Star. — London, England, 1820-04-12 00:00:00

IF • *. ,~ •..:. .. _.. ~ `~. • 46. ducted himself altogether with the most peifect corn ' - poiute. .His-langtrage and Manner were elegant. • TiLIAL OF SIII \ CTIARLES WOLSELEY, BART. AND OF JOSEPH HARRISON, FOR SEDITION. The Court was excessively crowded at an early hour, - with the expectation of hearing this trial.— Mr. of ale Oxford Circuit, attended to conduct Sit - Charles Wolseley's defence ; Mr. PARK, of the Northern Circuit, was with him. Mr. DENI SON,. of Liverpool, was his Attorney. Sir Charles, who had arrived here on Saturday night, attended early in Court. After some felonies had been tried, the case was called about eleven o'clock, and the following eight Gentlemen of the Special Jury answeirdlo their names: James Wilde, Eaq. Foreman. Edward Jones, Esq. James Stant on, sq. W. H. Worthington, Esq: Booth Grey, sq:. James Bailey, Esq. William Worthington, Esq. George Eaton, Esq. Mr. Barron, Atto.ruey-General for Chester, prayed a tales. James Allen, I Richard Woodfin, and George Butts, I • John Banks, Common• Jurors, were sworn, to complete a Jury. , Mr. LLOYD' stated the indictment to be against Sir Charles Wolseley, Bart. and Joseph Harrison, School master, on two grounds. The first count charged that they had excited to tumult and insurrection, by holding a'numerous Meeting on the 28th of July, and addressing seditious words to them, calculated to bring the CTovernment into hatred and contempt. The second count charged, that they had agreed together to stir up the- People to tumult and insur rection, and to excite hatred and contempt against the Government. Mr. BENYON rose on the part of the prosecution No doubt, the Learned Gentleman said, the Jury As - ere already as are that the present prosecution arose out of one of those dangerous Meetings which had been held in Cheshire, and the adjacent Counties, during the last summer—Meetings which were cal. enlaced to terrify the peaceable subjects of the realm, and which had been headed, and principally pro- Lioted by itinerant orators. The Jury, however, were called upon—and from the knowledge which he, (Hr. Benyon) had of many of them, he doubted not that they would fulfil their duty. They were called upon by their oaths to dismiss from their minds every circumstance which they had previously heard upon the subject, and to try the case upon the evidence, and only upon the evidence, which would be adduced before them. The two defendants, Sir axles Wolse ley and Mr. Harrison, were well known : the firA was a Gentleman of estate in the County of Stafford, and had inherited a considerable paternal property,. together with the rank and tide of Baronet, which had been conferred upon one of his ancestors in the reign of Charles the First: the second defendant, Mr. Harrison, had been, until lately, a stranger in the County of Chester ; he was, the Learned Counsel be lieved, a Dissenting Minister ard a Schoolmaster. — Upon the ‘2Sth of July last, a Public Meeting had been announced at Stockport, and, previous to that day, the residents in the nei 4 •hbouthood had been ad vised. that a Meeting was to take place for the real or pretended purpese. of Petitioning for Reform in Parliament. Upon the day appointed; a number of persons, net less than five thousand, and, according to the statement of one ef the defendants, amounting nearly to ten thousand, assembled ; and it would be found that, previous to that Meeting, Sir Charles Wolseley and Mr. Harrison had been known to each other, and that they had corresponded; and it would b: 3110\71 that, upon the 28th July, they were in in- i t.tr:ate conversation for at least an hour before the Asseinbly took place. It would be • seen, therefore, th , c these defendants were not persons accidentally cmin-, , together in consequence of the hand-bills which had announced the M‘e - ,ing, but that they etme there together in consequence of a preconcerted scheme. The Meeting was numerous, and was at tended by men who bad bludgeons in their hands : those bludgeons were not merely carried for shew, or for intimidation, but a Constable, whom they were p:cased to call a spy, was nearly put to death by some persons in the crowd. The Meeting in ques tion, the Learned Counsel would shew, had not been a peaceable Meeting for the purpose of Petition. It had bee:: attended by persons carrying banners, in scribed with the common cant terms of—" No Corn Laws"—" Universal Suffrage"—" Annual Par:ia ments"—and " Voting by Ballot." At a particular house a platform had been erected, upon which the leaders mounted ; and the Jury would find the two . defendants taking a leading part in tire ensuing trans actions. It having been previously agreed that Sir Charles Wolseley, as a Gentleman of rank and pro . perty, should be called to the Chair, that individual took . the Chair amidst the acclamations of the crowd; he then opened the Meeting, and used the seditious words imputed to him - by the present indictment.