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PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
HISTORICAL SERIES
No. XXXIX.
THREE ACCOUNTS OF
PETERLOO.
Published by the University of Manchester at
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS (H. M. MCKECHNIE, M.A., Secretary)
12 LIME GROVE, OXFORD ROAD, MANCHESTER
LONGMANS, GREEN & CO.
LONDON:
39 Paternoster Row, E.C.4
NEW YORK:
443-449 Fourth Avenue and Thirtieth Street
BOMBAY:
336 Hornby Road
CALCUTTA:
6 Old Court House Street
MADRAS:
167 Mount Road
[Illustration: BISHOP STANLEY 1779-1849
_From a Print lent by Lord Sheffield_
_Photo by R. H. Fletcher_
_Frontispiece_]
Three Accounts
OF
Peterloo
BY EYEWITNESSES
BISHOP STANLEY
LORD HYLTON
JOHN BENJAMIN SMITH
with
Bishop Stanley's Evidence at the Trial
Edited by F. A. BRUTON, M.A., Litt.D
of the Manchester Grammar School
MANCHESTER:
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
LONGMANS, GREEN & CO.
LONDON, NEW YORK, BOMBAY, etc.
1921
PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
No. CXL.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Introduction vii
Bishop Stanley 1
Stanley's Account of Peterloo 10
Stanley's Evidence at the Trial in 1822 24
Sir William Jolliffe, afterwards Lord Hylton 45
Lieutenant Jolliffe's Account of Peterloo 48
John Benjamin Smith 59
Mr. J. B. Smith's Account of Peterloo 62
APPENDIX A 75
Some Relics of Peterloo:--
1. A Banner carried at Peterloo.
2. Bamford's Cottage at Middleton.
3. Constables' Staves.
4. Head of Flagstaff.
5. Hussar's Plume.
6. Account-Book of the Relief Committee.
7. Account-Book recording amounts raised
for the relief of Special Constables
and their families.
APPENDIX B 81
1. Note on the Casualties at Peterloo.
2. Presence of women and children at Peterloo.
3. Some gleanings from the Scrap-Books.
4. Explanation of the Contemporary Plan and
Picture of Peterloo.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
Portrait of Bishop Stanley _Frontispiece_
Stanley's Plan of Peterloo 8
Nadin, the Deputy Constable _Facing_ 21
"Orator Hunt" " 27
Plan of Peterloo, compiled from the
contemporary Plans and modern Street Maps 44
Portrait of Mr. John Benjamin Smith _Facing_ 59
The Hunt Memorial at the Manchester Reform
Club " 69
The Peterloo Medal " 71
The Banner carried at Peterloo by the
Middleton Contingent " 75
Samuel Bamford's Cottage at Middleton " 76
Three Relics picked up on the Field of Peterloo " 77
A Page of the Relief Committee's Account Book 79
Plan of Peterloo published with the Report of
the Trial in 1822 89
Wroe's Picture of Peterloo, showing the
Manchester Yeomanry riding for the Hustings _Facing_ 90
INTRODUCTION.
Of the three accounts of the Tragedy of Peterloo given here, two (the
first and third) have never been published before. The second appeared in
the "Life of Lord Sidmouth" in 1847. All three, written with care and
judgment, by men who afterwards rose to eminence, form a valuable
contribution to the understanding of an event, the accounts of which have
been for the most part distorted and misleading. Moreover, as each of the
three writers deals with a different phase of the day's happenings, the
accounts complement one another.
The Editor had already arranged for the publication of the first, when he
received the following letter from Lord Sheffield, dated Penrhos,
Holyhead, August 21st, 1919:--
"It is many years since I had the copy of the Rev. E. Stanley's
report, and no doubt it was one of the lithographed copies you
mention.
I think it would be well if it were published, along with the evidence
to which you refer. I also think the Plan, of which you speak, should
be added, and the reports of Jolliffe and J. B. Smith."
Lord Sheffield supported his suggestion by enclosing a cheque towards the
cost of printing, and this made easy the publication of the whole. Lord
Sheffield also kindly lent the portrait of Bishop Stanley, which appears
as the Frontispiece.
