The Sun. — London, England, 1820-03-24 00:00:00

ltlictur than he should have thought it could go through so dense a crowd. A general cry WAS raised about him of " what is to be done ?" arm the general answer to that was, " they must he brin;:,im - 2, some Ningisttale to listen whether env seditious expression has been used, and :hey were Sure that all Would h, go;et..' By the JOl)ne-S,lvc no attempt to resist, and nn encouragem lit gist!) to resist4nce by Mr Hunt, or any other person on tire hustings. SA , . no sticks fitted, and no stouts thrown, hot one, at the close of the disper•ion ; had any such occur rences taken pl a ce, from the Situation in which he stotod, he was likely to have seen them. Ilin eyes were directed towards the military. Up to the moment of the military reaching the hustitirg, himself and those around hint felt no alarm. 13,1! on the military surtootoling the hustings arid s-iz ing the Chairman, it Nas (lien 1)10110a that the meeting was to be dispersed. Saw no rerist !thee offered I he'd). The horsemen then diverged in all directions, and the crowd then dispersed shlir king and weeping. By Mr. Hunt—Witness was rather more than six feet high ; was enabled to see over the heads of the people what toek place. Sds a great many women mod on ttnC plain ; spoke to seve ral of them ; seemed to be clean and decent women, and appeared as if they had come to a holiday feast. Saw a great many old people, a few Leing at the head of each company that Came on the gionod ; saw neatly all the parties collie up. Sii w elderly people at !be bend of each coin pan y, almost invariably bearing s icks, perhaps a dozen at the bead Of each company ; they were merely walking-stinks winch they carried. Those who toltowed had vet y rarely any. Did not see tire party conic bp ta it h the black flag. Saw no body of people marching into the field with long thick staves, shouldered like muskets. [lad such an extritortlioary circOlustanct occurred, lie as Reporter, must bye noticed it. 'Die sticks car tied were eery properly used to repress tine idle boys that were likely ro impede ;heir progress.— 'Witness remained till there was no person hardly left on the plain. During the whole time he heard from the multitude no offensive expressions, and saw no act or violetrce ; good hottWor seas in every countenance ; saw no nlarm expressed iu the countenances of the respectable inhabitants of Manchester, runny of Ns hOlll (or, at least, persons be supposed to be such) were there. Witness ar rived ire Manchester on the preceding !right ; had heard trout respectable persons on the Exchaoge and elsewhere, that there would he no interfer ence on the part of the aothuritirs ; all was likely to go well, and they %% ere very glad to bear it. By the JUDGE—Not the slightest apprehensions were expressed, but all was congratulation on the understanding he had mentioned. By Mr. I-Into—Did not hear Mr. 11. say to_ the people (; oAtiing to the military), " There are your enemies it they molest you, put them down, and having got them down, keep them : down." lla conceived that it was impos slble that any thing of (lie kind could be said.— The words nstd by Mr. Iltint i " put hint down," &c. were %wet ed before. the military came on the ground. Must have heard them, it they had been laid. When the cavalry arrived, the people cheer ed them, but not one within his sight or hearing brandished a cudgel 'at ahem, ut hi”.ed, hooted, or groaned. The cheering for them was the same es the cheering on the - arrival of Mr. Hunt. Be lieved he joined in it, though he did not join in the cheer to Mr.Eitint. Cross-examined by Mr. SCARLBTT-Wan nut much in the habit of complimenting the ❑►ilitary, or of contending witit then* gruerally looking tow..rds the hustings while at the meeting, hitt frequently looked over cite whole meeting, cnn siilering it to be a very fine sight. ‘Vitness was the Mr. J. Smith invited to attend the meeting. Did not knoW Major Cartwright; \lr. ‘Vooleehe had known since ; did not know Mr. Carliie ; had the honour of the friendship Of Dr. CiOtilp 1011 and Mr. Rushton ; kad refused to attend as a speaker ; went as a matter of bosiness for.the paper ; was in the habit saf speaking on parochial and political matters at Liverpool. Was consi dered the junior Editor of :he Mercury,, with which, he had been connected for ten years from the period of its first establishment. Spoke at the Wigan Meeting in 181 G. Did not know a person of the name of knight ; might be in the habit of taking sotne articles from the Manchester Observer. Was not aware that the Manchester Paper, adver tising the meeting tor the 9th of August, contain ed an iofiammatory speech made by one of. the pieties at