— . Those who were concerned in prosecutions like the present found great difficulty, the Learned Counsel - continued, in bringing forward evidence, because no prudent man would venture to attend suoh Assem blies ; but there had been some persons, upon the oc casion in question, whose curiosity had overcome their prudence, and several perscns would be called before the Jury, who would distinctly state to them , What had been said by Sir Charles Wolseley at the onset of the business. He (Mr. Benyon) would not state, word for word, the evidence which would be given ; he would only shew the general effect of what had passed. Mr. PEARSON (Counsel for Sir Charles Wolseley) requested that all:witnesses might be ordered to quit the Court. The CHIEF-JUSTICE.—" Let the witnesses on both sides leave the Court ; and let notice be given, that no witness who remains sbail be permitted to give eiidence."—Proclamation to-that effect was made.. Mr. BEN7ON eontinued.—lle was about to state to the 'Jury the erpressions used by Sir Charles Wolseley, when he accepted the office of Chairman. Sir Myles Wolseley had said, " that he was in Paris' at the beginning of the Trench Revolution: that he was the first man who made a kick at the Bastile; and he expressed his hopes," and the Jury would bear in what direction he then pointed, " that he should be present at the demolition of another . Bastile." He then abused the Ministers of the Crown, and said that he could not find terms in which to speak with sufficient detestation of them. He spoke of spies, and said that . . he detested their employers, Sidmouth and Castlereagrf. Hi - Said, that *here the people were not represented, no allegiance was due; tax l 4 oll was a robbery; sact Tr/stalls:4lo%l2e *teat justifiable. A great deal More had been said; but those were the principal points upon, which he (the Learned Counsel) charged the defendant, Sir Charles Wolseley, withthaviiig used seditious speeches at this illegal Meeting, with a 'view. to bring into hatred and contempt the Government and Constitu tion of the country ; language more calculated to produce that effect could scvcely be conceived. Mr. Harrison, the second defeedint, followed Sir Charles Wolseley. He declared against " petitioning any more, which hevelsidered degrading and humiliating. There wouldiawk. a meeting (he said) of delegates at Oldham, on-the -Monday following; at the Union room, for the purpose of establishing a National Con vention; and it would also be one of its duties to devise farther meansfor extending and consolidating the national waion. * The intimacy between the de fendants would .be clearly made out, and the Jury would find that what was said by the one defendant was adopted by the - other. This, indeed, would not be necessary, nor - would it be necessary to prove the intimacy, because the character of the Meeting would sufficiently indicate, the intent with which the sedi tious expressions had been used. But he would shew, and most fully, that the parties were acquainted. The- first evidence upon this point would be, the Learned Counsel said, a letter, written by Sir Charles Wolseley a day or two after the Meeting, which would prove that the deferldants had corresponded previous to the Meeting. The letter was dated 30th June, 1819, and was to the following effect Sir Charles Wolseley begs to inform the Postmaster of Stockport, that he much suspects that a- letter that was written by the Rev. Mr. Harrison, and delivered into his office on the 24th of June, before witnesses, directed to Sir Charles Wolseley, and only arrived to-day, has been knowingly delayed in his office, to serve some corrupt purpose. Sir Charles Wolseley, however, begs to say, that he would advise for the future that no such delays take place; for he has taken such measures as will ensure him the proof: whenever Sir Charles, for the future, Shall think pro per to write to Stockport, he means to seal the letter with his own arms, which cannot be counterfeited, and, if broker, open, it is a felony. He thiuks,pro per to say thus much, as Mr. Harrison told him a letter had arrived a day or two ago, that had been broken open by some one, and it might as Well have I been his or any body's else." To Sir Charles Wolseley's letter, the answer of the Postmaster was this : Sta—ln reply to you letter of the 30th Jane, received yes terday, I beg to say, that no letters belonging to any persons whatever have evet been detained or opened in this Office ; nei- Ither has any one ever presumed, directly or indirectly, to re quire of me so gross a breech