Star.
London, England, 1819-09-24 00:00:00

le. ell,.

1 2 dr

2 3 dr
r:!he- •o A Tali°, 7st. ETh. 3 6 dr
t t*, and hert firth his rider and Wat-
t Lis Leing drawn. Orelio the favourite at

cthe, these Races have appeared to be
years, when compared with the crowd of
,renthle, and the variety and extensiveness
;ee.inss. The first day there was but
d it was with sate difficulty that a second
uch, however, afforded the amateurs of this
iacation, both Races being admirably con-
-1,,,re people present than might have been
the scautiness of the Bill.of-fare for their
day, it was almost as numerously at-
7aars. Among those present we ols-
..i..wrnitt's and Lord Ducts's families; the
111ENar LItrnMOTT, Hart. Sir WM.
"R, %;.I'. Mr. Cairn, hl.l'. Mr. En-
Ml'. &c. ficc. &c.

ILt,VNI, a Coptain in the Army, started
a th,• ,hford road, to go twenty miles in
tineas. Ile went over a piece of
d r:t &tried. He did the first four mike
-crui ,is • the nett four minutes
• match by three tecocds only.

At one o'clock, the High-Bailiff; J. PRINSEP, Esq.
took the Chair, accompanied by Sir ROBERT WIL-
SON, and several of the most respectable inhabitants
of Southwark.
rhe DEPUTY-BAILIFF then addressed the Gentle-
men present, and stated, that the Meeting had been
convened, in pursuance of a Requisition signed by
about 144) Householders of that Borough. In con-
formity to the wishes expressed by those individuals,
the High Bailiff had consented to hold a Public
Meeting on this occasion, for the purpose of consi-
dering the recent conduct of the Magistrates and
Yeomanry Cavalry at Manchester.
The HIGH BAILIFF observed, that the numbers,
rank, and respectability of the Gentlemen, who had
signed the Requisition, justified him, as he conceived,
in lending his sanction to the present assemblage of
Electors. He therefore relied upon their sense of
propriety, and felt the utmost confidence that the'
business of the day would be conducted with order
and decorum. The high character of that populous
and wealthy appendage to the Metropolis of En;-
land would, he doubted not, be preserved in all its
integrity. They would feel it incumbent on them to
take no steps that should be calculated either to injure
a good cause, or to countenance a bad one—(Ap-
plause).—Whatever proceeding they should think it
necessary to adopt would be marked by a sacred re-
gard to the rights of property, and to the established
institutions of the country. In these circumstances,
he trusted that, whilst the Meeting expressed their
feelings on the immediate subject before them, they
would, at the same time, prove their fixed attach-
ment to the Laws and Constitution—(Applause).
Mr. WatszaszoNE now rose to move that the
Meeting should adjourn to the open air, on the ground
that the Town-hall was too small to afford accom-
modation to the Electors wishing to be present. As
he perceived that no individual was averse to this
adjournment, he would take the liberty of thus pub-
licly applying to the High Bailiff, on behalf of the
Gentlemen who attended with the view of publishing
reports of their proceedings. It was desirable that
such reports should be given with accuracy, and as
the best means of attaining that object, he wished to
suggest the propriety of affording to those who gave
them, the utmost personal accommodation. If this
were fairly done, all excuses for misrepresentation
would be withdrawn, and a certain Evening Paper,
pre-eminent in falsehood, a Paper which scarcely ever
told truth, even by accident, would be left without
the slightest pretext for its malevolent and injurious
perversions of every thing that touched upon the
lights or feelings of the People at large. He did not
mean to reflect or cast any discredit on the Gentle•
man who furnished reports to The Courier News-
paper, and who, probably, executed his task as ably,
and with as much fidelity, as those connected with
other prints. It was within the office, he had little
doubt, that the work of garbling, of mutilating, of
patching, and carving, was carried on, and care taken
not only to omit or colour what had been said, but to
insert what never had been said, nor even imagined.
• The limit BAILIFF intimated that he had already
given directions to this effect.
The motion for an adjournment being put and
carried, the thou BAILIFF descended, and took his
station in front of the Hustings, formed as we have
already described. At this moment, the concourse
of people was immense, and the anxiety manifested
by those more immediately surrounding the Hustings
—an anxiety inflamed by the severe pressure under
which they laboured—produced some confusion, and
rendered a good deal of exertion necessary for the re-
storation of order and tranquillity.
Mr. HALL, after a few minutes' puce, opened the
business of the day, and explained the object for
which they weie then assembled. It had been well
stated on a former occasion, by one whose character
they must all respect, that this object was wholly un•
connected with political or party feelings. They
were called together for the consideration and main-
tenance of a civil right, the existence of which was
not denied even by the hireling Press, which had had
the impudence toustify the conduct pursued at Man-
du.:*ter. They must have all heard of the dreadful

