Jonathan Andrew Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Officer
• Occupation: Constable

One of the constables who arrested orators at the meeting. Also testified to seeing nighttime drilling meetings near his home on Rochdale Road.

Account

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Jonathan Andrew sworn: examined by Mr. Serjeant Cross.
Q. Mr. Andrew, I believe you was one of the Constables of the town of Manchester, on the 16th August, 1819?
A. Yes, I was.
Q. One of the two chief Constables?
A. One of the two chief Constables.
Q. I believe the Police of the town of Manchester is under the direction of the Boroughreeve and two Chief Constables?
A. It is.
Q. Before the 16th. August, had you any occasion to be alarmed?
A. I had repeatedly; and more particularly on the preparations for the 16th.
Q. Was that populous district in a peaceable or disturbed state, prior to the 16th?
A. It was in a very disorderly state.
Q. Did it employ much of your time and attention?
A. The greatest part of my time was devoted to it.
Q. And that of your brother officers?
A. The greatest part of the time and attention of the Boroughreeve and the other Constables, Mr. Moore and Mr. Nadin, and myself.
Q. Was that the case also with the Magistrates of the district?
A. Their time, a great deal of it, devoted to the state the country was then in.
Q. What length of time prior to the 16th. August?
A. During the greatest part of the year 1819, after I was in office; immediately after I came into office, we were in that state.
Q. Had you, in consequence, frequent intercourse and communication with the Magistrates, on the subject?
A. Yes.
Q. Did the Magistrates of the two counties, Cheshire and Lancashire, assemble?
A. Frequently. That part of the country in which I resided, I found in a very disorderly state; so much so as to cause me to send my wife and family to Liverpool for safety, to be out of the way, a month previous to the 16th. August.
Q. I think you have already said you was frequently present with the Magistrates of the two counties—frequently at their meetings?
A. I was.
Q. You would, of course, communicate to them, from time to time, the state of the district?
A. I did.
Q. Had you any motive whatever but the public safety, for your frequent communications with them?
A. Nothing more.
Q. I believe you had occasion to expect a public meeting at Manchester on the 9th. August?
A. We expected a public meeting on the 9th. August.
Q. Were papers such as that, (shewing a placard) posted about the town of Manchester and its neighbourhood?
A. They were; a great number of them.
Q. Did it allay or increase your apprehensions, when you found that Mr. Hunt and Mr. Carlile were to take the lead on that occasion?
A. It added much to my apprehensions for the safety of the town and neighbourhood.
Q. Had Mr. Hunt been at Manchester before, while you was in office, during your year?
A. He had.
Q. How long before?
A. I believe he was in Manchester in July.
Q. Did you see him—in January, was he there?
A. I cannot swear that I saw him; my recollection will not serve me whether I saw him or not. I can say that I saw him in Manchester previous to the 16th. August, but the day I cannot recollect.
Q. Was the place more quiet or disorderly, when he honored it with his presence?
A. It was generally more disorderly when he made his appearance in the town.
Q. You reside at a place called Hendham Hall?
A. I do.
Q. That is a short distance from the town of Manchester?
A. Two miles from the town of Manchester.
Q. This 16th. of August was on Monday, we understand; did any thing particular occur in your neighbourhood on Saturday night or Sunday morning?
A. On Saturday the 14th. late at night, or Sunday morning, the 15th., I was awoke, when in bed, by a tremendous shouting in the public road.
Q. About what hour was that?
A. Between the hours of one and two on Sunday morning.
Q. What distance is your house from the public road?
A. About 150 yards, I should suppose.
Q. Did you get up?
A. I got up out of bed.
Q. Have the goodness to state what you then observed—did you go to the road?
A. I got out of bed, and went to the road, placed myself in my plantation near to the road; there I perceived about thirty or forty people in line on the foot path. I heard one of the men —
Mr. Blackburne.—I must object to that:—indeed I should object to the whole of his evidence, the plaintiff not being present.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—The question is, what things were going forward in the town of Manchester, previously to this meeting of the 16th., what was the information on which the Magistrates acted, and what was the state of the town and its immediate neighbourhood.
