The Sun.
London, England, 1822-04-09 00:00:00

are about half a mile from my residence. 1 lived there in '
August, 1819. I remember the Manchester Meeting, and
drilling taking place before it ,at Tandle-hills. I was there
five or six times. I was there on Sundays ; in the mornings
between five and six o'clock. Tandle-hills are enclosed land.
There were about five or six hundred present. There were
sometimes less. The people were marching in different
parties each party containing about twenty or thirty. There
was a word given to each part;. I knew some of the persons
w:icr gave the order or word. I do not know whether they
were in the army' before. The parties were all afterwards
thrown into line ; a man gave the word to the whole ; his name
was Samuel Bamford. When he gave the word, the whole
line moved. I heard the word 6 'March," and they all
marched. I heard the word " Halt," and they all halted.
I know a man of the name of Thomas Redford, a hatter. He
lives in a cellar at Middleton. I have known Redford for ten
or a dozen years. I have seen him at Tandle-hills, when Bam-
ford was there. Redford was marching along with the others.
I have seen him in the great line when all the squads were
formed into one. I have seen him in the subdivisions. He
obeyed the word as well as the others. I saw him at Tandle-
hills on Ist and Bth of August. I do not remember on any
other occasion. I did not see the people marching from Mid-
dleton on the 16th of August. I did not see Redford after that
day till nearl3f three months. Redford looked then as well as
he does now. I went to Tandle-hills out of curiosity. I did
not then converse with Redford. I was noticed by some per-

sons on the hills.
Cross-examined by Mr. BLACKBURN.—The place where I
live, Stoke-hills, is about two miles from Middleton.
Q. Do you know where the doctor comes from when ycu are
I never am ill. I know Dr. Lee, of Middleton. I
do not know when the Doctor died. I believe Dr. Lee's son is
dead- I went to Tandle-hills between five and six. There is
a road over them from Stoke.hill to High Compton. I gene-
rally came away about eight o'clock. There were plenty of
people looking on as well as me. I never drilled.
Re-examined by Mr. Sergeant liummex.—l have seen Dr.
Lee, but was not acquainted with him. I never was under his

