Star.
London, England, 1822-04-11 00:00:00

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serving the circumstances I have stated, I was under apprehen-
slow Chet they were opposed, and must be demolished ; that
the people would overpower tem. I had many friends in the
Cavalry, and willanist the arida constables, for whose safety I
had mat fears. There was a great deal of dust that day, and.
everything looked the. worse.
Cross-exkluined.-e-Ithen resided about eight miles from Wake-
geld. Tarn Rector a.Ackworth, and since the Meeting of the
4ttguat have been appointed to Rochdale ; the Riot Act
wv react Sift:Fe the Cavalry formei ; I can't say whether a pet`
son standiggenl the steps of Buxton's hove could hear it readal
or frOns the room over that where I was ; I cannot account hr
other persona organs. I consider theassemblage of such a largo
number of people to be a breach of the peace, according to the
miles of consmou sense and the best law authorities. When I will'
two or three columns coming in with dreadful emblems wed
• flags, I could oot help considering it dangerous to the public
p-ace ; even singly these things denoted a bad purpose, but takes
altogether, no man in common sense could think otherwise.- I
saw no other breach of the peace. I know nothing of the nuts.
ber of soldiers employed ; I saw stones flying in the air, but I
don't know whether any were on the ground in the morning.--e
In the evening of the 16th of August I gave an account of Nil,
proceedings, Mr. Norris not being able to do so. If I did not
then mention to Mr. Norris about the stones, I can only say we
gave the hest account we could, in order to be in time for the
post ; I did see a woman in a very faint state on that day ; this
eras the first time I heard of any one being wounded ; I did not
look at her, for she was not very tempting (with a laugh).
Mr. EVANS.—It may be very laughable to you, Sir, but the
affairs of that day require a different feeling.
Examination resumed by a Juror.—The Proclamation only
occupied a few minutes in the reading.
Mr. Tatton examined.-4 was one of the Committee of Ma-
gistrates, and decidedly agree with what Alr. Hulton has said
relative to the alarming state of the country, and the dangerous
appearance of the' peopl,.who came in ; I considered the town
of Manchester was in very imminent danger, from the multitude
assembled on the 16th of August. In my judgment the service
of the warrant must have been fatal to him who should offer to
serve it, unless supported by the military.
Cross-exatnined.-1 am well acquainted with Mr. Stanley,
whom I saw in the 11:agistrates' room on that day ; I do not
remember if I herd any conversation with him; but I do remem-
ber shewing him into the room over ours, in order to see the as-
sembly ; Alr. Stanley here remonstrated with me against calling
in the military.
Reverend Charles Wickatead Ethelstone examined.-11 am a
Fellow of the Collegiate Church of Manchester, and a Magis-
trate for tile County. I saw Hunt and his party come on the
ground. The assembly appeared to me to be most tumultuous.
It was certainly highly proper to read the Riot Act, and I did
read it. I have very luckily found the identical card from which
I read it. It was at one of the windows in the first floor of Mr.
Buxton's house. I made several attempts to read it from the
area, but I found it could not be heard. It was my intention to
have read it on horseback, but I could not find my servant, to
whom I had but a abort time before given directions to take my
horse a little round the house. Mr. Silvester attended the Meet-
ing, and after that I understood be also attempted to read the
Riot Act- I concurred in the propriety of calling in the mili-
tary in aid of the Civil Power.
Robert Eeilden. Esq. examined.—l took the information of
Owen on oath. I thought the military necessary to be called in
in aid of the Civil Power.
Thomas Joseph Trafford, Esq. examined.—l commanded the
Manchester Yeomanry on the 16th of August. I had two troops
with me—about 60 persons. I received a letter from Mr. Hui-
ton, which was delivered to me by Mr. Joseph Birley. In con-
sequence of that I repaired with them to Buxton's house. I was
With them during the whole of the day.
The Officer of the Court was proceeding to read the informa-
tion of Owen, to which Mr. Anus objected, as Owen could
himself be called.
Mr. Serjeant
it if necessary.
Mr. Justice llpezovo overruled the objection, but the de-
fendants' Counsel did not insist on its being read.