Wigan. Did not recollect seeing in that paper art advertisement for a subscription for henry Hunt, Esq. 11e remembered that he missed that, and perhaps two or three other of the Observers. being travelling at the time. The article reterred to (a speech made by Mr. Knight) did not appear in the LiverpoOl Mercury. Did not approve of the coarse language used. Remembered the additis at Mr. Hunt on the subject of the placard, signed by "Coin this and Jack that. Did not know that his speech went to recommend the Magistrates to the respect of the people, or otherwise. [lad laughed at the grammatical error in one of the placards himself, Nr. H unt might be occupied about 10 minutes in •peaking anti can't; silence. Did not see any in fantry then; Mr. Hunt ntight use the word— " enemies ;" decidedly he (lid slot hear hint say— " Your enemies are at hand, if they molest you, put them down, or keep them down ;" he (Mr. Hunt) might say, it any one should molest you, and diiturb the peace, he is an enemy ; put him doWn, and keep him down ; was not certain that had said so ; when witness said to those near h stn, " I suppose you ate all friends to Parlia mentary Reform, and hope peaceably so," he ex pressed this hope, because from all that he had seen, he felt justified in entertaming it ; he was pleased to see tr.::ti_t so orderly, for part of the Press had labourcii make it appear that they were a tumultuous, savage, and riotous set ; was proud to see those charges so falsified ; it was the best assembly he had ever seen, ane4 the most moderate ; heard nothing of the drillings—no thing which he hsd thought entitled to pat ticular attention; the several bodies as they enme on :he grOiiiid marched in line (not with a regular s(ep). and this he thought (lie best way of goertho,: sg•inst confusion; he though( iliac seriog bodies of the lower ar.lors marching with an ap pearance of previous combination tiftd organiza tion, r wild have inspired hint rather with confi dence than alarm, espeehllv it he saw among them that good I,,►nto+ur which on the Itith Au• gust seemed to beam from every countenance; the same mode of walking in Liverpool on elec tion and other occasions, was commonly resorted to, to 'avoid conto-it•ii, kicking of shins, and so on. Upon his solemn oath, he did not hear on 11 , e Exchange at MillidirSter one expression of alarm on the morning of the 16th but he left it t•efore ele‘,eti o'clock ; had bee❑ invited to attend the meeting in a letter addressed to Mr. Thomas Stt►ii ls. Re-exatnieed by Mr. Hunt—Had beard nothing of previous training. Exchange at Manchester opens early in the mornieg ; is very busy from eight o'clock to eleven. Had seen the placard on the walls of Manchester, with the grammatical error. Saw a placard on the Monday, advising ' the iohabitents to keep their servants and children from the meeting. Did not recollect that no name was to it but that of the printer. Could not say whether the remarks about Tom Long and Jack Short, made by Mr. Hunt, applied to that ; heard nothing (tom Mr. Huut hut a joke on the gram matical error, or on the placard, at all disrespect ful to the Magistrates ; did not consider that what Ire said to be any thing like disrespect. Save many women, boys, and girls, among the multitude; many of the women were decent and respect able, and conducting themselves with propriety. Thought this a guarantee for the good order of the meeting, as lie considered the presence of ladies always chastened the conduct of men ; they were quite tbe reverse of what might be called profligate Amazons. Saw a female on the dickey of the carriage, on Hunt's arrival, carrying a flag ; thought she must he the wife or daughter of some one in the bat ouche. who had consented to carry the hug to the meeting, as was common on civic anti father occasions.---(A ground plan of St. Pe ter's-field being handed to him, witness pointed out the spot ou which some of the occurrences h taken place.) James Scott (examined by Mr. Hunt)--I live at Pendleton, near Manch , ster, and sin a land surveyor by profession. I have a considerable property. in that neighbourhood. On the morn ing of the 16th of August, I saw many persons going along towards Manchester, but I cannot say they were going in patties. My residence is oo tie great road to .Manchester. There was nothing in that' conduct to produce au diem in my mind. About one o'clock I went to the meet ing. I am married, aid have six children ; of these five are at school, and the other an appren tice ; I did not take them with Inc. .11pon reach ing the field, the people were standing together promiscuotisly hi the way in which crowds usual ly stand ; there were-men, women, and children there ; nothing