eetings at which the
disturbances took place were illegal. The original address was carried
by one hundred and thirty-nine against thirty-four, and in the commons,
ministers were equally triumphant. A similar address to Earl Grey's, was
moved by Mr. Tierney, and was rejected by a large majority. The mover
of this address drew a melancholy picture of the state of the country,
affirming that ministers had brought it to the verge of ruin, Lord
Castlereagh declined following him in his remarks on the state of the
country, because the only definite proposition offered, was one for
inquiry into the transactions at Manchester, respecting which he should
lay a mass of information before the house on the next day and explain
the measures contemplated by government. On the next day the promised
documents were produced; consisting partly in the correspondence of
official persons with the home secretary, and partly in communications
made by parties whose names were not made known. The letters from the
Manchester magistrates set forth that apprehensions were entertained of
a formidable insurrection being in contemplation. At the same time they
bore testimony to the alarming distress of the manufacturing classes,
and assigned hunger as a natural inducement with the poor to adopt
pernicious doctrines, as projects for the amelioration of their
sufferings. Other depositions stated that the practice of secret
training prevailed to a great extent among the reformers, but merely
with a view of enabling themselves to march in the semblance of
military array to their meetings, sticks being their only weapons.
Lord Fitzwilliam stated in a communication that in the West Riding of
Yorkshire the rage for seditious assemblies might be safely left to die
away of itself, as the good sense of the people already began to feel
they were in error. Sir John Byng, military commander of the district,
stated, that simultaneous meetings were to be held in various towns,
but that the plan had been frustrated by the disunion existing among the
leaders. Other communications represented that pistols, pikes, and
other weapons were being manufactured in the factious districts, both in
England and Scotland. Finally, the grand jury of Cheshire expressed
the alarm which was felt in that county for life and property by his
majesty's subjects. This body of evidence having been submitted to the
two houses, ministers proceeded to open their measures of defence. As a
prel