The Sun.
London, England, 1820-03-24 00:00:00

in their progruse.

Crosss-examined by Mr. Seljeant Cnoss—He never knew
Mr. Hunt before that day, but he bad heard of him. Reads
the Manchester Obsert.cr occasionally, but he does not recol-
lect having seers it before that day. Dues not take this paper
in. He bad heard that Hunt presided at a Meeting in Smith-
field some time before. He was also aware that he presided
at a alerting at Sp4-fields ; however, he had this only from
hearsay, or through the medium of the papers. He had beard
that there was a disturbance at Spa-Gelds; but did not there-
fore fear fur the consequences of that of Manchester, on ac-
colmt of his presiding. Never saw so numerous a meetiniz at
Mess heater before, or heard teat a stranger had bey' invited
to preside at it. There were many persons in that place ca-
pable of speaking and presiding at a meeting. 'Witness was
cot at the former meeting; knows Mr. Smith, the Editor of
the liverp,oi Msrcury be saw bins that morning on the Ex-
change.- Sonic of those about bins were congratulating tlwru-
sCices that Lteetin znas to take place, because the Magis-

trates said thee were not to be, interfered with. Thie
was the general feeling on the preceding erening.•-•
He bad heard of the drilling of bodies of men in
the neighbourhood of Manchester some time before,
but felt no alarm on that account, bemuse be !..:.der-
stood the object of the trainin; --et„ Cuet tlae PvuPle
should come there with, mt'.c leeolarity , had never
heard of drilling before the meeting was announced ; does nut.
recollect a paragraph in The Manchester Observer, calling
upon the people to keep notes of alt acts of violence which
would be offered that they might afterwards be given in evi-
dence. Before the meeting there. were no eircurustantei pe-
culiarly calculated to raise alarm in his mind about the public
safety ; if there were any apprehensions they were created b%
the threats of persons presumed to be in the confidence ef-his
Majesty's Ministers, and nut from the people. To this met
be added, the rumour then generally prevalent, of the swerb
of the cavalry having been sharpened. Of this latter citeum-
stance, however, he had no other knowledge than threugh the
public papers. He had never heard of confederacies amongst
the Reformers ; he did not understand what was meant by
the question. The only association of which he knew was
the Reform Union. Upon their coining into the tuicti the"
was no alarm felt; on the twittery, the people seemed
pleased. He knew nothing of a meeting of the respectahlre
inhabitants at a Police Office. Could not say but many of
them were present on the Exchange; I thought the average
there might be from one to ten. There was naleing retuark-
able in their gait; it was a lounging gait, such as a party of
people would walk in going to church.—This rernat'a applied
to all but the Rochdale division. The Magistrates had as-
iensbled at Mr. Buxton's house that morning, but he was nut
there. He never was at Buxton's house in his life. Fie
is a member of the Manchester Committee fur the relict'
of the sufferers. As the bodies came up (ruin the country.
they assembled about the hustings. Does not recollect
bearing Mr. Hunt use the word " enemies;' as applied to
the soldiers.

Re-examined by Mr. Hunt-15y the sufferers he meant all
that were injured, as well Special Constables and others, bi
the forcible dispersion of the Meeting on the l6th of Angust-
It was to the Committee fur this purpose he belonged, and 1
was from motives of humanity, not politics, that he was in-
duced to join it. Ire had heard of training going on, anti
yet felt no alarm from that circumstance. The reason of
was, that he knew the training was only to bring the people
together in a more orderly manner.
Mr. SCARLETT—My Lord, I must object to the wittiess
giving his reasons. He could not have any knowledge of whit
the motives of the training were.

Mr. Justice liAmer—l think the question arise• natural/1
enough out of the cross-examination.

Mr. SCARLETT—My Lord) I must•iniitt that the question =JI

irrelevant.

Mr.,JUstice BAlLEY—(warmly)—l have already. given Of
opiniura.