Hugh Cholmoncitley, Esq. examined.—l live at Knutsford,
and was at Manchester on the lath of August. I saw Hunt ar-
rive and stop at the Exchange, when there was great shouting.
Mr. Serjeant liutaoce.—l don't think we have any need to
give further proof of the facts which this Gentleman can prove,
If, however, the Jury have any doubt, we shall go on; but I
don't think they can.
Mr. Beeexauaara—You have no right to ask the Jury any
question on any fact. The Jury will give their opinion in
their verdict.
Mr. Justice lIOLROYA—You cannot ask the Jury upon any fact.
Mr. Set jeant ilear.oex.—Well, then, let the Jury stop as long
as they like; we must go on.
Examination resumed.—l saw the Yeomanry go to St. Peter's-
field, and on their way they did not commit a single act of vio-
lence ; I did not see them strike with either the edge or the back
of the sword until they surrounded the hustings; stones and
sticks were thrown at them as they advanced; I saw a very con-
siderabk number of sticks, many larger than walking sticks, and
some smaller; danger was undoubtedly to be apprehended from
such a Alerting ; I conceived it utterly impossible to execute a
warrant without the aid of the military.
Ite-examined.—l am the nephew of Lord Delamore. •
Mr. George Read, examined.—l live at Congleton ; I was at
Manchester on the 16th of August ; I arrived at St. Peter's-field
about eleven o'clock ; I saw a banner, on which there was the
inscription " Let us die like men, and not be sold as slaves ;" also
on a black flag, " Equal representation or death ;" I heard Hunt
sneak—he said, the only effect of preventing the Meeting of the i
9th was to double that of the day they were assembled, or words
to that effect; I think he also called the throng " a tremendous
multitude," and said, " if any one attempt to interrupt you, put
Lim down, keep him down, or keap him quiet," I can't be cer-
tain of the exact words, he particularly waved his arms when
using these expressions ; I remember the cavalry forming before
Ale. Buxton's house, and seeing them advance, I pressed forward
to get out of the crowd; the cavalry passed me very close in-
deed, my attention being directed towards them in order to my
own safety ; I saw no blows given by the cavalry up to that
time; I saw stones thrown after they passed me; they came
from the rising ground on the left flank of the hustings near
Windmill-street ; I certainty apprehended a riot; I did not con-
ceive a warrant could be executed with safety without the aid
of the Civil rower.
Air. Nark Anthony Mills examined.—l live in the Isle of
Alan, and base lived there some years; I was in Manchester on
the 16th of August; I think I stood upon the curb stone of a
meet that runs at right angles with Mr. Buxton's house, with
my face towards the hustings ; I saw the Yeomanry advance to-
wards the hustings; while they were advancing, I saw a great
number of stones or brickbats flung towards them; the peace
and tranquillity of the town appeared to be far from secure
while that Meeting remained; it appeared to be in imminent
danger. lam in the profession cf the law.
Mr. Richard Holt examined.—l am a dyer, at Manchester;
was a special constable on the 16th of August; I saw the Man-
chester Yeomanry come on the ground ; I saw one stone thrown
as they advanced, mad immediately after I was wounded on the
eye with another; this was before they got within 20 yards of
the hustings; I afterwards went to the hustings myself—l
seised a colour ; while doing so, I was struck over my left
wrist with a stick ; I succeeded in getting the Cap of Liberty
away ; another special constable tore the colour from a &z-
-eal; in my judgment it was not possible to execute the war-
rant without niilitaty aid.; the Yeomanty conducted themselves
very properly, in my opinion; I followed them up to the bust-
logs, and did not see a single blow struck by them.
Cross-examined.-1 did not see them strike either with the
flat or edge of their ,weeds; I followed the cavalry from Mr.
Buxton's house; the cavalry were is advance of me when I
seised the Cap of Liberty ; I did not burn it; I left it at Mr.
Buxton's house; the Cap of Liberty woe on the top of a staff;
It was then I got the blow on the wrist.
