The Sun.
London, England, 1819-09-17 00:00:00

PAISLEY PUBLIC MEETING.

The postponed meeting of the inhabitants of
Paisley anti its neighbourhood, '' To express
their sentiments or► the proceedings at Manches.
ter," took place on Saturday last nn Meikleriggs
Moor, about two miles south-west from Pakley.
The day was fine, and the numbers assembled weee
great, perhaps from 10 to 12 thousand. The
hustings were hung with black cloth, and rill the
speakers were dressed in mourning. Mr. TAYLOR
was unanimously called to the Chair. It would
be useless, and we have little doubt, tiresome to
our readers, were we to follow the different
speakers through ail their angry tirades on the
character and conduct of the Manchester Magis-
trates and the Yeomanry Cavalry. The speeches
were all alike. We may select all the vile words
the English language so copiously affords, and by
these names were the Manchester Authorities call-
ed ; and -we may make a list of all the blood-
thirsty tyrants who have appeared in the world,
from Caligula downwards, and to these men were
they compared, The meeting at Manchester was
declared to be legal and constitutional, and there.
fore the Magistrates had broken the laws, and
murdered their suffering starving countrymen,
'their wives, and daughters. Great sorrow was
expressed that the Prince Regent had felt it ne-
telsary to identify himself with the Manchester
authorities, anti that too on the evidence of oee
of the parties only. Universal Suffrage‘ Annual
Parliaments, anti Election by Ballot, were, rss
usual, declared to Le the only remedies for the gc.
!feral sulferings, and all,who ascribed them to any
other cause were characterized as quarks and im-
postors. The following are some of the Resolu-
tions :---That justice and equity ought to form tl►e
basis of all legitimate Governments, and that
whatever is established contrary to these principles
is usurped and Mega!, and disobedience is not
on:y innocent, Lot indispeSoiable :--That the sa-
vage barbarity and unfeeling cruelty of the Yco•
manry Cavalry are unparalleled in the mode►n his-
tory of Britain ; and when compared with the
more manly spirit and generous conduct of the
British soldiers, must reflect eternal disgrace on
these wild and itiliumail butchers, who, regard-
less of age and sex,. indiscriminately sabred send
Cut down all before them :—That all merchants
and manufactut era be invited to come forward and
lend a hand in effecting a Refohn, and assisiiog
the good cause; but if they will not, and if they
continue to stand ainsO, they shall afterwards be
considered bs alsetrora of oppression :---That

linnt, Sir .I'ranch :Vll,:fur Cartwright,
Wooler, &C. he respectfully invited to name a day
for a General Meeting thrittighont the whole King-
dom :—Thnt on glancing oit the vast revenue
which the liorotihittoneis del iv t: from Tea, To-
ham), and Spirituous Litiuors, we conceive it to
be our arty to abstain ft.n the use of these ar-
-604,1 ourselves, until a Radical Reform of the
Commons House of Parliament is nb• aintd, and
we hereby strongly recomtnepd to aii Reformers
to ndoPt, us far its po,sible, 'he sanie measures :
'11)'“ tte Proeeedintts at %1 uchester clearly de-
monstrate the necessity of 4 Radical Reform in
the House of Commons ; and 'sere it not for the
gross corrnptions that pi evail in that Flow,e, no
Ministry would hay?, bre') found so base, or so
hardened in iniquity, as to hare dnrrd to give their
countenance, far less their tniqualified praise, to
deeds so truly disgraceful and so hostile to every
British feeling—and, had it nut been that the
rdaeistrates of Manchester calculated upon the op-
plans and approbation of the Boronightnonger
Faction. this tragedy would never have been act-
ed, nor its agents " damned to everlasting fame."
An address of unqnalified praise to Mr. lion',
chatactetizing hint for every thing great and good,
Was real, and carried unanimously, with three
cheers.

