too highly the admirable conduct pursued by this excellent, active, and judicious Magistrate, affording so remarkable a contrast to that followed elsewhere with such lamentable effects.

I sincerely hope the strong attitude we have taken in this respect, without hitherto interfering with the proceedings of the reformers, will have due weight with them, and deter them from going to the dangerous lengths they have in Lancashire; and which, I am quite satisfied, is the object of their leaders. I am most anxious to avoid any contact with them, until they commit themselves by some breach of the peace, when I might be warranted in a decisive interference. - I have a strong objection, which I think it right to name to your Lordship, to make use of the yeomanry, except as an auxiliary force, and in case only of emergency. I perceive a strong hatred exists against this force, which is carefully cherished by all the reformers; and if, unfortunately, we should require their services, the probability is, that in discharging their duty they would lay the foundation of perpetual heartburnings and animosity.'

This meeting passed off in perfect peace and quiet. (p. 38.) And another, much more numerous, was announced for the 20th of September. At one time 20,000 persons were present; but the Mayor observed, that as these consisted, of the idle + and curious, as well as the mischievous,' they, not finding attractions for them, began, with the women and children, early to retire; and, before the business was despatched, the numbers were reduced as low as at the last meeting, not exceeding 4 or 5000. It is important to observe, that the account of this assemblage most closely resembles that of the famous Manchester meeting. Large bodies came from a distance; they marched in regular order; and they had bands and flags: But the Mayor was satisfied with having the constables, watch and patrole in readiness; he desired the troops to remain close in their quarters until they were wanted; and the day was passed in perfect tranquillity.

Another Magistrate, who appears by exaggerating the numbers to be a great alarmist, states that the Halifax meeting, held on the same subject, October 4th, dispersed without any further disturbance than three or four of the ale-houses being full of people drinking after eight o'clock, the hour at which his Worship had ordered them to be closed, so that he was obliged to have them cleared by the constables by force." (p. 40.) the people (adds he) showing the worst possible spirit; '-of which the cause is pretty manifest. According to this sagacious gentleman, more than 50,000 were assembled,

+ This word is, by an odd mistake, printed 'vile'—a word, we suppose, which many an alarmist builds upon in his argument.

and all, except a few thousands, from a distance:-but he did. not see and count as the Mayor of Leeds did, who thereby reduced his estimate to two-fifths of the Rumours. This place (he concludes) seems to have been well selected, being destitute of defence.' (p. 41.) Then it will naturally be asked, what operations did the Enemy undertake? The place had been happily selected; there were no means of resistance but a few constables; and these were engaged in the very obnoxious and irritating work of clearing the alehouses, by force of this Magistrate's Curfew Law. Never could the Radical army be expected to muster in greater force than 50,000 on one point, and in more advantageous circumstances. Why then did they gain no victory? Of course they must at least have made some attempt, and been defeated by a special providence, where 'human means were none.' No such thing-They all dispersed quietly; and the only reason given for their not overpowering the constables, is a heavy rain which fell most fortunately, and drove home those who came from the country, 'that is, between forty and fifty thousand Radical troops! Truly, if that force yields to such resistance, our powder and shot may well be saved for more stubborn antagonists. Now, it is not a little remarkable, that the Magistrate who gave this alarming account, and whose terrors were communicated so rapidly to others, without any pause being allowed for reason to operate, was far from being a person of the highest consideration; he had been liberated from the County Jail, under the Insolvent Act, and had been sued, successfully, for the penalties, in consequence of having acted without having the qualifications required by law,-circumstances, no doubt, unknown to those who acted upon his written information, but which must have. come out before any Committee that examined him, and which certainly would have somewhat shaken his credit.

The evidence relating to Cheshire, presents few points for consideration. It consists almost entirely of very general Reports from the Magistracy, expressive of their apprehensions for the peace of the county, from the discontents prevailing there and in the neighbouring districts; together with a letter from the Postmaster of Macclesfield, describing a riot two nights after the Manchester Meeting, and one from the Clerk of the Peace, shortly stating the atrocious attempt to kill Birch the Constable-an act worthy of all detestation, but plainly the deed of some desperate individual, and not shown, or even alleged, to have been the result of any concert whatever, much less to have had the least connexion with the Reform Meetings. The mention of it in these Papers, however, was sure to have some ef

too highly the admirable conduct pursued by this excellent, active, and judicious Magistrate, affording so remarkable a contrast to that followed elsewhere with such lamentable effects.

I sincerely hope the strong attitude we have taken in this respect, without hitherto interfering with the proceedings of the reformers, will have due weight with them, and deter them from going to the dangerous lengths they have in Lancashire; and which, I am quite satisfied, is the object of their leaders. I am most anxious to avoid any contact with them, until they commit themselves by some breach of the peace, when I might be warranted in a decisive interference. I have a strong objection, which I think it right to name to your Lordship, to make use of the yeomanry, except as an auxiliary force, and in case only of emergency. I perceive a strong hatred exists against this force, which is carefully cherished by all the reformers; and if, unfortunately, we should require their services, the probability is, that in discharging their duty they would lay the foundation of perpetual heartburnings and animosity. p. 37.

