The Sun. — London, England, 1820-04-12 00:00:00

ie trusted ) break +t• pole-talc' h, that eternallY I proud to Bastile in L the tak° served no rut ce and ism in the an end to "This was )(I all that thing said down the blood was ru?giit'sy reesed. sax th. irks WC" s trotter• :-- lifilict lind !Heeling• F..d quietly put down seley one time, generally : TiiO 4 % was piA 41ht I►ave wilat had ILLIAMS) Illt•Ci lIIS Etc 11r, less bow five of Charles him. ck to Ilia lever sat Sir C• He saibl, ►,stile ip )e at this tithtg ed to;(1 is greiC ,d ended. iacred to irir erica 11,itles at l►e saki wl►etl►et ere werC ald blow he (me, reeeive4 had said. t to ME. speaking rSI-men' risor) tV ;o. Fl 9 Charles t eti3oor whicli the Ile Assixes• e or tett He did nor an 9 H) about a voy e acc►a• rge Hu!' +t will I Ilear4l Hg Alb" ,;ter ~F.:~y k. as (iis;, ACuN - w „ or eg (Al TC,+.O )e loose t sof tlO erred to nion. ►e pni)l2r the pg' tilL'!" larristko that tJie )(1 there ler bin . ' meet 1.14 ""s• Ailother rekolotion WiDt to prcpc'se that a "general meeting of 'delegates sitoni.l take place at Oldham, or iirtAi other ! ,htt.c t s might het e . affer he agreed upon, to consider of best tbeans of obtaining their ights. Another resolu t ion was It at a sabscript o f should he entered into to Lleflay the expellee (et prosecuting his . 'Majcsta's .Ministers. The Resolutionsavere read seprately ; did not know by a t,h o m ; but they were read by some person on the hustings, who was not more than.a yard from Sir Chat les Walseley. He rather thought that Sr Charles put the Resolutions. Many of the ciowd had stitlts--4 all sized sticks. sometimes held them up in their hands, brandishing then, as he took it, in approbation of the Resolutions.: Sir Chalks Wolicley spoke to 'wards the close of the meeting, said he was the 'determined friend of the people, and that he Would remain sa wild, he had a drop of blood in his heart. He remembered his political career in France. He was one of those who mounted the ramparts of the Bastile there, and he would not shrink front attat.hing the Bas!iles of his Own totintry. Sir Charles spoke with mach warmth. Me could not hear much of Mr. soeech. .Johnson real a very dull speech. A sailor Made a speech, in the course of which he said they 'lllll3l huldly lay held of their own, and then they , would soon capsize Commodore Sidinanth and his crew. The flags bore stick insetiptions as it Annual Parliameuts," " No Corn Laws," and ‘'Voteby Ballot." Mr. Harrison made a speech, in which he recommended that they should op. daoiat delegates to present their petition to the 'throne, to see who was there, tor he did not hnow whether there was a man or a pig on it. As Ministers had brought in a Bill to indemnity theinselvei, he thought it wooid be proper that th " mee'iog should enter into a subscription to • defray the expence of defending the speakers of it, in case any thing seditious , had been said. This Was answered by shouts of " We do, we do." Cross-exaanined by Mr. -PARll—Spoke to the peAsteable continct of the inee , i n g ; saw no ont sAe crop I eti many of them had sticks, which be.;lloii!ti titre thought troohle9ollld tO carry, but they alight thick ot her Wise. lie was scot to 'Vatcit the progress of the meeting by Mr. liar rot), the publisinA . of a Mancitenter newspaper, al:ho was hi; employer. Might have refreshed his memory hy looking at the paper which ire had drawn up. Could not swear with I.recise ace{l• rar, V ! O what had occurred. Having tkseribed the easily part of the .proceedings, he said he aid not - hear Sit C.. Wolseley say he hoped that he might depend on the assistance of every one to aid him ih keeping the peace. He could not say that the resolution respecting the prosecuting of ;Ministers was not to the following effect :—" That As the • Stewards of the Crown are amenable to the law, tbat a subscription should be enter , td into throughout the nation to da:tray the ex- Penres of making them answer for their conduct according to the IAW." He had heard it pro -Posed that a general meeting should !ake place at 'ol , lhOty, or some other place, that might bg agreed upon. J„1, 11 , 00 ma d e a very dull speech. It was' ie'g.al argument to strew that the people were en. filled I!) Anon ll •Parlliamw tits. He could not sa y whether t' etc '..as mote than one nag, but he saw , iosctii ? cions. Witness took no pad in the Re-examined by Mr. D E ACON—Ditr not bold sap '•is haml for the Resolutions, becanse'he did not like 'heal ; did not b o ld tip his hand against them, bteatese he d;d- h ot think that it would he s a e e to d o so. Tn are was some cry orthe military enmine, and he.tlien saw some sticks raised, as it ellPPattd; in defiance. • — Cross-examined by Mr. PARK—Saw soldiers. "Witeess felt no alarm. A loud ahnnt announced that Sir C, Wolseley.was corning., 4 . 