Star.
London, England, 1819-10-25 00:00:00

,

to receive them, because the
;rated tielsee %%hither Tribunal ;—.
vitnesses •said they had further eel-
then still refused to hear them, and
is said that some-cases would: be
hem, which had never been before
the Magistrates still refused them,
" of the same nature"—(Hear,'
led Ahem that the information was
could procure, but still- it was not of
to justify them in, deciding on the
Again; it. Was said, that the tte-
ent had taken measures, and that
lied ou. This.confidence in the Ese-
ent,'in questions affecting
_popular
hich he could not 'ackafirileggh-
e old practice of the Constitnnon,
[ant jealousy against the Minion* of
I the courtly phrase of unbounded
d have been spurnedat. as-unworthy
--(Applause). But it they were di:-
confidence in the Executive, the Mi-
a care it should not be so. hey had
[le of the Prince Regent to an 'entire
approval of the proceedings at Man-
use). They, who accused others of
question. hail themselves prejudged
told by the same description Of per-
dangerous to call together the Peo-
nt sate of public feeling. These per-
ught it danger:As to call together the
were ready, however, to call them
Addresses on Royal Births or Royal
d applause), and it was right that they
interest in the events which affected-
[ their Sovereign ; but was it not also,
y should also take some interest in
their own happiness and liberty ?
ost important rights secured to them
ns, was the right of Petitioning, and
g too, if a course fatal to their in-
tnevered in—(11e81. In thii right
s had given them a powerful yet a
) interfere between the People and the
✓ the protection of both--(Applause).
tumult now arose around the gates
:casioned by the struggles, of people
o gain admission ; the noise for some
i the speaker. Dr. Fenwick at length
u this light he had always viewed the
using, and he never found himself in
assembly of British Freeholders with-
t he beheld a powerful pledge of the
Constitution. But, it was said that
me to strengthen the hands of Govern-
the limits of the laws he was willing
vernment all powerful ;' but what was
wernment which the times required,
s suitable to the Constitution? Not st
wrong in the suspension Of our rights,
which the law denied—not a.Govern-
i the means of corruption, or in an ex-
ng army in the time of peace; but a
wrong in well defined powers—strong
if public happiness, and therefore rooted
as of the People. He trusted the pre-
would shew how safe it was at all times
t:ople—to explain their rights, and to
t peaceably to assert them. It was as
nest of the lowest as well as of the
hers of society to preserve the Constitu-
Pioud as the merits of our ancestors
tulest laurels which encircled their brows
which the creation-and defence of this
entitled them. 'Might we ever preserve
Fe..ing neither the palsy of despottsni to
p, nor the fury of tbe populace towrencir
Applatue). It was in a strict adherence
it safety was to be found; and if men in
well as the People theinselves, would
re to it, they would find its salutary prin.
:tit to maintain the public order, to avert
:races of casual mischances. There was
DO which he would detain them for a few
seer—he meant the conduct of those men
he leaders of what was called Radical
le was unwilling to prejudge any indioi.
.11e lowest to the highest ; but when he
n'4.tigable activity with which they tra-
:oantry, those districts especially where
an of wages bad created distress,—when
n marshalling people from one distant
amnion centre—.—
me tae tumult, which had from time to
ward sierra without the doors of the Hall,
der. The persons without, who were un-
it- the proceedings, cried loudly far ad-
to tl.e Green, in front of the Hall. As
s not complied with, they seemed deter-
-I,tevent, by the noise they made, those
e!ijoying any advantage over them.
.!:!1i called on the Constables to do their
oPping the tumult. He declared that the
.sal been appointed to be held in that Hall,
c should not adjourn it. He pointed out
is who were seen through the main door of
crcating much of the noise, and observed
were no Freeholders, and should be pie-
.:n disturbing the Court.
from within the Hell said, that
reeholder, and having with great difficulty
I.ltnis..ion, he could speak from his own
,e, that there were many Freeholders on the
1.0 could not get within hearing.
said, that tht Meeting was one for

n,riint.nre acquiesced in the propriety of
!emu k. but said it was to be lamented
)1 ke could not hold all those who had a

