The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-08-19 00:00:00

THE ANTI-CORN-LAW-LEAGUE RIOTS.'

In the Standard of Tuesday we brought down our ref Art
of the disturbances in the manufacturing districts to the
latest possible period ; from Manchester, Preston, and the
towns adjacent to a late hour the previous evening. 'We now
resume the account, and regret we have not more favourable
particulars to detail. We derive our information from various
sources.

MANCHESTER.

TUESDAY.—The town- has been quiet during the whole of
the forenoon, and the only circumstance to be noticed is the
large numbers of idle persons walking the streets, apparently
without an object or a feeling. The factories are, with few
exceptions, standing, and no terms have been come to, or
are in progress, between the hands and their masters. The
impression of many influential parties whom we have met,
is, that the neck of the " insurrection," or whatever else we
may call it, is broken, and that, were the men allowed quietly
to resume their work, nothing more of a serious nature
would occur. The proposed processsion, in memory of the
Peterloo affair, was abandoned. A tea party and ball (!)
were announced to be held this evening, at which the noto-
rious Feargus O'Connor addressed his Chartist dupes.
The military strength of the town was yesterday 2210 men,
besides two howitzers, and four 6-pounders. Of the former,
there are of the Royal Artillery, 70 men; Foot Artillery, 40;
3d battalion of Grenadiers, about 500; 58th Infantry, 600;
60th Rifle Corp, 600; and Ist Royal Dragoons and Lancers,
300. This, however, has been diminished by the draft for
service, for Warrington, and other places. A large detach-
ment of Rifles is stationed in the warehouses at the terminus
of the Manchester and Birmingham Railway, to lie in readi-
ness in case of disturbance at Hyde, Mottram, &c., or in
case of the railway being threatened to be interrupted.
At the meeting of delegates held yesterday, it was an-
nounced by the chairman that meetings were to be held by
the Dissenting Ministers and the shopkeepers in aid of the
turn outs. One of the speakers—Mr. Duffy—proposed that
they should proceed to stop the supplies. He had taken
that hint, he said, from the Anti-Corn-Law-Leaguers.
Mr. •Feargus O'Connor arrived by the Manchester and
Birmingham railway at half-past six, a.m., bat the proceed-
ings were contracted to the tea party, &c., as mentioned
above. Placards were issued in the course of the day, an-
nouncing the abandonment of the procession, &c., signed,
"J. Scholefield." An adjourned meeting of delegates
took place at ten in the morning, at which Bernard
M'Cartney, the Liverpool delegate, cut a conspicuous figure,
and the meeting adjourned until afternoon, when one of the
magistrates attempted to induce the chairman to disperse
the assembly, but without effect, until they passed a resolu-
tion. The tea party and ball in the evening, as previously
announced by placard, were given in the Carpenters' Hall
by " The committee for the erection of Hunt's monument."
The room and gallery were densely crowded, and an amateur
band was in attendance. John Murray presided. After
tea, the Rev. James Scholefield entered the room, and an-
nounced that Mr. Feargus O'Connor was unable to attend;
as he was, in conjunction with other chartists, engaged in
considering what measures were best to be adopted in the
present crisis. Several chartist sentiments were then pro-
