The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-03-25 00:00:00

pet down. For the honour •yw have doe. my by inviting
rne to preside at your meeting I return you my thauks,
and all I have to b►g of you is, that you will indulge us
with your patient atteulion. It is impoisible that, with.
the most pstieat attention, we shall be able to make our-
selves beard by the whole of ibis tremendous assembly. It
is useless for sae to attempt to relate to you'lhe
ills of the last week or leo days in this sown and neighbour-
hood; you well know t►em, and the cause of the meeting
appointed for last Moaclay being prevented; it is there-
fore useless for me to say one word of that subject, only
to observe, that those who pet us (low'', and prevented
sis from meeting us Monday last, by their malignant
:cello's, have produced a twofold number to-day. It will
be perceived, that in consequence of the calling of this
new meeting, our eseiriies, who flattered themielves they
bad raised a victory, have sustained a great defeat. There
have bees two or three placards posted up lasrweek, with
the names of true sir two lusigrificant individuals attached
to t►em—one Tom Long, or Jack Short,
.11 printer." At
that moment I observed the cavalry come on the gromul
at a rapid pace. from the direction of St. Peter's church.
They were iu cousiderable disorder. They had nut them
come into the crowd. They drew up in front of Mr.
Buston's homer, the foremost of them being opposite to it.
I have omitted owe circumstance which occurred before the
cavalry arrived. Mr. Heat stopped in the middle of his
speech, fur what reason 1 du not know, and directed the
people to give three cheers; he then tented round and
said to those near hies, "there is some disorder in the
outskirts, it is only to rally them, that is all." As the ca-
valry approached Mr. Button's house, Mr. Huntsaid, " you
ate !bey are is disorder, this is a trick " The cavalry, after
halting about three minutes, brandished their swords sad
advanced. I saw no attempt made to resist them, nor did
bear any encouragesseat given to do sn. My eyes were
directed towards the cavalry till they began to advance to
thc hustings. When they had got about 10 yards into the
crowd, 1 turned away; I saw no stones or ►rickbats throwu,
our any sticks lifted ap-agelast them. I should think the
hustings were SO or 70 yards from Mr. Breton's house, wiser,
the cavalry where within 30 yards of the hirelings, I turned
away. In abort half a minute they arrived at the buteings.
Mr. Hunt, stretching out his arms, cried "be firm." His
face was then in the direction of the cavalry. The words were
addressed to the whole crowd. N.' application had beta
made, to my knowledge, for the cavalry to pass through. I
had no knowledge of the pewee for which the cavalry ad-
vanced, nor bare I ■ny reason to suppose Mr. Hunt bad.
There was a large body of special coustables uear the ca-
'shy, but they remained stationary. I saw no cousin-
bins accompanying the cavalry. I beard nothing from
Mr. Hunt after the words " be firm," bet the words " give
three cheers ;" these words were repeated, as were the
words "be arm." I think the last direction to give three
cheers, was when the cavalry first arrived. I left the hust-
ings when the cavalry had advanced about ten yards tato the
crowd. I gut off at the bark of the hustings, and went
through the people, to the distance of shout four yards, in
the oppositedirecrion from Mr. Bliallolia boost. By that time
I saw a trumpeter, on a piebald hone, wheeling ►is horse
to t►e back of the hustings; the crowd, as if by one
moved back ; I was carried about 30 yards back ; I
then got upon a cart, and looked towards the hustiuge;
saw no.resiesaate made to the military.
Mr. Hunt—Did you not see something done by the n-
vst y, which, according to your impression, was calculated
to taint resistance on the part of the people
Mr. SCARLET? objected to this question.
Mr. Justice BATLIY.—I Can't allow the witness to answer
that question, and fur this reason, because the Jury world be
hying the question from prejudice, sad not from the avi-
d, uce. I have thought much upon it, and lam of opinion
that the question ought nut to he asked.
Mr. Hunt.—My Lord, 1 think I base a right to skew the
nature of the attack made upon the people.
Mr. Justice BAYLET.—I am of a different opinion. I
have taken a uote of your observation, and you shall have
all the benefit arising from it.
