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    Mr . Charie * Howard ( bj the Attornrr- General ) I am » manufacturer in Hyde , and employ frotn 600 to i ' = 50 people . My d * t ? lUog-houi $ is vary near ; o the mill . It is eaUed Hyde Lice ; and in under a quaner of a mils from the hustings erected on the 14 rh November . I wa * at hom ? that night . 1 hpard a noi . >* , and immediately went out into the street and saw a large concourse ct people , -with banner * , flags , aad ensigns . They werr * going ir . processioa . Tbe foot-paths werd qoitt * crowa-d , bjj well as the middle of the street . I stood on the foot-path opposite to my buildings till the procession parsed by . — This c-cru ' iiftd morft than half an hour . There were eg : less thin from 10 . 000 to 15 . 000 p-vssed n » y ht use One inscription in the c ntre of the hus : iugs vrai *• TvraiiU , believe acd tremble ; " another vra «

    • ' Liberty or dfRth ; " another wv , li Universal suffrage nnd vote by bal ot . " 1 stood at the b <* ck ol the pisiform : ^ om admes I heard thu speeches , soiaetimes I did not , There were many torches . There was both shouting axd cheering fr < qaentiy . I hea-d part of Mr . Stephen ! * speech . I heard r im tell the boys abont him , called pincers , how the boy * at Stalybridge had procured fire-arms . He nid they subscribed their pennies and twopence ? , aod each had a pistol given to them , as far « their money would purchase . H-5 also stated that MTfral < ocieoea were armed , and mentioned the Foresters . They were willing to snbscribe the Ecot-ey they had collected for the sick towards the

    per chase o ? " fire-arms . He a < ked the meeting whether they were ready ? and one pistol was then fired . Ha explained that was " poor readinejg , when onl y one pistol was ii red . " Then many pUto ] s were fired off in all directions . There were chewing and shouting immediately after the firing of pL * - tok . There was cheering Tery otten during the speech , and I cooli . not hear st all . I remained ac the meeting till nearly twelve o ' clock . I left them speaking at the hustings ! . Wh * n the procession passed I was alarmed ; more particularly for my barn , lest it should be set on fire by the sparks from the torch-light * . My sisters , who ire with m ? , were very much alarmed . "

    Cross-exnmined by Mr . Stephens—I was not at the meeting during the whole r . f the speech . I left you speiking when I left the field . You had been speaking about a quarter of an hour when I We The principal part 1 heard was the instance of tie boys m the neighbourhood , urging the » to procure fire-arm * . What subject you were talking about I could not hear . 1 took no note ? , neither at tVe tinvcor « ince . The alarm I felt was for my property . lest the- sparks of the torches should set fire to the LiT and straw in my barn . I felt alarm before I left

    Vhe fcvrse , considerin g ths time of tha night ; it vra « then sometime after ten o ' clock . I iave been ft cotton manufacturer about twenty years . 1 was brought up to tbe buriness . Tk-opiecers in ray concern are all thirteen years of age . —Do you kiioir I have made complaints of conduct practised in vour mill ? I don ' t know . —Do you know a pt ^ - son named Kay , from Suffolk , and of the complaints of ihe manner these people were treated ) n y ; ur factory ? I don ' c know . —That you swear ? Ye *; that lswear .

    Edward Hibbert ( by Mr . V \' KL 6 BY ) -. I * m a manufacturer residing at Godby , aboat thrse quaTter * of a ir . ile from the hustings . I saw the people in Hyde on the 14 th November , about a quarter of a : ^ ile from the hu « tings , near to the Sportman ' s Arm * . I taw them particularly : they had banners with them . I read an inscription on one banner ^—• ' A-ibton demands Universal Suffrage or Universal Vc ; , eaact . " I went to the hustings and nw Mr . Stephens there on < he platform . I heird him speak , but could only hear part of what he said . He said he was = orry he ha / 1 uetaiaet them * o long ; he had bren a ' . BoltoDj or Bury , at a meeting there , and the people were all prepared . He asked the meerinc if thsy were prepared ? They said they were . He sajs , show me them , and jet m : see . With that there was a discharge of fire-arms , from thirty to fortv . He said he had had a conversation with two

    o ; Tj . ? er ? j and he coaid assure tae meeting , from that c ; : cini'taBce , ikat i : they ro- * e the soldiers would njr molest thtxn . He said , we have now met long rcaui ' a ; and something must be done . The shouting and fire-arms report * sometimes prevented me fi-- -. ni hearing . T 9 t said we ha .: got the emancipation of the black glare * , and bow we must try to get the emancipation of the white slaves . The crowa cheered him . I remained till he concluded . I heard the discharge of fire-arms several tiroes ; first of odd pnes , and tben there were from thirty 10 forty . 1 sas alarmed . It was a meeting calculated te alarm ar . v oHe .

    Cross-examined by Mr . Stephens : "Were ycu sober that ni ? ht , Mr . Hi ' sbert ? " 5 Tes . — Had you had co driak ? Yes . — How much had you ? 1 cannot - 'peak to the quantity , I was at the meeting during tat whole of your speed . I recollect distinctly ail the part of it I have mentioned . I ea . n speai ab-o to so . TjelhiEg I have not said . —Mr . Stephens : Do 30 , then . You said you would lead them on , if they rioted , aBd you would lose ever ; drop of blood in your body for thtm—What did I say I would lead them on to ? You said you would lead them 02 : I did not hear what to . I toot no

    sum of the speech ; I did not write note * of it til ] I was questioned . I was first questioned br Mr . Joseph Hibbert , when I was taien before the Magistrates , about a mouth afer the meeting . He is my trrorner . — He is a partner with Cboriton and Hibbert . who c-ondact this prosecution ? 1 supposebe is . —HaTe you any doubt about it ? I cannot give acy opinion of it . —De too know ihe offioe of Mr . Hirbtr ' , who ^ e name is indorsed at the back of tiii * indii'tasent , and who conduct- this proseeatioD a ^ &ins ; ma ? It 13 Messrs . ChorSton and Hibbert ' s oince .- Is it your brother's office ? It is Chorltoa ind Hibbert's office . Thev cev « r told roe whether

    they A-e : e pirtsers or cot . —Do you know frem whit office is Hyde th ? letter proceeded that so much alarmed tha Major , the Council , aad the iuhabi-Ufl- * of Chester ? I do not know . —Have you heard me male any complaints of certain practh-es ia your fict ^ ry ? I wid boC gay you ever ; . te of ourx particularly . I ue * er heard you rne ^ rioa oar names bat once . By the Attobsit-Gbmeral . — I was perfectly sober when 1 went to the meeting . 1 mi ^ ht hav * been a little flevated ; but I eould walk straight — ¦ ;* liugh ) — acd I could bear perfectly well what was s . iid . "

    Samael A-hton . —I am a manufacturer at Godley , o . nd live tbont 3 CW yards from the place where tbe -m etiDg was held . 1 saw a portion of the procer-. i&n They wtre going towards Godley . They did not come uurrtr to my house thaa 300 yards off . I * aw- digs , torch-lights , transparent lanterns , and beard -houting . I wax at rnv father's hou ? e when the proerssion pas * rd . 1 was rather alarmed . M . t fitbrr ' e family was also alarmed . A few frieeds were at av father ' s hause , od a Tisit , and tney were generaiiy alarmed . I th . nk it wds a meetiDg calculated : o alarm anvbodv .

    Cras » -examined by Mr . Stephens—Wen ? you sober , Mr . Ashton , on tbe evening in queftios ? I never was drunk in my life . Had yon had nothing to drink ? No . Were you not at tbs SrorL-inan ' s Arms that evening ? I was not—L > id yen not shont when you were at the meetjb ^? ' I was not at the meeting . Mr . Afhton , the magistrate , is my faiher . Mr . Chorhon requ » sred me to g ' Te information of this ni-ev . ni ; . I fuppose that Mr . Hibberc is a partner in tha : firm . Bjth Messrs . Cborltor and Hibb « rt requested me te give information ia this matter aDout three weeks ago Till thai tinst I baa ne thought of lodging any information . I am in the habit of reading come of tbe public ncw . * paperj . I recollect hearing of a factory brin ^ r curnt down in Asbton ia December last . — Do you -tcol : ect the firing of that factory being attributed to me ? 1 do nat . I have heard that you kavs ccm-L-Iained pubbcly of practices in our mill .

