Page:Tryal of Richard Francklin.pdf/12

 produced; and then ſaid, That he ſent the ſame to the Comptroller's-Office to be comptrolled.

Mr. Scot, Accomptant to the Stamp-Office, being call'd and ſworn, depos'd, in order to prove the Number that were publiſh'd of thoſe Craftſmen abovementioned, that he had received ten Pounds eighteen Shillings for the Duty thereof. The Council for the Defendant asked him, whether he received the Money from Mr. Franklin? He anſwer'd, No. Then they asked him, who he did receive it from? He reply'd, from a Servant of Mr. Franklin; for that he himſelf ſeldom paid any Money, but that the Receipt was given for Mr. Franklin's Uſe.

There were ſeveral other Evidences call'd, particuJarly Mr. Snow, Mr. Payne, and Mr. Pheaſant; but juſt as they began to examine Mr. Pheaſant, who was the firſt in Court, the Council for his Majeſty agreed to reſt their Proof upon what Evidence had been already produced, and which we have taken Notice of in a fair and candid Manner.

Now the Council for the Defendant began to make their Defence, which was done in the Manner following.

Mr. Fazakerley firſt open'd to the Court on the Part of the Defendant, That tho' the Council for the King had ſpent the beſt part of two Hours, endeavouring to prove, that the Country-Journal, or Craftſman, mentioned in the Information, was a falſe, ſcandalous and ſeditious Libel, yet it very evidently, in his opinion, was not ſo; for that he look'd upon the Letter from the Hague, which they call the Libel, to be no other, than an Account from one of Mr. Franklin's foreign Correſpondence, and therefore came to him innocently.

The Council for the King demanded of him to prove, that Mr. Franklin had the aforeſaid Letter ſent