Where I got off the heissings• I met with no impediment
but from the density of the crowd. The trumpeter was abort.
two yards from the hustings, and an equal distance from me
when I saw him. He was between me and she bootlegs. He
had been 'nettled tocornerunnii through the crowd. la that

quarter (the back part and side) there was no locking of alms
near the hustings. 1 CllllllOl say how they were et e die-
' lance. 1 did-rea see • cordon of boated arms, eight ur
tea Jeep round the hustings. I did not see any people
lucked arm in arm. I think it was nut possible to see
whether any persons hail their arms locked at a distance
of four yards. I can't !say whether ur nut they were locked
arm in arm close in &tint of the linstiogs. I saw the whole
of the people form round the hustings as they came up.
I perceived no dialectic, between the manner of their
forming and that usual at other meetings. I have attended
public meetings at Leeds, York, and elsewhere. I did 10114
hear any one direct the people to lush arm in arm; in order
to keep the cavalry, and all their corruption from coming
aosougut them. It was nut possible to see frum Buxton's
house whether the people wear the hustings were locked
arm in arm or toot. I saw nothing warlike in the meet-
ing. The people had not the appearance of disciplined
troops, ready to protect Hunt, ur to fight for him, as occa-
sion offered. I saw no infantry. 111 y taapeeesion was, that the
cheers were cheers of conscious innocence, confidently rely-
iug on the protection of the laws. You did nut point to the
soldiery, and say to the people, " Your enemies are among
you; if they attempt to molest you, gel them (loan and keep
them down. I stool near you, and I think 1 must have
beard the words, hail you used them. 1 heard milking like
those words. 1 did not hear you say, whew the cavalry ar-
rived, "they are only a few soldiers, very few, sod we are
• host against then, If any such words were used I must
have beard them. When you bid the people be firm, you
used no gesture, or action, or other expression, to induce
them to resist. My impression was, that he merely wished
the people to stand, and to prevent Jaeger huts their tun-
aiug away.
Mr. SCARLETT objected to any questions respecting wit-
ness's impressions of what was said.
Mr. Justice BATLEY said, the witness had a eight to give
his impressions of what he had sees and heard.
Mr. Hoot—My Lord, 1 --
Mr. Justice BAYLST-11t, Hunt, I have dreidcd in your
(scour.
Mr. Hunt—My Lord, 1 shall waive the question with re-
spect to ibis and all caber witunian, and perhaps it will be
fur your Lordship's couventeace, provided Mr. Barlett will
coneut to expunge from the evidence the impression: of
Menu. Green, Hardman, in.
Mr. Scastern—That is different. Those are inquest-
Moos with respect to the meeting.
By the JUDOS—When the words "be Arno" were used, the
people stood perfectly still. I. saw no sticks lifted vp,
shows thrown. The people did not put themselves its soy
posture, either of offence or defence. All eyes were beat us
the cavalry. It was very possible for those sinless thin ea-
valry either to have rushed upon them, or struck them. It
opt appear that the words used by Mr. Hint were fire
the purpose of holden, the people to pot themselves is a
pustule of resistance. Mr. Hunt did nut my any thing as
if finding (atilt with the people fur not putting themselves
in a pommy of offs nee or detente.
By Mr. Heat —When yllll used the words " be firm," you
elniched out peer arms, with the bands upon and the palms
down. Vuo did not clench your fists.
['cuss-exaowined by Mr. ticaexen-1 do nut know
whether Mr. dent hail him hat on or sot. 1 wily saw the
left hood. Idu ontAnuiv what he bad in his tight hard. 1
was tailored to notice MY sticks, from kelvin heard that the
Radical Reformers canoe to their meetings armed with
dohs and eualgees. I have no recolhrctioe of hieing seen a
feller of Mr. Heat su the people of Manchester, iovitiog
them to come to tie meeting argued with au other oleapura
than a seltopproeing evaniesice.
By Mr. Bartow...l ail sot toe Joon on the hustings.
By D.. Hesle-i-1 saw yea wa the busting.; you desired
the people to be trim.
By the J 10.011.1 tent motes of the places from snide
the parties came, mother w.eee meatined ea the banners.
Tom Schofield osaasisted by Mr. fd wt-1 mists st NMI.
d.erb". near Maischester. I was at JAM the 16th of:
"Piet. I sew shoot MI or tO non ea that noon-
they had inteling in their toads score them the common
"liking-sticks used is no twiny. I wen Its Oldimas shot-
imaellitle. !sow a large entaibly of peoples* Illont-Evesa; I
' left them there, sad proceeded to Masoitostor ow 4 basiaese.