of my duty. lam proud to say, that I am in a service where such base compliances never are required." This evidence proved, the Learned Counsel conti nued, that a letter had been written to Sir Charles Wolseley by Mr. Harriion four days before the Meet ing. If any one should be of opinion that no sediti ous words had been employed.by Harrison,-till the participation would be sufficient. He would nate. however, leave the ease to rest upon grounds so slight: a letter should be read to the Jury, written by Harrison to a man named Bagueley, now suffer ing imprisonment in Chester Jail for a similar of-' fence to that with which he himself stood charged, two days after the Meeting of the 28th July. Bague ley's conduct in prison had been so bad, that it had been thought advisable to open his letters. The letter was this : " hir DEAR Fairno—l should have written yesterday, but there is so much hurry and bustle attends a public Meeting, that some time elapses before there is an opportunity of engaging in private business; but I trust you will have the letter as soon as if it had come yesterday, only posting them at Manchester often prevents the postage from being paid. Our Meeting on Man day was by far the most numerous we have !pd. We had the honour of Sir Charles Wolseley for Chairman. Mr. Lewis, front Coventry, was with him; and Mr. Goodman, from Bir minghani or Warwick, I forget which. The Resolutions were the same as those at Ashton, but rather stronger; and the ap peal to the nation the best that has been made. Our flag," Uni versal Suffrage," " Annual Parliainet;ts," " Election by Bal lot," and, the other side, " No Corn Laws ;" over which was placed the Cap of Liberty. Toe principal speakers were Mr. Lewis, Fitton, Saxton, Knight, sal', two sailors. and one sal. dier. Great threatening!, bad been made to take the Cap, and many loyal souls had vowed and sworn to bear it off in triumph ; but no blackfaces. no besonis, no dandies, no military, at tempted to pat the resolution in force. We met peaceably, stayed peaceably, and peaceably parted. Upwards of siuo sat down to a good ethnics in the Union Rooms. Sir •C. - Wolseley ho noured us with his company until neatly nine o'clock; and then, amidst the cheers of 10,000, rude off with Mr. Johnston to Manchester. Messrs. Goodman and Lewis ac' ompanied him. You will have a full account in the Paper of Saturday next. I ant afraid Wardle will not be able to carry on. lie only printed fiity last week, owing to his stamps not being 'arrived, which will give him a check that be will not easily recover ; and there-. fore, perhaps, it may be as well at present to continue the Paper you have. It is the wish of yourjriends that you would now and then furnish Wooler with an article direct; and that you would publish the evidence in your faiour at your trial; at least some 01 the principal parts of it. ,It may easily be Introduced into a letter to Wooler or Sherwin, as the affidavits of die wit nesses. As scion as you have leisure, I wish you to write a po. litical dialogue between Bagueley, Drummond.. and Johnston. This method of writing alwa}s arrests the attention, and .ells well. It will be the means of increasing the funds, as many would buy a Paper who would not give a penny. The weavers are the bast givers ;•.but, alas! they - have nothing to give now. As the cause of Reform advances, it becomes more and more expensive, and the meansmore and more circurnsesibed ; Cote the greatest exertions must be made to altain a sufficient I support tor those in a state 'of confinement. Inclosed, as usual,: are two pounds." —After this, the Learned Gentleman continued, it would scarcely be said that Harrison was not impli cated in the transactions of 28th July. How far the' evidence would bring home to • the. defendants, or either of them—indeed, if it did to one, it must. to both—the charge which was alleged against them it , would be for the Jury to determine. As to the se ditious language, there could be no doubt; the Jury would judge of t he intention, and of the tumultuous meeting. If any words more strongly tending to bring the Government and the Constitution into con tempt and hatred could be used, he (Mr. Benyon) was at a los's to know what those words were. It would, perhaps, be stated by Mr. Pearson, the Learn ed Counsel - for the .defendant, that the Meeting ns questionwas . a peaceable Meeting, for the purpose of petition ; but 'it would be shown to the Jury that Mr. Harrison had expressly disavowed any intention to petition. The right of peaceably meeting . together % for the purpose of petitioning the Sovereiga or the Legislature against grievances, either real or sup posed, was the right, the birthright of Englishmen, and HEAVEN forbid that he (Mr..Benyon) should stand before the - July