Mr. Roger Entwistle.—l am a Volunteer at Manchester; I
taw the Stockport division march into Manchester on the 16th of
August; they consisted of between 4000 and 5000 wen; they
and music, as has been described ; I happened
se hotel, zed one said, " Thou hest got
• before die day is over, I doll have as

-The man Is dead, and we can prove

—.mend this a threat of defiance to the Yeomanry. _ saw
the Yeomanry advisor towards the headings; when they got
within about fifteen yards of the hustings, I saw peones and
brick-bats thrown at thud; I sew no stiles; the stones were
aimed at tht horses, and no doubt bit some of them; the, Yeo-
manry had up to this time used no vime, no be contrary,
they skewed the greatest forbearance. In my judgment it would
have been utterly imposilble fur the constables to execute the
warrant without military assistance. I consider that the appear-
ance of the Meeting was such as to create alarm in the public
mind. When I first went on the ground, I saw from 80.000
to 100,000 persons assembled. I was examined at Oldham, the
Manchester Police Office, and at York; T had a dispute with,
Mr. Milne, about my expenses at York ; the dispute did not
arise from my having received twenty pounds for which I could
not account.
Re-examined.—The dispute of which I have spoken, arose out
of a mistake u to the length of my attendance at York.
Robert Hughes examined.—l am an innkeeper at Manches-
ter; I was a special constable on the 16th ; I saw a great num-
ber of sticks with some of the divisions ; they walked in regular.
order. I saw the Cavalry as they turned from Buxton's house
to go to the buildup; I was near enough to the hustings to hear
Hunt say, when be. entered on the hustings (after having made
a speech), "Those are your enemies who don't take off their
hats and shout." He then pointed towards the constable.. lie
added, 0 If any one oddest/ you, put them clown and keep them
down." He also told them to link arms and stand firm. The
Yeomanry advanced, but appeared very unwilling to trample on
the people; I heard the report of a pistol or gun; I looked, and
it appeared to me to come from the top of a house below the
Windmill public-house ; I saw the smoke ; I can't tell what effect
the shot produced; I saw a number of stones flying in the air,
directed, as I thought, towards the Yeomanry. I heard some
if the mob say, "we will settle them all before three o'clock."
—"-Ayer," said others, "we will do so." I expected that the
Yeomanry would be overpowered, and every man murdered;
which I believe would have been the case had it not been for
the 15th Hussars coming up. Ido not think it was possible to
execute the warrant without the aid of the military ; I think it
would have been very unwise to make the attempt. In my
opinion the public peace was endangered by the Meeting that
day ; I felt very great alarm for the safety of the town and
neighbourhood.
Cross-examined.—l am a builder, inn-keeper, and agent ; it
is not in any one of these capacities that I form my judgment ;
Hunt was about five minutes speaking when I heard him talk
about mislesting and putting their enemies down, and keeping
them down. I remember the words :and the day well. He
pointed to the Yeomanry and said, a there are your enemies
coming ;" he said something about " bloodsuckers," or "feather-
bed soldiers," I cannot say which ; the people were not linked
until he desired them to link. I was one of the line of special
constables, and was within five or six yards of the hustings, until
I was driven back by the linking; after the cavalry came, some
of the mob and some constables got between me and them. I
saw no horse or rider knocked on the head. Those who spoke
of settling us before three o'clock were near the constables ; they
also said they would have our garments off, as they were better
than theirs; all was quiet until Mr. Hunt came.
John Barlow examined.—l am a merchant at Manchester • I
remember being on the Exchange on the 16th of August. I Ob-
served a party of men come past, a considerable number of them
had sticks and bludgeons; I considered many of them to be
hedge stakes, newly drawn from the hedges. Their appearance
created alarm in my mind ; I was a special constable on that
day; it was not my intention, before I saw these people, to have
attended the Meeting in an official capacity ; I changed my in-
tention ; I considered it my duty to give every assistance to pre-
serve the public peace ; I did so on account of the alarm which
the appearance of the people had created. In my judgment it
was impossible for the civil power to execute the warrant with-
out the aid of the military.
The next witness called was James Andrews.
Mr. Justice liotaoro.—To what point do you caltthis witness?
Mr. Serjeant Huuser..—To prove the same facts, my Lord.
