at the same time do all this with propriety and discretion, Do nothing which can be conceived by others except from wilful perversion, to be inimical to that Constitution, one branch of which you profess it to be your design to restore to its due purity by constitutional renovation.-When events happen favourable, as you think, to just and universal liberty, avoid public rejoicings and processions, because they may prove offensive instead of conciliating to those of your fellow-citizens who do not view such occurrences in the same light that you do; because they may afford your opponents, and those who wish you ill, an opportunity to excite confusion and disorder; whereby the persons or property of your neighbours might be injured, which would be laid to your charge, though you might be quite clear of any intentional harm, and because they may, from circumstances attending such processions and rejoicings, be construed into an insult to the Government of your own country, notwithstanding you may mean nothing of the kind.

Leave all tumult and disturbance, all injury to those who differ from you either in Politics or Religion, to men of á very different description from yourselves to men who level the property and endanger the persons of innocent and meritorious citizens, for exercising the right of private judgment, to those who oppose all Reform, to those who are zealots for acknowledged abuses. To such men as these let it be left to prove themselves the only levellers to be found in this country. How contrasted is the spirit of such men, to that liberal one of moderation and social intercourse, which happily prevails among persons of all opinions in this town and neighbourhood!

As no instance of outrage and violence can be justly alledged against the friends of Reform during the late and still existing alarms, do you carefully support that honourable and peaceful character. Manifest to all that you do not entertain the levelling principles you are charged with, by a constant regard to the safety of the persons and property of all around you.-Protect, but do not destroy. Bear reproach with manly firmness, but do no injury yourselves. Convince by peaceable behaviour, by obedience to legal authority, and by that dignity of conduct which is becoming those who are influenced by the principles of genuine Liberty.

Your townsmen and neighbours, at their meeting this day, have done nothing unfriendly to Liberty or Reform, but have expressed a confidence in the peaceable disposition of the inhabitants of the town. It is your part to continue to shew that you are worthy of that coufidence. They have declared their firm attachment to the Government and Con

stitution

stitution of their country, one grand principle of which is to amend what may be amiss, from the lapse of time or other circumstances, and their abhorrence of all riot and tumult, with a resolution to assist the civil magistrate in quelling every thing of that nature. These declarations are agreeable to the sentiments contained in some of the publications of your Society for Constitutional Information. In confirmation of which, one of the members of that Society gave his approbation to the proceedings of the meeting in a manner highly to his credit; and the general concurrence, as well as the handsome behaviour of the others who attended, ought not to pass unnoticed.

Permit me to add a few words more.- -What is the object of Political Reform, but by suitable regulations to guard more effectually against oppression, to produce more general comfort and happiness, to prevent future unnecessary burdens on the subject, and gradually, as well as rationally, and with due respect to safety as well as justice, to diminish those which already exist. To the industrious, economical, regular and orderly mechanic, such a reform would become an essential benefit, as he could then by moderate but constant labour, enjoy more comfort, maintain his family better, and be able to provide a sufficiency for sickness and old age; but to the idly disposed, the profligate and drunken workman, on the supposition of his continuing to be so, it could be of no advantage.

May I then further urge upon you the necessity of letting personal amendment go hand in hand with Political Reform and Information. When you examine the errors of Government, do not forget to cast an eye upon your own failings. These you may correct by sincere efforts, for this is within your own power. Your endeavours to reform the other, though also laudable, may not be certain of success. However you will be much more likely to succeed in public reformation, when you have abandoned whatever is degrading to your own characters. From your general behaviour, let no one be able to point out a Reformer, or a member of one of your Societies, without at the same time he shall point to an industrious, regular man, of sober manners, and an orderly, peaceable disposition. By being meritorious servants, good masters, kind husbands, and provident fathers, you will acquire a respectability which will conquer the prejudices of those who now traduce your intentions, These are means by which you may indeed put yourselves on an equality with men in higher stations, and but too frequently become their superiors, in real worth and usefulness, in actual comfort and enjoyment, and by the possession of true independence. This should be your ambition, and in this may you succeed, both in self-reformation, and, united with your fellow-citizens, in that of the Representation of

R

the

the People, to the extent that will most conduce to individual, as well as to public happiness and prosperity, is the cordial wish of

December 31, 1792.

(signed) A REFORMER.

The sentiments contained in the above paper, were so much approved by the Manchester Constitutional, Reformation, and Patriotic Societies, that they unanimously directed two thousand copies to be printed and distributed.

Is

No. XIII.

