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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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APPREHENSION AND EXAMINATION OF MR . GEORGE WHITE . ( From the Birtnir . gham Journslj On Friday corning , about ten o ' clock , Inspector William Hall proceeded with a warrant to the Fox , in Hurst-street , -where lie met Mr . White coming out of the door . He informed him tiiat he had a warrant against him ; npcn which some words ensued , and a Bsuffle took place , and after some slight resistance , Mr . White surrendered , and ¦ was taken to the prison in Moor-street . In the course of an hour after , the Mayor , Dr . Melson . Dr . Booth , Dr . Darts , Bichard Spooner , T . Beilby , T . Bolton , J . Scholefield , and H . Luckcock , Esqrs ., the Rtv . R . Bedford . Commissioner Burgess , Coloxel Thorn , and the magistrates' clerks , came into court , -which "was densely crowded by the middle and working classes .
The prisoner was placed in the deck ; upon which Mr . Gem proceeded "with the examination of witnesses . The first person ca'led -vras Ebenezer Pollock , who deposed as follows : —1 life in Lord-street . On tbe 22 nd instant , I uraa at a meeting In Summer-lane . 1 went , on my return from it , into the Britannia Inn , and on going into the front room , I found a party consisting of fifteen or twenty there . G ^? rge White and Join Fnssell rushed up into tha room . O'NVill had been addressing the psople below , a d White bezan to speak to them from the window . He told than that they had be * n misled by ONeill and Stu : ge " s party—that tijpy had been met by an armed foree , acd dispersed , but tliat he would call a msetiag on the following night , and he would hold His meeting by force , and they shi-uiu come prepared . They said , ' Have them in their jackets . " They cheered him , and he askvd them , if they would do as he did ?—and they cheered him arain .
Prisoner—Will yon oblige m 9 with a litUe paper ? Mr . Kedfern supplied him wiih paper , upon which be commencen takLn ? notes . Tne witness , oe rtsnmiHg , paid the prisoner told them h » w . - > n : d hold a Electing , and all the police should not prevent them . Pris cer—Now , jsiad what you sny . Witness—He tolc * thenj to coae prepare A to meet the police . "Se asktd thr . n , wculd they couie ?—and they aaid " We vrliL " . Prwj-B' A I say arything about desgers ? ilr . Spoontr—T > o tabt int-rn : pt—because you shall have eTery opportunity of asking any qnestion you think preper . Prisoner—I am only just trying to help him ont .
Witness—The landlord rushed into the room , to tarn them ont of his house ; upen which some of the tnrty called for pen , ink , and paper , and a table * to form a committee . The landlord wculd net eive them anything , and ordered them out of his hous- ? . Cross-rXinnned by the prisoner—Now , my ? ood chap , how do you get your living ?—Witness—By hard Work Prisoner—How dc ? s it happen you were '^ mployed in thiscas = ? Witness—T was not employed . Prisoner—Did you take down what was said in
writing ? VCinsts-yo . Primmer— Can you report a sentence after a man correctly , -without taking it down ! Or are you quit- sure that , in five minates after I repeat this sentence I am now speaking , you will remember it ? Witness inade no answer . Prisoner—Did I advise the people to use force ! . Witness—You did . Yju told tnem to come prepared Pri ? ir . tr—What trade are you ?—and how did you eome to mike this statement ? W . tness—I am a gun-barrel filer : and I voluntarily mads this st ^ einent . I am not employed . Prisoner—Yjn are the finest spy I ever knew .
Wiiness—There was a man in the room who whs dressed bke a Quaker , and he said that they had brought three or four hundred coliiers in , but they were deceived by O'N > iil and S : nn ? e . Fassell also spoke , Pri « .--ner—The fee- is , Fnssell never spoke at all ; and this ft How- eo : ns 3 to produce his evidence , by trumj-iig a lie . My gdod fellow , ( turning to the witness , ? ou will never be trorth your wages as a spy . What p ^ r : ci Fasseli ' s speech did you hear ?—Witness : I did dos hear any part cf it . Mr . Crem—I will take that part of bis evidence out Prisoner—No , you -will not ; because tbis may come into a court of justice ; and it will shew what credit he is worth . Did you ( to witness ) see any person heave np th * wisdom ? Witness—I did not ; but I Ji&tinctly heard the wir . dow thrown up .
Prisoner—Th » t shtws what a smart fellow yon are Have yon any religion , and what religion are you of ? Witness—I profess to ba a Baptist . Prisoner—Expla ' n whst y-:-u mean by a Baptist , because I do not believe , in znj conscience , you know what an osth is . Dr . Booth—It is not necessary that he should explain any pETricu > sr coetrina . * Mr . Spoouer— You ? cnly question ou ? ht to be , whether he believes in the truth of the Bible—that is sufficient to qualify him to take an oath . PrU-T-ner—Rive you any political principles ? Witne-K—No , I owe not . Pn-jutr—Do you believe the present government a good ¦ - -fe or a bad one ? Mr . Spooner—That qasation is immateriaL He is not boan . 1 t-o answer it . Pii ? or .-.. r—Es sjvb he has no political principles , and I belitv- him . nor moral ose ? either .
Mr . Taylor , printer , examined—I live In Steelhouselane . On the night of the 24 ; h of August , 1 was' at the Ctapel pubiic-hcosa , when I saw Mr . White ; he handei m « tie eopy of a placard , now prodnced , and asked me to prict him fifty of them , and get them posted . I did 3 jx Mr . Gem—Have yoa < my question to ask . the witness ? Prisoner—No ; he is not a volunteer witness in this matter Michael Daly , poli 3 e-serge . % at , examined—On Monday , thr 15 J : inat , I was present at a meeting of persons in Carzin-street ; there were a good many persons p esenU The prisoner at the bar was tbere , and
was aidresEvng the people . He called upon them to be united , and stand fast together . Tie people cf the Jfortb were out , and were determined not to $ o - to ¦ work again until they get their rights , and why not the ptK > p ' e of Birmingham do tfee same ? If they would but b = united , they would so « n let Government sea th ££ toey were d ^ kiuiiucd to cave theii rights . He tbes ^ poka of a mestiBg that was to be held on the Tuasria } — eek following . Toey would lot the people of Biniv :. 2 hsra see that they still had something in BLrav . i ^ i . im to be iiighttusd at . They would waik in ¦ prvo ^ sicn throu ^ n tbe town . That is all I can recollect . He adv : se . d them to stand fast to each other , and he calit-d upon them repeatedly to go for nothic ? : ^ is ttian th = Charter .