    Tbe case for the prosecution closed here ; and iuimediately afterward * , at a quarter pa ^ t twelve o ' clock , Mr . S ; epheas rose to address the Jury . Mr . STEPHENS said , —May it please your Lordship—Gentlemen of the Jcry . This day , my Lor . i . has not overtaken me unawares , nor bas it f-uni me unprepared . I have long since foreseen if * coming ; I welcorae it how that it is come ; I have often told t- ; e poo . - , my Lord , on whose bchait rather than my own I am here to plead , and In rf-noje ?* read l ' am williDg ro ? uffer , though I have < 3-.-e notbins : wortcy of bond ; , that the faithful and : Vi-j ~»< advocacy of thtir righteous cau ^ a would yv-DiuiliT lead to scents like thi J , my L « rd . It

    coj'i not , my Lord , be otherwise ; ior that new ¦ spec-ie * of tyraniy which in the name and under tbe : ' --r ; n * ot' law has of la ' e yeari endeavoured to overturn me liberries of this coantry coald only hopt' £ > r a -tj . bi < iimeat aod prrmarency by cru'hirg and CVerihrOW ! D 2 all tho ** , Lou-ever b-mble , who bad t ' ae heart ar . & the bard : nood to oppo-e it . Thi . * , my LcrJ , i * of the very nature of tjricny . It bt ^ -. n ^ ? y fir ;* : of ail taticg the weaker and tr . e moro uefeaceieas . Ii drawi t > 5 tbe e \ e , and lulls to s ! e-p " -sus .-icion i-f : h-je » ha would oppo ^ e it : n- i ; t Arst : n-tance , ritaer by the promi « e of . icme ir-imc d'i ' e aivanta ^ e , or by ko'dis * o-jt hopes ol greater -eccritv ard beHtfit to themselves . But fteauhin

    ir : i j : >* 3 ajoi ; - > jy r « it Begin . * , it eusi , my L- > r 3 , rooa , 'alt " c-i c < or . e by ore , uutii ohj by ond we Lave bo-• - ¦ :: v ec ' . -jr . ' ed - . l'tr-n i ^« at-: , a- _ j 3 i- p-o-rro £ - a - < r * ¦ -I - . Y-u , f rrU ' .. i-u :-. vn i . \? . t J-ry , ; i- •¦ ¦ r ! : - ~\ e :. \ urtr jl exa :: " ' - ii , p . - cui " ¦; ' th > . Y- - . r .. r-¦ s * i n--i j ourstrlvps- • a may & cYl iDqiiire ci o . e

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    aootlie-, why aD < 3 for what purpose it is that you bare betn placed in that box ? I need only remind gentlemen of your station and intelligence , ot tbe otigin and proiessed rea .-on for the establishment of the Special Jury system , t « convince you that your presence heie is only intended on the part of the prosecution to fill up these blank forms of the law , without which this " hunting of tbe qoarry " canuot yet in England be handrd » 7 er to the merciless frr&'p of its pursaer . Gentlemen , it ia but of yesterday that Special Juries were known at all in this country—not longer since than the reiga of George the Second . The cause kasigued , for this inniTaLion upon our ancient institutions was , that

    tbere mi ^ ht arise , in tae complicated and intricate na ; u .-e of commer * ial transaction * , questions which men meviug in tbe ordinary sphere * of life would not be capable thorough !) to understacd , ind rightly to adjudicate upon . Here , my Lord , I may he allowed to say , such is my veneration for all the institutions of ray native land , that it would have b ? ea much better , in that case , instead of laying aside the old usages and practices wkich have been the palladium of our liberties , to hare required that gentlemen engaged in censaerce ahculd so have simplified their transactions as to bring them within the range of the u « QeT » tandinR 8 of the commonalty of this country , rather than hare introduced anr

    change in the forms ot our civil and criminal jurisprudence , as we find now has been the case ; but , Gentlemen , allowing , for the sake of argument , that these innovations , which I am bold enough t ) call corruptions in tbe institutions of our country , were just and reasonable for the purpose prsfesaed at the time , you would agree with me that this is not a ca « e which calls for such An extraordinary departure from tbe ordinary usages in our counts of justice . Gentlemen , if this were a simple ease , as tbe Attorney- General wishes you to beliere it to be , of attending that meetiDg—a meeting so clearly unlaw . ful that he needed not to say live words on the subject ; if this were a case so simple , and the mere fact of the meeting having been so conrened and held , the

    mere fact of my having attended that meeting and said certain words was all that was requisite to prove on this occasion . Then , gentlemen , I ask you what reasonable pretext tbere is for your being present id that box upon th > s oceasi q ^ ? Gentlemen there must be something behind the scenes—tbere must be something that remxini untold , something wbic-h the learned and honorable Attorney-General haft designedly , \ left undisclosed . It will be my duty , gentltm ^ n , to withdraw the curtain from that which at present is legally hidden from your eyes . It will be mj duty , and , I trust that in so doing , I shall not only Teceive the sanction of the learBed judge , bit tbe concurrence of every man now before me , wbo is fact is one of my judges on the present occasion . I trust that the sanction of the bench and tha

    coueum nee of the jury will fully go aJosg with me in iny endbaYoux , and it shall be a very simple and straght-forward one , to put you fully in possession of all the factt connected ^ un . this ptosectttwn ,. — Geatlemen , I know not ia what manner Special Juries are got together ; you do not know in what manner Special Juries are got together—the Attorney General maj know . Suffice it for me to say that I have not objected to you . When tbe list of forty-eight was sent down to me , who was struck off I cannot tell . I made no objection agaicst th&tlist , I htve notgtruek off a singls indiriduil of that number of 48 , nor d » I object to any gentleman now present , notwithstanding all the reports , all the rumours , all the

    more than credible reports I have heard on tbi « subject . Such is my full conviction that in an Engli-h Court of Jus'ice , befo . * e an English Judge , and bifore a British Jury—a Jury distinguished for tbeir truth , justice , uprightness and honesty , that I am persuaded they will receive these reports with aU tbe credit they deserve . My Lord , I hare beea advised , I have been urged , I hive been most seriow » ly importuned to apply to your Lordship for a postponement of this trial , in consequence of the most excited state , r . ot only of tbe public mind in general , but of the public mind of the inhabitants of Che « ter at this moment . My Lord , it is amatter of notoriety , it is upon your walla , it is within erery

    man ' s knowledge , that a letter has been written by the attornies conducting thU prosecution , instructing tbe Miy ir and authorities of this ancient and really peaceable city , that a rescue is to be attempted on tr . e present occasion , that mobs , multitudes , armed djcembiages of men , are upon tbeir match to the city of Chester , for tht purpose of rescuing volantary defendants , or involuatary prisoners out of tbe hands of justice , even ia tbe presence of an English Judge . My Lord , 1 a « k whetber this is fair ; I ask whether in any o her place than in an English court ef justice , whetber under any presidency than that ef a constitutional judce , and befori ; any other array than that

    of an nonest English jury it would be possible for a defendant , situated as I am , to hare a fair and imparr . ai trial ? "Why , my Lore , when I came into the town , I came unbound , aid I came without any legal f-tteTd } paias , or penalties , or disabilities upon me . '—I have three injiciments hanging over my bead , to out * of which I am called thiiday to speak ; each of these indictments , if its allegation be sub etantiated , renders me liable to a sentence of } Bpri . enment for . life , and I may b « otherwise imprisoned , and othtrwire seateaced to pay a fine , which would render the extent of that imprisonment to the term of my natural lift *; and yet with three indictments over my head I am not held to bail

    upon any one of them . 1 hard been wioee the month of March a free man . It is evident from this that the Crown cannot consider me the dangeroui person the Attorney-General kas endeavoured to t * p'esent me to-day . If , my Lord , I had been guilty of * uch criminality , if I had committed the criminal acts , if I were the man whose motives , purposes , principle . * , and intentions were such ai have been represented to the jury , in the speech of the Hon . am \ Learned Attorney-General , 1 say it would have b ? en impossible for tbe Government to have al ' owed me to go at large in the way it haa done . Woat inference ea » 1 draw frosa this , exoept it is the natural inference , except it is an inference , as tbe

