The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-03 00:00:00

SPECIAL COMMISSION.

CLOSE OF THE HANTS SPECIAL COMMISSION.
WINCHESTER, THURSDAY NIGHT.

Conclusion of the trial of Mr. Boyes, a farmer,
and Mr. Fussell, for heading a riotous mob, for ob-
taining the reduction of rent and tithes.
The prisoners made no defence.
Several witnesses were called, who had known
Boyes for 30 years, and gave him an excellent
character.

Mr. Justice PARKE, with consent of the Attor-
ney-General, read his points of yesterday, wherein
Fussell's character was given, He then went
through the evidence with great minuteness, and
the Jury found both prisoners Guilty.
His Lordship then sentenced both the prisoners
to seven years' transportation.

Mr. Baron VAUGHAN—Gentlemen of the Jury—
In consideration of your having been so long at this
time, and the very arduous and distressing duties you
have had to perforM, we have thought it right and
our duty to represent to the proper authorities that
you should not be called upon to serve again as
jurymen for some time to come. We understand
that your turn comes round once in three years.
YoA will not, therefore, have to attend again for
six years.

The Foreman—My Lord, the Jury had signed a
paper, which we intended to have presented to your
Lordships, praying you to take into your most
serious consideration the great expellee we have
been at, and the time we have lost, with the hope
that your Lordships would order some compensa-
tion to be made to us.
Mr. Baron VAUGUAN—I am exceedingly sorry
that we have it not in our power to grant your
request. I mentioned to you that you would not
be called upon to serve on a jury fora long time to
come, as I thought that circumstance might, Der-
har, make you recollect a special commission.
Foreman—My Lord, I am certain we shall all re-
collect a special commission.
Thus has concluded the business of this special
commission, which has lasted within one day of a fort-
night,during which 101 prisoners have been capitally
convicted (six of whom have been left for execution),
36 have been sentenced to transportation, 63 to be
imprisoned and kept to hard labour, and 67 have
been acquitted. There were several who had no
bills preferred against them.

FRIDAY MORNING.
Before I left this place I determined to call at the
gaol and inquire how the criminal, who were yester-
day sentenced to death, bore their doom. I was
informed that all but Cooper appeared as yet little
affected by it. They seem to think that, in spite of
the reiterated assurances of Mr. Baron Vaughan that
no mercy would be extended to them, their fate is
not yet finally sealed. Cooper, who is a man of
stronger intellect than his fellows, has made up his
mind to the worst. and therefore feels more alliicted
than the rest by his sentence. It is expected, how-
ever, that when they find that no respite is sent down
for them after the departure of the Judges, their de-
jection will be great in proportion to their present con-
:idence. Eldridge, who nearly fainted in the dock, has
spirits wonderfully. Gilmore, who
regained his
has been a soldier, and served in several campaigns,
perhaps deems it unmanly to give expression to his
feelings, arid looks upon death with a calmer eye
than any of his partners in misery. Holdaway's
fate is very lamentable. He is a widower with
eight children, and has hitherto been a respectable
charactea. Of Annals—hitherto spelt Aunals in our
paper—l have heard little, arid therefore have little
to communicate. The fate of Henry Cooke excites
no cornrrfiseration. From every thing I have heard
of him, justice has seldom met with a more appro-
priate sacrifice. He shed some tears shortly after
hearing his doom, but has since relapsed into a brutal
insensibility to his fate, which I should not be sur-
prised to see exchanged for extreme terror on its
nearer approach. He is known to be of a cruel dis-
position, and cruelty is generally nearly allied to
cowardice. The convicts who are sentenced to
transportation for life are bitterly distressed at their
fate. Many of them would not complain if they
were sent to New South \Vales or Van Diemen's
Land, but a notion prevails among them that
they may be sent to the Bermudas, and there em-
ployed
.on the public works, instead of being em-
ployed m the agricultural labours to which so many
of them have been accustomed.
In the course of conversation last night, I heard
of a singular melancholy case, arising out of these
convictions. As I have no means of proving the
correctness of the facts which I now communicate,
though I believe them to be perfectly indisputable,
I decline mentioning names, lest 1 should unneces-
sarily wound the feelings of those who are already
involved in deep affliction. There is a lady in this
neighbourhood who, during the lifetime of a late
nobleman, was the partner of his bed, without
having any legal claim upon his fortune or his title.
At the time of his death she had borne him three
sons, and in his dying moments he provided most
liberally both for them and their mother. Since the
death of her protector she has lived a retired life,
and has regained the estimation of society, so far as
it is possible for arty woman who has so far trans.
gressed against chastity as she did, to regain it.
Her two eldest sons both have Captain's commis-
sions in his Majesty's service : one is serving in the

