August 19, 2025 • 22 mins
Dive into the tumultuous events of August 16, 1819, with Three Accounts of Peterloo, a compelling companion to F.A. Brutons The Story of Peterloo. This short collection features firsthand accounts from Bishop Stanley, Lord Hylton, and John Benjamin Smith, each accompanied by insightful introductions from the editor. These contemporary narratives offer diverse perspectives on the tragic day when a peaceful reform rally at St. Peters Fields, Manchester, was violently disrupted by a troop of Hussars and local Yeomanry, resulting in 18 deaths and over 700 injuries. (Summary by Phil Benson)
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Section two of three Accounts of Peterloo by F. A. Bruton.
This liberyvox recording is in the public domain. The evidence
of the Reverend Edward Stanley in the trial of an
action for assault brought by Thomas Redford against Hugh Hornby
Burley and others members of the Manchester Yeomanry, before Mister
(00:22):
Justice Holroyd and a special Jury at Lancaster on the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth,
and ninth of April eighteen twenty two, second day of
the trial, the Reverend Edward Stanley examined by mister Sergeant Blackburn,
Council for the plaintiff. You, I believe are the rector
of Alderly in Cheshire. I am brother to Sir Thomas Stanley,
(00:46):
brother to Sir John Stanley. On the sixteenth of August
eighteen nineteen, had you any business with mister Buxton? I had?
How far do you lived from Manchester between fifteen and
sixteen miles? You came into Manchester on the morning about
what time, as near twelve o'clock as possible. I entered
Moseley Street. In your passage up Moseley Street, did you
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meet with any number of people? I did walking walking
in what manner? They were coming down the street walking
in a procession, six or seven or eight abreast an
arm in arm. Were you on horseback? I was? Was
there any interruption to your passage? No? Should I explain
tell us the reason? As I was going down the street,
(01:31):
some persons on the pavement desired me. I do not
wish to know what the persons on the pavement desired
you to do. I do not wish you to tell
us the conversation, but simply to relate what happened. I
passed through them by their opening to give you way. Certainly,
did you go on that day to mister Buxton's house?
And what time did you get there? I got to
(01:51):
mister Buxton's house, I should think a quarter after one.
Did you go into a room where the magistrates were assembled?
I did? How long did you remain there? I should
think about from eight to ten minutes during the time
you were in the room. Did mister Hunt arrive on
the ground he was called mister Hunt. He was in
a barouche, and a multitude accompanying him, a vast multitude.
(02:15):
I believe there was a cheer given by the populace
at the time when he did arrive a tremendous shout.
Did you remain in the room or did you go elsewhere?
I did not remain there. I went into the room
above it. Were there any other persons in the room
besides you? Several? Did you see the Manchester Yeomanry come
on to the ground? I did, and form in front
(02:36):
of mister Buxton's house. They formed with their left flank
a little to the right of the special constables and
a few yards to the right of mister Buxton's house.
Who say, to the left of the line of special constables?
Their left flank was on the right of mister Buxton's house.
You saw the line of constables? Where did it extend to?
(02:56):
It extended from the door of mister Buxton's house, apparently
to the Hustings. Was there more than one line of constables?
There were two lines of constables? What was the interval
between them near mister Buxton's house and the mob? Three
or four feet Afterwards the line was closed by the
pressure of the mob, expanding again when they came near
(03:17):
the Hustings. According to my observation, to the best of
my judgment, such as the impression on my mind, of course,
you saw the people collected, certainly in a large mass,
in a very large mass. What was it enabled you
to distinguish the special constables from the rest? They were
superior dressed. People had their hats on, and their staffs
(03:38):
were constantly appearing, and they were nearer the Hustings, and
the people round the Hustings had their hats off. My
general impression is all to speak accurately, The people on
this side of the area of Saint Peter's Field were
not so numerous. There were more stragglers and no crowd.
You saw colors and caps of liberty on the ground.
I did what number, either the one or the other.
(04:01):
Perhaps you do not distinctly recollect. I cannot say you
heard mister Hunt speak. No, I could just hear his voice,
but I was not able to distinguish what he said.
How long had that taken place before you saw the
cavalry advance towards the Hustings from their halts. I should
think three minutes from the time you heard mister Hunt,
not from the time I heard mister Hunt. He was
(04:23):
speaking before I arrived. Then from the time of the halt,
two or three minutes when you saw them advance towards
the hustings. With what speed did they go? They were
formed in any irregular mass. Those on the left advanced
in some sort of order. They went on at first
for a few paces at no very quick pace, but
they soon increased their speed till it became a sort
(04:45):
of rush or race amongst them all towards the hustings.