Acknowledgments are due, besides: (1) to Mr. Henry Guppy, M.A., for
permission to use the blocks of Wroe's picture of Peterloo, and the Plan
from the "Story of Peterloo" in the Bulletin of the John Rylands Library
for October, 1919; and to copy a page of the Account-book of the Relief
Committee; (2) to Lady Durning Lawrence, who (with the late Mr. C. W.
Sutton, M.A.) gave permission to print the Extract from the Reminiscences
of Mr. J. B. Smith, and to reproduce his portrait; (3) to Mr. W. Marcroft
of Southport; and Messrs. Hirst & Rennie of Oldham, for the loan of the
blocks of "Orator Hunt," the "Hunt Memorial," and the "Peterloo Medal";
(4) to Mr. John Murray for leave to reprint Lieutenant Jolliffe's letter;
(5) to Mr. W. W. Manfield, for the loan of the three Relics of Peterloo;
and (6) to Mr. R. H. Fletcher, amateur photographer, of Eccles, for
photographing the relics, etc.
F. A. B.
Three Accounts of Peterloo
BISHOP STANLEY
The Rev. Edward Stanley (1779-1849) was the second son of Sir J. T.
Stanley, the Sixth Baronet, and Margaret Owen, of Penrhos, Anglesey. His
elder brother was the first Baron Stanley of Alderley. As a boy, he had a
natural inclination for the sea, but this was not encouraged. For
thirty-two years he was Rector of Alderley, in Cheshire. While making
himself beloved as a Parish Priest, he found time for many scientific and
other interests. His _Familiar History of Birds_ is a standard work; he
advocated, and assisted in, the teaching of Science and Temperance at
Alderley; and he became one of the first Presidents of the Manchester
Statistical Society. Though he declined the See of Manchester, when it was
offered him, he accepted from Lord Melbourne, in 1837, the Bishopric of
Norwich, and introduced a number of reforms into that diocese. A short
memoir of him was written by his son, the famous Dean of Westminster.
At the date of Peterloo, a number of clergymen sat on the Bench of
Magistrates for Lancashire and Cheshire, but Stanley stated clearly at the
Trial that he was not a Magistrate. He was then forty years of age, and
Rector of Alderley, and in his evidence he was careful to say that his
narrative of Peterloo was compiled about two months after the event, for
private circulation among his friends, and had never been published. It is
clear that a copy was in the hands of Counsel who cross-examined him at
the Trial in 1822. The manuscript is very neatly written (I should
conjecture by Stanley himself) on nine large quarto pages, the plan being
drawn by the same hand, and the notes given at the end. I have thought it
more convenient for the reader to have the notes thrown to the foot of the
respective pages. The manuscript was lithographed, in 1819, by the
Lithographic Press, Westminster, and entered at Stationers' Hall. I found
on enquiry that there was one copy in the Manuscript Department of the
British Museum (Add. MSS., 30142, ff. 78-83). It is addressed to
Major-Gen. Sir Robert Wilson, and sealed with the Stanley crest. The
authorship was not known, and the Keeper of the MSS. was glad to be able
to add this to the document as the result of my communication. In the
Printed Book Department of the British Museum there is a second copy,
catalogued under Manchester, with press-mark 8133i. There is no trace of
Stanley's MS. in the Public Records Office. I can find no other copy but
the one at the Manchester Reference Library, which is in excellent
preservation, and has recently been rebound. Mr. J. C. Hobhouse quoted
from Stanley's narrative once in a speech in the House of Commons.
Speaking on May 19th, 1821, in support of a Petition for an enquiry as to
the outrage at Manchester, Mr. Hobhouse, following Sir Francis Burdett,
said: "The Rev. Mr. Stanley, who watched from a room above the
magistrates, saw no stones or sticks used, though if any stone larger than
a pebble had been thrown, he must have seen it." I have not found any
other reference to the narrative except that made by Counsel at the Trial,
and that is recorded in the Evidence which follows.