outrages committed in that town under the direction
of its Magistracy, and committed upon an indiscrimi-
nate multitude of persons, met together for a legal
and constitutional purpose. if the right so to meet
was, indeed, no longer enjoyed, they had all ceased
to be freemen, and must look at each other only in
the character of slaves. This was not the time for
discussing the doctrine of Universal Suffrage, or for
entering upon any argument as to Annual Parlia--
ments ; the only question was, whether Englishmen
were not entitled to meet for the consideration of
those subjects, and to frame such Petitions respecting
them as they might think proper? Certainly he was
not one disposed to embarrass the cause of Reform,
by demanding such points unconditionally, and re-
fusing to accede to any other terms. The general
opinion was in favour of that species of Reform e hich
should limit the duration of Parliaments to the period
of tkree years, and which-should extend the elective
Assziehise to all householders. To this plan he cheer-
fully subscribed, and he hoped that those who now
supported it would never relax their exertions till it
should be accomplished—(Applause). Public opi-
nion on this subject had been making a rapid progress
—a progress which promised shortly to be converted
into a triumphant march, and which the conduct of
the Manchester Authorities would certainly rather
accelerate than retard—( Loud applause). They had
only to adhere peaceably, but inflexibly, to the cause,
in order to see it crowned with ultimate success. All,
however, that they claimed on this occasion, was the
continuance of those rights which their ancestors had
enjoyed before them undisturbed, and which it was a
duty they owed to themselves and posterity to uphold
in as full a manner. If these rights were to be sur-
rendered, for what purpose had the country expended
its blood and treasure during twenty-five years of
sacrifices and privations? Was the final consequence
of this lavish waste of our resources to be the loss of
liberty, and their degradation into abject slaves of a
Ministry, which was ever feeling the pulse of the coun-
try, with a view to ascertain how far it was prepared
to receive the yoke of military despotism ? From the
commencement of the revolutionary war with France,
they had been always told by the partizans orGovern-
ment,th at it was undertaken to prevent the introduction
of anarchy, and the annihilation of property amongst
ourselves. Its object was always stated to be the
maintenance of social order, and of our free Consti-
tution; and it was declared to be necessary that we
should make a stand against French principles, if we
wished to secure our liberties. These were the views
held out to encourage them in submitting to burdens,
the weight of which all severely felt, and which must
probably continue to be felt with equal severity for
half a century to come, under the best administra-
tion of public affairs. and she must fortunate concur.
reace of circumstances. The war was terminated,
but instead of having led to an extension or confir-
mation of their rights, the exercise of one, the most
important of them all, had been interrupted by an
armed force, and a peaceable assembly trampled on
by the soldiery. It would be needless in him to con-
trast their situation now, with what it was at the
commencement of that revolutionary war to which
he had alluded. The difference was sensibly and
universally felt, but the late outrages, sanctioned and
approved by Government, rendered the transaction
.till more gloomy. Was this the reward to which
they had been taught to look forward—was this the
promised indemnity for the past, and security for the
future ? He was aware of the inconvenience which
many of them were suffering by the crowded state
of the Meeting, and should not detain them by any
farther observations. They would have the satisfac-
tion of hearing their worthy Representative (Sir Ro-
bert Wilson), who, with his accustomed zeal for the
general good, had come promptly forward to meet
his Constituents. Ile should advert, therefore, only
to one which appeared to him to call for explana-
don. He was reminded of it by a cry which he had
just heard, of " Where is Mr. Calvert?" It would
be desirable, in his opinion, that some answer should
be giver to this question, because, had that Gentle-
man been present, he should have deemed it his duty
to inquire, why he was not in the House of Com-
mons when the question of Parliamentary Reform
was last under discussion? He should now content
himself by regretting Mr. Calvert's absence, and
should conclude-by expressing his sense of the obli-
gations which they were all under to the independent
Press, in reference to this subject. Did the House
of Commons, as now constituted, exercise its due
controul over tke measures of the Government?
When the Constitution invested the King with the
prerogative of making war, it provided the means
of restraining it within certain bounds. Our ances•
tors imagined, that as the people were always to be
resorted to for the means of supporting war, an un-
just or an unnecessary one could not be of long du-
ration. If the present House of Commons had faith-
fully represented the people, was it credible that they
would last year have voted I:3,000,000 of additional
taxes ?—(Cries of " No, no.") To revert, however,
to the proceedings at Manchester, he must profess,
that in his belief, the Magistrates had been influenced
solely by a desire of kn.-ming their great prototype;
that they were merely the agents of that Noble Lord,
who had been well designated as the jailer-general
of the country—(A laugh). Ile could not conceive
that they would have had the temerity to perpetrat'
such an outrage on the lives of their fellow-subject
had they not -known that they should be support(
by a Government, which, in its turn, felt assured
support in a corrupt House of Commons—(Le
avlause). Mr. HALL then submitted the following
Resolutions:
fibht it is
letright ofthFarreedmoetyn to meet
maintain
dislcUTssirlateiitr igsdtheveraninicPesr,e9eriPtaud
these rights, to avoid becoming slaves, and thus render them-
selves unworthy of the privileges derived from their ancestors.
2. That it appears to this Meeting, a criminal, cruel, and
artily outrage has been committed by the Magistrates and
manry Cavalry of Manchester, on the 16th of August, against
unoffending multitude, constitutionally and legally assembled.
3. That ibis outrage appears to have been premeditated by