Mr. Justice Hotaora.—Have you got any other witnesses to
the same effect? _ _

Mr. Serjeant Hettoce.—A dozen, my Lord.
Mr. Justice Hosaore.—l think it is unnecessary.
Mr. Serjeant Huttocz.—Perhaps it is, my Lord; but if your,
Lordship will allow me, I shall call a witness or two to prove
the previous clearing of the field, and the state in which it was
found after the Meeting was dispersed.
Mr. Justice H.LaoYD.—Very well, then, go on.
The Learned Counsel then called Thomas WorzalL—l am
Assistant Surveyor of the town of Manchester; I went to sur-
vey St. Peter's-field upon the 7th August ; I cleared the area of
sticks and stones, and everything which could be used in an of-
fensive manner; we also cleared the stones from the adjoining
streets; I went on the morning of the 16th, about seven o'clock,
and took about a quarter of a load of stones from it ; the whole
was cleared before eight o'clock ; I was there again between nine
and ten on the same morning, and all was clear ; I was there
again between eleven and three o'clock on the same day, and saw
a large quantity of stones and brickbats, and some scores of
sticks ; they might be from two to three inches in diameter ; they
must have been brought from a distance, as they were for the
greater part gravel stones; there was about a cart load of stones
mad brickbats altogether; some of the sticks were large, perhaps
about an inch diameter.
Colonel L'Estrange examined.—l am a Colonel in the Army,
and Lieutenant-Colonel of the 31st Infantry. I had the com-
mand of the district and neighbourhood of Manchester on the
16th of August, 1819; I acted by direction of the Magistrates :
all the troops in the garrison were stationed in such a manner as
to be most available in case of a riot ; I was with two squadrons
of the 15th Hussars, and one squadron of the Cheshire Yeo-
manry, together with one squadron of the Manchester Yeomanry.
I understood that Hunt was passing the end of Deansgate, and I
rode with Colonel Townshend and Mr. Trafford to see him—
we were all in uniform. When the carriage came up, Hunt,
who either rose or was standing before, waved his hat, looked at
us,then at the mob, and shouted ; they also shouted, I supposed
in defiance, from seeing us in uniform. I think that about a
quarter of an hour after this, I received a letter from Mr. Hut-
ton, as Chairman of the Committee of Magistrates. I have been
unable to find the letter since. It in substance stated that he re-
quired the attendance of the military, as he did not conceive the
civil power sufficiently strong for their purpose. I don't remem-
ber the precise words. I then ordered the Hussars and the troops
of Cheshire and Manchester Yeomanry to go to the house which
Slr. Holton pointed out as that occupied by the Magistrates.
In order to avoid passing through the mob, it was necessary to
make a detour through Fleet-street ; we were anxious to be in
the rear of the civil power, and Lieutenant Withington directed
me to pass that way ; we had two squadrons of hussars in front ;1
I suppose the Cheshire Yeomanry must have formed as closely
as they could, but I being in front could not see them. When I
arrived at the corner I perceived a considerable dust, and I con-
ceived that the Yeomanry were in cot.ilict with the people; I
saw missiles in the air in every direction ; I was at such a dis-
tance from the Yeomanry I could not speak to them ; they were
separated and insulated by the intervention of a part of the peo-
ple, and I feared they might be thrown off their horses. On
getting up to Mr. Buxton's house, Mr. Ilultun was at the win-
dow; I looked up to the window and asked for orders; he said,
" Good Goa, look at the Yeomanry!" or semething to that ef-
fect—" Save them! disperse the people !" We immediately did
so; In doing that we experienced resistance; I can't say cow&
derable resistance; it was partial. as the pole were more des-
perate in some places than in others; I had my cap struck off by
a blow on the head; I supposed that it must have been by a
large brickbat or stone; my cap was picked up afterwards by a
Hussar.