in their number or behaviour to excite my fears either for •the safety of the town or nay family. I mixed with them until Mr. [lent arrived. lie was received with loud cheers. I saw no persons with staves, shouldered as muskets. I was in hoist of the hustings, look ing towards Windmill-street. It might be front 60 to 80 yards frost the Inistiugs, but I got nearer afterwards. The pressure of the crowd then became great, and I was obliged to retire ; I there fore could net hear what was said distinctly. In the other pelts of the field there was no disposk tion show() to riot or disorder. I saw many well dressed persons, and amongst others, there were .females itt the crowd ; they seemed to be inhabi tants of Manchester; there was no feeling of alarm, and I never heard one of them expless any apprehensions for their own safety, or that of the town. I recollect the Yromenry coming on the field ; the people cheered them in the same way they had Mr. Hunt ; there was no groaning, ht si . ing, or hratelialliog of cudgels against the soldiers; if it had happened, I could not fail to have seen it. Saw the soldiers charging towards the hust ings ; two of them first went forward, but upon meeting with obstruction they tell back upon the others ; no advantage, however, was taken of these by the people, on account of their being separated from their comrades. It was not until, the soldiers appeared that Lome few expressed their feats ; these fears were, that the soldiers would attack the people. It did not, however, induce any one to propose resistance, but some began to move off; the soldiers then cheered, and the people answered them, Which, iii some measure, restored confideoce ; later this the peo ple stood quiet, and the business of the day, to which their presence had given an interruption, was resumed. I thought the soldiers cause to keep the peace ; they galloped towards the hust ings. I did not see the arrest of any one there, but I saw the soldiers going up to them ; there was . no resistance 'mule by the people, either by throwieg stones or brickbat a. In their progress the horses galloped upon theta, best they made no resistance. Cross-examined by Mr. Serk!ant HuLLocK.— The hustings may be about 100 yards from Mr. Buxton's house; 1. hive nut been in the habit of attending meetings at Manchester ; was not at the former one, but was at that of Liverpool ; Johnson was not with me-1 was alone; I did not carry the address to Mr. Cobbett ; Johnson did not meet me with the address at Liverpool ; it was for the purpose of seeing Mr. Cobbett and dining with him that I went there ; I dined with him, but did not invite him to Manchester; JOnli3On was then at Liverpool ; this was in No vember last. Mr.. Hunt objected to this examination as irre levant, and it was dropped. Re-examined by Mr. Hunt—l had never seen Mr. Cobhett before that day. By the COURT for Johnson--I have often con versed with Johnson, but never heard Lim speak ill of the Government. John Hampshire again called---. Was on the hustings from the time Mr. Hunt arrived to the time. he was arrested. Had never heard tins say to the people, " There are your enemirs, - point.- ing to the soldiers, put them dusvit, Had when they are down keep them dw.1,1t." S,i v the mili tary art ive, and saw themel,nr::ing towards the hustiogs. His attentinn was ;io a partiroltir man ner directed towards thew. bitting the progress of their charge no resisl+nce K As inHde. Crnss-rx,rninte by :vlr, r—i tltre Were 110 papers on the hustings. Saxton did not curry any. Witness lied not beard any thing of printed Resolution's that morning. Mr. John StisittlewOrtli—ls a merchant at Manchester; re collects the IGth of August; he was standing at the Exchange in the morning of that day ; saw several parties passing on their way to St. Peter's field. They marched with considera ble regularity in ;he form of a procession, but conducted themselves in an extremely orderly and decorous manner. Many of them had banners or flags, with different inscrip tions upon them. Some merely stated the districts from which the parties cerise. Others were of a political nature. Saw the Lets, Moseley, and Saddleworth party with the black flag. His attention was first attracted to this party by the colour of the flag ; but it seemed to conduct itself very peaceably.