Star.
London, England, 1819-09-17 00:00:00

R

,'
,I

~1
1

It

1k

TOE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1819.
THE 'I7UNb6.

PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE OtLCCK
--Batik Stock 41'0
5 per Cent. Reduced shut
per Cent. Consols 70ii;
53 per Cent. shut-4 per Cent. shut

5 per Cent. Navy 102 l 3
Bank Long Ai nuities shut
Imperial 3 per Cent. Anns. 69}
India Bonds 9
Exchequer Bills (2(46 6 4 6 Jis•
Omnium • • ....

Consols for• Acct. 70ii4}4.

The Revente, we:regret to state, has, notwithstand-
ing the New Taxes, fallen off in the current Apar:
ter, already 800,000!. The deficiency will probably.
exceed a Million before the 164 of the Quarter.

We lay before our Readers to-day very ample de-
tails of the proceedings at the Public Meeting at
Paisley on Saturday last, and of the riots which have
arisen out of it, in Paisley and Glasgow.
It is most gratifying to find, that though the corn-
motioa and alarm have been great, and though tran-
quillity has only been restored by the aid of Military
force, yet no blood has been shed. The feeling
which could lead men to view with exultation the
slaughter of a defenceless multitude appears to be
still a stranger to the Northern part of the Island.—
We certainly cannot, after a calm review of the
whole circumstances, bring ourselves to offer' any
mite of applause to the wisdom which the Public
Authorities have displayed on this occasion ; but it
is impossible to applaud too highly the moderation
and temperance with which, having resolved upon
an indiscreet act of power, they carried that act into
execution and encountered its consequences. They
exposed their persons in exhorting the assemblages
to disperse quietly ; they read the Riot Act not once,
but many times ; they took great pains, by means of
printed placards and verbal communications, toletthe
people know that the Act had been duly read; and
though they had Military at their service, they did not
bring them into action until the Civil Power had posi-
tively proved itself unequal to the suppression of the.
disturbance. To present, in short, the merits tithe
Magistrates of Paisley in one expressive point of
view, it may suffice to state, that they did every
thing which the Magistratei.of Manchester did net
do on a like occasion.

We have called the act of power which led is
these disturbances indiscreet; and that it was so, we
think every temperate and impartial mind eke*

readily allow. Tho Meeting had passed over
and the people were going home quietly, whihi
Magistrates thought proper to dash into the naidat
of them, and seize their colours---4he same colours
which had been suffered to pass tmassaulted a few
hours before. The people had, it is true, been warned
by public Proclamation, that -to carry such colours
was " illegal" (we kiwi plot on what authority) and
that if they did do so, they lipoid be made " respon.
sible." But was there no other way of trying the ques-
tion of " illegality," of making the colour-bearers
responsible for their conduct," than by a forcible
assault, which could not otherwise than put in jeo-
pardy the public peace ? What motive of policy
could there be for venturing on an attack vier din-
ner, which they prudently refrained from making
before that important epoch in the affairs of a day,
as the colours were on their way to the Meeting?
What harm would have resulted, had the people
and their flags been allowed to pass on unmolested?
No harm but this—that the Sheriff, the Magistrates,
and their law, might all have been laughed at (as
well the last may be); but there would have been no
ir.tcrruption of the public tranquillity—no rioting—
r.o devastation—no calling out of the Military—no
recourse to a vigour beyond the laws.
the manner in which the Magistrates met the
consequences of their foolish resolve, was commend-
able, what shall we say of the gallant Military, whom
they called in to their assistance ? Let the Manches-
ter Yeomanry, with the memory of their many heroic
achievements festering in their souls, read the narra-
tive, and blush if they can r

A multitude which was riotous, which actually
opposed resigance, was wholly dispersed, without (as
far as every account hitherto received goes) a single
Fuson being killed, sabred, or trampled &wn. The
fact speaks volumes in favour of the troops, and oi
the propriety on all occasions of employing them in
prcccience to.local and undisciplined cores, in quel-
ling popular disturbances. .

A fact is ri.•torded respecting the /ate Grand Jury
Incashire, which spews that they had the faculty
.onishint. the Judge himself by their disbelief of,
:ontempt.f.or, the evidence submitted to them, as
-.l:.ey surprised the whole Kingdom by their
incredulity as to the sharpness of the Man-
Thc case we allude to is that of Cor-
Idler; tried ht the late Lancaster Assizes.
jory.had brought in a verdict of `Nil-
ngninstihis man for the death of James
;rand Jury threw out the Bill ! and he

was tried on the verdict of the Coroner. At one pe-
riod of the evidence which came out on the trial, tht
'4udge 4W-ooti) asked, had such and such facts " been,
stated to the Grand Airy ?" and es racciving an afs
firmative antwer, he oboerved--,A It is ►ery odd."--..N
In his Charge the Learned Judge renewed the inti-
mations of his surprise that the Grand Jury had
thrown out the Bill against this. soldier ; remarking,
that " It was very extraordinary they had done so;"1
that " upon such evidence the Grand Jury might. at
least, have put the question in the course of trial r,
rand that their failing to do so " was not conclusive
proof in favour of the prisoner." So we beg leave to
say, with respect to the Manchester Bills of Indict-1
rpent,•the accused might, " at least," have been put
%ton their trial ;• and the Grand Jury having saved
them from that test of innocence, is by no means
" conclusive evidence" that they were not guilty.—
Wehope that some of the Members of the Lancashire
Grand Jury who are most alive to the value of an un-
impeached character with their countrymen, will
yet' make known the grounds on which they felt
themselves justified in throwing a bar across the
road to justice.

•
A fact is ri.•to
of Lancashire,
of astonishing I
or.contempt. Co
anuch as o.:ey s
apparent incres
ciresterosahres•
rigan,•a
i 11te Coroner's,
Cul Murder ng
Holt: the