'
owLl.l r said the clamopr was in the way of
.ir.d that the persons around the dour
"11..,.; trio cause which they were desirous of

rrsl rose amidst a burst of applause,
t::,, overwhelmed the noise of those who
ti for admission. He implored those
•r ;'.4nt the reach of his voice to be silent,
0..1t to the Constables and Under-Sheriff
;•,), on a balustrade without the Court,
‘loirc in keeping up the spise which had
their elders.
1,1.:'e .111: degree of silence was then procured.
" t: then proceeded to say, that be was

distinctly heard on tke. subject, on
at that moment addressing tho

Meeting', and on svhich much inisuriderstiliding had
prevailed. When he saw (he said) the leaders of the
Radical Reformers travershig the Kingdom in .ei
. ery
direction, especially in those places where the reduc
lion of wages made the people
dissatisfied
with their
condition—when he found them vilifying,
grossest misrepresentations, whatever was honour-
able among public characters—when he found them.'
falsifying the history of their
sitions which had no foundation
country to assert pro
ndation in truth,
he hardly
anew tow to express his alarm. But if this was
ataming, was the danger to be met by publit men
,separating themselves from the great body of the
people, by signing loyal Addresses in Chambers
or
hidden places?—(Applause)—Was it not rather to be
'met by calling the people together, by appealing to
their reason, to their good principles, to their loyalty
to The Government, and their duty to Goo ? The
Radical Reformers, he was convinced, were con-
tending for what was not known to the Constitution,
nor practised under it, not one contended for by those
who had wisely formed our present frame of Govern.
'ment—for such a change, in short,, as would leave
nothing of the Constitution hut the frame remaining.
Ile had'now explained the views of the Gentlemen,
who signed the Requisition, who were desirous of
preventing a dangerous precedent from being formed,
who would adhere to the Constitution in all its parts,
anxious for the safety of the prerogative of the Crown,
as well as the Liberties of the People, and fur the.
maintenance of the authority of the law, as well as
'of their own rights. In accordance of the principles
'cif those who had signed the Requisition, a series of
Resolutions had been framed, which embodied the
substance of them. These Resolutions would be read
audibly to them for their adoption or rejection.
[The conclusion of this speech was received with
three cheers, and with much applause].
The following Resolutions were then read :
", L. That it is contrary to the principles of the Constitution,
and a dangerous invasi en of one of its most impo.tant privileges,
forcibly to interrupt and disperse any Meeting of the People,
legally assembled, and peaceably held for the consideration of
any matter affecting the public welfare.
" 2. That the dispersion of the Meeting held at Manchester,
on the 16th of August last, by a Military Force, whereby many
of his Majesty's Subjects were grievously wounded, and some
actually killed, has filled us with anxiety and alarm, and that
we have seen with astonishment and regret, the approbation
which his Royal Highness the Prince Regent has, without any
sufficient opportunity for inquiry, been advised to give to those
persons concerned in the direction and execution oc that measure.
" 3. That although nothing has appeared which justifies the
conduct of the Magistrates and Yeomanry on that occasion, we
are unwilling to pronounce a positive censure upon it, without
hearing all that can be alleged in their defence ; but that we fed
it to be our duty to demand a strict and solemn investigatiotrof
occurrences, which have proved so calamitous to-many df our
fellow-subjects, and which tend to the establishment of a pre-
cedent of the utmost danger to the Liberties of the Country.
" 4. That while we thus express our opinion, we disclaim any
approbation of the political principles of those by whom the
Meeting at Manchester was convened, and declare our unal-
