The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-15 00:00:00

ALARMING STATE OF
THE COUNTRY.

LATEST PARTICULARS.
MANCHESTER.

SATURDAY NIGHT.—The town has been moderately
quiet daring the whole (4' the day, compared with
its appearance the two previous days. But very few
outrages have been committed. The first was an at-
tack on a skinner's establishment near Ducie-bridge,
in which the rioters succeeded in turning out the
hands. This was the third attempt upon this esta-
blishment. On the two former occasions the hands
and overlookers beat off the mob with their large
knives which they use at their business. The police
did not arrive in time to resist the attack, and the con-
sequence was that the hands were obliged to comply
with the demands of the mob.

In Oxford-road crowds of idlers have been stroll-
ing the streets during the day, but the police and
special constables were quite adequate to disperse them
without the assistance of the military. There were
a great number of stones taken from the neighbour-
hood by the police, probably two or three tons weight,
most of which were found secretod in the cottages of
the poor Irish. In this locality there is a place in-
fested by the lowest of the Irish ; so numerous are
they that the place is best known by the name of
" Little Ireland." It was here the stones were found.
A report was current in town that the mob had
stopped the mail train on the Manchester and Leeds
Railway, but on inquiry at the station at nine o'clock
this evening the report was found to be incorrect.
Although the town appeared much more quiet than
for some days past, there is a general opinion that
the riots will; be resumed. Everything is, however,
in readiness; and to-day the Magistrates held a meet-
ing, at which they determined, to protect all masters
who resumed work on Monday. The whole of the
entrances to the town are strongly guarded to-night,
to prevent the influx of any mob that may arrive
from other districts. These measures were had re-
course to on account of a report prevailing that the
mob intended to stop Divine service in all the churches.
So far as Manchester and Salford are concerned there

is little fear on that account. On inquiry at the in-
firmary at ten o'clock this morning, as to the state of
the four policemen who were so severely injured on
Thursday, they are reported to be out of danger, so
that as yet no lives have been lost.
During the week large green bills were posted over
the town, announcing that F. O'Connor would ar-
rive in Manchester on Tuesday morning next, and
join a procession to St. Peter's Fields, to celebrate
the anniversary of the 16th of August, 1819, that
being the day upon which several persons were killed
by the military in dispersing an illegal meeting at
which Henry Hunt presided. The "Committee,"
however, have decided that no procession will take
place this year, but that in the evening of that day a
tea party will .be held instead.
Last night and to-day several meetings have been
held, at which a series of resolutions have been passed,
but nearly all of the same character as those alluded
to in my former communications.
About three o'clock this afternoon a special train
arrived from Preston for troops, the mob having for-
cibly resisted the police and a few infantry, and pelted
them with stones for nearly an hour. The mob rallied
three times, until the soldiers were at length com-
pelled to fire on them. One man was shot dead upon
the spot, and six others wounded, four of them it is
thought fatally. It was reported in Manchester that
an attempt was made to stop the special train, but
such was not the case—the train proceeded to Man-
chester without interruption. By the train which
reached Manchester at nine o'clock this evening,
several gentlemen and ladies came by it who had left
Preston for their personal safety. Preston is 32
miles from Manchester.

SUNDAY, HALF-PAST EIGHT, A .m.—Al 1 has re-
mained quiet during the night, and the town this
morning appears even more quiet than on ordinary
occasions. Last night there was a meeting of power-
loom weavers, held at Carpenters' Hall, at which it
was determined not to return to work until they ob-
tained the prices of 1820. This is an extreme reso-
lution, and can never be carried. The meeting was
very numerous, and many thousands wore obliged to
go away who could not obtain admission.
At seven, o'clock this morning a large meeting was
convened in the township of Eccles, a village about
four miles from Manchester. And another meeting
is announced for to-morrow morning, at five o'clock,

no doubt for the purpose of inducing the well-disposed
not to return to their work. Captain Sheigh, the
active chief superintendent of the police force, has
established communications from every toll-bar lead•
ing to the town, so that every hour a report of what
is going on in all parts of the town reaches the Town-
hall, where some of the Magistrates are always sitting
both night and day. This morning, at five o'clock, a
meeting of Magistrates for the borough was held in
the Boroughreeve's room, the object of which is strictly
private, except that they have provided a sufficient
force to protect the churches; should any attempt be
made to disturb the services. They have also agreed
to take extensive premises in various parts of the
town, for the accommodation of the police and special
constables ; the latter now amount to upwards of
3,000, including several hundreds mounted on their
own horses. •
Five hundred of the Coldstream Guards are ex-
pected to arrive every moment, and Mr. Robinson,
the billet-master, is engaged in making billets for them.
Seven prisoners were taken last night, making a total
of 234. The authorities are preparing for Tuesday
next, and are determined to put down any public pro-
cession should the Chartists attempt one.

LATEST PARTICULARS FROM
MANCHESTER.

MANCHESTER, SUNDAY, 7 P.H.—The town has
been in perfect quietness during the whole of the day.
No interruption whatever was given to the churches,
and the .services were gone through as usual. They
were, however, but thinly attended on account of the
report that was current yesterday or this morning,
that all services would be stopped. Colonel Wemyss
has received reports from Burnley, Blackburn, Pres-
ton, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Ashton, and Stock-
port, and in none of those places has any violence
been committed, at least as far as his information goes.
The Coldstream Guards, which reached Manches-
ter this morning, accompanied by two troops of the
Royal Artillery and two pieces of cannon, proceeded
to Preston after a short delay at the railway station.
This afternoon, however, the 58th regiment arrived
from Dublin, and are intended to remain in Man-
chester. _ _ .

The apparent lull of to-day and yesterday it is
feared will be followed by some serious disturbances
on Monday or Tuesday.
During the day several large placards have been
issused by the trades, some of which evidently appear
to be the work of persons above the rank of operatives.
A large meeting is announced for five o'clock in
the morning, and the authorities have taken pre-
cautionary measures to suppress any tumult that
may arise, also to put down any attempt that may be
made by the rioters to prevent the well-disposed from
resuming their work.

(EXTRACT OF A PRIVATE LETTER.)

MANCHESTER, SUNDAY.

All is peace here. Understand me distinctly, that
every trade is out. Not one man is working, save
and except millers. Above all thhigs, it is a political
movement. The Trades have declared for the Char-
ter, and all are resolved to hold out until it is made
the law. The wages and cheap bread are abandoned
for the Charter. Let this be well understood, and
rely firmly on the information I give you. Specials
refuse to act ; masters feed the' men out ; and there
is a universal feeling in favour of this wonderful

movement.
Not a policeman is to be seen on the streets, and
when a run takes place for gold all will be at a stand-
still. The engineers offer to stop all railways. Write
me if you want any information. In haste, yours
sincerely.

PRESTON.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
SATURDAY, FOUR o'CLocx..—A terrible sensation
prevails here just now. The mob was proceeding to
turn out the mills this morning, when they were met
by the military and police, who, after being stoned,
fired upon them, and the doctors declare that four are
mortally wounded. Soldiers are pouring in from all
quarters. All work is at a stand, and what will be
the result no one can tell.