    Learned Attorney-General saye , which ntces » an } y and inevitably arises from the preaises , that the G ., rernv . ent wi = h m * quietly and peaceably to walk away and to escape meeting this charge on the present occasion ? But , my Lord , though I have reason to believe it to be the wi > h of the Government—though I have rea < ouab ! e ground to believe that the C ; own had no wish and no intention to prosecute this inquiry which his )) £ en forced upon it to-day , yet s » conscious am I of mv owa innocence , and so fully am 1 persuaded that 1 shall be able to convince the Jury of my innocence , that , wisbcut bail , without boso , without liability to appear , I throw mys * lf not upon the

    mercy or indulgence , but upon the sense of justice which pervades thii Court upon the present occasion . I know , my Lord , atid Gentlemen of tbe Jury , a defendant cannot appear before you , no , however bis word may have betn misrepresented , ha-verer his motives may have beeu misunderstood and maligned , however ' hi ? actions may have been exaggerated , a defendant ia an English court of justice canui't appear without at the same engaging , I will not » ay the sympathies , but the oool and delibirate judgment o ! the Jury on his behalf . My Lord , 1 a « k " tbe Learned and lion . Attorney-General how it happens that I am tried here ? It is righi that you should kiiovr . A- to the subject-matter of thi * present charge , Gentlemen , I wa » an ignorant of it , until I beard it from the mouchs ^ f the witnesses

    todlV , and out of the spesca of the Attorney-General , as you are who sit in that box . Although thi * meeting took place so long ago as the month of N » v « m Der ] a * t , nine montus ago , GeDtlemen , yet ev * n out of ttie evidence which yeu have listened to , it appear * that no aiarm was entertained , tbat no fears were excited , that do apprehensions filled tbe minds of even the witnesses them * elyes ; but even supposing that these witnesses were alarmed , goppo'ing all the exaggerations of the Attorney-General be true , iupposing tVy are all mitters of fajt , how nappens it oa this suppomion—on the supposition that nuch a meeting took place , that such en * igns , Sags , anl banners were hoisted and display fd , that the disjharge ot firearms took place , that all tbo 3 e inflammatory and dangerou * speeches and Bed '\ t ; OQ 3 discourses were delivered—that the

    pt-ace of that dis rice was endangered , and menu live * were ia jeopardy , there being no security for property—how was it , I ask , my Lord , that do information of all this ever by any possibility found its way to the Magistrates of Hyde—how was it that none of tbo ^ e individ iul ? thought it worth their nhiie — how was it that n -no of them thought it was a Cii ' . v lacuniben : upon them — h-J > v was it thac n ine of thi ) e indivijuiis for thw salvation of their own live . ' , and the protection of their owa property —( I

    won ' t say for the }» rt-ervation of the property > f V ) ih-r *)—I won ' t a- ' i Low ibey were so jnii'H-tnt of asy . 'hing like a lore to tbrir neighbours—so guiltless of " arytning like pa : rio : i .-m ; but I will ask upon the ( . rir . cip ' . e of * elf- ]> n . \ -ervitio ; i , how was it , 1 ask , :. -: a : r . o ia "" orma : nn e ~» -r found ks way ^ to the M . di 2 . » rrates of Hy de on ibis ceeation ? Why , mv L > " > : J , one witness informs you he was only called -J- : i to give infoiinaf ' un iwo months aga—savuu niorjths after the m-. tti : v 'o ;; k p \ :. fe . Another tel >

    y « u , ray Lord , he wa « cimv ca ' . lej upon to . give ev :-chrjev three we-. l : s Piro , at : 3 that by 'he artcrnies co :: ace ting ths prsftcutioa . "Wh y , Gentlemen , is

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    it possible for any intelligeit Jarj to believe that all this culd hare occurred , and all this danger could have ari « ea , unJe-s tho ^ tJ individuals bad found it Be « t-83 ary to acquaint tbe Magistrates with the transactions is question P And besides , my Lord , I hold that it is uce of the ri gh t * of the subject , and you are here to-day , my Lora , to guard , and it is one of jour most solemn dutie * that you should guard , all property , no matter how small ; and no matter how humble the individual te whom it belongs . If it be your duty to guard property , is it not equally , —is it not much more the duty of the ad < nini * traton « of the law , to guard the privileges and rights of the subjects of this realm . Th «

    VTltnes'tH who have appeared in that box have a right to complain of alarm &g to themselves or their property—they have a right to unbosom themselves , — and some of them have done * ° , my Lord , rather more than the Attorney-General wished or expeeted —fhfy have a right to unbosom themaehes fully to the judge , a » d . to the jury sworn—but if they have that right—if they can call upon you ta protect their property , I have a right to call upoa you to say that the law protect ! my liberties . Now , it is an essential part of the liberty of the subject , that no time should be lost in acquainting him with the charged

    that tnay be made against him , that no parties may be allowed to oppome the giving him a fair field , and no favour , to meet his accusers face to race . Now , my Lord , where has been this meeting ? I hare never been called before a magistrate of Hyde ; I have had no opportunity of confronting these witnesses : no , my Lord , the Crown knew better than that—the Crown was well aware that if this inquiry had been instituted on the spot , aad in the neighbourhood of the transactien—if I bad been brought there , face to face with my accusers , that the whole of this dark cloud would hava been

    dispelled , and the bright and clear sky of peace , tranquillity , and order , would once more have dawned upoa us . The Crown , in this case , my Lord , has chosen to proceed by way of indictment . Undoubtedly the Crows is entitled to adopt that eouree ; but I will ask your Lordship , who on occasions of this kicd ia counsel for the prisoner , and wbo on all occasions is judge of the law—I will ask your Lordship what is an indictment—what is the nature of an indictment—what is the intention for which the process is allowed to be taken—to be carried on by way of indictment ? Ia it not , my Lord , that

    in such indictment * tlitt crime or offence * charged are to be Bet forth ?—is it not , my Lord , that when worda have been spoken—that where speeches have been made , the indictment says divers seditious , inflammatory ( and I do not know what besides ) speeches and discourses were delivered upon tbat occasion . Now , my Lord , in the indictment there is not oa « word of all which these witoe'ses hare here so contradictorily depesed . Search the indictment through , and from beginning to end , in all its counts , you will net find the insertion of a single word which 1 am said to have uttered on that occasion .

