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

711t1 the public safety Ithat the people should be suffered to re-
.main congregated. kept up continual communications with
the magistrates on that morning. They assembled at an early
hour. For some time previous -to :the 16th of August, all my
time was occupied 'with the duties of my office, in endeavouring
:D preserve the public peace. The same was the case with my
colleague, Mr. Moore,, and the horpughreeve. 'We formed a
committee of the principal inhabitahts pf. the town to assist us.
They met frequently, and had it not been for their assistance,
.*e could not have got through our business. Upon the arrival
ef.the performers on this stage, I received an order from the
_magistrates to get two Messengers on 'horseback to carry any
`message or order they might have occasion to give. I was de-
sired by the magistrates to execute a warrant ?or them. That
c.riier was given by the Chairman of the Committee of Magis-
trates, Hulton. I believe this (looking at a warrant which
the Learned Serjeant handed him) is the same. When Mr.
flulton stated that a warrant was to be executed, I informed
him that I considered it would be impracticable, seeing what I
• tad previously seen, and knowing the disorderly state of the
cLuntry. The communication with the hustings was at that
ti:ne cut off. I stated to Mr. Hulton that it would be impos-
ei.).le to execute the warrant without military assistance. Upon
flay oath, that was my conscientious opinion at that moment.—
' I did not think the warrant could have been executed with ef-
fect, or consistently with the safety of the constables and peace-
officers, unless they were assisted. It would have been mad-
ness to attempt it. 1 refused to execute the warrant without
military assistance. In consequence of that, assistance was I
seht. for. Mr. Hulton gave me aletter to the Commanding.of-
ficer of the Yeomanry, and another to the Commanding Officer
cf.the_lsth. Dlr. T. Withington, who was in the magistrate's
room, took that addressed to the Commander of the Hussars ;
and Mr. Joseph Birley.that which was addressed to the Com-
mander of the Yeomanry. The Yeomanry came . first ; and I
went up to Captain (now Major) Birley,and stated that ',hada
warrant to execute. I desired him to surround the hustings, in
order that we might take the orators, against whom we had the
warrant, from the stage. We set off together. I advanced be-
fore him, on the right of the constables. Mr. Moore, my bro-
ther .constable, and I think Mr. Nadin, the deputy constable,
accompanied us. I kept in advance of the Yeomanry as long
as I could. IE believe I and the other peace officers walked. I
was.not mounted. The interruptiOn of the people prevented me
fropi'keeping in advance the whole way.. My object. was to
gam the hustings as soon as I could. When I found myself
, obstructed., the Yeomanry passed me. I kept up to the Yeo-
manry as close as I possibly could: Hunt and Johnson were
taken into custody, when I got to the hustings. I took John-
.. son, the brush-maker, into the magistrates'-room. Those were
. the prisoners I particularly attended to. Several others wero
taken. My attention afterwards was exclusively occupied by

the prisoners.
Cross-examined by Mr. BLACKBURN.—1 saw the placard
which has been shown to me posted on the walls of Manches-
ter prior to the 9th of August. 'The Magistrates forbad that
meeting, as illegal. No meeting that I saw took place on that
day. I cannot immediately recollect whether we were called
on to convene a meeting for the 16th. - I don't recollect seeing
any thing of this kind (looking at a-bill for convening another
meeting) posted on the walls of Manchester before the 16th of
August. I had, however, seen it in the Manchester paper pre-
vious to the meeting of the 16th of August. I was frequently
informed that Carlile would be there. I do not know him
personally. It is very likely that I communicated to the Ma-
gistrates the promised attendance -of Carlile. I live in the
township of Manchester. 1 have been examined on this subject
before. I was examined, previous to my deposition at York,
at the Star Inn, Manchester. Part of what I stated this day,
I stated at York. I did not, in my examination in the court
at York, say any thing about lying concealed in a planta-
tio-n—about seeing men form in sections, or about the drunken-
ness and the breaking of lamps, to which I have this
day deposed. Those 'circumstances were mentioned to the so-
licitor. I have not seen my deposition since it was taken at
York. There was a meeting- of the Cheshire and Lancashire
Magistrates on this day, in consequence of the meeting. The
Mr. Trafford I have mentioned did not command the Yeoman-
ry on the 16th of August. Major Trafford, a different person,
had the chief command on that day. Ile did not go up to the
hustings with me. Captain now (Major) Birley commanded
the 'Y eomanry in going up to the hustings. The special
constables might, at that time, from the pressure, have
given a little way to the left, but they were not drawn
• back to Mr. Buxton's house. When le.first went to the
ground, I saw one cart, but I cannot say that there was not
a second. I saw the constables separated from the hustings,
but I do not know that it was in consequence of a second
cart being driven on the ground. I saw no second cart
coming. I saw a great number of persons arrive on the field
with music and colours. I was present at the celebration of
the coronation at -Manchester. There were colours and music
on that occasion. There were great numbers of persons in the
streets: but the streets were not completely filled. I walked
on that occasion. I did not march. I saw several drunken
men on Sunday, the 15th of August. I cannot say that I did
not see drunken men at the celebration of the coronation. I did
not say that the warrant was given to me. I was present when
it was ready for delivery. It was given either to Mr. Moore or
Mr. Nadin. I think there were 300 special constables present
on the 16th.
