The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-08-20 00:00:00

part of the charge. He was a minister of the gospel of peace,
and he was astonished that a man of his education, and of his
sacred profession should thus inflame the public mind. Was
not his language about the soldiers an incitement to disobedi-'
ence of the law, aye, and to insurrection ? He tells them the
soldiers will not act : and he rejoices that the people are
armed : not for personal defence, but against lawful authori-
ties, to bring about insurrection and revolution, and blood-
shed. He asked them whether such a meeting and Such a
speech had not a direct tendency to bring about a violation of
the law, and to incite poor misguided men to do what the law
would not tolerate. He understood that Mr. Stephens would
exercise his undoubted right of defending himself. They
would give him a candid hearing ; but unless he could rebut
this case, it would be their_duty to find him guilty.
At the request of Mr. Stephens all the witnesses were
ordered out of court.

Wm. Manly was called, and examined. by Mr. HILL.—
Was a police-officer, and was. at Dukenfield on the evening
of November 14, 1838. Saw' a very great body of persons
walking in procession, six abreast. They had lighted torches,
pots of fire, and banners ; part had come from Ashton, and
the other part from Staley-bridge ; they were going to Hyde ;
heard the reports of guns firing ; witness counted eleven ;
saw them about two miles and a half ; left them at Flowery
Field, on the verge of Hyde. Witness called on George
Miller, constable, as he apprehended a breach of the peace
would be committed. The Cotton-tree is about half way
between Dukenfield and 'Hyde. Saw several processions ;
the first consisted of about four hundred persons ; about the
same number joined at the Cotton-tree from Newton, walk-
ing in - procession, having banners, torches, and pots con-
taining fire ; they stayed at the Cotton-tree about half an
hour ; they all went towards Hyde in procession, six abreast ;
they went quietly ; they were firing pistols ; witness followed
them a quarter of a mile to the Flowery Field ; witness went
no further with them, as that was the verge of their district
as a constable. Miller did not go.
This witness was crostiexamined by Mr, STPHENS, but
his evidence was not shaken in any particular.
George Miller examined by Mr. TEMPLE.—In T;ovember
last he was a special constable at Dukinfield ; was called out
by the list witness on the night in question, and spoke to the
'same'cireuniatiinces, up to the Cotton-tree public-house, and
stopped there because he was only sworn in for the township
of Dukinfield, and the procession went into Newton ; whilst
standing at the Snipe Tavern door, a pistol was fired near to
him, and then there was a laugh ; a pistol was then fired
close to his head, and just singed his whiskers, and then there
was a louder laugh ; was not much alarmed, but another
constable was.

Cross-examined.—Did not see the defendant ; has heard
him speak at other meetings ; has heard hini speak in lan-
guage that had a tendency to excite to burnings ; has not
heard him speak or say any person should do any wrong ad ;
was not alarmed, nor did he see any person so when he left.
Re-examined.—The speech about burnings was about
burning bastiles (union Workhouses ;) defendant said one was
burned down in Wales ; witness said it was not .true ; de-
fendant said he believed it was.

Mr. Viiliam,Tinker, surgeon, Hyde, examined by Mr.
JERVIS.—Was at home on the evening in question ; saw the
various processions .pass his house towards the Cotton-tree,
Newton ; one.was about 1000 persons three•or four abreast ;
they had a band of music, torches, and baimers ; one inscrip-
tion was—

" For children and wife,
We will war to the knife."

