The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-05
OF the riots at Manchester, the following
article presents more detailed account than
we had room tor in our paper Of yesterday

en- the substance OF some letters received
yesterday from Manchester, relating to the
proceedings of the distressed manufacturers
in that town and neighbourhood, in con-
sequence OF the refusal of Parliament to en-
terrain bill Tor fixing a minimum for their
weekly labour. We are sorry to state that
1t has been found necessary to have recourse
to strong measures to dissolve the meetings
which took place among this unhappy class
of the people. The following letter, which
we received this morning from a correspon-
dent, upon whose accuracy we can place
perfect reliance, contains an account of
what occurred at Manchester on Wednes-
day. The cotton Weavers seem to have a.
dopted a very erroneous idea Of the feel
ing of Parliament with respect to their case.
We were present at the short discussion
which took place on the subject on Friday
last, and we can assert that il was from mo-
tives Of the purest compassion for them that
leave was not given to bring in the BILL
There was but one opinion i'll the house res
pecting it. and it was this, that it would en-
crease rather than remove the distresses of
the manufacturers; that it might do infinite
mischief and no possible good -
MANCHESTER, Wednesday Evening.
Your London papers will no doubt teen
with dreadful accounts of the riots at Man
chester; but having been accidentally both
an eye and an ear witness of what has unfor
tunately taken place here, send you few
hasty lines. =
ga number Of the journcymen weavers
assembled yesterday, not in riotous or tu-
multuous manner, but in decent orderly
style, requesting to have their grievances re-
dressed, and their wages raised. Some thou
sands attended on the ground called ST
Georges Fields, and appointed delegates to
waitnpon the principal manufacturers, hum
h1y desiripo ON t.diatp ipteryiew The
magistrates and several respectable gentle
men sent to demonstrate with the poor ema-
ciated and distressed objects, requesting
them to dispense but finding every thing they
said was of no avail, they were under the
painful necessity of resorting to the reading
of the Riot Act, and sending the constables
and military among them, who soon cleared
the ground but finding the inhabitants were
considerably alarmed, the streets were pa
troled all Tuesday night, and every thing
remained pretty quiet
g This morning about ten o'clock, nv Gu
riosity was attracted, by seeing some hun
dreds OF weavcrs marching, in a most order
ly manner, into Manchester, to join several
thousands of others OF the same Calling, who
had again assembled in st. Georges Field
(whichis close to the edge Of town. A regu-
lar square was formed, and the members e.,
the respective committees stationed them
selves in the centre. They then dispatched
delegates to commune with the Boroughreeve
ard the principal officers Of the .o"r, who
were requested to use their influence with
the most eminent manufacturers to raise
their wages One of the delegates soon re-
turned, and went round the square, attend
I'd BY the Committee, ana addressing the poor
half famished, but patient auditors, inform
ed them that he had seen the Boroughreeve,
that he was friendly to their cause, AND svm-
pathised with them in their present distress
which he was sorry he could not alleviate
that he had taken tile names and places of a
bode Of their delegates, who were RESPONSE
BILE for the conduct and behaviour of their
fellow sufferers The delegate thea exhor-
ted them to be firm in the cause they had un-
dertaken to support, and strongly enjoned
them to behave peaceably and orderly.
&c About three o'clock P. Nj. Iagain went
to the field, attended by friend, and was as
tonished to see so many thousands Of peo-
pie; for as all the wcavcrs had struck their
work, in the neighbouring towns, I am of o.
Pinion that there were at least from ten to
fifteen thousand people. Loud, indeed, were
the murmurs Of the poor wretches. bat not
the least indication was there of riot.
Many baskets of bread. with some ale,
and several cans of buttermilk, were distri-
buted among the multitude, and their sorrow
ful and piteous tales o. distress quite nnman-
ned me, as also several other sympathetic
spectators About half past three o'clock,
the Borough reeve, accompanied by another
gentlemen on horseback, entered the (hollow)
square, and the poor creatures gave patti
ent hearing to them he advised them to dis
perse, but the general cry was" We have
nothing to eat; & unless our wages are raj
sed, we might as well play and starve, as
work and be famished." listened attentive
Iy, and heard tales Of the most distressing
scenes that ever human eve was witness to ;
and am sorry to say, that the military were
obliged to interfere for the second time, and
] apprehend that the consequences will be
dreadful, as I saw them FIRE, and observed
several wounded wretcbes carried to the in
Urinary. The shops and houses are all shut
up IN this quarter, and the rihemcn 8, Nam
Chester volunteers &c. &c. are now marching
TO the scene Of action, and find the streets
are to be again patroled. The peaceable
Inhabitants are most dreadfully alarmed.
Ten p. MI have just seen poor old
mans widow, who is left with five children.
Her husband was shot in an entry; and I
ind that several OF the multitude have been
taken to goal. An Apothecary with whom
j converscd, has been to dress the wounds
ct many who were badly hurt by the swords
and bayone,- of the sodicry.
rs. After the military were assembled.
IL