'Redmond. Shaweross,•exartnined by Mr. LLOYD •`---Wls at the meeting. V. - hen he-got-to the field, niAn frOrp- the .Police-Office was knocked down ; be could' tacit say'who knocked hint down, bat he . ..‘,Taa insulted by a great 'Many people. A woman Ertl 'a'way. The people said the man was a tpy, and they . Would do al! the rest so. • This was before the • arriv;al of Sir C. Wolseley. Sail,. Mr. }garrison on the litistings . as •ioOn"as Sir-C. Wolse • ley-had been elected,cheittom. Sir Charles then ,shill • had comtnenteed his military, or some' , tther career, in France. lie was at the taking of Th e Bastile in Tracee, and he hopei k)ett , re lor:g to be at the tiiith* of the !I,!.it des in Kriglana. cross-e*try,inee.,by Mr. PeaaloN-- , Was `s , ni to the clerk trf rbt , tiOlice. office at Manchester. Was turned•Of sixteen. HiS fatter 'had taken him • to- 11, t,' Scetaiol:l;;'feel'co alarm at • taking a loay (a4erctioned of fffteen) with him on that occwiion: ITtC was nut positive that Sir . 'Charles grail .used' the. Words " military career," but he said sotnethitag to that effect. John St eeeelyinlrei t esti-linked by Mr. BetryoN ...-Wa s as a 'constable. - Went' to the meeting of the 2Sih June as• a spectator. , Saw .Sir Charles Wolseley and Mr.. Harrison on the hustings.— . .'They appeared to hue been previously acquaint . ed. He heard Sir C. Wolseiey say. that he had 'Commenced: his political career in France, and had -been oee of the tits! it, assist in taking the Basile, and ho red shortly- to do the saute in England.- 1 1 6 ,0 y of them.had sticks that were of to unusual bein'griearly as large as his arm. When there Iratr a erralsat. toe atvalty, wele.ooliiiiig, be went to a public' house, ono' pearl) those who were Ihere, alid who hat; st.icits, express a wish that the cavalry would_ come that day, as they were pre- Pared for them: They spoke of Sir Wolseley' as being their friend. Cross-estatnitted by. Mr. Pattla—All those who were at the public house had, sticks. al e su p.. Posed they might kito'iv him to be a constable: 'Ye.knew some. of theta very well ; one of them be hid had in . custody. 'He did not hear Sit Charles exhort the people to keep the peace. What e he bad aeid about the hostile, he belieyed , ocenrretrat the close of his speech, He !law one man with a • pistol in his right band Oteecbes pocket. lie sate roe handle of it: I le imagined it was not the handle of a pistol. tinder box that he saw. Tbonpts Cartiveight, eitatnitterl by. Mr. Serjettot Gloss-.—lNkts a :Metter, ' in Stockport )11. June l ost. B t ,„, those „H Iw attended the iiteeting on ,_their tv,;y ICI, it. Ave.re La, or. most of them, Ititti . ;soe - 4) huge sticks ; some the : e had g reat knobs, and lii.pcdrtcl to litte been recently talten from the trees, The appear ance o; toe erum. , l excited in him some fear and apt) , ehension. 11, went to . Mr. Lloyd, and told hint what •he 'met seen he afterwards saw the persons he I - en - talked at the meeting still furnished wit ii sticks. The body of the meeting cont-isted ut men, out there might he some Chilareo onside. He thou'. ht the first words that he heard from S;r Chatles Wolseley were, "-three his;es for the prosecntors of Baguely, nl, and Johnson," or sumethiw4 to that eff.ter. his4e4 were given. Witness was afraid, that if the multitude (3buot five thougand), should he influence.' by. speeches, I.ke .those usually made on SUCO occasions, the consegnences would be serious. Cross-examined by Mr. PEARSON—Thought the consrvences of the meeting might be serious, twin the weapons with which they were armed. — M any hondreds—some thousands who attended the meeting, had sticks which seemed to have been recently taken Itom the oak !recs. Heard the person pointed out to him tt9 Sir C. ‘Voiseley Nay something about hisse., and hiss himself. The women and children on the outskirts, bad an at t.ack then made by the cavalry, would have been in great danger of being destroyed. Re-examined by Mr. Serjeant Caos4---There was no cavalry iu sight. The women and children at the outskirts might b-,Ve got away, . Ralph Oldham, post-master at Stockport, (ex amined by Mr. AGH WORTH) proved that he hail received a note Irom Sir C. Wolseley,,expressH.P, a