— Could nut say what proportion of this party had sticks, but could guess what the average number might be of the whole busty. There might be about one in ten beariug them. From thecircumetance of persons not bringisig sticks to former meet ings, he was led to pay a more than particular attention to it. He meant persons in the procession ; of the others he saw no thing. The sticks were such as people generally carry walk ing. Whilst the Moseley party walked by, he did not perceive that any of them had long staves shouldered as soldiers carry their niuskets. If any were so armed, he would have observed it. Had no doubt, if one in ten had them, they could nut escape his observation; there was, however, a cruwd about the black flags, su that he could not see them so distinctly. He saw no disposition, on their part, to insult the peaceable inhabitants. There was a considerable number of other per sons, mostly merchants of Manchester, standing by him at the time, all of whom had the same opportunity of witnessing their conduct. Did not hear a single expression escape from any one of these indicating alarm, and the only objection that was takers applied itself to the colour of the flag. Witness went to Peter's-field about a quarter before twelve. He had not previously seen any thing to excite his fears for the safety of the town. There was nothing its the conduct or ap pearance of the people to create alarm in the breast of any rational man. Upon his arrival, the parties were assembled. Witness passed through a liue of constables which extended ftme the house ins which the Magistrates were, and stood about thirty yards from the house, on a rising ground;at the top of Windmill-street. He was then about half-way between the Magistrates' house and the hustings. Saw leveret parties at a distance come into the field. Their conduct was per fectly regular. Witness stood on an elevated ground, and was therefore enabled to command a view of the whole plain. The parties as they came in were cheered. It seemed as if each upon their arrival had a way made for them towards the hustings. lie remained there until 1 o'clock. He then moved to a station in the rear of the hustings, about 15 yards distalit, and saw Mr. Hunt arcire. The cheers were loud and longer than sutral. Saw him mount the hustings, and beard wha t be said distinctly. As far as lie could recollect, he began by remarking upon the necessity of keeping silence, that these nt the extremity of the Meeting might hear all that was said. He was going en in this way, when a trifling disturb ance took place in the rear. As this was the only place where there was arty noise, Mr, Hoist turned round, and said, that though he wished them to be peaceable in their conduct, yet he would net compromise the right of an Eng lishman to interfere and prevent disturbance. He added, that if parties in that directions persisted in attempting to breed a riot, he hoped they would assist in putting them and keeping them down. This was addressed to those netse,elee place the noise proceeded from. Witness stood near a posse of special constables, who seemed disposed to hear Mr. Hunt. When the noise had in some measure subsided, they cried out " Well stogie, Hunt next thing he saw were some parties of a foot regiment, who marched from Cooper's-street into Dickinson's-street, and there faced the meeting. This created some alarm, as their situation was directly opposite the hustings. Mr. Hunt observing the disorder, said some thing of Sts being a trick, and desired the people to give three cheers, which they did. Mr. Hunt never said, "there are Your enemies, put them down, and when they are down, keep them down," pointing to the soldiers. On the contrary, he believed no individaal on the hustings could see Uickin son's-street. Mr. Hunt's recouscriendation to the people to cheer seemed to him to hate no other Object than to put them into good humour. There was a large party of special con. stables near the Windmill public-house, which made it quite easy for any one to approach the hustings. Many persons, passed backward and forward, and there was nothin g to in terrupt the course of c ornmonlcatioll. He saw no such thing as a phalanx of men t deep linked together, in order to cut off communication with the hustings. Remembers the arrival of the cavalry. Before that be saw nothing at all to raise any apprehensions for the safety of the town. Not one of his "townsmen, to whom he bad spoken that day, showed any alarm on the subject. The cavalry, upon arriving before, Mr. Buxton's house, were cheered at the desire, as he be lieved, of Mr. Hunt. They were not hooted or hissed. Wit ness could not fail to see it, if any such thing had happened near him. The people did nothrandish cudgels at them, or offer them ally deEance. Witness changed leis situation to the left flank of the Yeomanry, whilst the people were still cheering. The Yronsartry were also shouting, and brandish ing their swords in the air. This teemed to excite great agi- Wiwi, and a great noise followed. Many of the special con stafilcs, reaching from Buxton's house to