A burlesque of the trial of Arthur O'Connor at Maidstone, May 22, 1798.
Print shows the interior of the courtroom at Maidstone, with the presiding judge (Buller) looking down at the witnesses. O'Connor, wearing leg-irons, stands at the bar making a confession: 'I confess, that I became an United Irishman in 1796 & a Member of the National Executive, from 1796, to 1798 ... [etc.]. From O'Connor's pocket hangs a paper: 'The Press by O'Connor'. Round his neck is a noose of rope held by the hand emerging from clouds of the (invisible) Justice; in her right hand are equally balanced scales. The witnesses to O'Connor's character, Fox, Sheridan, Erskine, The Duke of Norfolk, and Grattan, are speaking simultaneously. Fox says: "I swear that he is perfectly well affected to his Country, - a Man totally without dissimulation - i know his principles are the principles of the Constitution". From his pocket projects a book: 'Letters to Lord Ed F. M O'Connor &c &c.'. Next stands Sheridan, holding the book, 'Four Evangelists', his hat in his left hand; he testifies: "I know him intimately; - I treated him, & he treated me, with Confidence! - & I Swear, that, I never met with any man, so determined against encouraging French Assistance". Next is Erskine, kissing the book, with left arm raised oratorically: "His friends, are all MY friends! and I therefore, feel MYSELF intitled upon MY Oath, to say, that he is incapable, in MY judgement, of acting with treachery, & upon MY oath, I never had any reason to think that his principles differed from MY own so help ME god". Next (left) is the Duke of Norfolk, kissing the book, his expression and attitude suggesting embarrassment, saying: "I consider him attached to constitutional principles, in the Same way as myself". On the extreme left is Grattan, saying: "He favour an Invasion of his Country by the French? - no! no! - quite the contrary! - I know his Character".