Star.
London, England, 1819-08-24 00:00:00

LETTER FROM MR. HUNT.

" NEW BAILEY PRISON, MANCHESTER, •
Saturday, August 21, 1819.
" M Y DEAR ---., I do not know that I cart send,
you any news ; because I suppose you know,' or at '
least hear, more than I do: but as I know that you
and all my f 1 lends in London will be happy .t 6 hear 1
that I am well, pray inform them from me that I
never enjoyed better health in my life, and that I am
in tip-top spirits. What should make me otherwise?
I sleep as sound as a bell, and feel more pleasure in
five minutes reflection than the Manchester Bench of
lamblike Magistrates will obtain consolation during
the remainder of their lives. The blood of the poor
murdered people sits heavy on * • • • • *
' Let the galled jade wince; my withers are unwrung I'
I fear that it will never be forgiven, and that there
will be too great a disposition to demand' blood for
blood!' Our enemies will not now, I hope, say any
thing more about assassination, they have taught the
people how to assassinate by wholesale*; they have
struck the first blow, and have taken the advantage
of attacking a peaceable multitude, who had studi-
ously come to the Meeting unarmed, by a large mili.7
tary force, the Regulars keeping guard while the Yeo-
manry Cavalry * • * * * all that they could get at,
and in their disorder * * • • *alike friends and foes.
I believe their friends suffered most. I have not
heard of one Reformer suffering yet, that I know or
ever heard of. I never before saw such a multitude.
I think there were three times as many as there were
at Smithfield, and I never saw the people more dis-
posed to be perfectly peaceable and good humoured.
" It seems that there were various par ties or unions,
each attended by flags, with mottoes something like
those in Smithfield, and each a band of music—and
as soon as they had assembled they all struck lip the
national air of God save the King, and after that
Rule 13,itannia. But even these symptoms of loyalty,
it seems, were not to be respected upon this occa-
sion. I was as much taken by surprise as any part
of the people could have been, for I was parti;ularly
guarded and cautious to give the Magistrates no
pretence for interrupting the Meeting.
" I arrived atMr. JOHNSON'S house on Monday, and
was nc.,er two miles from it but once during the
whole week, although I had repeated, and kind in-
vitations, not only in Manchester, but the neigh-
bourhood ; and that was on Saturday previous to
this bloody business. It was reported that the Ma-
gistrates had issued a warrant against me for some
supposed or real offence, in order to put it in execu-
tion by apprehending me at dig Meeting on Monday.
Now MARK THIS I—That they should not have any
1 such pretence for interrupting the proceedings, I drove
into Manchester, and tuaited upon the Magistrates.,
. •
who were sitting at the New Bailey, and informed them
that as I had heard there was a warrant issued by there
against me, I thought it my duty at once to wait upon
them to say, that I was, and shauldbe at all times, ready 1
to meet any charge they mey have against me, without
giving them the least trouble ! They politely answered
Mat they knew of no such thing, or any such intention!
Therefore I retired, perfectly satisfied, in my own
mind, that it was only an idle report. This fact
cannot be too generally known. Recollect that I re-
ceived this answeifroat two of the very Magistrates,
(one of thL'm a Clergyman) who signed the warrant
against me on Monday !
" Be assured, my good fellow, that they have not
the shadow of a shade of pretence for charging me
with High Treason. But they are in a dreadful
scrape ; and they will flounder on farther into the mite
every struggle they make.—l am, my dear —,
" Your's, sincerely, " H. HUNT."

We are assured, that the Reform Meeting an-
nounced to be held in Smithfield will assuredly take
place to-morrow. The reason given by the pro-
moters of it, for choosing so late an hour in the day
to meet as four o'clock, is, that Mr. Wsurr, thefriend
of Mr. Hoar, who went down on a mission of in-
quiry to Manchester on Sunday, will not be able to
return before that time with his report, which is
raciPt to be cornrmusiptuo to the Meeting. Mr.
Hoar being in durance, and there being little ezpec-
tation of Sir CHARLES WOLESLEY accepting the prof-
fered honour of presiding, the Chair is 'expected to be
taken by Doctor WATSON, who, in anticipation of
the event, has thought proper to address the follow
ing Letter to the Loan MAYOR :
" MY Loan—ln the event of the absence of Hanky Moo.,
Esq. and Sir CHAALES WOLSJILIGY from the Meeting intended to
be held in Smithfield, on Wednesday next, being myself invited
to the Chair, I am desirous to be informed from your Lordship,
whether it is the intention of his Majesty's Ministers la interrupt
ihr react able assembling of the peopio on that day ; and from motives
of humanity, whether they will be allowed peaceably to separate
without any military attack on their persons ?
" I am, my Lord, your obedient Servant,
" JAMES WATSON.