The Court, which stood adjourned to yesterday,
was farther adjourned to this morning.
The calendar here is very heavy. There are up-
wards of 300 prisoners for trial ; of these, nearly
9 out of 12 are charged with the destruction of
machinery, chiefly thrashing and other machines used
in agriculture. There are several for riotously as-
sembling and obtaining money by threats and me-
nace. A considerable number for riotously and un-
lawfully assembling, without any other offence being
charged ; but in most of the cases of robbery and
destruction of machinery they are charged with
having been done riotously and tumultuously. There
are some charged with resistance to Magistrates in
the execution of their duty; some with rescue;
some with attacking the Hindon troop of Yeomanry
Cavalry.—(ln this attack some of the mob were
severely wounded, and one was killed on the spot.)
—There were several charged with pulling down a
house. One with setting fire to a thrashing-machine;
one with sending letters, threatening to set fire to
houses, in case the party written to should give
evidence at the late trials at Winchester. The per-
son charged with this offence is, we understand, a
farmer. There is this distinction between many of
the cases of the destruction of machinery in this
county and those which were tried at Winchester
—that in the last-named cases there were very few
instances of attempts at personal violence, while in
many of those to be tried here the conduct of the
mobs was marked with violent personal outrage.
From the serious nature of some of the charges, it
is not likely that the business of the Commission
will terminate before this day week, if so soon.
A little before ten o'clock this morning the Judges
entered the Court. They were accompanied by the
High Sheriff (E. W. L. Popham, Esq.), the Mar-
quis of Lansdowne (the Lord Lieutenant of the
county), the Earl of Radnor, and T. G. B. Est-
court, Esq., who arc joined in the Commission on
this occasion. The Earl of Radnor was dressed in
his state robe as Recorder of this city. Colonel
Mair, who has been so actively and efficiently en-
gaged in arranging the constabulary force of this and
the adjoining counties, was also in attendance. In
the course of the day Lord Arundel was on the
bench• The attendance of Magistrates, consider-
ing the number on the roll in this county, was not
very numerous. We believe only thirty-six an-
swered t, their names when called over.

Mr. Justice PARKE proceeded to charge the
Grand Jury who, after being absent for three
quarters of an hour, returned a true bill against 23
individuals for destroying a threshing-machine be-
longing to John &nett, Esq., the Member for the
county. Only seventeen of them are in custody.

ATTACK ON JOIIN BENETT, ESQ.

The following seventeen individuals were then
placed at the bur :—James Blandford, aged 28;
Samuel Barrett, 30; B. Pitman, 29 ; James Mould,
of Tisbury, 23; Samuel Banstone, 41; Thomas
Vining, 19; James 2116zild, of Hatch, 39 ; Thomas
Topp, 20; Samuel Eyres, 30; Thomas Rixen, 45;
Edmund While, 20; John Barrett, 24; Charles
Jerrard, 20; William Snook, 22; Thomas Birt,
John Targett, and Andrew illoxam, 23. They were
charged with having riotously and tumultuously as-
sembled, and bloke and destroyed the threshing-
machine of John Benett, Esq., at Pythouse-farm, in
the parish of Tisbury, on the 25th of November
last. There were counts in the indictment charging
them with having begun to destroy the said machine,
and others charging them with having damaged it,
with intent to render it useless. The prisoners all
pleaded Not Guilty.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proceeded to observe,
that the seventeen prisoners then at the bar formed
but a small part of a numerous crowd which assem-
bled near Hindon, on the 25th of last November,
and which, after its assembly, proceeded to acts of
outrage and cruelty. The jury were aware that Mr.
John Benett, their respected and respectable repre-
sentative, was a gentleman who cultivated his
land with great care. Mr. Benett having received
information in London of events which were going
to take place in this county, thought it right to leave
London, and to return to Pyt-house, in this county,
where he conceived his influence might be more suc-
cessfully exerted for the maintenance of the public
peace. He arrived at his seat, at Pyt-house, at
four o'clock of the morning of Wednesday, the 24th
of November. At eight o'clock he was called up
by the information that a riotous and tumultuous
mob was assembling in his neigbourhood. He went
out in consequence, and found large numbers of la-
bourers assembling. He addressed them on the sub-
ject of their alleged grievances, and in reply they told
him without reserve, that they were going to destroy
all the threshing-machines in that neighbourhood.
Mr. Benett, with great kindness and consideration,
warned them of the consequences of the offences
which they were going to commit ; but in despite of
his warning, they proceeded first to Fonthill-Giffard,
and afterwards returned to Pyt-house-farm to exe-
cute their blind vengeance on machinery. On their
return to accomplish that object, he again remon-
strated with them on the impolicy and wickedness
of their conduct. He told them that he would have
resisted them to the teeth had he had sufficient force
to render the chance of successful resistance pro-
bable; but, he added, that as he had no force ca-
pable of withstanding their violence at that moment,
armed as they were with sticks, and bludgeons, and
iron fragments of machinery, he should not make a
vain attempt at resistance, but should leave them at
their own peril to enter upon his premises and de-
stroy his machinery. Undeterred by this notice, they
proceeded to break in pieces all the threshing ma-
chinery which they found upon Mr. Benett's pre-
mises. Whilst they were busily engaged in this
work of destruction, Mr. Benett, wha had ridden into
the midst of the rioters, suddenly received a volley of
stones in his face, which covered him instantly with
blood, and were likely to have produced his death.
It was not for the more serious part of the offence
then committed, that the prisoners of the bar would
now be called upon to answer, yet it was probable
that the riot, in which all these prisoners had joined,
would be made the subject of further investigation,
if not with regard to the prisoners then before the
Jury, at least with regard to such members of th;
mob, as had been more riotously and criminahy en-
gaged. The Attorney-General then proceeded to
call his witnesses to supwirt the indictment.
John Benett, Esq. M.P., examined by Mr. Ser.
jeant NVILDE—I reside at Pyt-house, in the parish
of Tisbury. I was in Wilts on the 24504 of No-
vember. In consequence of information which I
received, I left my house about nine or ten o'clock
in the morning of that day. I rode out and met

