Joseph Green Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Manufacturer

Present at SPF. Former Boroughreeve for Manchester. Of the opinion that the meeting was a violent uprising. ‘It certainly appeared to me more like the be­ginning of a general rising of the neighbourhood than of a meeting for any peaceable purpose’.

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Joseph Green, examined by Sergeant Hullock, who after confirming the last witness as to the mode of marching; to the ground, and as to the language used by Jones, said—I heard no word given; I saw no arms, no muskets; some of the people had sticks; the meeting was calculated to produce the most alarming sensations. It certainly appeared to me more like the be­ginning of a general rising of the neighbourhood than of a meeting for any peaceable purpose, especially for the purpose of deliberation. I conceive deliberation to have been impossible. -In my judgment, they were by far too great a body for any person to be heard from the middle to the extremity; therefore they could not deliberate. As to the numbers, I esteemed those who formed the ring, took off their hats, shouted, and felt a lively interest in the business of the day, at about 40,000. In consequence of what I saw, I joined in an affidavit, at my own instance, relative to the business. I went from the ground, where I stood, to the magistrate's house, for the purpose of making the affidavit.

Cross-examined by Mr. Barrow. —Except the young man (Mr. Ellis) I do not recollect the names of those who were standing near me, when the speech which I have quoted was delivered. Persons nearer than I was, must, if they paid attention, have heard better than I did; but that de­pended in a great measure on the degree of attention that was given. I did not think the speech contained anything extraordinary; but an inti­mation having been given to me, that undoubted information should be procured of what actually took place, I caused the speech to be written down. I know Henry Morton, the Reporter of The New Times. At the period of the meeting I was not acquainted with him. if he had been near the hustings, he ought to have heard that speech.

Cross-examined by Mr. Hunt—I am a manufacturer. The person who intimated to me a desire that correct information should be obtained was Mr. Moore, one of the head constables of Manchester, and connected with the police. Mr. Ellis was near me when Jones delivered the speech. I had a perfect recollection of the words, and so had Mr. Hardman; and from our dictation, they were written. Ellis did not write what he heard Jones say, but what was dictated. I was Boroughreeve, in the year 1816-17. Several meetings, during that period, took place in St. Peter’s Field that which took place in March, 18l7, attracted my particular attention for a variety of reasons, especially the extraordinary nature of its object. I know of no person being killed on that occasion. It was what was called the “blanket meeting. ” I know of no person being killed at that time between Manchester and Salford. I saw all the divisions march to the ground on the 16th of August. The people had no arms. They did not insult me, nor did I see them insult any other person. I recollect a meeting held in January, 18l9, at which you presided. It was a small meeting compared with that of the 16th August. I recollect many other meetings more numerously attended than that of Jan. 1819. I was present at that meeting for a short time. I did not then hear of any violence con­nected with it. I saw you returning from it. I was near enough to see the hustings fall on that occasion, but I did not know that the accident was caused by the pressure of the crowd. Whatever the hustings consisted of on the 16th of August, whether of one cart or two, they were removed soon after I arrived on the field, from their original position. I do not remember having seen any planks. I know Matthew Cowper; he is, I believe, a respectable man. I understand he took down an account of the proceedings. I have been also informed, that Henry Horton, another reporter, attended for the same purpose. But, although I may vary in my own account of Jones's speech in some slight degree, I can swear that what I have stated is the sense of what he said, if indeed it can be called sense. Jones certainly made use of the word “corruption. ” What-be meant I know not for I never could make sense of the expression. I saw one person who had been hurt on the 16th of August.

Re examined by Sergeant Hullock. I saw the meeting in the January preceding; It was not to be compared with that of the 16th of August. The people on the former occasion went to the meeting individually. I never “heard that any of them proceeded thither in bodies. I saw Mr. Hunt at the meeting in January: be had no property or connection in Manchester: he did not pay as a householder when he was there: , I believe he resided with Mr. Johnson.

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