found, at least, safer methods of doing so than by engraving it as his opinion upon a vase which he knew was to pass through the hands of the sovereign whom he purposed thus treacherously to insult. The extreme improbability that any man in the situation, with the character, habits, and capacity of Count Laniska, should have acted in this manner amounts, in my judgment, almost to a _moral impossibility_. I knew nothing more, gentlemen, of this cause, when I first offered to defend Laniska at the hazard of my liberty: it was not merely from the enthusiasm of friendship that I made this offer; it was from the sober conviction of my understanding, founded upon the accurate calculation of moral probabilities. {Footnote 5: Voltaire--Essai sur les Probabilités en fait de Justice.} "It has been my good fortune, gentlemen, in the course of the inquiries which I have since made, to obtain further confirmation of my opinion. Without attempting any of that species of oratory which may be necessary to cover falsehood, but which would encumber instead of adorning truth, I shall now, in the simplest manner in my power, lay the evidence before the court." The first witness Albert called was the workman who carried the vase to the man at the furnace. Upon his cross-examination, he said that he did not deliver the vase into the hands of the man at the furnace, but that he put it, along with several other pieces, upon a tray, on a table, which stood near the furnace. _Albert_.--"You are certain that you put it upon a tray?" _Witness_.--"Quite certain." _Albert_.--"What reason have you for remembering that circumstance particularly?" _Witness_.--"I remember it, because I at first set this vase upon the ledge of the tray, and it was nearly falling. I was frightened at that accident, which makes me particularly remember the thing. I made room upon the tray for the vase, and left it quite safe upon the tray: I am positive of it." _Albert_.--"That is all I want with you, my good friend." The next witness called was the man whose business it was to put the vases into the furnace. _Albert_.--"Did you see the witness who was last examined put this vase upon a tray when he left it under your care?" _Witness_.--"I did." _Albert_.--"You are certain that he put it _upon the tray?_ What reason have you to remember that circumstance particularly?" _Witness_.--"I remember it, because I heard the witness cry out, 'There, William, I had like to have thrown down this cursed vase; but, look you here, I've left it quite safe upon the tray.' Upon this, I turned and looked, and saw that vase standing upon the tray, safe, with some others." _Albert_.--"Do you recollect any thing else that passed?" _Witness_.--"Only that the witness told me I must put it--the vase, I mean--into the furnace directly; and I answered to that, 'All in good time; the furnace is not ready yet; it will go in along with the rest.'"