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 Amongst
the meetings for reform held in the early part of the summer of
1819 were the one which took place on Spa Fields, London, at which
Mr. Hunt was chairman, and another held at Birmingham, at which
Major Cartwright and Sir Charles Wolseley were elected to act
as legislatorial attornies for that town in Parliament.
It
would seem that these movements in the country induced our friends
at Manchester to adopt a course similar to that at Birmingham, and
it was accordingly arranged that a meeting for that purpose should
be held on St. Peter's Field on the 9th of August. But the object
of that meeting having been declared illegal by the authorities,
it was countermanded, and another was appointed to be held on the
16th of the same month....
By
eight o'clock on the morning of Monday, the 16th of August, 1819,
the whole town of Middleton might be said to be on the alert: some
to go to the meeting, and others to see the procession, the like
of which, for such a purpose, had never before taken place in that
neighbourhood.
First
were selected twelve of the most comely and decent-looking youths,
who were placed in two rows of six each, with each a branch of laurel
held presented in his hand, as a token of amity and peace; then
followed the men of several districts in fives; then the band of
music, an excellent one; then the colours: a blue one of silk, with
inscriptions in golden letters, "Unity and Strength,"
"Liberty and Fraternity"; a green one of silk, with golden
letters, "Parliaments Annual," "Suffrage Universal";
and betwixt them, on a staff, a handsome cap of crimson velvet with
a tuft of laurel, and the cap tastefully braided, with the word
"Libertas" in front. Next were placed the remainder
of the men of the districts in fives.
Every
hundred men had a leader, who was distinguished by a sprig of laurel
in his hat; others similarly distinguished were appointed over these,
and the whole were to obey the directions of a principal conductor,
who took his place at the head of the column, with a bugleman to
sound his orders. Such were our dispositions on the ground at Barrowfields.
At the sound of the bugle not less than three thousand men formed
a hollow square, with probably as many people around them, and,
an impressive silence having been obtained, I reminded them that
they were going to attend the most important meeting that had ever
been held for Parliamentary Reform, and I hoped their conduct would
be marked by a steadiness and seriousness befitting the occasion,
and such as would cast shame upon their enemies, who had always
represented the reformers as a mob-like rabble; ... I requested
they would not leave their ranks, nor show carelessness, nor inattention
to the order of their leaders; but that they would walk comfortably
and agreeably together. Not to offer any insult or provocation by
word or deed; nor to notice any persons who might do the same by
them, but to keep such persons as quiet as possible; for if they
began to retaliate, the least disturbance might serve as a pretext
for dispersing the meeting. If the peace officers should come to
arrest myself or any other person, they were not to offer any resistance,
but suffer them to execute their office peaceably....
...
I also said that, in conformity with a rule of the committee, no
sticks, nor weapons of any description, would be allowed to be carried
in the ranks; and those who had such were requested to put them
aside, or leave them with some friend until their return. In consequence
of this order many sticks were left behind; and a few only of the
oldest and most infirm amongst us were allowed to carry their walking
staves. I may say with truth that we presented a most respectable
assemblage of labouring men; all were decently, though humbly attired;
and I noticed not even one who did not exhibit a white Sunday's
shirt, a neck-cloth, and other apparel in the same clean, though
homely condition....
From
all that I had heard of the disposition of the authorities, I had
scarcely expected that we should be allowed to enter Manchester
in a body. I had thought it not improbable that they, or some of
them, would meet us with a civil and military escort; would read
the Riot Act, if they thought proper, and warn us from proceeding,
and that we should then have nothing to do but turn back and hold
a meeting in our town. I had even fancied that they would most likely
stop us at the then toll-gate, where the roads forked towards Collyhurst
and Newtown; but when I saw both those roads open, with only a horseman
or two prancing before us, I began to think that I had over-estimated
the forethought of the authorities, and I felt somewhat assured
that we should be allowed to enter the town quietly, when, of course,
all probability of interruption would be at an end....
Having
squeezed ourselves through the gully of a road below St. Michael's
Church, we traversed Blackley Street and Miller's Lane, and went
along Swan Street and Oldham Street, frequently hailed in our progress
by the cheers of the townspeople. We learned that other parties
were on the field before us, and that the Lees and Saddleworth Union
had been led by Doctor Healey, walking before a pitch-black flag,
with staring white letters, forming the words, "Equal Representation
or Death," "Love"-two handsjoined and a heart; ...
...
The meeting was indeed a tremendous one.... Mr. Hunt, stepping towards
the front of the stage, took off his white hat, and addressed the
people.
Whilst
he was doing so, I proposed to an acquaintance that, as the speeches
and resolutions were not likely to contain anything new to us, and
as we could see them in the papers, we should retire awhile and
get some refreshment, of which I stood much in need, being not in
very robust health. He assented, and we had got to nearly the outside
of the crowd, when a noise and strange murmur arose towards the
church. Some persons said it was the Blackburn people coming, and
I stood on tip-toe and looked in the direction whence the noise
proceeded, and saw a party of cavalry in blue and white uniform
come trotting, sword in hand, round the corner of a garden-wall,
and to the front of a row of new houses, where they reined up in
a line.
"The
soldiers are here," I said; "we must go back and see what
this means." "Oh," some one made reply, "they
are only come to be ready if there should be any disturbance in
the meeting." "well, let us go back," I said, and
we forced our way towards the colours.
On
the cavalry drawing up they were received with a shout of goodwill,
as I understood it. They shouted again, waving their sabres over
their heads; and then, slackening rein, and striking spur into their
steeds, they dashed forward and began cutting the people....
On
the breaking of the crowd the yeomanry wheeled, and, dashing whenever
there was an opening, they followed, pressing and wounding. Many
females appeared as the crowd opened; and striplings or mere youths
also were found. Their cries were piteous and heart-rending, and
would, one might have supposed, have disarmed any human resentment:
but here their appeals were in vain. Women, white-vested maids,
and tender youths, were indiscriminately sabred or trampled; and
we have reason for believing that few were the instances in which
that forbearance was vouchsafed which they so earnestly implored.
In
ten minutes from the commencement of the havoc the field was an
open and almost deserted space.
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