The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-08-25 00:00:00

THE YELLOW FIWAR AT CADIZ.

lowortant accounts were received yesterday from
C;diridtar and Cadiz. An express had ittrivrd at
Nye former place., stating that the yellow frier had
mane its appearance at Cadiz with great malignity.
mid that not only the inhabitants of the town. but
Cie military in the neighbourhood., hail taken the
irreciion. The letters from the Bluish fortrrar are
elated on the 2d instant, and they add. that imme-
diate irrecautions had been taken by the Grivertior
to prevent all coritmunication with Spain, and that
a cordon was to be esiablivheil without delay. All
intercourse would thus be interrupted. unless the
regulations of quarantine were obverved.

rhe dates from Cadiz are out stay hoer, nod they
*tote that the fewer loot been b Kitt by the 'Mu,
front flavairoali, Where it has made conaideruble
rova..zeii dierit.g tote last few the crew
of the Asia is said to be infected or dead of the
droatifol
_ .

It will be seen. by our extrscts from the French
Piper% Ord the eravices Iron' Madrid are to the
!tit iiwtotit, rind they do not mention • word upon
the subject. We hope, therefore, the report truly
;retire ersuireous.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 25, 1819.

A rumour was current last night, and hopes were
entertained that the rorrsons who had announced
public Meeting this day at Smithfield, had aban-
doned their purpose. Government appear, how-
ever, to have made extensive preparations to main-
tain the public tranquillity, but whether they mean
to attain that end by preventing the Meeting alto-
gether, or guarding against any possible breach of
the peace with which it might be attended, we have
not been able to ascertain.

Yesterday a private Court was held at the Man-
sion-bousa. tit take the opinions of the Aldermen
upon the means best to be adopted this day for
the preservation of the peace in Stnithfitld. The
conference was very numerously attended, and it
was finally agreed the arrangement. should he the
saute as the last, although report says less exten-
sive. A great number of special constables have
been swo►n in in the City, and a portion of the in-
habitants of the Borough' presented thettierlves at
the Town Hull yesterday for a sintilia► purpose.
A Regimental Order, to the following effect,
has been issued to the Honourable Artillery Com-
pany :--

R. o.—ln conorqrience of the public 3Teetinq intended
to be held in Smithfield, nit Wednesday next, the ibth inst.
you are hereby required to attend at the Armoury Honer,
Runlnli.row, on that itny, at three o'clock in the afternoon
pncirely, iu service mare, viz. pry minor," and gaiters.
" GERARD DE vim! r, Lieut.-Colonel
Commanding H. A. C.
" Artnntiv) Douse, Aliquot 23. 1819."

The Guards, too, which were ordered for Brigh-
ton yesderal.ty, have been countermanded, and are
to rennin, ready fur any envergrney in the metro-
polis till Thurithty or Friday. The Reformers.

up to a lite hoar loot night, were detertainod
their resolotion of meeting.
The LORD Miorna slot the City Solicitor had
conference last erenisig of two boors with the
ATTORM.GRIIIRAL, at his chambers in Lin.
coin's Inn.

In consequence of the proposed Meeting to take
place this flay in Smithfield, the Magistrates at the
different Police-offices received yesterday a letter of
instruction how to proceed from the Secretary of
State's office- Besides a number of special consta-
bles, the police officers are ordered to he on the alert ;
there is a Magistrate to remain sitting during the
whole of the day at each office, and until twelve
o'clock at night ; and during the night a party
of constables are to sit up in each office, in
case of any disturbance ; and as a further pre-
caution, the Guards, which annually change quarters
on this day, have received orders not to remove from
their present quarters till to-morrow. The follow-
ing is the manner they are at present stationed :
The first battalion of the Coldstream Guards
are stationed in Windsor, the second battalion of
ditto in the Tower; the first battalion of the Gre-
nadier Guards in Portman-street Barracks, the
second battalion of ditto in Finsbury quarters,
the third battalion of ditto at Chatham; the first
battalion of the third regiment iu Westminster
quarters. and the ►second battalion of ditto in
Knightsbridge herracks.
_

The Light Horse Volunteers have received di-
rections from Lord SIDNOUTD to assemble at their
head-quarters this day, at two o'clock p. wt.
In consequence of a communication made at a
late hour on Monday night by the LORD MAYOR to
some of the Directors of the East India Company, a
party of foot guards were at an early hour last
morning placed in the East India Company's
store, in Bishopsgate-street, where arms and mi-
litary accoutrements arc deposited, previous to their
being shipped on the Company's service to India.