8. That being reduced to this situation, this Meeting does
recommend to all Counties, Cities, Boroughs, and Parishes,
throughout the United Kingdom, to assemble forthwith, and
call aloud for the trial and punishment of those who shall-be
proved to have inhumanly violated the laws ; to raise at the
same time their united voices in favour of an immediate Reform
in the Representative System; and to sustain "- Trial by Jury,"
as the only security left for their lives and properties.
9. That it appears to this Meeting that an Union amongst all
the Friends of British Liberty, and of a jest and mild Govern-
ment, is more titan ever necessary; and that it is the duty of
every man who is actuated by these principles and feelings to
promote such concert.
10. That a Subscription be opened, and that George Wether-
stone, Esq. be Treasurer ; and that, when the same it closed,
the amount be paid over to Sir. Robert Wilson, who is requested
to attend to the proper distribution thereof, in conjunction with
the Westminster Committee; and that Sir Robert Wilson,
Messrs. Wetherstonc, Davies, Lee, Cooper, Black, Gillies, and
Ault, be a Committee to carry this Resolution into effect, and
that they have power to add to their numbers.
Mr. WETHERSTONE seconded the Resolutions, and
'observed, that the Ministers of the Crown had
thought proper to make common cause with the au-
thors of the bloody outrages at Manchester. Their
language and declarations seemed to out-herod
Herod. The motives of the.friends to Reform had: •
been calumniated, and their characters defamed, only
because they claimed what they considered to
their rights. Those rights, he trusted, they would,
nevertheless, continue to claim with unabated spirit
and perseverance. The examination of Mr. Hunt,
t!..(44-0-rhe Magistrates at Manchester., and the ro.
roner's Inquest on the body of poor Lees, were, of
themselves, sufficient to establish-the netessity of
.a
Reform. -(It was at this moment that a company cf
the Guards marched through the centre of the crowd;
the circumstance evidently excited a strong momen-
tary sensation of displeasure ; but a tacit sign or two
from the Hustings had all the effect of the most pru-
dential suggestion, and the feeling quietly subsided.)
He had but a few words more to address to them.,
They were reproached by the Government Prints
with aiming at a Revolution. For his own part, he
knew not what he could gain by'such an event, whilst
he might lose the fruits of 22 years of successful
labour and enterprise. Pit the object of these c-
lumniators was to goad the people from misery to
madness, and thus furnish a pretext for slaughtering
them. He had never heard of a Revolution in any
country that was not brought about by the wined.'
ness of its Government ; and should such an event
take place in England, it would be owing to the same
cause—(Shouts tf applause).—He would trespass on
their attention no longer ; their excellent Represen-
tative would enter into more copious details, and
harrow up their feelings by his exposition of this
subject—(Some laughter, mingled with approbation).
He should merely add, that if there were any pre-
sent who had not yet read Mr. Pearson's letter to his
Constituents, they could not, in his opinion, read a
more instructive document with regard to the facts
and real merits of this question.
Sir ROBERT Witsom next presented himself, amidst
the unanimous cheers of the assembled multitude,
and addressed the Meeting as follows Gentlemen,
if it were possible to suppose that the circumstances
which have thus made it the imperative duty of the
Electors of Southwark constitutionally to assemble,
could be commented upon witlviut exciting our feel-
ings to the highest degree, British blood• would not
flow in our veins—(/hear, hear.) Under circum-
stances of a similar character, an ancient people, pe-
culiarly jealous of their rights as freemen, would, a'c,
cording to their customs, have appeared in their
mourning habits. Although such has not been the
usage of the people of this country, I have no doubt
you present yourselves here, though not in the suits
of woe, yet with that mourning in your hearts,
which passeth spew.—(tear, hear.) But while it
is impossible not to feel the language of passion in
describing the outrages of Manchester, you will con-
sider it your duty to use that language which four
deliberate judgment shall hereafter sanction; so that
the decision of this d'Ny will be such as your con-
sciences *ill approve in your calmest hours, and to
.
this d.

