James Standrig Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Labourer

Heard Hunt say that the meeting was legal on 9^th August 1819.

Account

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James Standrig - examined by Mr. Littledale. —l saw Mr. Hunt on the 9th of August at the bottom of Blakely-street, Manchester. He had just then got up in this gig to address the people. Witness was at his work. but was drawn to the spot by curiosity. There might have been about 1000 persons there. He heard Mr. Hunt say, that the first thing he heard of the postponement of the meeting was at Bullock-Smithy. There were nine signatures to the paper, which fulfilled the old proverb that ‘nine tailors made a man’. He also said something about a notorious quorum. He was astonished at any one being sent to Liverpool to know whether the meeting was legal or not. He knew himself that it was legal. He also said, that there was another meeting to be held on the following Monday but witness did not hear him say whether he should attend it or not. Here the placard from the Magistrates, warning the people not to attend the meeting of the 9th, was put into witness's hand, and he said he saw similar ones in Manchester.

Cross-examined by Mr. Hunt—I am in the employ of a timber merchant, at Manchester. I took no notes of what you said. I think I wrote some part of it for a man connected with the Police. I did not hear you say that, you had important private business to transact, and that I must return to the country on the 16th. I did not hear you say anything of the blunder of the Magistrates in threatening all the people with their displeasure_; if they did not attend the meeting, although they had previously declared it illegal.

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