disposition to match to the ground with flags
loid been manifested by the ileforno•rs from The
country, on the we. k previous to the Meeting.
This manner of " expressing their sentiments,"
the Anthoiiiies of Paisley deemed improper, and
a Proelannition by the Sherif of Renfrew was
plentifully posted it Paisley, and all the avenues
)eadiog to it, debarring all persons, at their ',roil,
from marching into the town with flags.
bow ever, did not deter a number of foolish per-
sons from using them, and a strong body of young
men from Glasgow, after being ranhed in close
column abort a mile from Pa,.ity, marched past
the Cross with two flags in the face of all the
Constables, and in open contempt of the Sheriff's
Proclamation. A very large party from Neikton
marched to the ground, accompanied by two Hags,
and a full hand of music, playing " Scots wha
hae wi' Wallace bled." There were in all eight
flags,. with mourning borders, and distinguished
by the following inscriptions :—" Liberty," with
the Cap, surmounting the British Arms.—" Juts-
lice and Liberty."—" Liberty, Civil and Reli-
gimis."—" Concord," rerersc " Magna Charter."
Abhor the iulinman butcheries of Manch6s-
ter."" Man has an egnal, rig ht to impartial Go-
vernment."—"
.Cart wright's Bill."—" No Corn
Laws."--" Mourn for Manchester."—" Annual
Parliaments," &c.

While one, of the speakers was haranguing,
some trifling cause produced considerable alarm,
and the.standard-bearers were seen in full flight
from the field ; but their fears wet e found to be
groundless, and, they were ridiculed for their
cowardly spirit, and advised by one of the speakers,
a Manchester man, to stand boldly by their co-
,
The Glasgow flags, on their ritrn, after the
proceedings of the day had cone t 7 were seiz-
ed by the Special Constables when passing the
Cross of Pai•ley, after some interchange of blows.
Whether it was in consequence of this circum-
stance we do not know, but all the windows of
the Town Hal! were broken, and the mob Were
not dispersed at halt-past eleven. The Sheriff
and Constables were grossly insulted', and assailed
with stones, while parading the streets. A con-
siderable number of the rioters were taken into
enstm•ly.
We cannot withhold our praise from, the Sheriff,
Magistrates, and Constables of Paisley, for this
Immune, cool, and intrepid manner in which they
slid their duty. It was only after every concilia-
tory mode had been used in vain, that an express
was sent off to Glasgow for the military.

nTHRR ACCOUNTS AND FURTHER PARTICULARS.
MEETING OF THE RADICAL REFORMERS AT

MEIKLEItIGGS 1%11:1It.

The multitude who attended this Meeting con-
cluded the business of the day with, a riot in the
town of Paisley, in the course of which they
committed the most disgraceful outrages on pro-
perty, and the most brutal assaults on the Magis-
tracy and Peace Officers. The following account.
of• the proceedings may be depended on, and it
furnishes conclusive evidence, if evidence is want-
ing, that the real object of the unprincipled Men,
who lead these Meetings, is the subversion of the
Government of their country, and that they have
made alarming progress towards the attainment
of their aim, in so far as the debasement of the
public missd is necessary to its accomplioli-
went.

.1 The Meeting at Meikleriggs Muir was adver-
tised to be held on Saturday last, '' for the pur-
pose of taking into consideration the late proceed-
ings at Manchester." In the early
.part of the
week, the Sherif/ and Magistrates learned that,
while die advertisement invited the attendance
only,of the inhabitants of Paisley. and its neigh-
bourhood. great pains had been taken to secure
congregations from the city of Glasgow, and from
all the towns and villages in Renfrewshire, and.
the adjoining counties. Information was also re-,
ceived, that instead of going to and from the
place of meeting by the shortest roads, qtrierly and
without ostewation, bands of people were to be.
_formed, and to march in procession through the
most public streets of the Burgh, I.vith flags and
SOLIIe of the persons who were connect-
ed the Reform Committee of Paisley were
sent tor, and after the Sheriff and Magistrates had
expostulated with them on the. impropriety of,
such parade, and the probability of their exciting
commotion in the town, they. all admitted that.
besides being very wrong, they were unnecessary to
.the business of the tlJe. t n , and the Committee
promised to use their exertions to prevent so im-
proper a proceeding. As an a dtliiional precaution,
the Magistracy published the following Peoela.
!nation, which circulated not only in the
town of Paisley and, villages around, but also.
posted up on all the roads leading to Paisley :