* * * * *
Three notes may find a place here. The first two refer to points mentioned
by Stanley:--
1. Pigot and Dean's _Manchester Directory_ for 1819 mentions:
(_a_) Edmund Buxton, Builder, &c., No. 6, Mount Street, Dickinson
Street.
(_b_) Thomas & Matthew Pickford & Co., Carriers, Oxford Street.
I do not find Mr. Buxton's "shop," which is mentioned by Stanley; nor are
Pickfords described as "timber merchants," though timber may easily have
been stacked in their yard.
Stanley's movements on reaching Manchester are not, at a first reading,
quite clear. Riding in from Alderley, he seems to have approached by way
of Oxford Road, passing (as he tells us) the Manchester Yeomanry, posted
at Pickford's yard. At twelve o'clock, he turned up Mosley Street (very
likely to avoid the crowd which was already filling the Square) and in
Mosley Street he met the contingent of Reformers coming from Ashton. He
then proceeded to Mr. Buxton's _shop_, which seems to have been near the
lower end of Deansgate. Not finding Mr. Buxton there, he was directed to
his _residence_ in Mount Street. The shortest way to Mount Street from
Alport would have taken him through the crowd. He therefore approached
Mount Street "by a circuitous route to avoid the meeting" (possibly by
Fleet Street and Lower Mosley Street, the route afterwards taken by the
Hussars), and met Mr. Buxton on the steps of his house.
Stanley evidently knew little of Manchester. He confesses in his narrative
that he had not been in St. Peter's field before or since the tragedy; in
his evidence he said: "I know no street," and stated that he could not
locate the Friends' Meeting-house.
2. Stanley's estimate of a hundred yards, as the distance from the
hustings to Mr. Buxton's house can be demonstrated to-day to be almost
exactly correct. This is only one of many points in his narrative which
show what a shrewd, quick, and accurate observer he was. When Mr. Hulton
was asked, at the Trial, to estimate the same distance, he conjectured
four hundred yards, and this was actually quoted as the distance in one of
the standard histories of the period.
For the rest, it seems better to leave Stanley's extremely lucid account
to speak for itself. To annotate it in detail would be to spoil its
completeness. As has been stated above, each observer witnessed the scene
from his own stand-point. A complete picture can only be obtained by
forming a mosaic of the various reports. Stanley's narrative is that of an
outsider, who came upon the scene unexpectedly, and watched the whole with
the eye of a statesman and a statistician. Lieutenant Jolliffe's account
gives the view of a young soldier, a stranger to Manchester, who rode in
the charge of the Hussars, and afterwards took part with them in the
patrol of the town. Mr. J. B. Smith speaks from the point of view of a
Manchester business man, familiar with the civic and economic conditions
that led to the catastrophe, and his narrative reaches a few days beyond
the tragedy itself. Samuel Bamford's account--too well-known to need
repetition here--was written from the stand-point of a local weaver, who
had already suffered for his outspoken advocacy of Parliamentary Reform,
had a large share in organising the Peterloo meeting, and served a term of
imprisonment for his share in the proceedings. An attempt to dovetail
these and other Reports into a continuous narrative has already been made
in _The Story of Peterloo_ (Rylands Library Lectures, 1919.).
3. Stanley's Evidence at the Trial, which is here printed immediately
after his connected narrative, has been taken from McDonnell's _State
Trials_, supplemented--where passages are omitted by McDonnell--by
Farquharson's verbatim report, issued by the Defence after the Trial. As a
matter of fact McDonnell made use of Farquharson's version.
* * * * *
The portrait of Bishop Stanley which appears here is from a print kindly
lent for the purpose by Lord Sheffield.
Stanley's Notes attached to his Plan
Never having seen St. Peter's fields before or since, I cannot pretend to
speak accurately as to distance, etc. I should, at a guess, state the
distance from the hustings to Mr. Buxton's house to be about a hundred
yards, which may serve as a general scale to the rest of the plan.
KEY TO STANLEY'S PLAN.
1. The hustings. The arrow shows the direction in which the orators
addressed the mob, the great majority being in front: F, F, F.
2. The Barouche in which Hunt arrived, the line from it showing its
entrance and approach.