the hustings, then frit back, mid left another space of about fifty yards. When this was dune, the Cavalry proceeded at a quick pace, and those in front entered the crowd at a gallop. They met with a check, however, from the density of the crowd. The troop were thrown into confusion by this ; some of them were se parated from the rest. They appeared in a circular mass. The peeple did nothing to resist tkem. Witness directed his attention towards the caralry until they reached the has tinizt. Its saw neither brickhats ur stones thrown at them in their progruse. Crosss-examined by Mr. Seljeant Cnoss—He never knew Mr. Hunt before that day, but he bad heard of him. Reads the Manchester Obsert.cr occasionally, but he does not recol lect having seers it before that day. Dues not take this paper in. He bad heard that Hunt presided at a Meeting in Smith field some time before. He was also aware that he presided at a alerting at Sp4-fields ; however, he had this only from hearsay, or through the medium of the papers. He had beard that there was a disturbance at Spa-Gelds; but did not there fore fear fur the consequences of that of Manchester, on ac colmt of his presiding. Never saw so numerous a meetiniz at Mess heater before, or heard teat a stranger had bey' invited to preside at it. There were many persons in that place ca pable of speaking and presiding at a meeting. 'Witness was cot at the former meeting; knows Mr. Smith, the Editor of the liverp , oi Msrcury be saw bins that morning on the Ex change.- Sonic of those about bins were congratulating tlwru sCices that Lteetin znas to take place, because the Magis trates said thee were not to be, interfered with. Thie was the general feeling on the preceding erening.•-• He bad heard of the drilling of bodies of men in the neighbourhood of Manchester some time before, but felt no alarm on that account, bemuse be !..:.der stood the object of the trainin; - -et„ Cuet tlae PvuPle should come there with, mt'.c leeolarity , had never heard of drilling before the meeting was announced ; does nut . recollect a paragraph in The Manchester Observer, calling upon the people to keep notes of alt acts of violence which would be offered that they might afterwards be given in evi dence. Before the meeting there. were no eircurustantei pe culiarly calculated to raise alarm in his mind about the public safety ; if there were any apprehensions they were created b% the threats of persons presumed to be in the confidence ef-his Majesty's Ministers, and nut from the people. To this met be added, the rumour then generally prevalent, of the swerb of the cavalry having been sharpened. Of this latter citeum stance, however, he had no other knowledge than threugh the public papers. He had never heard of confederacies amongst the Reformers ; he did not understand what was meant by the question. The only association of which he knew was the Reform Union. Upon their coining into the tuicti the" was no alarm felt; on the twittery, the people seemed pleased. He knew nothing of a meeting of the respectahlre inhabitants at a Police Office. Could not say but many of them were present on the Exchange; I thought the average there might be from one to ten. There was naleing retuark able in their gait; it was a lounging gait, such as a party of people would walk in going to church.—This rernat'a applied to all but the Rochdale division. The Magistrates had as iensbled at Mr. Buxton's house that morning, but he was nut there. He never was at Buxton's house in his life. Fie is a member of the Manchester Committee fur the relict' of the sufferers. As the bodies came up (ruin the country. they assembled about the hustings. Does not recollect bearing Mr. Hunt use the word " enemies;' as applied to the soldiers. Re-examined by Mr. Hunt-15y the sufferers he meant all that were injured, as well Special Constables and others, bi the forcible dispersion of the Meeting on the l6th of Angust- It was to the Committee fur this purpose he belonged, and 1 was from motives of humanity, not politics, that he was in duced to join it. Ire had heard of training going on, anti yet felt no alarm from that circumstance. The reason of was, that he knew the training was only to bring the people together in a more orderly manner. Mr. SCARLETT—My Lord, I must object to the wittiess giving his reasons. He could not have any knowledge of whit the motives of the training were. Mr. Justice liAmer—l think the question arise• natural/1 enough out of the cross-examination. Mr. SCARLETT—My Lord ) I must•iniitt that the question =JI irrelevant. Mr.,JUstice BAlLEY—(warmly)—l have already. given Of opiniura. Mr. Scanterr—My Lord— Mr. Justice Bathev-Mr. Scarlett, I Wish you owl chaPS t