The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-10-14 00:00:00

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_X" \ Z ti 'Ns

THE LATE RIOTS AND THE MANCHESTER
AUTHORITIES.

Sir Charles Shaw, the chief commissioner of police at
Manchester, has addressed a letter to the London Times, the
chief portion of which is subjoined. The former part of the
letter which we withhold merely contains the reasons of Sir
Charles for remaining silent, holding as he says an official
situation, which expired, with the act of parliament, on the
Ist instant. He then proceeds as follows :
As chief commissioner of police of the borough of Man-
chester, I had no means of knowing what was taking place
beyond its limits, except through occasional and chance in-
terviews with the commandant of the troops. About one
o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, the Bth of August, he
informed me that he had received a letter from the !magis-
trates of Ashton-under-Line, requesting him to have troops
in readiness, if necessary. At three o'clock the same day he
informed me the troops had not been called out, and con-
sequently I supposed all was quiet. We then separated, and
immediately after the second command of the constabulary
by mere chance waited on me. and I found him, like myself,
totally ignorant of any disturbance. However, on account
of the casual conversation with the commandant, I requested
him to meet me in half an hour, during which time I might
perhaps obtain some information. Not succeeding in this, I
ordered two inspectors to proceed by Coach to Ashton, and
at 4 o'clock I again met the officer of the county constabulary,
and strongly advised him to proceed to what were stated to
be the " disturbed districts," so that he might judge for him-
self. Ile kindly promised to report to me. After this I
despatched two more intelligent officers to Staleybridge and
that vicinity, not only to be a " check" on other information,
but to report to me on their return. Between 9 and 10 o'clock
that night the first two inspectors returned from Ashton,
saying they bad found all peaceable, but that every
mill round Ashton and Staleybridge had been stopped,
and that there was a report of a meeting which it was
said would be held in Ashton, next morning at five o'clock,
to deliberate as to the propriety of the " turn-outs " march-
on Manchester. On this vague report I ordered one of the
horse patrol to be in Ashton at four o'clock in the morning
(he having a fresh horse half way between Ashton and Man-
chester, so as to convey to me the most speedy information
as to any movements of the meeting); also one division of
police to be on the Ashton road at five o'clock in the morning.
I continued on the alert, and, rising at three o'clock, and
while mounted, ready to start for Ashton, the second infor-
mation arrived, with a similar vague report of a meeting to
take place in Ashton. Having issued orders for two addi-
tional divisions of police to form on the Ashton road, and
one in reserve behind the infirmary, I galloped to Ashton.
I passed through that town to Staley-bridge, and, awakening
the gentleman who the people said was the cause of the
" strike," I had an interview with him, but I received little
or no information. The " turn-outs " were now assem-
bling. I instantly returned to the Ashton town-hall, every
room of which was open, but there was not an individual
in that building from whom I could glean information. I there-
fore repaired to the meeting and mixed with the crowd ; yet I
could not distinguish the words of the speakers. However, in
order to calculate their numbers more easily, I left them and
returned on horseback. Shortly after, six determined-look-
ing men left the meeting and took the Manchester road. I
followed them. Here I found my horse patrol. I gave him
strict orders to watch the mob, and should they begin to
move, to gallop at full speed to Manchester, where he would
find the police ready. I then accosted thestisio men. They
did not know me. While in conversation with them, the
second in command of the county constabulary passed me on
his wuy to Ashton, but we did not recognize each other.
These men told me that yesterday they had turned out all
the " hands" at the mills, and that this day the people were
going to Manchester to do the same, and take bread, as they
preferred death to starvation. I warned them that they
would find both military and police at Manchester. I
dismounted, and having met a borough magistrate, who
informed me the mayor was in London, I drove to
Tib-street Barracks, in which the 60th Rifles were
quartered. I waited on the officer in command, and begged
him to have his men " fallen in ready to march," as I was
certain he would have an order from the commandant in five
minutes to march three or four miles on the Ashton road.
Having done this, I hurried to the town-hall, where I found
the commandant. I told him what I had seen—what I had
done ; upon which he instantly wrote an order for the cavalry,
I impressed on him the great necessity of " having the fight
out of town ;" and I too the liberty of pointing out some
capital positions on the Ashton road for a handfull of troops