The Courier of last night makes an awkward dis-
play of legal learning for the purpose of shewing
that Mr. Him and his friemis were guilty at the
Manchester Meeting, not only of • riot, but even
of HIGH TREASON. The ingenious writer attempts
to bolster up his assertions by the distinguished
MIMES of Hawxtus and BLacasTows, but his
mode of argument, we can assure him, is wholly in-
dependent of all such authorities, for what quota-
tion could ski strength to an argument where the
point in question is at once assumed ? There are
few, we believe, who would require the authority of
Serjeant HAWKINS' name to be convinced that
" a riot is a tumultuous disturbance of the peace
by three persons or more assembling together of
their own authority, with an intent mutually to as-
sist one another against any one who shall oppose
them in the execution of some enterprise of a pri-
vate nature, and afterwards executing the ►ame in
a violent or turbulent manner, to the terror of the
people, whether the act intended were of itself law-
ful or unlawful." But not all the ingenuity of
The Courier, with the assistance even of The Man-
chester Chronicle, will, we are confident, be suc-
cessful in persuading the people of England, con-
trary to the mass of evidence already received upon
this point—first, that the persons constituting the
Meeting in Peter's-place committed " a tumul-
tuous disturbance of the peace ;" and. secondly,
that they " afterwards executed [the enterprise for
which they assembled] i►► a violent or turbulent
manner." We are sure that the logical acumen
of the very learned Editor. who seems to have used
the index to Hawkins' Pleas of the Crown. with
such singular advantage, must perceive that in this
definition of a riot there are two members, each
essentially necessary towards forming the complex
idea of a riot, and that in the application of both
the law will not suffer the imagination of any one,
however lively, to occupy the place of facts. The
concurring testimony of every eye-witness on the
occasion of the Manchester Meeting, establishes
this fact, that the Meeting conducted itself with
exemplary decorum ; that there was, in the words
of Mr. Serjeant HAWKINS, " no apparent tendency
to actual force or violence," not only no shew of
armour," but even " no threatening speeches or
turbulent gestures ;" and that until the unmanly
and unprovoked aggression of the yeomanry ca-
valry, there was " no disturbance of the peace."
The rioters. in fact, were the yeomanry—with them
the breach of the peace commenced—and whatever
the immediate consequences then were, or whatever
the result of their violence may hereafter be, the
people assembled at Manchester on Monday. the
16th inst, are, and must in the mind of every dis-
passionate man, be ever reputed wholly her from
Censure.

The Courier, however, proceeds in its happy
quotations, winch we recommend to the notice of
our readers as specimens of opt illustration and
cases in point :

" It is nut only lawful but commendable for a Justice
of the Peace, who has a jass,canse se fear a violent resist-
ance, to raise the posse in order so execute the Kines writs."

M Also it is the ditty of a Sheriff, or other Officer having
the execution of the King's writs, and being resisted in ea.
►karenriag to execute Them► to raise such a power as may
effectually enable them to overpower any sorb resistance.—
( Hawk. aid Sias., am. Vii. Ai.)
Poor msu ! The Courier had better not talk
shout law until he has been apprised by some of
his friends of the difference between a King's writ
sad the warrant of a Magistrate. But even sup•

Z -•

posing that no difretence existed. can the very
learned Editor of The Carrier deduce from these i
passages any thing to justify the Magistrates in
comnsanding the troops to ride over a defenceless
and unoffending multitude, who were legally and
orderly pursuing the legal and constitutionsl object
of expressing their wants and wishes in petition to
the Sovereign ? His law is wholly inapplicable is
the present case, where there does not exist owe/act
contemplated by the wanes. whose names and "pi.
limes he thus abuses. We. ale, not choose to imitate
the coarse example of The Cornier, and express
our opinion of his understanding in the ungesaile-
manslike terms which he not unfrequently applies
to certain of lair daily antagonist., but we mat• will
all politeness express our surprise how any person,
possessing ordinary understanding, could imagine
that Isis ingenious were supported by quotations so
very unhappy.
Ilia argument to convict fitme of high treason
is equally amusing. The quotation is from the
very highest authority.
o It is agreed that riot relates to such assemblies a. have
been described, obeli collected for some private planet
ugly ; for the proceedings of a riutuan &iambi, ma a public
or purrs! manna, as to redress grievances, he. he. rosy
amosat to Moo Tussima."—(l Blacialones Cosisaiesta.
ries, 117.—Murkier, add)