Mr. Scanterr—My Lord—
Mr. Justice Bathev-Mr. Scarlett, I Wish you owl chaPSt
places with toe.
Mr. Hunt—God forbid, my Lord.
The examination was then resumed—Het ad hearties-fat-4'
met meeting, but it was peaceable. Recollects anseetingesslO
by the Boruugbreeve and constables to eungratulatethe Frio°
Regent on a former occasion. This Comps-ehended:the neje:,
hourhood as well as the town. K'itness himself was preeo"
at it. There was a great multitude assembled: At
it was adjourned, and the people then broke some windowlS
because, atter they had heats brought together, thry we:l4
not allowed to cl;sCuss the question about which they 114-4
assembled. On this occasion the people cause in flow tV
neighbouring towas. Believes there were 50,000 assetuble3
then in a more inconvenient part of the town. They 10(‘
called together by Writiog, and by the municipal istlicifi'
There were also large processions of the people on ocessigil
of the Proclamation. of Peace. Witness joined them, Ala
many other respectable persons were with theni.-
ed in files three or four a-breast. Believed the shop wituliof°.
were shut up in St. Anne's-square, which Was the largestare"
is town; he also believed that there were more shut up t"i'
on the 16th, fur that was a town holiday.
By the Count—There were women and children ist e'''r'ji;
derable numbers with all the parties; there were a fr°
many in St. Peter's-field.
John Tyas, examined by Mr. HUNT—I am a reporters
oil'
the Tines Newspaper. I attended at the public meeting
the 16th August ; I came to Manchester on the Friday IsePrit°
the Sth ; I weut as a reporter to girt an account of the );sie
ing. On the 16th we met in a room in the New Bailoy
have relatious in Manchester; I believe I only sent one fei:
port of the proceedings to London. I wrote a report 0-10 c 0
appeared in the Tinier, headed, " Another Bounce of t4ivi'
Orator's:' I went to St. Peteei-field so early as eight 0'6'04
in the morning,'and was particular in my observations 404
the whole of the day. When I went at eight there wad'
few people on the field ; about ten there were about 450 V-t,
sons present. I have not given any depositkias to yoLif s
turney; I refused to be examined by him or any other Per,
son. I saw the different parties arrive with music and -614"
41
they walked as I saw the Electors of York walk on Tues 4;
with sistnethime of a military step. If I bad not heard .s
this important trial, it would not make the slightest
awn upon me. I have the notes I took on the groundstud
also those I wrote in the New Bailey. (Here witsieesl,W
over his notes). About half-past eleven, the first b°o,
of Reformers arrived on the ground with two b:ti,
nets, each surtuourited by a Cap of Liberty ; they Or hi
ed into the middle of the field, and a cart was 11 jo
to them. I saw other parties arrive ; they behale
odic
the 'niost 'orderly manner. ',I do nut conceive thsl odic
up their position in a military form. I saw sissib'4l„ r
culiar in their rnanner•• aftet they came upon the fielsi•
hops they were snore orderly than any other meeting t toi
seen. I saw the party with the black flag arrive. ft
Saddleworth and :Moseley Union'; they came wlth-04- tb;
and a sort of step. I recollect, whets they arrived *ll4 53e,
hustings, they played " Rule Britannia," and ".9 fill '
the Kink." Ido not mean to say, that they alone p
sly
cacti party played it 33 they arrived. I think:o,4'o'94
placed " See the Conquering Hero conies." Soule 0 isoi,
division had common walking sticks. I certainly did lots!, hew
with long stares, shouldered like muskets, and my atter!",j,t3`,
ing called to this subject, from an Evening Paper hay'llol,
ed that the party escorting Mr. Hunt on the tsthcarrico-jeo,
stares fit to be used as pike handles, I must hare notice f/iic,,;„
had they been there. I saw not the slightest matter 00,
could excite alarm in my breast fur the safety of the Cfoid°,l,
I saw nothing in their conduct tending to riot and 40‘10,
I had sevtral conversations with persons in the Refurf thee
ties. They said all they wanted was a restoration ",14e,0
rights, and that they weir desirous, above every thing artl,o
Preserve order and traisqudlity. felt it my duty to 3-L, ac,o
whether the repurts 1 heard ,vrre t7tic or riot. I
of insult or violence to i any way. 'lliere were tPk‘"; ioor
and children in the held, and litany of them ca tie
the same order as the men. I saw two parties
women were at the head of 1.1,c procession. They 311 11
to he dressed it, their brit clothes. If I, as a !ter g
seen ur beard any thing likely to create alarms', sLluu

4id

~iatt

);10

the ci

•qr rt
by me
the m
rterea

it.

~~ri►
nUitll.

Were I
when
ed, gr
Lame
;genet,
I raw

serer,
is nut I

rhi.