Did you observe the effect that this had upon the people,
whether it caused them to disperse or not. They could
not disperse instantly, But on the outside of them, on
the right, in front of the husting, they immediately began
to melt away, as it were, as far as they
could at the extreme, the outward edge of the meeting,
(05:07):
the outward edge in front of the hustings. Did you
observe the cavalry when they got first among the thick
parts of the meeting, Their speed was diminished as soon
as they came in contact with the dense mob well,
but they worked their way to the Hustings still as
fast under existing circumstances as they could. For the place
in which you were, I believe you had a very
(05:28):
commanding view of the Hustings. I looked down upon it
like a map. I understood you you had also been
in a room below that and looked through there. I had, which,
in your opinion, was the better place for a correct
observation of what passed after the meeting, decidedly the highest room.
Did you watch the advance of the cavalry from their
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place up to the Hustings? I did. Did you see
either sticks or stones, or anything of the kind used
against the cavalry in their advance up to the hustings?
Certainly not. Did you see any res resistance whatever to
the cavalry except the thickness of the meeting? None? Do
I understand you to say you saw them surround the
hustings or not surround I could not say, for the
(06:11):
other side of the Hustings, of course, was partially eclipsed
by the people upon it. But you saw them encircle
part encircle parts. Did you see what was done when
they got there? Yes? Will you tell us what it
was that you saw done? I saw the swords up
and down, the orators tumbled or thrown over, and the
mob dispersed. In your judgment, what length of time elapsed
(06:34):
between the cavalry first setting off into the meeting and
the time of their complete dispersion, starting from their halt
to the complete dispersion of the meeting. I should think
from three to five minutes, but I cannot speak to
a minute. In your judgment, it took from three to
five minutes. You did not observe it by a watch? No,
did you see any other troops come into the field?
(06:56):
I did? What were they, mister Justice Holroyd? He says
he saw what, mister Sergeant Blackburn other troops come into
the field. When was it that you saw them come
into the field? When the mob around the Hustings were
dispersing rapidly? And I think, mister hunt was taken off.
What were those troops that you saw come into the ground? Then?
(07:18):
First came in on the left of mister Buckston's row
of houses, the Cheshire Yeomanry, who filed to the left,
mister Justice Holroyd, you mean to the left looking from
the house. Then from the house, mister Sergeant Blackburn, Where
did the Cheshire Yeomanry take up their position when they
came on the ground. They took up their position in
(07:38):
the rear of the Hustings rather in advance. I think
of some mounds of earth, do you know, Wim Mill Street.
I know no street. You don't know its name. I
know no name. You say, near a rising ground, there
is a sort of little elevated bank or ground. Had
the multitude from that part been dispersed, The multitude in
(07:59):
the were pretty much as they had been at first.
I think they were dispersing, but not so rapidly. Do
you mean in the rear of the cavalry, in the
rear of the Hustings. The Cheshire Yeomanry's position was in
the rear of the Hustings, part near amongst these people.
What other troops beside the Cheshire Yeomanry did you see
come on to the ground soon after the Cheshire Yeomanry
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had come in and taken their position. A troop of dragoons,
I think the fifteenth came in under the windows of
mister Buxton's house. You say you think they were the
fifteenth Hussars. They were called the fifteenth Dragoons. They had
Waterloo medals. Where did they take up their position, mister
Justice Holroyd, Near mister Buxton's house, he said, mister Sergeant Blackburn.
(08:44):
Did they continue there? They halted or paused for a
moment or so. A little to the left of mister
Buxton's house, a very little to the left, almost in front,
inclining to the left. What others did you see come
on the ground besides them and the cheshi yoga? At
the close of the business, I saw some artillery driving
through the place. Was there any other besides those that
(09:06):
you saw take up any position on the ground? None?
On the ground at this time was the whole of
the multitude dispersed. It was dispersing most rapidly, I may
say dispersed, except in partial spots. After leaving the hustings
to Which part of the field did the Manchester Yeomanry
go to? All parts? I think more behind the hustings
(09:27):
and on the right. They did not come back to
me so much. Do you know the Quakers meeting house?
I've heard where it is since then, I did not
know was it that way that they went? If you
could point out in a plan the Quaker's meeting house,
I could tell you if they went that road there
is the Quaker's meeting house. You will see written on
the plan. Some went that way. Some of the people
(09:51):
too dispersed in that direction? Did they the people dispersed
in every direction? I am not sure whether I asked
you before whether, from your situation in this window, if
any stones or brick bats or sticks had been raised
against the cavalry on their way to the Hustings, you
must have seen it. I think I must have seen it.
(10:11):
Cross examined by mister Sergeant Hullock, will you venture to
swear mister Stanley that no stones nor brick bats would
be thrown during the advance of the cavalry towards the
Hustings without your perceiving it. I could only venture to
say that I saw none. I believe you have favored
the public with an account of this transaction. No, I
have not. You printed or wrote something. It was in
(10:33):
circulation among my friends. I wrote something which was never published.