Dr . -iIc ^ . « oe—Did -you cot ssy , before Mi . Gtem began to take cown your deptsitioa , that White aaid the colliers had "truck for the Caan « r , and why not go with tin m ? Witoc ? s—Ye ?; he said If tliey would stick t » him , they wyaM have tie Charter . Pri * ) E-ir— It is all repetition ana waste of time . Witness—Ha also told them to conduct themselves in a qui-t . -iui peac * iab . s m .-u : ner , for all the authorities vaattd - ^ -.. s , n oppo ;; unity of bludgeoning them , and cutting tteiu up I saiy them go off the ground . As
Sjron aa ne anuouncel thai a procession would take place , J left the meeting . He told them to marshal themsriVtfs and maicb ^ n procession through the town , after a t-. nser wuich they hid got , I then left the ground ana went and 2 ? iva information to Mr . Burge ' ss . I did n ^ t eee the prisoner in that procession . I went to the bat-r . i _ f Cardigan Street , in company of Mr . Superir ' -rd ^ t Atkins ; the procession was the n going along , &- ; . i J -aw no rcore of it . Tfeere were upwards of one ttiousiiiu p ^ rsens at the first meeting . They vera r < -rv . ;; .-
-Prii ; n-. r—Well , my good fellow , yon have risen nintty \> ez c = t . in icy fcEtimation ; I only wish you had been ii . Sun . oier Line , in piaae of that volunteer witness ¦* ¦ ¦¦ ' - ¦^ v- e hive jas : hid . I ^ ow , tell me how l ^ ng it it sh ..- t . - ^ L 37 e be _ a made a Serjeant ? Wit :.--. —L 3 st Aprs ! . Priio- , r- D . ) ; . on know a mftr > named William MartU . : Wi- : ¦' - " - ; = > . Prii . - ii-r- Y . a Were sot a sergeantlwhen he was in ¦ Binni ^ -.-. c-.. Witt ..- ^ -.- Xo . I was not . Prit - ' -. ^ -r—Yon h ? . ve been a companion of both me and Ml -: ¦ ¦ :, -nd have often walked about with us , linked c- . n- ' . ~ - ' * Tsi , hsve you not ? Wit- •_ - •* . —Y- » .
Pris ....,- — - . r ^ t clothes you wear then t Wif-.- ^ -s—Color ed dcthss . Prrsj-. ti—V . ' ere you then in the police ? Witr . ^ s—Yes . Piisc-. itr— 'Ay whose instructions did yon attend our meetings in viaiii clothes ? "VViiTsr?—B / orcer ot my officer . Pris ?^ = r—H . id you orders from that officer to in-« ina . ate ronr ^ r . 'f into our company ? Mr . ( i : L £ : hs—You are not bound lo answer that question . Prlssr . ex—I bave a right to ask the question , bewise I want to show : tm the spy system is in this country , sod thi .: no m& ^ 's life is safe . Mr . Sp-orer—You have a right to ask the question , and if &e witness refasea to aarwer , it will appear on the
depoiitioos-Prisoner—Were yoanot directed by you officer . to in-¦ innate ycurself into our company ? Witness—I will net answer that question . Prisoner—At . hat time yon represented yourself a * being kept in business tj a relation , to learn the gunfln }« fttng trade ? - Witness—I told you I was a gun-nnlshar , bst I did sot tell you I mi kept by my friends . Prisoner—What is your real trade t Witness—A plasterer and slater . Prisoner—Huw long ii it since yoa worked at that basinets , and where ? Witness— Two year ago , at Handrsrortb . Prisoner—Yoa wors police clothes , I suppose , when JOB mie made eerjeaat ? Witness—Not always . Prisoner—What time was tt « hsn yoa used to walk linked arm-ic-urm , with me and Martin ? Wm it until yo » -weie m » 4 e a seriesat ?
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Witness—I was In their company about twelve months before I was . made serjeant Prisoner—Why Martin was in Lancaster gaol then . You say \ ou wore your own clothes then ? Witness— Yes . Prisoner—I think I saw a cloak upon you at that time . Is that a dress usually worn by plasterers ? Witness—Plasterers may wear cloaks aa well as other persons . Prisoner—Who was it supplied yon with the cloak to disguise yourself ? Witness—My own money .
Prisoner—I only wish to show that the spy system was carried on . Now , ¦ witness , I believe you have attended oar meetings at Duddeston Row very frequently ; and I ask you what was the general character of them ? Witness—They were quiet and peaceable . Prisoner—In that part of your evidence where you refer to the colliers' strike , I . ask you , did I use any violent language , or give the people advice to be vioieiit ? . Witness—No .
Prisoner—Now , I have shown , by a Bort of negative evidence , that I did not advise violsnt measures ; and I wish now to show , by direct evidence , which I think I can get out , that I advised the people to the contrary . I ask aim , therefore , does he not remember me telling the people that the Intended meeting of Tuesday was designed for the purpose of taking the unbiassed opinion of the people of Birmingham with respect to the present state of the country ; and did I net also advise that no man should vote against his conscientions belief , as by taking a show of hands the people were often led into error , when they did not mean to carry out what they held up their hands for ? Witness—I do not recollect that you said eo . You misht have said so , but I do not recollect it
Prisoner—Did I not particularly warn the people at every meeting you attended , to be peaceable and not to break the law , lest they should get themselves into the fanc 3 of tee authorities ? Witness—Ton did , Prisoner—D : d you not hear me say that the people of England could get all their rights by strictly peaceable means ? Witnes «—I cannot recollect that yon did so . PrUonrr—In all the meetings yon attended it ii a wonder that ytu did not heat this said at any one of them ? Witness—I did not PrisontT—An allusion has been made to the colliers . Did you understand me to allude to violent measures , wbpn I talked of thuir strike ? Witne- % 3—I cannot tell your ideas . Prisoner—Do yoa know what was the avowed objscfc of the meeting on Tuesday night ?
Witness—1 heard it was to memorialise the Queen ; bHt I cannot say . 1 do not know the real o !> j « ct for whi ..-h the meeting was called . Pri > oner—Have yon not heard me state , that I considered it to be the duty of every Chartist to act as a peace officer at all public meetings , for that I believed the emissaries of the Government would endeavour to create a disturbance , in order to fix the odium upon the Chmist body , and thereby afford a pretext for imprisoniDC them ? Witness—Part of that I have heard you Bay . I have heard you ebv , it was the duty « f every Chartist to act as peace officer at evt ry public meeting : that the emissaries of the Gov ; rnment would try to create a disturbance and lead the people into error , that is all .
Prisoner—Were you present at the last meeting we held » t Duddeston-row , on Friday evening ? Witness—Yf ? a . Prisoner—I then spoke of the groundless fears of the shopkeepers ? Witness—I don't recollect it Prisoner—Did you hear me state that they might make themstiVeS perfectly easy , for it was not our intention to injnre the hair of any man ' s head ? Witness—I don't recollect what took place-Prisoner—Did you hear me say that there was no earthiy necessity fcr keeping up such a body of police force to preserve tbe peace cf tbe to ^ sn ? Witness—1 have often heard you say so—but cannot recollsct having h' -ardyou say so that night . Prisoner—Did I not often say , if the magistrates bad common sense , they would dismiss the ferce , and rely on the good sense of tbe inhabitants ? Witness—I do not recollect that you did .