hands.
Abraham Milne, examined by Mr. Sergeant Citoss, deposed
—I am a manufacturer living near -Oldham. I was at Tandle-
hills on the morning of the Bth of August. I was there a little
before 5 o'clock in the morning. I saw a great number of peo-
ple there, and many in the act of training or drilling. I should
think there were between 2,000 and 3,000. It was a Sunday
morning. They were in several bodies, probably ten or twelve.
Each body was employed in marching : the word was regular.
ly given to each company by a person who was obeyed in the
same way as at a regular drilling of soldiers. I thought there
were from 50 to 70 in each company. I saw all the companies
united in one body. In consequence of something I heard. on
the ground, I went to the place where they were formed into
one body ; they were drawn up into one straight line, to the
best of my knowledge, four deep. I passed down the front of
two or three of the companies, till they threatened to knock me
down. I did not hear any word of command when they were
in line, as far as I can recollect, nor did I see them move then,
though they afterwards passed me in one body, marching not
in line but in column. I heard words of command, such as
" Attention," " Right, face," " March," and most of the-
other words of drilling. When . the word " fire" was given,
they clappeA their hands. I remained on Tandle-hills perhaps
two hours or little more. The whole column marched past me
on the road leading from Manchester to Rochdale. I went
again to Tandle-hills on the morning of the 15th of August
about the same hour, and found the same operations as before,
but not so many people assembled. There was a bugle on the
morning of the Bth, at the sound of which the parties marched
to join the great body, some coming the distance of half a mile.
I have been in the local militia myself, and the men who gave
the word of command to each company appeared to be ac-
quainted with drilling.
Cross-examined by Mr. EVANS.—I scompnted that there
were about ten or twelve bodies, fifty or sixty in each. There
were in all 3,000. The rest were spectators ; they marched
along the highway.
James Heap, by Mr. LITTLEDALE.—I live near two miles
from Middleton. I remember the meeting of August 16. Be-
fore that time my attention was attracted by peopl passing my
house. It was in July. The first time was on Sunday morn-
ing. I saw a party of about four or five and twenty. They
came up with Bamford walking by their side. I saw him do
nothing. They were coming from Middleton. I have seen
people marching past my house at other times. I could not '
tell their numbers. 1 know James Mills. I have seen him in
soldier's dress, after he returned from the army. I met this
IJames Mills one night as I was returning home, walking at
the side of a body. I have heard the people, when I was look-
ing after any cattle, calling " Halt !" " March!" I heard the
bugle sound at night, in August, before the meeting. I heard
it almost every night from the Ist to the 16th of August, ex-
cept on Sunday nights. It was generally about 9or 10. The
sound came from the direction of Royton. I once went to the
Tandle-hills. It was on the Ist of August I was there, at half
past 5 o'clock in the morning. I went a private way, not
wishing to be seen. I saw great numbers assembled. I saw
parties. The first party that I observed consisted of about 30
or 40. They appeared to me to be the awkward-squad. The
rest were in the main body. I knew Edward. Cocker, who was
in the militia : he was tlaere. He did not give the word of
command. It was another man, who said on the occasion,
" Make your right foot tell." I did not see this squad join the
main body. I heard the word "fire" given to this body, and
it was followed by clapping of hands. I remember on the Bth
of August seeing several people passing my house, and I heard
the bugle. The people were going in the direction of Tandle-
hills. I saw the same on the 15th of August.
What impression did this make on your mind ?—I thought
it very serious. To learn the art of war, except under the di-
rection of Governmentrmight lead to war.
' What did you do in consequence ?—I laid up tools of de-
fence.
What were they ?—Two pitchforks and a gun.
The witness continued:—l was at Middleton on the 16th of
August, and was at a place called the Barrow-fields. Saw a
party, but did not go near them. I saw their colours. The
first body came down, and halted by the market-place. I did
not know whence they came ; it was said from Rochdale.—
Another party came afterwards, and this first party divided, and
let them walk through. The two parties stopped some time,
and then marched in the direction of Manchester. I cannot
tell what number • they might be two thousand. There were
three stand of colours' and a pole with a cap of liberty at the
top. .They had music—a bass, drum, and several other in-
struments.
Cross-examined by Mr. EVAN S.—My house is one of the
houses of the village. It is by a road. I heard the bugle sound
at 9or 10 o'clock. It was not dark then.
Edmund Pilling, examined 'by Mr. STARKIE, deposed—l
went on the 15th August to the Woodfield near Rochdale'
churchyard. I went there by the direction of Mr. Crossly, a
magistrate. It was between 2 and 3in the morning. There
were only 8 or 10 persons then assembled. I saw several parties
afterwards arrive ; they proceeded towards the •Tandle-hills.—
One man asked me if I would go with him to the Tandle-hills ;
he asked me whether I wanted a -big loaf or a little one.
Mr. EVANS objected to the question which brought this an-
swer, as it was not connected with the plaintiff.
The Learned Judge overruled the objection.
Witness's examination continued—l went to the Tandle-
hills. I arrived about 50r6 in the morning. There was there
a body of about 50 all looking on. These persons were doing
nothing but looking at each other. They asked me if I would
join them. I answered I had not rightly considered of it. Soon
afterwards the Royton party came up. They said I was a fool for
considering any thing about it. They then went away from me
and left me. They stated no reason why I should join them.
They stated their intention to be to have a reform of Parliament;
that they would go up to London, and that if any person had
any property, they would make use of it in their way. They
said that when they carried their work to Manchester, they
bought arms to defend themselves with. The _Middleton
party afterwards arrived. When they had all assembled, the
party might consist of six or seven hundred. When they all
arrived, they formed in a line. They then wheeled back in-
to sections. I haVe been in the Local Militia, and I thought
they understood military exercise. At the word " fire," there
was clapping of hands. Different persons held commands.
This exercise continued from about 6 to 8 o'clock in the morn-
ing. I had been at this place on the Ist, and also on the Bth
of August, and observed the same thing done as on the 15th.
I know Thomas Redford, of Middleton, plaintiff. He was
present on the Ist and Bth and 15th of August. I had often
seen him before. The bugle was used for drilling one com-
pany in light infantry manceuvres. The bugle was used for
this purpose. To the best of my knowledge, light infantry
are manoeuvred this way.
Cross-examined by Mr. BLACKBURN.—I am now an as-
sistancto the Rochdale Police Company. I have been in that
employ since 1819. Since, I was employed by Mr. Crossley
on this mission. I was before a spindle-grinder. I then left
spindle-grinding and took to the police. It was directly after
the 15th of August. When I came back and gave Mr. Cross-
ley this account, I was admitted into the police. I did not
know the person with whom I had the conversation. I first
saw him on Tandle-hills. The person was one of the lookers-
on. I resisted every offer to join them. He told me, after I
refused to join them, that they would have reform ; that they
would march to London, and would use the property of any
persons they met with on their way. The person who said so
continued a looker-on. He did not join the 600 or 700.
How many lookers-on ?—I cannot guess—about 50 or 60.
The witness continued.—The lookers-on continued till the
meeting broke up. The person who spoke to me was one of
them. I neyer saw him before nor since.
Re-examined by Mr. STARKIE.—There were other persons