    I will give you , Gentlemen , the reason—not a general , but a particular one , aris ng out of this case , why this theory of the law must be a conititutional theory of tbe law . One of the witnesses on this occasion swore that I said I had been at Bolton and at other place * on tbat day . When I put the question to him the second time he answered that he could not swear to any « uch fact—to any such declaration « n my part . Now , gentlemen , you perceive that if these words had been stated ia the indictment I should have been prepared , as in indeed I am entitled to be prepared , with evidence to prove , which was tbe fact , that I never w is at

    Bolton on that day ; and that I never have been at Bolton . in the whole series of the transactions to which the Attorney-General has alluded . This is a circumstance comparatively insignificaat and unimportant , but it ib sufficient to show your Lordship , and you Gentlemen of the Jury , that I have been most unfairly , most unconstitutionally dealt with on this occasion . I have beeu proceeded with in the way of indictment ; that indiatment haa been so generally drawn , it * contents eo Bedulou * l y put together , aa to place it altogether out of the reach of my power on the present occasion to bring witnesses forward to rebut the allegation of the witnesses for the crown . You will

    recollect that one of tbe witnesses paid I was at Bury , and at Vfig ; au on that day ; another said at Leigh ; another said I had been at different towns , and if a few more witnesses had been called , it would hare turned out that I had been in all the towns in Lancashire on that day—at Bolton , at Bary , at Leigh , cum multis atiis . — I ask you , with such evidence as this , and with an indictment so drawn u ;> , whether it is possible for a defendant t ) have a fair trial ; but , my Lord , there is a reason why I am tried at Chester—there is a reason why all those usual forms that guard constitutional liberty and protect tbe subject in his righw , hare been departed from , la the month of

    December last , my Lord , a fire took place in the town of Asbton-under- Ly ne : that fire , it is notorious , was laid to my charge . Three days afier that fire occurred , it wa * distinctly stated , in the lead ing Whig Journal of Manchester , that that factory had been fired at the instigation of persons who had been in tbe habit of addressing the people of Ashton—it vu distinctly stated that that fire was burning at the time when I was addressing a meeting in the town of Butv . Tbe article in ques'ion wu headed " Torch light Meetings and their Consequence * . " Gentlemen , I need not remind you — many of wh 9 m I understand to have come from the immediate neighbourhood of Lancashir *—that that transaction was spoken of in all directions—that accouiU of it , through the press , w « re circulated throughout all the country—that it was ascribed to

    me , sot only in general hints of this nature , but in a particular and specific charge , as it appeared in tae public newspapers . A member of her Majesty ' s Government—tha Hon . Fox Maule , in a epeeeb repored to have been delivered by him in tbe town of Perth , > Scotland , distinctly itated that the Government had not interfered with public meetings , nor interrupted the progress of public speakers until their dangerous and pernicious doctrines had been realised in practice , as ia the instance o ( the burning of the faotory at Ashton , and that then , so soon ai those doctrines had been reduesd to practice , so soon as property had begun to be destroyed in consequence of the icfhmmatory addrecsts of Stephens and such like men—then it was high time for the Governiiieut to interfere . Now , my LotvI , it is notorious that communication * were made fr <» ia

    Ashton to the Home Office—it is notorious that placards were posted throughout the whole of that district , with tbe Queen ' s arms at the head ef them , off . srin / ar £ 300 regard , £ 109 from the Secreta V of State , £ 100 frem the owner of the mill , aud £ 100 from the Association for the Prosecuion ot Felon i , for the discovery ef the incendiary of thu factory , and yet , my Lord , up to this hour , although I wa * epecifically charged with instigating to tbe burning of that factory—though my name went throughout the country a « an incendiary—one who wished property to be destroyed-up to thi » hour , my Lord , no further notice has been taken of that transaction—bo further « xplanatioa bas been

    given of that deed . My Lard , I have upon this occasion aubpeened & witness . I have on this occasion subpeened the Seeretary of Sute for the Home Department—I have called » p » n h . m by right to appear iu that box to preduce all such documentary information and other evidence as may be in his possession , as to the burning of that factory , in order , my Lord , not only that the real author ot that fire might be known to the public , and as severely puni . hei an his crimes deserves , but that ray name , my character , and my public exerti ms may be re-vcutd from that infamy which , up to this time , rests upon them . Whether , my Lord , that witnet-s will appear , 1 know n ^ t . I have many

    ocber questions to put to him whiclt will unravel the myxtery of this transaction . I contend tbat I have a right to call for evidence of this description—tbat I hare a right to disabuse the minds of the Jury ot that prfjudiee which might have a tendency tn warp their judgment . 1 have a right , my Lo d—fne Secretary of Srate for the Home Department , who is reported to be my public libeller , who has been reported to have rthe . \ r » ed the speech delivered bj the Attorney- General iu ibis Court this day —I have a right that th > 8 distinguished individual should be present on this occasion , to give to that Jury the reasons which induced him thu * te put forward in perverted and distorted figure the motives , the intentions , and the language which have been impute ! to me . My Lord , in tbe latter tnd of

    December , shortly attec the burning of this factory , 1 was arrested under extraordinary circumstances . Two Bow-street offing » , one of whom had in his pjtket an authority to call up the whole military force of the district , huirit-d rne away upon a warrant charging me with making a speech of a tendency to cest : oy life aad property , from A > htonunder-Lyne t « ' V \ orsley ia the neighbourhood t , \ Leigh , the pla ; e where the cpeech was said to bavt been deliveied . When we reached tbere uo magis - trates could be fuuud nor wiuieiujea to meet mr face to face . 1 was then dragged to Manchester in tke dead of night cucortea by a troop ol dragooBrf , aod eons » igned Jo tke New Bailey Prison . When I d \ d om-r before the Court one of the majji--tra ' . es who esdorx . il the warrant c ^ uld with difl ' icultv he found , ur in : ? turd ro » pt > t-ar on thac occasion . On the stc nd examination lie wuuld not

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    come at all . In the examination—one of the most extraordinary that ever tcok place in an English court of justice—the forms of the Court were w far departed from , as that no part of the cross-examination of the witness oa my part should appear . All which those witnesses had stated against me was there ; all that they stated ia my favour was omitted . The proceedings were altogether as singular , as irregular , and as extraordinary , and I will say , rather of a persecuting than of a prosecuting na ute , that before I was committed , the LearBed Counsel who conduced the case , distinctly stated in Court that he might as well inform the defendant tbat it wan his intention to prosecute him for cocspir-tey , aloDg with

    otheM , for obstructing the laws , but more particularly those relating to the Poor Law Amendment Act . 1 went down to Lirerp < el , my Lord , boucd in the sum of £ 2 , 000 , a mo * t unconstitutional bail in any case of that kind , especially in tbe case of a a person circumstanced as 1 was , I went to Liverpool to appear to answer all charges that should be brought against me . A true bill wa « found—a second bill was found , of which likewise I had bad no previous intimation . The circumstance * said to have transpired in that second bill occurred ia tbe mootk of December last ; and yet , as ia the case of the present indictment , there have been no depositions—ue

    informations—no examinations before the magistrates , no opportunity afforded me of meeting my accusers face to face . When these bill * were found , my Lord , I immediately applied to the Court for a copy of them . I was informed that they bad been removed by a writ of certiurari into the Court of Quetn ' d Bench . I was subsequently , at considerable expense and annoyance to myself , obliged to attend in London , and personally plead to those bills of indictment . I did so appear aad plead to three uills of indictment , one of which is the indictment which you are now called upon to try . Now , my Lord , how happens it , waving all my previous objections , how happens it that the Hon . aad Learned

