The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-03-18 00:00:00

,TEsAt.kNt

sere by the disposition which they. hailvaniirsted 'So
sled obedience to stye milers of their Maestrates. He
made a speech on that IN couched in very inde-
recrous language, in whirl, he spoke of the blagistratss,
nine in number, as being nine tailors, at the same time
reproaching the people with hieing. yielded a too ready
acquiescence with their pruhibitiom Ile found them
disposed to obey those who might he called their 110-
vernors, (as there were MO Corporaeitoe or tither public
body regularly constituted at Nlanelet ster.) be found
them ready to yield obedience to those entrusted with
the administration of the laws, and such conduct he re-
prehended as unbecoming and pusillanimous. Ile con-
sidered the time to have arrived when a different course
ought to be pursued, and he consequently gave notice
that he would hold a meeting in Nlatechester on the
following Monday, August 16. and invited them to at-
tend him on that day. This notice given, Hunt went to
the residence of Johnson, near Manchester, a place
called Smedley Cottage. There lot remained some days,
and while there, lie should be able to show that he was
visited by Knight, and another of the defendants. In
the mean time he (Hunt) had gained a sort of popular
reputation in Nlanchestrr, which ally man might obtain
with little difficulty who could descend to go about,
making seditiolis speeches, and littering the passions
of the mob. Apparently in connexion with the proposed
meetings, certain secret drillings at the dead hour of
the night were known to take place at various places
within the distance of live, FiN, sewn, or eight miles
round Manchester. These elrillino, though decidedly
unlawful, were holdly carried ols, and were dangerous
to approach. 1/n the morning of the 15th of August, a
party of men were seen at a place called White-moss,
' practising military evolutions, in a way that could leave
no person who had ever seen troops exercised in doubt
that some ulterior object was in view. Attracted by
curiosity, those who saw the party at White-moss, ven-
tured to approach, when they weir pursued, beaten, and
treated with great cruelty. thee of the too persons who
thus found demise's es in the power of the drillers,
being recognized as a special constable of Manchester,
to save his life he was oblige.l to fall on his kern
and recant the allegiance which he had sworn to his
Sovereign.

Mr. NcvT heree4l to ask if the Learned Gentleman
meant to connect these proceedings uith the matter at

issue ?

The Jtoue apprelienoled that .Ir. Searlett would pro-
ceed to connect these with the mailer before the Court
by evidence. If he (lid not do so, lie should certainly
caution the Jury agaist,t suffer:Nl a pre•joilier to he ex-
cited against the defendant by ;lie intruuuction of col-
lateral matter.

Mr. 111-NT remarked, that lr:s faittlibip must iw aware
that nothing but suds a remark from the Bench would
be likely to do away the impression that might thus be
created 'by matters not to be proved in evidence.
The Junue certainly thought that Mr. Scarlett would
not introduce such topics, if it aere not his conscientious
belief that he should be able to establish by evidence
their connexion with the errs,. It lie did not do so, the
course he was pursuing would be beneficial to the de-
fendants rather than to the prosecution.
Mr. SC %KLETT assured the Jury, that be would urge
nothing to the prejudice of the defendants that he
did not mean to establish by evidence. He expected to
prove that Mr. Hunt was mutt deeply and crimi-
nally connected with the proceedings at White
Moss. 'I brew who were clothed with authority in
Manchester, having thought it their duty to forbid the
meeting called for the :nit. and 31r. Hunt having taken
upon hinr4elf to preside another, called for the 16th of
August, the Magistrates found it necessary to have re-
course to that'll...loos which may 4; lawfully ap-
plied to all large pe e meetings. They accordingly
made those preparations which the nature of the case
seemed to demand ; and now he had to open to the Jury
a scene, which, among all those which had been wit-
neseed in this our native land, had hail no example. He
then proceeded to describe the meeting of the 16th of
August, and from a large county may be pointed out to
the .Inry the situations of the villages in the neighbour-
hood of Manchester, from which the Reformers marched
on that morning, to assemble in the area near St.
Peter's church. The majority of the population of Man-
cheater he described to consist of a poor laborious peo-
ple. Their numbers and their conditions would alone
Mere justified the Magistrates in adopting some extra-
ordinary precautions to preserve the public peace, bad
the meeting been confined to the inhabitants of Mam
chewer alone, when called at a time of such general die-
tress. Ile then showed, that from such being the case,
bodies amen were seen, on the 16th of August, making
from all points of the compass towards Manchester. At
Middleton, the defendant Bamford would be shown to
have been busy in arranging, in military order, a body
of three thousand men. Though they were not in um-
form, they had made considerable progress in their mi-
litary exercises. Under Bamford's directions, they
dressed, and formed a hollow square with great regu-
larity, and they put laurel leaves in their hats, that they
might be distinguished from others. This party was
Dined by another two thousand strong, from-Rot:Wale.
ront I ildharo a body of men had marched, with which it
would be proved that the defendant, Ilealev, was connect-
ed. In the first instance, it did not appear that he assumed
the command of those with whom he marched ; but in
their progress towards Manchester, he would be proved
to have expressed a strong opinion on the probable
effect of the meeting, and to have declared that he looked
forward to a glorious result from the proceedings of
that day. From other parts in the vicinity of Manches-
ter, bodies of men were advancing, and lie believed that
cps 'wry Is'gh road leading to the town a similar specta-
elowas to be seen. Things were in this state up to
eleven o'clock on the morning of the ltith, when that
testy was seen approaching Manchester, which had been
observed on the preceding day training at White Moss.
Murray, the man whom they had so cruelly beaten, was
thee lying in bed, nimble to move from the bruises which
he had received. When the party from White Mom
came opsosite his home, they made loud hums, halted,
and by their whole conduct proved that they exulted
in the recollection of the proceedings of the anterior
day, and hailed the sufferer to confirm him in the
oath they had forced him to take, or to give him a warn-
ing of what might result from his pursuing a different
course from that which it was their pleasure to enjoin.
It was about eleven o'clock that Mr. Hunt and his party
were seen entering the town. He clime in an open car-
riage, and Johnson, Moorlionse, and Wright, accompa-
nied him on his approach. The Middleton and Roch-
dale parties had united, and Mr. Hunt entered therefore
as at the head of an army of 8080 men. But the num-
bers that accompanied him were greater than the amount
be had stated, as such an army is usually much increased
by the stragglers picked up on the way. He (Mr. Hunt)
first approached Murray's house. Here he stood up in
the carriage, and seemed to assume the tone of a cont-
outlier ; the word to " halt" was given, and the same
Mum (whether it weli to be taken is good or in bad part
It bas for the Jury to consider) of a knowledge of what
Wowed on the proceeding day at White Moss, was
even, that had bees gives by the party from White
ose. Thence passing on, Hunt and his party arrived
ie. lie Star Inn, where the Magistrates were then en-
, Mid in the discharge of a most arduous duty. They
Iteml greeted with hisses and groans, and various expires-
oboe of contempt. They next passed the Police Oace,
where the constables were in the same way saluted with
boots, hisses, and groans ; and thence the party pro-