Star.
London, England, 1819-06-21 00:00:00

PUBLIC MEETINGS.

We have received this morning accounts of two
more Pub lk Meetings which have been held at Ash-
ton-under-Line and Glasgow, to take into considera-
tion the state of distress to which the country and
the labouring
_classes in particular are reduced.—
We subjoin an abstract of the proceedings at both i

ASHTON-UNDiR-LINE.

In pursuance to public advertisement, a Meeting
of the Inhabitants of Ashton•under-Line and its neigh-
bourhoood took place last Monday at Hurst. By one
o'clock, the hour at which the business commenced,
the assemblage consisted of from 12000 to 15,000
people, and was still increasing.

The Rev. Josern HARRISON was called to the
Chair, who, after reading the Requisition for the
Meeting, opened the business by apologizing for the
unprepared state in which he was to perform the im-
portant task which had devolved upon him. He
dwelt with energy on the present distresses of the
country, and tha.necessity of obtaining redress for all I
grievances. The time bad now arrived when mis-
guided opinions were about to be revised, `and acted
upon in a shape that must ultimately render them
triumphant over despotism. The hard earnings of
the industrious, wrung from the sweat of their brows,
had hitherto pampered the idle and the indolent
and the very panders of office, with Morality on their
lips and blasphemy inobeir hearts, with whips in their
right hands and scorpions in their left, were the first
to treat with contempt the supplications of a brave

and long-tufrering people. He concluded with 3
most pathetic appeal upon the deplorable conditioil
of the labouring poor, and their half-starved andia
mishing progeny, and exhorted the people to tit 4
preservation of peace and good order.
" A letter from Joseph Johnson, Esq. Manchestei,
enclosing an Address to the Meeting, and the.AC•
dress itself, were then read. He remarks, in his Adz
dress how singular it is that the labouring classes
should be in such extreme distriss in a country aboun-
ding with every improvement, both in agriculture
and manufactures, which the present state of science
could furnish ; and speaks with detestation rf the
measures adopted to prevent the importation of corn
—a tneasare calculated merely to serve the landed
proprietors, while rents and taxes are encreascd, and
the labourers wages reduced. He presses upon them
the necessity of being firm, persevering, and united
in their endeavours to obtain for the people a pre-
ponderati 1g influence in the House of Commons,
without which there can be no security for property,
liberty, or life, " The struggle lies between intmen 4
property and labour. Property has usurped the power
of Legislation ; and until the class of labourers has
gained a decided preponderance, Universal Suffre,v,
Annual Parliaments, Election by Ballot, and Repre-
sentatives not qualified by property, they have no
security whatever for any thing."—(Great applause.)

" A Deputation from the Stockport Union Rooms
nest read an Address to the Meeting, and proposed
some Resolutions, which were afterwards embodied
among those adopted by the Meeting.

Mr. WRIGHT SMITH then addressed the Meeting,
and expressed .a strong hope that the Borough T.
'rants would soon hear their infamy prockimed eNea
in their own tabernacle, and concluded by intimating
that a meeting of the inhabitants of Stockport and
its neighbourhood, having in view the attainment of
the same laudable objects as the present meeting,
would be held that day fortnight.

" Mr. Ssitrit was followed by Mr. JOHN THACKER
SAXTON, who begged to propose that means should
be taken for establishing a regular communication
from one extremity of the Kingdom to the other.--
A Resolution to this effect was proposed and carried.
" Dr. HEALY called the attention of the Meeting to
the numerous struggles which the friends of freedom
had made, and hitherto m ith no other effect than that
of adding new store to their already abundant stock
of information. The people, hb said, had become
almost desperate at the scoffs and scorns which had
been heaped upon them. This despetation it was ne-
cessary to check, and this could be done only by re-
storing the Constitution to purity. He invoked the
people to rouse from their degraded lethargy, but
not to act with violence. The Prince Regent himself
would soon be convinced, could they approach him
with their complaints, that he has been surrounded
by the basest of mankind.
" Other Gentlemen spoke, and various Resolutions,
with Votes of Thanks to the friends of Liberty, were
carried.

" The people dispersed without any tumult, after
which a party, consisting of about fifty persons, dined
together, and spent the evening with great conviviality.
" The Resolutions dwelt on the following topics:
The distresses of the people—the causes of the evils
that assail them, and the means of remedy, viz. Uni-
versal Suffrage, Annual Parliaments, &c.—the Conr
stitution of the Honse of Commons as now existing,
which is styled a mockery—the distribution of the
hard earnings of the industrious, not for beneficial
purposes, but in profligate expenditure, as for exam-
ple, £22,000 for snuff-boxes, £lO,OOO a year to this
Duke of York, though possessed of £40,000 a year,
for performing the least of all filial duties—the Corn
Laws—contempt of Petitions—suspension of Lass to
keep men in dungeons, and Acts of Indemnity to
screen from deserved punishment—the necessity of
resistance to increased taxation until every Sinecure
and Pension be abolished, and the country freed from
a state of starvation—the propriety of Meetings

throughout the Kingdom—and the services of the
Friends of Liberty, &c."

GLASGOW, JUNE It

Yesterday, at 4 o'clock, a Meeting of the Weavril
took place in the Green, according to previous aJ-
vertisernent. The 40th Regiment, some Troops of
Cavalry, and the Police, were in readiness to act,
Fortunately their services were not required, from
the peaceable manner in which the Members of the
Meeting conducted themselves. The crowd was very
large, and some persons suppose that the r.umbn
Might amount to 35,000. The Committee append
on the platform at four o'clock, in the middle divi-
sion of the High Green. About a quarter past four
the business was begun by one of the Committee,
who begged that the greatest order should be re-
served; he read the Requisition, and stated that seve-
ral special constables were in the crowd, ready 10
seize any one who acted improperly, and he, for 1.115
own part, would be the first to point out and assit:
in securing any delinquent.
" A Chairman was then appointed, and a string el
Resolutions read to the Meeting, pointing out their
distressed situation, and praying that hn Reri
Highness the Prince Regent would be gracious!!
pleased to grant such of them as wished it, dit
means of reaching the Colonies belonging to pis
Majesty in North America, together with the ma's
of support for one year atter their arrival; wl!6
sums tlicy promised to pay by yearly remittances
produce. The speaker stated that they had upp