to deny that right. There.wns, no impropriety in a anaceable Meeting, t the pur-. pose of seeking Reform in Parliament, but the Meet- . ; *, .0 1 , ing at Stockpot* had not been a Meting of rater. The language, the conduct, the sviawm signia of that Meeting sheaved that the purpose was not- petition, but intimidation. One of the banners used upon that occasion bore the inscription- 4, No Corn Laws." Opinions Upon that subject were va- * rious. There were many persons of character and information who disapproved of those laws. He (Mr. Benyon) was not of their opinion, and probably the Jury would be in the same situation ; but no one would assert that there was any impropriety in peace ably meeting to petition for the repeal of those laws. It was the character, the - tumultuous and seditious character, of the Stockport Meeting which the Learn-. ed Counsel protested against. There were men of character in the country, who thought - Reform in Barliament desirable; but the conduct of the Meet of the 28th July had been calculated not for the reform of the British Constitution, but for the sub version of it. The Learned Counsel would say, no more, at that time, to the Jury, as he should proba bly, in the course of a few hours, have an opportu nity of addressing them again. John Kenyou Winterbottom , ex amined by )Ir. Sedeant Caoss, said, he was a solicitor in Stockport. He saw a Public Meeting in the town of Stockport, between one and two o'clock on the 28th of July last. He attended in a building (a Sunday school), near the Meeting. The place is c alled Sandy Brow. He should think there were four or five thousand assembled. He was not so near as to observe whether they were strangers or inhabitants. They were quiet at first. Most of them had sticks, which appeared to have been newly cut from hedges'. They were not walking-sticks. The population is upwards of twenty thousand. There were hustings, or a scaffold. Several persons were on the scaffold. Sir (Atari:3 was pointed out to him as one : he knew Mr. Harrison, and saw him there. Mr. Harrison taught a school there. Sir Charles had no connexion, that he knew, with Stockport. The first thing he observed was a hissing by the whole multitude. The next thing he observed was passing some Resolutions. There was a Chairman—he be lieved, Sir Charles Wolseley. Tale should think they had some persons of common sense in Stockport, who could act as Chair man; that there was no necessity for sending for Sir Charles; he heard all indistinctly ; he only heard Sir Charles say, on pass ing the Resolutions, " unanimous;" he was in an upper room, about one hundred yards from the scaffold. The people held up their hands; he saw them hold up their sticks, and conjec tured it was on account of the noise made by playing on an or gan. He was there to see, not to take a part ;he saw no re spectable inhabitant of Stockport among them ; at the time. he I did feel perfectly secure, and entertained no apprehension for peace or property lie continued to feel that confidence through out the day. Ile conceived that if they continued together till night it would be dangerous. He heard Harrison say- 7 " The House of Commons were the people's servants ; that it was as absurd to petition them as it would be for a master to petition his groom for his horse. He said that there was a barrier be tween the Throne and the People, which must be removed, either by force from heaven or hell, in order that they might see whether a man or a pig was upon the throne !" Ile thought there was laughter. She expression of derision was general.— Harrison said, " The united will of the people was sure to pre- Vail. It was an axiom that could not be confuted. It might be necessary, in some cases, to petition the House of Lot ds, who were, by the Constitution, placed in a differeut situation to the House of Commons; but, in the resent corrupt state of firings, it was useless, -and he would not recommend it." He did not remember anything else. The discourse was certainly received with applause. Sir Charles Wolseley was on the same stage, not two yards from Harrison. Cross-examined by -Mr. PEARSON...4Ie was perhaps kits, per. paps more, than 100 yards distant. There were women, about 100 or 200. Perhaps there were children, he did not see any. He would not say that there were not many children playing on the side on which he was. When he spoke of sticks, he meant that the whole Meeting had stinks. The sticks were held tip only once. He could not take upon himself to say, looking at a meeting of 5,000, what proportion held up sticks . He lived with his father and sister. They had not been removed from the town on that day; no old or feeble person had been re moved ; no shop had been shut ; no alarm was expressed. The organ was in