PIIOC E.AMAT`OY.
By the Sheriff of Renfro shire, and by the Frovust and

gist rates of Paidjy.
Whereas a Public l‘lectim: 1146 been called by certain per-
s4bos, cud has been tied to he beldat Nivikirriggs Muir,
(>l4 t I. (lay tct, the i Ith current, for the purpose, as the ad
Scrii,nienis hear, of " taking into consithqatiou the late
at. Matiche,ter."
.:no whereas eretlilie information has been received, that
hanti* of versoub from varltius quartas (including the City of

rdalmow) int2od ;o parade tlircirgl: the And sultirlpa
Paisley, in going to and ictornn;g 1.1 out the said Meeting,
with flags boariaz inscriptions and devics of a political and
inflammatory natnre, ai measure unauthorized and illegal in
itself, as well as unnecessary fur the avowed object of the said
Pnblic Meeting:
Thetefore. the Sherifrand Magistrates, determined, as far
as in them lies. to prevent the pc..e and tvamptillity of the
well-disposed inhabitants of the sail town and suburbs from
being wantonly distill bed or threatened, and their feelings
insulted by such illegal proce,dings, do hereby caution all
well-disposed persons against joining, or allowing any of their
famil:es to join, in such parades or processions; and certify
to such as, disregarditur. this Proclamation, shall be futraCl
actors or taking any part in such illegal proceedings, that
they shall be made responsible fur their cunduct.—''aisle:/,
Sept. 9, 1819.
The first display of the spirit of the Radicals
was to deface this proclamation. On Saturday
the Sheriff anti Magistrates felt it to be their
dirty to assemble a 11ItMC1'01IS body of Special
Constables, who took their stations in the Court
Hall and County Hall at One o'clock. Soon af-
terwards the Glasgow division of Reformers made
their appearance with two flags, and headed by a
fellow who carried a long stick. The aspect of
th;s array of would-be legislators was extren.ely
contemptible; and tl,e Magistracy, although
grossly insulted by the shouts of the rabble as
they p.issed, thought proper to permit them to go
Ott with their colours, because at this time there
seemed to be no disposition to trimolt in the
streets, and because it was honed that the Com-
mittee already alluded to would have so arranged
It that iii no other instance would parades in; at-
tempted No more of them at this period .passed
through the market-place of the town, or in the
view of the Magistracy; butt various other pro-
cessions, with 11,gs bearing itillammat ory in-
scriptions, went by the more &staid quarters of
the Burgh, and arrived at the place of meeting.
Some account of the procedure at the Meeting
itself will, no doubt, be transmitted to the Pa-
pers. Notwithstanding the assurances of the
Committee, the firgs, eight in number, were poi).
Hely posted ronod the hustings, and neither the
Committee, nor any of the speakers, expressed
any disapprobation of the processions, or gave any
public intimation that they should be given op.
The usual qoautity i,f sedition wtts spoken, and the
assembly left Meikleriggs Muir, and came on, in
mom:rolls and compact bodies, towards Paisley,
with their flags and music. Tire Glasgow divi-
sion, greatly increased in numbers by a reinforce-
ment, again appeared on the High-street. When
their flags came opposite the Court-house, they
were Seized, but the standard-bearers escaped in
the crowd. This ICippened between seven and
eight o'clock, and it had the effect of preventing
other divisions from coming in parade, those
who were on:l4e way having otherwise disposed.
of their colours. 'The-crowd was then exhorted
to disperse, and for tIVo hours every peaceable
possible effort was madi.to prevail op them to
return to their hothes. .13ot..the nutitbers in-
creased, and between nine and tell o'clock tire
,Radicals commenced hostilities.- The Special
Constables returned to their statioas in the
Court-house. The windows of it were broken
with stones, some of which reached the table its