01114.1 114/1. ......mekwy
the latest periciki of your lives. You are this day I'
lerity to perpetratei : I
assembled as a portion of the Grand Inquest of the
'Paula be supporte Country ; not,
sir fellow-subjects,
indeed, to prejudge, but to inquire—
krn, felt availed of •
not to decide on the-guilt and. punishment of the ac- .
1
ono d d cuse, but to frame your eciskn the information
Commons—(Loud' i
d you have received, an to demand, through' the ad- l
itted the following
ministration of the powers of Government, that ills-
r Freemen to meet and
tice which is due to' its violated principles—(Hear, • •t
their duty to maintain hear,)—leaving to the law the ineatls' of vindic,tion . ..' I
and thus render them- in the persons of the authors and the- agents in that 11
from their ancestors. - atrocious and sanguinary outrage—(Hear, hectr.)--
iniminagisai,ncruatesei,andand sow- • .
Would to Goo.thatKing's is had pukstked•
the Alin' tert
the same line of conduct. Would to Goo they had •
Is or August, agsinst an
sd legally assembled. not been so culpably precipitate, or
,that they had Iwpremeditated4 the ; not dared to me and to abuse the name of his Royal
. . .
- .
~ ...
. . _

~~.

;

h

I

~~i

%\ s'

Highness the Prince gent, in order,by such an un-
Valified•prostitiition t e Ronal character, to stifle
an efficient and satisfactory inquiry into those crimi:
nal and deplorable misdeeds of their own agents—
(Hcar,ltear.) And this answer from those very Mi-
nisters, who were ready to direct Special Commis-
sions to be held, when the alleged criminality wa-,
imputed to much humbler culprits. After the whole
Country had before them the conduct of the Man-
chester Coroners—after the Lancashire Grand Jury
had thrown out the Bills preferred against the ac-
cused, the King's Ministers have ventured to insult
the understanding of the people, by directing the re-
monstrating parties to apply to the ordinary tribunals
for redress, at the same time that they declaim against
the injustice of any extra-judicial inquiry—( Hear.)-
-It is to be deeply lamented, that his Royal High-
ness the Prince Regent has, by the principles of the
Constitution, been prevented- from communicating
'his own judgment on the late outrages, or of acting
upon his own principles in regard to them. For his
character must have undergone, indeed, a very great
and strange alteration, if he could from himself ap-
prove of any answer to the prayers of his people,
which was irreconcileable with his own dignity, as
much as it was at variance with good feeling and
good taste—(Hear, hear.)—But whatever was the
character of that answer, it is a duty, which we owe
to the principles of the Constitution— to the rich in-
heritance we acquired by the blood of our ancestors
rte their memory—to the hopes of our children's
children—to the majesty of the abused and outraged
Jaw, not to relax in our efforts, but to persevere thud
all these great considerations shall be vindicated....
(Hear, hear.)—Let it from this day be remembered,
that we can never shrink from the obligations which
we thus voluntarily impose upon ourselves—(Never,
never.)—To advance, and not to recede, must be now
our duty, until effectuailneans shall be taken to pro-
cure an efficient inquirrinto the conduct of our enc.
rnies. The country must be fully informed, whether
the blood that has been shed has flowed under an
absolute necessity, though by the swords of agents
who executed the orders of an alarmed Magistracy
with a malignant and unfeeling cruelty? or whether
the people of this country, assembled in the exercise
of a rightful act, have been met by a sanguinary out-
rage on their lives and liberties, unequalled in the
history of former oppressions, indeed unknown, till
the times in which we live? If that necessity did
not exist—if the assembled people were, as it did
appear, pursuing a rightful course, it will, it can be
no excuse for those cowardly and atrocious agents
to plead that they acted under the orders of the local