belief, that a letter from him to MI.. Harrison bad beett . imptoperly delayed at the Post-office. A letter, written by Mi. Harrison to BaguelY, was put in find read. This described the proceed ings of Ow 2&h of June, and shoved that he had a share in them, and approved of them. This and the former letter were proved by two witnesses to be in the band-tvtitiog of Sir C. Woiseley and Mr. Harrison. Aaron Collier, exaioined, by Mr. WILLIAMS— Was a constable. Attended the meeting of the 28th of bine. He heard somebody say, ," there is a Nadin's runner, and he comes-as a spy." He was their immediately kii,p,-.ked down; the blow took away his senses, and he was removed from the groom!. Wher t.',2 revived he found some wo men attendin.! by P.actt.7.-He had. not searched any liet:oo on his way to the meeting that morning. He did lint take notice of what was said of bin 1:e bad said nothing to provoke any one. e tine case fr.r the prosecution closed. Mr. Ps SNP!i in defence of Sir C. Wok-. alone. fie I.t,n never felt more embar rassat than he experienced on the present oc casion, not :dm account or the weigh( o f t h e ev i.. deuce (for :hat. was of such a character that he thought he might congratulate Sir C. Wolseley on the refutation of the reports which tad long bf-en circulated respecting him) ; but the em barrassment which be 'felt arose from Rome heosioii that they taight be unconsciously biass ed, in despite of themselves, by those reports which they could not hut hare beard. The fimst count, as they bad been told by his Ho uourable. Fuicnds (who, 00 this, as on every oc casion had conducted thesoselves with the ereate.st candour and generosity) charged the defendants with caliiog and attending a seditious meeting. A conspiracy could not be proved against sir Ci ‘l 7 ol,eley with the other (iriendam, as it was not shown that toe parties had ever met before, but a few miuttii previous to the meeting. Mr. Jos tice Bayley had, in charging the Jury at York, rod down the kw, "that carious individuals might Purina - the same obik.ct, and yet not be liable raihe tonvicted of n conspiracy, unless it were proved that they acted un some common plan adopted with the privity of all." A l etter 1,34 been put in from Sir C. Wolseley, hut this letter 'Baal` been written two flays after the meeting, and referred to one said to have been written four days before. : - -'ipposiog this letter to have been written, of which :l.ere was no proof, still would hi: contend, I under all the circumstances of the easeohat , there was not the. leant skolow of evidence to prove there defendants y of a conspiracy. Het hen A pplieft himself to the secomi count, which charged .thern with assisting at an illegal meetiog. He quoted the description of an illegal meeting from Mr. Serjeant Hawkins,. and contending that this did not a pp;),- to the meeting iu question, asserted,' in the strongeto terms, the light of'the subject to pcirinit. for the redress of grievances. The pro posed general meeting at Oldham appealed more chimerical than any thing not only in real life, but surpassing all that bad been seen . even iii comic fiction. The scenes described by Gulliver— the flappers, to quicken the memory of those be describes—tlie water-mill built on a moun tain, and the notable scheme for extracting stin ..beanas from a cucumbar, were all rational pro jects compared with the chimerical plan of as sembling the whole population of the people in the village of Oldham. Those who could be alarmed at such proceedings he could not but re gard as somewhat akin to those timid persons mentioned by Swift, who could not rest at night from aim apprehension that while they slept, the world might be destroyed by the tail of some passing comet. 'flint the meeting was illegal he most positively denied, and he defied those opposed to him to Drove that it was called in opposition to the law of the land. Nor was the conduct of those who attended it ille gal when they were assembled. The resolution which proposed that, a subscription should be set on foot to defray the expenses of prosecuting the Ministers, proved that they intended to proceed in conformity with the laws of their country. — What was to niek~ the meeting illegal ? Not its numbers ; for had numbers made a meeting il legal, where would have been the necessity of passing those Acts which macre framed in the last Session of Paili,iment, and which went to,regti late time numbers by which meetings might be at tendet-M ) Would such a law - baie been necessary, if numbers could make a meet iaig illegal before He stioogly pointed out the. awful consequeocrs which (1)061 fo.llow it public liberty were abridged too much, and called upon time Jury to parmie.be fbre they gave a verdict that would have such a' tendency. lime assault comtnitted on the constable took place before Sir C. \Volseley had left his lodgings. The sticks (which had been variously iirSeribeel) lied - teeeti according to some of the witnessee, and so had the bet!, and both were hired with the same reeling, and nothing of hos tility was connected wi!h the display of either.