Mr. Blackburne.—I submit the question here is, whether the defendants can justify the assault they have committed. We have been precluded from giving evidence, unless we first prove that the defendants were present; we had as much interest in shewing that the acts of the defendants were illegal, as my learned Friend has in proving that the acts of other people were illegal.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—The first issue upon the record is, whether the defendants are guilty of the trespass; the other issue is, whether there was a riot, or whether there was a conspiracy, and a meeting held for the purpose of bringing the government and constitution into contempt; and also whether there was an unlawful meeting, to the great terror and danger of the inhabitants of the town of Manchester; these are all put in issue, these are things to be proved or disproved. The proof I stopped you in, had reference to those acts which were subsequent to the acts of the Magistrates in granting the warrant, or the officers going up to the hustings; you was enquiring as to the acts of particular individuals.
Mr. Evans.—I submit that the only ground upon which this evidence can be admitted would be, that it went to prove a conspiracy, to which the plaintiff was a party. It is alleged that he was a party in every act of the conspiracy; and if it was not so alleged there could be no justification. It is only upon the ground that the plaintiff is a conspirator, that the evidence offered can be admissible. "Now we charge that the four defendants, acting together with other persons, did assault the plaintiff:—are we to be precluded from giving evidence of other persons acting with them, and are they to be allowed to give evidence of the conduct of those with whom we had no actual participation?
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—The present point is whether this is evidence.
Mr. Evans.—I wish to press it upon your Lordship's attention. I urge the objection with more confidence, because it is founded upon your Lordship's decision. It would be new to me to be told
that I am not to state your Lordship's decision; I rely on your Lordship's decision; I submit we are entitled to give every act of the defendants, on the day of the meeting, hi evidence .The ground upon which they rest their defence, is by proving a conspiracy against the government by other persons, and that the plaintiff was acting in furtherance of it. Then why were we not, upon the same principle, allowed to give evidence of the conduct of those who were acting with the defendants. I submit, as our evidence was not admitted, the evidence offered on the part of the defendants ought, equally, to be rejected.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—I am clearly of opinion it is evidence as to part of the fact put in issue. One of the issues is, whether a certain unlawful, wicked, and seditious conspiracy, had not been entered into to excite discontent and disaffection in the minds of the people, and hatred and contempt of the government and constitution. There are other pleas, stating unlawful meetings. I am therefore of opinion, that stating the things which were done in Manchester and the neighbourhood, with a view to shew that there were such unlawful meetings, and that there did exist such a conspiracy, is clearly evidence, which, by the law of the land, I am bound to hear.
Q. You was stating that you saw about forty people in line on the foot-path?
A. Yes.—I saw thirty or forty people in a line on the foot-path, on arriving at my plantation.
Q. Did you expose yourself to their view, or did you remain concealed?
A. I was going to state, that when I arrived at the plantation, I heard some person call out, ”Where is Serjeant Robinson?” Some one answered, “He is here.” The number of people then collected, immediately marched off.
Q. Did you hear any expressions from which you understood they were going towards a place called White Moss?
A. I did.—My house is on the new Rochdale road, the north-east road, the Rochdale and Middleton road, and it is the public road to White Moss from Manchester.
Q. They then passed in the direction from Manchester?
A. In the direction from Manchester towards White Moss, I called upon my gardener, whose cottage adjoined the plantation, and I desired him to follow the party to White Moss.
Mr. Blackburne.—Does your Lordship think that is evidence, what he told his gardener to do?
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—He may give evidence that he desired his gardener to do something—that he ordered him to follow them.