Magistracy, or of the servants of the Executive Go-
vernment. This Government is, at least we:, a Go.i
veroment of law—(Hear, hear)—and even martial
law limits obedience to lawful: orders—(Brave! hear,
hear.)—This distinction was not confined to free
States, but was recognised even in despotic Govern-
ments, where the will of the Sovereign constituted
law, because that will was subjected to the principles
of reason and humanity. When the infamous Charles
IL of France issued his sanguinary orders to a
French Governor for the massacre of his Protestant
subjects, what was the answer be received ? The
answer of a brave and gallant officer was thic,-
Your commands (commands, mart) I have com-
municated to the garrison and inhabitants under my
orders ;. I have found amongst them brave soldiers
and loyal citieens, but not one executioner or assassin.'
—(Skouts l'amktaae ceatimited fir SOW moments-)
Would to GOD that in the year 1819 all the cities of
England could make the same proud boast—(4 All
but Manchester," frost the crowd.)—lndeed, all but
Manchester, I rejoice, can give that proud assurance;
and even of its regular military garrison I feel proud,
to say, that by no act of theirs have they forfeited
the claim—(Applause.)—lt is with feelings of pride
I reflect, that the very regiment (the 15th Dragoons)
in which I had the honour e, receive my military
education, has maintained its own high character,
and preserved unsullied the acknowledged humanity
of the British soldier—(Hear, hear.)—What was the
offence imputed to the assembled people? Was it
that they had peaceably met to petition, contrary to
the injunctions of the Magistracy ? If that was the
offence, then I must say, that though I rejoice to see
my Constituents this day assembled under the con-
duct of our estimable officer, the High Bailiff—(ap-
plauses)—an acquiescence MI i ch, from his intelligence
and character, 1 anticipated ; yet, if he had refused,
I should have felt it my cliity, in accordance with
the wishes of the Electors, to have presided at such
a Meeting, both as a Representative of the People
and as an Englisliman—(Th avo !)—Under that im-
pression, I wrote from the country where I was at
the time, that in the event of any objection to accede
to the Requisition, they had my authority to state,
that I would preside, and charge myself with the re-
sponsibility—(Cheers.) I did so under the authority
of the Bill of Rights, a dirtction which it was the
duty of every British patriot to follow. But then
it was said that the people Manchester were met
to Petition against the abus in the Representative
System ! And why not? To the abuses of that
system they attribute the grievances under which
they suffer ; and without adverting to the remedy
they propose, I look upon the want of a Reform, so
help me Gon, as the primary source and permanent
cause of all the evils that afflict the country—
(/leer, hear, hear.)--Is this the language of Revo-
lutionists? Are these the sentiments of the dis-
affected, who wish to subvert the State ?
It has been the language and the conviction of some
of the most virtuous, most independent, and most en-
lightened men that ever adorned this country. Was it
net the language of the head of the House of Russell,
uniformly held, and recently more emphatically ex-
pressed, in his admirable letter to the Concentric So-
ciety of Liverpool—a letter in which the first Duke
in the country states it as his uniform opinion for the
y years that a Reform in the Representation
remedy for the public grievances, and the
ity against all, the dangers with which the
mcuaced—(' Bravo I worthy Jthe name
frost She crowd.) But then we were told,
, particular plan of the Manchester people—.,
:all for Universal Suffrage arid Annual Parlia-
-justified the outrage. That plan was consi-
many, and in that I agree, as very objec-
attracted the opposition of those who
property, from a reluctance the most natu-
place tti.at property under the protection of
- posse none; it- was rendered the more