the middle of the room. Several of the Police
Officers were wounded with brick-bats, and the
windows of the Police-Office and Colored Chanrber
were also broken. Some of the Windows of the
RenfrewshireTotitioe Inn, and of another tavern.
• were likewise demolished, for no other reason
that can be hnagined titan that the landlords of
these houses were known to be on duty as con-
stables, The attempts to disperse the mob by ex-
hortations were again renewer, 'The Sheriff's
Depitte and Substitute; Proiost, and other Ma-
gistrates, and Special Constables, went among
the crowd, sand entreated then% to- go away, tort
in vaio.• Theie Gentlemen were assaulted with
stones from all quartets ; and -alter many more of
the special and ordinary constables had -been se-
verely'ivCittiided and bruised, and the sloiWers of
stones were priming on them with increased fury,
at half-past ten' o'clock the Riot Act was read,
and the Magistracy and. Special Constables, at
same haiard, went in ell directions and loudly
notified that this had been- done ; at the satire
time, an express was sent to Glasgow for a tle-
tachnient of cavalry, and' the Renfrew Militia Staff
Were ordered to he in readiness. After tire lake,
of an hour and a half, during rohich numerous;
acts of violence on the constables were commit-i
ted, the special constables, under the direction of
the Sheriffs atid Magistracy, apprehended about:
two dozen of the rioters. This, and the expect-i
ed arrival of the military, bad eonsideratrle effect.
The mob was now scattered into partied,
three o'clock on Sunday morning the constables.
had succeeded in clearing the streets. The mill-,
tary were ndt called on to net, nor even to appear.
at the scene of riot, but remained in the stable-
yard of the Tontine anti Saracen's Herd lons..
It was evident that the prevailing spirit of the
Reformers was contempt and .defiance of the law,'
-and it exhibited some further leature's of the most
odious kind. The Stones which were thrown had
been purposely Collected, and brought with them'
to tire Market-place, from some Thor buildings
which- aro erecting in adjacent streets ; and the
deliberate manner in which these missiles were.
often thrown, by individuals who had concealed'
themselves in the dark closes-or passages, betray-
ed a tone of mind which we thonight did not-exist
in this part of the World. That pi-under also is a
part of the system, may be gathered Irons the fol-
lowing occurrence. Not long after the flag of
the Glasgow detachment had been seized, a Gen-
tleman-who had gone to a different -part of the
town, overheard, atddst a large assemblage whom
he rotund there, the question agitated,- whether or
not they should return in order-tit retake their
colours. Conceiving this to he a patty of Glas-
gow people, he benevolently interposed to pre-,
vent the meditated attempt, hot had scarcely be-
gan to dissuade them, when the buzz got up
" a spy, a spy," and he was instantly felled
to the ground by a blow from behind. 'line:
Radicals picked his pocket of 'a gold 'watch,
chain, and seals (value forty guineas), arid
when he attentpted to rise, be received 'a se-
cond very severe blow on the head, whiefi-Was by
this time unprotected by his hat. Siitne of those
present happening to know the Gentleman, called
out that he was neither a spy nor a special con.'
stable, upon which the Gentleman was enabled
,o retire, assisted by Iwo of the hystatoferg•
its tine course of these proceed-logs the 'civil
power alone was called into action, but it was

maltruthd and atld perimps
it is hardly right that private persons should every
now and then be called on to risk their lives
against a mob inittriated by the speeches de-
livered at these, public meetings. It seems high
time that measures should be taken either to pre-
vent these revolutionary assemblies altogether,
or to place them under very different regulations.
Paisky, 13th Sept. 1819.

Monday Morning, 13th Sept.—Two o'Clock.