There was a document written by you, circulated among your
friends among my friends before that time. Had you seen
yourself and read any publication, either in manuscript or print,
on this subject. I'd read the reports in some papers
naturally after that time, and I might have seen a
(10:55):
pamphlet printed at Manchester. Then you had seen several accounts
which had been given to the world before you wrote. Yes,
I saw the reports of the papers immediately after the meeting.
Whose account did you see besides the reports in the paper,
and mister Phillips, you, it seemed entertained a different view
of the transactions that had taken place upon this day
(11:16):
from those which had been given to the world before
that time. I do not know, I should say, a
different view from some perhaps, and coinciding with the views
of others, coinciding with the views of some, and differing
from the views of others. Respecting stones, no matter what
you are a magistrate, I understand, I am not have
(11:37):
neither Cheshire nor Lancashire. No, I beg your pardon. You, however,
were in the magistrate's room, I think you said at
mister Buxton's. I was, of course you had an acquaintance
with the gentlemen who were there assembled as acting magistrates
of the Committee for the Counties of Chester and Lancaster,
with two or three I had probably upon terms of
intimacy with one of them. Certainly was that gentleman there
(12:01):
at the time he was Did it occur to your
mind at the time that the cavalry was sent for
because you went back to a window and saw the
messenger crossing the field for the purpose of bringing them
to the place, and were told or heard there was
a rumor in the room above that the cavalry had
been sent for. Did it occur, attend to my question
to you at that time, from the observations which you'd
(12:23):
made on the subject, that that step was improper or premature?
I don't think it occurred to me either one way
or the other. Am I to understand from that then
that you exercised no judgment upon the subject at that time?
I certainly did exercise some judgment, some opinion on it
at that time. Having exercised some judgment upon the subject,
(12:45):
I ask you whether, in your judgment, such as you
exercised upon that point, the step was either improper or premature.
I saw no necessity for it. Then you deemed it premature.
I saw no necessity for it. It struck you then
as an unnecessary act. Certainly then you would go down,
of course, immediately and speak to your friend upon the subject. No,
(13:07):
nor ever expressed to that friend or to any other
at the time your opinion with respect to the impropriety
of the step. I had no other friend to speak to.
Did you speak to him? I did not go down
into the room again. Probably you might, being a gentleman
of considerable acquaintance, meet with some friend on going home,
and might ride home with some gentlemen at least part
(13:28):
of the road. Part of the road I did, mister Markland.
I presume I overtook mister Markland. Did you express any
opinion to mister Markland upon these proceedings? Probably I did,
but I have not the most distant recollection. I ask you,
upon your oath, mister Stanley, if you did not express
to him your entire concurrence in and approbation of the
(13:49):
measures adopted by the magistrates. I answer upon my oath
that I do not recollect having said any such thing.
Can you tell me whether you expressed any disapprobation of
the measures which it had been deemed necessary to adopt?
I have no recollection whatever of the conversation. Then you
mean to represent to us now that your feelings upon
the subject were so indifferent that you cannot tell now
(14:13):
whether you approved or disapproved of these steps at the time.
I have not the most distant recollection of any conversation
I had with mister Markland. That is not an answer
to my question. I ask you whether you mean to
state that at this time you don't remember whether you
entertained feelings of approbation or disapprobation of those steps. I
(14:34):
thought it was a dreadful occurrence, but I hope that
there were some grounds for it. Mister Justice Holroyd, you
are speaking of what you thought it was an answer
to the question, mister Sergeant Hullock, I am speaking of
what you thought. Then, as I understand you, you cannot
recall to your recollection the impression under which you labored
at the time you traveled home with mister Markland. I
(14:56):
thought it a dreadful occurrence, but I hope there were
grounds for it. Did you mention that to mister Markland,
I cannot recollect. It is very important that I should
endeavor to extract from you, mister Stanley, without meaning the
slightest disrespect to you, every fact within your knowledge on
the subject. You say that after the meeting had been dispersed,
(15:16):
the first cavalry that came on the ground was to
Cheshire Yeomanry, not after the meeting had dispersed, but whilst
in progress to dispersion. Do you mean to state, now,
to the best of your recollection, that the Cheshire Yeomanry
were the first cavalry advancing on the ground. After that,
it depends on what you call the ground. The Cheshire
Yeomanry were the first, after the Manchester Cavalry that advanced
(15:39):
at the left. Tell me, according to the best of
your recollection, which of these troops came first upon the ground,
the Cheshire Yeomanry. But you will observe that at this
time the disposition of the Hustings occupied a good deal
of my attention, and I did not expect the others.
The Cheshire Yeomanry came over broken and uneven ground, I
(15:59):
cannot tell. I observed that you used the word apparently
twice in answer to two questions which were put to you,
which were a repetition of the same question, whether the
two lines of constables surrounded the Hustings or not. I
think you said that they apparently did. Apparently they did,
mister Justice Holroyd, surround the hustings. Apparently, mister Sergeant Hulluck.