terable attachment to the Constitution, and firm determination
to support the authority of the Laws against whoever may vio-
late them.
" 5. 'That an humble Address be therefore presented to his
Royal Highness the Prince Regent,.conformable to the tenour of
the above, Resolutions."
GEORGE BAKER, Esq. seconded the Resolutions.
Mr:Laiatiroa said, that they would perhaps ex-
pect from him, as their Representative, a few words
on that occasion, though it was unnecessary to add
any thing to the. clear detail by which the Resolu-
tions had been introduced. He had .not anticipated
that it would be his misfortune to belsold the county
of Durham assembled on so melancholy all occasion,
to vindicate the principles asserted by their ancestors
in the Bill of Rights—of fully and freely declaring
their grievances by petition. lie had not anticipated,
that if this right had been disputed, that any men
claiming the name of Englishmen could have been
found to pursue their traitorous object (for treason it
was against the Constitution), &rough the bodies of
their fellow-sibjects; or that they would have raised
against the liberties of their country, hands reeking
with the blood of helpless and unoffending women
and children—(Applause.) Such were the occur-
rences of the day which had given occasion to the
present Meeting. The laws had been violated by
those who had been sworn to obey them, and by
those who were leagued originally to defend their
fellow-countrymen against their common foe, not to
raise their fratricide swords against Englishmen.—
The fact was not to be disguised, English blood had
been shed, and not one drop should be unaccounted
for. They had been accused of prejudging the ques-
tion. The Malichester Magistrates might have rea-
sons for arresting Mr Bunt ; of that he knew nothing :
but there were no reasons which could justify the
Yeomanry in their acts on the 16th of August. Not
to go into the details of the business, (and he should
i,e happy if he could turn from this page of our his-
tory for ever,) they had facts before them as to the
legality of the Meeting. The Meeting called for the
9th of August was declared illegal; it was aban-
doned. Another Meeting was declared for the 16th.
Did the Magistrates declare that illegal? Did they
(as Dr. Fenwick had well observed), when Mr. Hunt
applied to them on the Saturday previous to the
Meeting, take him into custody, or inform him that
there was any charge against him or the Meeting?
Nay more (as one of the Ministerial Papers of the
time observed), " they stared at the' fellow's impu-
dence!" Yet, on the Monday or.ly, on the, deposition
of that Owen (against whom the bill for perjury had
been found), that the town was in danger, they issued
their warrant to apprehend him! The Magistrates
might have concealed reasons for this: it might be
wise, and salutary, and just, to suffer the Meeting to
assemble, in order to disperse it by an armed.forcet
it was possible also that they might have their rea-
sons- for telling Mr. Hunt a falsehood on the Saturday,
and taking Owen's deposition on the Monday ; but
nothing could justify the attack on the Meeting si-
multaneously with the arrest of Mr. Hunt, when the
warrants might have been executed without the least
disturbance. No symptom of riot had appeared;
and it was not till the swords of the Yeomanry had
drunk deeply of the blood of the People, that it was
pretended that any violence was offered in return.
This statement did not rest on solitary witnesses or
doubtful facts, but on testimony before the whole
world. The previous Meeting had been declared il-
legal, the Meeting of the 16th had not ; at the Meet-
ing, no breach of the peace had been committed,—
The warrant was issued against Mr. Hunt, still there
was no breach of the peace. The Riot Act was read
in a corner; and then, as if on that unhappy day every',
formality of the law was only brought forward to,
be mocked at, the• Cavalry charged before the hour
allowed in the Act had elapsed--(Hear, hear !)--