,I

F

in

cYt-

lie-
iblic
i by
f-bis

I tiat

He
elk(
Itry.
Itect
to

t all
, bi
;wit.
Id a

°pie

latto
Mtbit

raliY

on .1411

%")t

r I
11). A
=so
4,00

Int;lisbuirto, have felt.a.rnydets tpacquaint the authorities
eiti it. I left the ground for the purpose of guitig to meet
?tun I saw you surrounded by a crowd, near the Exchange ;
the people were huzzainz. I applied to you to procure me a
'lace on the hustings, which you Promised to do, and told
br to keep near the carriage. Yaks said, that being a Re-
Porter you would give rue Is seat in the carriage. I held by
The door, and walked close by the catriage ; it stopped at
The. Star Inn, and the people hissed. Ido not snow whether
the earrisge stopped by accident or by design. You did
not Wit the comtuaed„ or direct the people to hiss ; you
4nl not ice op in the carriage, nor did you hiss; had you
dune either, I must have seen you. 'There was also some
I,"ting at the rod of the street its which the Police office was.-
funk no part its it. SoMi after this you called to Mr.
Moothouse, who was un the opposite side of the street, and
he got into the carriage at your invitation. On arriving on
the field, the .Lands played,' "'See, the critique, Mg lien,
temes.'4 You were received with the loudest cheering I ever
brand in my life., You "bore your blushing honours meekly:"
'here was a Liar:lt-flag at one end of the hustings, and you
said it was eery foolish, or words to that effect. I recollect
Your complaining that the hustings were erected in such a
manner that you had to speak against the wind. I followed
YOV upon the hustings, as did several other persons, among
whim were several females. I think they were taken up in
t.oisequetice of the pressure. I observed the banners its the
Middle rf the crewd, and noticed several women arooligst the
&en. The crowd itself was more dense and more crammed
together than any I have ever seen before or since. The pro-
, tile kept cheering. Johnson proposed that you should lie the
'Chairman. There was no military appearance in the
Clued. I could not perceive whether the people near the
Itu-aiogs had their arms locked or not, though I was inone-
flier!), orer them. I saw nothing to keep the people Iron
the hostioes; they were pressing so close that you expressed
?our fears that they would upset it ; I heard you complain of
Attie. Ilad those close: to the hustings had their arms locked,
I Must.have,seen them. The crowd stood as crowds generally
4n• t cannot
ssay that the first row had their hats oil. It is
Usual for the'erneed to take their hats off when the hero of the
(lay arrives. I saw nothing oda warlike appearance 'shout the
trneeting.—(Here witness read front his notes the account of
the meeting which he had sent to The Timr.r.)—When the
abilitary appeared a considerable alarm was manifested
in the _outskirts of the meeting. The cavalry came up
.at a smart trot, halted before Mr. I3uaton's, and flourish-
ed their _swords over their heads. Mr. Hunt and Mr.
Johnson desired the crowd to give three cheers. This, I
conceive, was to show the military that the meeting were
n"t.to .be daunted in the discharge of their duty from
their unwelcome pi eselice. Three cheers were given. Mr.
limit told the people that this was a mere trick to ititer-
eupt the proceedings of the meeting, bitt lie trusted they
wssuld all stand firm. He had scarcely said these words
'when the Manchester Yeomanry Cavalry rode into the mob,
which cave way before them in the must peaceable manner,
anal directed their course to the hustings. They arrived there,
.and took the several individuals into custody. I recollect an,
teltater came up to you Kith his sword in his hand, and told
yuu to surrender; . that he must arrest you. You said you
• would not surrender to a military officer; hut if any peace
„it'll:re came up, you would go with him. No peace officer had
?resented himself to the hustings before that. Nadia (as
I was afterwards told' then came up. He appeared to the
to corue horn tinder the waggon. He arrested you, sayinie,
he had information upon oath against you. Yint immediately
surrendered, first desiring the people to he quiet. On the
approach of the yeomanry, the people used no resistance ;
'they got out of the way as fast as they could. My utters-
Cult was directed to the yeomanry from the time they left
lair. Buxton's, till they reached the hustings. In their pro.
tress to the hustings, I saw no stones, brickbats, or bludgeons
hurled at them. I cannot say whether you turned pale,
-as my hack was to you. You certainly did riot urge any one to
any acts of resistance. If stones, brickbats, and bludgeons
'were hnrkd at the military in any great quantity, I must
have seen them, hut I saw no such thing. Ido not recollect
having seen any foot soldiers before the yeomanry came upon
the ground. If any military had appeared, and that you,
Pointing to them, said to the people, " there are pinr ene-
asies; if they molest you put them down and keep down," I
renst hare heard of-it ; hut I heard no such thing ; I swear
positively that nothing of the kind was said. The cheers of
the crowd to the cavalry were of the same kind, but if possible
Usuderthantheseou yourapproach. ! heard no Wising, hooting,
•qvgroaning e the cheers would present that from being heard
by me, if there had been any. The crowd did not advance to
the military brandishing their cudgels; on the contrary, they
7retreated. Had there been any such thing I must have seen
I. saw some special constables beating the people with
-their staves. This seas after the military had collie to the
'hustiugs. The constables were in the rear. The constables
'were beating those who were round them. Had the people,
seisms the military arrived, instead of cheering, hissed, hoot-
ed, groanded, and brandished their cudgels at them, I must
hare seem it; hut I saw no such thing. If there•had been a
'general resmatauce to the Yeomanry on the part of the people
I must have seen it; but I did nut see any attempt at
resistance.

Estaix;;;Rd by Mr. BARRow—I am the son of the late Mr.
i)a., a ve; y eminent proctor in this city. I know of Moor-
use getting into the carriage. I recollect his hand having
been butt bathe carriage door. I do out know whether be
gut upun the busting,:

CrOss-exarnined Scsnerr—As the cavalry advanced
the people made way. As the yeomanry advanced the consta-
bles appeared to be striking the people between the cavalry
amid them. From the time the cavalry appeared to the period
a! Mr. Hunt's arrest did nut exceed six or seven minutes.
Feeling myself its danger, I placed myself under the protec-
tion of a constable. I was taken to the New Bailey. I saw
Ito brick-bats or stones flying at any time. [Witness here
described the inscriptions upon the different flags, as we have
already givers them]. 'Die Itoyton.fernate Reformers bad a
eaig, on whiCh were the words, " Let us die like then
*tut not be sold like slaves" on one side, and on the other
aide 6. Annual Parliaments and Universal Suffrage."—
Slr, Huot said he would invite me in, were it not that the
t'srriage was full; but be afterwards took up Moorhunse. I
'taw Carlilr in the carriage. 1 did not then know Cathie, hut
L have seen [inn sine. I think Knight was also in the car.
tiage. do not recollect Passing. two military officers atter
;''.e passed the Star Inn. There was every symptom of popu-
14E disapprobation shewn both before the Star and the Police
°lnce. I knew that the Star was the place where the Ma-
Fistrates had their head-quarters. • The cheering was
404 d when. the Cavalry cause. It seemed to nie to say,
We are came here for a specific purpose, and you shall
not highten us." It was not a cheer as it to say, "If you
attack us, we will resist." If that be a cheer of defiance,
tin hen it was not a cheer of defiance in that sense, but it was
another. That is, it seemed to say', " We are here in the
taecution of a legal purpose, and you shan't prevent us froth
esecuting it." I think there were about 650,000 persons pre-
acnt. • Many of the persons in the different divisions had
Walking sticks. I did not take particular notice of the Stock-
port division. I knew nothing of the meeting but what I
learned by public adrertisen.eht. • •
.kne-examined by Mr. Hunt—l wrote part of my report of
:" Meeting in the New Bailey, and part in London, when
got to town'. A part of what I had written being stale
When I got to town, was struck out, and some observations,
`yflrct ing very strongly on the conduct of the yeomanry, were
ftenett down. I saw no such thing as a flag with a Woody
tlagger painted'upon it. When the military appeared, there
Was a disPositinis shewn in one part •f 'the crowd to run
away, and your cheer was recommended by you on that
'arcuntit. heard you. say to some one near you, " the people
are running away—let us give three cheers to re-assure them."
As far as I could discover, there was nut the slightest .attack
Itiladeby the. people. It did not strike me that the people fe;l
Hs behind the:military to cut off their retreat, but to avoid the
fressure they endured by being driven on each side; when
the military had passed they were pressed back to their fernier
/44"3* They made n sort of rush, as if driven by the pres-
sure- I did not observe the general flight of the people until
aifter the yeomanry commenced cutting at the flags and the
it'it:"Ple- I was struck at while on' the hustings twice when
e Yeomanry came up, and I made no resistance. Mr. Hunt
i,".4(4 MO effort.to promote resistance ; quite the contrary, all
4wrecorumendations were pacific. lie did not think there
as•any hissing or booting at the military—the people seemed
quite orderly; but there might have been hissing without his
Qh.er •
, , lug the circumstance.
t":),..lawns
answer to questions from the Learned Jonas, he said
saw nothing dune by the persons engaged in the Meeting
~ Produce disturbance. At the hooting and hissing at the
Office Mr. Hunt and Mr. Johnson did not interfere..
v.:,te.hissing in. that spot did not last long. The carriage in
ell 4
•Hunt was appeared to have the horses 'led; they
, 4nlY gave no orders. to stop the horses when before the
lexliuceOtliee. Mr. Hunt was continually and very earnestly reting the multitude to remain quiet after the appearance
t;:th., military ; he entreated thesis nut to resist, and begged,
-11. they wanted to take him they might be perMitted. He
that t"
advnced tn the hustins. H thug
Ir. JOhnson didpot out his hand to prevegnte the hissht
p -
the Police Office
and at the Star, but he would nut
4t. Tositively.
all-pest six o'clock adjourned until to-morrow.
.`.teee
is ,utr 4l Witnesses rensainistill to be examined.—The Trial
Arm. exPected .to terminate before SaturOaiot Monday

