The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-02-21 00:00:00

CASE or WILLIAM WOOD.

I was sorely °ppm.% before the ashore, wied met bat sew.
! widow.
Sit,—You will please to make what use you may
think proper of the re!lowang narrative of my suffer-
ings since the 10th day of March last, for the sacred
cause of Reform, to which I have been a steady
friead 9.6 years, which cannot be erased so long as I
live. I was stopt on that day aboot five miles from
Manchester, on the Stockport-road, on my journey
for London, by a dragoon, betwixt 10 and 11
o'clock in the forenoon, who presented a pistol at
me and ordered me to stop ; iwa few etiolates a Ma-
gistrate came up and demanded to know where and,
on what business I was going, I answered, my in-
tended journey was for London, to pres::ut a Peti-
tion to the Prince Regent, for a redress of grievances,
as the country was in estate of starvation ; be imme-
diately ordered me to take down, and open my
bundle; when he had inspected it, and found nothing
bet a little meat and breed to subsist on, sod a few

other necessaries ; without any farther ceremony be
ordered me into custody of the military there present.
was taken with many others to a poblic.house
near at hand, and there detained about two boors,
and then named by dragoons and special constables,
to the New Bailey, Manchester, where we arrived
about four in theafternoon, I along with 33 others,
all entirely strange» to me, was pot into a damp,.
Net 190069, and filthy lock op, the privy pipe which is
is the room choked, and the wster-ptoe broke, and
the excrements running on the floor, which is only 5
yards by 6, made it almost insupportable ; it brought
to soy mind, the Bltck.hule Pri.on at C I arum. In
this uncomfortable hole we were not allowed any
nourishment, until late in the evening, (and many of
us hnd not broke oar feat thet day—what we had of
ear own being taken from us on our arrival at the
New Bailey, for every man's trundle or knapsack was
taken !rent him to be 'Remitted, and not returned
until the Friday after, which we thought • hard case,
and when returned, our little provisions were en-
tirely spoiled for want of air, brine in our bundles.)
when we had 14 oz. cheese and about 4oz. bread,
and when we applied for water, the turnkey damned
us for blanket rascals, and told us to go to camp—are
got water in about two hours. In this unwholesome
place I was kept 13 days and nights, with nothing
but the bare flags to sleep on when I could lay down,
for there was not room for toi all to lay dotal' to-
gether; as for allowance we could not have subsisted
without the assistance of our friends ; we were allowed
to have provisions sent in, but debarred personal in-
terview. At the expiration of the time above men-
tioned, I was committed to Lancaster Castle (with-
out esamittation) in chain., along with eight others
(there were upwards of 2(X) persons taken, the whole
liberated escept nine, entirely strangers to me except
one), where I arrived the Sunday previous to the
commencement of the Assizes. On Monday the
Governor informed us we wise indicted for sedition
and conspiracy, and we might espect to take nor
trial in a day or two, as there was a true bill found
against es. On the Tuesday following a person came
to us, and advised os to petition the Judge for Coon-
sel, which we peremptorily refused, knowing we had
offended against no law, being taken without Sid.
tnouth's, or any other warrant, or even without
the Riot Act being read, but going soberly and
quietly about our lawful occasion ; as such he
troubled us no more ; we were not brought to
the bar when the Assizes were over. I de.
sired the Governor to tell me the reason we were
not called on; he said our case was removed to
the ROA'. Bench, by a warrant from the Judge, as
such he advised us to put in our plea, or judgment
would go by default. Law being an article we were
all strangers to, we wrote to our poor friends and
relations (for we are all of the In order), acquaint.
ing them with the information we had received. I
likewise -wrote to Lord Sidmouth, acquainting him
with our case, hoping be would allow something to
alleviate the distress of ourselves and families, as the
usage we received was worse than felons or murder-
ers ; we had the same allowance of bread, &c. bet
no clothing ; and when I applied to the Governor,
Mr. Higgins, for shirts (some of us being nearly
naked) he answered there was non. allowed 09. I
don't meant to find fault with sir. liiggina, for I be-
lelieve him to be a feeling man. I have likewise
wrote twice to Sir Francis Burdett, once from [An.
caster and once since I came home, craving his as.
sistance to commence an action against the MaKio rates
of Manchester for false imprisonment, sod laid down
rosy ease sins isr to these, bot d.d not receive any answer
rota either him or Lord Sidmouth. Sir, through the
wage I met withal the New Bailey, brought on a pleu-
risy and fever, which nearly put a period to my exist.
mace; I was delirious 9 days, when on my recovery the
Governor informed me the doctor had taken 51hs. of
blood from me : the disorder hat left a stiffness in
my limbs, which I am afraid will continue as long
us I live. Previous to the lest Aasizes we received
notice of trial, ender a quite different indictment
from the former one. It consists of five counts; the
first count runs thus, that we were waiidesisig from
town to town, subsisting by begging and other an.
lawful means, which is all false, for they knew that
I was not Ere miles from Manchester, and I am
certain I was as far on my journey as any of my
fellow prisoners, who expected to take their trial
when the Assizes commenced. We all. I believe.
ardently wished to be brought before a Jury of our
toontrymen (for the first time) being conscious Greer
innocence; we were kept in suspense until Friday, ,
the fish September, when we were informed that the
Attorney-General, oat of clemency, ordered us to
be liberated without trial. In the course of the week
an attorney came to me, his name is Law, of Man-
chester ; be was employed by oar friends, he advised
me to enter into recognizsoces, as .1 ning
likely
would be detained under the Suspension Act, arltich
I peremptorily refused, as I told him my fate was in
the bands of our Counsellors. When I came borne,
by the advice of my friends, I applied to tne sail Mr.
law to eater an action against Joseph Nadiu, depoiy
constable of Manchester, for the recovery of the pro-
perty be took from me.—(The said J. Nadia, with sic
others, entered my house on &today morning, the
9th of March, about two o'clock, with hope., be-
lieve of finding my neighbour Henbow, a speaker at
the Public Meetings held here for Reform, but
usissing his prey, be took Black Dwarfs, Cobbetts,
and Petitions to the Prince Ugliest) which I then