Prisoner—Have you not often heard me pledge myself , for myself , and in behalf of the Chartist body , to assist tbe magistrates at all times , for the protection of life and property ? Witness—I never , that I can recollect , heard you say any such thing . Prisoner—Have you forgotten that you stated something like that in your former evidence ? Did you not say I advised the Chartists to act as special constables ? Witness—Not as you have jurt expressed yourself ? Prvsonei—Had mot the words I usedthtt Rims tffect ? Witness—I nerer heard you say the words you have now nsed .
Prisoner—Did you hear me state that Mr . Burgess and his force could ba dispensed with altogether , and that they wtre a complete nuisance to tbe town of Birmingham—( laughter )—that neariy all the disturbances were crested by them—that I would undertake to 8 tat « that the Chartists alone would preserve the peace of this town , and save the inhabitants the enormous rates that are now dragged from th--m ? Witness—I have heard you say the police could be dispensed with , and that they wtre a nuisance . Prisoner—Yen are the most honest policeman I ever met with in my life .
George Philip Tandy , police-constable , examined—I have been a little more tban twelvemonths in tbe force , Ou Monday evening , the loth instant , I was at a meeting on a piece of waste ground in Cursvm-street . 1 went there at past seven o ' clock . There were some few people assembled there at that time . I remained until near nine o ' clock . Persons continued to assemble . I should think there were one thousand persons there . Mr . White was then au&res&ing the persons standing round . I heard White say , that he hoped , at the close of the meeting , they would form a procession , and march through tbe town , and continue to do so every evening . He said they woald shew tha people in Birmingham ; that tbere was spirit and strength hfi at the time they were sending the military to other parts of the country . I shall not swear to auy more . The streets in that part of the town were in an
excited state , by the people being all np in arms . I mean by up in arms , that the people were coming out of their houses . I do not mean that the people bad any arms in their hands . The people in the neighbourhood were in expectation of something taking place . During the continuance of these proceedings 1 should think tbe erdinory business of some of the inhabitants could not be carried on , and they were calculated to create aiarm in the minds of the people . When the meeting broke up , they waiked in procession . I should say there wctb two thousand persons ; they were five or six abreast- There was an inscription upon the banner , bat I can't say what it was . I can't say I know who was in the leading file . I should say the effect of such a procession passing through the streets would ba to terrify tbe people . I only saw the proeession in Carzon-st : eet and Duddleston-row .
Prisoner—Yen have stated that these proceBsionB were calculated to cause alarm : were yon alarmed ? Witness—No . Prison ; r—Did you ever see a procession before f Witcess—Yes . Prisoner—Why was that procession calculated to create alarm ? Witness—By marching through the streets at that hour . Prisoner—You Btated it was getting flusk , anrt now yon say it was night , in order to give tffjcl . Did yoa ever see a procession going to lay the foundation stone of a church ?
Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Were yon alarmed at them ? Witness—No . Prisoner—Then if you saw one thousand gentlemen going from Des ' s Hotel for that purpose , you woald not be alarmed ? Witness—No . Prisoner—If you had heard they were Chartists , would you have been alarmed ? Witness—No . Prisoner—If yon saw one thousand rich men walking throuah the town ; should you have been alamed ? Witness—No . Prisoner—Then if yon saw one thousand poor men walking , you would be alarmed ? Witness—The peor are generally ill behaved . ( Hissinr . )
Prisoner—What wonld you say if you met one thousand bricklajeTs' labourers , after a bard day's work , should you think their appearance calculated to create alarm ? Witness—I should ascertain the cause of their procession . Prisoner—But if they never said anything ? Has any shopkeepw complained to you in Cardigan-street of the terror ? Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Who are they ? Mr . 8 pooner— -He is not bound to tell the names . Prisoner . —Was ttiere any confusion at the
meeting ? WitncflB—Soma pebbles wer « thrown . Prisoner—Did the procession do any barm i Witnea—No . Prisoner . —What do yc * mean by beinf sp in arms ? Witness—I mean coming out of their houses . Prisoner—Yoa beat Dr . Johnson hollow . With regard to tbe speech ; will you , Mr , ( Jem , read the spirit of one part of it ? Mr . Gem did so , aad the prisoner said—Now , witness will yon repeat that over again ? Mr . Spooner—He is not obliged to repeat it Prisoner—It is a parcel of jumbled np nonsense , such as I never used ; although some p « rsona may think ae simple , I never saed such words . Now Mr . Spooner , just look at them ; they are quite nonsense .
Witnev—You object was to frighten the people ; and o to gain your Charter . Prisoner—Were you in court while Daly was giving hia evidence ?
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Witness—No . Prisoner—What clothes had yon on that night ? Witness -Plain clethes that night Prisoner—For w ' aat object were you disguised ? Witness—I am not obliged to answer that question . Prisoner—Are you aware that there are a large number of policemen kept in disguise in Birmingham ? Witness—I am not aware of it Mr . Griffiths—You are net obliged to answer that question . PriBoneT—You have no right to say what questions he will answer . Mr . Spooner—He has ; and it is for us to decide . Prisoner—Can you write ? Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Why did you not write down that sentence ? Witness—My memory waa sufficient to recollect what yea said that night
Prisoner—Can you recellect the last sentence I spoke just now ? Mr . Spooner said it was not necessary he should recolleot it Prisoner—Tes , but it i s , I think ; he might have taken all the words delivered over a column of a speech and dove-taQetl them together . Mr . Spooner—He could recollect those prominent words ^—spirit , military , and such like , all clearly calculated to show the tendency of the address . Prisoner—I wish to know if I may have some refreshment I have asked Mr . Radfern ; and he says I cannot I have not had any breakfast , and I do not think I ought to be kept starving here . Mr . Spooner said , he did not see any objection to his having refreshment , but he did not think there was any fund for the purpose . If he sent for it hioi-Belf , he might have it . Prisoner—Yes . of course .
Mr . Joseph Johnson , merchant ' s clerk , Garrison Line , was the next witness examined . He said—I saw the prisoner fix a placard on a wall on the 19 th inst ., about half-past three o ' clock , at the bide of the Green Man , Moor-street There were flva or six persons present . I read it , and left it there . On the following day I saw a similar bill . Prisoner—How long have you been merchant ' s clerk ? Witness—Two years . Prisoner—What induced you to give evidence ? Witness—I told a policeman , named Wheeler , because it was exciting the people . Prisoner—I only want to show that this man has been fished ud by the police .
Sarah Mann , of Lichfield Street , examined—My husband is a shoemaker . On tbe night of tbe 15 th of August . I was at Duddeston Row , a little after seven o ' cloek . The ground was very full—seven or eight hundred were there . Mr . White was there , addressing the people about tbe Queen ' s proclamation . He told them one had been p » t out at the timo of tho Bull Ring concern , but that was of no avail . He said the people in the North were all out for prices , and tb . 6 y bad come to a determination they would not go in until they had gained the Charter . He hoped the Birmingham people would join them ; in a fortnight they would be compelled to do so . He said thay would be walking about Birmingham streets clamming , and thty wou'd be forced to do so . There was a policeman in
the crowd , and they tbreateurd to ttono hfai , and some of them said he was a spy , and others said stsne him . Tbe prisoner said the system of Government must be done away with , or we should oontinue in the distieEsed Btate wo were then in . He said if they would take his advica their wives would wear a silk gown before the summer was over . Mr . Griffiths—What was tbe effect of these meetings ? Witness—I dont know . Prisoner—I protest against this prompting . The last two witnesses came up , told tbeir tale , and eaid nothing against me . Then camo the prompter—did you heat that ? I object to such proceeding . The Mayor—You can object to any question . Mr . Griffiths—You Kft the meetings ?