to stop any mob. I was very anxious to see the troops in-
stantly 'on the move, but the commandant informed me he
was totally powerless without the presence of a magistrate.
On this I dispatched a letter (by cab) to the stipendiary ma-
gistrate, marking it "immediate," and requesting him to bring
the Riot Act with him, as he would find the commandant
on the Ashton-road with the troops ready. Having been led
to believe that the stipendiary magistrate might not be in
town, I instantly wrote a similar letter, but with no address,
and put it into the hands of an inspector to fix it on the first
county he could find, as the borough magistrates for the last
three years had refused to act. Before quitting my office to
join the police force, which I bad left formed near to the
Ashton Road, I intreated the commandant to impress upon
the stipendiary magistrate the necessity of" having the fight out
of town" that there was no time to think and argue upon" legal
technicalities," and to bear seriously in mind that every
quarter of an hoar spent in deliberation was the gain of a
mile of ground to the rioters, if on their march. (I should
here state, that I have it from undoubted authority that my
suggestions as to rapidity of movement were not attended to,
but that the stipendiary magistrate delayed full three quarters
of an hour in my office in the town-hall.) On my arrival at
the Ashton-road, I was astonished to find no troops, as I had
been delayed some time on my way,in changing my clothes,
having been wet all the morning ; however, I moved forward
with a small patrol of police along the Ashton road, with
some slight hopes that their appearance .might have a moral
effect. Perceiving the mob taking a mason from his work, I
ordered the ringleader to be seized, but in a few moments I
thought it prudent to set him at liberty, as I was not strong
enough to detain him in custody. The Dragoons now arrived,
and I went with the officer in command to put him in com-
munication with a magistrate, The mob which entered by
the Ashton New-road did not go into the interior of the town,
but turning to the right, and passing Ancoats-hall, entered
Ancoats-street. Having ordered the divisions of police to re-
form without delay in the rear of the infirmary in the centre of
town, I hastened to Ancoats-street, but where Pollard-street
joins it I found the military placed in such a manner, that to
the moment the town was all safe, the great mob being still
in the power of the authorities. I saw the stipendiary ma-
gistrate in conversation with some men who appeared to be
leaders, among whom were two of the six men whom I had
seen leave the meeting is Ashton, and with whom I had
conversed. There was a mutual recognition. I spoke to
the stipendiary magistrate, who pformed me they were ask-
idg permission to have a procession through the town,
promising to be peaceable, and to return to their homes after
passing through certain streets. I was then quite close to
the magistrate. I reined back a few paces, and said in a loud,
distinct voice (which must have been heard by the military),
" Sir, I must protest in the strongest manner against these
people passing. Sir, I report to you officially that these very
men, who tell you that they are going to be peaceable, in-
formed me this morning in Ashton, that yesterday they had
turned out all the mills round Staley-bridge, and that they
were coming this morning to Manchester to do the same, and
get bread." The magistrate on this came nearer to me, and said,
" They promise to be peaceable." I answered, " You have
heard what I said." The magistrate then held further con-
versation with the leaders. I again repeated loudly,—" Now
Sir, recollect I have reported this officially" (putting a very
strong emphasis on the last word.) He then addressed the
military commandant, who ordered the troops to move, and
the magistrate, placing himself at the head of the mob, pro.
ceeded down Ancoats-street, I drawing back ; loudly exclaim-
ing' " I will not be mixed up with this affair all I can now
do is to to count the enemy, who are attacking the town."
I placed myself at the head of Store-street, and counted those
who were arm and arm, When the rear of the mob had
passed, I was riding quickly, to see if the police were formed
according to my orders, and on reaching Portland-place I
saw the head of the mob opposite the infirmary with the
military commandant on its right flank. He called to me
that the " procession" did not seem inclined to keep their
promise to the magistrates, and requested him to show the
leaders the nearest road to Ashton. I did what I could to
induce them to go down the London-road, but they insisted
on passing through Portland-place (which at this part is very
wide), and we could not prevent them. Shortly after this.
the stipendiary magistrate came up, declaring that the
leaders of the procession had not kept their promise to
him, and asked me, where was its head ? I an-
swered, " You will be clever to find it, as by this
time it has 50 heads ; in fact, they are all loose, but still, if
you will permit me, I will, and can, stop them, as I have got
about 200 police close at hand." His answer was, " No, no ;
we mutt have no collision." _