    Counsel , who wishes to make the jury believe thit he only appears here for the purpose of vindicating the law , —how is it that the Learned Counsel did not proceed against me at Liverpool upon the indictment first found , and upon the indictment which related to facts occurring the first ia point of time ? Clearly , my Lord , for this reason , that case broke down . It was so evidentl y a made up ea'e , that the Hon . and Learned Attomey-Geaeral would notpro ceed upon it , and he has , therefore , dragged me into this county , into a part of the county where h » knew , and where tbe Court know ? , there was the greatest prejudice against me . He has brought it here in oruer that your minds ,

    being impressed with the fact that there are two other indictments hanging over my head , may lend you to ihe conclusion that though a person might be innocent that had to answer one charge , he could hardly be so who had to answer three charges ; and therefore tbere must be eome grounds for the allegations in the indictment , and that they might nave Liverpool Juries tbe trouble of investigating the ca > e at the approaching Assizes . You are to find a verdict of guilty ; and save the Hon . and Learned Attorney-General the disgrace of going into those ca *> es by giving him a verdict , aad handing me over to the judgment of this Court . My Lord , I will ask further , why I am to be tried at

    all p A man who , the Attorney-General has told you , attaining the character aDd fulfilling the office of a minister of religion ; a man known to advocate ns political theory whatever ; to belong to no political party ; a man who has no connexion with any political party in this country ; who has sedulously , from Christian principles , siood alool from atl the questions that agitate the public mind of a political nacure . If , my Lord , my life and those humble talents which the Attorney-General has been pleased to compliment bad been speDt or employed ia writing or ia speaking against the constitution of this kingdom—against the monarchy , the House of Lord * , the House of Commons , -or

    against any ef the institutions of the country j if I were a man whoie public conduct had beeu of thin description , then i might well have been marktd out as a fitting subject for a criminal prosecution . But , ray Lord , it it notorious to the whole country , ao far an my praeeeding * have attracted the notice of tbe public , that ho far from advocating scheme , or laying down any plan for the purpose of effecting political changes , for overthrowing the constitution , subverting the institutions of the country , and fubstitutimt new forms and new institutions in their plae «; go far from tfeis , my Lord , one of my principal endeavours hit Wen by reason and scripture , by authorities taken out of our old law books , and out of

    authorities taken from tbe Word of God , te disabuse the public mind of all those prejudices which the party to which the Attorney-General belong * , and which has been mainly conducive in consigning the people of t » ia country mj tffbrts have invariably b » en of that tendency wtich could only lead ts just and proper views of the nature of o » r Constitution , and inspire a revtrence for all the valued and acknov * ledged institutes of our land . It is notorious that I have lived in a part of the country which for years has been tbe scene of infidelity—a scene overrun with the principles , religious and political , similar to those of Thomas Paine , Carlile , and men of that sehool : —a

    district , , the people of whioh have been * at . rated with the false and dangerous notion o " f " the greatest happiness to the greate . t number , " us tbeugh , my Lord , it was not equally urju ^ t and criminal to seek tWe happiness « f tne greatest numoer at tbe expense of a few wt to compass the happiness of the few at the expense of the mauy . For yeanf I have lifted up tny -voice against the foily of these liberal notions . 1 have on all occasions embraced the opportunity of showing to the people that the princi ple ot what is now oalled liberalism and reform are the most dangerous principle * that can be entertained by any . I have shewn the people that instead of

    removing institutions they ought to amend them—that inetead ef asking for an \ tning new they ought rather to go back and look to th » wisdom of their forefathtri so carefully , and I will tdd , my Lord , re igiously , laid down as tke foundation of civil and political liberty . I have taken every opportunity of » howiDg that so far from the people , or the party to which the Attorney-General belong * averts - » o far from the people being the source of all political power , I have maintained oht of tae "Word of God , that all power is of God , —that the power * that be are ordained of God , —that there are certain immutable principles of truth which no rimes can chaDge , and which DO circurastanoe * ought to modif y , excep-iug such cast-s as do apply them » tlves to ihe emcgencitM of the occasion , without at all alerinK their nature and

    character . I have maintain * d that these immutable aud everlasting principles of truth —of righteousness—of brotherly kindness , and of charity , contaised ia the Scriptures , if they are to be found any where on earth out of the Word of God , are to be found in this country . If they are to be found in any constitu . ion on the face of the globe they are to be found in the cyns-. itutiou of England . If they are to be found inspiring ani animating any institutions , breathing any customs , and producing happimns in any U 9 ag « s , thuy are to be found in the institution * , customs , and usages of our forefathers . My Lard , I scruple not to say that it is for this—it is because I am a man of this descri ption— because I hate irora my heart and soul—it is bred IB me—it hag gro * n with my growth ^ it faa » » t resgthened with my strength , aaJ , if possible ,, my Lord , it is much stronger to-day since I have beheld the animus of

    the witnesses called in support of tfcis prosecutionfrom my heart aad soul I bate and ever have hated anything like innovations upon the institutions of tbe couatry . I have said it before * nd I repeat it to day , " that the la * of God , as that law ii laid down in Li » word , " ii the staudard of all law , the standard which is in every rnau ' u conscience , for tho Apostle tell * us —that the " law is written in our heart "—that Iu * is given to na r * intelligent , reflecting , reasoning creatures—as creatures who hoc only can understand , —bnt as creatures who can put their knowledge into practice ; aud taking this great principle as my starting point—as tho ground work of all i have ever said and of all I have ever done , I have gone about—I have pot myself t- some trouble—I have run some risk— I hava suffered no little , mv LorJin the in

    , opposing party—opposing the measures—the unconstitutional and I bold auti-scriptural measure * in which the Administration to which the Hon . and LearLed Attorr . ey-Gentral belongs lays clam , asthe brightest gemiu the Crown , that u to glitter hke a galaxy of Mar * and c * rry their names f ^ n to tie latest agM of posterity . Gentlemen , —It I had been a man of another otamp—if I had bee n * man of an opposite character to this , I . ¦ honM not have Htoodbetoru you thi . day . I know my Lord , it w tolerated and allowed both through thepresa and from tr . e pUtlorm to bring the cE ua ^ eh ^ on w esublfahed bylaw , audailJuaSa £ ™ ii ™ 1 " 'f t 0 lrated Bnd I'towedittthis Una-it u allowed to revile Christianity—it is o r sr ^ tt para 6 iusly ' >* bi-pbem > -

    all ' ow ed bnaw 7 hi 8 n ° ' ' Ste P heDfl - Itiflnot thJf i ' t ! T "« " 7 My LorJ ' l was e ° e to add ' ntr . l lhatl f \ : ^ onldlbot ic iS allowed ¦ inder the eye . of ih- U *_ ., f ^ Learned Att ., rnevw- ntral who comes he , « to vindicate the law . 11 ' ilto , -M ' . l - ^ t ' ' mo .. aro ! . v-u is j . l . owe . 1 to pfak-oi ihe Uousj ot L . rda , u . , ' K . U ; o ol incu-

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    rables—of imbeciles , —as an excrescence apon oar constitution to be cutaway with ihe proni i > g knife of the Liberal party—to which the public prosecutor in this cane belongs . The JvDQE—That is not allowed either Afr Stephens , units * yon can shew me any ca * e of a man that haa been indicted for it . Mr . Stephens—It id allowed , my Lord , in a certain sense , at least that it being passed lenientl y and silently by without attracting any notice . The Judge—That I know nothing abont . It is not legally allowed . Mr . Stephens—I am sorry your Lordsuip should hswi 80 understood me . I must say then that it is allowed to passaoobserved and unprroecated . Tae newspapers of the day are n'll -d with allusions of

    the character which I have referred , and yet of late years at least yon have heard of no preventions being issu-d against parties , so speaking . In truth , my Lord , in the case of the Whigs , at the time of the reform bill , we find that meetings precisely of thin character were held in ev ry part of tha countrywe find ensi gn * , flags , and banners , inscribed with "Liberty or death , " "Reform or vengeance , " "Down with tho tyrants , " caps of liberty , and banner staves , headed with pik « -s find every tiling of that description . We find tha peopio of thm coantry recommended to stop the tap , to pay no more taxes—to compel" Old Hilly , " as thtfwelearned and loyal gentlemen undertook to denominate the lawful Sovereign of the . « e realm * . You find THREE

