George Barlow Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Publican

Saw many people assemble and cheer at the police offices on Deansgate. Saw people with banners and sticks shouldered like muskets. He closed his shop out of alarm.

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Geo. Barlow examined by Sergeant Hullock. —

I keep the Coach and Horses in Deansgate, about 50 yards from the Police-office. I remember the 16th of August. I was at home from ten o'clock in the morning until evening. I saw a number of people marching in bodies, in the same manner that soldiers do when drilling. I saw a carriage in the crowd, in which there were four persons. There was a woman in front with a flag. When they got near the Police office they stopped the carriage for a few minutes. A number of them turned their faces towards the Police, and gave three cheers. The persons in the carriage looked towards the Police, There were several banners, upon one of which was, "Equal Representation or Death”. The cheers were very loud. I closed the shutters for fear of having the windows broke, and burned candles. Two of my neighbours closed their windows also. I remained at home, as I felt alarmed lest there should he some mischief.

Cross-examined by Mr. Hunt—

I have lived thirty years in Manchester; I remember the Proclamation of the Peace; there were great crowds, but not so large as this, There was much cheering and shouting near my house, and also near the Police-office. I saw the Proclamation of George IV. ; there was a great crowd. They marched very well, but I think they had not so much drilling as the meeting on the 16th. of August, The latter had sticks, and several shouldered them as soldiers do muskets. There never was half so many persons assembled at Manchester races as I saw pass my door that day.

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