These facts he hope) they
niould relate to tbeir
ren and their children's children : they would he writ+
ten in the annals of our country in letters of blood.
Some slave had brought forward the words oh the
banners of the Meeting that day, " Liberty or death!"
as a proof of the traitorous nature of the Meeting.
When the time came that the coupling of these words
should be deemed the harbinger cf rebellion, he
should be glad to disown the country that had given
him b;rth—(Loud applause.) Who had heard un•
moved the song of Scottish independauce burst upon
his ear?

Who would be a traitor knave?
Who.would fill a coward's grave?
Who so base as be a slave?
Let him turn and dee!
Who for Scotladd's King and Law,
Freedom's sword would bravely draw,
Freeman stand or freeman fa',
Let him on with me! (-4pplause.)
He, for one, would not consent in silence to hear such
sentiments branded as seditious. It was the cry of
Liberty, in similar terms, which expelled the Stuarts,
and made the way for the Brunswick Family to the
•throne of these realms. Conscious as he was that it
was the reverence of those principles which would
keep them on the throne to which they had been
raised, he was much alarmed at witnessing the ap-
probation which had been bestowed on the transac-
tions at Manchester, in the name of the Frince Re-
gent. But they might be assured, from the natural
goodness of the Prince Resent's heart, that the senti-
ments were those of his Ministers only. Their's, and
not their Master's, was the insult upon the People;
but as they had identified him with themselves, it
was the duty of the People to step forward to express
their sentiments to him, and if any looked tamely on,
they should not be surprised if the next attempt was
made at their own doors, and on their own persons—
(-Applause.) Ile was proud to see, however, that the
many Public Meetings throughout the Country had
shewed the inutility of the attempts to induce the
People to desert their natural leaders. The York
County Meeting. would shew whether the assistance
of those leaders were disdained ; and would not the
same thing happen throughout England,• if the same
aid was proffered to the People? Let them look too,
as a contrast, at the conspicuous leader of Radical
Reform in the West Riding: it turned out at that
Meeting, that he was in intimate connexion with
Oliver, the Government spy. His name, for he was
willing to hold him up to infamy, was Mitchell.—
There was one Meeting in their own neighbourhood
to which he should allude, and the report of the
speeches'at which must have bien drawn up by the
persons who uttered them, for never had he seen so
many falsehoods crowded in so small a space, all di-
rected to the purpose of dissolving the connexion be-
tween the higher and the lower orders. A few asset-
tibns, on facts which. were notorious, it would be
.enough for him to notice. It was there said, that
though resistance had been offered to the Income-
Tar, which fell upon the rich, yet no opposition had
been made when three millions of new taxes were
imposed upon the People. He could not imagine
ow a person. could be found to venture an assertion
so false, when it was known from the sources of 'in-
formation open to the Public, that on the first
mention of those. taxes many Members, and he (Mr.
Lambton) happened to be the individual through
Whom the declaration was made, declared their in-
tention to oppose them. There was one Hodgson,
among the speakers at Newcastle, who said—" Our
superiors do not wish us to meet, for what, say they,
have we to do with laws hut to obey them ? or with
taxes, but to pay them ?" This was a sentiment
which, though Mr. Hodgson attributed to all public
men, he (Mr. Lanibton) had never heard fiom any
public man of any description. What then was to
be inferred from this defamation; but that they
*ished to degrade that station
.which was occupied
by others, and which they coveted for themselves.—
He would leave the claims of these men to be settled
by reference to history ; as he knew not one occasion,
either within his own experience, or from a reference
to history, in which the natural leaders of the.people,
whom it was the objeet of these men to vilify or dis-
place, had not stepped forward to fight the battles
of their country. There ,was'a document from a dif-
ferent quarter, which had been put into his hands,
and on which was entitled " Declaration," and which
had been posted pretty freely on the walls of the
City. This document had, he was informed, origi-
nally issued from a room in the Waterloo Tavern—
and certainly a place had been chosen appropritte to
the production. The names affixed to it left no doubt
that it originated from those who often occupied the
place where he then stood (the Magistrates Bench).
There were Magistrates, Agents, Attornies, and all the
machinery of a Quarter Sessions; and, as Pope said,
prompt at the call,
" Broad hats, caps, wigs, and gowns, a sable shoal."
(A lase ).—lt was said in this Paper, that the per-
sons who concur in it, trust, " that the legal inves-
tigatiOn of the whole of th 6 transactions which has al-
teady been instituted before the proper and competent
1 tribunals of the country will, as speedily as is consistent
with the ends of justice, be brought to a close."—
Now the only case in which any legal investigation
was pending, that he knew of, was in the case of
Owen, against whom a true bill for perjury had
been found. Now he would leave it to the good
sense of the people, whether a trial on such a case as
that, was a fit bccasion to take into consideration one
of the grossest atteinfits which had ever been made
the liberties of the people? Whether it was fit on
such a trial as that of Owen, to put at issue a question
no less than this—whether we should live free, or
under a military despotism—whether, when the
people had met to consider political questions, they
should be dispersed at the point of -the sword ?
(Arkus..) Os the tumult ag.tin arose at the door
of the Court, and loud cries were heard.for an ad-
journment to the Green, Mr. Lambton said, that he
regietted as much as any man the insufficiency of
arse Hall to contain the numbers assembled, but as
'-the Sheriff bad declared his determination not to ad-
and as no arrangement had been made for a
Tooting in the open air, the continued noise of those
who were without, could only prevent the majority
within from hearing.] He concluded by saying, that
1 the call had been made, and the Freeholders had now
`to come forward and vindicate their rights--(applause.)
' Mr. PowLarr said, that as the Resolutions had
been seconded, it was unnecessary for him to trouble