Q. Before you proceed, state the distance to White Moss?
A. The distance to White Moss from my house, I suppose, is a mile and a half.
Q. What else did you observe in the course of the night?
A. On the return of numerous parties.
Q. Before we come to the return, let me ask you, did you see any other parties going?
A. I saw another division of about the same number, halt near to the same place as the former, and they immediately gave three shouts. There were straggling parties of three, four, six, eight, ten, in companies; I saw them proceeding on for some time towards White Moss: I remained in the plantation upwards of two hours.
Q. Well, Sir, did you retire to rest?
A. I went home. On the return of great numbers of people on Sunday morning they were in a very disorderly state. At what time?
A. Between eight and ten o'clock.
Q. Describe, if you please, what circumstances of disorder?
A. In a very disorderly state; many people drunk, a great many indeed.
Q. Did they go singly or in bodies?
A. The thirty or forty were in a body.
Q. But as they returned?
A. As they returned, they were in straggling parties; and on my going to church, about ten o'clock, I perceived, at the outskirts of the town, the principal part of the way, a great number of lamps were broken, which I did not see had been broken on the night before.
Q. Did you communicate this circumstance to the Magistrates?
A. I did.
Q. On the Monday morning or before?
A. I cannot say, positively, whether it was not on Sunday.
Q. You think it was on Sunday?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you, at any other time, see any people together moving under word of command?
A. On my way home, some short time previous to the 16th. August, I saw from about twenty to twenty five men in the public high road drilling: I saw them form in sections, and separate in half, and then advance in line, and then proceed home.
Q. You did not interfere with the people, who you saw on the Sunday morning making a noise and disturbance?
A. I did not.
Q. Why did you not?
A. I consider I should have been ill used.
Q. Was you afraid?
A. I was afraid, certainly, in the state they were in.
Q. From what you saw of their conduct, did you consider you could do it with personal safety or with effect?
A. I did not; I was alone.
Q. From all then you knew at the time, of the state of the country, did you consider it consistent with the public safety, that such a meeting should be held as appeared on Monday morning?
A. I certainly considered it dangerous to the public safety.
Q. Do you think it was less dangerous because they came from a distance, marching in regular order?
A. I conceived it contributed more to the danger.
Q. I believe you was at the meeting?
A. I was.
Q. What took you there?
A. I was ordered by the Magistrates, in conjunction with my colleague, Mr. Moore, and the Boroughreeve—
Q. The Boroughreeve, yourself and your colleague?
A. Yes; to form a line of special constables from the Magistrates' house to the hustings.
Q. Had any special constables been appointed?
A. A great number of special constables were sworn in at the time, additional special constables.
Q. And any shortly before?
A. Yes.
Q. What description of persons were selected for that purpose —were they householders?
A. Householders, and as respectable as we could get them.
Q. Were they among the principal inhabitants of the place?
A. Part of the principal inhabitants.
Q. You was ordered by the Magistrates to form a line of these constables?
A. We formed a line of special constables from the Magistrates'
house to the hustings.