places with toe. Mr. Hunt—God forbid, my Lord. The examination was then resumed—Het ad hearties-fat-4' met meeting, but it was peaceable. Recollects anseetingesslO by the Boruugbreeve and constables to eungratulatethe Frio ° Regent on a former occasion. This Comps - ehended:the neje:, hourhood as well as the town. K'itness himself was pree o " at it. There was a great multitude assembled: At it was adjourned, and the people then broke some windowlS because, atter they had heats brought together, thry we:l 4 not allowed to cl;sCuss the question about which they 11 4-4 assembled. On this occasion the people cause in flow tV neighbouring towas. Believes there were 50,000 assetuble3 then in a more inconvenient part of the town. They 1 0( ‘ called together by Writiog, and by the municipal istlicif i ' There were also large processions of the people on ocessi gil of the Proclamation . of Peace. Witness joined them, Al a many other respectable persons were with theni. - ed in files three or four a-breast. Believed the shop witulio f°. were shut up in St. Anne's-square, which Was the largestare" is town; he also believed that there were more shut up t" i' on the 16th, fur that was a town holiday. By the Count—There were women and children ist e''' r ' ji ; derable numbers with all the parties; there were a fr ° many in St. Peter's-field. John Tyas, examined by Mr. HUNT—I am a repor ter s o i l' the Tines Newspaper. I attended at the public meeting the 16th August ; I came to Manchester on the Friday IseP ri t ° the Sth ; I weut as a reporter to girt an account of the );si e ing. On the 16th we met in a room in the New Bailoy have relatious in Manchester; I believe I only sent one fe i : port of the proceedings to London. I wrote a report 0 - 1 0 c 0 appeared in the Tinier, headed, " Another Bounce of t 4iv i' Orator's:' I went to St. Peteei-field so early as eight 0' 6 ' 0 4 in the morning,'and was particular in my observations 40 4 the whole of the day. When I went at eight there wad ' few people on the field ; about ten there were about 450 V - t , sons present. I have not given any depositkias to yoL if s turney; I refused to be examined by him or any othe r Per, son. I saw the different parties arrive with music and -6 14" 41 they walked as I saw the Electors of York walk on Tues 4; with sistnethime of a military step. If I bad not heard .s this important trial, it would not make the slightest awn upon me. I have the notes I took on the groundstud also those I wrote in the New Bailey. (Here witsieesl ,W over his notes). About half-past eleven, the first b° o , of Reformers arrived on the ground with two b:ti, nets, each surtuourited by a Cap of Liberty ; they O r hi ed into the middle of the field, and a cart was 11 jo to them. I saw other parties arrive ; they behale odic the 'niost 'orderly manner. ',I do nut conceive thsl odic up their position in a military form. I saw sissib' 4 l „ r culiar in their rnanner•• aftet they came upon the fielsi• hops they were snore orderly than any other meeting t to i seen. I saw the party with the black flag arrive. ft Saddleworth and :Moseley Union'; they came wlth-04 - tb; and a sort of step. I recollect, whets they arrived * l l 4 53e, hustings, they played " Rule Britannia," and ". 9 fi ll ' the Kink." Ido not mean to say, that they alone p s ly cacti party played it 33 they arrived. I think: o , 4 'o' 9 4 placed " See the Conquering Hero conies." Soule 0 isoi, division had common walking sticks. I certainly did lo ts !, h e w with long stares, shouldered like muskets, and my atter!", j ,t 3 `, ing called to this subject, from an Evening Paper hay'llol , ed that the party escorting Mr. Hunt on the tsthcarrico-jeo, stares fit to be used as pike handles, I must hare notic e f /iic ,, ;„ had they been there. I saw not the slightest m atter 0 0, could excite alarm in my breast fur the safety of th e C fo id°, l , I saw nothing in their conduct tending to riot and 4 0 ‘ 1 0 , I had sevtral conversations with persons in the Ref ur f th e e ties. They said all they wanted was a restoration ",14e,0 rights, and that they weir desirous , above every thing artl,o P reserve order and traisqudlity. felt it my duty to 3- L , ac, o whether the repurts 1 heard ,vrre t7tic or riot. I of insult or violence to i any way. 'lliere were tPk‘"; io o r and children in the held, and litany of them ca tie the same order as the men. I saw two parties w o men were at the head of 1.1,c procession. They 3 11 1 1 to he dressed it, their brit clothes. If I, a s a !ter g seen ur beard any thing likely to create alarms', sLluu 4id ~iatt );10 the ci •qr rt by me the m rterea it. ~~ri► nUitll. Were I when ed, gr Lam e ;genet, I raw s erer, is nut I j 1