TRIAL Ok' SIR I.T.ANCIS BURDETT.

LWESTp, THURSDAY, MARCH 23.

This long-expected and important case came on
to be tried this day befure Mr. Justice BEST
and a Special Jury. The Court was immensely
crowded.—About a quarter past nine o'clock loud
huzzas on the part of the populace outside the
Court announced the approach of Sir Francis
Burdett ; and in a few minutes atter the Baronet
entered the Court, accompanied by a friend, and
took his scat at the Barrister's table, nearly un-
der the Bench.

The information set forth, that Sir Francis Bur.
nett, late of Westminster, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Bart., being a seditious, malicious, and
ill-disposed person,. and unlawfully and malici-
ously devising and intendmg to raise and excite
discontent, disaffection, and sedition, among the
liege subjects ut-our Lord the King, .and particu-
arly among the soldiers of our said Lold the
King ; and to move and excite the liege subjects
of our said Lord the King to hatred and dislike
of the Government of this Realm and to insi-
nuate, and Cali:2 it to be believed, that divers of
the subjects of our said Lord the King had been
inhumanly cut down, maimed, and killed by cer-
tain troops of our said Lord the King. The in-
formalion then went on to state, that the said Sir
Francis Burdett, Bart., did, on the 22d day of
August list, at Loughborough, in the County of
Leicester, unlawfully and maliciously compose, and
write, and publish, and cause to be corupored,
written, and published, a certain scandalous, ma-
licious, and seditious libel of and concerning the
Government, and the troops of our Lord the
King.

Mr. Serjeant VAUGHAN said, that he rose in
obedience to the duty which devolved upon him as
Counsel for the Crown to address the Court and
Jury upon the information which had been
just read—an information filed by his Majesty's
Attorney-General against the D, tendant, Sir
Francis Buidett. NVhen he considered the nature
of the indictment, it was not matter of surprise
arm this trial should create so much interest. The
Law Officer of the Crown had thought fit to
bring to trial a Gentleman of ancient family, of
large (outset, of extraordinary relents, who for
many years had been the Repreteetnrive, and now
the favourite Candidate, of• the most populous
City in the Empire, upon a charge of writing a
scandalous end malicious libel, with intent to ex-
cite odium and indignation against the Govern-
ment of the Country. If subtlety of argument, or
extraordinary eloquence, were necessary to con.
vince the Jury that the letter in question had such
a tendency, lie (Serjeant V.) should regret that
it had fallen to his lot to state the nature of the
indictment. Ile had but one direct course to
pursue, and the Jury but one plain and easy,
though serious, conclusion to arrive at. He
could not contemplate two plainer question,
than those which twelve men were now called
upon to determine ;—first, whether the defend-
ant, Sir Francis Burdett, published the letter in
question, arid, 2dly, whether it was of that sedi-
tious nature charged in the indictment. It was
right and fair to take an accurate view of the
charge. The information charged Sir Francis
Burdett, being an ill-disposed person, with pub-
lishing and writing a seditious tied malicious libel,
with intent to create discontent, disaffection, and
sedition against the Government, and the soldiers
in particular, by causing it to be believed, that on
a certain day mentioned in that indictment certain'
soldiers of our Lord the King did kill some of his
Majesty'a subjects. To convict the defendant,'
the Jury must be convinced that the publica,
tion had a tendency to excite disaffection among
the people in general, and that it related- to'
the soldiers and the Government. When inquir-'
ing into the intention of a party, which was
properly speaking a secret between man and
his Creator, it was uncharitable to say that we
ought to judge of the intention by the acts and
declaration of the party. If, upon a clear view
of the case, it appeared that the letter in question
had a direct tendency to excite what was charged
in that indictment, it was the duty of the Jury to
decide, that such was the intention of the party,
and on that ground they were only justified, and
ought, in the honest discharge of their duty, to
find a verdict of Guilty against the defendant, as
every tnan was supposed to contemplate his own
act, and mest be answerable for it. Now came
the subject of the prosecution. It was a Letter
addressed to the Electors of Westminster, dated
Kirby Hall, the 22d August, 1819, relative to a
meeting which took place in Manchester on the
16th of August, which was now a question trying
in another county, and on which he had not,
therefore, any wish to raise any collateral extra-
neous question. Ilia Lordship would tell the Jury
that the question to be inquired into was not
whether the meeting of the 16th of August was,
or was not illegal, and he (Serjeant Vaughan)
would take the liberty of saying, that no reason.
able than, judging from the faCts admitted by
all partirs, could say it was not illegal. Though
he would admit that the right of petitioning for
a redress of grievances was the birthright of an
Englishman--a right, et•ith which he would be the
last to interfere ; yet it must be exercised as a right
compatible with the tights of the people at large;
and if at Kily tinie it was thought necessary to im-
post restrictions in the exercise of that right, it
must be imputed to those who collected meetings
of such a description as to make it dangerous to ex-
ercise that right with safety to other rights equally.
dear and Valuable. Ai the right of property wits the
right of the subject, no person had the power of
Calling a Meeting which would inspire reasonable
apprehensions for the safety. of that property;
such a Meeting, if Jot) strong for the Civil
Power, he would say, was illegal. But whether
the Meeting was legal or illegal, or whether the
*soldiers did or did not commit excesses, was not
the question. The sole cinesiOn for the Jury to
try was, was this letter a libel against the Go-
vernment and the soldiers ? If every fact stated in
that letter were true, yet it would be no answer to
the charge against the defendant. The Learned
Serjeant 'then read the lettir which was the sub"-
lect of prosecution, and commented on each sen-
tence scparitely....[We litrOnsett the Letter, as