(16:23):
Do you mean to state then, that, in your judgment,
the avenue which was formed by the two lines of
constables extended from the house to the hustings at that time?
The impression on my mind was, and it now is,
that it certainly did. But of course you won't swear
that it did. I cannot swear. I can only speak
of the impression on my mind, in the same way
(16:43):
that you swear to the existence of brick, bats and
stones to the non existence. I think you say that
you saw Hunt come upon the ground. I saw the barouche.
You saw the ladies and gentlemen both. Did you see
any female? I saw a female. What was her? I
have no conception of that, mister Justice Holroyd, of what,
(17:05):
mister Sergeant Hullock, I asked whether she was for use
or show. You did not know any of the parties inside.
I had not the most distant knowledge of them. You
had heard of Carlyle. I heard of him in London.
You have heard since that he was in Manchester that day.
I have heard it to day in the course of
another examination. I never heard it before. Hunt, when he
(17:27):
saw the cavalry coming, I think intimated his knowledge, his
cognizance of the fact, by desiring them to give three cheers.
I could not hear. There was some cheering given. There
was a very loud cheer from the hustings, from all
the mob. You say when he was addressing the mob,
you did not hear his words quote. But I think
(17:49):
whatever his words were, they excited a shout from those
immediately about him, which was re echoed with fearful animation
by the rest of the multitude. Certainly, that is the
depression on my mind. Those were my own words. It
was tremendous the shout. It was not so tremendous as
the shout with which Hunt was received on the ground.
(18:09):
The first was the loudest shout and the most appalling.
The first when Hunt was received on the ground, I
never heard so loud a shout. Terrific was your word,
I should say terrific. You say that the people who
were immediately contiguous to the hustings heard what Hunt said.
I cannot say you inferred that from their shouting. Certainly,
(18:31):
then that shout was re echoed by the mob at
a distance I conceived. So what proportion do you think
of the mass of the people with their eyes up
and mouths open looking at that man during the time
could hear one word he said? I should think no
one beyond ten yards from the hustings in the bustle
of such a day, that is guests. I dare say
(18:52):
it is a good guess too. How do you think
they would carry the resolutions at the outside, at the
right flank, the left flank, and beyond the ten yards
upon the propositions made by this orator. I have no
opinion to give about that. It certainly is a difficult point.
It appeared to you that Hunt, as far as his
voice could reach, had a pretty absolute control over his friends.
(19:14):
They shouted as he spoke. It appeared that he was
commander in chief. The thing never occurred to me. I
cannot speak positively. Have not you an opinion that he
was head and leader of the party. My opinion certainly
is that he was. And now I will ask you
this question. As a clergyman, and as a man of character,
which I believe you to be, I ask you, upon
(19:36):
your oath, whether, in your judgment, the public tranquility and
the peace of Manchester were not endangered by a mob
of that description composed in that manner, and having such
a man as Hunt at its head. Hunt and Carlyle,
for instance, Hunt and Carlyle a dangerous people, and any
mob under their control must be dangerous. Re examined by
(19:58):
mister Sergeant Blackburn. Do you know, mister Stanley, whether this
meeting was under the command of either Hunt or Carlyle. No,
when you say that there was a shout given on
the Manchester Yeomanry coming into the field, was there any
other shout besides that given by the multitude there was?
Whose shout was that the Manchester Yeomanry, the Special Constables
(20:20):
and the people round the pavements in front of our house?
May I ask whether you were terrified by those shouts? Personally?
Certainly not, mister Justice Holroyd. Explain what you mean by that,
I myself was not alarmed about them, mister Sergeant Blackburn.
And whether it did not create terror and alarm not
(20:40):
to me individually, certainly not. You have said that you
presented a description of what you saw at the meeting
to some of your friends. I did. How soon was
that written after the meeting? I can scarcely say. I
should think perhaps two months, but I cannot speak accurately.
It was when the impression was clear on my mind,
hear and fresh in your recollection. Will you have the
(21:02):
goodness to tell me whether you heard or saw any
person read the Riot Act. I neither heard it read
nor saw it read. Mister Sergeant Hulluck. If it was read,
you did not hear it. I did not hear it.
If it should turn out to have been read and
read loudly, there might have been something else done. But
that is conclusion. That is reason. Mister Evans, your lordship
(21:25):
has on your note that mckennel said that he did
not hear the riot Act read footnote mister Sergeant cross
he said so, mister Justice holroyd yes, I have, mister
Sergeant Blackburn. Then that is my case, my lord footnote.
