The Sun.
London, England, 1817-02-17 00:00:00

NEWCASTLE,UNDER-LYNE.

For the last fortnight the Town of Newcastle-
under-Lyre, and the Potteries, have been kept in
a state Of ferment by the mischievous arts tat a
set of disaffected persons, by calling Public Meet-
ings under pretence of petitioning; for Parliament-
ary Reform, which Meetings were attended by
two hireling Orators from Manchester, one of the
name of JOHNSTONR, (formerly either a tailor or
a linen-draper at Glasgow), the'other of the name
of KNIGHT, (who we are informed is now a pau-
per receiving relief from the parish of Manches-
ter.) ' -At'the Meetings these Orators have used
the most dangerous and mischievous language, to
render the lower orders dissatisfied with Govern-
ment, and with their own situations in life. Se;
ditious tracts have been circulated, inflammatory
Resolations• passed, and Petitions, which have
been issued from the Manchester Division of the
Spa-fields Committee, have been signed, and will
no doubt be presented, under the pretence of
speaking the sentiments o he Staffordshire Pot-
"
series. Having had Puha •-:Meetino at several
places in the Potteries, the dissaffeeted iliction de-
termined upon trying the experiment at New-
castle ; and a Hand-bill (printed at Manchester,
for. not aPrinter in Staffordshire could be got to
print it).,was circulated through the Town and
Potteries, calling a Meeting on Tuesday last, and
asserting that it was at the request of a majority
of the Inhabitants. The names of 20 persons were
put to the 'Hand-hill, part of which were withont
either the, knowledge or permission of the parties,
and contrary to their wishes. The remainder
are a most despicable set. Spa-fields itself could
hardly have-turned out such a one. Aware of
the general loyalty of •the Inhabitants of New-
castle, the Faction were not satisfied with calling
a Meeting of. them, but called a Meeting of the
Town and Neighbourhood, in the hope that the
poisonous diactrines.which they bad been endee-
vouring to instil would have the.efitct of bring-
ing a large concourse of people from the Pot-
teries, and thereby enable them to curry their Reso-
lutiOns and Peiiiion, in defianceof the sentiments
of the Inhabitants:' In this' they did not succeed:
—the novelty of their proceedings was over, and
the people began to see the mischievous and de-
lusive arts which have been Practised upon them.
%Via) every exertion not more than a few hundred
persons came from the Potteries. The Meeting
was numerously attended by, the inhabitants.
After waiting near an hour after the appointed
time far an increase of supporters; the Chairman
(a journeyman tinker, of unblushing impudence),
attended by JOHNsToNi and a number of such
worthies; having ascendedi a waggon provided fur
theaaccusion, proceeded to business, and JOHN.
STONS , came forward to address the. Meeting,
The loyalty of the. inhabithnts could not be more
strongly evinced than .tit this momenta general
burst of indignation came from all quarters, the,
Orator,.with his collected tribe, -were compelled'
to descend from the waggon, and the whole crew
were glad to make a precipitate retreat, and did
not think themselves safe mull they were two
miles from the town. The Resolutions intended
to he passed were seized and destroyed, and nei-
ther resolution. or petition were passed, Nett-
castle hits Otos honourably saved itself from the ,
stigma of suffering an insulting and inflammatory
petition of a party of demagogues to be carried at
a public meeting, and presented to the House of
Commons as conveying. the wishes of its inhaiti,
tants) and we are confident•that soch an expect:.
sion of public sentiment in that populous neigh-
bourhood most :have the best etfeet. After the
retreat of theraetion, the Meeting sang " God
save the`King," and then broke up i and much to
the credit of time people, not the slightest disturb-
ance followed, •

On Sunday tnornisg a meeting took ptste,e in the
neighbourhood of Strabane, between Lieutenants
and Ott.;-11, of the44thitegittsent. The
former wus wounded in the thigh by the first fire,
when the affair was adjusted by the interference
of the seconds.
Aseward of 301. is offered in Sattirday night's
Ga:ette for the disarm y of the person or persons
who, in the night of the 21st ult., set fire to two
stacks of wheat belonging to Mr. ,ABA•is and mr.
VARNHAN, Of Oadley, Leicestershire. A free
pardon is promised to any actompliec ntsking
such discover).