this excerpt is taken from http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/ - The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

DAVIDSON'S Defence. I wish to call your Lordships' attention to a few particulars. From my life upwards it has always been my study to maintain the character of an industrious and inoffensive man. I have no friends in England, but depended upon my own exertions for support. I have a numerous family, and for their sakes alone is my life of value to me. As to the charge which has been brought against me, I can lay my hand upon my heart, and in the presence of that God whom I revere, say I am not guilty of it. As to how I came by the blunderbuss I will state. I had a friend whose name was Williamson, who told me that he had bought an old blunderbuss that was all over rust - he was going to the Cape of Good Hope, and gave it to me to clean. He said he bought it with intent to take it to the Cape, but it would cost too much to repair it - I took it home with me with intent to raffle it. I met Edwards whom I knew nothing of till I dined at Mr. Hunt's procession, that was the first time I ever went into public in my life. Edwards said he would take me to a place to have the blunderbuss raffled for, and promised to bring a number of people at 1 s. each. When I went to the place I saw Thistlewood for the second time, I had previously seen him at Mr. Hunt's dinner; I saw Mr. Adams there, whom I also knew by seeing him before, but I knew none of the others. Mr. Edwards proposed to commence raffling for the blunderbuss, but as no money was tendered I would not agree - I then received a great deal of improper language, and went away. I went to Mr. Williamson, who was waiting to know the result, and told him what had passed. He then said he wanted to get some money, and I proposed pledging the blunderbuss at a pawnbroker's. He agreed to it, and requested me to take it for him, which I did to Mr. Aldous, and told him it was not my own, but the man wanted 7 s. on it; he said he would lend but 5 s., but as he knew me he gave 7 s. - the money I gave to Mr. Williamson. I afterwards went to Mr. Williamson on board the Belle Alliana, which was about to sail for the Cape of Good Hope, he gave me the ticket. On the 22d of February Edwards called upon me, and said he had been to see Mr. Williamson, and had given him a trifling present, and that Mr. Williamson had told him to get the ticket of the blunderbuss. I gave it to him, but told him he gave it to me. He saw that I was not pleased, and said, "I am going to sell it, and if I get 7 s. by it you shall have part." The same evening, the 23d of February, he called about eight o'clock, and said perhaps the person would object to let him have it, and gave me 7 s. 2 1/2 d to get it out. He told me to meet him at the corner of Oxford-street, and if I did not find him there, I should see him in Fox-court - I took it there. He said, "Won't you walk in, and have a glass of something with a countryman of yours?" I said, "What do you mean by a countryman of mine?" He said a man of colour - I never associated with men of colour, although one myself, as I was very well brought up, and always found most of them so very ignorant - I did not go.

