TRANSCRIPTION OF :

'NOTES & OBSERVATIONS, Critical & Explanatory, on the Papers Relative to
the Internal State of the Country, Recently Presented to Parliament;
to which is appended,
a REPLY to Mr. Francis Philips's
'Exposure of the Calumnies circulated by the Enemies of Social Order ..."
PAGE LIST (below) with LINKS

OFFICIAL
CORRESPONDENCE,
&c. &c.
Pages 15 to 21

New Bailey, Court House,
Manchester, 20th July, 1819.

To the Worshipful the Chairman and Magistrates assembled at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the Hundred of Salford.
THE solemn and important duty which we have been called upon to discharge, could not fail to impress most forcibly upon our minds a grateful sense of the blessings which every individual of this nation enjoys, under the administration of just and equal laws, and under the protection of a Constitution so wisely and so excellently framed; and we feel it incumbent upon us, thus openly to express our united concern and abhorrence, when we observe that foul and restless spirit of sedition, which has so long been maturing its desperate designs, and has so frequently disturbed the public peace, assuming at the present moment a tone of defiance, and pursuing a system of organization, which unquestionably indicate an approaching effort to involve this country in all the horrors of a revolution.

We are fully aware of the alarming crisis at which we are arrived, and anxious that the public should be awakened to a sense of the danger to which they are exposed; we nevertheless feel a strong and well grounded confidence in the zeal and loyalty of the great body of the people, and in the unanimity with which all good and honest men, of every party and persuasion, will stand forward in repelling every outrage and violence which may be attempted, and that they will co-operate with the civil authorities in support of our laws and constitution, in the maintenance of public peace, and for the security of their properties and their lives.

We are well assured that the Magistrates, and the local authorities, of this district, will adopt every measure of precaution, which their wisdom and experience may judge necessary for the public safety; at the same time we cannot refrain from stating it as our decided opinion, that it is expedient to recommend the immediate establishment of Armed Associations, in these towns, and in the surrounding districts, for the purpose of strengthening and supporting the Civil Power; and we are persuaded that any recommendation from the Magistrates on this subject, will be promptiy and most eagerly obeyed.

But whilst we thus feel the urgent necessity of providing for the public security, against every lawless and treasonable attempt of the abettors of revolution, we are not insensible to the distress which prevails among the labouring classes of society, in consequence of the present serious depression of our commerce. We know that the wants and privations which the families of the industrious labourer now endure, owing to the low rate of wages, are extremely severe; and we feel it our duty to recommend the adoption of every possible means for their relief and support: but we know at the same time that their distresses have no RELATION AT ALL to the Government or Constitution of this Country; they arise from the state of our trade with foreign countries, and are purely of a commercial nature; and we know that similar distress, in a far greater degree, is experienced both in America, and throughout the whole Continent of Europe.
It is evident therefore, to the plain reason and understanding of every honest man, that any attempts to disturb the public tranquility, and to seize this occasion of carrying into effect revolutionary designs against the State, can only serve to increase and embitter our present misfortunes; to interrupt the regular course of trade; and to retard the return of better and more prosperous times: and we fervently hope that such of our misguided countrymen as MAY HAVE been seduced from their allegiance will yet seriously pause; and consider, that if they persevere in the wicked course which they are now pursuing, they will inevitably bring upon themselves the just and severe punishment of the offended Laws of their Country.

THOS. PEEL ....... CHRISTR. PARKER.
JOHN TOUCHET....... THOS. WATKINS.
JOHN HARDMAN ........ T. WORTHINGTON.
JAMES KAY....... THOS. HELSBY. .
ARTH. CLEGG........ THOMAS ENTWISLE.
WILL. HUTCHlNSON........ J. S. BARTON.
WILL. TETLOW........ JOHN TETLOW.
JAS. H. HERON........ WILLIAM HATTON.
WM. LOMAS........ . WILILIAM HILL.
A. WHITWORTH........ ROBT. HAY.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wentworth, 21st July, 1819.

My Lord,
A GENERAL meeting of the people on Hunslet Moor, near Leeds, having been fixed for Monday the 19th instant, I have deferred writing to your Lordship since my arrival in the West Riding till that event had taken place.

From the reports I have received of what passed on that occasion, I find that nearly the same orators who took a leading part at the preceding meeting at the same place, and also at other meetings in the West Riding, again took the lead at this; their professed object and means the same - Parliamentary Reform through Universal Suffrage, Election by Ballot, and Annual Parliaments, but not to be sought for by violence, - to these was added, on this occasion, the election of a representative to Parliament, whenever a proper one could be met with. The resolutions passed were numerous and long; but I have not their particulars as yet, the managers not having yet dressed them up to their own liking for print, which I suppose they will do in the usual way on such occasions, Without any very scrupulous attention to what was proposed and passed by the meeting: however, when printed, the sentiments and views of these leaders will be ascertained - for the present I have to report to your Lordship (according to the reports made to me) that the tone of these gentlemen was manifestly humble and much lowered, compared to that they assumed at the preceding meeting at the same place; so much so, that even an inclination to petition Parliament was expressed: - at the close, the meeting was dissolved.