That this is law no person will be so hardy as to
deny, but unfortunately it has nothing whatever to
do with HUNT sod his companions. It is some-
thing like the good Sir ROGER DR COVERLRT'S
speech to the Judge, having no connexion with
the matter under discussion. It is necessary to ap-
prise this legal gentleman. that the application of
law must ever be subsequent to the establishment
of the fads, and that the denunciations of the
Legislature, and of all the text writers on our
lawyers' shelves, can bring no terrors to the mind of
ugly man, unless lie shall have rendered himself
obnoxious to justice by the commission of some
offence. Until the commission of an act of riot or
of treason be substantiated, it is idle to talk of the
punishment; with as much propriety might The
Courier load its columns with the opinions of
writers upon the crime of murder, or any other
crime in the black catalogue of human guilt ; but
to what advantage could such all exposition tend,
unless we could point to some individual who hail
committed the facts upon which the opinions of
the learned might serve as an useful commentary

The following is the substance of the latest ac-
counts, which we received last night, of the proceed-
ings at Manchester :—.
" MANCHESTER. AUGUST 23.

" The assembling of the Reformers did not
take place so early yesterday as on the days pre-
ceding. About three o'clock they began to collect
in bodies of two or three hundred each, from dif-
ferent quarters, and continued to do so until near
seven, when they formed themselves into one mess,
which, from the excellent discipline they displayed
in their various movements, and the variety of their
persons and costume, was one of the most grotesque
scenes ever witnessed here. The greatest possible
order was preserved by them. The civil and mili-
tary forces were mustered in full number ; bet
neither of the parties exhibiting any thing hostile,
the evening pissed over in the greatest quiet.
" The vast assemblage of the peaceably-disposed
iiihsbitunts of this town to witness the proceedings
of the Reformists, attired in their best clothes, pre.
stinted a striking contrast.
" It is confidently stated, that many of the princi-
pal tradesmen and shopkeepers have addressed let-
ters to the various Magistrates, requesting them to
withdraw the yeomanry, under a conviction that
harmony, by such means, would speedily be re-
stored—as, at present, there is an almost entire stop.
page to business.
" It is reported that the messenger dispatched
to London to consult the Crown Lawyers has re-
turned, but that the tidings are not so gratifying to
the Magistrates as they anticipated. Messrs. HUNT,
JOHNSON, &e. it is thought, will be brought up
for a final examination to-morrow. The town is
this 'nor ll ill g more peaceable than we have hitherto
seen it since Monday."

Among our communications this day from
Manchester is a letter from Mr. MINT to a friend
in London. The peaceable esementiour of the
Meeting of the ifith has been established be-
yond all possible contradiction, but this pacific
spirit and temper have been underrated even by
the most favourable reports. We now find from
Mr. Hunt's letter, that the Meeting was not merely
orderly and peaceable, but that it was marked by
every feeling of the most loyal assembly. Those
national and popular airs, God sure the King, awl
Kyle Britannia, were the &mode that vibrated in
their ears, at the moment when they were astounded
with the clashing of swords, the trampling of horses,
the shouts of t he assailants, and the discharges of mus-
ketry. " Never." says Mr. HUNT. " did 1 see the
people more disposed to be perfectly peaceable and
goud.humoured.and I was 'smack taken by surprise
as any of then"—and well he might; for who could
have anticipated such an attack who had heard of
similar meetings held without interruption at
Smithfield and other places, for the same purpose,
sod without any other claim to protection than that
they were only Inferior to that of Manchester in
their expressions of loyalty ?
Another curious and interesting examination took
place yesterday at the Manviou-drouse. Mr. ChaLIL

anti Mr. BLANDPORD were spin brought up for
the purpose of being admitted to hint, but otri,
again both remanded by the Loan MAYOR. prg
the detail of the circumstances upon which his
Lordship made this decision, we refer our readtss
to our Report.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT has srldresserl to the
Electors of Westminster • letter, in which he ad.
wells to the proc►edings at Manchester in sin
WINO or oosigooot warmth as might he trimmed
from the floss. Baronet's constitutional rrincirks.
He recommends that a meeting of the Electcrs of
IVestminster should be immediately summoned,
fur the purpose of expressing their opinions upon
the outrage offerer' to public liberty and to sait,r.
ing humanity ; and expresses • wish, Its whlich, "
most earnestly join, that the Gentlemen of Efi7.
land will nt this alarming crisis aniiken fruin
their present torpor, and assume their limper
Once in upholding the Constitution. The Elk,.
tors of Westminster have acquired the resini.n
lion of being generally the first in the empire
to take alarm at any aggression o&ted to libem,
We know trot whether in this instal re they
take the lead of the City of London, but certnii.lA
it is to the Common Council of the rarirol that tax
people in general will look with moat interest.
We hope, therefore, that this great and t,-xi.vrt:ilile
Isidy will assemble with all conveni►nt 'reed. sold
by expressing its sentiments up..s the present alum.
iug crisis, and particularly upon the drratlfill runts
at Manchester, give a tone and consistency to 114
general sentiments of the country.