Cross-examinesi.—l had then passed the hustings; we went
perhaps about twenty yards past Peter-street; I did not see the
troop of Yeomanry; we were at a gallop, and the Yeomanry-
were, as I said, insulated among the people ; we then did our
best to check the men, for the purpose of preventing, as far as we
could, further mischief. Including the Cheshire Yeomanri*. the
15th Hussars, the 31st, the 88th, and the Manchester Yeomanry,
and also a troop we had on the road from Oldham, ready to act
if necessary, there were altogether about 1000 men, and two
pieces of light artillery; the 31st were in lirazennobe-street ; the
88th in Diekinson-street ; I cantiot say whether the Yeomanry

• a "ill or
he gave it to me. I certainly ptotuted a copy of the Resolutions.
My idea is, that 1 received them from him. Two years ago,
when I was ematincd, on the trial at York. my Impression was
that I had received the Resolutions from Mr. Hunt, and I have
had no reason to alter my opinion since.
Here a paper was handed to the witness, who stated that these
were the Revelations which bad been alluded to, but that, when'
given to Mm, they were on one continued slip ; they hid he
subdivided for the facility of ;minting.
Examination continued.—l• have marked those Resolutions
With my Initials.
[Here a long conversation took place between the Counsel,whe-
titer those Resolutions should be read and admitted as evidence.]
Mr. Justice Honaovn said, that in the cases of Hardy and
Horne Tooke, Resolutions, at the passing of which they were
a mut, were read, for the purpose of 'hewing that all the
bad combined to effect one common object.
The Court then adjourned, it having been intimated that it
would re-assemble at nine o'clock in the morning for the purpose
of hearing evidence.
FIFTH AND LAST DAY.—Aran. 9.

The Court met to-day at nine o'clock. The expectation that
the trial would finish to-night excited a little more interest than
had existed on the two preceding days. After the usual forms
were gone through,
Mr. Serjeant Ileetaace said, he now proposed to read the re-
solutions of the Smithfield meeting. He therefore asked whe-
ther his Lordship would now allow them to be read?
Mr. Justice Houton-is asked if the bill of exceptions, tendered
by the plaintiff's Counsel, went to the evidence yesterday re-
ceived about the Smithfield meeting, and to the reading of the
resolutions which had been passed at that meeting?
Mr. Evans answered in the affirmative.
The Learned Judge then read the third plea of the defend-
ants, the allegations of which these Resolutions were brought to
support. It alleged conspiracy before the 16th August, to hold
a Meeting to bring into contempt the Constitution of the realm,
end to disturb the public peace. The plaintiff was charged by
the defendants, in the third plea, to be aiding in that conspiracy.
Ilia Lordship was of opinion that evidence to that point should
be received, and that therefore the Resolutions should be read.
Other evidence had been received of transactions previcus to the
16th of August, which connected the plaintiff with drilling and
training parties. These Resolutions were brought as proofs of
a conspiracy, as well as the drilling with which the plaintiff had
been charged. After his Lordship had decided for receiving
the Resolutions as evidence of the third plea in the defend-
ants' pleading—.
Mr. Biatceauaint, as Counsel for the plaintiff, handed the fol-
lowing paper to the Judge, taking exceptions, which his Lord-
ship recorded :
" A witness having proved that IL Hunt had been chairman
at a meeting at Smithfield, in London, on ---, and that a
set of printed resolutions were read by 11. Hunt ; and that 11.
Hunt had given the witness a copy, the Counsel for the defend-
ants tendered sue:, copy in evidence • and to the reception of
such paper in evidence the Counsel for the plaintiff excepted."
The Smithfield resolutions werethen read by the Clerk of the
Peace.
Mr. Fitzpatrick was then called, and maintained his former
statement.
John Andrews, a police officer, deposed that he should not
have been enabled to execute the warrant, on the 16th of Au-
gust, unassisted by the military.
Joseph Pickley, a farmer, heard the cavalry abused with the
tide of " Feather-bed soldiers."
James Jaques, a calico-printer, saw stones,which he thought
must have been brought purposely, thrown at the soldiers.
Thomas Sharp, a constable, deposed to the same effect.
Lieutenant Buckley, of the 15th Hussars, deposed to having
been present at St. Peter's-field on the 16th of August, and to
the riotous disposition of the mob. He struck a man with his
sword, but did not hurt him.
