The Times, Tuesday, Dec 07, 1819; pg. 4; Issue 10795; col C
High Treason. Preston, Dec. 4.
On Thursday last, Henry Walkden, wheelwright, Thomas Austin, shoemaker, George Dewhurst, reed-maker, William Fletcher, tailor, and John Adamson, tailor, were brought to the House of Correction in this town, in three post-chaises, escorted by a party of the 7th Dragoon Guards, under Cornet Stephenny. They were apprehended on Wednesday night, or early on Thursday morning, and brought before the Rev. T.D. Whitaker, LL.D., and Joseph Feilden, Esq., at Blackburn. Walkden and Austin stand charged with having “imagined, devised, or intended to levy war against his Majesty, within this realm, and with having, in order to executing of such devices or intentions, diverse pikes and other offensive weapons and arms, and diverse traitorous and seditious books, papers, letters, and writings, concealed in their dwelling-houses, out-houses and premises thereunto belonging, within Blackburn.” The other three prisoners, Dewhurst, Fletcher, and Adamson, are charged with having, “on the 15th of November last, at Abergham Eaves, [Habergham Eaves] near Burnley, traitorously conspired and combined together, with other wicked and traitorous persons, to the number of 10,000 and upwards, and in pursuance of the said traitorous conspiracy, at the time and place aforesaid, with having armed themselves with diverse pikes, pistols, clubs, staves, and other offensive weapons, and with having thereby then and there levied war against the King, in order, by force and constraint, to compel his said Majesty to change his measures and councils, and to intimidate and overawe the Houses of Parliament.” Upon these charges the prisoners are at present remanded for a further hearing, which is expected to take place this day.
Saturday, 11 o’clock.
We just learn that Dewhurst, Fletcher, and Adamson, were fully committed last night on the charge above stated, which amounts to an accusation of high-treason; we also learn, that Mr. Knight of Manchester has also been committed under the same charge. Walkden and Austin are to be re-conveyed to Blackburn this afternoon, where they will be allowed to give bail to answer for a misdemeanour.
-Preston Chronicle.
Lancaster, Dec. 3, 10 o’clock p.m.
We stop the press to announce, that Mr. Nadin, the active Deputy Constable of Manchester, has just brought Knight to our Castle, charged, as we are informed, with high-treason.
Yesterday, six persons were committed to Preston House of Correction for manufacturing pikes. They were brought in 3 chaises from Burnley and neighbourhood, under an escort of dragoons.
-Lancaster Gazette.
(EXTRACT OF A PRIVATE LETTER.)
“Manchester, Dec. 4.
“Knight and Walker were yesterday examined before Colonel Hargreaves, but the examination being private, I am unable to state what took place. Walker was discharged for want of proof of identity, as I am informed. Knight was committed to Lancaster-castle for high treason, arising out of the late meeting of Radicals at Burnley.”
(EXTRACT OF ANOTHER PRIVATE LETTER.)
“The witnesses who were examined are named William Wilson and Richard Fletcher, who concurred in stating, that they were at the meeting, that Knight acted as chairman, and that many of the people were armed with pikes, pistols, and sticks, that the sticks were prepared with holes to receive the pikes, and that several of the people fixed their pikes. That at one time there was a false alarm of soldiers advancing, and several were running away, but their companions stopped them, saying, “We are able to stand them.” That the resolution expressed, that if Government proposed passing a suspension of the Habeas Corpus act, there should be a general meeting throughout the country to oppose it. One of these witnesses also said, that Knight in his speech recommended the people to a general rising if Government suspended the Habeas Corpus act, or adopted any harsh measure, and said that Government ought to be destroyed, and a new one modelled, and also spoke much against the Corn-bill and corruption of the House of Commons.”
(EXTRACT OF ANOTHER PRIVATE LETTER.)
“Manchester, Dec. 4.
“On Monday last a man of rough appearance went into an apothecary’s shop, in Piccadilly, to purchase a trifling article. The young man who served him said, “Well, you are going to meet Cobbett? The stranger said “Aye.” “Why,” said the young man, “you may depend upon it, if there be any disturbance or riot, the soldiers will be very severe.” “Never mind that,” said the man, “they’ll not Peterloo us again this time.” On saying which he drew from his breast a dagger twelve or fourteen inches long, and apparently very sharp; having exhibited this, he replaced it, and pulled out of his coat pockets a brace of pistols, a large one and small one, and showing them, said, “What do you think of these?” After which he quitted the shop, leaving the young man in great astonishment and alarm. About 10 o’clock the same evening, as the constables of No. 7 District, were patrolling the streets, a pistol was discharged at them in London-road; three men were observed to run from that part of the street from whence the flash of the pistol was seen; and one man, who is supposed to be the individual who actually fired, was closely pursued. One gentleman had got within two yards of him, but in making a grasp he unfortunately fell, and the villain escaped.
“Reports of guns or pistols are heard every evening, in all directions in the town, to the great terror of the inhabitants.”
CARLISLE, Dec. 3.
The Magistrates of this city in conjunction with the military force garrisoned here, have for some time past been particularly active in watching over the tranquillity of the place and neighbourhood. For several nights past a party of the 6th Carbineers have patrolled the neighbourhood in different directions, with the object of dispersing or securing persons found assembling for military training; but hitherto no persons so employed have been apprehended, though we are told by one of the Carbineers that he lately saw 5 men exercising with pikes near the south end of the city. Additional precautions have been also taken to secure the troops and horses from surprise; in addition to which, the few spare arms belonging to them were this week removed from the store-room, behind the West walls, in the Castle, which is as safely kept as if the place were in a state of siege.
It is probable, and indeed a well-known fact, that a considerable number of pikes have been introduced into this neighbourhood, from Lancashire, and have been distributed among such deluded men as are willing to use them where occasion offers. A great many young trees have been lately cut down and carried away from several of the neighbouring plantations, for what purpose we leave the reader to guess. Nocturnal training is also going on with increased activity.
Though some persons have affected to doubt the real intentions of those misguided persons called Radicals, the occurrences of last week must set that question at rest. Large bodies of men, armed with pikes, going through the military evolutions, and marching through the town in regular order at the dead hour of night, can only be looked upon as a preparation for actual warfare. In such circumstances, it behoves the magistracy to take some steps to meet the impending danger.
GLASGOW, Dec. 2.
Last night, between 10 and 11 o’clock, it being clear moon-light, a squad of Radical Reformers, between 40 and 50, were observed at drill on the Calton-green. – Glasgow Courier.
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Related to this article
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRpeterloo.htm
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterloo_Massacre