Star.
London, England, 1819-08-30 00:00:00

SIDIIIOUTIL

I

" New Bailey. Filson, Manchester, August 17.

ti MY Loan—From the hostility that I have con-
scientiously shewn to most of the measures of your
Lordship's Administration, as well as a general oppo-
sition to the corruption of all parties in the practice
of Bribery at Elections, and the buying and selling
of Seats in particular, I know that I am not entitled
to claim any indulgence from your Lordship, yet I
am induced to hope that you will not deny an act of
justice, when demanded, even to a political enemy.
" Your Lordship is aware, before this time, that
I came to Manchester inconsequence of an invitation
to take the Chair at a Public Meeting intended to
have been held on Monday, the 9th, 4 to take into
consideration the most legal and effectual means of
obtaining a Reform of Parliament,' in consequence
of which all hostilities to the holding of the Meeting
appeared to have been withdr.iwn by the Magistrates,
and I was prevailed upon, much against my inclina-
tion, to stay here to preside at the Meeting to be held
tie 16th ; and I did it under the firm con.
would have been conducted with perfect
id have ended peaceably on the part of the
my arrival there, I was confirmed in my
the very orderly conduct of those assembled,
;neatest number I ever witnessed together,
disposed to commit any breach of the
Just as we were proceeding to the busi-
day, and before I had taken the Chair,
was surrounded by a military force of
-s, who charged through the multitude
.abres, cutting and trampling all under
particularly a body of Special Constables,
very severely. The soldiers cut at me,

and those who were upon the hustings; and upon my
demanding what they wanted? the Commanding Offi-
cer said hehad a warrant against me, upon which I in-
stantly surrendered. This was all done without any pre-
vious notice, and without one hand being lifted to op-
pose it. I saw one man with his nose cut off, and I r*-
ceived several blows with a sabre on niy head myself.
I was brought here by the Magistrates under a mili-
tary guard, at two o'clock yesterday, and I have been
kept here without the means of sending to procure
bail, not having had any oopy of the warrant, or hay-
ing any charge made against me, till after I had been
kept in custody upwards of twenty-four hours, when
that which is inclosed was given me by the Governor.
I am sorry to hear that many lives have been lost, in
consequence of such violent, and, as I conceive, ille-
gal conduct of the military, towards an unarmed and
peaceable people, met for the purpose of exercising
what they thought they had a perfect right to do. I
therefore trust that your Lordship will not sanction
the keeping me here a close prisoner, unless there be
some specific charge made out against me. I know
not if the other prisoners be still in custody or not.
" I am, my Lord,
" Your Lordship's most obedient servant,
(Signed) " H. HUNT.
" There are one hundred thousand witnesses to
prove the truth of what I have stated.
" To Viscount Sidmouth, Home Department, London."

tion, to stay hi
• yesterday, the
4
viction that it
decorum, and
people. On m
opiition,by the
by far the v.(
!•
and the least
peace. But ji
tress of the da
the hustings 1,
horse soldiers,
with drawn sa
foot, and "part
who suffered
•,