In the copy of Parkerson's forbating report of the trial,
(21:46):
which is preserved at the Reference Library, Manchester, this nott
is omitted. The omission is of course due to a misprint,
and someone has inserted not in pencil. Similarly in my
own copy of Parkerson's report, but someone has inserted the
knot in ink. Mac donnell, in his State Trials, inserted
the knot. Mister mc keennel's evidence, as reported in Farkerson,
(22:10):
is as follows, pages one, six, nine, one seventy. He
was cross examined by mister Sergeant Hullock, by whom was
the riot ACKed read. I never heard it read, you
heard no such thing. I did not. End of Section
two
Section two of three Accounts of Peterloo by F. A. Bruton.
This liberyvox recording is in the public domain. The evidence
of the Reverend Edward Stanley in the trial of an
action for assault brought by Thomas Redford against Hugh Hornby
Burley and others members of the Manchester Yeomanry, before Mister
(00:22):
Justice Holroyd and a special Jury at Lancaster on the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth,
and ninth of April eighteen twenty two, second day of
the trial, the Reverend Edward Stanley examined by mister Sergeant Blackburn,
Council for the plaintiff. You, I believe are the rector
of Alderly in Cheshire. I am brother to Sir Thomas Stanley,
(00:46):
brother to Sir John Stanley. On the sixteenth of August
eighteen nineteen, had you any business with mister Buxton? I had?
How far do you lived from Manchester between fifteen and
sixteen miles? You came into Manchester on the morning about
what time, as near twelve o'clock as possible. I entered
Moseley Street. In your passage up Moseley Street, did you
(01:09):
meet with any number of people? I did walking walking
in what manner? They were coming down the street walking
in a procession, six or seven or eight abreast an
arm in arm. Were you on horseback? I was? Was
there any interruption to your passage? No? Should I explain
tell us the reason? As I was going down the street,
(01:31):
some persons on the pavement desired me. I do not
wish to know what the persons on the pavement desired
you to do. I do not wish you to tell
us the conversation, but simply to relate what happened. I
passed through them by their opening to give you way. Certainly,
did you go on that day to mister Buxton's house?
And what time did you get there? I got to
(01:51):
mister Buxton's house, I should think a quarter after one.
Did you go into a room where the magistrates were assembled?
I did? How long did you remain there? I should
think about from eight to ten minutes during the time
you were in the room. Did mister Hunt arrive on
the ground he was called mister Hunt. He was in
a barouche, and a multitude accompanying him, a vast multitude.
(02:15):
I believe there was a cheer given by the populace
at the time when he did arrive a tremendous shout.
Did you remain in the room or did you go elsewhere?
I did not remain there. I went into the room
above it. Were there any other persons in the room
besides you? Several? Did you see the Manchester Yeomanry come
on to the ground? I did, and form in front
(02:36):
of mister Buxton's house. They formed with their left flank
a little to the right of the special constables and
a few yards to the right of mister Buxton's house.
Who say, to the left of the line of special constables?
Their left flank was on the right of mister Buxton's house.
You saw the line of constables? Where did it extend to?
(02:56):
It extended from the door of mister Buxton's house, apparently
to the Hustings. Was there more than one line of constables?
There were two lines of constables? What was the interval
between them near mister Buxton's house and the mob? Three
or four feet Afterwards the line was closed by the
pressure of the mob, expanding again when they came near
(03:17):
the Hustings. According to my observation, to the best of
my judgment, such as the impression on my mind, of course,
you saw the people collected, certainly in a large mass,
in a very large mass. What was it enabled you
to distinguish the special constables from the rest? They were
superior dressed. People had their hats on, and their staffs
(03:38):
were constantly appearing, and they were nearer the Hustings, and
the people round the Hustings had their hats off. My
general impression is all to speak accurately, The people on
this side of the area of Saint Peter's Field were
not so numerous. There were more stragglers and no crowd.
You saw colors and caps of liberty on the ground.
I did what number, either the one or the other.
(04:01):
Perhaps you do not distinctly recollect. I cannot say you
heard mister Hunt speak. No, I could just hear his voice,
but I was not able to distinguish what he said.
How long had that taken place before you saw the
cavalry advance towards the Hustings from their halts. I should
think three minutes from the time you heard mister Hunt,
not from the time I heard mister Hunt. He was
(04:23):
speaking before I arrived. Then from the time of the halt,
two or three minutes when you saw them advance towards
the hustings. With what speed did they go? They were
formed in any irregular mass. Those on the left advanced
in some sort of order. They went on at first
for a few paces at no very quick pace, but
they soon increased their speed till it became a sort
(04:45):
of rush or race amongst them all towards the hustings.
Did you observe the effect that this had upon the people,
whether it caused them to disperse or not. They could
not disperse instantly, But on the outside of them, on
the right, in front of the husting, they immediately began
to melt away, as it were, as far as they
could at the extreme, the outward edge of the meeting,
(05:07):
the outward edge in front of the hustings. Did you
observe the cavalry when they got first among the thick
parts of the meeting, Their speed was diminished as soon
as they came in contact with the dense mob well,
but they worked their way to the Hustings still as
fast under existing circumstances as they could. For the place
in which you were, I believe you had a very
(05:28):
commanding view of the Hustings. I looked down upon it
like a map. I understood you you had also been
in a room below that and looked through there. I had, which,
in your opinion, was the better place for a correct
observation of what passed after the meeting, decidedly the highest room.