Witness—Yes , I left it on account of my daughter , when I heard the conversation about the stones ,. The proceedings of that tvening v ? ould create alarm amongst timid people . Last niyht I followed the people through Cardigan-street , to a long distance for about throe miles , and there they htM a hietting . Mr . Fuasell spoke , and an alarm was raised that the police were coming , and they dispersed . When they found the police vero not coming they returned , White spoke . * He said he was ashamed at Birmingham meu ruuuing away at the cry of police . There were men enough there to drive away all the police they could bring . He said the next meeting be would call would be a meeting of women . He said tbe women in tbe north were holding the horses' reins while tbe men were gaining the victory . He said they were getting on wel ) . He said the authorities cf the | own were putting them down ; but Ite wuulil put them at defiance , and would lead them to Manchester , or he would held bis meetings .
He spoke of the proceedings throughout the country , and said he was sorry that two or three of their men hart gov hurt , es be tbuu ^ ht in the coore of a little time they wonll be wanted . He advised them to go home peaceably and quietly , and go to bed , telling them he should not hold any other meeting until Monday next . The people wished to know wbut time tbe meeting would be held , and ho said h « would placard the town . One or two carried swords over their shoulders , and others had sticks , and they marched when Mr . White told them . One man unscrewed somithiug bright out of a stick , and put it over hia thgulder . On leaving the place of meeting , Mr . Wiiite wanted to go down the read , bat some one said eix policemen had gone down that road , and others said if ho would go into tbe town with them they would gaard him at the peril of their lives . White and Fussell came back with the procession , tho same way as they
went-Cross-examined by thG Prisoner—I cannot swear thai it was a sword , but it was a bright instrument ; it was pu ' ilpd out . I was not in the procession . I was on tee footpath . I will swear I saw you in the body coming back . Some came before you and some came Vehind you with rtsves over tbeir ahonlders . I heard you adviae them to give three groans for Mr . Muntz and the magistrates , and three chef-re for the Charter . You told the people your object was not to get them hurt , but to benefit them . [ There were two or three more questions and answers to and by this witness , which our reporter lost during a momar . tdry absencb from the court ] Her testimony closed the case against the prisoner , upon wLioa 2 > lr . Spooner asked him if ho wished to say . anything .
Mr . White tben said , in a bold firm tone , that he was rot aware that there was uny definite charge against him . He should like to know what was the charge to be brought against htm , out of the mass of contradictory stuff which had been aworn to by the witnesses . If be had thought that it vias intended to bring any charge against liira for sticking up a placard , he mitfht have b ^ en prepared . Nubody charged him with violent intentions , except the first witness , who stated that which he knew nothing abont There waa no other witness produced who could say he had advised the people to any other than peaceable conduct ; and if a man was to be sent to gaol for giving peaceable advice , hakaew tint whit sort of advice ought to be given . Hiside : ; was , that he had acted as a man ought to
act ; and he could not tut think , that in arresting him Vbeve Lad been Rome motive over and above the protection of the public peace . His actions had not tended to endanger property . He had only expressed his opinion pubHciy and fearlessly ; and , as a man , wherever he mignt be , he should always insist upon his right to express his opinions . Ho would ask , bad he not a rigtt to hr > ld his opinions as well as a Tory or Whig ? But sime men were so foolish , that they imagined if a man did rot square hia ideas according to theirs he <> ufbt to be put down . But the fact was , every man knew that he had a right to express hia opinions openly and fearlessly . Ha would ask the magistrates whether they would not rather tbat a man spoke his opinions optnly acd fearlessly in a public
meeting , tban conceal tbem , and act privately upon tbem ? When a mun went to a public meeting and stated his opn . ions , he could be met by those who di ^ entci from him ; and if wrong , there was an opportunity Afforded of putting him right He might remark , that tbat was not the first time he had been dragged about for the honest profession of his principles . He ha * bee a ruined both in health and substance ; but all the pr <; Sfctuiona which they could ii . flict would never prevent him fiom advocating his principles . He wishad to stafc- distinctly , thnt to every individual with whom he was acquainted he had always given tbe advice not to injure any man . He wished most heartily to see every power of the Government invested in the people , because he beliuvad that was the only way by
which happiness could be established . Men were naturally so slavish that , whether Tories , Whigs , or Chartists , they would nir . ie laws subservient to tbeir own interests . Tb . 9 ou \ y way , thereforo , to establish happiness , was to allow the whole people to govern themselves . They kuew that thousands of poor people were now dying fer want of the necessaries of life . The Anti-Corn Law League had driven them out ; and when they had driven them out to starve , the Chartists took up tbfir cause , and tben these gentleman called upon the Government to hunt them to death . Would any man tell him that he bad not a right to express his opinions on the state of the country ? No man wonld attempt to deny his right to do so . Hi conld assure tbem that if they wanted to create excitement , and make a disturbance in the town , they would hunt the Chartists about , and in bo doing they would , perhaps , cause more nneaslness then they were aware of . Mr .
Hall cam * to him tbat morning , and knocked him dowa , as if he was a fellow that had murdered somebody . ( Cries of " Shame '' from the working men . ) They bad their feelings as men , and tbeir opinions u men ; and they were determined to stand by them aaUl they were known to be unjust Let them be met by argument , and not by bludgeons . They might make hypocrites by persecution ; bat they could not mak « men sincere . He denied that the Chartist * had any wish to destroy property . Why should they destroy property who produced it ? But they had beefe told that they had no right to meet because there had been a disturbance in Nottingham . What had Nottingham to do with Birmingham ? There was no disturbance in Birmingham ; end disturbances in another plao * ought not to interfere with bis right In conohulon he wonld say ; whether ht was sent to prison or not , he eh « uld consider S 3 had done no wrong . He knew they
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had prejudices , and he wished they would lay tbem aside . If they tent him to gaol , they would increase the hatred of tbe people against them , and they would cause him to come out with tenfold more determination and hatred against the present Bystem . If they sent him home to his family , men would begin to think that they were acting with justice . As fathers of families , he would leave it to them to say whether he ought to go to prison or not The question for them to consider was , not whether White was a Chartist , but whether he had injured the people ; whether he had committed any crime against society , and whether he had not a right to walk the streets , and meet in public to declare hia sentiments . The prisoner was frequently applauded by his friends during the delivery of bis address .
