Three Accounts of Peterloo Part 2

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 mult.i.tude accompanying him?--A vast mult.i.tude.

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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "ORATOR" HUNT, 1773-1835 CHAIRMAN OF THE PETERLOO MEETING

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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 ma.s.s?--In a very large ma.s.s.

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 ma.s.s. 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 circ.u.mstances, 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 pa.s.sed 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.