Saw anotheeprocession in an hour after pass the corner of
Clarendon-place, towards the place where the meeting, was
subsequently held; there were 5,000 or 6,000 ; they had three
bands of music, a great many torches, transparencies, and
banners ; several red caps were carried on poles ; has lived
in the neighbourhood 20 years, and did not know one person
in the procession. [The witness here si ,ice to firing of pis-
tols, &c. &ci ; the 'inscriptions on the banners, the most
striking of which was, " Ashton demands universal suffrage,
or universal vengeance."] Witness went to the place of
meeting •, it was a large open space, and hustings were erect-
ed,, on which were several persons, and amongst them the de-
fendant, who addressed the meeting. He opened his address
to the meetinc, in: these words Banner Knights, artillery-
men, sharpshooters, and my little powder monkeys, I have
good news for you ; I have attended several meetings this
day, and the people are all of your mind, and determined to
have their rights." He (Stephens) said he had been at Bol-
ton and other places, where the authorities had waited on the
military commandant of that district, where the magistrates
had requested the assistance of the military on the occasion
of a public meeting ; and that the officer had answered, that
if the civil power was not sufficient, he must then call upon
him, and he should be ready to attend with the military ;
but he had a friend in the barracks who had assured him,
that if the soldiers had been called out, not one would have
acted. There were many shouts from time to time. Mr. S.
then recommended the people to arm, and instanced that
various clubs were doing so, and the Foresters' Club was one
that was particularly named. He said they were applying
their burial funds to the purchase of arms. When he said
that, witness heard a man say, " Aye ! that's the thing I
put forward at our last club night." At the conclusion Mr.
Stephens asked them (the meeting) if they were ready—were
they armed ? This was answered by two or three from the
meeting. He then sa'd, "Is that all?" That was fol-
lowed by a greater number of shots ; upon' that he said,
" I see it's all right, and I wish you all good night."
Heard shots discharged whilst other persons were speaking.
The processions and meeting were calculated to excite alarm ;
witness stayed till between eleven and twelve o'clock, and
left the meeting assembled.
Cross-examined by Mr. STEPHEN s.—Had heard defendant
preach often, but did not remember his ever speaking against
the Monarchy, or the constitution of King, Lords, and Com-
mons, but had heard him use language exciting to deeds of
violence and blood. " You," said he, addressing the de-
fendant, " said that the rights Of the working people to Mr.
Howard's mill was written in letters of blood in every brick
and stone in that factory; you advised them to get a large
carving knife, which would do very well to cut a rasher of
bacon or run a man through who opposed them ; I know what
the old women like : in the one instanee itwas rum, in the
other it was beer, and in Mr. Hciward's cellar they would
find them ;, and if there is not sufficient there, they could go
to Brereton ;" Witness did not-take notes of that ; they are
the words • does not know what else the defendant said ; re-
collects the beginning and conclusion perfectly, but not the
middle, except as to its general tendency ; did not take notes ;
it is about two months since that witness was called upon
about this meeting. Mr. Stephens then proceeded to test
the accuracy of the witness's memory, by reading an extract
from a speech attributed to him by Lord Brougham in the
House of Lords, which he read to hilt', and requested that it
might
,be repeated by the witness,,,who said he could not do
it, and it would be folly to attempt it.
Re.:examined.--The speech about Mr. Howard's mill was
within 200 or 300 yards of it ; Mr. Howard employs about
800 hands ; Brereton is an estate belonging to Mr. Howard,
where he resides with his family; it is twenty-five miles from
Hyde.
Joshua Pickford, cotton-manufacturer, attended the meet-
ing and corroborated the statement.of the last witness as to
the procession and flags, and stated that one of the latter
liUd on it the word " Blood," in "Tarp.- letters. Heard Mr.
Stephens speak, saying he had been addressing'the people of
Wigan and Leeds the day before, and that the people sympa-
thized with the meeting, and would go with it; he.said the
soldiers had been ordered at one of the places to be in readi-
ness, but that the meeting need not be afraid of the soldiers
as_theywould net act against them ; that the,time had go:lie
byfor petitioning and remonstrating ; that he had beep:a4-
vising the people of Wigan and Leigh to arm, and that there
should be no mistake there to-night he advised them ;
and " you, seen, women, and powder-monkeys, if youlnean
to buy fire-arms, put up your hands with me." Mr. Bte-
phens put'up both hands, and some hundreds of hands were
pdt up : there was very general shouting and firing of arms.
Witness left the meeting about half-past ten 'o'clock. Heard
music a little after twelve o'clock, and thinks the meeting
was dispersing. Mr. Stephens advised them to purchase
guns, swords, pistols, and pikes, or anything that would
tell a sharper tale than their tongues. .The meeting was cal-
culated to create alarm. Witness was net alarmed, but his
wife and children were, and his wife 'stayed up until all was
quiet. Most of the crowd were, strangers.
Cross-examined.---Was a manager of, and is now partner
in Mr. Howard's mill. Defendant was at one time a fre-
quent guest at Mr. Howard's. Never heard him speak on
the factory question. Heard all the defendant's speech, and
thinks it lasted from twenty minutes to half an hour. TOok
no notes. Came forward a month after at the instance of the
magislr.ates._ - • •