Tho Magistrates theu retired , and after deliberating for about three quarters of an hour , they returned into Court at a quarter to six o ' clock , when the Mayor stated that the magistrates , after carefully considering the case , were of opinion that the prisoner had acted illegally . He wished it distinctly to ba understood that it was not the right of meeting which the magistrates denied , but it was the peculiar r ' . reumatsncea of the case , the mode of calling , and the v -i > ner of conducting such meetings , that rendered them nilgai . Tbe prisoner was then ordered to be committed to the next borough sessions upon three Bepatate offences ; one for issuing placards , inciting tbe people unlawfully to meet , and another was for attending an unlawful assemblage to disturb the public peace .
The prisoner asked if he would be admitted to bail , and was answered in the affirmative ; but was told tbat he must give forty-ei <; h 6 hours * notice . The bail requited waa himself in . £ 2 « 0 for each offence , and two sureties in £ 100 each . The prisoner said the decision was a piece of monstrous tyranny ; they might call it what they pleased . He had his bail then riady . Mr . Spooner said , that they would have a right to consider the nature of tbe bail . If , for instance , be offered as bail parsons who were implicated with him in illegal proceedings , he , for one , would most certainly object to Buch ball . Inspector Hall wished to observe , with respect to what tbe prisoner had said about hia knocking him down , that he bad no intention whatever to treat him with any violence , but tbat he had offared some resistance , and used strong language to him .
The prisoner was then removed from the deck , en-• ouraged by the applause of his friends , and waa immediately after conveyed , under a strong escort of the third drogoonB to Warwick gaol . There was a large crowd in Moor Street and ihe Bull Ring , who cheered as he passed along .
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Hanley , in the PottMlw , afeout ten at mgut . After being allowed some coffee at an inn , I was committed to the care ef the keeper of the lock-up—an ironbrewed , tollman , who put a heavy pair of fetters o » my legs . In this uneasy condition , I threw myself on my cloak , which I laid upon a rude kind or bed they bad brought , and stretched upon a bench . I could not sleep ; for , in addition to the soreness of my ancles , from the weight of tbe fetters , there was a fire-fa the little place , and tbe door was closed after two persons had been smoking . I asked , once , to have the fetters taken off ; but the iron-browed man bad laid him down to snore , and he would not take them off to watch over me . Daylight , to my joy , brought one ef the kind officers who had journeyed with me , and he immediately gave orders that the galling fetters should betaken off .
The amiable wife of Jeremiah Yates , the Chartist , ( O how my dear little wife will bless her !) came aad brought me some breakfast , and the Star . I washed , changed my linen , and felt refreshed . ' At twelve at noon ( Saturday , August 27 th , ) I was , once more handcuffed , thi 3 time to another poor calprit , —a rebel , I suppose , like myself , —was placed again in the double gig or car , and conveyed from Hanley to Neweastle-under-Lytne , in the style ef a state-prisoner , guarded by sixteen of the 31 th regiment of foot , with fixed bayonets . As we went slowly , every body was edified with a sight of the rebel Chartist
Well ; arrived at the ancient borongh of Newcastle ( the town was enfranchised by the second Henry ) , I was conducted up stairs to the Town Hail , where Captain Main waring and other magistrates were on the bench . The warrant was then read , staling that on the 15 th of August ( O'Connor ' s birth-day , and the day before the anniversary of Peterloo , ) I " unlawfully and wickedly did incite , otir up , persuade , and iuduce , a great number of the liege subjects of onr Lady the Queen , with force and arms , unlawfully , riotously , and tumultouely , to assemble together at the said parish of Stoke-upon-Trent , ( Hanley is in that parish ) , in order to mako a great noise , net , tumult , and disturbance ,
in open violation of the laws , good order ., and government of this realm , to the evil and pernicious example of others , and against the peace of our Lady the Qaren . " The witnesses against me were seven . I do not wish to say that any of the men spoke wilful untruths . Two swore to seeing me in the street at H uiley , during the night of Monday , aesaverating that they krew me by my cap , &c . The men , however , laboured under a deceptio visus , Sot I was not out of the George and Dragon Ina ( after closing our out-door meeting at dusk ) until midnight , and I then had on a hat aud great coat , and was conducted up to Upper Hanley , and from thence to Burslom , &c
Otherpoormen swore that Ihad actually said , " I have heard of your day's work , and I approve of it ; " and tbis , too , in reference to violence and destruction of property . In vain I protested my innocence of such a crime : & supercilious smile dwelt on the faces of several around me . I did no * , shrink from admitting at once that I was at the meetings , and addressed the people , ayo , and that I approved of the strike for tho Charter , —for I will never shrink from the truth , let it cost me what it may . The chief magistrate , —to his honour be it spoken , —told me I was endangering my own case , although now and thon he was a litclo keen in questioning the witnesses in such a way as to open an answer very adverse to me . I protested gsntl ; again this , and was heard . I waa committed for the Assays , to be held here , it is said , very soon , by Special Commission . This vras no more than I expected : and I must again bear testimony to the handsome conduct of Captain Muinwairinsr , the magistrate , who told Mr . Cotterill ,
inte whose custody I was committed , to use ms w ^ U The Captain is an elderly country gentloman , residing at Whitoiore Hall , in the neighbourhoods He is , I believe , of Whig politics ; and in person is not much unlike Pjcot , of Leicester , but is not quite so tall . I cm also informed tbat he was a midshipman at the Nile , under the gallant Nelson , and has seen considerable service . Ha certainly conducted my examination in a * . ray that did him credit Now and then he showed an unlegal-Uke sort of eagerness to get at the truth , without seeming to remember that his questions would prejudice the prisoner . But when I respectfully urged the impropriety of this , and mentioned my experience in tha hearing of evidence , as an old reporter , &c , the Captain yielded . I should say , that Captain Maihwaring , although evidently a little prejudiced against me ( and no wonder , remembering bow the papers of the factions aim to slaughter us ) , is an honest man and a cent Ionian , in tho real sense of the word .