it may not be sufficiently in the recollection of
our Readers, and will sufficiently justify the Ver-
dict of the Jury.]
TO THE ELECTORS OF WESTMINSTER.

" GENTLEMEN—On reading the Newspapers this morning,
having arrived late yesterday evening, I was filled with
shame, grief, and indignation at the account of the blood
spilled at Manchester.
" This, then, is the answer of the norwigh-mongers to
the'Petitioning People—this is the proof of our standing in
no need of Reform—these the.,practical blessings of our
glorious Boroughtuunger's thrmination—th•s the use of a
standing Army in time of peace. It seems our fathers were
not such fools as some would make us believe, in opposing
the establishment of a standing army; and sending King
Williain's Dutch Guards out of the Country. Yet would to
Heaven they had been Dutchmen or Switzer'," or Hessians,
Or Hanoverians, or any thing rather than Englishmen, who
hare done such deeds. What ! kill men unarmed,. unresist-
ing, and, gracious Gun 'women too ; disfigured, .maimed,
cut down, and trampled on by Dragoons ! Is this England?
This a 'Christian Land ? A Land of Freedom ? Can .such
things be, and pass by ns like a summer cloud, unheeded ?.1
Forbid it every drop of English blood in every vein that dues

not proclaim its owner, bastard. Will the Gentlemen of Eng-
land support, or wink at such proceedings ?. They have a
great stake in their country; they bold great estates, and
they are bound in duty and in honour to consider them as
retaining fees on the part of their country, for upholding its
rights and liberties; surely they will at length awake, and
End they bare duties to perform.
" They never can stand tamely by, as lookers on whilst

bloody Neros rip open their mother's womb; they must join
the general voice, loudly demanding justice and redress; arid
head public meetings throughout the United Kingdom, to
put a stop, in its commencement, to a reign of terror and of
blood; to afford consolation as far as it can be afforded, and
legal redress, to the widows and orphans—mutilated victims
of this unparalleled and barbarous outrage.
" For this purpose, I propose that a meeting should be
called in Westminster, which the Gentlemen of the Commit-
tee will arrange, and whose summons I will bold myself in
readiness to attend. Whether :the penalty of our meeting
will be death by military execution, I know not; but this I
know, a man can die but once, and never better than in vin-
dicating the laws and liberties of bis country.
Excuse this hasty address.- I can scarcely tell what I have
written ; it may be a libel, or the Attorney-General may call
it one just as he pleases.. When the seven Bishops were
tried for libel, the Army of James IL, then encamped on
Hounslow heath, for supporting arbitrary power, gave three
cheers on bearing of their acquittal.
" The King, startled at the noise, asked, What's that ?'
Nothing, Sir,' was the answer, ' but the soldiers shouting at
the acquittal of the seven Bishops.' Do you call that no-
thing,' replied the misgiving Tyrant ; and shortly after ab-