' upwards of 400 persons. coming
_froth the town. of
Hindon at a limekiln in Foothill Gifford. I had
then ridden about three miles from my own house.
They carried hatchets, hammers, very large sticks,
and weapons of different descriptions. The sticks
were general, the axes were confined to forty or fifty
persons. I met Charles .Terrard the elder, who is
not in custody ; he wore a party-coloured sash across
his body, and carried a very large stick. Charles
Jerrard the younger was similarly equipped.
spoke to them both. I inquired of the mob their
object. I spoke first to the elder Jerrard. He had
often been before me as a magistrate. I spoke to
him with firmness and good temper, and as loudly as
I could speak. I told him that I was very sorry to
see him at the head of such a riotous assembly,
and warned him that he was placing himself in
greater danger than any that he had ever been in before.
I spoke then to the younger Gerrard. I said to hini,
"I am sorry to see you with that sash on. I entreat
you to get into the rear, for an example will be made
of some of you, and I should be sorry to see so
young a man as you in a sad scrape." I said to
him, " Young man, that sash will hang you.' He
came tip with a large stick to my horse, and said to
me, " I don't care about hanging—l don't care."
I then asked them what they complained of ? They
told me that they were going to break all the thresh-
ing-machines in the county, and that they would
have two shillings a day as wages. That was the
general cry of the whole party ; it was said by more
than one hundred persons. I told them that I had
just come from London—that a proclamation from
the King had come out only a day before. I offered,
to read it to them, but they would not let me. I
explained its nature. I told them that it offered it
reward of fifty pounds for every man detected in
breaking a machine, and of five hundred pounds for
the discovery of any person who should set fire to
property. They said, "We don't burn--we have
nothing to do with the fires." I replied that I was
quite convinced that they did not, and I really feel
that conviction. I then pointed out to them that
they could not trust each other, " for any man," I
said, " by informing against ten of you, will obtain
at once five hundred pounds." I told them that if
they would go home, and preserve their own lives
and the peace of the district, I would take care, as
far as depended upon me, that they should procure
by their good conduct all that others might obtain by
their misconduct. The first body then left me, and
went to their work of destruction. The mob
passed me in three divisions. I spike to each of i hem.
In consequence of something that occurred there, I
went to my own premises at Pyt-house-farm. The
mob, consisting of 500 persons, afterwards came to
me there. I can only identify Blandford as being
present with the mob at Pyt-house-farm. I had
observed him breaking machines before, at Mr. Lam-
pert's farm. I had a thre,hing-machine at Pyt-
house-farm ; it is worked by six horses. Part of it
is in the barn, part of it out. I rode out of the farm-
yard to meet the mob. 1 told them that my force
was not sufficient to resist them ; but that I would
punish them if they broke into my premises. I told
them, " You break open these barns at your peril;
they are locked. I would resist you if I could; I
cannot; but mind, you break the machines without
my consent, and at your peril." All who were near
my premises must have heard what I then said.
They then forced their way into the barn. They
broke the machine, which was both inside and out-
side of it, and began to pull off part of the roof. I .
remained about ten minutes with them, sitting
quietly on my horse. On a sudden:the whole party at
work stopped : that surprised me, and immediately
afterwards I received a blow on my head, which de-
prived me of sense for a short time. How it was
given me, whether by a stick or stone, I cannot say
of my own knowledge. When I recovered I found
myself about fifty yards off my yard in the lane, en-
tangled in a team of my own cart-horses. My horse
had carried me out of the yard into that lane, and
would have carried me home, if he had not been
stopped. I then found stones coming in every di-
rection at me from the mob. I was with that mob
for three hours. During that time I saw them
break machines at three places be ore they came to
my barn.

Cross-examined by Mr. SMITH-1 believe that at
my farm three out of every four men present were
actually engaged in destroying the machinery and
barn. I think that when I was ut the lime•kil„ I
could have got SO men away, but for two men, who
compelled others to go on by violence. This was
in the rear of the mob, near Hindon. Any man
could have got away that liked. The two men put
sticks at the back of those who were reluctant, and
pu,hed them on. They insulted me most grossly,
fi r they saw that I was making an impression on the
mob, and they wished to get them away from me.
At one time the mob cheered me. I asked them
whether they had any objection to me personally.—
They said that they had not. They told me that
they would not hurt a hair of my head; but they
would break all the threshing machines, and mine
among the rest.

John Brickell identified Blatulfotd, John Barrett,
C. Jerrard, W. Snook, Samuel Eyres„ James
Mould, a grocer at Hatch, Thomas Topp, Thomas
Vining, and Andrew Moxam, as being with the mob
at Lawn-quarry, which is about three quarters of a
mile from Mr. Benett's machine.

On his cross-examination,he admitted that he saw
sereral persona forced to join the mob as they went
along the road._

Thomas Ball, coachman to Mr. Benett--I saw
Thomas Topp with a road-hammer in his hand. I
SAW Topp fling the first stone that was flung at Mr.
Benett. [Here the witness produced it. It was a
flint stone, with a yellow coating, and weighed, we
should conceive from the size, about two pounds.)
It hit Mr. Benett between the eye and the nose on
his face. As soon as it hit him Mr. rienett's head
fell upon his neck, his hat fell off his head, and his
face was covered with the blood which gushed from
his nose. I saw the hat and the stone full together.
I endeavoured to get the hat-, but the mob pre-
vented me. I then pointed with my finger to Topp,
as much as to say, it was you that did it ; on which
Topp made a dart at me, and struck at me with a
sledge hammer. Fortunately, he only hit ►nc with
the handle of it on my ear.
John Uphill identified Birt, Blandford, Bunstone,
J. Barrett, and Vining, as active agents in the ch:
struction of the machine.