We have received Paris Papers of Saturday la•t.
The Museuarrr contains an Ordinance of the
reguiriiig the Electoral Colleges of the Dem tinsnts
of the Third Series to meet on the 11th sf Srp-
tember, fur the purpose of choosing Delwin% in
the room of those who vacated their seats at the
close of the List Session, in pu►suance of Ilia.
There are eighteen Departments of the Third Serrs,
which elect fifty-one Deputies.

A rumour of the dreadful events which ir:vf
plunged the town and neighbourhood of Nlrrot;,e.t.r
in mourning and consternation, and which lwv.- ex-
cited throughout all England the liveliest
tiers, had reached Paris. It was meniamed rt the
Attract! de Paris, with much leas
usually marks the first flight of such reports; but
the Muniteur seegus to doubt " ao sail an mitt."
The characteristic good sense of the people of this
country. and the habitual restraint which the haw
have imposed upon our Magistrates. naturally pre-
vented the Moniieer from lightly munching credit
to the rumour of event, which, to speak of them
with lenity, are at least marked by precipitancy
and rashness. The Editor of that I'aper, and
deed the whole French nation, will be much sur-
prised to learn,. that notwithstanding the express
provisions of law, the Magistrates of Manchester
undertook the dreadful responsibility of sending a
body of troops to disperse an immense assemblage of
per►ons legally and constitutionally met together,
and that in this unjustifiable act several penis
were killed and wounded.
We find that the celebrated O'Dootitet hat
been deprived of the command of the Spanish
troops by King FERDINAND, hut that he retains
his situation of Captain-General of Andalusia and

Goveruor of Cadiz. No doubt can be entertained
that the KING is displeased with his conduct in the
late occurrences at Cadiz. for we find that Gene-
rals SAARSFILLD and Cituz-Mounnzox. 14 ho hail
previously received marks of the Roynl Favour fur
their exertions in supporting O'Dox NEL on that
occasion. are now deprived of their command..
The KING Isar, by way of encouragement to tl.e
officers of his army, promised pensions to the lathe,"
of those who shall fall in his servn•r fighting agaii,4
the Insurgents of South America.
The French S per Cents. are 71 fr. 40. c.—flask
Stock 1,423 fr. 50 c.

A letter from Portsmouth, dated Anenst
sity•—" Ills Itoyul HiOwe.* the PRINCE It ECIUNV
1144 lwets ermrisag ahem Spithrwl Heal Si. litki
Mt tiny, attended Iry his rgtt.ulrnn, owl i• !wt..
steering for Cowes ...14osils, where mouriogs are ;aid
down for the yacht."

At the date of the latest accounts frotn Ma:.-
cnester, Mr. Holm hod nut undergone his final et-
aminatioo.

On Saturday last Mr. Warr, the wire.workcr.
and Mr. Gum. the baker. of Wycli.strert, tan
private friends of Mr. HUNT: went to Lord SID-
MOUTH'S office, for the purpose of solicitiiiir
written permission to visit Mr. float in his place uf
confinement at Manchester. They also expreio.,l
an opinion, that Mr. Hoot's correspondence with
his friends in town was interrupted.—[This, how-
ever, is not the fact, as we this day give a lett. r
written from Mt. flux? to • friend, dated " Ilezr
Bailey Prison, Saturday, 21st Alm." which brain
the Manchester post-neatk of the Vid. and reached
its destination yesterday.]—The two persons 'throe
names we have mentioned met with a polite rr•
ception from Mr. HOIHOUSE, the Under.Seeretary,
and were by hint Informed that Lord SinStritvit
could have no objection to Mr. HURT'S bring vi,
sited by any friends, as : .1 Loribhip hurl givvo
no orders fur his arrest. The Under-Secretary
added, that the proper course would be I. mike
the upplicatiots for pertnissinn to visit Mr. iluSf
to the Magistrates of Minichesier, by whom
he had been apprehended. Mr. Wail and Myr
Cues then withdrew, and the former left town fa'
Manchester on lsurrday by the toads, which in dr‘
course would bete reached it. destination or/ MOWZ
dry evening.