BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 307
on the 25th February. The enemies of Muir represented his absence as an
intentional flight from justice, arising from consciousness of guilt ; but he
accounted for the circumstance by the menacing attitude then assumed by the
two countries, and the consequent difficulty of obtaining a conveyance home.
He at last found a passage in a vessel cleared out for America, but which in
reality was bound for Ireland. After a short detention in Dublin, where he
became a member of the “ Society of United Irishmen,” and was warmly received
by the Reformers of that city, he sailed for Scotland in the month of July, professedly
with the intention of standing trial. In this intention, however, he was
anticipated; as, on his arrival in Stranraer, he was recopised by an under
officer of the customs, upon whose information he was arrested, and had all his
papers taken from him.’ From the prison of Stranraer he was once more conducted
to Edinburgh under the charge of Williamson, where he was brought to
trial on the 30th August.
The Court was opened by the Lord Justice-clerk (Macqueen of Braxfield),
and four Lords Commissioners of Justiciary-Lord Henderland, Lord Swinton,
Lord Dunsinnan, and Lord Abercromby.
The gentlemen of the jury were-
Sir James Foulis of Colinton, Bart.
Captain John Inglis of Auchindinny
John Wauchope of Edmonstone
John Balfour, younger of Pilrig
Andrew Wauchope of Niddry, Marischal
John Trotter of Mortonhall
Gilbert Innes of Stow a
Donald Smith,
James Rocheid of Inverleith
John Alves of Dalkeith
William Dalrymple, merchant, Edinburgh
James Dickson, bookseller, do.
George Kinnear, banker, do.
Andrew Forbes, merchant, do.
John Horner, merchant, do.
banker, Edinburgh
In the indictment Muir was charged with creating disaffection, by means of
seditious speeches and harangues-of exhorting persons to purchase seditious
publications-and, more particularly, of having been the principal means of convening
a mceting of Reformers at Kirkintilloch on the 3d November 1792 ;
also, of convening another meeting during the same month, at Milltown, parish
of Campsie : and farther, “ the said Thomas Muir did, in the course of the months
of September, October, or November aforesaid, distribute, circulate, or cause to
The following were the most important
:-
Ten copies of a pamphlet entitled “Proceedings of the Society of United Irishmen of Dublin,
printed by order of the Society, 1793.”
A printed copy of an Act to Prevent Tumultuous Risings, of the 27th Geo. III. ; printed at
Dublin, 1787.
A passport from the department of Paris, in favour of citizen Thomas Muir, dated 23d April 1793.
Receipt by A. Macdougall to Mr. Muir, for nine hundred livres, for his passage in the cabin of
Certificate that Thomas Muir had been duly elected one of the members of the Society of United
Signed by Archibald Hamilton Rowan, secretary.
Sealed letter, directed-“ The Rev. Thomas Fyshe Palmer, Edinburgh.”
Passport of the Commissary of the gection of the Tuilleries, in favour of citizen Thomas Muir.
Mr. Innea was perhaps the richest commoner iu Scotland-he left upwards of a million
Among the papers there were none of any consequence.
the ship from Have de Grace to the port of New York.
Irishmen of Dublin.
Dated Havre de Grace, 16th May 1793.
Dated 11th January 1793.
Dated 4th May 1793.
sterling.