William Woods identified the prisoners Byres,
Rixen, and Blandfort;, as breakers of the machine.
After further evidence had been adduced, the Jury
returned their verdict, finding White and Moxam
Not Guilty, and all the other prisoners Guilty.
On inquiry it war: ascertained that they were all
agricultur►►l leJlourers, except White, who is a
blacksmith, Rixen, who is a carter, and Birt, who
is a sawyer. (Prisoner denied this in very strong
terms.

The trial occupied the Court till a quarter-past
nine o'cleck at night. The Court then adjourned to
nine o'clock on Monday,

BERKSIIIR.---READING, SATURDAY, JAN. 1.
Thonigs Goodfellow and Robert Gibbs were
charged with destroying a threshing-machine, the
property of Thomas Ward, on the 22d November,
at West Woodhay.
Goodfellow is a well-looking young man, and
better dressed than the majority of prisoners tried
at this commission ; it would also appear that ho
has been better educated. his age is fixed by the
calendar at 23, and he is stated to be by trade a
blacksmith.

The Jury, ty4tliA the direction of Mr. Justice
PARK, fou,:-.6 both prisoners Guilty.
Coodiellow was immediately tried upon another
indictment for breaking a threshing machine, the
property of Mr. Thomas Hayward, at Inkpen, on
the 21st of November.—Guilty.
Goodieltlow and Cornelius Bennett were acquitted
on a chiirge of robbery, no evidence being offered on
the part of the Crown.
Bennett and Henry Honey were in like manner
acquitted of a charge of robbery, Mr. Gurney de-
clining to press the case.
John Aldridge and George Whiting were in-

dieted for breaking a threshing-machine, the pro-
perty of Wm. Barnes, on the 22d of November.
The Jury found both prisoners Guilty, but re-
commended Whiting to mercy.
William IVhite was convicted of having broken a
threshing machine, belonging to John Porter, on the
24th of November, at Benham.
There was also an indictment against the prisoner
for the robbery ; but no evidence being offered on
that charge, a verdict of Not Guilty was recorded.
Thomas Willoughby and Charles Rosier were
charged with having on the 22d of November, at the
ptrish of Hungetford, unlawfully assembled, in
company with divers others, created a riot, and de-
stroyed certain fixed machinery and other property,
belonging to Mr. Richard Gibbons.
The Jury found both prisoners Guilty, but recom-
mended Willoughby to mercy.
Willoughby was acquitted upon three indictments
for robbery, the Counsel for the Crown offering no
evidence in support of the charges.
Mr. Baron BOLLAND said, this was very merciful
conduct on the part of the prosecution.
George Sturgis, Joseph Smith, and George Green,
were indicted for destroying a threshing machine,
the property of Mr. Richard Herbert, on the 23d of
November, at Welford.

The Jury acquitted Sturgis, and found Smith
and (ireen Guilty.

Thomas Hanson, Edward Davis, Thomas Cooper,
Robert Josey, William Josey, James Willis, James
Hamblin, Charles Milsom, George Merritt, and
Joseph Tegg, were put to the bar, being indicted
for having, on the 23d of November, feloniously
broken a threshing-machine, the property of John
Frome, of Streatly.
Mr. Justice PATTESON charged the Jury, who
found Hanson and Davis Guilty, and acquitted the
rest of the prisoners.
The COURT ordered the prisoners Cooper and the
two Juteys to be discharged.
Thomas [Janson, Charles Milsom, Edmund Vic-
cut, Joseph Edney, and James West, were then put
on their trial, pro forma, for having destroyed a
threshing-machine. No evidence was offered, arid
the prisoners were accordingly acquitted.
Thomas Hanson was also put upon his trial for
having robbed John Frome of .ss. No evidence was
offered, and the prisoner was acquitted.
The Court then adjourned at half-past six o'clock.

WINTER ASSIZES.

KINGSTON, SATURDAY, JAN. 1.

James Warner, labourer, aged 30, was capitally
indicted for wilfully and maliciously setting fire to
a flour-mill, at Albury, in the occupation of James
Franks. The prisoner was further charged, in the
calendar, with wilfully and maliciously shooting at
the prosecutor; but he was not indicted on this
charge, although evidence of the fact was produced.
The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty.

Sentence of death was then pronounced upon the
ptisoner, the effect of which appeared to make a
strong impression in the Court, which WAS crowded
to exce►s.

The prisoner, who remained perfectly unmoved
during the trial, appeared considerably affected when
he heard the sentence.

The Court was occupied from nine this morning
until eight o'clock at night, in trying oine men,
chiefly labourers, who were charged with having un-
lawfully and riotously assembled at Dorking, on the
21st of November last, and disturbed the peace, &c.
Four of the prisoners, viz. Samuel Croucher, James
Ireland, Edward Anscomb, and John Longley,
otherwise Comber, were further charged with hav-
ing assaulted Samuel Bothwell and William Combos,
special constables, while in the execution of their
duty on the occasion in question; and William Tay-
lor, the younger, was charged with having broken
the windows of the bench-room of the Justices act-
ing for the hundred of Wotton; James Hubbard,
James "'enfold, William Buckland, and 'Valiant
Skillon, sit ere charged with riot only.
On the 19th of November a mob of about forty
persons paraded the town of Dorking, crying out
" Down with the tithes, bread or blood," &c. A
representation of the circumstance having been sent
to the Magistrates, a meeting was appointed by
them at the Red Lion, Dorking, on the 21st of
November, for the purpose of receiving a deputation
from the labourers and hearing their complaints.
Accordingly a great crowd of persons, amongst
whom were the prisoners, collected in Dorking, and
stood in front of the Red Lion, where the Magi-
strates had assembled. William Crawfurd, Esq.,
one of the Magistrates, perceiving a dispositio❑ i❑
the crowd to riut and mischief, went out and told
them that they should not be heard at that time
The mob thereupon became exasperated, threw
stones at the windows of the Magistrates' room, to
which they finally lot eed their way, and refused to
leave it until some of them were given in charge.
The constables, Combes and Bothwell, were as-
saulted in endeavouring to keep the peace, and the
Hon. and Rev. J. E. Boscawen, one of the Magi-
strates, swore that he considered himself and bro-
ther Magistrates in danger from the violence of the
mob. Upwards of thirty witnesses were called to
prove the charges against the prisoners respectively,
and it appeared that the military were obliged to be
called in by the Magistrates, and that the Riot Act
was read.