    GROANS proposed for the QUEEN , the first female in the land . You find bankers and enaigns depicting the King and bloody axe and block , intimating that aolent the King would pass the bill , "tke whole bill and nothing but tbe bill , " he wai to remember the fate of some of hiu predecessor * in thia and other countries Now , Gentlemen , 1 pat it to you , whether in this country , under those circuiantanceg , with all those facts passing daily before your eyes , and those that have recently passed and are now taking placewhether , Gentlemen , you can believe the Hon . and Learned Counsel v » hen he tells you that the onl y reason why he comes here is to " vindicate the lav /' by rendering me amenable to those laws which he

    has stated 1 have broken . Mr Lord , why do I mention all this ? For what purpose do I trouble your Lordship , and tax that patience and condescension which is always by a British Jadge awarded to a defendant Bitnatedas I am ? It is , my Lord , for the recognition of a great principle—for the establish ment of a great fact—it is to put it clearly before your Lordship , and before tke J ury ia that box , that there is a certain class of persons and a certain claM of writings which are tolerated , and which is suffered to go unreproved , without persecution and without punishment . Yes , my Lord , we can have upon occasions when it suits the pnrpcFe , or when it conduces to the stability of an Administration—we can have disturbers of tae public ptace ,

    incendiariesmen wbo speak no as to lead to a subversion of the law—who propose actually , my Lord , not a repeal of the Poor Law AmeziJmt-ht Act , but a repeal of the Union which connects this kingdom with , tbe adjoining kingdom of Ireland—we can have thi * man moving through the country—forming and organizing « ocieriej in every direction—marshalling their members—counting their numbers—receiving their money—we can have this man publicly declaring that if they wanted a repeal of the Union , some 50 JXK ) or 500 , 000 , or in some cases two millions of fighting men were to go and petition the Crown , Yen , my Lord , the A ttomey-General does not consider that illegal . The Attorney-General does not consider that worthy of hi » attention . That is not

    » matter to be prosecuted . He doe * not come forward to " vindicate tha law , " to maintain the supremacy inviolable in the laws of the Union . Thia Union may be threatened to be dissolved . Two millions of fighting men may be paraded upon paper , st least , before the Crown , to compel Government to give to that gentleman as much power as he requires . But no sooner does a humble individual like myself , a poor undefended minister of tke gospel of peace to man , my Lord , without talent , save the talent of telling the truta fearletuly , and as far as he knows it ; a man without family , save that of poverty , as humble and as meritorious as I trust kis own his ; a man without name and character , sate the name and character of

    fire-Wrand aud inendiary , and assassin , and madman , and demon ; a man without influence , t > ave the influence of the widow ' s prayer , and the power of truth , which w great , and will prevail ; dd sooner doeo a man , situated and charactered as 1 an > , step forward to plead the poor man ' s right—to speak oa behalf of the widow and fatherless , and to eipreei constitutionally hi * opinions and hia views of the Poor Law Amendment Act , and the factory system , and upon tae cage of the hked-loom weavers , and similar practical grievances and evils in the country lor which he propoces a practical and constitutional remedy ; no ' sointr does such . &xnaa as that appear before tt-e country , than , though ha be thus humble acd unworthy , snd without influence * and power ,

    thp > Attomey-Geoeral comes down to the assizes at Chester , and prosecutes that individual , as he tells you , Hoiply for the purpose of " vindicating tha law . " He h * 8 no intention , the Learned Attorney-Gtneral , and the Government , whose servant heu , has no inten'un , my Lord , of putting down public meetings , no intention of restricting the liberties and Ue opportunity of giving a fair expression of opinion ; he j irides himself upon having the honour of appearing in this prosecution , because it ia a prosecution simply intended to ' -vindicate the law . " Why , Gentlemen , if this be really so , what course woald the _ Learned and Honourable Gentleman aave pursued . 1 am charged , my Lord , with raising and exciting disturbance and discntent in the

    mind * ot the subject * of this land . 1 am charged with making ouhury speeches aad discourses , having , a . * ihe Attorney-General says , a direct and in « evuablrt and nece .-iiary tendency to injure property aud lead to the loss ol hfj by violence . I am charged with having exhorted the p-ople to arm themselves t »> procure arm * , to b * in the possession of arms . No « f . my Lord , with these facts , taking these facts ax the Attorney-General stated them , and as he has nd < avoured to bring the witnecses to prove , taking them a * facts , what in the course which the Attorney-Genaral would hitye pursued , it his object had simply been to vindicate tho law ? Why , dearl y ? my Lord , he would have taken tha defendant in tfel * c ** c , or rathar I should nay , for it is join fact , the

    prisoner at your Lordship ' s bar , ho would have Uiken the pris « nnr at jour Lordnliip ' s bar , and fought him in another field ; he would have brought a case before thecourtand the country , aboat which there could be Co doibt . It either is or is not lawful for subject * of thi * realra to be in possession of = nn * , it either i « or is not lawful for individuals situated as 1 am , to express their opinions upon the factory system , or the Poor Law Amendment Act . Now , my Lord , my ; opinions ara known—there need be no three indictments—no calling of witnesnrs—for your Lordship , will . 'have perceived that except the policemen , the witnesses Wi-re all cotton sjjiuneM or tha children , or cousins , or Other KllHiOulf of COttqn taajaufactorer * , ood the attornies conducting this

    prosecution . The Honourable Gentleman reminds ma that I have forgotten Tinker , wko is a surgeon , a man appointed under the Factories * Regulation Act , a man whose conduct I have frt quently had occasion to bring before the notice of the country . I repeat , tk-en , my Lord , there would have been occasion for this c « hing of witnesses , this bringing together into that box a family party , for you have uotbing else—the families of the Howard * , the A » b . touH , the Tinkers , connected with , th-se families end another party or two U directly or indirectly connected with this family compact . If the intention of the Attorney-General had been to defend the law , I submit that he would have proceeded against me for some speech , of which there conld

    be no manner of doubt whatever . I have not done these things in a corn-r—1 have n ^ t said those things by tbe fireside only—or in small rooms—or to a few persons—what I have said I have said openly and ab » ve board . I have aaii tken at many meetings , and I have recorded , as I shall have occasion to show your Lordshi p , when I come to speak of motives and intentions—I have recordsd my opinions , and mj opinions are recorded , a , e , trn strongly as any Attorney-General could have recorded them . Why is it , tnen , ttut no speech of minv ever taken down by a bhort-tmnd wnt « r has been made the basin of a criminal prosecution ? Why ia it , my Lor ^ , that while I have been mis-representad and maligned ; whita even her Majesty ' s Secretary of State bas given out in the House of Commons oa Friday last that Stephens ineuJc * te « murder

    and tho destruction of property ; thatStephens declares in nis printed sermons that under tha Poor Law Amendment Act the divine commaud , " Thou shalt not steal , " is of no force or obligation ? I- either have said tho * e things or not , either have written and pvLbluhed taoni or uot- Tlu » Secretary « f State has reported that I have said these things , and if I have published theia , how is it , I ask with boldness and confidence , Uat the Secretary of State has not instructed the Loarned Attorney-General to proc-ed against me for such speeches aad i-ermons ? Why , my Lord , cleariy for this reason , that when real aud examined , and weighed over—wheu brought to the touchstone of truth , and applied to the standard of jour buokg—my Lord , waen brought to the standard of that book which u

    part and parcel of the common law of the land—it would be u-und l . haVe . inculcated no doctrine * , ani advanced no opu-ions but such as are strictly constitutional aid Christina ; therefore , it is that allihesrt are parsed over—th-relore , it is that you have brought before you evidence , asamp lj ° ( ^ kich you have t pd 1 ere t / v-day , evidence from which tua AtunKry-UenernlchooKes to a ? k you to give a verdict , th . it tbe Court may consign me to the P 1 " " ^ in ' ent , w ; ich the Administration I havo opposed wishw me to receive . My Lord , -if this prosecution had begun to-daj— if it had begun , as linker says his evidence bttun , iko months ago . II it naa happened at die time ibat tha meutinf is said to nave U-..-1 J place—r . iiio itoutLsa ^ o—I should have thong " ir-y ^ lf very roucb v .-muisg ia dre mpectto your ( C : uii : nu-d in our Xtvtutli page- )

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    ( 3 THE NORTHERN STAR . August 24 , 1839 .

