When (1811) George, then Prince of Wales, became regent (S567), he
desired to form a Whig ministry, not because he cared for Whig
principles (S479), but solely because he would thereby be acting in
opposition to his father's wishes. Finding his purpose impracticable,
he accepted Tory rule (S479), and a Cabinet (S534) was formed with
Lord Liverpool as Prime Minister. It had for its main object the
continued exclusion of Catholics from representation in Parliament
(S478).
Lord Liverpool was a dull, well-meaning man, who utterly failed to
comprehend the real tendency of the age. He was the son of a commoner
who had been raised to the peerage. He had always had a reputation
for honest obstinacy, and for little else. After he became Premier, a
prominent French lady, who was visiting England, asked him one day,
"What has become of that VERY stupid man, Mr. Jenkinson?" "Madame,"
answered the unfortunate Prime Minister, "he is now Lord Liverpool."[1]
[1] Earl's "English Premiers," Vol. II.
From such a Cabinet or Government, which continued in power for
fifteen years, nothing but trouble could be expected. The misery of
the country was great. Food was selling at famine prices. Thousands
were on the verge of starvation, and tens of thousands did not get
enough to eat. Trade was seriously depressed, and multitudes were
unable to obtain work. Under these circumstances, the suffering
masses undertook to hold public meetings to discuss the cause and cure
of these evils; but as violent speeches against the Government were
often made at the meetings, the authorities dispersed them on the
ground that they were seditious and tended to riot and rebellion.
Many large towns at this period had no voice in legislation. At
Birmingham, which was one of this class, the citizens had met and
chosen, though without legal authority, a representative to
Parliament. Machester, another important manufacturing town, now
determined to do the same thing. The people were warned not to
assemble, but they persisted in doing so, on the ground that peaceful
discussion, with the election of a representative, was no violation of
law. The meeting was held in St. Peter's Fields, and, through the
blundering of a magistrate, it ended in an attack by a body of troops,
by which many people were wounded an a number killed (1819).