The prisoners Croucher and Ireland were found
Guilty of riot and assault, and sentenced to eighteen
months' imprisonment each. Penfold, Hubbard,
Taylor, and Buckland, were found Guilty of riot,
and the two former were sentenced to twelve, and
the two latter to six months' imprisonment each;
and Longley, Anscomb, and Skilton, were acquitted.

DE L'ORME, BY THE AUTHOR OF DARN-
TM—This Novel continues its career of popularity. A
work like the present one, in the days of RICHARDSON or
FixLniNc, would have made the wits and arbiters of taste
say of our known author, as Porr said of JOHNSON'S
Paraphrase of Juvenal " whoever he is, he will not re-
main unknown long." The story is admirably filled up
by a succession of adventures and scenes of almost eve!).
description. De L'Orme's iatert iews with de Retz, and
Lis residence with the Countess de Soissons at Paris—his
gaining the prisoners in the Bastille to the cause of the
Count—and his desperate adventure in penetrating the
den of outlaws and desperadoes, who formed an exclusive
society and army among themselves, under an elected chief,
whom they called the King of the Huns,—ire all power-
fully and dramatically conceived.
THE:TRUCK SYSTEM.—The colliers i❑ the
seigiabourbood of Ruabo■ have manifested lately a dispo-
sition to riot, its order to put down the system of
•' Tommy Siiisps" (i. c. paying workmen in goods instead
of money), which prevails in that vicinity. The Den-
bighshire Cavalry, with Sir W. W. WYNN at their head,
Lave been called out to quell the disturbances, and the
Staff of the Militia of that comity are also under arms.
Many launched, have repeatedly assembled, but their
chief object, we believe, is, as we have stated, to put
down the truck system. The Magistrates of the neigh-
bourhood are actively engaged swearing in constables ;
and we trust their combined exertions will prevent the
disturbances from spreading.—Shrewsbury Chronicle.

SCOTCH REFORM.—A plan of Reform,
somevihat like the following, has, we know, in its favour
the opinions of many able and honest Scotsmen, and is
also sufficiently explicit, while it is free from all embar-
rassing details :—Let every county continue to elect a
Member of Parliament. Let fifteen of the most popu-
lous burghs elect each a Member. Give a vote for a
Member of Parliament to every householder in a county,
who Las not a vote in a represented burgh, and who oc-
cupias house or lands valued at a yearly rent of ten pounds
or upwards. Give a vote for a Member of Parliament to
every householder in a represented burgh who has nut a
vote in a county, arid who occupies house or land at a
yearly rental of ten pounds or upwards. Let the rotes in
&enrolls be given by ballot. The vote by ballot is per.
hap more requisite in Scotland than in any country in
Vag worbl. The slavish deference of the lower orders to
the aristocracy i❑ many distriets--the power possessed by
isoneysd interest, through the instrumentality of the cash
credit system--the circumstance that the affairs of all the
landowners are managed by law agents resident in Edin-
burgh, and many other local peculiarities, give facilities to
the speedy and effective organization of a system of undue

PUBLIC DINNER TO HENRY HUNT,

ESQ., M. P., AT MANCHESTER.

(FROM OUR MANCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.)

On Saturday last Mr. Hunt, having on the preceding
day accepted an invitation to dine with his political friends
at Oldham, made his public entry into Manchester.
About one o'clock he arrived at St. Peter's-fields, corainonly
called Peterloo, in a barouche drawn by four horses, and
accompanied by Mr. Mitchell, of Preston, Mr. Archibald,
Prentice, of the Manchester Times, Mr. Candelet, &c.
lie was followed by a party in another open carriage.
About 7,000 persons, mostly of the working classes, as-
sembled to meet and congratulate the Hon. Member on
his recent election to a seat in the House of Commons.
Mr. HUNT looked well, hut was evidently much fatigued
by his recent exertions. He wore a drab coat and a black

hut, which occasioned much surprise. He immediately
rose to address the assembly, and taking off his drab coat
be appeared in a green frock surtout, ornamented with
gilt buttons. Silence having been obtained, for the plau-
dits of the populace on his arrival at the memorable scene
of the 16th of August, 1819, were loud and low:,
—Mr. Hunt spoke to the following effect. He said be
was the same man as he was eleven years ago, and as
much the friend of liberty us he was at any former pe-
riod of his life. He took a brief review of the transac-
tions of August, 1819, and alluded in strong terms to the
carnage which then took place. He was about to take his
seat in the Commons House of Parliament, where he