Q. A double line?
A. A double line.
Q. About what number of persons, to the best of your recollection?
A. It might be three hundred.
Q. Did you consider that number necessary for the preservation of the public peace?
A. I did. I conceived the number inadequate, at the time.
Q. A double line was it you formed?
A. A double line was formed.
Q. To what they call the hustings?
A. Up to a cart with boards upon it.
Q. Did the line of special constables extend quite up to the hustings?
A. I think it did.
Q. What was the purpose for which you placed the line of special constables?
A. In order that we might hear the orators, and convey the information to the Magistrates.
Q. To keep up the communication?
A. To keep up the communication.
Q. At one end of the line, I believe, the Magistrates were assembled?
A. At Mr. Buxton's house.
Q. Previous to that, I believe, the Magistrates used to hold their meetings at the Star Inn?
A. Frequently.
Q. How many of the Magistrates were present?
A. The Manchester Magistrates were there.
Q. Where?
A. At Mr. Buxton's.
Q. Who were they?
A. I saw Mr. Ethelston.
Q. The Bolton Magistrates?
A. I saw Colonel Fletcher also.
Q. Any one of the Stockport Magistrates?
A. I saw Mr. Tatton and Mr. Trafford. Mr. Tatton is a Magistrate for Stockport.
Q. Acting there?
A. I have seen him acting for Stockport.
Q. Acting there, with Mr. Trafford?
A. They are both Cheshire Magistrates.
Q. They act for both counties?
A. Stockport is in Cheshire, just on the borders of Lancashire.
Q. Did any of the Magistrates, prior to the meeting, come and reside there?
A. I saw Mr. Tatton and Mr. Trafford frequently come over and remain at the Star Inn.
Q. Their residence being in Cheshire?
A. Their residence being in Cheshire.
Q. And did you see Mr. Hulton, of Hulton?
A. I have seen him also.
Q. He lives about ten or twelve miles from Manchester?
A. About ten or twelve miles, on the way to Wigan.
Q. These gentlemen were not in the habit of acting as Magistrates, except on this occasion?
A. I had not seen them frequently before.
Q. They have not generally acted, but only on this extraordinary occasion?
A. Only on this extraordinary occasion.
Q. For what length of time do you think you could have been in communication with the Magistrates?
A. The greatest part of the time from October to August.
Q. That will be the greatest part of a year?
A. I believe I came into office in October, in the preceding year, and had been in office nine or ten months.
Q. You had the Magistrates at one extremity of the line of special constables, and the hustings at the other?
A. Yes.
Q. Was there any interruption of the communication afterwards?
A. After the special constables formed near the hustings, I saw the hustings were removed, and the constables were separated from the hustings.
Q. Were they removed further from the line of constables?
A. Yes; further from the special constables.
Q. Was that further from where the Magistrates met?
A. Further from where the Magistrates met; I should suppose six or eight yards.
Q. How was the intermediate space occupied?
A. By the people who had assembled.
Q. Was the communication from thenceforth cut off?
A. It was.
Q. Were the hustings then accessible, on that side, by any individual?
A. They were not.
Q. Was any attempt made to re-open the communication?
A. I am not aware of it: there might have been, but I was so frequently in the Magistrates' room, I did not see it.
Q. Was the communication cut off slowly or suddenly?
A. The communication was rapidly cut off—instantaneously.
Q. Done in an instant?
A. In an instant.
Q. About what hour did that occurrence take place?
A. A little after twelve o'clock.
Q. Did you see any of the bodies from the country arrive on the field?
A. I saw great numbers arrive upon the field.
Q. Had they drums beating, any of them?
A. Yes; mostly with drums beating, colours flying, caps of liberty, and other emblems.
Q. In what manner did they take their stations?
A. They took their stations in different ways, as they arrived on the ground.
Q. Have you ever seen regiments take their ground at reviews?
A. Yes.
Q. Did they come in a straggling manner, or a more orderly way?
A. They generally came in large numbers or divisions.
Q. Did they move in regular order, or march straggling on the ground?
A. Regularly; I saw the divisions of Moseley and Lees particularly.
Q. Taking that body as an instance, have the goodness to say how they came on the ground?
A. They marched on the ground, a number with sticks on their left shoulders.
Q. What kind of sticks?
A. Different descriptions of sticks, different sizes; some larger and some smaller than others.
Q. Did they appear to you to be such as are in ordinary use as walking sticks?
A. Some certainly did not appear as if they were for the purpose of walking.
Q. Were they larger or smaller?
A. Larger, generally, than what are usually carried as walking sticks, as far as I am able to judge.
Q. As they came upon the ground, what occurred?
A. As they came on the ground, each division was received with a tremendous shouting.
Q. Did that happen frequently?
A. Frequently, and more particularly on Mr. Hunt's arrival: the greatest part of the people had assembled previous to his arrival. The chair was to have been taken at twelve o'clock, as I understood from the advertisement.
