him to butt bad character, within his knowledge? That he had been living an idle life on the town, a dissolute life.—Do you mean to say, that my. S. stated, that leading an idle and dissolute life was proof of a bad character? I made that inference.—Did Mr. S., at the time he desired you to go to Mr. Homan's, say any thing to you as to any acquaintance with him during the Westminster election? No, he did not.—You have stated that Wetherhead was introduced at Mr. S.'s house by Drake as a clergyman? Yes.—How came you to be there; were you desired to meet Drake? I was invited to dine with Mr. S., and was waiting for his return from the house.—Did you, before you went, know that Drake was to be there? I did not.—Was any surprize expressed by Mr. S. at Drake introducing an acquaintance of this description? He was surprized at seeing two gentlemen; in the room.—when you say that he was surprized at seeing two gentlemen in the room,. do you mean that he expressed any surprize at seeing strangers, or that he acknowledged them as acquaintance? He acknowledged Drake as an acquaintance undoubtedly, and Drake introduced Mr. Wetherhead as a perfect stranger.—What was the surprize Mr. S. expressed at Drake introducing a stranger? I do not know how to answer that question, I cannot distinguish the kind of surprize.—You have stated that you were nearer to Drake at this Meeting on the 19th of Feb., than Mr. S. was? No, I was not nearer to him, but I was standing before the fire.—You certainly stated that there was no whispering? Certainly I did.—And that nothing could have been stated, or said there, which you should not have heard? Certainly.—How came you to pay such particular attention to the conduct of Mr. S. that day? Because I suspected that there was some improper motive in bringing Mr. Wetherhead there.—Did yon know Mr. Wetherhead before? No, but I had heard Drake's character, and when he brought an acquaintance there, I thought they were similar.—Had you not heard Mr. Drake's character from Mr. S.? I had, on the 10th—Were you not desired to come there by Mr. S. on purpose to be a witness of what was going on? No, I was asked to dine there.—Did you ever hear Mr. S. say any thing about the bad-character of Drake, till a charge was made against Mr. S. himself? I heard it upon, the 10th of Feb.?—Did you ever hear any thing against the character of Drake from Mr. S. before the 10th of Feb? I never heard his name mentioned.—Did not Mr. S. on the 10th of Feb., when he mentioned the bad character of Drake, inform you that Drake was to be a witness against him? He did not."