Re-examined by Mr. Sergeant CRoss.—The paper which
was put in my hand by the Learned Counsel (Mr. Blackburn)
contained the names of all the persons who were invited to/the
meeting, including Hunt and Carlile. I consider a meeting
held under the auspices of Hunt and Carlile as extremely dan-
gerous. It was not my duty, as constable of Manchester, to
convene a meeting of the people of Bolton, Bury, Rochdale.
Middleton, Leeds, London, and Liverpool, or to require the
attendance of the reporters of the ',O&M press, or to -invite
Carlile, Wooler, Hunt, and the rest of the orators. From such
a meeting, considering the vast body of people who would be
collected together, I apprehended much confusion. It is the
duty of the constable of Manchester to convene only the inha-
bitants of the town. It has not been usual to invite itinerant
orators to speak at our town meetings, or to call on a stranger,
from a distant place, to preside at them. It has been cus-
tomaryfor the boroughreeve to preside. Mr. Trafford is chair-
man of one of the uarter Sessions for the hundred of Salford ;
Was at Mr. Buxton's on the 16th. We had not, at the celebra-
tion of the Coronation, any flag inscribed " Equal Representa-
tion or death." Neither had we flags inscribed, "No Corn
laws," or " Better to die like men than live as slaves." We
had no caps of liberty on that occasion. The colours 1 alluded
to were those of the different trades. A paper (the warrant for
the apprehension of Hunt) being handed to the witness, he
identified the signatnres of Messrs. Norris, Wright, Hay, Syl-
vester, and Athelston, which were affixed to it. All the Ma-
gistrates whose signatures were affixed to the warrant were pre-
sent at Mr. Buxton's.
[The warrant issued by the Magistrates on the 16th August,
for the apprehension of Hunt, Wright, Johnson, and Moore-
house; founded on the representation of Owen, that the
safetytof the-town of Manchester was endangered by the meet-
ing; was then put in and read ; as was also an advertiSement
dated July 23, 1819, calling a meeting on the 9th of August,
in the area opposite St. Peter's Church, for the purpose of con-
sidering the best mode of effecting a reform in Parliament ;
and also for taking into consideration the propriety of appoint-
ing a person to represent the people. of Manchester' in -Parlia-
ment. It a,nnounced that Henry Hunt, Esq. would take the
eintir ; that Richard Carlile would be present; and invited the
boroughreeve and chief constables to attend:]' -
Isaac Dobson, examined-by Mr. Li-et EDA Ts., depOsed-4
live at Bolton. 'I am a machine-maker. I reinenibbr, prior
to the meeting at Manchester, going to Cocky-moor, which is
about four miles from Bolton, and two from Miry. Another
person went with me. We went to a Mr. Whitehead's house.
We found a:humber of persons in his house.. It was on the
'7th of August. It was a Saturday.' We arrived. about six
o'clock in the evening. When there we obSeived persons-at a
distance. There were about 150 or 200, according to my opi-
nion. People were coming inva.rious.directions, and met in a
body. They then divided into, separate bodies, and formed
into different lines. They then began to march in different
directions. I heard the word of command given, such as
" March," " Halt." " Right about face," " Stand at ease,"
and such words as are generally used by soldiers when drilling
recruits. The persons preeept attended to and obeyed these
words of command in fay Opinion very correctly. They conti-
nued there -till dusk. I should think till neat, 9or 10 o'clock.
T left-Mr. 'Whitehead's then, and went over the ground where
the persons w'ere drilling hail gone.
Cross examined by- Mr. EVANS.—I was at Mr. Whitehead's
house.• The hoUse had h full view of the party drilling. They
began-about half-past six, and had, finished by 10. I did not
steal into the house,.but Went openly.
Mr. Robert bean examined by Mr. STARICIE.--I am a half-
pay officer. I went to Mr. Whitehead's house on the 7th of
August: -There is a moor adjoining Whitehead's house. I
waathere about half-past five. The party was then mustering.
When they had collected they might consist of between 200
and 300 persons. They were drilling, in squads. There might
be about six or eight squads • a person commanded each.—
Regular soldiers are usually drilled in squares, and these per
appeared to be drilled in the same way that soldiers usually
an.: -I heard the words " Attention," " Stand at ease,"
" /UN"- "`March," and another word which I could not
make-mit, but which was followed by them all falling on the
ground flaeon their faces. They remained on the ground' a
few Seconds ; a word was then given, and they arose all in re-
gular order. I cannot explain the Meaning of this manteuvre.
It was something new to me. The party remained drilling till
dark, till I could see them no longer. We could hear them,
when we could no longer see them.. We continued to hear till
about half-past nine o'cllck.—To a Juror.—l' am not ac-
quainted with light infantry movements.
John Tetlow.—l am a weaver: I know Tandle-hills, which