dicated the Goternment.
•
• 44 true, James could not inflict the torture on his sol-
diers—could ant tear the bring flesh from their bones with
the.cat-o'-nine tails—could not flay them alive. De this as
it may, our duty is to meet; and England expects every man
to do his duty,
" I remain, Gentlemen, most truly and faithfully,
" Yuur most obedient Servant,
"FRANCIS 1317RDEIT."
The Learned Serjeant concluded by observing,
that the letter was one of such a nature that the
Attorney-General would have been guilty of a de-
reliction of his duty if be had not instituted this
prosecution. It was difficult for him to conceive
any thing that could be delivered in stronger
terms ; and it was the thorn( Government to put
down libels of this description; for if such things
were tolerated, no one knew where they would
end. The press was a most tremendous engine
when it was abused, and a source of the greatest
blessings when decently conducted. The Jury
were the censors of the press, and the guardians
of the law, and it was their duty to see that the
administration of the country should not be
brought into contempt and hatred. With these
observations he should conclude what he had to
say, and be.confident that their verdict would be
the result of a sound and correct judgment.
Mr. Samuel Brooks was now called—He said
be lived in the Strand, in London. He knew the
defendant; he was acquainted with. his hand-
writing ; he believes the letter now shown him to
be his hand-writing ; it came to his hands' in Au-
gust last, through the hands of a professional
Gentleman, Mr. Bickerstaff. The letter came in
an envelope; I have not got the envelope, and do
not know whether it came by the post. I had a.
copy of it sent to the Papers. I waited on Lord
Sidmouth on the subject of the letter; I cannot
recollect the day.
Q. Whose band-writing was the envelope ?
A. It was Sir Francis's.
Q. What was it ?—A. A desire to publish the
letter in the papers. The date of the letter is An-.
gust 2'2d. I received it a day or two after. Wit-
ness being shown another letter, was asked if it
MS the hand-writing of Sir Francis ; he said be
did not know. He was shewn an envelope, and
asked if it was the band-writing of Sir F. Bur-
dett ; he -said he did not believe it was.
Wm.Tooke, the next witness, said, he was ac-
quainted with Sir F. Burdett's hand-writing. Be-
ing shown the direction on the envelope, end
asked if it was bis Land-writing, he answered,
souse of the letters were like his hand-writing, and
be believed the whole to be his.

Wm. Sin►pkin said, he kept the Toll-gate near
Kirby, about one hundred yards from Kirby Park,
where Sir Francis Burdett rettided ; be saw bin)
coining by his gate on the 22d and 23d of August
last ; he was riding each time.
Cross-examined by Sir Francis Burdett.—The
gate is on the borders of the county, not tar from
Oakham, in Rutlandshire.
Mr. Brooks being again called, said that the
letter was published in the British Press; witness
sent it to that Paper ; it was not paid for as an
advertisement, but was left to the discretion of the
Editors of the Paper, whether they chose to insert
it or not.

Here the letter was read by the Clerk of the
Court, and tte British Press, containing the let-
ter, was produced ; the envelope was next read;
it is directed to Lord Viscount Sidmonth, dated
August 28, and signed " Francis Bordett.t! This
letter has been already before the public ; it we,
thrit in which he ackuovrledged his being the au-
thor or the letter addressed to the Electors of
Westminster.

Mr. DENMAN UAW submitted to the Court, that
2ert was no gAse proYcd which regui r ,itt suiwer,

or which could come before the Jury, There was
no proof of the letter having tiren written in Lei-
cestershire. It was merely proved that Sir Francis
was seen on horsebaat hear Kirby Park on the
day of the date of tire letter, -and tie nii.ht ha:a
rode into another county and dropped the litt:r in
some Post-office there. The bare writing of
letter was no offence; for there must be it public's-
tion proved by direct evidence. Thecharge was, that
he had published this letter in the county of Le,
cester. But it migist as well have been published its
arty other county. It Was quite as consistent, that
he might have written the letter in his study,
taken a ride out, met Mr. Uickersa air in anodicr
county, and there delivered the letter to him.--e
Such a thing could be in no way inconsistent with
the facts just given in evidence. There was tio
proof that the letter was published in the county
of Leicester ; and a Jury would be perjured if they
found a man guilty of an offence alleged to be
committed in one county, without proof that it
was committed in such county.
Mr. CLARK is objected to this mode of argument,
RS being an address to the Jury, and not a point
of law submitted to the Bench.
Mr. Desolate said, there were many cases in
point, and one of them was the very case al-
luded to by Mr. Serjeant Vaughan ; that of the
Seven Bishops,wbere the Judges gio,e their opinion
that there Was no proof of the petition to the
Ding having been published in the County of
Middlesex, moil Lord Sunderland proved that he
had presented it to the King on behalf of the
Bishops. Now, he submitted that there was no
proof as to what County the letter was written in.
But even if the letter was put into a post-office its
the County of Leicester, it was no publication to
that County, because it was not show!) to any
one there; nor was it arty pulalieet ion at all, until
it arrived at the place of its destination. Mr. D.
quoted sortie, other cases in support of his argil•
went. lie admitted that Sir F. Burdett might
very properly have been brought beture a Jury its
Middlesex ; but he maintained that the fact of
publication ought to he clearly shown, that
the case might come within the jurisdiction of
that Court ; and that it could not be tried in airy
jurisdiction except where it was published. The
simple fact of writing the letter was no libel ; it
was not a libel until it was delivered. Sir Francis
might have rode out as ter us Oekham, in Hut..
landabite, which was not tar off, at the time wilco
he was seen riding out on the 22(1 of August, rind
lett the letter there. It was then, in his opinion,
a case which could not go to a Jury. The Seven
Bishops wrote their petition) in Surrey, yet they
were not tried in that County, but in the County
in which it was delivered to the King. There
was no proof of this letter having been Seen by
any human eye in the County of Leicester, until
it was ShOVWli in the Court that day. Therefore
there was'no proof of its having been written or
published there.
Mr. PHILL;PS followed on the same side. The
writing of the letter was not a publication by Sir
F. Burdett ; it never was published until it came
to Middlesex ; and there was not even any evi-
dence to show that the letter was ever written in
Leicestershire. In the case of the Seven Bishops,
they admitted that they wrote the paper in Surrey ;
and then it was adnotted on behalf of the Crown,
that there was Hot any evidence of publication in
Surrey. The Present was a case not only in
point, but was even 'much stronger ; for there Was
neither admission nor evidence to show that this
letter was written in Leicestershire. There was
not the slightest evidence to show where Mr. Bich-
ersteff received the letter. The onus rested on
the Crown to show how it came out of the bands
of Sir F. Burdett to Mr. Bickerstati. No such
thing was done; and therefore there was a com-
plete chasm in the evidence.
Mr. Justice BesT said, he was or opinion that
there was evidence sufficient to go to the Jury ;
and the objection .now put might hereafter be
urged in another place, in arrest of judgment, if
a conviction should tak = place. The case of the
Seven Bishops was different, for the libel then
was tried in the county in which it was alone
circulated. Its the case of Justice Johnson, it was
decided that he might be tried in Middlesex for
the letter which be had sent to Mr. Cohbett, and
which war published in his Register : but that
decision did not show that he might not be tried
in Ireland, where the letter was written. On the
same principle, it did not follow, from the cases
quoted, that Sir F. lindett might not be tried in
Leicestershire. It would be for the Jury to say
whether they thought there was sufficient est-
*knee to show that the letter had been mitten is
Leicestershire..

