y adopted vigorous measures for
the discovery of the offenders, and to put a stop to these seditious
meetings. A proclamation was issued against them; but still the
reformers were resolved to agitate. Those of Manchester being informed
that a meeting they had given notice of, to be held for the purpose of
proceeding to the election of a representative as at Birmingham, was
illegal, relinquished it; but they held another for the avowedly legal
object of petitioning for a reform in parliament. The estimated numbers
present were 60,000; and among them were two bands of female reformers,
under white silk banners. Hunt was again the lion of the day; but no
sooner had he commenced speaking, than the commanding officer of a body
of yeomanry, who advanced with drawn swords to the stage, took him into
custody. Several other persons were also apprehended, and the yeomanry
then aimed at the destruction of their banners. A scene of dreadful
confusion arose; many persons were trampled under the feet of the
horses, and some were cut down by sabres. A few were killed, while there
were between three and four hundred wounded. In a short time the ground
was cleared of the mob, and military patroles were stationed in the
streets to preserve tranquillity. Hunt and his associates were, after
a short examination, conducted to solitary cells, on a charge of
high-treason. The next day notices were issued by the magistrates,
declaring the practice of military training, alleged to have been
carried on secretly for treasonable purposes, to be illegal; and
government applauded all that had been done. But the public did not look
upon the proceedings at Manchester with the same favourable eye as the
cabinet. A meeting was held at the Crown and Anchor in London, at which
a series of resolutions was adopted, strongly censuring the conduct
of the magistrates and military, and returning thanks to Hunt and his
colleagues. Meetings in a similar spirit were held at Smithfield and
in the precincts of the palace-yard, Westminster; and at the latter an
address to the prince regent, founded on resolutions conspicuous for
their violence, was unanimously agreed to. Subscriptions were entered
into, likewise, at all these meetings, and throughout the country,
for the purpose of defraying the expenses of defending the prisoners.
Government contemplated the trial of Hunt and his associates for
high-treason; but the circumstances of the case were not sufficiently
trea