Lieutenant C. Rutledge O'Donnell, 15th Hussars, said a man
made a blow at him with a large piece of iron railing, which be
warded off with his sword; saw a pistol fired at one of the Yeo-
manry—thought the Yeomanry could not have dispersed the
Meeting.
Lieutenant James deposed to seeing one of the Yeomanry
lying on the ground, apparently senseless.
William Rooke, a private in the above Regiment, said his
hone was cut from the end of the saddle-flaps to the think. Saw
several of the Yeomanry very ill-used.
William Parnell, of the same Regiment, saw one of the Yeo-
manry surrounded by the crowd ; he fell front his horse when
the pistol was fired ; he was conveyed away by three or four of
the Yeomanry Cavalry; knew a person named Muschamp, a
private in Captain Carpenter's troop ; some of the troop were
hit and cut with stones on that day.
Mr. Serjeant Heitocc.—l shall now, my Lord, call my last
witness.

Mr. Justice Ilocooro.—Then you will, I am sure, like this
witness, Gentlemen of the Jury.
Thomas Barnes examined.—l was a serjeant in the Manchester
Yeomanry Cavalry on the 16th of August; I was attached to
Captain Richard Withington's troop.—(Captain Withington is
one of the defentlants).—At an early part of the day we were
ordered to Not-mill, to join the 15th Hussars. Not-mill is on
the road leading from the Barracks to St. John's Church, near
Byrom-street, where we were stationed all the forenoon ; we
finally joined the 15th ; I believe two squadrons of the Cheshire
were with us; I know there were some of them there. Major
Trafford commanded one squadron of our corps in Portland-
street, the squadron of which Mr. Birley was Captain. I re-
mained at Byrom-street the greater part of the day ; Lieute-
nant Withington, one of the present defendants, was with us.—
We followed the Hussars, and went close up with them as one
of their troops; we could not see where Captain Birley's troop
was, because of the dust; we, however, saw the sabres glitter.
I was Captain Withington's covering serjeant, and did not leave
him ; the ground from Lower Moseley-street was rough ; I got
on high ground, which gave way ; but I after mounted my horse,
and overtook Captain Bliley; he was not in the crowd when I
reached him.
Mr. Scrjeant IhmtocK.—Here, my Lord, we close
the case on the part of the defence.
Mr. BLACKBURNE commenced his reply at ten
minutes past two o'clock, and in a speech of consider-
able force and elegance, which occupied him as hour
and a half, he went over the principal points of the
evidence, strengthening that adduced for the pi:tin-
tiff by his own remarks, and contending that nothing
that had been brought forward on behalf of the de-
fendants had in the slightest degree controverted the
facts he had established. If the Magistrates had con-
ceived the Meeting of the 16;11 of August illegal, and
they had stated on their oaths that they did so con-
bider it, then ought they to have prevented it altoge-
ther. Did they, however, take any measures to pre-
vent it? No; not one. One of the Magistrates even
thought that the Meeting was legal. Undoubtedly
it was so ; for what was to render it\otherwise ?
Clearly, not the intentions of those wlio had con-
vened it ; because, when they were told that the Meet-
ing which they had called for the 9th was illegal, on
account of its object being to elect a Representative
for the unrepresented inhabitants of Manchester, they
persisted in it no longer. Why, he would ask, if their
intentions were as dangerouS and as criminal as they
were stated to be—why did they not persist in them ?
• What mattered it to them, whether their Meeting
was legal or not, if their intention was to sack the
town •of Manchester? They might have met on
the 9th of August, but they .did not meet.; and why ?
Because they were resolved to do nothing but what
was legal and right; and accordingly, when they
were told that the object of their first :denting was

•

- ,
they ditaged their tion taro. one
perfectly proper and legal they taped
into consideration the best means or •
, fair, and equal litepresentation of the
Commons Howe of Parliament—n
they had a tight to attend, yea, though
the purpose of 'discussing what his
had been pleased to cull the insane
Annual Parliaments and. Universal go&
sight here be allowed to tell his Learned
._, insane as be might think that doctrine,
it had been supported by men of al high rank, and
of as distinguished talents, as had ever appeared in
this or in any other country ;. and that, though it had
failed in the practice, it was still the ancient sad
ggeenuine principle
wanted
tethdetoCuhuaseteituwtli
theyon.
at Su
clony'sisduTlthose wlio only l
their rights, were not to be deemed mad, if their
peacealsly demanded them ; or, if they were mach
were not, therefore, to be sabred and cut down...a.