Yesterday (Sunday) the scene of riot and out-
rage was renewed in Paisley. During the day a
number of persons assembled iu the streets, bait
till the evening thtly contented themselves with
hissing at the Migktrates as they went to church,
and insulting in a similar manner every respectable
pet son who passed. Abort seven o'clock their
tinmbers had greatly increased, and they proceeded
to open violence. he Sheriff. Clerk - Depute, who
was peaceably passing the Obi Ilridge,was knock-
ed down, kicked, and left insensible. Many other
respectable individuals were wounded and mal-
treated, and many of the houses of the Magistracy
and •irecial Constables and Clergy were assaulted
and the windows broken. The windows of the
Coffee-room and Police-office were also demolish-
ed, and almost the whole street lamps oft be tovr u.
The Magistrates mustered a number of Special
Cunstables, and it was found necessary to read
the Hint Act, and to call out the tnilituty. The
constables, with the assis!ance of patrols of the
soldiers, traversed the streets, and the town is
again tranquil, The milit,!ry did not use their
arms, though the patrols were, as on :fiat ut day
night, pelted with stones from closes and cross-
stree's. This forbearance on the part of those
who are charged With the preservation of the
peace, cannot, however, be carried nvich ttirther.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER l'lti)Nl PAISLEY TO A GRN-

TL FM 1N IN THIS CITY, DATED 3ARBAI AvTgr,-

NOON, PVC'S O'CLOCK,

" Knowing hove much exaggerated unusual oc-
currences are at a distance, I think it right, even
to-day, to send, you this to keeps your ;rind easy.
" Yesterday the Special Constahlel were sum-
moned to attend at one o'clock, about the time
the Radica!s and others were expeeted to arrive
from the thirerent places in the country ; and as
the Magistrates bad learned that several of these
parties intended parading through the town with
flags-, others with music, both tending to stir up
riot, as well as draw thoughtless people after
theta, and increase their numbers, proclamations
had been posted up in the town, as well dif..
resent places round about, prohibiting all such
parades in the town: However attenii:ve to these
proclamations most of the divisions were, there
were two of them that set tire Civil An:horities
at defiance or contempt. The first and roost of-
fensive was a party troru Ncilslam', who entered
the town by the head of the Causev-side, went
along Canal-street, passing the Relief Chntch
they had a band of music and a flag. with, among
others, the following infrnrons inscription
" Abhor the intamoes butchers at M,,nenester."
party pa,ssed through but little or tire tewn,
and consequently not gAin either great emit-
hers or much eclat. The next party were a 5 lIHW)y,
ritgonniffi,, set flout Ca%sgovv, who uuturied two
one on a white, geoutol with black edge's,
with the ‘;nulls Jestice 'and Liberty," and the
other an ohl tvoman's,shawl, white ground and a
red hard, r, .tvith the letters R. and L. Though
the Magistrates Intl thternained, if such flegs were
exhibited, to seize their bearers, and take their
standards from theist, yet, as they did not show
'great contempt on their approach to the place of
meeting, it was thought prudent to let thenepais.
Of the meeting I can say little, .neither having
been there myself, nor havinzAcen any one that
was at it that could give a stitisfactoty account of
the proceedings ; e‘ery thing there, however,
went on smoothly enough, decorum was observed
on tire- bust ings,„ and the orators, who. were, dress-
edin blaek,AleliVered or.read speeches sufficiently
lengthy.and violent. . The. constables, who had
been- dismissed at two o'clock, again as.tembled
at four .having waited till abort( half-past six,
large parties began.to.come.down the fliJi-street ;
:they were.Tangeshon each side of the street, for the
/purpose of assisting the civil power in taking the-
flags from their bearers, who had, befine they got.
this: length, been.,waving.them from one side of
tile.street to the oilier:, andhad been as insolent as
you can suppose to every person they passed, who
did not view their proceedings as they did ; when.
.these flag-gentlemen. (it was the. Glasgow party)"
were passing the steeple at the Cross, the Pro-
vos.t went among them, and desired them to furl
up their flags, or he would be under the necessity'
-of taking diem from them ; on their refusal the
constables forced them away out of their bands.
A way was kept clear to. allow the people to pass.
on ; -and when the parade appeared mostly over,
the constables-went down to the Cross, where an
immense crowd was collected, and al; their at-
tempts to clear the streets, and send the' people
home, were hieffectual ; at times one world have:
thought they were clearing them Inv away, while
soon after they got as numerous as ever. There
appeared tbhe,little but curiosity among the crowd
till it- got dark, when the (roe spirit of the mobi-
lity discovered itself. Stones were throw() at the
constables, many of whom are hurt, sonic se-
verely. Many panes of the windows of the Po-
lice Office, Conticil-Clramber, and Court Hall were
broken,. as well as several of those of the 11011 St-3
of special constables who had been active, and
who lived near.

