It was said that Dennis Collins gave this explanation of his conduct with the utmost coolness and self-possession. The warrant was then signed and the witnesses were bound over to appear. In the newspapers next morning the following report appeared.
When it emerged that Dennis Collins was to stand trial for High Treason, there was editorial comment in several newspapers, some condemnatory, such as that in The Times, that referred to him as “an incorrigible Blackguard, given to habits of intemperance and vice”, while others such as The Spectator were more conciliatory and called for leniency in view of the distressed state of the accused. [1]
Dennis Collins appeared at a session of the Berkshire Assizes in Abbingdon on Wednesday, August 23rd, 1832, on trial for his life on a charge of High Treason. The Times reported the trial in some detail. The court re-assembled in the County Hall in the Town. It was reported that the interest excited by the trial was not great. The attendance in the public gallery seemed to be confined mostly to the upper classes. Soon after 9 a.m. the two judges, Bosanquet and Gurney took their seats on the bench. After some potential jurors were refused by the defence, a Jury was finally assembled. The Crown was represented by the Attorney General, Mr. Jervis, assisted by Campbell, Sheppat and Maule. As was customary in such cases, where, presumably, the defendant could not afford representation, the Crown appointed two barristers to represent the defendant, Dennis Collins. These were Mr. Swadey and Mr, Carrington.
Collins was led into the dock where he bowed several times to the Judges. The report noted,
The appearance of the prisoner had changed somewhat for the worse during his confinement since his last appearance in court. He had the appearance of a man who had undergone some illness yet he did not appear to be ill in the dock. He was grave and steady and seemed keenly interested in the proceedings. He lacked the callous indifference of the hardened criminal.
Somewhat paradoxically, the report continued:
He had the demeanour of the professional sailor who always had resources in reserve for an emergency at sea---- But there was about him a recklessness of manner which showed a man who had never given himself the trouble of considering the consequences of any of his acts.
The Attorney general began the case for the Crown prosecution by outlining the five indictments against Collins. The first of these read,
1 Compassing and intending the death of the King.
2 Intending to do His Majesty bodily harm, tending to his death.
Numbers 3 and 4 were variants of the first two, while the final indictment read,
5 Intending to do bodily harm, tending to wound or maim His Majesty.
All of these indictments carried the death penalty.
When asked how did he plead, Collins replied, “Not guilty my Lord”. The attorney General then continued to outline the case.. He described the events at Ascot and mentioned that witnesses would be called to give verification. His initial address to the court was lengthy and in the course of which he mentioned,
The law which threw it’s protection around the lives of all members of the community, did so in an especial way around that of the Chief Magistrate. All law and justice was administered in his name. There was clear intention on the part of the prisoner to do serious harm to His Majesty--- If his hat had not cushioned the blow to some extent it might have been fatal.
The legal costs for the trial of Dennis Collins were as follows:
Defence counsels and solicitors. £246-19-0
Expenses for Witnesses. £6-4-6
Other expenses. £74-13-7
Crown counsels nil.
Total £327-17-1
Dennis Collins was transported to Van Diemen’s Land aboard the barque EMPEROR ALEXANDER, which left Sheerness on April 10th 1833. A remarkable account of the voyage to the penal colony in the southern hemisphere has survived in the journal of the ship's surgeon, Dr. William Donnelly, which is held in the National Archives in Kew, England. [2]
Dr. Donnelly’s journal describes the voyage in detail. The weather was pleasant and favourable for most of the voyage. At the outset the ship struggled against adverse winds and rough seas for over a week while trying to clear the English Channel. The final three weeks also brought sleet and heavy squalls. Throughout the voyage there was continual need for medical treatment for many of those on board...including...Dennis Collins was among those treated by Dr. Donnelly, but the nature of his complaint is unclear. [2]
Van Diemen's Land, or Tasmania, where Dennis Collins now found himself, was a forbidding place, that by its reputation= struck terror and fear into the hearts of transportees. 1833 was the year in which transportation of convicts reached its peak with a total of 6,799, 4,000 of whom were sent to New South Wales and the remainder to Van Diemen’s Land. [2]
In addition to 'ordinary criminals' there were many who were regarded as ‘Politicals’. There were Chartists and Luddites; people who sabotaged machinery which they felt was destroying their livelihoods; and tithe protestors and men from other clandestine organisations in Ireland. [2]
Everything relating to the life of a convict in Van Diemen’s Land was meticulously recorded and much of this material survives today in the Tasmanian Archives. All of the entries were handwritten in Copperplate script. Dennis Collins was prisoner number 1545. [2]
Number: 1545
Name: Collins, Dennis
Trade: Labourer, Cripple, Wooden leg
Assignment: Port Arthur
Height, Without shoes 5'-3
Age 58
Complexion: Ruddy
Head: Small
Hair: Brown
Whiskers: Grey
Visage: Narrow
Forehead: Retreating
Eyebrows: Light brown
Eyes :Light Grey
Nose: Aqualine
Mouth: M.W. [medium wide?]