posed from the chair, and responded to by some operatives,
and a few songs were sung; after which dancing commenced,
and was kept up till a late hour. The town remained per-
fectly quiet the whole day.
WEDNESDAY.—No disturbance took place to-day, with
the exception of the attempt of a number of people to stop
two establishments near Pendleton, in both of which the
rioters were most signally defeated. The authorities conti-
nue their watchful supervision of the borough and neigh-
bourhood ; the police, special constables, and patrols, are on
duty, and every precaution is taken to guard against any
surprise. This morning a number of mills, factories, dye-
works, and other establishments, resumed work in this town
and neighbourhood. The excavators and labourers employed
on the works of the Extension Line of the Manchester and
Leeds Railway, who were compelled to turn out on Friday,
also resumed work this morning. The delegates resumed
their sitting this morning. After their dispersion last even-
ing, they issued an address to the trades, which was pla-
carded on the walls. The following is a copy :
" Liberty.—To the Trades of Manchester and the sur-
rounding Districts.—Fellow-workmen,—We hasten to lay
before you the paramount importance of this day's proceed-
ings. The delegates from the surrounding districts have
been more numerous at this day's meeting than they were at
yesterday's ; and the spirit of determination manifested for
the people's rights has increased every hour. In consequence
of the unjust and unconstitutional interference of the magis-
trates, our proceedings were abruptly brought to a close by
their dispersing the meeting, but not until in their very teeth
we passed the following resolution Resolved, that the
delegates in public meeting assembled do recommend to the
various constituencies which we represent to adopt all legal
means to carry into effect the People's Charter. And fur-
ther, we recommend, that delegates be sent through the
whole of the country, to endeavour to obtain the co-opera-
tion of the middle and working classes in carrying out the
resolution of ceasing labour until the Charter be made the
law of the land.'—Englishmen, legally determine to main-
tain the peace and well-being of society, and show, by your
strict adherence to our resolutions, that we are your true
representatives. Do your duty : we will do ours. We meet
again to-morrow, and the result of our deliberations will be
fully laid before you.
" ALEXANDER HirrenissoN, Chairman.
" CHARLES STUART, SeC. pro tern.
Manchester, August 16, 1842.
On Wednesday morning a large placard appeared on the
walls, professing to be an address from "The Executive
Committee of the Chartist Association," to the people of
Manchester and the neighbourhood. After congratulating
the chartists on the prospects of their cause, and alluding,
in every exciting language, to the fact, that " the blood of
their brethren had already reddened the streets of Preston
and Blackburn," it called on them to stand true to the cause,
by refraining from work ; and wound up by committing the
cause of the people " to the God of justice and of battles."
The only name attached to the placard was that of the
printer, " Charles Turner, Turner-street, near St. Paul's
Church." About three o'clock, Mr. Beswiek, accompanied
by a party of special constables, went to the house of the
printer, and apprehended him and his two apprentices. They
also carried off several copies of the placard, and the form

