Gentlemen of the Grand Jury, Although your Calendar exhibits a greater number of offences than we are usually called upon to examine upon these occasions, and some of them are of a very dark complexion; yet I am not aware of any difficulties that lie in the way of your duty, nor that you need any directions from me to guide you in your inquiries. The difficulties ought indeed to be striking and prominent, before I should venture to interpose unsolicited assistance. I have had too long experience of the ability of the Grand Jurors of this franchise, I am too well acquainted with the propriety and correctness with which they conduct themselves in the execution of their office, to hold it necessary, or even decent, to insist upon the ordinary topicks in addresses of this kind. It would only be to point out to them what they already see; to tell them what they already know. And if I were to look no farther, Gentlemen, than the business immediately before you, I would most certainly not obtrude myself upon you for a moment: but, when I consider the wide extent of your duty, [4] and the claims which your country has upon persons of your description, as well in your private, individual characters, as in this your publick, collective capacity, I think it cannot be altogether improper, nor inconsistent wit the object of our meeting, to direct your attention to the circumstances of the present crisis.