- - One. avitnees had described a conversation said to have taken place its . public house, in SOlne persons were said. to have expressed. a wish that the cavalry might come, as they were prepared for them. Had this fact been true, the constable had but ill perfortned his dray in net bringing the parties were not unknown to hie), in a Court of Justice. Bet the evidence of that pfrsolt he did not think entitled to their atten• (ion ; What could it be thought, eve;i armed with their stick '. , they were copehle of effect ing, or believed themselves capable of effecting against cavalry ? One witness lied said there were several banners displayed, • but on cross-exemiva tion he could not swear that there was more than one. But at York it hail been proved, that a number of banners had been displayed, and it had also been shewn that a preeiaue training bad ti e kee place, and yet Mr. Hoot and his brdt her Oefendatos were not found guilty on those counts which charged these things as matters of offence. But thee 4 cap of liberty had been displayed. The Jury knew that this symbol had originally been adopted as an ensign, front the use made of it among the Romans on the maeurnissiou of a slave. He shewed that it adorned our public edifices, end wal carried before the King himself when he went to meet his Parliament. But the Cap of Liberty bad been abused by F i end' Revolu tionists; -soilles the wield " Liberty" 'itself, but were we on that account to expunge it from our language because a similar word might be found in the leuguege of France ? That the ecelronatious or the hisses which had been mentioned did not make the meeting every one must feel there was in fact nothing illegal connected with the proceedings of the meeting ; ate! he had got out of one of the witnesses, that it any at wilt on the cavalry had been contemplated,• in such at tack the wives and children of the inewthere aff setnbleil must have fallen the first victims. It, however, the Jury were of opinion that the meet ing was illegally called, still the evidence die! not go. to prove that with which Sir C. IVolseley had been charged in this , indictment. Mr. Harrison had been said - to have used very dis respectful words towards the King. , Mr. Harri son was here to explain or to deny the words al luded to, and be and his eFent (sir Charles Wol seley) hail nothing to do with them. He then commented on the contradictions which appeared in the evidence, .and in particular' noticed that of Johnson, who recollecting certain words tri.ich he described Sir Charles Wolseley to have ut tered, could not remember the order in which the speakers bad a ddressed the crowd. The words which he had stated Sir Charles to have spoken had not been sworn to by any of the other witnesses. What Sir Chat les Wolseley bed been described to s , ly of pulling down Bastiles in this couarry, might be regarded as spoken hypo thetically. 'That Sir Charles, it similar edifices' were raised in !hie country, : .would be disposed to.pell theta down might be true, and for this he wcinid not be thought 'very etilpable. But a figure of rhetoric Otteht to be considered charitably, e nd this-done, ad that could be inferred from the ex pression used by i,inl client was, that he was a strong friend,to the liberty of the people, awl a 'strong enemy to illeeel land arbitrary Government. He then proceeded- to show, trout the snow - ion of Sir C. t'll.olseley, how extremely improbable. it was that lie could be friendly to a reevolutioo in this eonnt'iY. lie spewed that the Barottetie title was not a title . ot yesterday ; he had a wife and numerous offspring, and every thing. connected with him, made e it impossible that he could desire the overthrow of the English Constitution. HARRISONMr. spoke'nearty as follows :—Gen. denten, stand • before you in aLyeryperticular situation.. I was compelled by force to plead to the iedictment, awl I pleaded not guilty. The cause was afterwards