·

This meeting passed off in perfect peace and quiet. (p. 38.) And another, much more numerous, was announced for the 20th of September. At one time 20,000 persons were present; but the Mayor observed, that as these consisted, of the idle + andcurious, as well as the mischievous,' they, not finding attractions for them, began, with the women and children, early to retire; and, before the business was despatched, the numbers were reduced as low as at the last meeting, not exceeding 4 or 5000.' It is important to observe, that the account of this assemblage most closely resembles that of the famous Manchester. meeting. Large bodies came from a distance; they marched in regular order; and they had bands and flags: But the Mayor was satisfied with having the constables, watch and patrole in readiness; he desired the troops to remain close in their quarters until they were wanted; and the day was passed in perfect tranquillity.

Another Magistrate, who appears by exaggerating the numbers to be a great alarmist, states that the Halifax meeting, held on the same subject, October 4th, dispersed without any further disturbance than three or four of the ale-houses being full of people drinking after eight o'clock, the hour at which his Worship had ordered them to be closed, so that he was obliged to have them cleared by the constables by force." (p. 40.) the people (adds he) showing the worst possible spirit;-of which the cause is pretty manifest. According to this sagacious gentleman, more than 50,000 were assembled,

+ This word is, by an odd mistake, printed vile'-a word, we suppose, which many an alarmist builds upon in his argument.

and all, except a few thousands, from a distance:-but he did. not see and count as the Mayor of Leeds did, who thereby reduced his estimate to two-fifths of the Rumours. • This place (he concludes) seems to have been well selected, being destitute of defence.' (p. 41.) Then it will naturally be asked, what operations did the Enemy undertake? The place had been happily selected; there were no means of resistance but a few constables; and these were engaged in the very obnoxious and irritating work of clearing the alehouses, by force of this Magistrate's Curfew Law. Never could the Radical army be expected to muster in greater force than 50,000 on one point, and in more advantageous circumstances. Why then did they gain no victory? Of course they must at least have made some attempt, and been defeated by a special providence, where • human means were none.' No such thing-They all dis-. persed quietly; and the only reason given for their not overpowering the constables, is a heavy rain which fell most fortunately, and drove home those who came from the country,'that is, between forty and fifty thousand Radical troops! Truly, if that force yields to such resistance, our powder and shot may well be saved for more stubborn antagonists. Now, it is not a little remarkable, that the Magistrate who gave this alarming account, and whose terrors were communicated so rapidly to others, without any pause being allowed for reason to operate, was far from being a person of the highest consideration; he had been liberated from the County Jail, under the Insolvent Act, and had been sued, successfully, for the penalties, in consequence of having acted without having the qualifications required by law,-circumstances, no doubt, unknown to those who acted upon his written information, but which must have come out before any Committee that examined him, and which certainly would have somewhat shaken his, credit.

The evidence relating to Cheshire, presents few points for consideration. It consists almost entirely of very general Reports from the Magistracy, expressive of their apprehensions for the peace of the county, from the discontents prevailing there and in the neighbouring districts; together with a letter from the Postmaster of Macclesfield, describing a riot two nights afterthe Manchester Meeting, and one from the Clerk of the Peace, shortly stating the atrocious attempt to kill Birch the Constable-an act worthy of all detestation, but plainly the deed of some desperate individual, and not shown, or even alleged, to have been the result of any concert whatever, much less to have had the least connexion with the Reform Meetings. The mention of it in these Papers, however, was sure to have some ef

fect of this sort with careless readers, who regard principally: the juxtaposition of things, and conclude, that a murder being found in the company of documents relating to the Radical schemes, it must have had something to do with those schemes. The evidence relating to Cheshire, however, is worthy of notice from two circumstances. The first of these is the change admitted to have taken place after the 16th of August. The Foreman of the Grand Jury transmits to the Secretary of State, together with public Resolutions of that body, a statement (dated 3d September), which he terms a private communication' (p. 30) from them; and the principal information contained in it is, that within the last fourteen days, the danger, from active measures of terror and intimidation employed, had assumed a more formidable character.' The other particular deserving of attention, is the statement respecting attempts made to poison the minds of the rising generation, by inculcating pernicious principles at the schools. We believe no one of the assertions so rashly hazarded in the course of these discussions, produced, and very naturally, half as much alarm and even horror as this; and the history of the tale affords so remarkable a specimen of the progress of all such reports from nothing to maturity, that we must be excused if we trace it minutely.

Its origin, at least the curliest mention of it, is to be found in a Resolution passed at the Cheshire Quarter-sessions, August 9th, in the very heat of the alarm, which had indeed then attained its height. A month before, the same Magistrates had passed a resolution, expressing their abhorrence of the attempts made to disturb the peace of the county, and had incidentally made mention of blasphemous and seditious doctrines' as circulating among the ignorant and unwary. But the latter resolution makes a far more definite charge. Resolved, That it isthe opinion of this Court, that meetings are held in this and the neighbouring counties, for the purpose of training to arms and seditious purposes; and also, that there are schools consisting of some thousands of young persons, in which principles of a most dangerous tendency to the community at large are industriously disseminated; which facts can be verified on oath. And it is the decided opinion of this Court, that these meetings and schools ought to be suppressed; and if the existing laws are not sufficient for that purpose, that other laws should be immediately framed for their prevention.' (p. 23.) Now, under such circumstances, could any thing be more obvious than the duty of those Magistrates to pursue an instantaneous and rigorous inquiry into these alarming particulars?-except perhaps the facility of performing satisfactoril so urgent a duty! The meet