3. The spot on which the Manchester Yeomanry Cavalry halted previous to
their charge; the dotted lines in front showing the direction of their
charge on attacking the hustings.
[Illustration: Stanley's Plan]
4. On this spot the woman alluded to in the account (p. 15) was wounded
and remained apparently dead, till removed at the conclusion of the
business.
5. Here the 15th Dragoons paused for a few moments before they proceeded
in the direction marked by the dotted line.
6. The Cheshire Cavalry; my attention was so much taken up with the
proceedings of the Manchester Yeomanry Cavalry, etc., and the dispersion
in front of the hustings, that I cannot speak accurately as to their
subsequent movements.
7, 7, 7. The band of special constables, _apparently_ surrounding the
hustings.
8, 8, 8. The mob in dense mass; their banners displayed in different
parts, as at x, x.
9, 9, 9. A space comparatively vacant; partially occupied by stragglers;
the mob condensing near the hustings for the purpose of seeing and
hearing.
10, 10, 10. Raised ground on which many spectators had taken a position; a
commotion amongst them first announced the approach of the cavalry; their
elevated situation commanding a more extensive view.
Bishop Stanley's Account of Peterloo
Soon after one o'clock on the 16th of August, I went to call on Mr.
Buxton, with whom I had some private business. I was directed to his house
overlooking St. Peter's field, where I unexpectedly found the magistrates
assembled.[1] I went up to their room, and remained there seven or eight
minutes. Hunt was not then arrived; a murmur running through the crowd
prepared us for his approach; a numerous vanguard preceded him, and in a
few moments the Barouche appeared in which he sat with his coadjutors,
male and female; a tremendous shout instantly welcomed him; he proceeded
slowly towards the hustings. On approaching the knot of constables the
carriage stopped a short time, I conceive from the difficulty of making
way through a band of men who were little inclined to fall back for his
admission. The Barouche at length attained its position close to the
hustings, and the speakers stepped forth, the female--as far as I can
recollect--still remaining on the driver's seat with a banner in her hand.
I then left the magistrates and went to a room immediately above them,
commanding a bird's-eye view of the whole area, in which every movement
and every object was distinctly visible. In the centre were the hustings
surrounded _to all appearance_[2] by a numerous body of constables,
easily distinguished by their respectable dress, staves of office, and
hats _on_; the elevation of the hustings of course eclipsed a portion of
the space immediately beyond them, so as to prevent my seeing, and
consequently asserting positively, whether they were completely surrounded
by this chain of constables. The chain from this its main body was
continued in a double line, two or three deep, forming an avenue to Mr.
Buxton's house, by which _there seemed to be_ free and uninterrupted
access to and from the hustings. Had any interruption of their
communication occurred previous to the change, I think I must have
perceived it from the commanding position I occupied. A vast concourse of
people, in a close and compact mass, surrounded the hustings and
constables, pressing upon each other apparently with a view to be as near
the speakers as possible. They were, generally speaking, bare-headed,
probably for the purpose of giving those behind them a better view.
Between the outside of this mob and the sides of the area the space was
comparatively unoccupied; stragglers were indeed numerous, but not so as
to amount to anything like a crowd, or to create interruption to foot
passengers. Round the edges of the square more compact masses of people
were assembled, the greater part of whom appeared to be spectators. The
radical banners and caps of liberty were conspicuous in different parts
of the concentrated mob, stationed according to the order in which the
respective bands to which they belonged had entered the ground, and taken
up their positions.
After the orators had ascended the hustings, a few minutes were taken up
in preparing for the business of the day, and then Hunt began his address.
I could distinctly hear his voice, but was too distant to distinguish his
words. He had not spoken above a minute or two before I heard a report in
the room that the cavalry were sent for; the messengers, we were told,
might be seen from a back window. I ran to that window from which I could
see the road leading to a timber yard (I believe) at no great distance,
where, as I entered the town, I had observed the Manchester Yeomanry
stationed. I saw three horsemen ride off, one towards the timber yard, the
others in the direction which I knew led to the cantonments of other
cavalry.