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    ( Cj-tinueJ from out 3 rd page ) that " " . _ ih do <~ crd , let him « e " . l Lis rarraec » . s-: bny onr ' Abother was— " A * b / . on deman ' -s Uuivt-ria ! Su . fT-. ' . i- r Universal Vengeance . " Anobe : —" Rim ?^ u ;^ T if bloody deeii - > f Pet-iloo . " 1 think that th » tf :-ra "Liberty'' wai inscribed on the red cap * . Ax . w - . h-: inscription " Tyrants beliere and tremble . ' ' Th - ¦ ¦ -rera others , but i do n- > t TtcyUect them . I th ^ » n- : o th « mfe ' . ' . Bsr ; there -were hillings e'e-zic'i . Th *> m ? edcg wa h-la in a ia .-ge op *> n pis - ¦ -. The d . fe _ da _ t w& * there . H- ? adiresj-el r e Eaec .-r . ' . He open-d his _ ddre .-i « t- > the people in t _^ , " word * : — "B-incer knights , artilicryineu ,

    soiairT ? a _ d bfr ? n called ont there was not cne of ttrv . 1 tint wonld hiTs Bitei . " There -were manj ihe--- ' cf sppla'asj from th . e a . ** em * ly during ths &d -.. - ¦ - * , bn ; oa which occ _ . « joa I cannot tell . He rfSN'rsixendei the people to arm ; and in « tan ; ed th ~ -t various clubs were doing so . The Foresters ' club -Km one that wts particularly named . They wtre applying their bnnal funds in the purchase of anus . I heard a tthlti in the meeting say to another . "Aye , that ' s what I put forward at onr last deb-night- " Mr . Stephens proceeded , and he said

    a . Ereit deal that I don ' t reraertber . In con ' clusion , if " _ .- ¦ \ r J them were , they ready—wers they armed ? Tb : « ¦* . s followed by a " « hot or two or three in the mr .- ' jr 2 . He then said , ' Is t \ n all : ' ' That was ina _ -i : e : ; er--lv followed bj a greater nnnabor cf sho ! s . Uy : n * . u * t he said , " I see it i * ail right , and 1 wi « h yc >_ i Ti g-K > i night . " Whilst other persons were epeciing 1 heard other « . hoL « discharged . Tha proce ; --lon fra * calculated to txcira alar / U . I stayei therr ti ;' between eleven and twelve o'clock , and le ' . t th-m there .

    shr .. " -. \ uo : ers , and my little powier-moaioys I ha- ¦ eo --d Eesi ior you . I have atter . de-i ^ -veral in--dr ? - < tiL-c dp . v . s = i 2 th .- > p ^ oyle art ? a' 3 -of jour m .: \ i-ui deiermini'd to ha % > tb .-. ' L * ri / nt--. " ^ He sai-i he bs . ' . -H * en a : BoiLon . and arorher place tliat I do no : rt-u- mber , where [ be sac ) the authorities had war . i oa the mOitiry coramin'iant of the district , and lir ia * gi * traies had reqeested the asastancs of tc 2 i nti .-T on the occasion of a public meeting ; he , tii .- oitc .-T , had answered , that if tae civil force was nor ? c : nci : nt he inns : then call -epon him , and then he T-.-u * d be reaiy with the milittiry ; bat if :. "¦; :. S : epiri : «) aided ihit he hnd a fneni in th- barracks , who had assnred him that if the

    C T-.. » txaiained by Mr . Stephexs . —Were ther ? B .:. j ciirard * ennvening this meeting ? I believe th » rv w-re . —Did those placards state ' . hat that me- ing was to be convened on my authority ' : 1 d ? Ei-i recoll ct any parnculani , or who was chai--m ; s cf ihe meeting . 1 hear a yon b ^ gin and Fheard -s-czi conclad ? . I am a s ^ rgejn under ta * F&CI ' orj IW-ie .-loK Act . l have kno ^ -n you lor some time — : r - - rvrn or eieht jtari . —Did ' you e ^ er Lear me prt ^ ch : Y * . otten ; once within doors , and frequon'iv ° u * of doors . —Did yon ever hear me spe .-k a ? 2-2 .-: the monarchy . ' I don ' t jemenaber . — Or afair .-: the Con ^ iifntfoa—King , Lord * , ani Comicsi :-- " 1 " . o not . —On tbe contrary , hare Top not cf : rz if * r £ rr : e * peai : n praise of tbe Cor * drtJtian oi

    th . » -:.-j . i : rrv * 1 do nor r ^ mrrnber . —Dia you erer be ^ r — . > . > pr&k , or do yen b'iieve me capable of sp ^ c-. kl ^; . *? a * to escic * to deeds of violence nnd b ' . ' C . j - i do . —What did yon eier hear Jroas in ? th . i : ^; . a : d lead to that elTsci ? I heard you aj that the- ric" : find dde of tbe working people to Mr . Hr ^ -tiri ' - - mil ] -was written in letter * of b ] ood in e ' rrj b-icr and .- "tone" o ? that factory . You advised it ~ - r- ^ p it » io ire : a lar ^ e cirfing-kni ' d . which yon sh-i vr-. aU do v- ^ ry weli to cat a rasher of bacon , or ; - > r" » vhe man through the body who epp > r- - -i them . He ( Mr . Stephens added , ) fc ^« -=-ar . c old women Hted—ie knew what E . \/ :-i : ~ n Ifse-J . Ia the oie icstanco . it v ¦¦< -- . m ; in t ' se otter it w& > beer ; ani in Hows : _ ~ r i--r th » y would have them boih . anJ if there w ^ :.- . >; -xfneient there , they conid go to Brereton

    C \ z . II . bird ' s cj ^ utrv bonJ e ) . —When was thai . ' 1 ¦¦ n . . kno" * the prrcise time , bet I co th ? place . I ¦ >•; < renoies of what "voa * aid . —Now yon have g ' .-e- ^ :.: rhe Conr : the bezi ^ n- ^ g and ei » d of my sp :- ; h to tbe meeting , will tob give the middle a ' . so : 1 in lc : cow wiatjon s ^ id in the middle . You hair ri ' . ca my cp ^ nic ? as follows : —[ Mr . Steph ^ rg k-:--r --oied Mr . Tinker ' ' r-por : as already fi -ven . ] Y ^ ' - -iy ritat 1 said a treat < it-al mor ? . now tell the C- ^ ut : vh % ' . that great deal more -rrzx . > 3 y recollec-H ' = e Tfi not sd perfect that 1 conid recoBect tae ir ; Erri- --iaie sari ^; b-st I am sure as to trhat 1 tave fiA * ,- d . i took no totes of tha procae 4 ing * of thr in . ' rttEt ! . As to whri : 1 was Sr > t called npon to fi > ^ inf--.-a- > . non of lias me . rlw , I don ' t recollect the tim ? . 1 shonld rhink i : was two months since from tb - ti : r . ? . —Yonr a ' . Arm then did not -BreTent vonr

    Cv-: u-: — : eat in ? ra& ? tu-f ; ^ ere vrry rntca s .. ^ T 3 .-3- : I did no : feel very ea > y . —Then why di . ;¦ ¦ -n * t o , j at ih . rceerl-it ; ? 1 stopped from cc' : < - ; , snd for mr own inferrcaden . —Why dii ii ' . ' y :- ; sire information to the Magistrates ? 1 di - i- - -t isow thai ; it weald be of any use , or 1 should La-. ? cozv so . Are the magistrates then ? o inatcentive to tbe peace of the district ? It had not tien be-.-c 3- ' th- ? snbj-ct of insfi ^ terial in ierferenc-e . — T » .-, m-i ^ ihs a ^ o I in ^ w it had . —WL 1 yon s » ear 31-. ru : i-r diat I siid 1 hid b en at Boiton that dij { AtUr-sotes hesitation by the wiTi ; e ? s . ) By t ; :- . Ii- 'ge : Dii h * sav at Bulton thatdavor auv

