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Manchester Mercury Report
“The events of yesterday will bring down upon the name of Hunt and his accomplices, the deep and lasting execrations of many a sorrowing family, and of the well-affected members of society at large.”
Account
Download accountManchester Mercury 21 August 1819.
FATAL RESULTS OF THE RADICAL REFORM MEETING
The events of yesterday will bring down upon the name of Hunt and his accomplices, the deep and lasting execrations of many a sorrowing family, and of the well-affected members of society at large. With a factious perverseness peculiarly their own, they have set at open defiance the timely warnings of the Magistracy; and having daringly invited the attendance of a mass of people, which as it respects yesterdays muster, may, with much reason be computed at 100,000 individuals, they proceeded to address them with language and suggestions of the usual desperate and malevolent character.
That such a state of things has existed quite long enough must be admitted by every good man; and yesterdays proceedings show that the revolutionary attempts of this base junto were no longer to be tolerated.
It was not until near 1 o’clock that this fellow and his immense mob traversed the streets by indirect route towards the place of meeting near St Peter’s Church. The first notable object in the procession was a board exulted above the crowd, bearing the specious inscription “Order;” next came a miserable band of musicians; and in about the centre of the phalanx, the odious instigators of the days calamity, viz. Hunt, Johnson, Knight, and another worthy colour carried in an open hackney coach: upon the box was displayed an amiable specimen of the female branch of these philanthropists, who was very busy buffeting the air as she went along with a white handkerchief; the red cap of liberty held a prominent place in the procession, and several flags with the usual inflammatory sentences were displayed. They halted, as they had been accustomed, opposite the Exchange, while they astounded all ears with continued shouting and clapping of hands.
About half-past one, they arrived at the area appointed for their performances, and the leading characters ascended the hustings. Hunt was proposed and accepted as chairman; and some preliminary business had been entered upon, altogether occupying about twenty minutes, when the bugle sounded, and the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry Cavalry, who, pursuant to instructions, had been in attendance about ten minutes, advanced in full charge through the multitude, and surrounded the Orators upon their own stage, who were all taken into custody, and consigned forthwith to the New Bailey Prison. Hunt demurred, and said he would surrender to no one but a Magistrate; a gentleman in the commission then appeared, and the whole was given up to the special protection of Mr Nadin. The 15th Hussars and the Prince Regents Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry next approached, and routed the throng, with the utmost dismay, in all directions. The constituents of the meeting, were formed in six divisions, to each of which was attached a red cap of liberty; and no less than 15 flags, with a variety of inscriptions, were exhibited.
Now ensues a most painful and melancholy part of our recital; the necessary ardour of the troops in the discharge of their duty has led, we lament to say, to some fatal and many serious accidents. A respectable inn keeper (Mr Ashworth, of the Bull’s Head,) who was officiating as a special constable, was rode over and mortally wounded; another young man, who is at present unknown, experienced the same fate. Mr A Tilford, innkeeper, has been most dangerously hurt; another unfortunate sufferer lies dead in the Infirmary; and several are without hopes of recovery; there are 18 in-patients there (principally from Oldham, Saddleworth, Middleton, &c.) and 32 out-patients; a considerable number have been taken to their own homes. A most worthy and respectable young gentleman, a member of the Yeomanry, is lingering in the Infirmary, every moment expected to breath his last. During the charge he was assailed by a brick-bat, which brought him off his horse, when he was rode over, and had his skull fractured. The extent of injuries received is truly heart-rending; we fear what we have already stated will prove to be truly within compass.
The Cheshire Yeomanry consist of eight troops (600 men), who, with the other forces (the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry, the Hussars, the 31st and 68th Regiments of Foot), are indefatigable in the execution of their duty. Two pieces of artillery appeared upon the field, but they were not used.
Amongst the captured in the New Bailey are Hunt, Johnstone, Morehouse (of Stockport), Knight, Saxon, a person of the name of Tyre, and three women, amongst them the lady who rode through the street upon the box of the coach.
At twelve o'clock, the shops and warehouses were universally shut, and business of every description suspended throughout the remaining part of the day.
Mercury Office, 7 o’clock. – The Riot Act has just been read at the New-cross, in consequence of the windows of Mr Tate, grocer, being entirely demolished by stones from the pavement. The town certainly wears an alarming aspect at the present moment; but we are well supplied with military protection, and their exertions and resolute conduct are truly praise worthy, and a theme of general eulogium.
Eight o'clock. Our respected fellow-townsman in the Infirmary, we are just informed, is haplessly no more.
Manchester Mercury 21 August 1819.
