Star.
London, England, 1817-06-24 00:00:00

day, after the discussion was over. What had taken
glace, therefore. en that occasion, could not be
brought home ro him. What Mr. Oliver had or had
not done while in the country, it was impossible fur
Ministers to tell exactly ; but this he (Lord Castle-
reagh) knew, lie had had no instructions to take the
part he was repotted to have token. it was tint
known that be had been guilty of that which was
imputed to him, and there was reason to believe that
his exertions had materially contributed to prevent the
intended explosion of June 9. He thought the in-
formation of the man was entitled to considerable
credit. With respect to the numbers, the delegate,
who bad introduced Oliver, had given very large and
magnificent reports ot them ; and the numbers stated
by Oliver to the persons he was represented to have
invited to rebel, were the same as those mentioned
to him by the delegate. He entered his protest
against the system of imputatihn on Government for
taking the measurti., necessary to prevent rebellion.
Were they to suffer it to take the field before they at-
tempted to counteract its effects ? lie thought that
the contrary was their duty. All information had
not been received from common spies, but many
persons had considered it their duty to communicate
what they knew. He blamed the attempt to throw
odium on such persons, ;:s calculated to prevent in-
dividuals from coming for ward. The measure now
proposed to be renewed had already rendered consi-
derable service. From the judgment of all Magis-
trates it had checked insurrection, and been more ef-
fective than any of the other measures adopted by
Parliament. It operated as the House must have
wished it. as a prevsntive to offence rather than as a
punishment. It had occasioned a considerable de-
crease of mischief, and if continued would prove a
sufficient remedy to the evils by which the peace of
the country was menaced.
Mr. PONSONDY ruse for the purpose of stating
facts which would prevent the House from adopting
a measure so vicious in its principle. If he should
advance any thing incorrectly, he hoped he should
immediately be set right by the other Gentlemen Who
hail had access to the same information. It tie were
to say that he believed Oliver suggested, formed, and
first conceived, the design of an insurrection in the
country, he should say that which he did not credit.
He did not conceive that Oliver had first conceived
the plan, but he had had predecessors in that laud-
able course—(:fear, hear, hear.) Who they were
he could not tell, but a number of persons seemed to
have been in the confidence of Government, and the
Magistrates, with whom he was unacquainted. He
should only name one, whom he had authority to
name, as he bad been examined personally in the
Committee, and his case had already been brought
before the House—he mean: Oliver. The intended
movements at Manchester had been stated on evi-
dence which had induced the Committee to believe
them true. The names of particular individuals had
been mentioned, but the information led to the know-
ledge of an association or a very different kind from
that mentioned in the House—one of a more bloody
and more diabolical character than had ever existed,
but which did not seem to have the least political ob-
jecyn view—it was the association of the Luddiles.—
It had commenced some years ago, and still conti-
nued ; and all the most atrocious suggestions which
'had been made at the meetings of the discontented
had proceeded from Luddites, who bad mixed them-
selves with those assemblies. It was probable that
their advice had had some effect; but he did not be-
lieve that the marl of the people had ever intended to
engage in such. designs. Their only object was to
induce Government to adopt the measures which
they thought necessary for their relief. It was to be
understood that the Committee affirmed nothing of
its own knowledge. It stated things to have taken
place, but gave no information respecting their causes
or their chief actors. In the month of March last a
person had come to London, calling himself a Dele-
gate from the country. He had applied to a man
then in London, but now in America, saying, that
the people of the country felt the evils of their situa-
tion most grievously—that they were tired of the Go-
vernment, and ready to throw off their allegiance.—
He then asked what was the state of things in Lon-
don, and the disposition of the people to concur in
the same end ? The answer was " that things were
not in the same way in London, nor the people in the
same disposition." The person addressed added,
" that he intended never more to trouble his head on
the subject, but would leave London and England it-
self." He had accordingly done so. The Delegate,
the person applied to, and a friend, agreed to leave
London for the country together, and having made
the acquaintance of Oliver. consented to tale him
with them. They quitted London all four together;
but before they did so, Oliver applied to the Secre-
tary of State, revealed all he knew, and asked per-
mission to go with the Delegate. The Secretary of
State gave him permission, and he went to examine
the state of the country, and report to Government.
Ia justice, he must say, that it did not in the least ap-
pear that the Secretary of State had desired this man
to do any act which might induce others to engage
in criminal proceediogs--t(Leed cries of Hear, hear,
hear.) After stayingn while in the country, the per-
son first applied to sailed from Liverpool for Ame-
rica, and his friend returned to London. The Delo-
gate remained, and introduced Oliver to the disaf-
fected. as a man in whom they might place the most
implicit faith, as a second self. He was received as
such, and became accredited to them as the London
Delegate, and consequently acquired high distinc-
tion amongst them. He remained in the country one
month, for he had left London on the 17th of April,
and came back the 17th of May. Appearing as the
London Representative. he was frequently asked as
to the disposition of the people, the number of friends
which the disaffected might have in the Metropolis,
their strength, and the assistance which might be ex-
pected from them ? These questions he evaded as
well ashe could, and gave. the inquirers to under-
stand that he was not come to inform them how many
friends they had in London, but had been sent by the
London Conspirators to ascertain the strength of
their friends in the country, and their disposition to
join them. He stated that the Londoners would not
start first, but that the country people., must com-
mence the insurrection, and if 'they could stand for
three days, then they would be joined by the Londo-
ners. Some of his constituents had represented, that
in the Eastern Division of London seventy•five thou-
sand men were ready to rise, and in the Western
seventy-five thousand more—zin all one hundred and