sold, and sell at present )—Mr. Law teemed proud
of the job, and amid he would do it immediately ; he
desired me to call upon him in the course of • fort.
night, as such I did, and he wished me to call again.
I repeatedly • called upon him, he always ease me
evasive answers. The la.t week I called along with
two who had been fellow prise tiers, to have • decisive
answer. He said he had not seen Nadin, and when
I told him be had not acted the part of a Gentleman,
he said he would have nothing further to dor with the
case. I then requested him to go with us toNarlitesOffico
to witness our demanding our property, but he would
not; we immediately went there, his under officers wish.
ed us to call again, as they said be was not wit*. ; we
called again, they denied him the second time ; we
suspected they did not tell the troth, as such we
went to an adjoining room and found him. When
we got an audience, he demanded our business ; we
told him we had come' to demand the property
(among which was a sum of money) he took from
George Grimshaw, my fellow prisoner, there present
on Monday, March the 10th. He d..—d us for
blatiketeers, and ordered us to get out of the office ;
we still persisted in our demand, when Nadin and
two of his runners throat us out and shut the door.--
Sir, to give you in detail the usage I have received
for defending to the hest of my poor ability, the in-
delible right of Britons, would fill a volume, let this
Wilke; I have been robbed and ruined, the few
goods I have left I cannot keep together, haring
been obliged to sell a part, and shall be obliged to
veil the remainder to soloist on, without I have re.
moneration fur my sufferings. lam it, the 64d year
of my age, my wife in the same year ; we have hut
nine children, 5.e we bare brought up to maturity,
without a stain on the famil Os character, by our in-
dustry.—Your most obenfient humble servant.
w. WOOD.

N•. 19. Pump-meet, Loodcm•road, Moviche-ter.
P.C. My fellow•prigoners were—Wm. Stainiring,
Geo. Grimshaw, Thomas Leigh, Geo. Murray. John
Williams, Sam. Block‘ha w, Prior Lever.llll4 Matthew
iothgne, who suffered the some imprisonment and
the same privation:, with the exception of two,
Williams and Letligoe, who went out on bail.
ala.iclirster, inn.% Mc.