Chin: M.S. [medium short?]
Remarks: Lost left leg. [2]
He was aged 58. He is reputed to have said that he "would neither do the kings' work, nor eat the King’s bread." [2]
The last entry for Dennis Collins in the records of the Penal Settlement mentions that he was buried at the Wesleyan Church, Port Arthur, by Mr. John A. Manton, on November 1st. 1833. The cause of death is not mentioned. [2]
The following verse appeared in the Freeman’s Journal on Wednesday, July 11th. 1832. [2]
The anonymous author was presumably some wag from Trinity College Dublin. [2]
Donaldson, William (2002). Brewers' Rogues, Eccentrics & Villains. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-35728-6.
Dennis Collins (1781—1832) able seaman. In 1832 Collins, who had lost a leg at the Battle of Trafalgar, limped 21 miles from London to Ascot, where he attended the races and threw a stone at William VI as a protest against the removal of his pension rights. The stone dented the king’s top hat and Collins was sentenced to be hanged. This was later commuted to deportation, but Collins died before he could be shipped out the Caribbean.
It was said that Dennis Collins gave this explanation of his conduct with the utmost coolness and self-possession. The warrant was then signed and the witnesses were bound over to appear. In the newspapers next morning the following report appeared.
When it emerged that Dennis Collins was to stand trial for High Treason, there was editorial comment in several newspapers, some condemnatory, such as that in The Times, that referred to him as “an incorrigible Blackguard, given to habits of intemperance and vice”, while others such as The Spectator were more conciliatory and called for leniency in view of the distressed state of the accused. [1]
Dennis Collins appeared at a session of the Berkshire Assizes in Abbingdon on Wednesday, August 23rd, 1832, on trial for his life on a charge of High Treason. The Times reported the trial in some detail. The court re-assembled in the County Hall in the Town. It was reported that the interest excited by the trial was not great. The attendance in the public gallery seemed to be confined mostly to the upper classes. Soon after 9 a.m. the two judges, Bosanquet and Gurney took their seats on the bench. After some potential jurors were refused by the defence, a Jury was finally assembled. The Crown was represented by the Attorney General, Mr. Jervis, assisted by Campbell, Sheppat and Maule. As was customary in such cases, where, presumably, the defendant could not afford representation, the Crown appointed two barristers to represent the defendant, Dennis Collins. These were Mr. Swadey and Mr, Carrington.
Collins was led into the dock where he bowed several times to the Judges. The report noted,
The appearance of the prisoner had changed somewhat for the worse during his confinement since his last appearance in court. He had the appearance of a man who had undergone some illness yet he did not appear to be ill in the dock. He was grave and steady and seemed keenly interested in the proceedings. He lacked the callous indifference of the hardened criminal.
Somewhat paradoxically, the report continued:
He had the demeanour of the professional sailor who always had resources in reserve for an emergency at sea---- But there was about him a recklessness of manner which showed a man who had never given himself the trouble of considering the consequences of any of his acts.