We halted here for some little time, we doing by persuasion
what we could with the mob, who jeered us in return. One
man was most insolent to the commandant. I proposed his
being apprehended, but the magistrate would permit of no
interference. The mob then passed through Minshull-street,
a part assembled in Granby-row-fields, their chief speaker
calling on them to preserve " peace, law, and order," as their
meeting wrs legal, the procession having been conducted into
the town headed by the civil and military authorities, who
were then listening to them. The stipendiary accompanied
by another magistrate escorted this assemblage from Granby-
row-fields as far as the Ashton road; bnt while this was going
on the mob were attacking in other quarters, and continued
to do
ac, but sere so rapid in assembling, destroying, and
dispersing, that the town was in to state of anarchy. Such
were the events of the " evil hour."
The Attorney-General is likewise reported to have said,
" That for some days the town was at the mercy of the mob,
and the authority of the magistrates at an end." This is a
let. But why was this ? On the morning of the 9th of
nOO August
the mob entered. About two o'clock on the after-
noon of
thelOth, the mayor and borough magistrates, having
marks
of olutions,
fire ofurPesa good
position in the Town-hall, opened a heavy
placards, notices, proclamations, &c., the
cbester are still to be seen on every street in Man-

" CAC TION.---All
not to join in well-disposed persons are hereby warned
PUBLIC Nopromiscuouslle crowds in the streets," &c.
to
.—The Riot Act has been read, and all
persons are desired
of being apprehendedpeaceably to their homes, on pain
of the public peaee.,, and punished as rioters and disturbers
" Boa.ouGH OF MA,cli
Whereas a great number of (•81.1t.—Pu13.1.1C NOTICE.—The
neighbourhood,
persons have assembled
in this borough and
notice that efficient means are &c., and we hereby give
and suppress such meetings and 'en to prevent, put down,
laws to be put in force for that i proceeding, and to cause the
offenders to justice."
ma Riot Act."
Pose, and for bringing the
Proclamation commonly called ',The .
All these have the signature of the
or.
zre not waste
Naturally supposing that these placards
p
paper, I ordered the police to be formed at
the hour on
the morning of the lltb to carry into execul;
e
mations of the Mayor. A band of 200 marauders rocla-
the town-hall at 5 o'clock in the morning, 1 ordered
passing
police to disperse and apprehend them- The policeed the
marched to execute my orders and fulfil the wishes
sedhad
in the proclamations of the Mayor, when they were
stopped in the execution of their duty by the express order of
the Mayor, and ordered to return to the town-hall.
Such was the system, or rather the system of confusion
and disorganization from beginning to end, and neither I nor
any civil authority in the borough of Manchester had any
right to take credit to himself for preserving the peace of
the town during these disturbances. Let the merit rest
where it ought,—with the praiseworthy and energetic mea-
sures of the inhabitants themselves.
....

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
CHARLES SHAW.

Baku? ell, Oct. 11.

CHURCH AT JERUSALEM.—The church at Jerusalem
goes on slowly ; the workmen are still cceupien with the.
trenches. Some of the Turks imagine that a secret mine is
in progress to communicate with the exterior of the town.
The health of Bishop Alexander continues to improve.—
CorreBpondent of the Times.
Her Majesty the queen Dowager let town on Tuesday, the
4th instant, and proceeded to the Vauxhall station of the
South Western railway, where she was received by the di-
rectors and officers of the company, the ladies in attendance,
Earls Howe and Denbigh, Sir D. Davies, Physician, and the
Rev. Mr. Wood, chaplain to her Majesty, and canon of
Worcester Cathedral. On arriving at Southampton the
royal party proceeded to Canford House, Dorset, the seat of
Lord de Manley, which has been taken for her Majesty's
residence during the winter.