After a lapse of about ten minuses, during
which the Judge, Jury, and Sir Francis Burdett
retired,

Sir F. BUDDETT, at about half-past twelve, rose
to address the Jury. He began by thanking the
Learned Serjeant for the handsome manner in
which he had spoken of him ; and in what he
should say about ex-officio informations, he should
not throw any reflection on the Attorney-General
personally, but on the office itself. But he now
declared such a mode of prosecution to be unjust
anti unconstitutional. It was the doty of the At-
torney-General to have sent him before a Grand
Jury ; and it he had, he (Sir F.) would have been
saved all the trouble he was now put to. 'The
first question the Jury had to try, was a fact of
which there was not a tittle of evidence btt're
them ; so far from there being any proof to
show that the letter was put into emy Posh.
office in Leicestershire, he deckled he did not
know himself, nor did any of his servants
know what office it had been put into ; so much
was he in the habit of going about to different
places, writing letters in different places, sod
putting into different post-offices. He was
therefore brought to trial in Leicestershire, while
it was not known whether the act he was charged
with had been done in this County. He next
adverted to the unconstitutional power possessed
by an Attorney.Geueral of filly!: ex officio istfur.-
mations—a power repugnant to Magna Charta,and
the Constitution. The Attorney-General was
called an officer of the Crown ; but that was not
the fact. He (Sir Francis Burdett) wished he
was, for he always wished to see the Crover.pcsa
sessed of its full pOwers, but the Attorney-Gt-ne.
tat was the officer and creature of the Ad..
reiiistratitn, depending on their will, and loci-.

.ing up to theist for preferment..--(here the
Judge expressed an opinion that such au assertioe
ought not to be made.) Sir Francis, with sub-
miesion, contended that the remark was very ma-
teriel for his defence, because, when it was known
vu whom the Attorney-General depended, the
motives of the present prosecution would be
clearly understood. Why (lid not the Attorney-
General send him to a Grand Jury in Middlesex,
and try him there ? The reason was, that Lie de-
spaired of a conviction in Middlesex, and expected
he should find men in this courtly who entertained
strong prejudices against him for his supposed po-
litical principles. In doing this, the Attorney-
General libelled the Juries of both places. He
libelled the people of Middlesex by despairing of
obtaining a verdict there; and he libelled those
of Leicester by supposing them all possessed of
political prejudices ; and what must the Jury
think of prosecuting, him in a place, which, in
poilit of Lew, W 33 rt disturbed district. lie next
adverted to (lie undefiued character of a libel ; it
was impossible for eny man to tell what it was ;
(lie term was borlowed front the worst part of the
ittiff24fi 14w, end edepted first in England by the
ietamotts Court of Star Chamber. It was known
that what 'WAS declared to he K libel inone county,
wits declared in 'synth( r comfy nut to be a libel.
This was the clearest ;roof he could give of the
opptestiolos practised against men on charges of
published libels ; indeed it was difficult
tor any mat; eharetti with such au offence to
know how to drtend himself. It he was charged
with I murder, he should know how to drfetid
biles, It ; but not se heel charged witls witat was
• a iihh I. The ten' of libel was even more
ondefilod than the rnillraty for every militery
nom keetv bee, i() emotion hiutseif so his tO avoid
put isiourot. Bat 110 MU! cueld rell tt heilier
lie
!Digit( out he him:reined for any thing he \A rote.
Atter d *tiller; for some time on these topics, he
enteleui into all examination of the letter i:e teas
cluarged with wilting; and onset yeti, that he could
not conceive why it should he considered disaf-
ticlion in him to that had cut
people to pieces ; or hos it could excite itissatis-
faction in the military. Ile weeieti to excic no
dissatisfaction, but to seek tot legal redress,
by appealing to the Ives of the country r
and he contended that there was no libel in that.
lie had addressed the letter to his Coostituents,
sod to the Country Gentlemen of Engiand, with
the vet y view of obtaining legal redress. Thiele
was nothing in the letter more than the words
which it contained, for no innendo could be made
out ruins it ; and it was most unfair in the Learned
Counsel to attempt to infer an inuendo Ironer:my
part of the letter. But he maintained that the
whole proceeding was out of teat Court,—out
its proper jutisdietion,—for that letter was
published its Middlesex alone. In that paper
there teas no slander thrown ou the osiiitary, any
mitre than on the Government ; but it was a jes- •
tification in his favour that he b4d stated iu the
letter that he had his authority only from the
newsp-llh2rs. As to whether the Manchester
wee; tog was or was noelegal, the people assem-
bled there wished to put thettiEelses under the
protection of the law ; they did not think they
were acting illegally, and the very Magistrates
dill not know whether the meeting was legal or
illegal. They had, however, done the same thing
which the Attorney-General charged Lim, with
doing, namely, to provoke a breach of the peace;
for instead of arresting Mr. Hunt in the first
instance, as they might have done, they wait-
ed till immense numbers sere collected to-
gether, and then sent the military to at-
tack them. lie contended, that the Manches-
ter Meeting, which was the subject of this
letter, was not illegal ; for he had been in Parlia-
ment a quarter of a century, and he always under-
stood any number of persons might legally meet to
present petitions; and it was not until very lately,
that a Noble and Learned Lord had twisted out
some oh,cure points of law to prove, that a
`nee rots, when it became very numerous, be-
came Mega]. Until that declaration was made,
all public meetings were considered as legal.—
In sepoort of this assertion, he quoted the
opinion that had been given by Lord Chief Jus-
tice Holt, who declared that any person who
killed another on account of being in a great meet-
was guilty of mender. As to reading the Riot
Act, it ought not to be read till there was a riot ;
their an hour was allowed to the people to dis-
perse ; and there was nothing in such case to
jestify the sending of military among the rioters.
After dwelling for a considerable time on these
topics, Le concluded by expressing his conviction,
that a verdict could not be found against him.
Set ji ant VAUGH kN addressed the July at
considerable length, enforcing all he had stated in
his opening speech, and at the same time he re-
plied to time legal objections which had been iukto
by Mr. Dsteetee.
Mr. Justice BBST, in his charge to the Jury,
declared be hail tin hesitation in pronouncing the
letter of Sir P. Burdett to be a seditious libel ;
Bed with respect to the county; its which it was
published, there was strong presumptive evidence
to show, that it was written in Leicestershire.
That iv riming was a publication, and the olus lay
on this to prove that it was not written in that
County. It was for Sir F. Burdett to show that
letter got into the County of Middlesex. lie
was in Leicestershire at the time the letter was
written, and the Jury were wart anted in believing
that it bed been published Oleic. iu that letter he
spoke of blood beving been spilled by the soldiery.
Was it tit for a Gentleman of his education and
knowledge of the laws of his country to make
such an assertion on the mere authority of news-
pepet s ? Then the defendant spoke of the uncon-
stitutional measure of a standing army ; but there
was no such thing, for the army existed only by
the authority of Parliament from year to year.
The defendant stated, that in his defence his
object was to call on the Country Gentlemen
of England to support the just riehts of their
country. He believed no men in England were
inure noxious to do so than the Count ry Glen le-
men. With respect to the other expressions in the
lettei, it was impossible for any man to justify
them. The defendant knew very well that
there was no such thing as a reign tut terror,
or deneer from milliaty execution in this country.
In the allusion merle to the military in the reign
`i.l.pies the Second, there was nothieg particularly