Did you watch the advance of the cavalry from their
(05:48):
place up to the Hustings? I did. Did you see
either sticks or stones, or anything of the kind used
against the cavalry in their advance up to the hustings?
Certainly not. Did you see any res resistance whatever to
the cavalry except the thickness of the meeting? None? Do
I understand you to say you saw them surround the
hustings or not surround I could not say, for the
(06:11):
other side of the Hustings, of course, was partially eclipsed
by the people upon it. But you saw them encircle
part encircle parts. Did you see what was done when
they got there? Yes? Will you tell us what it
was that you saw done? I saw the swords up
and down, the orators tumbled or thrown over, and the
mob dispersed. In your judgment, what length of time elapsed
(06:34):
between the cavalry first setting off into the meeting and
the time of their complete dispersion, starting from their halt
to the complete dispersion of the meeting. I should think
from three to five minutes, but I cannot speak to
a minute. In your judgment, it took from three to
five minutes. You did not observe it by a watch? No,
did you see any other troops come into the field?
(06:56):
I did? What were they, mister Justice Holroyd? He says
he saw what, mister Sergeant Blackburn other troops come into
the field. When was it that you saw them come
into the field? When the mob around the Hustings were
dispersing rapidly? And I think, mister hunt was taken off.
What were those troops that you saw come into the ground? Then?
(07:18):
First came in on the left of mister Buckston's row
of houses, the Cheshire Yeomanry, who filed to the left,
mister Justice Holroyd, you mean to the left looking from
the house. Then from the house, mister Sergeant Blackburn, Where
did the Cheshire Yeomanry take up their position when they
came on the ground. They took up their position in
(07:38):
the rear of the Hustings rather in advance. I think
of some mounds of earth, do you know, Wim Mill Street.
I know no street. You don't know its name. I
know no name. You say, near a rising ground, there
is a sort of little elevated bank or ground. Had
the multitude from that part been dispersed, The multitude in
(07:59):
the were pretty much as they had been at first.
I think they were dispersing, but not so rapidly. Do
you mean in the rear of the cavalry, in the
rear of the Hustings. The Cheshire Yeomanry's position was in
the rear of the Hustings, part near amongst these people.
What other troops beside the Cheshire Yeomanry did you see
come on to the ground soon after the Cheshire Yeomanry
(08:21):
had come in and taken their position. A troop of dragoons,
I think the fifteenth came in under the windows of
mister Buxton's house. You say you think they were the
fifteenth Hussars. They were called the fifteenth Dragoons. They had
Waterloo medals. Where did they take up their position, mister
Justice Holroyd, Near mister Buxton's house, he said, mister Sergeant Blackburn.
(08:44):
Did they continue there? They halted or paused for a
moment or so. A little to the left of mister
Buxton's house, a very little to the left, almost in front,
inclining to the left. What others did you see come
on the ground besides them and the cheshi yoga? At
the close of the business, I saw some artillery driving
through the place. Was there any other besides those that
(09:06):
you saw take up any position on the ground? None?
On the ground at this time was the whole of
the multitude dispersed. It was dispersing most rapidly, I may
say dispersed, except in partial spots. After leaving the hustings
to Which part of the field did the Manchester Yeomanry
go to? All parts? I think more behind the hustings
(09:27):
and on the right. They did not come back to
me so much. Do you know the Quakers meeting house?
I've heard where it is since then, I did not
know was it that way that they went? If you
could point out in a plan the Quaker's meeting house,
I could tell you if they went that road there
is the Quaker's meeting house. You will see written on
the plan. Some went that way. Some of the people
(09:51):
too dispersed in that direction? Did they the people dispersed
in every direction? I am not sure whether I asked
you before whether, from your situation in this window, if
any stones or brick bats or sticks had been raised
against the cavalry on their way to the Hustings, you
must have seen it. I think I must have seen it.
(10:11):
Cross examined by mister Sergeant Hullock, will you venture to
swear mister Stanley that no stones nor brick bats would
be thrown during the advance of the cavalry towards the
Hustings without your perceiving it. I could only venture to
say that I saw none. I believe you have favored
the public with an account of this transaction. No, I
have not. You printed or wrote something. It was in
(10:33):
circulation among my friends. I wrote something which was never published.
There was a document written by you, circulated among your
friends among my friends before that time. Had you seen
yourself and read any publication, either in manuscript or print,
on this subject. I'd read the reports in some papers
naturally after that time, and I might have seen a
(10:55):
pamphlet printed at Manchester. Then you had seen several accounts
which had been given to the world before you wrote. Yes,
I saw the reports of the papers immediately after the meeting.