removed to 'the Court of King's. Bench, anti as 1 stand before' you in the manner that I. do, I think it necessary to say a few things, perhaps many things, even for Once or four hours. Si) I beg of you, Gentlethen, to exercise'the greatest patience. And first; I most. coil .your attention to the speech of Mr. Marshall,. one lit the Judges on the Bench, as it seems par ticularly addressed to my case, Iminhleindividnal as I am. Elete the defendant read some extracts from the Learned Judge's. speech, and in coin menting on that part which talked of desperate adventurers being abroad, lie said it would be for the Jury to •deterneine Icons - the evidence they beard, whether be was one of those classed under the title of desperate adventurers. It could never have been designed for the Honourable Baronet ; and if- it were not intended for me, it was wholly irrelevant to the bosinest of, the Assizes, I being the only person charged with the crimes alluded to. If it were not for this speech, I do not know, Gentlemen, that I would have addreseed rot ; and not: having money to fee a Counsel,. 1 was obliged to defend myself. Bet if I fall, the card) shall quake us I do ; I shall not fall Without vio lencethat is, the violence of my prosecutors. If in the heat of a discout se my,figures 'nay have been too strong, what public speaker can escape ? Did I stand before you conscious of ohne, my conscience would feel it. Had I any intention ire producing a sanguinSty Revolution, I would take the Bar and plead guilty, AVlten I considered the sham indictment—when I coosidered I was bound hand and, foot with the Honmirable Baronet, I looked to see Where. ,1 was to be plunged, aye, even into hell. For the indictment, it is not worth reading. Had I beep unjustifiable in .my condoct, I simuld not object to being' tried, but am conscious of no crime. I love my country; and if I am asked whet is, my country to . use, say.l love it, and it is necessary for me to !indi cate my character to you HMI to my country, It I ant torn 'from the partner of my bed, my country will succour bet . ; if I ND banished from my lovely babes, ,my country will main rein them, and, instead of one father they will find ten. With• the -strength of Heaven I than now improve the- opportunity afforded me, and vindicate toy character. I wish not for m4'- 0 - fle e—l. wish not for plunder ; and however Reform Joey be .called " nostrum," I say t h at whatever makes knaves honest . , and bid men gout!, must rave a service to the community.— Reform would, I know, in a pleat measure, effect there tie — slrqbfe* - Abileorsee 1:do iteirtvent the rictus of others, itor do I think Parliameniary Refui would make poor men rich, or rich men poor. If I give a wrong direction to my Lord's speech, I hope he'll rectify it. Once the Constitution is gone, it is gone for.ever •so say I ; and " despotism will ensuee" that is what thelle formers have all along dreaded. I take it for granted, Geotlenien, that you read the. newspa. tern. --that you feed what is diem in the House of Commons ; yoo can jaidge 'Attie propriety of what is said o! - . it by the Learned Judge. teke it also for vented that you have read the Chester Chronicle, in which his charge is' contain rd, and it is Oti that account I dwell so [ai s le() epon it, That the Consf itetion.ot Great Britain is excellent none of us doubt, but not that as established by 1. v, or else it would he a most fluctuating Constitution. And if any laws be added to it, it cannot remain the Constitution, but must chang i e, and sometimes be better and some times worse. " Vagabond Orators," says the Speech, were to effect improper things—haieh expression in any sense, but more,so as applied to me. I Wave endeavoured to stop the progress of vice•epd- irreligion, which are abounding in the prei'eaq , day. The cheering doctrines of redethp tiou have been my constant theme, and are still die delight of my soul. It - it be blasphemy to glory in the troths of the Gospel —Jo be grateful that.our Divine Saviour came down from I - leaven, and took un hint the nature of man', for the pur pose of securing us a' victory over aria, Hell. a nd the (have--then : indeed have I been a " Vaga bond Orator"—then have. I been a blasphemer. Petnphlets, containing improper things, have been circulated ; but I consider it an Englishman's right to read every work, and then think of it as he feels proper. That cannot' be considered as a right in any man for the exercise of which he may be puuished.