WILLIAM PAUL

a paper-stainer in Manchester. On the 14th of June 1793, he was torn from his wife and family, in consequence of a warrant signed by the Rev. John Griffith, charging him with HIGH TREASON, "by compassing the death of his present Majesty," on the sole oath of Thomas Dunn; Mr. Paul was that day and night confined in an apartment belonging to the New Bailey Prison; the next morning he was committed to that prison, and orders were given to treat him as a common felon. Upon the 17th of the same month, a commitment was made out for him to the Castle at Lancaster; but some days being allowed him to settle his books, &c. he was not sent there until the 23d, when he was taken out of his cell at one o'clock in the morning, without any previous notice,

Mr. Paul remained in the county gaol at Lancaster, till. the ensuing assizes in August, when no indictment for HIGH TREASON being preferred against him, he was discharged. Many of Mr. Paul's friends were ready to have given bail; but as in cases of treason, no bail can be taken, it is hardly necessary to observe, that by these means a man be confined from the close of one assizes to the commay mencement of another, on an accusation of this crime; and although it requires two witnesses to convict a man, one only is sufficient to have him committed.

Mr. Paul being indicted at the August assizes, for a conspiracy with Mr. Thomas Walker, and others, he was held to bail with the other defendants, and with them HONOURABLY ACQUITTED in April last.

During the time which Mr, Paul continued in the New Bailey Prison, neither his wife nor his children were permitted to see him, without some of the keepers being present; and he was forced to leep in one of the cells of the

felons,

felons, which having been fresh washed, there being no glass in the windows, and the window shutter much broken, gave Mr. Paul a cold, which afterwards terminated in a violent inflammation in his eyes, one of which he was in the greatest danger of losing; he was confined to his bed for three weeks, and to his room for near three months. This defendant has a wife and four children.

No. XIV.

Copy of the Warrant by which Mr. Paul was
apprehended.

Lancashire, to wit. To the constables of the township of Manchester, in the said county, and to each and every of them.

You are hereby required, in his Majesty's name, to apprehend and bring before me John Griffith, clerk, one of his Majesty's justices of the peace in and for the said county, William Paul, of Manchester, in the said county, paperstainer, to answer to such matters as are and shall be objected against him, for having committed HIGH TREASON in the township of Manchester aforesaid, by compassing the death of his present Majesty. And also for divers contempts against our said Lord the King. Given under my hand and seal, the 13th day of June one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three.

JOHN GRIFFITH. (L. S.)

No. XV.

Copy of Mr. Paul's Commitment to Lancaster.. Lancashire, to wit. To the constables of the township of Manchester, and also to the gaoler, or keeper of his Majesty's gaol the Castle of Lancaster, in the said county. These are in his Majesty's name to require and command you the said constables, to convey the body of William Paul, of Manchester, in the said county, paper-stainer, to his Majesty's gaol the Castle of Lancaster, and him there to deliver to the gaoler, or keeper thereof. He, the said William

William Paul, being charged before me on the oath of Thomas Dunn, with having committed HIGH TRESAON, by compassing the death of the present King, at the township of Manchester aforesaid. And you the said gaoler, or keeper of the said gaol, are hereby required to receive into your custody in the said gaol, the said William Paul, and him there safely keep until he shall be thence discharged by due course of law. Given under my hand and seal, at the township of Manchester aforesaid, the seventeenth day of June one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three. JOHN GRIFFITH. (L. S.)

No. XVI.

SAMUEL JACKSON.

This defendant being informed that a warrant for HIGH TREASON was issued against him, as well as against Mr. Walker and Mr. Paul, remained with his family who were then in the country about five miles from Manchester, on account of the dangerous state of health of his wife, and whose death was greatly accelerated by her anxiety on this occasion, He, however, immediately on receiving the information, desired his solicitors, Messrs. Duckworth and Dennett, to give notice to the Rev. John Griffith, the magistrate who was said to have issued the warrant, and to his clerk, and also to the agents to the solicitor for the prosecution, that if the warrant was for a bailable offence, he would instantly give bail, or if not, he would appear to meet the charge at the assizes; which notice was accordingly given, and his solicitors were informed that the charge was for HIGH TREASON.

After the death of Mrs. Jackson (in the beginning of July,) at whose funeral in Manchester, the deputy constable attended by order of the above magistrate, for the purpose of apprehending Mr. Jackson, he still remained in the country, though going about publicly, visited by his friends from Manchester, and the place of his residence known to Mr. Griffith.

On the 19th of July, his solicitors gave written notices to the Rev. John Griffith, and his clerk, and also to the agents to the solicitor for the prosecution, that this defendant would attend at the following assizes, to meet any charge that might be brought against him; and on the 7th of August his brother gave another notice in writing to Mr. Griffith to in

form