should act in perfect unity with Daniel O'Connell.—[This
was received with nine times nine cheers and immense ap-
plause.] No man, he said, was more hearty in the cause
of radical Re'orrn than Mr. O'Connell. For himself, he
was as zealaus in the cause of radical Reform as ever, and
should be as much so in the House as he had ever been out
of it. He made the most solemn vows that he would ad-
vocate the cause of radical Reform till it was triumphant.
The fountain of justice should be cleansed, and righ-
teous judgment administered to all. He alluded in
strong terms to the conduct of Naden, the con-
stable, and others on the dreadful day of the 16th
of August, 1819, and asked, " What is become of
them now ?" He branded the conduct of the police, the
Magistrates, and the yeomanry on that day as cowardly
against him and murderous to the people. But, said he,
what a great change has taken place in political opinion
in Manchester since that period of ignorance and crime.
lie was satisfied in his own mind that no Reform could
produce any good unless accompanied by the vote by
ballot; he would live and die by it. He highly eulogised
the new Paper established at Manchester called the Voice
of the People, and said he would support it with
all his power. It would speak the truth, and
honestly advocate the cause of the people, as the Times
and Advertiser also did. The voice of the people would
be heard, and that to the confusion of the oppressors.
But whatever the papers might do for the people, they
must still depend chiefly on their own exertions—they must
put their shoulders to the wheel, or no good could be ef-
fected. He was convinced the working classes wanted
support, and they must be supported. He stood there as
the advocate of their rights, and hoped their voices would
ultimately prevail. He had hitherto met with the support
of the people, and he had no doubt he should continue to
r. ceive it. He would tore his utmost endeavours to merit
it. He then solemnly named the pledges he had given to
the people of Preston on his recent election. He would
support the just rights of his country and also those of
the Aristocracy ; but his principal duty at present led
him to advocate the cause of the labouring classes. The
great question was, will the people have their rights ?
—They must have them if they were united in
their demands. He thought the present Ministry
were so shackled by the aristocracy of riches and birth,
that they could not carry the great measure of radical Re-
form, such as the country stood in need of. When he
took his seat in the House, the petitions of the people
should not be overlooked or disregarded as they had been.
He would present their petitions and urge the prayer of
them with all his might. Let them look at the brave
and undaunted 3,730 freemen of Preston and on what
they had done, their conduct should be imitated by
every man throughout the kingdom. His medical
adviser had told him he must take care of himself, and
reserve his exertions for the discharge of his parliamen-
tary duties, therefore, in future, he should not be found
attending many public meetings like the present. His
voice hail been heard by the public, but it would have a
tenfold effect when raised in the cause of the people within
the walls of the Commons' House. He admired the Con-
stitution of England as it existed in its purity, and
would endeavour to restore it to its pristine state. He
saw that he had an arduous task before him, and his heart
would ever be with the people of Lancashire—he should
to the latest hour of his existeuce remember with gratitude
their kindness manifested towards him. He then took off
his hat, which he lead hitherto worn owing to the cold-
ness of the day, and thanked the people fur the flattering
reception he had met with from them, both now and nn
former occasions. He concluded by proposing nine times
nine cheers in honour of the brave voters of Preston.
Countless cheers were given with great enthusiasm.
,Ir. MITCHELL, of Preston, then addressed the meeting
at great length, but was inaudible to nine-tenths of the
assembled multitude. He detailed the proceedings at the
late election at Preston, and declared it to be worthy of
all praise, and should be held as an example to all who
wished for radical Reform. He had suffered in the cause
of freedom, arid had been branded as a spy, merely
because he had spoken boldly for the rights of
the people. He had, however, always been found
true to their interests.—(Loud cheering.)—He thanked the
meeting for the patient hearing with which he bad
been indulged, and proposed nine time nine cheers for
Henry Hunt, Esq.., the undaunted champion of freedom,
and M. P. for Preston.

The cheering that followed was loud and long, and con-
cluded in the universal clapping of hands.
The meeting now separated, nearly three o'clock,in perfect
good order.
From the carriage in which Mr. Hunt addressed the as
setnbly, waved a flag, bearing the inscriptio❑ " Vote by
ballot." From another carriage was hoisted a banner in-
scribed " The time is come," and " The voice of the
people."
THE DINNER.

At five o'clock Mr. Hunt and his friends sat down to
a substantial dinner, given in honour of Mr. Hunt's re-
turn for Preston, at the Spread Eagle Inn, Hanging-
aitch. Eighty-five tickets at five shillings each were
taken, the parties paying in addition for their wine. The
dinner would have been more numerously attended but
that many were pre-engaged to dine at the York Hotel, at
a sumptuous entertainment given to Dr. Bowring, Editor
of the Edinburgh Review, and which took place on the
same day and the same hour.
Mr. WHITTLE, Editor of the Manchester and Salford
Advertiser, was in the Chair. The cloth having been
removed,
The CIIAIIOIAN rose and lamented that on such an
occasion, the celebration of the first triumph of liberty,
Mr. Grundy, who was to have taken the chair, and who
was well known to all as the champion of liberty, was
absent. The fact was, that gentleman resided in the
country, and could not attend from the shortness of the
notice he had received of the intended meeting.
He begged the indulgence of the company, and
pleaded his own inability adequately to discharge
the duties of the situation which had devolved upon him.
We had long been dinned with the cries of legitimacy, but
lie advocated the cause of true legitimacy. He concluded
by proposing the following toasts:—
" The people, the source of all legitimate authority."
—Nine times nine.

" The King, and may he always understand that his
power derived from the people, should be always exercised
for them."