I bad K . comfortable reception and a comfortable bed at Mr . CotteHU ' s , the chief policeman at Newcastle . S . vw a fi ) w Hanley friends there , by Captain Mainwaring ' s permission , on Sunday morning ; and at twelve at noon was placed in an open chaise , and pro * ceeded ( at a " devil ef a rate , " as their officer himself said ) accompanied by fifteen of the Queen ' s Bays , or 2 nd Dragoon Guards , to the Whitmore station . This guarding with drawn sabres and splendid brass helmets , mane me feel I was considered a captive ef distinction , more especially when I rttbeted that my poor weak body was offered bail , itself in £ 5 « 0 bond , and two surLties in £ 250 each . At the station , ( manacled once more on one wrist ) I got into the railway with Mr . Cotterill , the troops returning . On arriving at Stuff jrd , and flailing it was beyond the dinner hour , I was allowed some refreshment , at the Greyhound Inn , aud
was then speedily handed over to my present keepers . The surgeon was polite in his examination—the turnkeys are all civil and respectful , but remarkably strict and punctual in their determination to enforce order ; and the Governor I saw only en passing by his drawing room door , but he-seemed to be a very gentlemanly and kind-looking man . Of course , I have slept on the prisoner ' s proverbially "bard bed . " Aye , and it tea bard bed , indeed ! But then I slept on it with an unstained conscience aa to the crime for which I am committed . My meals are supplied at my own cost —( or rather at the cost of my meat dearly beloved wife , and of thoso who are kind enough to help her )—by Mr . Pep ' iow , an intelligent Chartist of this place My sleeping cell is above several stairs ; it is but abotit eight feet long , and five wide ; bat sever mind that . I will bear it with the cheerfulness of a man and a
patriot .. . ' At a quarter to six , the bell rings for ub to rise : we are ia our walking-yard and day-roem till evening ; and at six we again , are locked up in our sleeping-cells . Tbe gaol is so crowded tbat four men , two a-bed , have to sleep in Eome of the cells , and tbis cannot be avoided . There are about sixty men in the day-ward , in which I am placed , and they are poor lads from the Potteries . The charges against many of them , I truat ,. will not be proven , o ; it will go hard with them . I have taken the effiee of " chaplain , " as they call it , to our ward , and tead the form of prayer , mornlrjg and evening . The prayers are really fine ones , and I feel a high pleasure in filling thia iffice .
Now , I might complain , if I were querulous—for who does not know that there is in a prison , much to a man of my habits and disposition , especially , which is irksome ? But no : I am a Chartist and an Englishman , and will neither disgrace-my political creed , nor the brave spirits of my forefathers . Your ' p , a prisoner , but an unchanged and honest Chartist , Thomas Cooper .
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EXAMINATION AND COMMITTAL OF O'NEIL , THE CHARTIST PREACHER . Dudley , Monday Night The re-examination of O'Neil , apprehended for sedition at Craley , was appointed to take place in the Town-ball this morning , and , as might be expected , led to a large assembly of the people . The prisoner was brought into the court about eleven o ' clock . He was loudly cheered as he passed along the streets from the prison to the Court-house . , Among the magistrates present were Lord Lyttelton , the Lord-Lieutenant of the county , Mr . T . Badger , tha Rev . W . H . Cartwrlght , and Mr . C . H . Mollineux . Mr . J . Y . Hunt , th « Hon . Colonel Clive , and Captain Bennett , were also in court , but did not take part ia the proceedings . The prosecution wa * conducted by Mr . Bourne , and Mr . C . Twamley appeared on the part of the pri . anner . John Collins also assisted in the defence of
the prisoner . Among the auditory in court were several females , members of O'Neil ' s congregation ; who wept bitterly during the proceedings . O'Neil and Blanchfleld were charged with being implicated in the same offence , and upon being placed at the bar refused to take off tbeir hats . They were immediately removed from tkeir heads by order of the magistrates . The charge , as read by Mr . Bourne , was to the following effect : — " B- ^ ing , together with divers other evil-dbposedi persons , unlawfully assembled together , on Friday Ia 3 t , to ths disturbance of the public peace , notwithstanding the proclamation of her Majesty , lately issued , forbidding all such meetings . "
The confuoion and tumult at this period was so great , that Mr . C . Mollineux proceeded to read the Riot Act out of the Court-house window , and immediately after the Dragoons proceeded to clear the Btreets around the hall . O'Neil and Blanchfltld appeared much amusdd with the proceeding . Mr . J . J . Dransfteld , accountant of the British Iron Company's works , was called , and apoke to the attendance of the two prisoners at a meeting held at tho Fireways , in the pariah of Rowley , on Friday last , and described the languagp used by the prisoner O'Neil on that occasion . In speaking of the Honse of Commons he inq-Jired of what was it composed ? Of lawyers—Did they care for the people ? Of cut-throat gentlemen—I Hiean tfce piid military—Did they care for the people ? Of fox hunting gentry—Did they care for the people 1 He said , I have declared , aud d « declare , tbat I owe no
allegiance to the Government . It is an usurped Government I am a Christian and a man of peace . Hs went on to say , " I will not pay taxes . I have not drunk any Intoxicating liquors for two years , nor have I drunk tea , coffee , or any exciseable articles for many months . " He told the meeting that there " was once a king of France who attempted to lay a poll-tax . A . poil-tax was a tax upon every bead . A countryman of mine resisted this tax , and killed the collector . His name was Wat Tyler ; and from that tini 6 to the present no Government has ever dared to impose a tax upon each individual . " Witness considered the meeting calculated to create a great terror in the neighbourhood . There was not much shouting until the military arrived . O'Neil had then left the field . Before he left he stated that a meeting would take place at half-past two , at Old-hill , which he intended to address . I did not notice tbe prisoner Blanchfield there .
The colliers in the neighbourhood of the place where the meeting was held are now out of work in consequence of intimidation , and the second meeting was to be held near some of our pita where the men were at work . The country in that neighbourhood is in & state of great excitement The country being so excited , I think the meetings calculated to create terror . : Thomas Llewellin ' s evidence spoke to the character of the meeting held at the Five-ways , Old-hill , and identified O'Neil and Bla . uch 9 . eld as the two parties most conspicuous in the proceedings .
Charles Small . —I am a fame agent , and live near Corngreaves . I attended the meeting on Friday at the Five-vraya Wi 2 en I went , there might be 200 persons present . I afterwards saw the multitude of colliers move into a field near Corngreaves works . A person caine up riding through the crowd ; O'Nall was that person . The mob increased in number to between 300 and 400 , or it might be more . The two prisoners and two other persona were elevated above the rest The chairman w . ns a person named Forrest . He addressed the meeting for a few minutea , but I could not hear what ha said . O'Neil than got up . He commenced by observing tbat by trade he was a letterpress printer , and had little more time than themselves to inquire into thingB . He found by inquiry that trade
was reviving—that the day before iron had risen £ l a ton , and was that a time for masters to reduce roen ' a wages ? The next witness could hear was " a rotten and corrupt House of Commons , and that Sir Robert Peel was a robber . " He referred to the income-tax , which would b 3 7 d . In the pound ; and said , the masters , to meet it , were reducing wages 6 d . a day , which would bs a very profitable thing . He said he was a Christian , and balonged to a Christian society , and would not pay taxes , and that the law had no command « f him , and that be would not obey the law . Tha witness here confirmed the evidence of Mr . Dransflsld , as to O'Neil ' s reference to the conduct of Wat Tyler and the killing of the collector . O'N « il then told them about a
cunning monkey , who sat by the fire while some chesnuts were roasting . He durst not put in his own pawa , but put in the cat ' s to pull them out He then put a show of bands to see if they would stand the reduction of wages . There were many bands help up , and one I uoticed v / aa the hand of a man who had not worked for th . last six years . There have been many meetings in the day and night in the neighbourhood , which have put the inhabitants hi great fear . Ths man who I saw put up his hands and who has not worked for six years , is a married man with a family . I do not know how he has supported himself . Tbe meeting of Friday was calculated to create great alarm . Many of the colliers had sticks . After O'Neil had done , Blanchfield , the little tailor , addressed tho meeting , and I went away .