The Learned Gentleman then proceeded to show that
the meeting was not only strictly legal in its object, bet
also in its character; that out of 51 witnesses which
his Learned Friend had called, and out of the 39
which he himself had produced, the Jury had rya
heard one speak to any act of riot committed by the
people, in or out of Manchester, before the irruption
of the Yeomanry, except, indeed, it were Mr. Hay,
the vicar of ltochdale, who called the carrying of the
banners an act of riot and tumult. He would, for the
sake of argument, suppose that it was the nature and
the appearance of the banners that had rendered the
meeting illegal ; and even then, he said, Opt. it was
only those who met, knowing the illegality of the
meeting, and with illegal intentions, that were guilty
of any offence ; and though his Learned 1:1 kild had
said that all the persons who were present at is sedi-
tious and treasonable meeting were equally amenable
to the laws, yet he must cert iinly have meant t • ex-
cept his own witnesses at lea,t from so swee ing a
condemnation. He (Mr. Blarkburne) was certain that
the Jury would hear the Learned Judge lay n the
law in conformity with the opinions w!lich he bad just
been urging upon their attention. He was certain that
they would hear the Learned Judge tell them that an
offence was not committed by those who atten-ed an
illegal meeting from curiosity merely, but by those
only who attended with guilty intentions. It was a
principle of the law of England, that no act rendered
a man guilty unless it was aL com palsied a criminal
intention. There were, indeed, some acts, from the very
nature of which the law inferred a criminal intention;
such, for instance, was cutting and striking ith sabre.
But no such inference could be drawn It ni i man's
attendance at a Public Meeting to effect a Ittl in
Parliament and a redress of grievances ; for it is as a
right of which an Englishman had been itna,emo-
rially possessed—it was a tight of which he (maid
never be deprived; and therefore, if am Vent
to St. Peter's-field with the intention to exercise that
right, and with no other intention, he was legally
there, and if assaulted, was illegally assaulted. If
his client Redford had come from Middien, quietly
and peaceably with his townsmen, for the purpose
mentioned in the Requisition on which the Meeting
had been called, even though be came with a limner,
on which were inscribed " Annual Parliaments and
Universal Suffrage," he was guilty of none or the
things charged against him in the different plea, and
no man bad a right to sabre him. He would even
go farther, and say that nu man had a sight to sa!,,e
his client, even though he were present with a
ner with criminal intentions, and for illegal pur-
poses; for •if any person were justified in
him with a sword on the shoulder, he v.oald also Le
justified in case he had cut off his head. Before he
went farther, he wished to ask the Jury what , nief
there was e.f Redford's being involved in the con-
spiracy, of which so much mention was made in the
different pleas? Who was there to !neve bin J
ing?—two men from Stoke-hill, on whose evidence
he thought it quite unnecessary to make any comment.
His Learned Friend, in opening the case, hid -aid
that he should prove that at some times Redford was
drilled, and at others, that he was himself a driller.
Now,- had his Learned Friend proved, or attempted
to prove, anything of the kind? But even it '-e had
proved this fact, what did it matter? Mn J :Ake
Bayley, in his charge to the Jury at York, on a :rial
arising out of this very transaction, had used the fol-
lowing expressions respecting this very
" According to the evidence for Bamford, the ; eople
in his party, so fat from being tumultuous, were
peaceable and joyful, and the drilling, as it was
called, so far from being illegal and nocturnal, was
oven and innocent, the only object being merely to
enable the people to attend the Meeting as conve-
niently for each other and the public as was possible."