" May the Peers in seeking to preserve their own right,
preserve ours."
" A prompt and radical Reform in the Commons house
of Parliament."—(The toast was drank standing, with
immense applause, and followed by, " One cheer more.")
" The brave Electors of Preston—the 3,730—wh0 so
nobly stood up fur their rights.—(Continued cheering.)
Mr. MITCHELL returned thanks, and said they were the
bravest men in England, and not one of them would feel
less grateful for the honour conferred on them than him-
self. Much of the success attending the election arose
from Mr. Grimsbaw, the Mayor, destroying the old sys-
turn of voting, and yet he was a Tory. The town was
one parish, and men should not be put to the trouble of
finding their districts, which in some cases was imprac-
ticable. This declaration of Mr. G. gave general satisfac-
tion to the 7,000 persons assembled at the Corn Exchange,
and was hailed with the bliout of, " Victory is ours !"
Stanley had on former occasions filled the booths with his
creatures, but on the recent occasion the independent free-
men filled the booths, and en the first day polled more than
I ,200 votes, while Stanley polled but little more than 500!
He then declared the particulars of the election, which have
already appeared in The Sun Paper. He charged Stan-
ey's poll-clerks with gross misconduct, in falsifying the
votes given, and which had been detected by the vigilance
cf the freemen in the interest of Mr. Hunt. He was
proud of being at the head of the brave freemen—it had
satisfied him for all the odium which had been cast upon
him for many years. It was the poor weavers and
the brave spinner who hal trlit:eil the victory.—

He apologised for having, on a former occasion,
been rash in his expressions at a meeting at Man-
chester. He on that occasion thought the darling of
Preston had had not been used well at Manchester ; be
therefore in his wroth, dealt his blows right and
left, and that without discrimination. He had since
shaken hands with, and begged pardon of those whom he
had unwittingly offended, and they were now friends.
It was with pleasure he announced, that no man
had been discharged from his employment at Pres-
ton for the vote he had given. The masters had
declared they never would interfere with the votes of
their servants.—(Cheers.)—He concluded hy thanking
the company for their kind indulgence, and said that the
inhabitants of Preston intended to keep open a subscrip-
tion, in order to secure purity of election in the borough.
Mr. WALKER alluded briefly to the once prevailing opi-
nion, that Mr. Mitchell had acted as a Government spy,
and flatly contradicted the foul imputation.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The health of honest
Nicholas Grimshaw, and all penitent Tories." It was
said that in heaven there was more -ej,ticing over one sinner
that repenteth, than over ninety-nine just persons who
need no repentance.

The toast was drank with applause and laughter.
The CHAIRMAN then, after al:udima to Mr. Hunt's
former persecutions, and lauding his political consistency
through both good and evil report, proposed " The health
of Heory Hunt, Esq., the faithful Representative of the
People in the Commons House of Parliament."—(Loud
and reiterated plaudits far many minutes.)
Mr. HUNT professed that he could not find language
sntheiently strong whereby he could convey his feelings or
express his thanks. He believed all present to be equally
friends to freedom and radical Reform as himself. He
should number this amongst the proudest days of his life.
The triumphant support of the 3,730 was enough to make
any man vain. Fur himself he rejoiced in it as enabling
him to be of greater service to his country than hereto-
fore. He was sure his heart was made of the right
material, and that he should never deceive his constituents
or the people of England. He was now 57 years of age,
and possessed the sante principles he did 11 years ago,
when he first visited Manchester, and he was too old to
change them. His recent visit to various towns in Lanca-
shire convinced him that the time was come when some-
thing could be done for the people. He had stood nine
contested elections, and never bribed a man to the value of
a pot of porter. It had been said to hint, " Why
not buy a seat in the House ?" but he hal always
replied, " No, I will wait till the time shall come
when I can be elected freely." For twenty years the town
of Preston had been under the influence of the house of
Derby and the Horrocks's. He lauded the conduct of the
repentant Tery, Mr. Grirnehaw. He had never seen any
thing in his conduct inconsistent with an honourable cha-
racter. lie alluded to the firmer mode of district
voting, and confirmed what Mr. Mitchell had said on
that subject. The freemen of Preston had done them-
selves immortal honour, and conferred on him an
inestimable obligation.—(Hear.)—No one before him-
self had been returned to Parliament, who had avowed
himself a radical reformer, the friend of Annual Parlia•
relents, Universal Suffrage, and Vote by Ballot. It was
this that caused the general joy which had bees maui-
fected at his return. There was no city, town, village, or
hamlet in England, that had not heard of Henry Hunt,
and did not know that he was a radical reformer. He
pledged himself never to abandon his principles, and said
he never would sit still and see the petitions of the
people treated in the scandalous manner in which
they had heretofore been treated. He had attended some
very scandalous meetings, and at St. Giles'e had wit-
nessed most disgusting scenes, but none he believed so bad
as the assembly he was about to meet. —(Laughter.) Some
of the Members speaking of hint had said, " let us have
that chap in the House of Commons, and we shall know
how to manage him," but the devil a bit did they
endeavour to get him there. Armed with the voice
of the people, he would make the corrupt ones
tremble, and laugh the other side of their faces. He
was delighted to see on the present occasion so many
young men united with the old Reformers in receiving him
as the champion of radical Reform in the manner which
they had dose. He then p lid a handsome compliment
to Mr. Mitchell and his brother electors of Preston. He
found on his arrival at that town half-a•dozen persons who
had been imprisoned in the cause of freedom hard
at work for hint. Stanley, on his defeat, had written
to the Editor of a London paper to say, that an
insignificant artizan, e. draper, and a tailor, bad upset the
noble house of Stanley !—(Cheering.)—He also had bee;
denounced as a spy ; " yes," said he, " and by G—d Fe
always was, and airy aye would he, a spy on behalf of the
people of England." He stated he should proceed to-mor-
row with Mr. Mitchell to Wolverhampton, and also that
he had received an invitation from the Political Union' if
Birmingham, to be conveyed by its members to that pa-
triotic and flourishing town. With gentlemen, he could
at all times conduct himself as a gentleman, and he knew
how to treat blackguards in their• own way. The hire-
lings dare not offer him a bribe, for they know he would
throttle the villain who brought him their message. He
had taken a fee front the people of Preston—it was their
affections, and he would ask none other. He thought it
inconsistent in Members of Parliament to attend public
meetings and there speak very differently to wl,at they did
in the House. If he found he could not do any good
in Parliament, he would next summer go to Pres-
ton and resign his trust for a man younger and
possessing more talents than himself. He should annually,
if he retained his seat in the House, go to Preston, call a
meeting of his electors, and ask them it he had acted ac-
cording to their wishes, and if he found he had not dune
so, he would then resign his trust. He hoped the people of
Manchester would soon intrust him with plenty of
petitions for Reform. He would support any plan of
Reform brought into Parliament by Ministers, so that
it included the Vote by Ballot, however limited it might
be. As soon as this was carried, he would then
go for the whole• He was for universal suffrage, and
should be so till he saw written by the hand of God on
men's foreheads, " This is to be a slave, and that a free-
ruan !" Alluding again to the bloody tragedy of Peterloo,
he hoped petitions would flow from Manchester, praying
even now for an investigation into that horrid affair. He
thought a clerk should be appointed him to arrange his
parliamentary concerns, the same as was allowed O'Connell
from Ireland, by which means he should have time
to attend to his Parliamentary duties and the numerous
petitions entrusted to him. He could not do his duty
without it. The expense must either come from his own
pocket, or those of the Radicals of England. He con-
cluded by expressing his general thanks for the honour
conferred on him by the people of Manchester that day.
lie felt he should incur their disapprobation. He wished
all a happy new year.—(Great applause. )—The Chairman
then proposed the health of Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Irvine,
and the other members of the Preston Committee.