Cress-examined by Mr . Twamlet . —I expected tbe peiBona who attended the meeting would visit me and my men , who were at work , about haif a mile distant JuBt as the meeting broke np , the soldiers arrived . Tfcfire was some little shouting , but not much . As soon as tbe sermon was over , the soldiers came up . By Mr . Bourne . —The tendency of O'Neil ' s speech was to induce the people not to pay taxes , and to disobey tbe law . By O'Neil—I was afraid of the conac-qusncea of the meeting , because of the threats ; I bad beard of the colliers being forced out of the pita ; but I never beard of these threats , until you gentlemen came preaching abeut the country .
Isaiah Northall deposed tbat he lived at Craley-heatb , and attended on Wednesday evening , the 24 th of August , and eaw Blanchfleld tbere . I heard him say , that they had bad a meeting at Westbromwich , and the colliers had all agreed not to go to work until they had got 4 s . for eight hours . He gave notice of thfl meeting at the Five-ways on Friday morning , and said O'Neil would be present , and also a meeting on tbe ground on which he stood the Barae day . That was the case against the prisoners . Mr . Twahley said , he presumed there was no necessity for him to make many observations , as there wu no charge against bis clients . The workmen had now s clear right to combine fur the purpose of supporting the present rate of wages . This could net be denied . There was a dispute between-the masters and the men , arid , in the present case , the latter had held a peace * able and perfectly legal meeting for the assertion of what they considered their rights . He did net deny
that illegal meetings ha-i beeh beld in various parts of the country , but it waa mostNsxtraordinary that , with one exception , tha witness ^* , for the prosecution bad all declared tbat they had no apprehension of danger . He contended , then , that his clients had only attended a perfectly legal meeting , and which , throughout , was conducted in a peaceable manner . With regard to tbe prisoner Blancbfleld , unquestionably there was not the slightest evidence ti affect him in a criminatory manner ; and tbe warrant against him must be dismissed . With respect to O'Neil , he felt that the case against him rested upon the testimony of Mr . Dransfield , which bad been given in a fair , clear , and impartial manner . He ( Mr . Twamley ) confessed tbat some isolated expressions attributed to Mr . O Neil did not meet with his ( Mr . Twamley ' s ) approbation , bnt nevertheless their general scope and bearing would be justified by a large minority of reformers .
Lord Lyttleton said , the magistrates were of opinion that Mr . Twamley need not address tiimaalf to tbo points to which he referred . They should * however , be happy to hear him upon the point whether O * il was or was not guilty of an offence in attending » meeting after the publication of the Qaeeu ' s proclamation . Mr . Twamley wcnld do so . He contended that Use Queen ' s proclamation did not make a law . Ttot it » only effect was to give notice of an extetmg law , and notifying to the public that the authorities intended to apply its provisions rigidly . The proclamation left the law where it found it , but It prevented the paWlc tt » a . being taken by surprise . This meeting waa pnbMdy called , and held In the face of day , for a legal purpose and conducted in a peaceable manner .
Mr . Bourne said , Mr . Twamley's observations applied merely to a casa « f riot The nature and onaracter of the meeting in terrorem popdi , at which tbe prisoners attended after the preclamation cf- th « Queen , in bis opinion rendered it Illegal . He apprehended too magistrates would deem It their duty to eomnit ^ heas . Air . Cxldecoxk—The attendance at tbe jpaetwg u question after the Queen ' * proclamation was not * stateable offence , bat o « e at common tow . ! ' The Hagistmtos , aftor oeing absent for an hour . ^ turned sod committed both priwnan to take tost * «» at Stafford . They would , boww * , take bail . O'N < a » himself in £ 200 , and two sureties of £ 100 each ; Blai * chard in £ 100 , and two sureties Is £ 60 each . < The prisoners were them removed . .
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As every thing about White must now be intercstiag , we nive iu addition to tne above from the Birminyham Journal the following letter from himself : — Warwick County Gaol , August 29 ih , 1842 .
Deau Mb . Hill , —You will perhaps have received Birmingham reports forwarded by me lust week , which would shew you the state ef the town up to tbat time . Previous to writing them , I understand tint a warrant waa issued for uiy apprehension on some charge connected with . the meetings which I attended , and on Friday morning I was taken into cusiody whilst having a look at the Times paper in Hurst-street . I waa escorted to the Public-Office by a number of policemen , and in a short time was brought before the magistrates . . The evidence against me was of a most palty description . The main part being furnished by two spUs in pay of the police .
I cross-examined the parties . at great length , and exposed a most infamous system of espionage which exists in Birmingham . The examiuation lasted for five hours , after which tho magistrates , ( eleven in number , ) retired for nearly au hour , and returned with the Mayor at their head , who informed me that they had resolved to prefer two indictments ugaiust me—one for iofl < wmatory language , made use of in the borough of Birmingham at two public meetings , and another fcr language made use of at a village called Liz-.-lls , out of the borough , but in the county of Warwick , for whieh I wouM be tried at Warwick . I then applied for bail , and was informed that it would be grained under the following conditions : —Myself in £ 2 u 0 . and two sureties iu £ 100 each , to give forty-eight hours notice . Several very respectable persona came forward iu the morning and immediately . entered their name 3 aa bail without any solicitation on my part . This was well understood by the magistrates , and tbe forty-eight hours shuffle was thereupon invented .
I was then removed from the bar to the prison which is under the Court , much the saino aa at Lceda , but was not there tun minutes before I was ordered out , and marched through about twe hunired policemen armed with cutlasses . After passing the raw lobsters , I waa brought to a carriage aud pair , which was drawn up in Moon-street for uiy reception , and surrounded by a troop ot dragoous . An immense concourse of people were present in Moor-street , aud tha Bullring , who cheered loudly as the carriage drova towards the Warwick-road . We arrived here at ten o ' clock on Friday night , and I was immediately conveyed to my cell . I have had a yard to myself since I have been here and a day-room , and am allowed to purchase one shilling ' s worth of food daily ; of course hot having the prison diet at the saute time .
Tha charge ia the old story , violent placards , exciting language , und sedition . I am to bo tried for one part of it at Birmingham sessions , but If I caunot remove my trial from the sessions there is no earthly chance of escape , for the magistrates who preside , hate me moat cordially . I am , yours truly , George White . Rov . Mr . Hill .
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To this we add the following , which though intended as a private leiter , gives so strong a , characteristic picture of the mind , habits , and disposition of this suiiering patriot , that we venture its publication : — Stafford , County Gasl , Tuesday , Aug . 30 , 1842 .