    d > . y ? j ^ eiievi did ? ay Bolton , lay Lori . — Mr . St--. b--r- : Will yoa iiear I . « wd 1 hzi been at Bolu-. r ti - at day ? I am no ! certain , my I ^ Drd- — fr 1 "j li J iiionth of Novemler to the nsoath of June y " ¦ : » rred all this ia yocr died ? 1 did . —Whe ? w-i tb-r- rirsf dm » jon stated thi 3 Xo ths ma ^ i « trHtei * ? . T ; it ^ a . < the first ' tkae . —Ir > ord * r to satisfy the Conn o ? i-ie accuracy of jour memory , allow me to give a H-iirDci- io yen , and us nearly a ? yon can give the ? ti 3-: * rre ot it o the Court . —[ Mr . Stephens here rf- 'ii =. pissage quoted by Lori Bronehcm . in the H ¦ - ' -- ..-: Lordi , as from ' Mr . Sre ^ hfns ' s sp ^ ech ^ s ] —'' iitn ~»« : It would be im possible to ^ iveit . —Give it _ s sfiriy is Ton can?—It would be tolly to

    attes ^ - - : ' -. . iiy t " - . e Attorset-Gemral—You spots tbont Mr . !' - >^ srd * 3 mill being near Over-Leijh Browan-. " . ? .: Mr . Stephens was therein the habit of tei-iinj ii i * meeting *? Mr . Howard's mill is an fnleii :-.- concern—perhaps he employs 700 or 800 h ; : ! : ; : ? . Mr . Strrpaen ' s place o . rtsidence is abour tw- . . inile- from Hyde . He has very often "been in ti .- t _ s . b : t oi &ddr * s * ing the people o ! Hyde a : that plicr . Ur- srid on one occasion , yon'il go to Brere-TC ! i . 3 n - « -ate of Mr . Hower "' * , ii Cheshire . " ThLi « ii z- ^ t 23 m-ies frosn Hrde .

    J -iica Pictford—I am a carton manufacturer in Ky .- ? . I tfs * at my house on the evening of the Uth ^ S . -ni ¦ -: a « t . A little afier nine o ' clock I heard a £ ¦ - - . — - .: J ra'c . sic in the streets , and a ' terwaris - » er : t to > ' - ; ' . ¦ y ' i Field , aai then went to Ov :-r-L-ijrh Bt "^ . i ? aT a great nnmbe ,- of people there , and a . p ' , i' : \> r-c .. zn J . a great nnmber cf people on it . and ar rrd ::. I saw banner * planted in a hal - " circle rciTi j ih ¦ Insiines , and from 3 . 000 to 4 . 000 p eoj . 1 ? ¦ witlic Ae circle . There wa * a great namser cf p-.-TL- ' . ' outside the circle . 1 saw a great many tc : _;•«• . n the hustings , " ¦¦ ilh transparencies ; bat 1 cc . _" . u ! y read rce . I -aw in large Irturs writt-. E ¦• U ' .-j £ . " Tfcer * were othri ? , out 1 could not I » i- thsm . I it-aid > Ir . Swpiiens sd-iress tbe m- '" . in ; . He &a . id lie >>« d been sAsLrs * sing tbr pe- ' -pl- of Wigan and Leigh , I think the day before , aL'l ii ? people at thrsa places sympathized whk tb '* ' m ^ crinf , and » oi : ld readilv go with them . I to

    al > ; enderst ^ od him » ay , teat the sjldiers hai bern r ^^ esced to hol d themselves in readiness a * on- of uie fonr places ; but he said , " Yon Eeed no ; : ¦ - afraid o ! tbs soldiers ; they will not act afc' 3 . a-t you . " Something he said about the clnctrs . lie slid the time had gone by for petitioning t-d remonstrating , and thai the time hal c ' --^ i- : - acang ; bnt that is a word of wh ch I aia i :-s . > C « ltiv ^ . He sai d he had beea adding th- * r- ^ ple ot Wi ^ an and Leigh to inn . ani thit ti .- * .- - « . c > nU be no mi'iakri thfre that night , he sh < yi . ~ ^ . in * e them to arm ; ai ^ d yor , men , wcmec . sa : cbDdren , or yoa , mj li :: Is powder-mnuiej ^ . ? .-: rr-s ; iu . s [ scvae chdldlen closa to the hi ^ :-iiii , '?—; - ; j who mean to arm p it np your hands With : _ -a . Ha then pat np b ^ th . bi ^ d ? , and reni ? i ' -ridr-- ? of hands were pat op . Wh ^ n ths liancis « r - - .-:. there were Sriig of ann < and ihoutinz . Ti-r . * n . i no other part of hi . < &iJr ^ ss that I p ? . rtk ~ . irlv recollect . J did not see anv tLr ^ -irm- . 1

    sts _ - -, . ur .-j qntil abour half-past ten . I rema : n ? d up * . " .. : j ? o ' clock , and went tut freque-tiy from el-.- . : cne . A tittle a '; er twelvi o ' clock i h ^ ard tb s i ^ -i- ; -, and tae people , and it seemed to me as if ti--1 ti-etia ^ were dispersing . He siid they must F ? - . ^ uii « , pistol * . sw- _ rds , or pike . * , or anyrLing tr--:-r-uld tell ataie sharper thaa their tongats . " T .- ; :. r-edr ; g appeired to me to be of a character to a ar- : ne n-igibonrhaod . As in iniividaa . 1 did not fr-. a . jjte- ? I ibiat night . My wi " -j ind ciiild : en were Ei .:. -Vi-med . I bars liTed in Hjie a ' wat ciaexsrz . ? --i a-half yairs . A great many of the cru ? rd W ' .: - -:- ^ ngers . I rnew only abon : h&li a doz ^ n pers : ni present

    Cr-. . " -examined by M ^ r . Step ' ifii ^—H ^ w long We tc , :.- — -a a m 33 Tj f a :: ursr 7 Two y * ar * . Waa ; we :- y .-.-j before ^ A manager : n Mr . J . ihti H ¦ _ ¦¦ < -:..-. '? mil . Inat » iu- factory ia wnich I im piri _ -r witi Mr . John Hsward ani Mr . Josid J » itr : i . V . Ho ~* long hare joa edowd me ? Abon ' £ v- —• ? ix year * . \ S'hen did * juj becomeac- | uaii . t -C ¦ wit . : a- ? 1 be ' . iev * by « fe n / yen pa *» rkro «^ l ; ijv . ^ H- » vs you uot s ' . 'fn -ue at M-. H _>* &rd ' = ? j i ^ -.-. 'Was I noria LaM : # o ' iur : ni 2 : y t < ico . Mr . H ¦ -k ^ . -I } O : " iea , Ttry o . t-n . ' . \" t-s I Dv'I 2 . teqn-Hi . j- ^ esr a : his boms ? V-. y .. ; : ea ar tbat rim ' . J ) no : v u know tiat I rejrvilirl- preached n . t Hvd-:

    I ii - -i o ^ iy fr : m brarjr > e th-.: ~ ca t > r- ~ k part in the dA > - - _ -.-i ; n on tbe Factory Q enion . Dj you not kn > .-¦ ¦* ¦ tiat I hive had occa- " . " -u ij sp-e ^ k of yon in connexion with the Factory y : e ? Uon ? That 1 ha \ e had ccmpIaintJ to make oi yractics ? ia yocr factor * , ? I have heard sp . Do yon r . ot be . ieve i ; J / i-fteliewd all that 1 hear I shod i Lavs to b ~ Heve a'great deal . Tee p .. r : s ot ~ ;^ ct » p :-ec " : t tL ' . ' I Hrestferaed wera th 7 : t- — :- ; r ' - ir . > - * : - .- ' -: : ti . ! VK ? &&i'Bpoa ' ^ & ^ ' - - ^^ - " - ^ — - ¦ ' - ' " . r . ^ ' .-.-i r -i- ' ^ l- * &mt % jnoncii frem t .-e Hr ' i . No .--.:.::-:.-. A'• 'J ^ » : « pw . ¦ imtiaca was Lhi 2 ? The iUi ^ tratCi .

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 17, 1839, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct841/page/6/