Star.
London, England, 1819-10-19 00:00:00

ST. LEONARD'S P.4RISII, SHOREDITCH.

Yesterday a Public Vestry of the Inhabitants of
the above Parish was held in the Parish Church, for
the purpose of taking into consideration the late
proceedings at Manchester. The Church, which,
is very large, was crowded to excess. by a most re-
spectable body of the Inhabitants, and the Chair was
taken by W. JENNINCS, Esq. one of the Church
wardens. Mr. Avsmr, the other Churchwarden,
was also present ; but after a very long discussion,
whether he should not take the Chair also, he very-
prudently declined it. The objection next taken to
the Meeting was, that on the Sunday preceding, such
Meeting should be publicly announced in the Church,
and not held for some days afterwards ; and that
this being held on Monday, the Meeting could not
be 7egal. This objection was, however, got over by
the Vestry Clerk declaring, hat it was the opinion
of the Churchwardens that the present was a lal
Meeting of the Inhabitants in Vestry, pursuant to the
Act of Parliament.

Mr. BRIDGMAN then addressed the Meeting in a
most spirited and animated address. With the
deepest regret had he, in unison with every British
subject, witnessed the deplorable occurrences at Man-
chester, which be could consider in no other light'
than a gross violation of the best principles of the
British Constitution. Nature itself shudred when
such scenes were reflected on, and surely such very
unpleasant sensations could not be easily overcome,
when it was recollected that the Royal approbation
was given on the 21st, to scenes which had taken place
on the 16th of that month (August). To him such
approbation seemed a total disregard for the feelings
of the British Nation. To Petition the Throne was
a matter now of no moment, as they would be told
that the laws were open for redress. He trusted this
would be found. to be the case, and that the just
punishment of their offences would yet be the fate
of the guilty on this sad occasion. The delay of the
Inquest at Oldham, to the Ist of December, was, in
itself, a most decided proof of the reluctance which
'there eziste.i to do justice. That delay was, he bad
no doubt, occasioned by a wish for a Bill of Indem-
nity ; and he h,ped that;on the present occasion, his
fellow Parishioners, who had come fOrward so man-
fully, would do their duty. He then concluded by
moving a series of Resolutions, condemning the con-
duct of the Manchester Yeomanry and Magistrates;
and also the imbecility of Ministers.
Mr. Lawatnce seconded the Resolutions. He
hoped they were all unanimous in the cause, and that
none of them would attempt to justify the late pro-
ceedings. He strongly reprobated the conduct of
the Yeomanry and Magistracy, and could not help
thinking that John Atkins, Lord Mayor, wished to
imitate the same example, because his object seemed
to be lt was con-
solatory to reflect that the character of the British
Army remained unsullied, as the most violent were
the persons who acted as Yeomanry, and who were,
lin fact, the neighbours of the people who, were mur-
dered. After strongly reprobating the delay of the
Coroner's Inquest at Oldham, he concluded by se-,
conding the Resolutions.
Mr. WINTER moved an Amendment, in which,
while he regretted the Manchester ti ansactions, he
at the same time deprecated any prejudging of .the
case till evidence on both sides was seen and heard.
He also condemned such Public Meetings, as tending
in no inconsiderable degree to awaken the most un-
pleasant feelings and to prevent due recourse to the
tribunals of justice. At the same time he should
wish for free discussion, and it was on that ground
that he moved the Amendment. He did not wish
to save the Manchester Magistrates horn punishment
if they were guilty, but be did not wish them to suf-
fer without being heard.
Mr. Lxu seconded the Amendment.
Mr. ASHHURST combated the arguments of the
enemies of such Meetings, and regretted that such
Gentlemen were more disposed to act as loyal than
as constitutional. He then at great length went
into the case at Manchester, and rejoiced to see the
spirit which now animated all ranks of the country.
He hoped that that spirit would never subside, but
that it would increase in energy till the triumph
was gained. No one could doubt but
would have been found by the Jury, had such bills
been 'presented against the People.,
Mr. BLACKBURN reprobated any attempt to pre-
judge the question, because he thought the Courts of
Law ought to have been applied to, and if they re-
fused justice, then it was time for the Public to come
forward, but by doing as they now did, he contended
they were attacking the right of Trial by Jury. Be-
sides, Parliament was now about to meet, when the
subject would be more dispassionately and calmly
discussed than it could be in such a Meeting as the
present, which, he observed, had no right tthere wao judge s
on any case cs-parte. He firmly believed
no reluctance on the part of Ministers, or the Prince
Regent, to submit any inquiry, and as for any Bill
of indemnity, he. would not, for indeed he could not,
admit such a thng was ever thought of, as on the
contrary, he was' clearly of opinion that Ministers
courted inquiry, which be thought was proved by the
very circumstance of their now calling Parliament
together.
After several observations from Mr. LINDSAY and
Mr. PRARCE, the Resolutions were severally put and
carried unanimously, as were also Thanks to the
Churchwardens. The Vestry was then dissolved in
the usual form by the Churchwarden;. The Church
was crowded in every corner, and some hundreds went
away for want of room even to stand near the doors.
In the course of the proceedings, Mr. Asuitunsr
proposed a Vote of Thanks to the soldier who saved
the life of a person at Manchester, when assailed by
the Yeomanry Cavalry, which was carried amid loud
shouts of approbation.

Fridaysinnight, the Rev. Mr. H
assed
AY, Rector of Ack-
worth, and sitting Magistrate at Manchester, p
through Huddersfield, when he was most grossly in-
sulted by one of the Radie-,ls of that town, who fol-
lowed his carriage to the Rose and Crown, shouting
and making use of the most disgraceful language,
rand frequently calling out " murder !" Another per-
son, a Tradesman, is said to have turned his men out
of the workshop, to hoot the Reverend Gentleman.
In the reign of CHARLES I. a Mayor ofNorwich
actually sent a fellow to prison, for sayin Nth
h
g tat e
Prince of WALES was born with3ut a shirt !