objectionable from the very reprehensible intolerance
with which its advocates presseait.—(Hear, hear);
but it was not on that or any other account an uncoil-
stitutionil sr an illegal object; and could therefore
furnish no justification for the atrocities that bad
been committed (H'ede, hear.) In this land of Chris-
tian charity, were an assembled multitude of Eng►
lishmen to be sabred and trampled down, without
any beacon to warn them of their danger, or 407
suggestion that such an assault was in contempla-
tion:'—(Hear, hear.) But then they assembled with
sticks and clubs. These sticks and clubs, and for-
cible array, I feel convinced, will turn out to be of
the same description as we know the technical lan-
guage of the law introduces into indictments for
crimes of the humblest character. These weapons
of attack which alarmed the Manchester Magistrates
were, I am convinced, neither

sensible to feeling nor to sight.
They were, like the dagger of Macbeth,
a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat.oppresied brain !
(Appleuses.)—The subject I feel to be too serious
even for any allusion bordering on levity; but I can-,
not resist repeating.to you an anecdote which I re-
cently heard at Paris from a French Gentleman who
had long resided here, with whom I was conversing
on the recent outrages at Manchester. That Gentle-
man, holding a stick of a certain description in his
hand, observed, that he never expected to have lived
to that day when the Magistrates of any part of Eng-
land could resemble the stick I then saw.—' It has,';
said he, • as you perceive, a hammer on its head.' If
you go into one of our strops to purchase it, you must,
ask for a Juge de Pais—a Justice of the Peace—(A
laugh.) It got that name before the Revolution, be-
cause that worthless race, at that time, were particu-
larly conspicuous as peace-breakers, instead ofpeace-
tnakers'—(Contieued applause.) But next, we were
told of the array of flags—why, I think we have all
witnessed not less than 150 flags of various colours
carried through the streets of Southwark on a recent
occasion (the-Election) ; and I trust, when the period
arrives, we shall see them again ; and yet no party or
person considered the carrying of such banners ille-
gal—much less a justification for military violence.
But then they b2re the inscription of ' Death or Li-
berty !' What or that ? Were not these words the
rallying cry of every Englishman, in the proudest
period of our history ? Ilow often has the air been
rent with the acclamations which such a sentiment
inspired? If we had reached that state when such a
sentiment as these words conveyed was considered
treason, I thank my GOD that I am and hope to die
such a traitor—(Tuinvitsourapplaute.) But, Gentle-
men, we have bees told that the Manchester people
proceeded to the Meeting with.military movements.
Pray who are to be the judges, or who were the
judges of those military movements ? Are we to con-
sider the Reverend supporters of the Church
Mili-
tant to be judges of such matters? They may es-1
surge to themselves a knowledge of this kind, but are
we to bind ourselves to their opinioni ?—(No,no!)—
Por my part, had I witnessed this military assem-
blage, I am sure I should have called it an awkward
squad. It has been said that they practised the lock
step—the goose step! but even had they done so, was
this a ground for a cruel, a ssmguinary massacre of
the people r.--(Afe, ire) The lioneui able °culls:-
man pro deeded to state that he did not approve* Of
those Meetings attended with riot and tumult ; but
he felt it his duty to step forward when the rights
and liberties of Englishmen were at stake (Applause.)
With respect to brr. Hunt, heft* himself obliged to'
say, that that Gentleman, with wham he had no per-
.sonal acquaintance, had, during the whole' o(the
Manchester business, acted with a presence of mild,
talent, and patriotism, which entitled him to the
thanks of the Public—z(Loud applause.) That Gen-
tleman had been charged with the greatest infringe;
ment of the laws. He had been remanded on a charge
of High Treason ; but this charge was not, could not
be persevered in. He was ultimately admitted to
bail, on a charge which, even if guilty, did not subject
him to the loss of life or limb—(Loud cheers.) But
why or how was it that the people of Manchester
were to Ise considered out of the pale of civil society?
Were they to be massacred by lawless authority, and
without allowing the people of England an oppor-
tunity of enquiring into what had occurred ? No ;
the people of England were too much enlightened,
too much addicted to legal and constitutional inves-
tigation, to pass over in silence such horrid and de-
testable outrages—(Applause.)--But supposing, for a
moment, that the Manchester Magistrates had been
justified in leading the Riot Act, which he denied,
and which, if read at all, must have been read in a
corner ; but, even supposing this, if those Magistrates
had been actuated by a just and humane feeling,
what would harm been their conduct ? Christian
charity and Christian feeling would have dictated to
them a different line of conduct. They knew that
the Meeting was to take place—they knew who was
to preside, and they might at least have given Mr.
Hunt an opportunity of warning the Meeting to dis-
perse—of telling them to go to their homes. But mil
nothing of this kind was done. Scarcely five minutes
bad elapsed when Military Law *as introduced.=
The Cavalry were ordered to charge, and Military
execution was put in force with unrelenting severity
—(Shaule! shame !)—The charge was ordered, and
murders were committed with Impatiity—(Shams !)
He would not dwell upon the horrors and atrocities
which had been committed, becluse he did not wish
to atate the feelings of his auditors, by- t detail
which would call upon the very stones to mutiny
(Chearing).—He declared to his MILKER, and to the
Meeting, that, in considering this question, he had
divested himself of alt political or party. feeling ; he
looked at it as a question which affected all parties,
however they might differ on other questions—as a
question which involved the happiness and liberties
of the United Empire—(ipplause).—lndeed, it would
be baseness and wickedness in the extreme to allow
party feelings to interfere, where the lives and liber-
ties of the people were at stake. The conduct of the
Magistracy and Yeomanry afforded just ground for
arraignment. They had invaded the Rights of She,
People, and had downed them to Military execution.
This, he said, was a just ground of arraagnment ; and
he hoped and trusted that such conduct would net be
allowed to pass with impunity--(Cheers).--The Yeo-
manry had executed the orders given them with a
ferocity which was disgraceful to them, and which
must evgr be a stain on the British charactert Let•
tikose charges, however, be brought before a feu sad