Q. I need hardly ask you whether, in the whole course of your life, you ever saw so great an assemblage?
A. I never saw so great an assemblage before, except at the Kersall Moor races.
Q. I suppose that is not the way the company go to races, with colours flying, and in bodies of eight or ten thousand?
A. No, Sir; not at all.
Q. You say, that before the meeting took place, you was alarmed for the public safety; were your alarms increased or diminished when you saw the meeting?
A. My alarm was rather increased when I saw the meeting.
Q. In your judgment, was it consistent with the public safety, that they should remain congregated together?
A. I considered it very unsafe.
Q. You kept up a continual communication with the Magistrates?
A. I did.
Q. At what time had they assembled?
A. At an early hour. I had other duties to perform.
Q. Were you able to attend to any other business?
A. For some time previous to the 16th. August, my time was necessarily devoted to the duties of the office, for the care of the public peace.
Q. Was that the case with your colleague, Mr. Moore.
A. Yes.
Q. And the Boroughreeve?
A. And the Boroughreeve also.
Q. I believe there was a committee of the principal inhabitants who assisted you?
A. Yes. They formed a committee of the principal inhabitants to assist us.
Q. Did they meet frequently?
A. Frequently; and had it not been for their assistance, we could not have got through our business.
Q. Upon the arrival of the performers on the stage, did you receive any order from the Magistrates about messengers?
A. Yes, I did.
Q. What was it?
A. I received an order from the Magistrates to get two messengers on horseback, to carry any message or orders they might have occasion to give.
Q. Were you desired by the Magistrates to execute any warrant for them?
A. I was.
Q. Was that by the Chairman of the Magistrates?
A. By Mr. Hulton.
Q. Is that the warrant? (producing it.)
A. I believe it is the same; it has not been in my possession since that time.
Q. When you was desired to execute the warrant, what answer did you make?
A. When Mr. Hulton stated that the warrant was to be executed—
Mr. Blackburne.—I must object to his giving evidence of what directions he received.
Mr. Serjeant Cross.—Why, I am surprised at the objection. It is an order of a Magistrate. Suppose he says, it was impossible to execute it?
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—I am of opinion the evidence is admissible.
Witness—I informed Mr. Hulton, that I considered it would be impracticable, seeing what I had previously seen, and knowing the disorderly state of the country.
Q. Was the communication from the hustings at that time cut off?
A. It was; I had frequently been insulted.
Q. To the best of your judgment, could you have executed it?
A. I stated to Mr. Hulton, that I considered it would be impossible to execute the warrant without military assistance.
Q. I ask you, upon your oath, Mr. Andrew, whether that was your conscientious opinion at the moment?
A. It was.
Q. Do you think it could have been done with effect, or with safety to the lives of the constables and peace officers?
A. I do not; I should have thought it an act of madness to have attempted it.
Q. In short, did you refuse?
A. I refused to execute it, without military assistance.
Q. In consequence of that, was any assistance sent for?
A. It was—Mr. Hulton gave me a letter, addressed to the commanding officer of the Yeomanry Cavalry, and another to the commanding officer of the 15th. Hussars.
Q. To the commanding officer?
A. To the commanding officer.
Q. Well, I believe you sent one of your mounted messengers with these?
A. Yes; Mr. Thomas Withington, who was in the Magistrates room, took one, and Mr. Joseph Birley, the other.
Q. The Yeomanry, we understand, came first.
A. They did.
Q. Upon their arrival, did you explain to the commanding officer what you wanted?
A. I went up to Captain Birley, now Major Birley.
Q. Did you tell him what you wanted?
A. I stated that we had a warrant.
Q. What did you desire him to do?
A. I desired him to surround the hustings, in order that we might take the orators off the stage.
Q. The persons against whom you had the warrant
A. The parties against whom we had the warrant.
Q. Did you set off together?
A. We set off together; I advanced before him.
Q. Between the double row of constables?
A. On the right of the constables.
Q. What other peace officers accompanied you?
A. Mr. Moore, and I think, Mr. Nadin, the deputy constable.
Q. Mr. Moore, and you think Mr. Nadin, the deputy constable?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you keep in advance of the Yeomanry as long as you could?
