and one hundred pounds, was read.  It had the desired effect.  The girl opened her mouth, and spake all the words that the jury desired.  At first she agreed to tell all she knew about the stolen goods, but would say nothing about the fires.  This declaration led the jury to infer that she could, but would not say any thing about the fires.  After a moral lecture upon her duty in the matter in the light of eternal reward, and a reiteration of the proffered reward that then awaited her wise decision, her memory brightened, and she immediately began to tell all she knew.  She said that a Negro named Prince, belonging to a Mr. Auboyman, and Prince (Varick) brought the goods, stolen from Mr. Hogg’s house, to the house of her master, and that Hughson, his wife, and Peggy (Carey) received them; further, that Caesar, Prince, and Cuffee (Phillipse) had frequently met at Hughson’s tavern, and discoursed about burning the fort; that they had said they would go down to the Fly (the east end of the city), and burn the entire place; and that Hughson and his wife had assented to these insurrectionary remarks, and promised to assist them.  She added, by way of fulness and emphasis, that when a handful of wretched slaves, seconded by a miserable and ignorant white tavern-keeper, should have lain the city in ashes, and murdered eight or nine thousand persons,—­then Caesar should be governor, Hughson king, and Cuffee supplied with abundant riches!  The loquacious Mary remembered that this intrepid trio had said, that when they burned the city it would be in the night, so they could murder the people as they came out of their homes.  It should not be forgotten that all the fires broke out in the daytime!

It is rather remarkable and should be observed, that this wonderful witness stated that her master, John Hughson, had threatened to poison her if she told anybody that the stolen goods were in his house; that all the Negroes swore they would burn her if she told; and that, when they talked of burning the town during their meetings, there were no white persons present save her master, mistress, and Peggy Carey.

The credulous Horsemanden tells us that “the evidence of a conspiracy,” not only to burn the city, but also “to destroy and murder the people,” was most “astonishing to the grand jury!” But that any white person should confederate with slaves in such a wicked and cruel purpose was astounding beyond measure!  And the grand jury was possessed of the same childlike faith in the ingenious narrative of the wily Mary.  In their report to the judges, they set forth in strong terms their faith in the statements of the deponent, and required the presence of Peggy Carey.  The extent of the delusion of the judges, jury, and people may be seen in the fact, that, immediately upon the report of the jury, the judges summoned the entire bar of the city of New York to meet them.  The following gentlemen responded to the call:  Messrs. Murray, Alexander,