hat
peni

open
the
evo

ing-
Wa'

thin Meeting at any great length. As jlis lath@ V;
not affixed to the Requisition he thought it necessary
to explain the reason. At the time.whert.the Requi-
sition was signed, be was absent in Londoni so tln,t
had he fully concurred as to the h ecessity of the Meet-
ing, he should nor. have been able to have signed it.
At that time too, he was aware that Paeliatnent Was
to be assembled, and he felt confident that an inquiry
would be instituted by that body, which tnade him
less anxious for a Public: Meting. It wits the un-
doubted, unalienable right of Englishmen td assem-
ble to discuss their grievances. But as to the Mee!,
ing at Manchester, whether it w;is legal or no, he
did not presume td cfl'er an opinion, nor, after all
the information he had received, was he able to form
one. He saw that the fact was not denied, even in
the prints most favottrable to Government, that blood
had been shed. But, whether the Riot Act was read,
or if read, whether read openly and publicly, re-
mained doubtful. It was said, indeed, th.t Mr.
Hunt, the orator, had been informed.that the Riot
Act had been read, and it so, guilty indeed muss
that than • be, who, tiin?.er these circumstances„ ad,
vised the people to stand Arm) when the cavalry
were advancing towards thereat But all this rd.
Mained to be proVed. He deplored that such Meet-
ingi as those at Manchester were held, as that w.i
not the way really to do good ; for be was convinced
if the representations of the people were addressed
to Parliament in a proper manner, they would al-
-1 ways be attended to. lie regretted that people Of
landed property seemed to entertain ertoneous ideas
respecting such Meetings as the present ; they were
not Radical Reformers, hut assembled under an
anxiety for the preservation of their existing rights.
When the Parliament assembled, they would find
him at his post, and ready to concur in any measure
for the investigation of the subject.—(Soule ap•
plauses, and some hisses.)
The Resolutions were then put, and no one hand
was held up against them.
Dr. FENWICK theu,submitted to the Meeting an
Address, drawn up conformably to the purport f.of
the Resolutions.
The following Address was then read by the Un-
der-Sheriff, and agreed to unanimously :
s< We hii Majetty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the No.
ditty;
Clergy, and freeholders of the County of Durham, ap.
preach your Royal Highness, to. express our fidelity to your
Royal Highness's illustrious Family, and unalterable attachment
'Yo our invaluable Constitution ; and at the same time respect-
fully, but earnestly, to represent oar deep regret at the event
which took place at Manchester, on the 16th of August lest,
when a Meeting, which appers to have keen legally assembled,
and peaceably cos:duped, was violently -dispersed by a military
force, whereby some of our fellow subjects were killed, and many
grievously wounded. Our atom at this nietarieholy occurrence
has been much increased by the approbation of thu coedit cf
theJlagistrates and Yeomanry on that day, which your Royal
Highness's confidential servants have expressed in the name cf
your Royal Highness, thus hastily prejudging on ex-pe,:•!c evi-
dence the measures oethose'engaged in these fatal transactions,
and giving the countenance of your Royal Highness's autho- •
rity to an apparently gross infraction of a constitutional tight.
" These circumstances, and the obstacles which have since
been interposed to the bringing of this affair before the malt-
baited Tribunals, induce us humbly to beseech your Royal High-
ness to take such measures, with the conanreence of Partlamel t,
as shall feat/ to a full investigation of those disastrous proceed-
ings, and to represent that, sock an investigation. is required to
quiet the public mind, And to prevent the, establishment of a
precedent fraught with the greatest danger to a most important
right of the people. While we thus express cur invincible at-
tachment to our popular rights, we beg leave to assure your
Royal highness of our equally firm determination to support the
authority of the laws, being fully convinced that as the freedom
of the subject forms the best safeguard of the Throne, so' the
maintenance of the Royal prerogative, and of the empire of the
laws, forms the only real secarity of our liberties."
Mr. WITHAM moved, that the A idriss be signed
by the High Sheriff in behalf of the Meeting.
Mr. Bzwi6KE seconded the motion.
Mr. LAMBTON observed, that it was necessary for
the Meeting, as well as for the getifF, to observe,
that in doing so, he did not act in his individual,, but
in his official capacity. •
The motion was agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. NI EY NELL, seconded bY Mr.
SHIPPERDSON, it-was attreed that the Address be Re-
sented to the PRINCE ItEGENT by Earl GREY.
Mr. Mitnuam, of Stockton, begged leave to con-
gratulate the Meeting on the probable result of their
exertions. The monster corruption had • long been
trembling in its den, and it remained for the 'Meet-
ings of York and Durham to unkennel it—(A laugh).
It had been the base practice to brand all the op-
posers of the present system' as jacobins, levellers,
demagogues, and so on. Let the authors of these
. - -
cat-- • he High Sheriff,
of
foil;
meta
served
tior
to 1

