In the course of the summer, large meetings were held in various large towns, by persons calling themselves radical reformers; and at one of these, held near Birmingham, Sir Charles Wolseley was elected "legislatorial attorney and representative of Birmingham." Indictments for sedition were preferred, and true bills found, against some of the principal speakers at these meetings; and on the 7th of July, Lord Sidmouth addressed circular letters to the lords-lieutenant of the disturbed counties, as they began to be called, recommending prompt and effectual means for the preservation of the public tranquillity, especially vigilance and activity on the part of magistrates, and, as a measure of precaution, directions to be given to the yeomanry of the county to hold themselves in readiness. This was followed on the 30th of July by a proclamation against seditious meetings.

Undeterred by these symptoms, the Manchester reformers held a meeting for the purpose of petitioning parliament, on the 16th of August, in a place called St. Peter's Field, at that time on the outskirts of Manchester. The concourse was great beyond former example, but the demeanour of the multitude was peaceable; they came on the ground in regular marching order, preceded by flags, some of which they planted in different parts of the field, and others were placed round the cart intended for the speakers. Two clubs of female reformers, one of which numbered more than one hundred and fifty members, appeared in the procession, having a white silk banner borne before them. A band of special constables took a position on the ground early in the day, without mecting any resistance. A little after one o'clock, Henry Hunt, the great radical orator, arrived, and was rapturously greeted. Ascending a kind of hustings, he began to address the meeting, but had not proceeded far, when the appearance of a body of yeoman-cavalry, headed by Mr. Hugh Birley, advancing towards the area in a brisk trot, excited a panic

in the outskirts of the meeting. They entered the enclosure, and after pausing a moment to recover their disordered ranks and breathe their horses, they drew their swords, and brandished them fiercely in the air. The multitude, by the direction of their leaders, gave three cheers, to show that they were undaunted by this intrusion, and Hunt had just resumed his speech, to assure the people that this was only a trick to disturb the meeting, and to exhort them to stand firm, when the cavalry dashed into the crowd, making for the cart on which the speakers were placed. The multitude offered no resistance, but fell back on all sides. The commanding officer then approaching Hunt, and brandishing his sword, told him that he was his prisoner. Mr. Hunt, after enjoining the people to tranquillity, said that he would readily surrender to any civil officer on showing his warrant, and Mr. Nadin, the principal police-officer, received him in charge. Some others, against whom warrants had been issued, were at the same time taken into custody. A cry then suddenly rose among the military of "Have at their flags," and they threw down not only those in the cart, but the others dispersed in the field, cutting right and left to get at them. The people began running in all directions, and from this moment the yeomanry lost all command of temper; numbers were trampled under the feet of men and horses; many, both men and women, were cut with sabres; and several, including a peace-officer and a woman, slain on the spot. The whole number of persons injured, amounted to between three and four hundred. The populace cast a few stones and brickbats in their retreat; but in less than ten minutes the ground was entirely cleared of its former occupants, and filled by various bodies of military, both horse and foot. Mr. Hunt was led to prison, not without incurring considerable danger and some injury on his way, from the swords of the infuriate yeomanry, and the bludgeons of the police-officers. The

magistrates directed him to be locked up in a solitary cell, and the other prisoners were confined with the same pre

cautions.

As the Manchester massacre produced very important political results, and had a marked influence on much of Peel's ministerial career, we shall insert the graphic account of it given by an eye-witness, Mr. Samuel Bamford, who was then a kind of leader among the Radicals.

"On the breaking of the crowd, the yeomanry wheeled; and dashing wherever there was an opening, they followed, pressing and wounding. Many females appeared, as the crowd opened; and striplings, or mere youths, also were found. Their cries were piteous and heart-rending; and would, one might have supposed, have disarmed any human resentment; but their appeals were vain. Women, whitevested maids, and tender youths, were indiscriminately sabred or trampled on; and, we have reason for believing, that few were the instances, in which that forbearance was vouchsafed, which they so earnestly implored.

"In ten minutes from the commencement of the havoc, the field was an open and almost deserted space. The sun looked down through a sultry and motionless air; the curtains and blinds of the windows within view were all closed. A gentleman or two might occasionally be seen looking out from some houses of recent erection, near the door of which a group of persons (special constables) were collected, and apparently in conversation; others were assisting the wounded, or carrying off the dead.

"The hustings remained, with a few broken and hewed flag-staves erect, and a torn or gashed banner or two drooping; whilst over the whole field were strewed caps, bonnets, hats, shawls, and shoes, and other parts of male and female dress, trampled, torn, and bloody. The yeomanry had dismounted-some were easing their horses' girths, others

adjusting their accoutrements, and some were wiping their sabres. Several mounds of human beings, still remained where they had fallen, crushed down and smothered: some of these were still groaning; others with staring eyes were gasping for breath; and others would never breathe more. All were silent save those low sounds, and the occasional snorting and pawing of steeds. Persons might sometimes be noticed peeping from attics, and over the tall ridgings of houses, but they quickly withdrew,-as if fearful of being observed, or unable to sustain the full gaze of a scene so hideous and abhorrent."

Lord Sidmouth, as Home Secretary, addressed to the Manchester magistrates and the military authorities, the thanks of the Prince Regent "for their prompt, decisive, and efficient measures for the preservation of the public tranquillity on the 16th of August." But on the other hand, public meetings throughout the greater part of England denounced their proceedings as despotic, cruel, and murderous. Earl Fitzwilliam took an active part at one of these meetings in York, and was in consequence deprived of the Lord-lieutenancy of the West Riding. Public excitement on the subject was continually on the increase, when parliament was called together October 23rd, 1819, and soon after, the ministers introduced a series of restrictive measures, known by the name of the Six Acts. They consisted of the following bills

1. To take away the right of traversing in cases of misdemeanor. 2. To punish any person found guilty, on a second conviction, of libel, by fine, imprisonment, and banishment (as first introduced, transportation) for life. 3. For preventing seditious meetings, requiring the names of seven householders to the requisition which in future convened any meeting for the discussion of subjects connected with church or state. 4. To prohibit military training, except under

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the authority of a magistrate, or lord-lieutenant. 5. Subjecting cheap periodical pamphlets on political subjects, to a duty similar to newspapers. 6. And lastly, a bill giving magistrates the power of entering houses, by night or by day, for the purpose of seizing arms believed to be collected for unlawful purposes. These bills were all carried by large majorities; the entering houses by night, and the severity of the restrictions of the press, were chiefly objected to; but there appeared a general concurrence in the necessity of strong measures.

As the conduct of the Manchester magistrates was severely arraigned during these discussions, Mr. Peel, in consequence of the connection of his family with that town, was induced, and perhaps invited, to undertake their defence. In the debate on the second reading of the Seditious Meetings Prevention Bill, he introduced the subject, and spoke as follows: "The circumstances on which I will offer a few observations, are those connected with the proceedings at Manchester on the 16th of August. I am particularly anxious to offer a few observations on this subject, as I am connected with that part of the country by ties of birth and early acquaintance; but, at the same time, I must observe, that there are no ties which could prevent me from taking an impartial and disinterested view of the transactions in question. I have no connection with any of the gentlemen who have acted as magistrates, and my connection with any of them is very slight; but from the means of information which have been afforded me; from my conviction of the motives on which the magistrates acted, and of the dangers which threatened Manchester, and my knowledge of the unjust calumnies by which the magistrates have been assailed; I feel I should be abandoning my duty, if I did not endeavour to make them all the compensation which an humble individual is capable of making, for their wrongs, and bearing my