not illaudable custom; and to prevent any counterfeit or ungenuine details, which probably may be published of my life and family, after my departure from this world; and, also, in regard that I have nothing to disclose in that respect, but what was more to my credit and reputation than otherwise; I, therefore, make my dying declaration in manner following:-And, first, as to my birth and family, be it known that I was born, by father and mother, of a genteel and reputable family, in the county of Westmeath, in Ireland, as appears by a testimonial sent from Ireland in my behalf, and signed by my Lord Bellfield, and many more of the gentlemen of that county, and the King's County adjacent, which testimonial now lies in the hands of Edmund Kelly, attorney-at-law, in Fetter-lane. My grandfather was one of the six clerks of the High Court of Chancery in that kingdom, and so much relied on the worth of his own blood and family, that he refused being knighted. My uncle, his eldest son, was a very eminent attorney in the city of Dublin, and possessed a large fortune by his own acquisition, besides that which was to devolve to him from my grandfather, whose youngest son, my uncle is now a barrister at the bar of Ireland; and, as, to my father, he was bred up a country gentleman, and lived in very creditable circumstances, and great credit, till within these few years, when, by vexatious law-suits, and other misfortunes, he was reduced to a small fortune of one hundred pounds a year in leasehold concerns. My mother was daughter to a gentleman in King's County, of a very large estate and fortune, so much esteemed, that the Duke of Ormond, who commonly resided at his seat in the said King's County, intrusted him with his most important secrets. But now in my mother's family, there only remains an estate of £500 per annum, in possession of my second cousin. As to my education, my parents spared no expenses upon it, my father having intended me for the bar; and I hope that, since my coming to London, and even in my confinement, I have given such public proofs of my education being genteel and liberal, that it cannot be doubted. As to my principles of religion, I was educatedhaving been intended for the bar-in those of the Church of England by law established; but when I had given myself a little to reading polemical writings, I found, by conviction of judgment, that I could not with ease to my conscience, in the affair of eternal salvation, adhere to the principles of the religion I had been educated in ; and therefore declined studying the law, and became a Roman Catholic, and hereby profess myself to be an unworthy member of that communion; upon which account I fell into disgrace of relations and friends, who else would have provided for me. About sixteen years ago, I married a gentlewoman of slender fortune, but of a family as good as any of the ancient Irish, and having at one time a very plentiful estate; there being in the memory of people now living four large manors, and six ancient castles, in possession of her grandfather and uncle; I do not choose naming her, because I am too great a stain to my own family, and think it improper to draw ignominy upon hers. As to my own life, I must own, to my great sorrow, that I have been guilty of the frailties of the children of men, and that only through the merits of my blessed Redeemer, Jesus Christ, I can be justified before the tribunal of Heaven; but cannot charge my memory with robbery-private or the highway, nor with housebreaking, thievery, murder, nor any such crying and enormous crimes. Praise be to the Almighty God, I always lived in the esteem of every rank in my neighbourhood; and though ill company brings me to this untimely end, I kept the best company, till necessity obliged me to try fortune in London, where, since my coming, I deported myself modestly and decently, until ensnared by Hugh Coffey, the coiner. "Conner, my co-partner in death, was born in the province of Connaught, of a very reputable family, his brother having been lately possessed of a considerable patrimony; but, by extravagance and law suits, squandered it away, without paying him or his sister their portions, which obliged him to come to London, choosing to live poorly here, rather than in his native country, where he was once in genteel circumstances. He has had a liberal education, as appears by his being à Latin scholar, and very conversant in the Roman history. Thus, I have laid before the public the severity of our case, and hope they will be so charitable as to believe that we do not insert in this account anything which we did not think of true to the best of our knowledge, belief, and hearsay. Mr. Conner declares he is innocent of the fact he dies for, and the great God knows if it be not equally so. We die unworthy members of the Roman Catholic Church; forgive judge, jury, witnesses, and all mankind, hoping, through the merits of our blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ, to find mercy at, and after the hour of our death; and we further declare, that any other account but what is in this paper, and which we desire may be published by Mr. Thomas Parke, is counterfeit, and not genuine. The Lord of infinite mercy, wisdom, and goodness, have mercy As a specimen of his education and talents, Mr. Geoghegan subjoined a piece of poetry, which he wrote while he lay a prisoner in Newgate. It was addressed :-" To his Royal Highness Prince George, Duke of Cornwall, and eldest son of his Royal Highness Frederick Prince of Wales, on his acting the part of Cato, at Leicester House." Part of this production was as follows: "Tuus jam regnat Apollo."-VIRGIL. "HAIL! little Cato, taught to tread the stage, How vast the hopes of thy maturer years, What rapture warmed thy princely father's breast! Beholding thee, a tyro from the school, |