iu
at 1 1
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lumnies look. at the Requisitions to the High Sheriffs ; z
' York and Durham, and, they would blush at their 1 ;
, ••
lly and temerity. Mr. Milburn then prisc•rted a . . • ,
.otion to the High Sheriff, which that Officer ob- ; A •
rved was.. not relevant to, the subject of the R iequisi- , 1
on,
.under.which the. hleetipg had been appointed;
•be held. .Mr..Maburn acquiesced in this decision, , ! i 1 •
ad the motion was not .read. .
Mr. LAbIBT9N said, ,in allusion to.the cry whit-I ',
•
ad been made for an adjournment, that if it had dc-
. , i, : i •
ended on .him, hustings shoul4 have been erected in t , •
place where.alt those assembled might have bad 1 1 .
n opportunity of bearing ; but as those arrange- -ii, • , , t i
:toms had not been made,.an adjournment to the . t , ;• .
. !in • . 1
open air. would. hate narrowed, and not enlarged,
lie circle of t.',4ose who could hear the proceedings, ' • ,, f, I.
1
:ven if the Sheriff had • consented. He had 'now to t
,erform a duty as grateful to himself as to the Meet- ''
' i
ng—to move their Thanks. to the High Sheriff. If • I
;hat ... ' j
Gentleman's conduct, on the present occasion.
wassan earnest of his politeness and attention in per-
1
forming the duties of :his office, the County would i "
. •
• 1.
have no reason to repent his appointment. --• ': ! it l
Mr. Sm.vta seconded the motion, which wa s i ~ , r
unanimously agreed to, with applause. ,
The SHERIFF, Who had well merited the praise . f ' ir :A
• I
bestowed on him, by his calm and impartial conduct, i ;,
. •
returned his thanks to the Meeting, and to his. Hon. , •
" k
)., >
Vriend, Mr. Lambton. , ! /
Mr.'HOAR moved, that the Resolutions and Ad- • ,
, ! i
dress be insetted in the Newspapers: and observed, . i .
that the Ministers, who bad identified the Executive ~, •
Government with the Magistrates at Manchester, hxd 1 • .
placed the People in this predicament—they must 11 1
express their • feelings. on the subject, or, by their
silence, they must be branded for ever as consenting i
h !
to the establishment of a general system, on the . , I'
principles of that conduct, of which the Mitgiltrares 1
had given an example.—The mono was agreed to. 4, :li•,, i .•
The Meeting then broke upc—Drttli thi exception
of the tumult without the doors of the Hall for ad. , •
i i I .
mission, it was conducted witJ the greatest decerunuj 4 .I
. f !,•
. ,
• .
. ,
_... .
•