An Account of the Manchester Meeting, which took place on the 16th of Aug. 1819.
During the afternoon no less than 55 persons were taken up, and lodged in New Bayley…
The events of yesterday will bring down upon the name of Hunt, and his accomplices, the deep and lasting execrations of many a sorrowing family, and of the well-affected numbers of society at large. With a factious perverseness peculiarly their own, they have set at open defiance the timely warnings of the magistracy, and having daringly invited the attendance of a mass of people, which, as it respects yesterday’s muster, may with much reason, be computed at 100,000 individuals, they proceeded to address them with language and suggestions of the usual desperate and malevolent character.
That such a state of things has existed quite long enough must be admitted by every good man; and yesterday’s proceedings shewed, that the Revolutionary attempts of this base junto was no longer to be tolerated.
It was not until near one o’clock that this fellow and his immense mob traversed the streets, by an indirect route, towards the place of meeting near St. Peter’s Church. The first notable object in the procession was a board exalted above the crowd, bearing the specious inscription “Order;” next came a miserable band of musicians; and in about the centre of the phalanx, the odious instigators of the day’s calamity, viz Hunt, Johnson, Knight, and another Worthy, carried in an open hackney coach; upon the box was display an amiable specimen of the female branch of these philanthropists, who was very busy buffering the air as she went along with a white hand-kerchief, the red cap of liberty held a prominent place in the procession, and several flags with the usual inflammatory sentences were displayed. They halted, as they have been accustomed, opposite the Exchange, whilst they astounded all ears with continued shouting and clapping of hands.
About half past one, they arrived at the area appointed for their performances, and the leading characters ascended the hustings; Hunt was proposed and accepted as Chairman, and some preliminary business had been entered upon altogether occupying about twenty minutes, when the bugle sounded, and the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry Cavalry, who, pursuant to instruction, had been in attendance about ten minutes, advanced in full charge through the multitude, and surrounded the Orators upon their own stage, who were all taken into custody, and consigned forthwith to the New Bailey prison. Hunt demurred, and said he would surrender to no one but a Magistrate; a gentleman in the commission then appeared and the whole were given up to the special protection of Mr Nadin. The 15th. Hussars and the Price Regent’s Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry next approached, and routed the throng, with the utmost dismay in all directions. The constituents of the meeting were formed of six divisions, to each of which was attached a red cap of liberty, and no less than fifteen flags, with a variety of inscriptions, were exhibited.
Now ensues a most painful and melancholy part of our recital; the necessary ardour of the troops in the discharge of their duty has led, we lament to say, to some fatal and many very serious accidents. A respectable innkeeper, (Mr. Ashworth, of the Bull’s Head), who was officiating as a Special Constable, was rode over and mortally wounded; another young man, who is at present unknown, experienced the same fate; Mr. A Tilford, innkeeper, has been most dangerously hurt; another unfortunate sufferer lies dead in the Infirmary, and several are without hopes of recovery; there are eighteen in-patients there, (principally from Oldham, Saddleworth, Middleton, &c.) and thirty-two out-patients; a considerable number have been taken wounded to their own homes.
A most worthy and respectable young gentleman, a Member of our Yeomanry, is lingering in the Infirmary --- every moment expected to breathe his last: during the charge he was assailed by a brick-bat, which brought him off his horse, when he was rode over, and had his skull fractured: the extent of injuries received is truly heart-rending; we fear what we have already stated will prove to be strictly within compass.
The Cheshire Yeomanry consists of eight troops, (600 men), who, with the other forces (the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry, the Hussars, the 31st, and 88th Regiments of Foot.) are indefatigable in the execution of their duty. Two pieces of artillery appeared upon the field, but they were not used.
Amongst the captured in the New Bailey are Hunt, Johnson, Morehouse, (of Stockport) Knight, Saxon, Tyre, Swift, Wild, Taylor, Mary Waterworth, Sarah Hargreaves, and Eliza Grant.
At twelve o’clock, the shops and warehouses were universally shut, and business of every description suspended throughout the remaining part of the day.
Seven o’clock.
The riot Act has just been read at the New Cross, in consequence of the windows of Mr.Tate, grocer, being entirely demolished by stones from the pavement. The town certainly wears an alarming aspect at the present moment, but we are well supplied with Military protection, and their exertions and resolute conduct are truly praiseworthy and a theme of general eulogium.
Eight o’clock.
Our respected fellow-townsman in the Infirmary, we are just informed, is now haplessly no more. [Added since Mercury appeared]. And supposed 10 other persons .. Hunt is still in custody.
Major Cartwright has been arrested and sent to Warwick.
- Innes, Printer, Manchester.