The Attorney general began the case for the Crown prosecution by outlining the five indictments against Collins. The first of these read,
1 Compassing and intending the death of the King.
2 Intending to do His Majesty bodily harm, tending to his death.
Numbers 3 and 4 were variants of the first two, while the final indictment read,
5 Intending to do bodily harm, tending to wound or maim His Majesty.
All of these indictments carried the death penalty.
When asked how did he plead, Collins replied, “Not guilty my Lord”. The attorney General then continued to outline the case.. He described the events at Ascot and mentioned that witnesses would be called to give verification. His initial address to the court was lengthy and in the course of which he mentioned,
The law which threw it’s protection around the lives of all members of the community, did so in an especial way around that of the Chief Magistrate. All law and justice was administered in his name. There was clear intention on the part of the prisoner to do serious harm to His Majesty--- If his hat had not cushioned the blow to some extent it might have been fatal.
The legal costs for the trial of Dennis Collins were as follows:
Defence counsels and solicitors. £246-19-0
Expenses for Witnesses. £6-4-6
Other expenses. £74-13-7
Crown counsels nil.
Total £327-17-1
Dennis Collins was transported to Van Diemen’s Land aboard the barque EMPEROR ALEXANDER, which left Sheerness on April 10th 1833. A remarkable account of the voyage to the penal colony in the southern hemisphere has survived in the journal of the ship's surgeon, Dr. William Donnelly, which is held in the National Archives in Kew, England. [2]
Dr. Donnelly’s journal describes the voyage in detail. The weather was pleasant and favourable for most of the voyage. At the outset the ship struggled against adverse winds and rough seas for over a week while trying to clear the English Channel. The final three weeks also brought sleet and heavy squalls. Throughout the voyage there was continual need for medical treatment for many of those on board...including...Dennis Collins was among those treated by Dr. Donnelly, but the nature of his complaint is unclear. [2]
Van Diemen's Land, or Tasmania, where Dennis Collins now found himself, was a forbidding place, that by its reputation= struck terror and fear into the hearts of transportees. 1833 was the year in which transportation of convicts reached its peak with a total of 6,799, 4,000 of whom were sent to New South Wales and the remainder to Van Diemen’s Land. [2]
In addition to 'ordinary criminals' there were many who were regarded as ‘Politicals’. There were Chartists and Luddites; people who sabotaged machinery which they felt was destroying their livelihoods; and tithe protestors and men from other clandestine organisations in Ireland. [2]
Everything relating to the life of a convict in Van Diemen’s Land was meticulously recorded and much of this material survives today in the Tasmanian Archives. All of the entries were handwritten in Copperplate script. Dennis Collins was prisoner number 1545. [2]
Number: 1545
Name: Collins, Dennis
Trade: Labourer, Cripple, Wooden leg
Assignment: Port Arthur
Height, Without shoes 5'-3
Age 58
Complexion: Ruddy
Head: Small
Hair: Brown
Whiskers: Grey
Visage: Narrow
Forehead: Retreating
Eyebrows: Light brown
Eyes :Light Grey
Nose: Aqualine
Mouth: M.W. [medium wide?]
Chin: M.S. [medium short?]
Remarks: Lost left leg. [2]
He was aged 58. He is reputed to have said that he "would neither do the kings' work, nor eat the King’s bread." [2]
The last entry for Dennis Collins in the records of the Penal Settlement mentions that he was buried at the Wesleyan Church, Port Arthur, by Mr. John A. Manton, on November 1st. 1833. The cause of death is not mentioned. [2]
The following verse appeared in the Freeman’s Journal on Wednesday, July 11th. 1832. [2]
The anonymous author was presumably some wag from Trinity College Dublin. [2]
Donaldson, William (2002). Brewers' Rogues, Eccentrics & Villains. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-35728-6.
Dennis Collins (1781—1832) able seaman. In 1832 Collins, who had lost a leg at the Battle of Trafalgar, limped 21 miles from London to Ascot, where he attended the races and threw a stone at William VI as a protest against the removal of his pension rights. The stone dented the king’s top hat and Collins was sentenced to be hanged. This was later commuted to deportation, but Collins died before he could be shipped out the Caribbean.