I immediately returned to the front window, anxiously awaiting the result;
a slight commotion among a body of spectators, chiefly women, who occupied
a mound of raised, broken ground on the left, and to the rear, of the
orators, convinced me they saw something which excited their fears; many
jumped down, and they soon dispersed more rapidly. By this time the alarm
was quickly spreading, and I heard several voices exclaiming: "The
soldiers! the soldiers!"; another moment brought the cavalry into the
field on a gallop,[3] which they continued till the word was given for
halting them, about the middle of the space which I before noticed as
partially occupied by stragglers.
They halted in great disorder, and so continued for the few minutes they
remained on that spot. This disorder was attributed by several persons in
the room to the undisciplined state of their horses, little accustomed to
act together, and probably frightened by the shout of the populace, which
greeted their arrival. Hunt had evidently seen their approach; his hand
had been pointed towards them, and it was clear from his gestures that he
was addressing the mob respecting their interference. His words, whatever
they were, excited a shout from those immediately about him, which was
re-echoed with fearful animation by the rest of the multitude. Ere that
had subsided, the cavalry, the loyal spectators, and the special
constables, cheered loudly in return, and a pause ensued of about a minute
or two.
An officer and some few others then advanced rather in front of the troop,
formed, as I before said, in much disorder and with scarcely the semblance
of line, their sabres glistened in the air, and on they went, direct for
the hustings. At first, _i.e._, for a very few paces, their movement was
not rapid, and there was some show of an attempt to follow their officer
in regular succession, five or six abreast; but, as Mr. Francis Phillips
in his pamphlet observes, they soon "increased their speed," and with a
zeal and ardour which might naturally be expected from men acting with
delegated power against a foe by whom it is understood they had long been
insulted with taunts of cowardice, continued their course, seeming
individually to vie with each other which should be first. Some
stragglers, I have remarked, occupied the space in which they halted. On
the commencement of the charge, these fled in all directions; and I
presume escaped, with the exception of a woman who had been standing ten
or twelve yards in front; as the troop passed her body was left, to all
appearance lifeless; and there remained till the close of the business,
when, as it was no great distance from the house, I went towards her. Two
men were then in the act of raising her up; whether she was actually dead
or not I cannot say, but no symptoms of life were visible at the time I
last saw her.[4]
As the cavalry approached the dense mass of people they used their utmost
efforts to escape: but so closely were they pressed in opposite directions
by the soldiers, the special constables, the position of the hustings, and
their own immense numbers, that immediate escape was impossible. The rapid
course of the troop was of course impeded when it came in contact with the
mob, but a passage was forced in less than a minute; so rapid indeed was
it that the guard of constables close to the hustings shared the fate of
the rest. The whole of this will be intelligible at once by a reference to
the annexed sketch.
On their arrival at the hustings a scene of dreadful confusion ensued. The
orators fell or were forced off the scaffold in quick succession;
fortunately for them, the stage being rather elevated, they were in great
degree beyond the reach of the many swords which gleamed around them. Hunt
fell--or threw himself--among the constables, and was driven or dragged,
as fast as possible, down the avenue which communicated with the
magistrates' house; his associates were hurried after him in a similar
manner. By this time so much dust had arisen that no accurate account can
be given of what further took place at that particular spot.
The square was now covered with the flying multitude; though still in
parts the banners and caps of liberty were surrounded by groups. The
Manchester Yeomanry had already taken possession of the hustings, when the
Cheshire Yeomanry entered on my left in excellent order, and formed in the
rear of the hustings as well as could be expected, considering the crowds
who were now pressing in all directions and filling up the space hitherto
partially occupied.
The Fifteenth Dragoons appeared nearly at the same moment, and paused
rather than halted on our left, parallel to the row of houses. They then
pressed forward, crossing the avenue of constables, which opened to let
them through, and bent their course towards the Manchester Yeomanry. The
people were now in a state of utter rout and confusion, leaving the ground
strewed with hats and shoes, and hundreds were thrown down in the attempt
to escape. The cavalry were hurrying about in all directions, completing
the work of dispersion, which--to use the words given in Wheeler's
_Manchester Chronicle_, referred to by Mr. Francis Phillips--was effected
in so short a space of time as to appear as if done "by magic."