gin Charles Howard, manufacturer, Hyde, examined by
the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, corroborated the previous evidence
about the processions through Hyde, and the meeting. He
described the meeting as consisting of 10,000 or 15,000 peo-
ple. Heard a part of Mr. Stephens's speech, to the same
effect as the previous meetings, and addressing himself to
the piecers, he said the boys at Staleybridge procured fire
arms, by forming companies, subscribing their pennies, and
had each a pisto given to them as far as their money would
purchase : there was much cheering and shouting throughout
the whole speech ; when witness left the meeting the parties
were still speaking. Witness and his family were alarmed.
Cross-examined.--When witness left Stephens was speak-
ing. His alarm was lest sparks from the torches should fire
his barn. Felt alarmed before he left the house. Does not
recollect that defendant has complained of his factory.
Mr. Edward Hibbert, of Godley, manufacturer, corrobor-
ated also the preceding evidence as to the procession and
meeting, the defendant's speech, &c. He (Stephens) said he
had been either at Bolton or Bury, and there he spoke about
them being armed as before described. He said two officers
told him if they rose the military would not molest them. He
said " We have got the emancipation of the black slaves, and
now we must try to get the emancipation of the white slaves."
Witness was alarmed, and the meetings were sufficient to
alarm any one.
Mr. Samuel Ashlin, jun. of Godleigh, Hyde, gave similar
testimony.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL.—That is the case far the:pro-
secution.
Mr. STEPHENS rose to address the jury at a quarter past
twelve, and with great animation, for five hours.
The LearnedJ UDGE summed up the evidencevery, minutely,
and the jury found the defendant guilty. He was sentenced
to eighteen months' imprisonment in Knutsford Gaol, and
requited, on the expiration of his sentence, to give bail for
his good behaviour for five years, himself in £3OO, and two
sureties in £250 each.

THE SEASON.—We are sorry to say we have had much
rain this week. In the intervals, however, a considerable
quantity of hay has been got in.—Lancaster Gazette.
IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.—About eight weeks ago, Mr.
Peter Gourley, present tenant of the small island called
Hestern, at the mouth of the Water of Urr, came upon de-
&led indications of copper ore, specimens of which are
lying before us at the present time. After arranging with
the proprietor, Mr. Heron of Duncow, he commenced work-
ing and has at present about twenty men employed. Such,
at least, is the information conveyed, and we further learn
that the ore is considered of the richest quality. One cargo
of this valuable mineral has already been shipped, and there
will be others by and by in the rough state ; for smelting
apparatus erected on the spot is not considered indispensible.
In one of the specimens in our possession, it is easy to detect
engrained gold, and should Hestern realize present promise,
it will become as rich subteraneously, as its surface is naked
and 'bleak, supporting only a few goats and sheep, with
patches of cultivation dotted betWeen.—Dumfries Courier.

PARACHUTE DESCENT AND SINGULAR LOSS OF THE
BALLooN.—Nesterday Mr. Hampton's third descent in his
parachute took place from the Flora tea-gardens, Bayswater.
Mr. Hampton's parachute, which is called " the Safety" con-
sists of a very large expanded half-circle of prepared canvass,
and resembles a large chaise umbrella. It is strengthened
with ribs of great power, and covered with net work ; and a
wicker,basket is attached to it with strong cords, from which
a brass tube proceeds up*ardS, conveying a cord to the bal-
loon, and, by a simple apparatus, the moment the parachute
is detached, the valves of the balloon open, and the escape
of the gas is so rapid, that the balloon generallyreaches the
earth, as soon as the parachute. The assemblage of people
at the Flora Gardens was very great, and in Hyde Park and
Kensington Gardens were congregated an incalculable num-
ber of persons. At half--past seven "the parachute was at-
tached, and Mr. Hampton stepped into it with the greatest
confidence amid loud cheering. The ascent was magnificent
and almost perpendicular. When the balloon had ascended
about three-quarters of a mile, down came the parachute and
up went the balloon. It/was a feverish moment, as the for-
mer heaved heavily from side to side. As it ' descended it
eame more steadily, and at last fell upon the branch of a tree
in Kensington Gardens. Mr. Hampton seemed stunned.
He was assisted out, but at first could not speak, and was
very faint. He was carried to the tavern, cheering and cheered
as he went along. He was,hurt in the chest.ana knee, The
Valves of the ballotni`dicl not open; and it 6-eentre4 id hn im-
mense height, and has not been heard of siikez-=Moliiing
Herald, Tuesday.