just Tribunal ; let the conduct of the Magisteley and
guiltless,
isbtehfeaniralymaedajufd6goedn,,iet them have-the ful; and if they be found
praise of their condact ; let the country be relieved
from the odium under which it at present laboured.
—When he had first heard of these matters (he was
then in Paris), he was surprised; he said, in his let-
'ter, to his Constituents, that he could not suppose
Mieisters were at all implicated in what had taken
place—that they could not identify themselves with
such.proceedings—that they were determined to dis-
charge their duty impartially to the country and to
themselves; but what was the fact.? 'Those pro-
ceedings had been sanctioned—they were applauded,
and this approval was nothing less than a recom-
mendation of similar measures en similar occasions.
But were the People of England prepared to put up
with this? NVere they satisfied to bear with these op-
pressions ?—( No, no.')—Were they prepared to place
the lives and liberties of seventeen millions of people
under such a despotism ?—(No, no !)—What had
been done for the People ?—Measures had been
adopted to transport some thousands to the sandy
deserts of Africa ; but this mode being deemed insuffi-
cient to remove the starving thousands, the more ex-
peditious mode, the sword, was resorted to—(Cheer-
tug).—He said, in his place in Parliament, when ,an
additional Tax of Three Millions was imposed, that
it was a Tax which could only be levied by military
oftecution. This system might be carried on, but it
Ifkould never reckon him as one of itsadhereats; nor
should he, living, be reckoned as one of the slaves,
who were to endure it—(Bravo).—But why should,
they hold their lives and liberties on such a precari-1
ous tenure? Was it to be supposed, if what the
People wished for—if a Reform in Parliament were
to take place—if that Reform, the seeking for which
eras designated Treason at Manchester, were brought
about—that such a disgraceful scene as that which
took place at Manchester, would pass with impunityP
On the present occasion, he hoped and trusted, that
the Landed Property, the disinterested friends of the,
People, would come forward ; if they did not do so,
they would be guilty of the most culpable apathy.--
This was no time for crimination or recrimination;
they ought cheerfully to receive all who joined them,
and the word ought to be ~ Oblivion and Union"—
(Cheers).—This country was at present one of the
most degraded countries in Europe—(No, no !)—He
asserted that it was one of the most distressed and de-
graded countries in Europe; look at the laws—were
they not calculated to promote the happiness of every
individual in the State? Let them observe how those
laws had been violated—let them observe the system
of violation carried on, and then let any Gentleman
stand forward and state that we were not degraded.
He hoped the Gentleman who differed from him
would come forward and convince him by argument
that he was in error; nothing could give him greater
satisfaction than to find that he was so. Look at
France, a country which but a short time since was
sunk and darkened by the grossest barbarism. What
was it now?—(A set of Jacobins). He denied this ;
it was a country so far advanced in the path of free-
dom and prosperity as to leave us at a fearful dis-
tance, and so crippled and disabled too, that we were
scarcely able to follow in her course--(//ear),—
ere the Honourable Gentleman was interrupted
- loud and repeatxd shoats of ..Here's Hunts.V
ant's a-coming," &c. The crowd were for some
time agitated ; at length Mr. Hunt made his appear-,
ance, and was greeted in the loudest, if not the,
warmest manner. He at length mounted the cart,
and was kindly received by Sir R. Wilson, who shook
hands with hina.3—The Honourable Gentleman pro.
ceeded—As a philanthropist he rejoiced in the im-
provement of France ; as an Englishman, however,
*gave him pain to find that this country, once the
seat of freedom, should be so far outrun. He re-
joiced is the improvements made in the French Con-
stitution, a‘he hoped that we should long continue
in habits. of friendly intercourse with that country.
But, returning to England, he knew not of any sedi-
tious publication which could operate half so injuri-
ously to our Government, as a comparison between
the present state of France and this country —(Loud
cheers). He begged to conclude, by hoping that the
Meeting would hear with patience every Gentleman
who should offer himself to the Meeting, however
different his opinions might be from those which
called them together. The Honourable Gentleman
sat down amidst the loud and reiterated applauses
and cheers of the Meeting.
Mr. BRAND, in rising, observed, that the cause of
their Meeting had been so fully and so ably discussed
in London and Westminster, that little was left for
him to say ; he would therefore confine himself to a
point or two. First, he begged to ask one question :
Did the Manchester Magistrates act legally in calling
in the Military to disperse the Meeting of the 16th of
August ?--(No, no /)—This was a question of vital
importance, from which another resulted, and that
was, whether they were to live under the government
of the laws, or whether they were to be dragooned
Out of their liberties by a wicked and treacherous set
'of Magistrates ?—(No, non—From the very able
manner in which the question had been already
handled, he felt a difficulty in approaching it. There
was one point, however, which remained, and on that
he would say a word or two. It was a wise and salu-
tary maxim of the law, that no Clergyman could sit
in the House of Commons: how happened it, then,
that Clergymen were allowed to act as Magistrates ?
The disability in the one case, held equally good in
the other; Clergymen ought to be wholly abstracted
from temporal affairs; they had an arduous duty to
perform in following their avocations. The fact,
however, was different, and Clergymen were to be
fono.d, who had, contrary to the Divine forgiving
=of their MArras, imbrued their hands in the
of their countrymen---(Cries ?f " Shame,
*Anew I') Another point to which he wished to ad-
Vert was, the grounds on which the Manchester MA-
liStratec declared the Manchester Meeting to be ille-
gal. The Cavalry were called out, they were ordered
fie act. but he doubted much if any of those Divine
Magistrates were aware of what the law was—if any
br 4= bad ever read Burst's Justice on the subject !
rs(e.ilisering), But he could find a better excuse for
Bine sapient Magistrates than they had hitherto
ode for. themselves. The fact was, that they had
Nett reading Scripture on the occasion, and had acted
TOR their reading. They found in the Holy Book that
it-was better a man should be slain by the sword
'than starved with bunger—(Cheers). They found
this In the litb and p& ifutrientsOuns, and ii was