the room in which he was. He did not know that a Chairman had been sent for. He had not a remarkable memory ;he was not Accustomed to attend Meetings. His at tention was not particularly called to Mt. Harrison. He heard Mm very distinctly. Here Mr. PLAZA'S( read .a speech of Mr. Harrison's from a newspaper, and asked the witness to repeat it after him. Mr. Serjeant MARSHALL said, it was not proper to read that. Mr. PEARSON said, he would have taken any other piece of writing as soon.. His object was to try the witness's memory. Witness said, he could not repeat it. He saw nothing in the laugh to distinguish it as ridicule. He beard all the speakers, but none of them distinctly, except Mr. Harrison. Cross-examined by Mr. Harrison.—lle took notes that day; he had not got them now. The expression "indistinctly" ap plied to others; he heard Mr. Harrison - distinctly. Mr. Har rison was one of the whole—a prominent one. He did not hear Mr. Lewis ; he thought he did not attend to him, he had heard enough. He had thought Mr. Harrison spoke figuratively, but did not understand his figures. He thought the word pig was mentioned to excite contempt of the Throne and King. He had read in a quotation that Mr. Burke had called the people the swinish multitude. lie had heard that a teacher in that school had said to the poor boys, if they attempted to be rich, they would ride in their coaches like pigs. Rezexamined.—Willan, Lewis, Fitton, and Knight, were there—none sf them inhabitants of Stockport. Thomas Bolton examined by . Mr. As-owns:rm.—Lived in Stockport. He saw numbers of country people coming into the town on the 28th of July. He was lately from London ; he had heen eleven months in Stockport. He thought those that passed his house were country people. They had nothing more than -usuaL Some hid walking-sticks, and were walking with them. He was at the Meeting. He had before seen Sir Charles Wolseley go up John-street, directly towards Sandy Brow. A young Gertlentan named Lewis walked arm in arm with him. Ile raw a flag at the Meeting; on one wide was " No Coin Bill," on the other " Universal Suffrage, and Vote , by Ballot." He bad seen k first furled, and when Si; Charles arrived it was lowered. He was first thirty yards from the hustings, and he thee got within ten yards. He knew the Rev. Mr. Harrison, Winton Faton,• Knight, and Johnson, whom he saw on the hustings with Sir Charles Wolseley. Mr— Harrison at one time stood neat to Sir Charles. Both appeared to bear past in a cons isonation that was going on. Sir Charles, on his arrival, was received with loud huzzu. Great numbers of the people were townsmen . be saw no unusual sticks ; they were not more nu merous about the hustings than he should have expected. He !food amongst the crewel, and gained high ground when he could. He saw no chair. The first attention be paid was to Sir Charles : be heard what he said. He made - a minute about -an hour after, and could state that Sir Charles had said what he had there noted. [He was allowed to read it.] " He was happy in addressing the people of Stockport from Sandy Brow; it was a place consecrated to liberty by the absence of friends he would have been b'.ppy to meet there ; and he trusted Sandy Brow would be more famed in history than the field of "Waterloo. Was there a peace-officer present, he trusted they came to keep the peace, and not to break it. But was there any of your spies, your note-taking, or black-book gentry, tell your em ployers, the tools of a Castlereagh and Sidmouth, that I bate them—that I detest them—that I eternally Execrate them. He was proud to any, that he was at the taking of the &stile he France—he should be happy to be at the taking of a Bastile in England I" (He saw nothing but the action of speaking with force and energy). '1 And.were all hearts but as firm in the cause as his own, they would soon put an end to the present tyranny and corruption." He heard Mr. Harrison, but took no note of it, and now recollected riethint of it. Before he had gone to the Meeting, he saw sk man taken to a druggist's shop, -with his head broken, and blood flowing down his cheeks. Cross-examined by Mr. Nov.