One of the daughters of Earl Gast had a narrow
eicspe for her life, lac! week. While fn. dint the
Weer, near Dimbton Hall, her horse, made a sudden
plunge, and threw his fair rider over his head into the
'tiger, from which she was with difficulty estricate4
by Mr. Lawatals, who happened to be passing at
the time.

%Li..GARDENS.—It is said that this old and
favourite place of amusement, like its former fashion.
able rival, Ratielegh, is destined to come to the has.
titer, and will, in all probability, ere long, like the
latter, he built upon. This emit would never have
occurred, had the proprietors been content to admit
the Public at a cheaper rate. Their assertion, that
they could not afford it, may be rebetted by the rs.
mark, that a cheaper price would hsve filled the gar-
dens, and would consequently have produced greater
profits.
DCEL.----A meeting took place on that part of
HounslowA a teath, reading off bye-road to Hayes,
on Thursday morning, at day-break, between Capt.
is..-41 —a and --M --sr, Esq., a Gentleman of
fortune, in consequence of a dispute relative to a
Lady at Stoke, near Windaor. The parties tired
twice, and Mr. M— received [lie 'prowl %hot in the
„thick part of his arm, he was considered in muck
danger.
Hatch, it is said, married his first wife for her
money. Ile was then only 19 tears old, while she
nearly 40. He was disappointed in his expectations.
It turned nut that his wife had no money, and they
soon parted. Mary Minton be married for loves
and would have lived with her still, had not the first
wife interfered in such a manner as to render their
cohshitation impracticable. Ilaiich, before this ca..
tastrnphe, was reckoned a harmless kind of man.
Several robberies have been committed within
these few days by a woman who pretends to disclose
Insure events, and who waits on servant% with a
French box. Her method of divination is by pep.
per in a tea cup; but she in the end contrive+ to
charm the casters sod other arficlea of plate, &c.I
which may be within her reach. Sue calls herself
Madame Bigot. On Tuesday she committed two
robberies in Percy-street, itsttrbone-plare, after
amusing the servants below ; and her and an Italian.
conjurer yesterday robbeil the kitchen of Mrs. Saul,
in Nottingham-street, of It silver spoons.
On Monday evening last, a select eight •f the Se.
nior Society of London Cumberland Youths ascended
t' e Tower of All-hallows Church, Tower.street, and,
rang a complete peal in the intricate methrwl of Old
Ovford Treble-Hob-Major, composed of 8,448 me.
s'cal changes, being the fullest Went, with the tenors
together, and was nobly brought round in five hours
anti 24 minute., by the Artists, in the following
order, vis.:—Treble, Mr. George Gross; 2. Mr.
Peter Jones ; 3, Mr. James Nash ; 4, Mr. William
Si)ipway ; 5. Mr. William Herbert ; 6, Mr. James
Sitchhery ; 7. Mr. John James Whiting; Tenor,
Mr. Francis Matthews ; being the greatest length
rung on these bells by any Society.--Conductor of
she peal Mr. George Gross.—Weight of the tenor
19 cwt. net bell-metal, in the key of F.
W. are authorized to state, that since the Medical
Board hes been established it Cherloite.house. Great
Charlotte-street, opposite the Rev. Rowland Hill's
Chapel, and Wondstock -street, adjoining New Bonds
stroft, upwards of Thirty Thousand Patients of both
10114.1 twee been restored to perfect health, many art
whom had lingered for years under the most painful
and obstinate diseases, were pronominal incurable
by respectable practitioners, and several discharged
from Hospitals. Such is the effects resulting from
combined talents!!—Slosars. COOPER cud Co. of
Medical and Surgical celebrity, after forty years es•
perlence in this Metropolis, are convolved daily at
both houses until nine at night, end the poor have
advice, gratis, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
Mornings, until twelve o'clock. Patients at a dis•
lance, describing their tarp, immediately attend /11W
All letters to be directed to Chartotte.lrearatveack.
friars-road, but none are answered sabicts do set
contain a consulting fee.
, Betting on the fight between Painter zed Sprig,
ea the Ist of April; is gelness to pounds es Painter.

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