lamentable to find that they put theie met,
execution. The next point to which he rtry
the conduct of those nanchesterJaniwa*
so deeply dipped their hands in blood, thst
Neptune's ocean could not wash them clean.
applause). Manchester, that prr;T:rcus,,
happy town, had been made the scene (if
terrible and disgusting scenes ; it might
considered the modern Golgotha. But 'sue
were not to pass unheeded. The Laws •
tution of England had ever been her pri(
in her prosperity, and surely they would
fort and consolation in the hour of her
(Loud cheering).
A Mr. lIATTON apologized for the abt
Calvert. That Ifonourable Gentleman st%
zerland, and could not, from the shortaty
notice, attend the Meeting. Mr. Soloists
had received a letter to this effect: btu i
vented by illness from attending, had rail
(Mr. Hatton) to make this statement, And
the Meeting, that, though absent, Mr. ^al!
and wishes were with them—(Applause.)
The foregoing Resolutions were then II
rigid unanimously—(Cries Hunt. lb,,
Mr. BLACK moved a Vote of Thank
worthy Representative (Sir R. Wihen) Ice
exertions in the cause of the people. bo;
out of Parliament.--,Carried unanimous
and repeated cheering.)
Sir It. WILSON returned thanks. I.';!)1
tion was a most laudable and ttsefil object
bition. lie acknowledged that he coat,'
when it could be accepted, consistently wits
he would gratefully receive it. lie sbct'
be found ready at his post to do his di
country; and he trusted that his Ccasti:uei
never find him an ungrateful servant.
stormy times, public men were more sikf
wreck than to mend their fortunes; but r
tion should induce him to desert me

come what may, he should have the
having exerted his best efforts in supor;
liberties of his country—(Loucichrers.)
able Gentleman concluded by exhorting'
to disperse quietly, but at the same to
upon the Resolutions to which they ha,
themselves, and to be ready to act upon thei
ever it became their duty to do so.
[The Meeting became clamorous for .
who stood in the waggon, to come forward.
Mr. &FRIGHT proposed a vote of char'
HUNT, for his praise-worthy conduct at
This was objected to by the HIGH
said, that he could not allow of any Reser
put, which tended to call forth any Gent.
was not a householder of the Borough. Th]
.only objection to the Resolution.
A considerable discussion took place
who were Mr. HuNT's friends, and those
opposed to his coming forward. At len;:t
Sir Ror.ctir WILSON came forward. Ii
ready expressed, in the warmest terms, bs
tion of Mr. Hunt's conduct at Manchester
not a doubt that a vote of thanks to him
would be carried unanimously. If, howev
was passed,it would place the High Baili
ation of difficulty, as Mr. Hunt was not
holder of Southwark. He hoped, then, mi
and his friends wished to hear rr. I.lunt
Gentleman would not solicit the occasion
of thanks to address the Meeting.
The Hrc;s BAILIFF, at length, waved
non, and the vote of thanks was put and c;
loud cheering.
Sir ROBERT WILSON proposed a Vete cl
the High Bailiff; who returned thanks in
pressive manner. Nothing could give
heartfelt satisfaction than the pleasure ofd
his duty with satisfaction to himself and gi
to his fellow-citizens. The High Bailiff
dared the Meeting to be dissolved, and left
gon, accompanied by Sir R. Wilson and'
—(Loud cries of" Hunt! thin!!")
Mr. HUNT stood forward. Ile had Wave
miles to meet his fellow-citizens, and he
pleasure in addressing them. Ile wished,
a little of what had been done to-day.
Thanks had been passed—(" tame it!)
sooth, an Englishman was told that it Wol
gal to come forward and S:l%-, "l than
(Cheers and " Bram', Ilua He could,
assure them and their high Bailiff, that I
fully justified in addressing them as ary oth
man; nay, more, the Meeting was a 5 144,
moment as it was before the Kahle Bath
hustings—(Chcers.) Mr. hunt now took
and, like Mark Antony, exhibiting the
Czsar, pointed out the impressions left by
strokes which he had received at Mancl
particularly called
_the attention of the 3
one incision, which, he said, was made al.
in custody. This appeal made to the feels
multitude was answered by cries of " Skenif
In the course
.9( his speech Mr. hunt
Nigh Bailiff a petty officer. This term was
to by some Gentlemen on the Hustings, w!
upon him to apologize. Mr. Hunt said I
apologize. An expression of his hadbten
ception to—he was ready to apologize:
apology was this—either the High Baud.
the law or he did not. Jf be -did know the
he ought not to have prevented him (Mr. h
speaking ; if he did not know the law, then
to go home and learn it, and in the mean
term " petty officer" W.IS properly applied
When he found that the High Bailiff knew
And acted upon it, then he would change
and call him a Superb Otiie:r, if they.
(Cheers, mingled with some diz.approbc,t:o,
ought to know that the whole of the (Tags!
and .Dtingeon Bills, had expired in 18IS,
any person in the crowd had as much rte
the Meeting_ as the High Bailiff had—(.4P,
While Mr. Hunt was speaking, a cart passed
the crowd, loaded with timber. A little ar
the cart held up a pole, with the remnant
upon it. Mr. Hunt, observing it. sauk " UT'
Gentlemen, stith a symbol as that would
dered seditious at MancheEter"....(Lood la'
By this time the young wig in the car!, en]
cident or design, lowered Lis Cap of bbert]
called it ; and Mr. Hunt went on. After
servatiens on the High Bailiff, and many II
of self-devotion to the Cause of the Peori.
f r Leo
chided by sincerely tbaisking them 9

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