Mr. Muctirm. returned thanks, and was evidently
'inch affected.

Other healthy followed, and thanks returned, and the
meeting separated evidently pleased with the proceedings
of the day.

THE IRISH YEOMANRY.—TIIC Evening
Mail as,terts that Government have determined on calling
out the Irish Yeomanry.—Dublin Morning Register•
REPEAL OF THE UNION—THE ORANGE-
stew or THE Nor.TIL—We have been informed that a
meeting to petition for a repeal of the Union has been
held in Loughgall, county Armagh, and that the proceed-
ings were conducted by Orangemen alone. We under-
stand also, that it is in contemplation of the Orangemen
of Armagh to hold a public meeting in a short time, for a
similar purpose.—Dublin Morning Register.
THE ENGLISH BEAR HUNTER.—Mr.
LLOYD'S highly amusing work on the Field Sports of the
North of Europe, a second edition of which has just ap-
peared, has, it seems, not only been translated into the
German and the French, but also into the Swedish lan-
guage. In the introduction to the last-mentioned version
the following eulogy is passed upon our adventurous coun-
trymen :—" Of his wanderings through the forests of
Weruiland and Fimnark, as highs up asithe very extremities
of these wilds, he has furnished us with narratives remind-
ing us indeed of the legendary tales of our youth. The
indefatigable zeal with which this young Englishman, fol-
lowing the bent of his disposition, alone sought eut and
pursued the bear, the tyrant of the Northern forests, has
fairly obtained fur him throughout the whole of Scandina-
via, great and universal celebrity under the designation of
the English Bear Hunter.

Persons can now go by the railway carriages
to any of the intermediate places between Liverpool and
Atinchester. This accommodation was rendered necessary
by the discontinuance of most of the coaches which ran
between the two towns. The fifes of the first class
coaches on Saturday next will be reduced to 55., and the
,econd class to 3s. 6d.

Extract of a letter from Grambusa, dated
say. 15 ," I landed with a party of seamen last night,
and was the first to hoist the English Jack on the walla
of the strong fortress of Grambusa. Three different flags
are flying on the walls—English, French, and Russian.
Before we took possession, the Candiots tried several times
to t3l,a it from the Greeks. hut they could not succeed."

THE BALLOT.

(From Mr. Wakely's new Sunday Paper published yesterday. )

The Title which we have adopted, declares in oNx
wont), our political creed. It announces that we are
Reformers in the fullest acceptation of the term, and that
we maintain the great and just principle, that no plan of
Reform can effectually relieve the people er give stability
to a popular government, unless it include VOTE BY
BALLOT. We contend, that while the present system of
election affords the means of influencing a voter by direct
compulsion, or by pecuniary temptation, the mode of vot-
ing BY BALLOT would afford the best, the only security
for his independence and integrity. Foiled in the outset
of his career, the corrupt candidate for Parliamentary ho-
nours would no longer endeavour to obtain them by means
which are disgraceful to himself, and destructive to the
rights and liberties of his countrymen.
On the exalted 'vantage ground of Tits BALLOT, then,
we take our stand ; and, confident in the strength of our
position, and the justness of our cause, we shall attack the
boroughmongering Tories o❑ the one side, and the bo-
roughmongering Whigs o❑ the other, until their tottering
battlements are levelled with the dust.

Ceaseless and unsparing as will be our assaults on the
friends of corruption—against whom we entertain a na-
tural hatred—no man shall have reason to complain of our
mode of warfare. Our weapons shall be those of inde-
pendence and impartiality, and while " THE BALLOT"
shall, on all occasions, be the zealous advocate of the civil
and political rights of the people of ENGLAND, it will
ever be the fearless and uncompromising promulgator
of TRUTH.