I saw nothing that gave me an idea of resistance, except in one or two
spots where they showed some disinclination to abandon the banners; these
impulses, however, were but momentary, and banner after banner fell into
the hands of the military power.[5] The extent of their defence may
perhaps best be estimated by the gallant conduct, which I particularly
noticed, of a man on horseback, apparently a gentleman's servant. Unarmed
as far as I could perceive, he separated from the cavalry, and rode
directly into a compact body of people collected round a banner; a scuffle
ensued highly interesting; the banner rose and fell repeatedly, but
ultimately fell into his hands, and he galloped off with it in triumph.
During the whole of this confusion, heightened at its close by the rattle
of some artillery[6] crossing the square, shrieks were heard in all
directions, and as the crowd of people dispersed the effects of the
conflict became visible. Some were seen bleeding on the ground and unable
to rise; others, less seriously injured but faint with the loss of blood,
were retiring slowly or leaning upon others for support. One special
constable, with a cut down his head, was brought to Mr. Buxton's house. I
saw several others in the passage, congratulating themselves on their
narrow escape, and showing the marks of sabre-cuts on their hats. I saw no
firearms, but distinctly heard four or five shots, towards the close of
the business, on the opposite side of the square, beyond the hustings; but
nobody could inform me by whom they were fired. The whole of this
extraordinary scene was the work of a few minutes.
The rapid succession of so many important incidents in this short space of
time, the peculiar character of each depending so much on the variation of
a few instants in the detail, sufficiently accounts for the very
contradictory statements that have been given; added to which it should
be observed that no spectator on the ground could possibly form a just
and correct idea of what was passing. When below, I could not have
observed anything accurately beyond a few yards around me, and it was only
by ascending to the upper rooms of Mr. Buxton's house that I could form a
just and correct idea of almost every point which has since afforded so
much discussion and contention.
The cavalry were now collected in different parts of the area; the centre,
but a few minutes before crowded to excess, was utterly deserted; groups
of radicals were still seen assembled on the outskirts, screening
themselves behind logs of timber or mingling with the spectators on the
pavement. The constables remained in a body in front of the house waiting
for the reappearance of Hunt, who (with his colleagues) was secured in a
small parlour opening into the passage to which I had now descended. I
believe the original intention was to send him to the New Bailey in a
carriage, but it was soon after decided that he should walk. When this was
made known it was received with shouts of approbation and "bring him out,
let the rebel walk," was heard from all quarters. At length he came forth,
and notwithstanding the blows he had received in running the gauntlet down
the avenue of constables, I thought I could perceive a smile of triumph
on his countenance. A person (Nadin, I believe) offered to take his arm,
but he drew himself back, and in a sort of whisper said: "No, no, that's
rather too good a thing," or words to that effect. He then left the house,
and I soon afterwards also went away.
[Illustration: JOSEPH NADIN DEPUTY-CONSTABLE OF MANCHESTER AT THE TIME OF
PETERLOO
_From a Print at the Reference Library_
_Photo by R. H. Fletcher_
_To face page 21_]
I saw no symptoms of riot or disturbances before the meeting; the
impression on my mind was that the people were sullenly peaceful, and I
had an excellent opportunity of forming an opinion by suddenly coming in
contact with a large body from Ashton, who met me in Mosley Street, as I
entered the town.[7] They were walking at a moderate pace, six or seven
abreast, arm in arm, which enabled them to keep some sort of regularity in
their march. I was soon surrounded by them as I passed, and though my
horse showed a good deal of alarm, particularly at their band and flags,
they broke rank and offered no molestation whatever.
As soon, however, as I had quitted Mr. Buxton's house at the conclusion of
the business, I found them in a very different state of feeling. I heard
repeated vows of revenge. "You took us unprepared, we were unarmed to-day,
and it is your day; but when we meet again the day shall be ours." How far
this declaration of being unarmed men may be relied upon, I cannot pretend
to say; I certainly saw nothing like arms either at or before the meeting;
their sticks were, as far as came under my observation, common
walking-sticks; that some, however, were armed I can have no doubt, as a
constable, when I was leaving Mr. Buxton's house, showed me a couple of
short skewers or daggers fixed in wooden handles, which he had taken in
the fray.