Whose account did you see besides the reports in the paper,
and mister Phillips, you, it seemed entertained a different view
of the transactions that had taken place upon this day
(11:16):
from those which had been given to the world before
that time. I do not know, I should say, a
different view from some perhaps, and coinciding with the views
of others, coinciding with the views of some, and differing
from the views of others. Respecting stones, no matter what
you are a magistrate, I understand, I am not have
(11:37):
neither Cheshire nor Lancashire. No, I beg your pardon. You, however,
were in the magistrate's room, I think you said at
mister Buxton's. I was, of course you had an acquaintance
with the gentlemen who were there assembled as acting magistrates
of the Committee for the Counties of Chester and Lancaster,
with two or three I had probably upon terms of
intimacy with one of them. Certainly was that gentleman there
(12:01):
at the time he was Did it occur to your
mind at the time that the cavalry was sent for
because you went back to a window and saw the
messenger crossing the field for the purpose of bringing them
to the place, and were told or heard there was
a rumor in the room above that the cavalry had
been sent for. Did it occur, attend to my question
to you at that time, from the observations which you'd
(12:23):
made on the subject, that that step was improper or premature?
I don't think it occurred to me either one way
or the other. Am I to understand from that then
that you exercised no judgment upon the subject at that time?
I certainly did exercise some judgment, some opinion on it
at that time. Having exercised some judgment upon the subject,
(12:45):
I ask you whether, in your judgment, such as you
exercised upon that point, the step was either improper or premature.
I saw no necessity for it. Then you deemed it premature.
I saw no necessity for it. It struck you then
as an unnecessary act. Certainly then you would go down,
of course, immediately and speak to your friend upon the subject. No,
(13:07):
nor ever expressed to that friend or to any other
at the time your opinion with respect to the impropriety
of the step. I had no other friend to speak to.
Did you speak to him? I did not go down
into the room again. Probably you might, being a gentleman
of considerable acquaintance, meet with some friend on going home,
and might ride home with some gentlemen at least part
(13:28):
of the road. Part of the road I did, mister Markland.
I presume I overtook mister Markland. Did you express any
opinion to mister Markland upon these proceedings? Probably I did,
but I have not the most distant recollection. I ask you,
upon your oath, mister Stanley, if you did not express
to him your entire concurrence in and approbation of the
(13:49):
measures adopted by the magistrates. I answer upon my oath
that I do not recollect having said any such thing.
Can you tell me whether you expressed any disapprobation of
the measures which it had been deemed necessary to adopt?
I have no recollection whatever of the conversation. Then you
mean to represent to us now that your feelings upon
the subject were so indifferent that you cannot tell now
(14:13):
whether you approved or disapproved of these steps at the time.
I have not the most distant recollection of any conversation
I had with mister Markland. That is not an answer
to my question. I ask you whether you mean to
state that at this time you don't remember whether you
entertained feelings of approbation or disapprobation of those steps. I
(14:34):
thought it was a dreadful occurrence, but I hope that
there were some grounds for it. Mister Justice Holroyd, you
are speaking of what you thought it was an answer
to the question, mister Sergeant Hullock, I am speaking of
what you thought. Then, as I understand you, you cannot
recall to your recollection the impression under which you labored
at the time you traveled home with mister Markland. I
(14:56):
thought it a dreadful occurrence, but I hope there were
grounds for it. Did you mention that to mister Markland,
I cannot recollect. It is very important that I should
endeavor to extract from you, mister Stanley, without meaning the
slightest disrespect to you, every fact within your knowledge on
the subject. You say that after the meeting had been dispersed,
(15:16):
the first cavalry that came on the ground was to
Cheshire Yeomanry, not after the meeting had dispersed, but whilst
in progress to dispersion. Do you mean to state, now,
to the best of your recollection, that the Cheshire Yeomanry
were the first cavalry advancing on the ground. After that,
it depends on what you call the ground. The Cheshire
Yeomanry were the first, after the Manchester Cavalry that advanced
(15:39):
at the left. Tell me, according to the best of
your recollection, which of these troops came first upon the ground,
the Cheshire Yeomanry. But you will observe that at this
time the disposition of the Hustings occupied a good deal
of my attention, and I did not expect the others.
The Cheshire Yeomanry came over broken and uneven ground, I
(15:59):
cannot tell. I observed that you used the word apparently
twice in answer to two questions which were put to you,
which were a repetition of the same question, whether the
two lines of constables surrounded the Hustings or not. I
think you said that they apparently did. Apparently they did,
mister Justice Holroyd, surround the hustings. Apparently, mister Sergeant Hulluck.
(16:23):
Do you mean to state then, that, in your judgment,
the avenue which was formed by the two lines of
constables extended from the house to the hustings at that time?