A. I did.
Q. Did you walk, you and the other peace officers?
A. I believe I did.
Q. You was not mounted?
A. I was not mounted on horseback.
Q. What prevented you from keeping in advance the whole way?
A. The interruption of the people.
Q. Your object would be to gain the hustings, if possible?
A. As soon as I could.
Q. What did you do when you found yourself obstructed?
A. The Yeomanry passed me, and I got to the hustings as soon as I could.
Q. Did they open the way before you to the hustings?—Did you keep up with the Yeomanry?
A. I kept up with the Yeomanry, as close as I possibly could.
Q. I believe that then Hunt and Johnson were taken in custody?
A. They were; I took Johnson myself to the Magistrates' room.
Q. Johnson, the brush-maker?
A. Johnson, the brush-maker.
Q. These were the prisoners you attended to?
A. These were the prisoners I attended to.
Q. Others were taken?
A. Others were taken.
Q. Your attention, I suppose, was occupied with the prisoners?
A. My attention was wholly occupied with the prisoners.
Cross-examined by Mr. Blackburne.
Q. You saw the placard posted about Manchester previous to the 9th., the placard just shewn to you?
A. I did. Sir.
Q. This very placard?
A. I saw a placard of that description.
Q. You know the Magistrates forbad that meeting, because it was considered illegal?
A. They did.
Q. And on that day no meeting took place?
A. Not that I saw.
Q. Was you afterwards requested to convene a meeting for the 16th.?
A. I cannot immediately recollect whether we were requested to convene a meeting for the 16th., but we had a requisition for the 9th.; I do not recollect whether we had for the meeting of the 16th.
Q. Do you recollect?
A. I do not recollect.
Q. Will you just look at that, and tell me whether you saw any thing of that kind posted up about Manchester? (shewing a printed paper to the witness.)
A. I do not recollect seeing any thing of that kind posted on the walls; I have seen no paper of that kind.
Q. Had you seen an advertisement of that kind in a newspaper, before the 16th. August?
A. I had seen it before the 16th.
Mr. Serjeant Hullock.—In a newspaper?
A. In the Observer newspaper.
Q. You have told us that this meeting, under the direction of Mr. Hunt and Mr. Carlile, would be formidable. When was the first time you heard of Mr. Carlile's being there; tell us when, if you please?
A. Previously to the meeting of the 16th. August, I was frequently informed that Carlile would be there. I do not personally know Carlile.
Q. Then you knew before the 16th. that Carlile was to be there, or you had been so informed?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you communicate that to the Magistrates?
A. I might have done so, and it is very likely I did.
Q. You have told us that you live about two miles from Manchester; what is the name of the village?
A. It is not in a village, it is in the township of Manchester; it is no great distance; it is not much inhabited for a mile and a half from my house.
Q. You have been examined upon this subject before?
A. I have.
Q. Did you then state one word of what you have now told us, of the observations you made from your plantation? Were you examined on this subject in a court of justice?
A. I was examined, previous to my deposition at York, at the Star Inn.
Q. At York did you state one word of that?
A. I did not in the court. I stated it to the solicitor. Part of the evidence I have given to day, I stated at York.
Q. This about the divisions you saw from your plantation, the broken lamps, and the drunkenness, you did not state?
A. Not in my examination at York. I have not seen my examination since it was taken.
Q. When you was examined at York, was Carlile one of the defendants.
Mr. Serjeant Cross.—Who the defendants were, the record will shew.