No Pat is Papers have arrived this morning.

We have the pleasure to state,. that our letters
this morning bi ing favourable reports from Lei-
cestershire and Westmorland. Also respecting
the Devon County Election. LOH EBRINGToN
declared from the Hustings that a letter, which
has appeared in public, calculated to injure his
opponents, had no foutidation in truth. He de-
clined farther contest. The LOWTHEBS are secure
of their return in spite of all the vaunting pre-
dictions of Mr. BROUGHAM, and all the riotino
of his Radical Myrmidons. •

The Conviction of Sir FRANCIS IiSADITT must
be a subject of triumph to every loyal and wise
than in the Country. Ilis friend Cut:31307 de•
clared that the first impression which the Baronet
made neon his mind was, that he was the Most
ambitious and dangerous man in the kingdom.—
We wish there was as much reason to rely on
COBB ETI '3 principles as upon his discernment.—
These are perilous times, and never was tLe coun•
try so mulch in want of sound, intelligent, and
honest Juries.

The great space occupied by the Trials of
IIoNT and BURDETT (for such Radicals, we pre-
sume, despise all gentlemanly additions to their
names) prevents us from taking due notice of the
progress of the Elections for Middlesex and
Westminster. If there could be any doubt of the
evils which would result from Annual Elections
and Universal Suffrage, let the People look at the
Ruffians who bellow for the Rndical Candidates,
BURDETT and Hosnousa, in Covent-Garden, and
those who in the same manner support the Coa-
lesced Radicals, BY ING and WHITBREAD, at Brent-
ford. The howling', yellings, and disgusting
sounds of all kinds, that are directed against Mr.
Mau.rsit, the real Constitutional Candidate,
afford an admirable specimen of the temper of
that Gentleman, as well as of his political firm-
ness. Most earnestly do we hope that his perse-
vering confidence in the good sense and loyalty of
the Majority of the Freeholders will be justified
by the event. The very circumstance of his being
a Director of the Bank is one of the very best
tests that can he offered in his favour ; for it is
well known that it is impossiltle for any man to
attain to such a height of commerciel dignity
without the fullest proofs of his integrity, good
sense, knowledge, and opulence. Mr. MRLLIsH
blends with his mercantile eminence the manners,
the spitir, the hospitality, and all the qualities that
can adults private life. We thrtefote title( (hilt
the despicable miscreants who howl for his oppo-
nents will he mortified by the result, and that
the Redicul Intrudtrs of both Middlesex and
Westminster will not only be disappointed upon
the present occasion, but disheartened trout

ovrr ins kiting tie Elecors by their un-
founded preteusions. We repeat, that Mr. llon-
Housst is only known to the world by publications
too licentious to excite any thug but contempt
for such a degradation of talents ; end Mr.
WHITBREAD is so little known for talents or at-
tainmems,that the Freeholders of Middlesex would
expose themselves to contempt and ridicule it
they were to choose a young man n hose only
pretensions are founded upon an insult to their
understanding as well as their loyalty; inaf.much
43 those pretensions arise from his inheriting a
determined hostility to the measures of Government,
whether tight or wrong.