My Bear Hill , —Last night my writing papar waa taken from me , and I was told that , in future , I waa only to have one sheet at a time , aud I was to ask for it "when I "wanted it , ' delivering , iu the sheet alroady written upon 1 I felt galled at this , but aaid nothing awry . This niornhig I have been delayed for ba ! £ -anhour between giving in « nd receiving a sheet of paper : true , the turnkeys could not help this , for their hands were over full from the coming in of visitors and the calling out of prisoners to sea them , for a few miuutes each , —and tha perpetual unlocking and relocking of doora occasions them much exertion . I hope I shall nut be further annoyed in this manner , aa I have not given one cross word to a single human being since I left my own home , nnd I would not like to feel ttie spirit of resistance kindled within me . I will bear this -persecution with the equanimity of a man and a philosopher—if possible .
I happen to have a few resources within me for " whiliDg away" the hours of my solitariness . Ypu will recollect me once telling you , my dear Hill , tbat I committed the first three books of Paradise Lost , arid the whole of Hamlet to memory , when about two and twenty years of age , Tdeae , and otuer delightful treasures of the " -immortal mind" cannot be stolen from me , —no , thank Heaven , nor ever annihilated till my poor frame itself is rendered lifeless . Last night when closed up in my sleeping csil , I contrived , by resorting to this inward wealth to buy some hours of extatio enjoyment , even within the grated prison . I first repeated the opening half-book of Milton , —( in a very low under tone , of course , —for prisoners are not allowed to speak aloud;)—and then glided from the majesty of Paradise Lost '; to the witching wildness
of " , ChriBtobel , "—repeating as much aa I could call to mind of that Bingularly beautiful and mysterious poem of the singular Coleridge . After running overs few sweetly plaintive pieces of Wordsworth—I thonged my enjoyment for music , —and partly in a low vocal strain , and partly in a mock-whistle ^ called lip to ray imagination as fully as I was able , tbe choruses in the Dettingen , ''!' * Ztewm , the gay pastoral music of Acis and Galatea , and ended my reminiscence , for the nonce , of the magniflcient Handel , by imitating the instrumental and vocal pomp of " From the Censor , ' ' the grand double chorus in the superb oratorio of Solomon . I could easily fancy myself in old Lincoln , and Imagine , as in past years , I heard the enthusiastic and skilful voices of the choral society ( an old subject on which I expended some years of energy ) pealing forth " Lite for ever , mighty Solomon . "
These may be triflse to talk of , my dear Hill , bnt tme , at least , may feel a little pleasure In learning that one victim of the " powers that be , " Jean contrive to turn the hoars of lonely confinement into moments of joy , I am , my dear Hill , Yours , and my brave Brigade ' s , Faithfully , Thomas Cooper .
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¦ Letters pbom Alexandria of thfrZth instant fl ^» that the Nile continued to rise veiyslo ^ iy r andcauBw great anxiety for the crops . A board of ' WSJ " phyaiciana had been appointed to devise m » S againtt the plague in Lower Egypt . The number of eases in Alexaadria did not exoeediflro or wr «» a day .
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ARREST OF COOPER . From the Leicester Chronicle . About nine o'clock yesterday morning , Mr . Cottrill , Superintendent of the Newcastle-under-Lyne police , aud Mr . Rhodes , Superintendent of the Hanley police , arrived in this town with a warrant for the apprehension of Cooper , for having incited a mob to acts of violence at Hanley and elsewhere , on the 15 th inst . ( Monday ) They immediately stnt up to the station-house for the superintendent or one of tho sergeants of police , on which sergeant Wright went down to them at the Stag and Pheasant , when he was told what their business wan , and askca if they bad such a man in Leicester Wright described Cooper ' s appearance and manner , when they immediately said that he was the man they were after . The Staffordshire officers then followed Sergeant Wright to the magistrates , who , having heard their statements , backed the warrant , which sergeant
Wright and poiicsman Smith proceeded to execute . Smith remained on the Coal-hill , while Wright went down Chutch-galo , and seeing that Cooper was in his shop , crossed over as if to look at some papers . Cooper saw him looking in at the window , and called out to hfra , waving hia hand— " Go away , sergeant Wright ! go away ! You sha'n't see any of them , " && , aud move ! away the papers he oupposed Wright waa iouking at . After a minute or so , Wright beckone I Smith down to him , and they entered Cooper ' s shop , and told him they had a warwnt againBt him . Cooper turned to hit * wife and said , " My dear ! they have Cume for me at last—it is no more than I expected . I ' m done for . " Aa they were leaving the shop he turned to tho crowd outside ( auine forty or fifty ) and said , " My ladsl I ' m going—they have come to fetch me ; but its all in the cause of truth . " Aud when going towards the station-house , be told Wright he was to mind and never abuse tbe Chartists or
himself ( Cooper )—the Caartiats had a good cause and he was to lot them alone . Ho waa removed to tbe railway about half-past one , in the custody of the Staffordshire officers , in an omnibus , a guard of police accompanying it ; a large number of his " beloved brigade " of Uhaksperean Chartists , who had heard of what was going on—men , boys , and girls , the greater part of whom were very active in the late disturbances—also followed as close as they could : —the women were very angry , and decidedly the moat noisy of the lot . The officers and their prisoner left by the twenty minutes to two down-train . To the above statement of the Leicester Chronicle , we give the following as received personally from Mr . Cooper : — Stafford County Gaol , Monday evening , ¦ August 29 th , 1842 .
My dear . Hill , —You wiil expeot some account from me . Tbe warrant for my apprehension waa served upon me at ray own house , 11 , Church Gate , Leicester , last Friday niorning , the 26 th of August , by Wright and F . Smith , two of the Leiceater " bluebottles . " Tbe men were quite civil to me , and conducted me ( handcuffed to one of them ) along tke public street to the lock-up . My beloved little wife parted with me like a heroine . God bless her , and support her { She la worthy , indeed , to be the wife of the " Shakspcrean General . " The squad of the Whigling papers came on the espial to tbe lock-up , to see bow the democrat would conduct himself . I gave them to know that I smelt what they were about , although the Chronicle hyirocrite warned me to beware of poor Botterill , a reporter to the Tory press .
After waiting some time , and seeing a few of my brigade , I was ushered into the august presence of the Leicester borough authorities I and by them finally committed into the hands of the Potteries' officers , who had brought the warrant for me . An omnibus was brought to the door of the Police-office , and , amidst a guard , and a crowd of my own beloved lad * , I had to step Into it ( handcuffed again ) , and to be driven off , at a rattling rate . Crowds ran along the street * , and I gave my hand , perhaps for the last time , to many a brave and faithful-hearted , though poor and despised Chartist , who had cleavid tome through months of evil report and good report Again , they crowded the bridge above the railway station , and once more I beckoned them "farewelL *
The two offloeis who had me in custody were kind to a degree which will cause ma to respect them whUe I have breath . They eoistantiy said , "Yon conduct yourself like a gentleman , and it is not la 0 or place to Injure you . " i : From Derby we travelled in a kind of double gig , stopping at Uktoxetec to take tea , and arrived at
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e THE NORTHERN S / TAR , ¦ ; - ¦ ' - . - , : .- ' . ¦ "" . - ' ' ' __
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 3, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct614/page/6/
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