—Mark the " buts," .Gentle men ; we have rights, but it once they are exer cised, they render men liable to be punished. At the meeting at Stockport one fourth of the inha bitants only were at the meeting. Surely one- is not a match for four ; bstreindeied, it has not been proved that any terrorein poptili was used. 1 hope it will not be said here, as it was said in Scotland, that Scotch law is not English law, , eand that Che shire law is net also English I tw. It is not trom your prejudices, Gentlemen, that I expect or fear for any thing. 1 hope 'you will not defile your oaths ; and it you give a verdict contrary to the evidence, you will do so. The leaders of Reform. are charged with sauctioning military training.:. I know of none who do so ; and if such practices were now - followed, it would be against the lan : that I know ; but then it 'is • because• of a re cent enactment that wakes- it illegal. But the Reformers are charged with every thing to bring them info disrepute.' What is said a large meetings of the -people equally applies to election and other county meetings. not say the indictment was framed to murder two iencicent individuals--no, that would' be too strong; I dare not say sir ; but I say, the sabre has pierced to the vitals, and was- only prevented killing because it cndi' not reach far enough. Then we have something on the Cato-street coo. , spiracy, as it is called, I suppose, to connect ine with those foolish, absurd, rash men, who en gaged in such an enterprise. Some. gentlemen behind me won't let me speak. Perhaps there are some men who WOuld accuse me of participat ing with the men on whom senteoce was so To lemaly protiouneetl this morning ; but of that I am wholly guiltless. Why was sentence pro nounced on them this morning, it not in some measure or tattoo to be; connected with me ,by some association of ideas ? The attempt- at Birch was an injury to tee,` en injury to the .cause of liteform, and- it 1 saw the man lift- -the pistol againu hint, I would have interposed and saved hint. Birch behaved to me like a getitlernati, like a friend; and I hate the man -who could ateemPt to assassinate him. If we . had base designs--if we were such villains as are, described in' the Learned Judge's aoeeeli, .we would deserve the punishment that impends town us: I do not think. it worth. while to comment on the praises Oct, -to the Magistracy. The Chester Yeomanry " fleor to arms,"—civil war, Gentlemen, " ffew io arias," not against the Spanish, not to cur down the French or Germans ; anti should not I be very neglectful to myself, if,' as it may be,'ybe 'are some of these praised people, •not to notice this speech. You are all strangers to me, but you ate Englishmen, and every Euglishmari 1 love. But we are " pre tended Reformers ;" still hypocrites—that herts 'the ; we have been zealous and sincere, and we have shewr, ourselves in earnest to obtain tares.: for our grievances. We have grievances, and . while we use every -zeal to procure Reform,' cannot abide it that we should be called hypocrites. pretended Reformers [involuntary laughter here burst forth, from' the vociferous manner la which 'the list-passage was expressed]. You might have hitherto heard that Juries have done their .duty; so far good. I hope all Juries will do their duty. So much for the, Learned Judge's speech es tar as refers to one individual. I can't suppose my dilating . on his speech will offend the Learned Judge, for lie looked upon me while I was so doing withe very pleasant countenance [loud awl continued latighter through the . Court.] Gentle men of the Jury, I hold in toy hand swelter help, unbought, unasked, unsought, end unexpected, as it that Providence steho knew, toy condition had given me a help whermostl needed it. That help is " A few brief Remarks by Jeremy Ben tharn,--(a laugh,) - -a great •lawyer, one of the ablest in Engleud, perhaps I might say in the world, and I • iiare say, if their . -Lordships spoke orliim, they would say the same. _But, Gentle men, I have not yet read over the indictment., and I shall proceed to read it.--(Langliter.)—He here read it a s we have given it in the catty part of our Report, anti as he read, it excited the conti nued risibility of the crowds who heard him. He now• cotton( need (a quarter to seven (Mock) reading Bentham's Remarks, and it;he' perseveies in going through them, the trial must be resumed iglu) to-morrow. Mr. Lot has contradicted the,staternent 0 , the Leeds Pa per, that he Icft.Yor'a ssitliout ht tp.t.rh bill. Ile lived io private ledaings in that City.