Supported by such great and eminent authority, he
(Mr. Blackburne) would say, that if the dinning
were done openly, to enable the parties to attend
in a more peaceable and orderly manner, it was
undoubtedly legal. Those who contended the con-
trary must have forgotten that such a this: as
the Petition and Bill of Rights were in existence.—
' By those charters we were enabled -legally and con-
stitutionally to do two things which it was material
not to forget in the consideration of this cause. Firs:,
that we had a right at all times to petition for a re-
dress of grievances • arid, secondly, to carry aims in
our defence. But;fortunately, he bad not to defend
his• client from any such imputation : all that his
client had done had been to walk to a Meetiig for
a redress of grievances with a banner. He said that
the drillings which his Learned Friend had declai el
that he would prove to be clandestine drillings, had
been proved to be no such thing ; and that no ille-
gality had taken place at any one of them, except so
far as was proved by the testimony of the thiee
strange witnesses, 'Murray, Shawc ross, and Haywood.
The Learned Gentleman then went over the evidence
in detail. He again adverted to the conduct :.1 the
magistrates., who instead of preventing a Meeting
they declared illegal, had now conne into Court to
swear in justification of their own chrracters.—
If the Meeting, in their opinion, was of such a nature
as to require to be dispersed, at all events they ought
never to have allowed it to begin : they had the whole
military force in Manchester, and it was not a small
one, wherewith to disperse the separate panics. They
might have read the liiut Act, and then ordered them
to disperse. 1;t. they had refused to do so in the ire al
time, they might have called upon. the mili.ar) to
force them. As to the reading of the Riot as
they had pretended to read it, he had never heasa of
anything- ill his lite so disgraceful is that reading vas

871a7c-bcci with lip and mi
to stand MI ilk slat* al at
a good coat n 6 lb), back;
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%Nab: 1ted.,...• a ionSeneestetswnwei:A7 u the geld i.01"1". theY 4
1=0.411111 relfdetiddellalil to the bum ip Se Dilibbille taat was .perfect
MANCHESTER OUTRAGE. ••#* t cur" them (a illmwr. -.• ' * • savroWbi wires I sue Peter'Sdidd, liaise speak. Meeting to take
• ks, Ow use* ... s. , . . .
.--.-- . -ti • i was - ttswiweigiefild thPre-'• t s*.*
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am•midmie,_ obtaining a full,
LANCASTER ASSIZILS, APRIL s. &. .Purer "d 'Lug.: ' "s' „Amu, Mt. M. lisetwertek. a N
aboutpele=l;nettelo brrir• - - •'' -- ineu,a‘v..i..4.,n, aRI elorZiru-akid-ild"' ' People in the I
. . /ennawsios On Astra Day's F.eideneefrans yesterday's taiser)2.
.stite in um, '" but 'Hunt
DEFENCE. . we see
err those; irk, looked tiles - I Thant Hunt say -4eld, in the yore 1619. behrto it VP le tbe mu& el Jy, Meeting which tl
di the bat at this &mance of tine I sweat requileet lite preetanties.er it had been for i
ma1ething........,21........----,b"t " "lent": be said, It Pekitiglithor eat..."waret jo-m month. • It was some tillto PIeVIM. to till Miednir at Learned Friend
mural doctrines of Ant
. 7 where i *a.; IMsar'ivlittaToleYettrtneardntinsticuteds.l7##T, :dthsoemer"ln wawlgr._,, -ma 1116`...."'".• ___,.. T.,-I.othe'rn—does—s44n,fientgiser.gni'do„nr" "*"..,---Gi ter. Mr. Hunt was the Chairmen of thee •Mistati,.
them as if they were playing about.. From the scattered way r MYll4"l,____" w_r=,: tee;,,r,,,,_ . . Resolutioos were passed se taw Meeting. Mr. Runt joined in
, 1187-- itho irbenameredtkey
/ those Resoluttens. When the Resolutions were passed I pro- frage. He migh
• vlid' tile Yzonarn had been abk to enter the crowd, and ob-
ce""'ve—w...---44;4.--... .,, curedespy of there. I tither asked Mr. Hunt for a copy, or Friend, that, in.
- -- - ----------- 1.-.---- ...-••• I .....,..der appreb..l _.......21..m...i aiki• OM 111 Threw af Monet to the Yeomannr. I all- ,__
___a_ ~„,, ...„ T .....1„,„, ~,,,,,„,..ed . enn„ of the Resolutions. it 112,1 been stinr