I am given to understand, that scarcely more than half the number of the preceding meeting had assembled at this, and that the proportion of women was much larger at this than at the former: it passed of without the least disturbance or tumult; and they dispersed in the most peaceable and orderiy manner, without insult or affront to any one. I have reason to think, that such a termination of this meeting was foreseen by the Mayor, founded upon an opinion, that the mass of the population within his jurisdiction is by no means disaffected nor seditiousiy disposed; that they are suffering most cruel privations through want of employment, the consequence of stagnation of trade; but I am told, that aware of the cause, they bear their hard lot with wonderful patience and resignation: but the very circumstance of want of occupation, leads many to make part of the throng on occasion of such meetings, without being parties in the views of the leaders or participating in their sentiments.

It will be a happy thing if the seditious and dangerous language that undoubtedly has been most directly held by these itinerant orators can be brought home to them: the conviction of any will be a public good; but, bad as the men may be, and indefatigable in propagating their doctrines, their mischievous spirit does not pervade the mass of the population of the West Riding; on the contrary, from all I can collect, I report. with confidence to your Lordship, that the peace, tranquility, and good order, of the Realm, will not be disturbed by these people.

I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
&c. &c. &c.
WENTWORTH FITZWILLIAM.

Viscount Sidmouth,
&c. &c. &c.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wentworth, 31st July, 1819.

My Lord,
CONSIDERING the Assizes at York as the best possible opportunity for collecting the general opinion respecting the temper and disposition of the people of the Riding, I went thither; and it is with great satisfaction I report to your Lordship, that it appeared the universal sentiment, that however much the population of the manufacturing district might suffer under the present stagnation of trade, there was no disposition to unite imaginary grievances with their real distress. They had attended meetings which had been called, not in the view of taking part in the political disquisitions and claims of the itinerant orators, but in the hope and expectation that they would be directed to the bettering their own condition; and indeed it is thought, that as far as the assemblage extended on those occasions, it was in a great degree owing to their real grievance, want of employment: they went, having nothing else to do. I am confident I speak the general sentiment of those present at York, in saying, that there is no cause for suspecting any disposition of the people of this Riding, to turbulence or commotion: if there be any discontent in their minds, it has nothing to do with constitutional considerations; but arises out of the improvements in the art of manufacture, which diminishes the calls for their exertions and industry, and has become to them a real afflicting grievance.

I add likewise, as the prevalent and I believe universal opinion of the gentlemen I met at York, that NO STEP THAT COULD IN ANY WAY CONVEY A SUSPICION OR JEALOUSY OF THE PEOPLE'S VIEWS AND WISHES, SHOULD BE ADOPTED; but that on the contrary WE SHOULD PROVE TO THEM, BY OUR OWN DEMEANOUR, OUR OPINION OF THEIR GOOD DISPOSITION, AND OUR CONFIDENCE IN THEIR COOD CONDUCT.

I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
&c. &c. &c.
WENTWORTH FITZWIIJLIAM

The Viscount Sidmouth,
&c. &c. &c.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stockport, July 24, 1819.
One o'clock, AM

Sir,
BIRCH brought in Harrison at eight o'clock, and was followed to his own house, where he lodged him, by a mob. I took the Justice there to have him committed, AND WE WERE INSULTED. - The bail were directed to wait upon me. Whilst I was examining them as to their sufficiency, three men came,up to Birch and questioned him as to Harrison, and that instant one of the three fired a pistol at Birch, who was not two yards from the person who fired. The bullet lodged in his breast AND CANNOT BE FOUND.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your very obedient humble Servant,
J. LLOYD.

H. Hobhouse, Esq. .
Under Secretary of State,
&c. &c. &c.

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'Notes & Observations ... ' Title Page		Transcribed PAGES from 'Notes & Observations ...'					'Exposure of the Calumnies...' Title Page
		Transcriber's introduction
		Title Page	V-VIII Dedication	IX-XV Preface	1-6	7-11
		11-15	15-21	21-25	25-32	33-38
		38--44	44-46	47-54	55-61	61-66
		66-70	70-72(6) (inc. footnotes)	73-79	79-83	84-89
		90-96	97-104	105-111	112-118	118-124
		124-130	130-135	136-138	REPLY	141-146
		147-153	154-160	161-166	167-171	172-176
		177-183	184-188	189-195	196-200	200-206

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'NOTES & OBSERVATIONS, Critical & Explanatory, on the Papers Relative to the Internal State of the Country, Recently Presented to Parliament; to which is appended, a REPLY to Mr. Francis Philips's 'Exposure of the Calumnies circulated by the Enemies of Social Order ...'
by a 'Member of the Manchester Committee for Relieving the Sufferers of the 16th August 1819 (Ascribed to John Edward Taylor)
Pub. Dec1919

Transcribed by Sheila Goodyear 2019

LINK to full .pdf document of 'Notes & Observations ...' on the Internet Archive website to read or download.
LINK to .pdf file of 'Exposure of the Calumnies...' on the Internet Archive website to read or download.

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