" The ,Magistrates, finding by. ten o'clock
that the mob was rather increasing, sent to 61,,5-tow
tow for a patty of the Hussars, were here
by twelve luckily, however, there wag 110 ne-
ccs3ity for their interference, the town having got
more quiet before they arrived. It %vng not till
ueur two o'clock this morning that order was
completely restored.
" To•dgy great bands of people are
.strolling
through the sti eetg, 'apparently much dissatisfied,
and rundy h,r whatever 0CC117.5.-1 !WPC, 110 W-
ever, that it is all over.

'' Mr. W. Mans, On going borne last night,
wtis endeavouring to pers,titidel some people to gm
quie!ly to their houses, but he was knocked down
,% ice, and or: ,coming to himself fonnii.they bail
gut itway Lis gold watch aw.l apptottogcb..—this

V

liapoeutd !Rd early as ;lia-pAst atvtu o'cloch.
( Glasgow Herald.)

PRIVATE LETTER.
" Thi3 town is at " September t 3•
present in a state of great
disorder and anxiety. A Meeting having been
called of the town and neighbout hood, to ex-
press their opinion of the conduct of the Magis*
trates of Manchester, our Magistrates issued a
Proclannati,n, disapproving of the people pro-
ceeding; to that Meeting with flags. This Wad
disregartred, and upon the return of one of the
parties with two flags, the whole Cunstabulart
having been previously called our, were placed in
one of the narrowest parts of the street through
which tine procession was to pass, and on
retichinng this point, those who preceded it, in
vet y contemptuous manner huzzaed as they passe(
the _Magistrates and the Constables, which 011
continued in that style until tine flag-holders wet
opposite the Sheriff and Magistrates, when IItJ
scantly the Sheriff, Mr. Campbell, and FirottOse
Jamison, our Chief, darting from aMOng the
Constables, who immediately supported then'',
seized bfoin flags, and carried them into thg
Council Chamber. The flag-holders were taken
also. After this the Constables who had beef
previously ranged on tine opposite sides of the
street, again arrayed themselves in that order,
and allowed the people wino had been attending
the Meeting freely to pass On between them.
' " All yeSterday the town had a threatening
aweet. As it became dark a great number of
ihe people moved from the square, passed through'
several of the principal streets of the town, &reel'
ing almost all tire lamps as they went along, Etiid
tine windows of the best houses as they proceed.'
ed. The Riot Act was then again read, and the
military and constables being called in, restores
order only by patrolling the streets; which chili
did till midnight. This is now two nights we have
beers up nearly all night. Many of us are severe)/
wonntied-.--fortunately none uAt the stones which
struck one were large ones. _

This thy again portends a bad night ; but
the needful prep.-}rations, we trust, will be takers
for our safety. More troops must be called
Jt is reported, while I ani writing this, that 500
people are on their way frost) Glasgow to tbiti.--•
What their object is we know not."
We learn, by ad vices front Edinburgh of tins
13th (Monday), that a troop of the 10th Hussars
had marched that (kty horn Piershill Barfstas to
Glasgow. •