The impression on my mind was, and it now is,
that it certainly did. But of course you won't swear
that it did. I cannot swear. I can only speak
of the impression on my mind, in the same way
(16:43):
that you swear to the existence of brick, bats and
stones to the non existence. I think you say that
you saw Hunt come upon the ground. I saw the barouche.
You saw the ladies and gentlemen both. Did you see
any female? I saw a female. What was her? I
have no conception of that, mister Justice Holroyd, of what,
(17:05):
mister Sergeant Hullock, I asked whether she was for use
or show. You did not know any of the parties inside.
I had not the most distant knowledge of them. You
had heard of Carlyle. I heard of him in London.
You have heard since that he was in Manchester that day.
I have heard it to day in the course of
another examination. I never heard it before. Hunt, when he
(17:27):
saw the cavalry coming, I think intimated his knowledge, his
cognizance of the fact, by desiring them to give three cheers.
I could not hear. There was some cheering given. There
was a very loud cheer from the hustings, from all
the mob. You say when he was addressing the mob,
you did not hear his words quote. But I think
(17:49):
whatever his words were, they excited a shout from those
immediately about him, which was re echoed with fearful animation
by the rest of the multitude. Certainly, that is the
depression on my mind. Those were my own words. It
was tremendous the shout. It was not so tremendous as
the shout with which Hunt was received on the ground.
(18:09):
The first was the loudest shout and the most appalling.
The first when Hunt was received on the ground, I
never heard so loud a shout. Terrific was your word,
I should say terrific. You say that the people who
were immediately contiguous to the hustings heard what Hunt said.
I cannot say you inferred that from their shouting. Certainly,
(18:31):
then that shout was re echoed by the mob at
a distance I conceived. So what proportion do you think
of the mass of the people with their eyes up
and mouths open looking at that man during the time
could hear one word he said? I should think no
one beyond ten yards from the hustings in the bustle
of such a day, that is guests. I dare say
(18:52):
it is a good guess too. How do you think
they would carry the resolutions at the outside, at the
right flank, the left flank, and beyond the ten yards
upon the propositions made by this orator. I have no
opinion to give about that. It certainly is a difficult point.
It appeared to you that Hunt, as far as his
voice could reach, had a pretty absolute control over his friends.
(19:14):
They shouted as he spoke. It appeared that he was
commander in chief. The thing never occurred to me. I
cannot speak positively. Have not you an opinion that he
was head and leader of the party. My opinion certainly
is that he was. And now I will ask you
this question. As a clergyman, and as a man of character,
which I believe you to be, I ask you, upon
(19:36):
your oath, whether, in your judgment, the public tranquility and
the peace of Manchester were not endangered by a mob
of that description composed in that manner, and having such
a man as Hunt at its head. Hunt and Carlyle,
for instance, Hunt and Carlyle a dangerous people, and any
mob under their control must be dangerous. Re examined by
(19:58):
mister Sergeant Blackburn. Do you know, mister Stanley, whether this
meeting was under the command of either Hunt or Carlyle. No,
when you say that there was a shout given on
the Manchester Yeomanry coming into the field, was there any
other shout besides that given by the multitude there was?
Whose shout was that the Manchester Yeomanry, the Special Constables
(20:20):
and the people round the pavements in front of our house?
May I ask whether you were terrified by those shouts? Personally?
Certainly not, mister Justice Holroyd. Explain what you mean by that,
I myself was not alarmed about them, mister Sergeant Blackburn.
And whether it did not create terror and alarm not
(20:40):
to me individually, certainly not. You have said that you
presented a description of what you saw at the meeting
to some of your friends. I did. How soon was
that written after the meeting? I can scarcely say. I
should think perhaps two months, but I cannot speak accurately.
It was when the impression was clear on my mind,
hear and fresh in your recollection. Will you have the
(21:02):
goodness to tell me whether you heard or saw any
person read the Riot Act. I neither heard it read
nor saw it read. Mister Sergeant Hulluck. If it was read,
you did not hear it. I did not hear it.
If it should turn out to have been read and
read loudly, there might have been something else done. But
that is conclusion. That is reason. Mister Evans, your lordship
(21:25):
has on your note that mckennel said that he did
not hear the riot Act read footnote mister Sergeant cross
he said so, mister Justice holroyd yes, I have, mister
Sergeant Blackburn. Then that is my case, my lord footnote.
In the copy of Parkerson's forbating report of the trial,
(21:46):
which is preserved at the Reference Library, Manchester, this nott
is omitted. The omission is of course due to a misprint,
and someone has inserted not in pencil. Similarly in my
own copy of Parkerson's report, but someone has inserted the
knot in ink. Mac donnell, in his State Trials, inserted
the knot. Mister mc keennel's evidence, as reported in Farkerson,
(22:10):
is as follows, pages one, six, nine, one seventy. He
was cross examined by mister Sergeant Hullock, by whom was
the riot ACKed read. I never heard it read, you
heard no such thing. I did not. End of Section
two
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