In the light of subsequent events it is much to be regretted that poor Kidd happened at that juncture to have come to London from New York and, whether in his cups or otherwise, made these disclosures to Livingstone. But that Livingstone was fully justified in his estimate of Kidd’s character is clear from the evidence of the four most reputable witnesses (it may almost be said the only reputable witnesses) at Kidd’s subsequent trials,--Colonel Hewson, Captain Bond, Captain Humphreys, and Mr. Thomas Cooper,--who happened to be in London, when the trial came on. Colonel Hewson then testified that Kidd was a mighty man in the French war in the West Indies; and had served under his (Hewson’s) command, being sent to him by the order of Colonel Codrington. “He was with me,” he swore, “in two engagements against the French, and fought as well as any man I ever saw, according to the proportion of his men. We had six Frenchmen to deal with, and only mine and his ship.” KIDD. “Do you think I was a pirate?” HEWSON. “I know his men would have gone a-pirateering and he refused it; and his men seized upon his ship. When he went this voyage, he consulted me and told me they had engaged him on such an expedition. And I told him he had enough already, and might be contented with what he had. And he said that was his own inclination; but my Lord Bellamont had told him, if he did not go this voyage, that there were great men and they would stop his brigantine in the river, if he did not go.” Mr. Justice TURTON. “Who told you so? Did he?” HEWSON. “Yes, my lord.” Mr. Justice TURTON. “Did you apprehend that his intention in that undertaking was to be a pirate?” HEWSON. “No, my lord. He told me his business was to go cruising and surprise pirates.” The SOLICITOR GENERAL. “Did he tell you he had no such design?” HEWSON. “Yes; he said he would be shot to death before he would do any such thing. He was very serviceable in the West Indies.” On the same occasion Captain Bond swore that he knew that Kidd was very useful at the beginning of the war, and Captain Humphreys that he had known Kidd at the beginning of the late war, and that he had the applause of the General, as he could show by the General’s letter, a general applause of what he had done from time to time. Mr. Thomas Cooper gave evidence to the like effect. Being asked by Kidd to tell the Lord Chief Baron Ward, what he knew of him in the West Indies, he replied: “I was on board the _Lyon_; and this Captain Kidd brought his ship from a place that belonged to the Dutch and brought her into the King’s service at the beginning of the war, about ten years ago; and we fought Monsieur Du Cass a whole day, and I thank God we got the better of it. And Captain Kidd behaved himself very well in the face of his enemies.”