- . -
of type.
We shall certainly not re-publish a placard at full length,
which the authorities deem seditious. We may, however,
give a few specimens of the style :—" Englishmen, the blood
of your brothers reddens the streets of Preston and Black-
burn, and the murderers thirst for more. Be firm, be cou-
rageous, be men. Peace, law, and order, have prevailed on
our side ; !st them be revered until your brethren in Scot-
land, ,ss, and Ireland, are informed of your resolution ;
and when a universal holiday prevails, which nil! be the case
in eight days, then of what use will bayonets be against pub-
lic opinion ? What tyrant can then live above the tenable
tide of thought and energy, which is now flowing fast under
the guidance of .man's intellect, which is now destined by a
Creator to elevate his people above the reach of want, the
rancour of despotism, and the penalties of bondage. * *
Our machinery is arranged, and your cause will in three
days be impelled onward by all the intellect we can summon
to its aid,." Esc. " All officers of the association are called
upon to aid and assist in the peaceful extension of the move-
ment, and to forward all monies for the use of the delegates
who may be expressed over the country. Strengthen our
hands at this crisis. Support your leaders. Rally round
our sacred cause, and leave the decision to the God of Jus-
tice and of Battles."
Immediately on a copy of the above-named placard being laid
before the borough magistrates, a messenger was despatched
to the printer for another copy, which, having been obtained,
an information was immediately taken before Daniel Lee,
Esq., by whom a warrant was issued for the apprehension of
the printer. This set forth that Charles Turner did, on this
the lith.day of August instant, feloniously, seditiously, and
maliciously print and publish a certain false, seditious, ma-
licious, and scandalous libel, entitled and headed, " The
Executive Committee of the National Charter Associa-
tion," and addressed "To the people," &c. About half-
past two o'clock, Mr. Superintendent Beswick, went
to the house of Turner, in Turner-street. Turner was
not in the house, hut returned home in a few minutes
afterwards ; and Mr. Beswick told him that he had
a warrant against him, for having printed and pub-
lished the placard in question, which the magistrates
deemed a seditious bill ; and that, therefore, he (Turner)
must consider himself as his prisoner. The special con-
stables then came up, and Mr. Beswick proceeded up
stairs into the room used by Turner as a printing-
office, and discovered the form of type from which the pla-
card had been printed upon the press. To make himself
certain of this, he took a sheet of blank paper, inked the
type, and printed an impression of the placard. Continuing
bis search, he also found what is called a " first proof" of
the placard, with corrections and alterations made in ink,
which proof he secured. Amongst other papers seized was
a printed copy of a large bill, printed by Turner, for the
chartists, about twelve months ago. The form of type of
the bill described in the warrant was conveyed to the Town-
hall, guarded by the special constables. Mr. Beswick con-
veyed Turner, and the papers he had seized, to the police-
office, in a coach ; his two apprentices were also brought
away. Turner was placed in the lock-up ; and the boys, his
apprentices, are for the present detained in the police-office.
There appeared to be, in the statements of various persons
made before the borough magistrates, sufficient evidence
to authorise the apprehension of James Leach, who calls him-
self •• the President of the Executive Council of the National
Charter Association," and who keeps a small shop in Oak-
street, near Swan-street, for the sale of the chartist penny
aand halfpenny publications, chartist coffee, stationery, &c,—
warrant was
of Mr.
.accordingly
eswick, for execution. Accordingly about eleven
o'clock •
house, this (Wednesda Mr. Beswick proceeded to
his y night,
told hrsaset'h and there found and apprehended Leach. He
wished to have
he had a warrant against him, and asked if he
which Mr. iriee it read over to him. Leach said, he did; on
upon the warrant, Mr.
read it. Leach made no observation
in his pock atkt• Mr. Beswick searched him, and found
e • amongst other things, a scrap of paper, on
which was written
that wilt be derived with pencil, " Please, show the benefits
`W. White."--mvre% from the charter when we get it.—
Hall, in a coach, acid rick then removed Leach to the Town
On Wednesday theerwas placed in tbe police lock-up.
Manchester
address was received :
" To the people of
~....nchester and the surrounding dis-
tricts.--Fellow citizens
post. Faithful to the trust your delegates are again at their
determined to stand
reedie have reposed in us, We are
uynited till we carry into full
effect the resolution ago esterday. The following re-
solution was carried unanimouslymanche:sr` Resolved,—That we
recommend the trades of
er and the surrounding
district immediately to form committees
their respective
nicsnorns to yesterday,
localities, to carry out the resolutiong.v.wee
with instructions to issue bills and ;
time as the people resume work again.
your n bu n
Inocrseenitnutnritil
tsuchs
e.Yectedebmy tephaeenetime
call on you to send in
we most earnestly
to the executive committee unanimously
dele-
gates this morning assembled. Time is precious. Decision energy is essentially necessary at the present momiesnion.
for the future we shall be governed by events. A s
short time,
we are confident, will prove this movement is national.
Rally round the standard you have raised—stand firm-- do
do
your duty—and we will do Ours..—ALEXANDER HUTCMN-
Y Secretary pro tem.—Aug.
SON, Chairman; Was. DTIFFE
lith, 1842."
Several meetings of the delegates were held in the course
of the day.
THURSDAY.—A few establishments, such as dye works,
&c., have commenced working, but no cotton factory, with
the exception of Messrs. Gardner and Bazley, has resumed
work, and that only partially. nine at the
Mr. Feargus O'Connor arrived about half-past
station of the Manchester and Birmingham Railway, and
set off, having booked himself through to London.