I have heard from the most respectable authority that the cavalry were
assailed by stones during the short time they halted previous to their
charge. I do not wish to contradict positive assertions. What a person
_sees_ must be true. My evidence on that point can only be negative. I
certainly saw nothing of the sort, and yet my eyes were fixed most
steadily upon them, and I think that I must have seen any stone larger
than a pebble at the short distance at which I stood (from thirty to fifty
yards) and the commanding view I had. I indeed saw no missile weapons used
throughout the whole transaction, but as I have before stated, the dust
at the hustings soon partially obscured everything that took place near
that particular spot; but no doubt the people defended themselves to the
best of their power, as it was absolutely impossible for them to get away
and give the cavalry a clear passage till the outer part of the mob had
fallen back. No blame can be fairly attributed to the soldiers for
wounding the constables as well as the radicals, since the chief
distinguishing mark (the former being covered and the latter uncovered)
soon ceased to exist; every man for obvious reasons covering himself in
haste the moment the dispersion commenced.
Such are the leading features of this event, to which I can speak
positively; comments and opinions I have avoided as much as possible, my
object being to give a clear and impartial account of facts, which whether
for or against the adopted conclusions of either party must speak for
themselves.
The Evidence of The Rev. Edward Stanley
in the Trial of an action for assault, brought by Thomas Redford against
Hugh Hornby Birley and others, members of the Manchester Yeomanry, before
Mr. Justice Holroyd and a Special Jury, at Lancaster on the 4th, 5th, 6th,
7th, 8th, and 9th of April, 1822.
_Second day of the Trial._
The Rev. EDWARD STANLEY examined by Mr. SERJEANT BLACKBURNE (_Counsel for
the Plaintiff_).
You, I believe, are the Rector of Alderley, in Cheshire?--I am.
Brother to Sir Thomas Stanley?--Brother to Sir John Stanley.
On the 16th of August, 1819, had you any business with Mr. Buxton?--I had.
How far do you live 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 Mosley Street.
In your passage up Mosley Street, did you 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, and 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, 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 Mr. Buxton's house, and what time did you get
there? I got to Mr. Buxton's house, I should think, a quarter after one.
Did you go into a room there 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 Mr. Hunt arrive on the
ground?--He was called Mr. Hunt; he was in a barouche.
And a multitude accompanying him?--A vast multitude.
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 of Mr. 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 Mr. Buxton's house.
You say to the left of the line of special constables?--Their left flank
was on the right of Mr. Buxton's house.
You saw the line of constables; where did it extend to?--It extended from
the door of Mr. Buxton's house, apparently up to the hustings.
Was there more than one line of constables?--There were two lines of
constables.
What was the interval between them?--Near Mr. Buxton's house and the mob,
three or four feet.
[Illustration: "ORATOR" HUNT, 1773-1835 CHAIRMAN OF THE PETERLOO MEETING
_To face page 27_]
Afterwards, the line was closed by the pressure of the mob, expanding
again when they came near the hustings?--According to my observation; to
the best of my judgment; such is 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 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 St. Peter's field were not so
numerous?--There were more stragglers, and no crowd.
You saw colours and caps of liberty on the ground?--I did.
What number of either the one or the other? Perhaps you do not distinctly
recollect?--I cannot say.
You heard Mr. 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 halt, I should think three minutes.
From the time you heard Mr. Hunt?--Not from the time I heard Mr. Hunt; he
was 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 an 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 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 hustings, they
immediately began to melt away, as it were, as far as they could at the
extreme.
The outward edge of the meeting?--The outward edge, in front of the
hustings.
Did you observe the cavalry when they got first among the thick part 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.
From the place in which you were, I believe you had a very 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 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 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 other side of the hustings, of
course, was partially eclipsed by the people upon it.
But you saw them encircle part?--Encircle part.
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 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?--I did.
What were they?--
Mr. JUSTICE HOLROYD: He says he saw what?--
Mr. SERJEANT BLACKBURNE: 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 Mr. Hunt was taken off.
