You strike at the whole corps, if you strike at the head.
So far as to the crime: so far as to the criminal.

Now, my Lords, I shall say a few words relative to the evidence which we have brought to support such a charge, and which ought to be equal in weight to the charge itself.

It is chiefly evidence of record, officially signed by the criminal himself in many instances.

We have brought before you his own letters, authenticated by his own hand.

On these we chiefly rely.
But we shall likewise bring before you living witnesses, competent to speak to the points to which they are brought.
When you consider the late enormous power of the prisoner,--when you consider his criminal, indefatigable assiduity in the destruction of all recorded evidence,--when you consider the influence he has over almost all living testimony,--when you consider the distance of the scene of action,--I believe your Lordships, and I believe the world, will be astonished that so much, so clear, so solid, and so conclusive evidence of all kinds has been obtained against him.