—The man had been wounded before sir - Charles came to the Meeting. He was a cotton broker. He felt. not the least alarm. He remained at the .Meeting two-hours. The Meeting dispersed quietly. He had put down only a said! Ott of his speech. It was not all ut tered in the same continuous way. His address was generally to the people to peaceable. At the tirue the Cap of Liberty wasput on the flag, Sir Charles turned round, and said some thing he did not hear. There was a demur. The Cap of Liberty .was then hoisted.. . John Johnson estrus-mei 4101 r. wu.Leine,—seht be 'yeas a • besialfVeyor, at Stockport. He *as at the *lading before fir Wolseley appeared. Mr. Harrison was there when r e up. He bad witnessed the collection of the people. lie .wens in the centre, and could form no judgment of the number. There was nothing done tin Sir Charles caste. As soon as Sir Charles got on, be began to speak. Sir Charles *as appointed to the Chair. Witness heard him proposed. Sir Charles began to speak immediately. Witness was about six yards from him. Sir Charles said he was the first at the taking of the Bettile in France, and he hoped he should be at the demolition of the Bastile in Ibiza ebuntry soon, pointing his hand north- (est. lie said they should be firm and united, for in a few weeks the struggle would be made and ended. The place they stood nu was sacred, for there they had defeated their enemies. Sr Charles said a good deal more, which he did not recollect. r. Harrison stood next to Sir Charles, and spoke, and said they wanted to get to the Throne is order to see whether. there was a pig or a man on it ! and if there were ten thousand waist be twixt them, they would blow them up either to heaven or to hell ! The expression about the pig, and that of the walls, eels received by acclamatiolfse Sir Clarks was next to hit. sun while he spoke, Cross-examined by Mr. Peastsove--The first account of this he gave to George Bullock, about a fortnight ago. He never mentioned it to his father or brother. George Bullock v:of here ;he was xon of a man with whom he lodg:d. Here the witness repeated most faithfully, word for al ord, the same ex-t pressions of Sir Charles which he had given in ci.i:f. He 'thought of those expressions when he heard of the trial to come on at the Assizes. He did not remember the order in which the speakers addressed the people. Sir Charles Wols::ley spoke twice ; be did not. know whether the whole he mentioned %WS spoken at once. by Mr. Harrison.—George Bullock T72a bi bed-fellow, and was now a prisoner here for felony, in which witness had no hand. _ _ _ Thomas Welsh examined by Mr. Dices". Mr. Peaeson requested to have Johnson called back, aed asked whether he had not been convicted on a charge of th't vet) , felony which had been alluded to ? This was orderee,.— He was in the New Bailey priaoa fo: the same felony. He v..z.s not a witness against Bullock. By Mr. WII.U.A)II.—Iie was discharged on the hearing before the Magistrate. Thomas Welsh, a clerk to Mr. Harrop, in Manchester, lens twenty yards distant from the hustings, and heard Harrison read a letter. He made a few r.etes in the evening, on bis retu:a home ; the paper he now held was not the same. He had wi ten loose notes, which he had embodied in this paper, and then destroyed the former. Mr. Prestos, objected to this paper, as not purporting tc I•e even a copy of the notes. His memory might as well be re freshed by any newspaper of the time. • Mr. P. 4.1.1 argued the same ribjection. Witness, in answer to the Court, said this paper bad been written a month atter the Meeting. Mr. lizatrox contended that the paper was admissible to re fresh his memory, but declined to press it. The Cismv-Jusrace said, it was the same as if a note had been made a month after the occcasion. Serjeant 111.easnau. thought it dangerous to allow thispaper. Witness desired to trust entirely to his recollection.;_said tha Mr. Harrison had read front a letter that the Wiry had in tended man for happiness, and provided a sufficiency of all pled things to make him so; but as the majority of that Meeting WNI extremely unhappy and miserable, and rendered so by their rulers, the intentions of the DOTY bad beep frustrated, and re- , hellion against that Government became almost a duty. Sir C. Walseley was net there at the dine. lie did not recollect any thing further Mr. Harrison said. Sir Charles arrivtal while Mr. Harrison was reading, who then ceased. Sir Clarks wit; proposed to the Chair, he thought by Mr. Harrison. lie be lieved they shook hands. Sir Charles thanked them for the ho nour done him; he was no orator, but a determined friend of the People, and a friend to Annual Parliaments and Universal Suffrage, and if any spies or informers were hearing him, let them tell their Castlereaghs and their Sidmoutbs, and the others who employed them, that he abhorred and execrated them and their proceedings. There was much applause. Sir Charles read the Resolutions, and put them to the Meeting. One of the Resolutions was, that Lord Sidmouth had been guilty of High Treason! Another was, that a General Meeting of Delegates should be held at Oldham, or other places,to be agreed uEon. Mr. PILARBON objected to parol evidence of written ReSOlll - The objection was overruled. Another Resolution was, that a subscription should be entered into to defray the expense of prosecuting his Majesty's Minis ters. The