Q. You say there was a meeting of the Cheshire and Lancashire Magistrates?
A. There was.
Q. And that among the Magistrates were Mr. Tatton and Mr. Trafford. Was that the Mr. Trafford who was then the Major of the Yeomanry Cavalry?
A. No.
Q. On the 16th. August, who commanded the Manchester Yeomanry?
A. Major Trafford.
Q. Did he go to the hustings?
A. I do not recollect that he did.
Q. Who commanded then?
A. Major Birley; then Captain Birley.
Q. He was the person who took the command from Mr. Buxton's house to the hustings?
A. I did not see Major Trafford, and I do not know what orders he crave; I only saw Major Birley at the time going to the hustings.
Q. At the time you went to the hustings, were not the special constables drawn back to Mr. Buxton's house?
A. They were not drawn back to Mr. Buxton's house, they might have gone a little way.
Q. They were not drawn back; that you swear?
A. I do swear.
Q. When you first went on to the ground there was only one cart on which the people were standing?
A. I cannot be certain.
Q. Did you see another come afterwards, with boards on it?
A. I did not see any come on the ground.
Q. Did you see when the communication between the Constables and hustings was broke?
A. I did.
Q. Was not that at the time the second cart came on the ground?
A. I saw no second cart; I saw the Constables separated from the hustings, but whether there was more than one cart I cannot speak to.
Q. Was there not one came ultimately?
A. I cannot speak as to that.
Q. You do not know whether there was one or two?
A. I know there was one, but whether there were more or not, I cannot tell.
Q. You saw, you say, a great number of the people arrive on the ground?
A. I did.
Q. They had music, and colours flying?
A. They had.
Q. Was you at the celebration of the Coronation in Manchester?
A. I was.
Q. I believe they had music and colours there?
A. Certainly.
Q And there were a great multitude of people?
A. There were a number of people.
Q. A great number?
A. A great number.
Q. A very great number; the streets were filled?
A. The streets were not wholly filled, but there were a great number.
Q. Did they march or walk?
A. They walked.
Q. Only a different walk from that of the people who came into Peter's field?
A. Very different; I conceived so.
Q. You say that after you saw the people from your plantation, you observed great disorder the next morning, and that the people were drunk?
A. That was on the Sunday morning.
Q. Do you mean in your village?
A. Not in my village; on the road leading to Manchester.
Q. There would be some few drunken people at the Coronation?
A. There might be.
Q. You did not see them?
A. To say that I did not see men drunk, is what I will not say.
Q. You say that Mr. Hulton gave the warrant to you?
A. I did not say so; I was present when the warrant was given, I saw it given.
Q. Then it was not delivered to you, but you saw it given?
A. I saw the warrant when it was presented to Mr. Moore or Mr. Nadin; to one of them, I am positive.
Q. You say there were three hundred constables formed the line?
A. I conceived so.
Q. There were more Constables in the field?
A. I do not conceive there were many more; the great body of the Constables were round the hustings.

Re-examined by Mr. Serjeant Cross.
Q. My Friend has put a paper in your hand, which you say you saw before the 16th.; and he has asked whether you were not apprized that Hunt and Carlile were expected. Did not that paper apprize you Mr. Hunt would be in the chair, and that Carlile was expected?
The learned Serjeant here read the following extract from the advertisement of the meeting “Major Cartwright, Mr. Wooller. Mr. Pearson, Mr. Carlile, Dr. Crompton, Edward Rushton, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Thomas Smith will be invited to attend this meeting."
A. All this was before the 16th. August.
Q. And these were persons likely to keep the public peace, or assist you in so doing?
A. I did not consider them of that description.
Q. You agree with Mr. Stanley then, that any mob under their control might be dangerous?
A. Any mob under the control of Hunt and Carlile, I should certainly consider dangerous.
Q. You was asked whether you had been applied to to convene this meeting; did you consider it your duty to convene a meeting of the people of Bolton, Royton, Rochdale, Lees, Liverpool and London—for we had people from all these places?
