Star.
London, England, 1819-10-08 00:00:00

u.

MEETING IN THE' PAISH OF ST. JOHN>
SOUTHWARK.

i
Yesterday a Meeting tkf the Parishioners of Saint'
John, took. place in the Vestry Room, Fair-street,
Horselydown, to take into consideration the outrage
committed on a legal assemblage of the people at
Manchester. on the 16th of August, by the Magis-
trates and Yeomanry Cavalry.
About eleven o'clock, Mr. COTTAX (one of the
Churchwardens) took the Chair. After reading the
notice by which the Meeting was convened, he de-
sired any Gentleman to come forth and deliver his
sentiments, and prayed that an impartial bearing
would be granted to each person.
Mr. Glittes then came forward, and observed,
that after the able manner in which the melancholy
suloject, which was the cause of their Meeting, had
already been discussed at other Public Meetings, it
would be unnecessary for him to enter at any great
length on a question which had been developed with
such ability by men of the first political importance.
The impossibility of the inhabitants'of the whole of
this populous Boron h assembling together in one
re/
body, bad su the idea of Parish or Vestry
Meetings, to ew that the opinion recorded of this
deplorable transaction at the General Meeting, was
not the opinion of one, or of two men, but of the
whole Borough, as well as to hear what the advocates
of this bloody business (if there were any) could say
for so bad a cause—(Ffear, hear). The Resolutions '
which he should have the honour of submitting fora
their consideration, were, he believed, grounded on
incontrovertible principles—it was the lawful and un-
deniable right of the people to meet and discuss their
grievances in a peaceable manner ; and he believed
after what had tranpired, no man would deny that
the Meeting at Manchester was peaceably conducted,
till disturbed by the Magistrates and soldiery (or ra-
ther, fellows in the garb of soldiers), for they did not
deserve that term. The atrocities which marked
their blood-thirsty career, were well known, and could
not be regarded without feelings of horror, to which
was added a deeper dye by the approbation which
those atrocities had received from a quarter that
ought to be exceedingly jealous of its thanks. It was
however, a pretty good hint how the country was to
be governed in future—(Applause.) Mr. Gillies then
adverted to the circumstances which led to the sus-
pension of the Habeas Corpus Act, by which hun-
dreds were immured in dungeons, and all to give a
momentary check to the cause of Reform, which af-
terwards broke out with redoubled fury, and for any
cause that was presented, would always have its ad-
mirers. For his own part, he was one of those who,
firmly believed that the Reformers had no hostile
views towards the Governrhent; but, could it be
hoped, if treated as they now were, they would long
continue so ? He then read seven Resolutions, which
were in the usual style.
Mr. BLACK rose to second the Resolutions. Every
sentiment they contained did but echo his own opi-
nions, strengthened by existing circumstances. That'
the Meeting at Manchester was perfectly legal, peace-
able, and well-disposed, the greatest sceptic must ad-
mit; and yet the highest authority in the country had
told the people that they were not in possession of
the real facts of the case. This might be very true;
there might be circumstances known to the Govern-
ment. rommunkaLcd by Cictalczucn of " unduubted
veracity," whom the Public had sometimes impro-
perly called spies, but who in the Ministerial vocabu-
lary were styled " honourable .men, who deserved
well of their country"—(.4 laugh.) Those Gentle-
men might, indeed, have communicated what they
pleased, and the people were not in possession of it ;
but he would maintain that every thing which could
be known through any honourable channel was known,
and went to prove the awful fact that an unarmed
and unoffending multitude had been sabred by dra-
Vrs in the exercise of a legal duty—(Applause.)
ag: must be the feelings of a man who was com-
pelled to work 14 hours for one shilling, and to live;
or rather to starve, with his emaciated family, on oat-
meal and water, to know that if he pays 4id. for one
pound of salt, to give his wretched fare some relish,
that td. out 4 that sum goes to the support of a set
of pampered sinecurists, who, if he dare seek legal
means of ameliorating his condition, put him to death
at the point of the sword ?—(Cheers, and a strong
feeling of sympathy.) He was happy to hear that the
Counties throughout England were all hastening from
that apathy in which they have long lain, and de-
manding, with a voice of thunder, an inquiry into this
bloody business. Mr. Black concluded a very im-
pressive address by seconding the Resolutions.
The Resolutions were then put from the Chair sepa-
rately, and carried arniLkt acclamations.
Thanks were then voted to the CHAIRMAN, and,
the Meeting dispersed. ,

It having been announced, that a Meeting of the
Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch,
would be held yesterday morning at ten o'clock, for
the purpose of expressing their opinion respecting the
proceedings at Manchester on the 16th of August,
a considerable number assembled at the hour stated,
in the Veal), Room of the Church. After waiting
same time ineffectually for the appearance of the
Churchwarden, who was expected to have taken the
Chair, Mr. LINDSAY was called to it.
. _ .

Mr. BRIDGEMAN then rose and said, that a Requi-
sition had been presented to the Churchwarden of
the I'arish, requesting him to call a Vestry Meeting,'
for the purpose of discussing the late proceedings at
Manchester, at ten o'clock that day. Upon reading
tl.e Requisition the Churchwarden observed, that it
was impossible to comply with their desire, because
it was :t standing order in the Vestry-books,• that noj
Meeting of the Vestry should be held but at four
o'clock in the afternoon. He added, that if the Meet-
were called a Meeting of Parishioners, and not
'Vestr y Meeting, it might be held in the morning,
and he would grant the Vestry Room for the pur-
pose Mr. Lindsi.y, who presented the Requisitton,l
eking at the time that the proposed alteration!
ty essential difference, consented to it. Now
Bridgeman, thought there was an important
ze between a Meeting of the Inhabitants and
;try Meeting.
,ppearing to to the. general opinion of the indi-
; present, that an adjournment should take
Resolution to that effect was put and carried

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