Resolutions were put separately. He did not recol lect who read them. All the Resolutions were apeedao. Sir Charles afterwards said, that he was a most determinedifriend of the People, and should rennin so while there eves a drop of blood in his heart; his political career had cOmmenced in France, and he was' one of the first who mounted the ramparts at the taking of the Bastile io that country, and he would not shrink from attacking the Bastiles in this country. Willan spoke is slow that he could not hear him, and Johnson read a very dull speech. A person in a sailor's thew had nteatioated a panic that had taken place, and said stick conduct would not do when they met at Oldham; he then said they would soon minim Commo dore Sidmouth and his crew! One of the flags was surmounted with a sap' of liberty. Mr. Harrison recapitulated the speeches, and said a Deputation from the Delegates should present their Petition to the Throne, and remove all impediment, fur they did not know whether there was a man or a pig there I •As Ministers, Mr. Harrison added, had screened themselves with a Bill of indemnity, this Meeting would indemnify the speakers, in case anything seditious had been said. This was carried with cries of " We do, we do." Cross-examined by Mr. Patx.---the Meeting dispersed quietly at four o'clock. He was at the Meeting quite undis turbed all the time. He would have thought it troublesome to carry the sticks; they might have thought otherwise. He felt no alarm. He was sent to watch the Meeting by Mr. Harrop, 'publisher of a Newspaper in Manchester. His memory might he assisted by the paper, and he would not'teke upon himself to swear with accuracy to the expressions. He did not recollect Sir Charles calling upon every one to assist in keeping the peace. To the best of his belief, be thought Sir Charles did not read the Resolutions. He believed the Resolution was, that as the Stew ards of the Crown were amenable to the law, a subscription should be recommended (or enforcing the law. He did ndt be lieve they were so silly as to recommeed a General Meeting of the Nation at Oldham. It was a General Meeting that was proposed so be held there. Johnson read a legal speech, and it was very dull. He *quoted several Statutes. At could net say whether there was more than one Sag. • Re-examined in chief.—He did not think it safe to hold up his band against the Resolutions. He saw sticks held rep; be thought in defiance ci the soldiers, an alarm having been occa sioned by a report that they were coming, and some of the peo ple having at first given way. A great shout announced that Sir Charles was coming. Re-examined by Mr. Peae.-e-lie saw no troops there at all. After the supposed alarm, be remained on the - pound and felt no danger. Edward Shawcroft examined by Mr. Leoes.—Was at Stock port on the eath July, and at the Meeting. As soon as he at t rived on the ground, Collier, a Police-officer, was knocked down. They said he was a spy, and they would do all the rest so. Sir Charles Wolseley was not there then, and Witness did no take notice whether Mr. Harrison was there. Sir Charles Wolseley said that he.began his military career--(he was not sure of " military," but he said some career. He took notes, but gave them up to a person in Manchester, who could not find them.) Sir Charles said, he had been at the taking of the Bastile in France, and be hoped soon to be at the taking of the Bastiles in this country. Cross-examined by Mr. Paaasox.—He was there assisting his father, who was clerk to the Police. He thought military, warlike, or martial, was the word used, or to that effect. John Staively Barrett, a constable at Stockport, saw Sir Charles Wolseley half an hour before he went to the Meeting, with Parson Harrison, near the Union-rooms. They appeared to be acquainted. He was at the Meeting as a spectator—he was well known to be a constable. Sir Charles Wolseley said, he had began his political career at the beginning of the Revolu tion in France, and at the taking of the Bastile, and had no ob jection to be so in this country. There was a cry that the ad-. diva were coming, and Sir Charles called upon the populace to be firm. They held up the sticks. They were not walking .sticks, but pieces of peeled oak. He heard persons from the Parish of Romilly, and whom he afterwards saw at the Meet ing, say in a public-house, that they wished the Cavalry would came that day, for they were prepared for them; Sir Charles Wolseley was their friend, and many other Gentlemen would soon join them. • Cross-examined by Mr. Papa.—lle knew two or three of the men 'in the public-house, - and had had one of them in cus tody a short time before, and they knew him to be a coostabte, 't 1 i I II / : • ' 1 t 11 11 1 1 1 1 • 1 ) • • • • • 1 • • ••