What were those troops that you saw come into the ground then?--First came
in, on the left of Mr. Buxton's row of houses, the Cheshire Yeomanry, who
filed to the left.
Mr. JUSTICE HOLROYD: You mean to the left, looking from the house,
then?--From the house.
Mr. SERJEANT BLACKBURNE: Where did the Cheshire Yeomanry take up their
position when they came on the ground?--They took up their position in the
rear of the hustings, rather in advance, I think, of some mounds of earth.
Do you know Windmill 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 the
rear 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 had come in and taken their
position, a troop of Dragoons, I think the 15th, came in under the windows
of Mr. Buxton's house.
You say you think they were the 15th Hussars?--They were called the 15th
Dragoons; they had Waterloo medals.
Where did they take up their position?--
Mr. JUSTICE HOLROYD: "Near Mr. Buxton's house," he said.
Mr. SERJEANT BLACKBURNE: Did they continue there?--They halted or paused
for a moment or so, a little to the left of Mr. 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 Cheshire
Yeomanry?--At the close of the business I saw some artillery driving
through the place.
Was there any other besides those that 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, and on the
right; they did not come back to me so much.
Do you know the Quakers' meeting-house?--I have 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
Quakers' meeting-house, I could tell you if they went that road.
There is the Quakers' meeting-house, you will see written on the
plan?--Some went that way.
Some of the people, 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 brickbats, 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.
Cross-examined by Mr. SERJEANT HULLOCK:
Will you venture to swear, Mr. Stanley, that no stones nor brickbats would
be thrown during the advance of the cavalry towards the hustings, without
your perceiving it?--I can only venture to say that I saw none.
I believe you have favoured the public with an account of this
transaction?--No, I have not.
You printed or wrote something?--It was in 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 had read the reports in some
papers, naturally, after that time, and I might have seen a 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?--A Mr.
Phillips's.
You, it seemed, entertained a different view of the transactions that had
taken place upon this day 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.
Of neither Cheshire nor Lancashire?--No.
I beg your pardon. You, however, were in the magistrates' room, I think
you said, at Mr. 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 at that time?--He was.
Did it occur to your mind at the time that the cavalry were 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 rumour in the room above, that the cavalry had been
sent for) did it occur (attend to my question) to you, at the time, from
the observations which you had 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, 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.
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 gentleman,
at least part of the road?--Part of the road I did.
Mr Markland, I presume?--I overtook Mr. Markland.
Did you express any opinion to Mr. Markland upon these
proceedings?--Probably I did; but I have not the most distant
recollection.
I ask you, upon your oath, Mr. Stanley, if you did not express to him your
entire concurrence in, and approbation of, the 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, whether you approved or
disapproved of these steps at the time?--I have not the most distant
recollection of any conversation I had with Mr. 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 thought it was a dreadful
occurrence; but I hoped that there were some grounds for it.
Mr. JUSTICE HOLROYD: You are speaking of what you thought?--It was in
answer to the question.
Mr. SERJEANT HULLOCK: I am speaking of what you thought then. As I
understand you, you cannot recall to your recollection the impression
under which you laboured at the time you travelled home with Mr.
Markland?--I thought it a dreadful occurrence, but I hoped there were
grounds for it.
Did you mention that to Mr. Markland?--I cannot recollect.
It is very important that I should endeavour to extract from you, Mr.
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, the first cavalry which appeared on the ground was the
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 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 cannot tell.
I observe that you use 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 they "apparently" did?--Apparently they did.
Mr. JUSTICE HOLROYD: Surround the hustings?--Apparently.
Mr. SERJEANT HULLOCK: 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 to the impression on my mind.
In the same way that you swear to the existence of brickbats and
stones?--To the non-existence.
I think you say 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 use?--I have no conception of that.
Mr. JUSTICE HOLROYD: Of what?--
Mr. SERJEANT 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 Carlile?--I heard of him in London.
You have heard since 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 saw the cavalry coming, I think, intimated his
knowledge--his cognisance 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, "but I
think, 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 impression 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; 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.
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 guess.
I daresay 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.