I now pass over that to the sword concern - I shall state the truth. On a Monday after the Manchester massacre I met one George Goldworthy , to whom I had been apprenticed in Liverpool. He expressed his surprise at seeing me in London. I told him I was out of employment, and that there was nothing worse than being a small master, as all the rest of the trade, from jealousy, had set their faces against me. He said he had set up a little business himself, a few miles in the country, and that he would employ me if I would go. I asked 33 s. a week, he offered me 30 s., but said if I would go to the Horse and Groom, public-house, on Wednesday, we could talk about it. I did not know that Goldworthy was intimate with Edwards, but now I find that they lodged in one house. On Wednesday evening, however, I went to the Horse and Groom, and looked into the house, but did not see Goldworthy there. I stopped at the corner to wait for him, which your Lordships and Gentlemen must know I should not have done, being so conspicuous a character, if I was about any thing improper. I saw several persons going in and out of the house, but still Goldworthy did not come. A little after eight o'clock, while I was in Edgware road, up came Goldworthy. He asked me if I was not surprised he did not come? I said I was. He then said he was going to call upon a friend; he gave me a sword, and a bundle tied up; I do not know what was in it. I said "What, are you going to cut my head off?" "No (said he,) I got it for self-protection, as we have many thieves about the country." At this time I had not the least knowledge of anything directly or indirectly concerning the business in Cato-street. I went down the street and when I got to the corner of Cato-street, I heard a pistol fired. I went to see what was the matter and attempted to go away. Two or three pistols were fired at me. I turned round to see what was the matter, and again attempted to go away. I heard a cry of "Stop thief!" I was seized and taken to gaol. I never drew the cutlass nor offered to strike, but gave myself up. I had no belts on, this was merely to catch me. If the gentlemen wish my life they may have it. I have ventured my life fifteen times for my country and my King, and I ask you, Gentlemen, if it is to be supposed that I should be so vain as to attempt to join a few weak men to trample down the British Constitution, in which this country has so much reason to glory. It is not likely - I would scorn such an act. I do not deny being apprehended in Cato street, but the carbine was not in my possession; it was picked up. I was asked if it was not mine, I said no. Another gentleman said "What did you ask him for, you know it is." I was searched and nothing found on me. I was never carried into any public-house as the officers swore, but Captain Fitzclarence has cleared that point. The officers said that I swore at the man who would not die for liberty's cause, and I appeal to Captain Fitzclarence whether he did not take me directly to Bow-street. I do not pretend to say there was no plot, but I knew nothing of it. I was accidentally drawn into Cato-street in the way I have said, but knew nothing of a plot to plunder, burn, or massacre. I did not know that any such plot was in existence. I am not such a man, if my colour be against me. I am not void of all feeling, and would not act the murderer or the brute. I will now, my Lords and Gentlemen, give you an instance where one man of colour may be mistaken for another, as must have been my case. My leisure time I employed as a teacher in a Sunday School; there a similar mistake was made. A person (a man of colour) insulted one of the female-teachers in Walworth-road, the young lady said it was me, and made a complaint to the committee. As I found I was slighted, though nothing was said, I sent a letter - in consequence of it, the whole committee waited upon me in a body, and expostulated with me on the impropriety of my conduct. It struck me with such horror I had nothing to answer, and let them go away without making any defence. I afterwards, however, set myself to work, and actually traced out the person who had committed the offence, and brought him to the committee. He apologized and acknowledged it, and begged the young lady's pardon. The young lady could not look me in the face, knowing how she had injured me. She came with her handkerchief over her face, held out her hand as a token of her regret, and asked my pardon. Now, my Lords and Gentlemen, if any thing I could say could wipe away this impression I would do it, but I would as soon be put to death as suppose that you, my Lords and the Gentlemen of the Crown, should think me that monster that would for a moment harbour a thought to massacre any person, directly or indirectly; I hope your Lordships will not shew me the least mercy if you think so. I can stand before my God as I do now, and shall stand hereafter to acquit myself. I am not that guilty man. I have very few words more to say. As to politics I never troubled my head with them. I have a very numerous family, and a wife that never earned me a penny, and all my distress arises from the consideration of the helpless state of my family; where it not for that I should not speak for myself. But should feel like Isaiah; "who, though persecuted, he opened not his mouth." As a father I must feel, and I wish to discharge my duty; for them I wish to live, and for their sakes I wish, if possible, to clear up the black charge which has been laid against me. First of all, Mr. Adams positively swore that he never saw me in any warlike appearance, and that I was down stairs. And then comes Mr. Monument, who said that I addressed the congregation, and told them that were afraid of their lives to walk out, and in a few minutes the officers came up. You must see that that this is an exaggeration, and in fact altogether an invention, or would not these men who were present at the same time have agreed in the same story? I admit I was in Cato-street; and even admiting this what does it amount to? I very well know since that Mr. Goldworthy was an accomplice of Edwards, but never thought he would entrap me into this snare. As to myself, my Lord, I have served my country, and done all that I could do for it. I have supported my family by honest industry, and can appeal to fifty people that they never knew me associate with any person at public places, except one meeting at Smithfield, which I attended from curiosity as a common spectator. I have seen Thistlewood, but not on that night, or I might have supposed something was going on. I know no nothing of these men. I have no knowledge of these plots. I do not blame the Gentlemen of the Crown, I have nothing to lay to their charge. I admire the way they have pursued; they have done no more than their duty according to the evidence which has been brought brought before them. But I say the witnesses as far as regards me are altogether false sworn. I have selected a few passages from the Bible, which I wish to read on the subject, and these I offer not for the purpose of insulting the Court. The indictment says, that I did certain things not having the fear of God before my eyes. Now I always had the fear of God before me, and always cherished the feelings of virtue and humanity. I always subscribed to the beautiful lines of Pope -

If I am right, thy grace impart

Still in the right to stay;

If I am wrong, Oh! teach my heart

To find the better way.

Teach me to feel another's woe,

To hide the faults I see;

The mercy I to others show

That mercy show to me.

These verses I always admired. (Here the prisoner recited from the 15th to the 22d verses of the xixth chap. of Deut.) These words, Gentlemen of the Jury, I wish to impress on your minds. I am a stranger to England by birth, but I was educated in England; my father was an Englishman, my grandfather was a Scotch-man. I have not a friend in England. I have not a relative. I have supported myself to this hour spotless, and it is hard to have my life taken away when I knew nothing of any plot. Gentlemen, when I think of this it unmans me; I am no plotter - no assassin - no traitor. Look well to the evidence, and to your own hearts, before you pronounce the fatal verdict of guilty. Gentlemen, the Earl of Harrowby I have known for years, I have worked on his Lordship's estate in Staffordshire. Gentlemen, I knew him and respected him. Had I known that this plot existed I would have been the first man to warn his Lordship of his danger, but I declare solemnly that I knew not of such an intention. I knew nothing of these dark and bloody projects - Gentlemen I have now done. I repeat I will readily submit to death if you think me capable of harbouring an intention to commit the crime of high treason; if that is your persuasion pronounce your verdict accordingly. I hope my death may prove useful to my country.

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 27 Jan 2007), 16th April, 1820, trial of Arthur Thistlewood et al (t18200416-1)

There is apparently another version of this speech quoted from

Howell’s State Trials, vol. 33, cols.1549-51 (1826), but I have not been able so far to access the full text as given there.