the other was unknown to him. He did not know Mr. Long's handwriting. There was nothing written on the list to show that it was connected with the Nil Durpan. He found the list in his drawer where it had been kept ever since, except for a short period when it was borrowed by Mr. SETON-KARR. He could not say if Mr. Long had seen it since he had come in possession of it. The distribution of Nil Durpan took place before he took office.
Mr. Eglinton here admitted part of the list to be in the defendant's handwriting.
Cross-examined by Mr. Eglinton:—Had a great number of copies of the Nil Durpan in his possession, probably 200. When he took office, he took those copies into his own particular custody.
By the Court:—The copies were not distributed, but kept back on account of the proceedings taken in this Court. Did not believe that the persons, named in the small list in his hand, were those to whom the Government were in the habit of sending books in the Native languages and of Native composition, to show the style of literature and state of feeling among the Natives.
Cross-examinations by Mr. Eglinton, continued:—There have been several distributions of books since he had held office.
Mr. Peterson:—Would put into Court a proof copy of the Nil Durpan, marked A, and a corrected copy marked A1 and two exhibits marked C and C1, being the distribution lists.
This closed the case for the prosecution.
Mr. Eglinton rose and said that, on whatever points he might disagree with Mr. Peterson, he must agree with him as to the importance of the decision of the Jury, not only as it regarded Mr. Long, but also as it concerned freedom of discussion and the public welfare. He could not forget what great interests would be affected by the decision of the Jury, nor could he forget that this case was a topic of conversation throughout the country, and created the most intense interest; he therefore addressed the Jury with great diffidence, but not with the slightest misgiving as to their verdict, for he felt that he could so disprove the charges made against his client that no Jury would be justified in finding him guilty. In cases of this sort, semi-political in their nature, it was not uncommon for the Counsel to call upon a Jury to dismiss from their minds any political bias
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