A. No.
Q. To invite the reporters of the London journals; was that your duty?
A. Not at all.
Q. Or to invite Carlile, Hunt, Wooller, and the rest of them?
A. Certainly not.
Q. Did you expect any thing but public disorder could result from such a proceeding?
A. I apprehend not; from such a proceeding and concourse of people as were likely to attend.
Q. Was any thing but mischief and danger, likely to attend such a meeting?
A. Certainly not.
Q. In short, did you consider it to be your duty to do more than to invite the inhabitants of your own township to a public meeting?
A. Certainly not: only the people in the township.
Q. The inhabitants of your own township?
A. The township of Manchester alone.
Q. The inhabitants of Manchester alone, were in your province?
Q. Within my province, and no further.
Q. Has it ever been usual, with the people of Manchester, to invite itinerant orators to come and take part of their deliberations?
A. Never.
Q. Or has it ever been usual to invite a stranger, at a distance, to come and preside there?
A. Certainly not.
Q. Who was usually invited to take the chair, at your town meetings?
A. The Boroughreeve.
Q. You have been asked about Mr. Trafford, whether he is the same who commanded the Yeomanry; is he not the Chairman of the Quarter Sessions at Chester?
A. One of them.
Q. And Mr. Hay, Chairman of the Quarter Sessions for the, Hundred of Salford, was there also?
A. He was.
Q. You have been asked about the assembly to celebrate the Coronation, and you say you had flags and music; had you an inscription of “Equal representation or death"?
A. No such thing.
Q. Any caps of liberty?
A. No; the colours I alluded to were chiefly emblems of different trades.
Q. What is understood by the cap of liberty there?
Mr. Blackburne.- This is really too much; to ask him what is understood.
Mr. Serjeant Cross.—If it is a badge of sedition.
Mr. Blackburne.—You are not, Mr. Serjeant Cross, to give evidence yourself.
Q. Was there any inscription of no “Corn Laws"?
A. No such inscription.
Q. “Better to die like men, than be sold like slaves"; you carried that to the coronation?
A. No such inscription.
Q. Did you invite any of these entertaining public orators to keep good humour among you?
A. Never.
Q. Did you know any of these signatures; Mr. Norris, Mr. Wright, Mr. Hay, Mr. Silvester, Mr. Ethelston?
A. I have seen them.
Q. Were all the Magistrates whose signatures these are, present at the meeting at Mr. Buxton's house?
A. I know all the Magistrates in this paper here present at that time.

Mr. Cross, (the Prothonotary,) read the warrant, of which the following is a copy.
“Lancashire to wit. To the Constables of the Township of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and also, to all other Constables and Peace Officers within the said County.
“Whereas Richard Owen hath this day made oath before us, his Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said County of Lancaster, that Henry Hunt, John Knight, Joseph Johnson, and Moorhouse, at this time, (now a quarter past one o'clock) have arrived in a car, at the area near St. Peter's Church, and that an immense mob is collected, and that he considers the town in danger, and the said parties moving thereto; these are therefore, in his Majesty's name to require you forthwith to take and bring before us or some other of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said County, the bodies of the said —— Hunt, —— Knight, — Johnson, and —— Moorhouse, to enter into recognizance, with sufficient sureties, as well for their personal appearance at the next general Sessions of Assizes, to be holden in and for the said County, then and there to do and receive, as by the said Court shall be enjoined, and also in the meantime to keep the peace towards his said Majesty and all his liege subjects.—Herein fail not. Given under our hands and seals the 16th. day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.

(L. S.) Wm. Hulton
(L. S.) W. R. Hay
(L. S.) R. Wright
(L. S.) Robt. Feilden
(L. S.) C. W. Ethelston J. Silvester, (L. S.)
T. W. Tatton, (L. S.)
W, Marriott, (L. S.)
J. Norris, (L. S.)
Ra. Fletcher, (L. S.)

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