"Such are our PRINCIPLES, Our WISHES, and our DESIGNS. We have no SELFISH VIEWS-no PARTIAL INTERESTS to promote. We are confcious of no motive but the public good; and we can have no interest but in the public welfare.— The claims which we affert are guaranteed to us, not only by reason and justice, but by the CONSTITUTION ITSELF.—' -The neceffity of an equal Reprefentation of the people in Parliament is admitted by the enlightened, and good of EVERY denomination; and as this is the GREAT OBJECT of our Affociation, we call upon our fellow-citizens to co-operate with us in the profecution of our defign, which may truly be called THE CAUSE OF THE PEOPLE.

Signed by order, and on behalf of the Manchester Conflitutional Society.

"THOMAS WALKER, President.

"SAMUEL JACKSON, Secretary.”

Within a week after the publication of this paper, his Majefty's Ministers iffued a Proclamation against feditious writings, publications, and correspondencies; a state paper fo curious, that even well known as it now is, I think it right to give a copy of it to the reader in this place, more especially as it is here neceffary to illuftrate fome other proceedings of the Societies.

"Whereas divers wicked and feditious writings have been printed, published, and induftriously dispersed, tending to excite tumult and diforder, by endeavouring to raise groundlefs jealoufies and difcontents in the minds of our faithful and loving fubjects, respecting the laws and happy conftitution of Government, civil and religious, established in this kingdom; and endeavouring to vilify and to bring into contempt the wife and wholefome provifions made at the time of

the

the glorious Revolution, and fince ftrengthened and confirmed by fubfequent laws for the preservation and fecurity of the rights and liberties of our faithful and loving fubjects: And whereas divers writings have also been printed, publifhed, and induftriously difperfed, recommending the faid wicked and feditious publications to the attention of all our faithful and loving fubjects: And whereas we have alfo reafon to believe that correfpondencies have been entered into with fundry perfons in foreign parts, with a view to forward the criminal and wicked purposes above mentioned: And whereas the wealth, happinefs and profperity of this kingdom do, under divine providence, chiefly depend upon a due fubmiffion to the laws, a juft confidence in the integrity and wisdom of parliament, and a continuance of that zealous attachment to the government and conftitution of the kingdom, which has ever prevailed in the minds of the people thereof: And whereas there is nothing which we fo earnestly defire as to fecure the public peace and profperity, and to preferve to all our loving fubjects the full enjoyment of their rights and liberties, both religious and civil: we, therefore being refolved, as far as in us lies, to reprefs the wicked and feditious practices aforefaid, and to deter all perfons from following fo pernicious an example, have thought fit, by the advice of our privy council, to iffue this our royal proclamation, folemnly warning all our loving fubjects, as they tender their own happiness, and that of their pofterity, to guard against all fuch attempts, which aim at the fubverfion of all regular government within this kingdom, and which are inconfiftent with the peace and order of fociety; and earnestly exhorting them at all times, and to the utmost of their power, to avoid and discourage all proceedings, tending to produce ricts and tumults; and we do ftrictly charge and command all our magistrates in and throughout,our kingdom of Great Britain, that they do make diligent enquiry, in order to discover the authors and printers of fuch wicked and feditious writings as aforefaid, and all others who fhall difperfe the fame and we do further charge and command all our fheriffs, juftices of

the

the peace, chief magistrates in our cities, boroughs and corporations, and all other our officers and magiftrates throughout our kingdom of Great Britain, that they do, in their feveral and refpective stations, take the most immediate and effectual care to fupprefs and prevent all riots, tumults and other diforders, which may be attempted to be raised or made by any perfon or perfons, which, on whatever pretext, they may be grounded, are not only contrary to law, but dangerous to the most important interests of this kingdom: and we do further require and command all and every our magistrates aforefaid, that they do from time to time, transmit to one of our principal fecretaries of ftate, due and full information of fuch perfons as fhall be found offending as aforesaid, or in any degree aiding or abetting therein; it being our determination for the prefervation of the peace and happiness of our faithful and loving fubjects, to carry the laws vigorously into execution against such offenders as aforefaid.

"Given at our court at the queen's house, the twenty-first day of May, one-thousand-seven-hundred-and-ninetytwo, in the thirty-fecond year of our reign.

"GOD fave the KING." *

About

* Curious as this proclamation is, it is not fingular:

The following general warrant was iffued by Chief Juftice Scroggsand it is a circumstance not unworthy of notice, that he was afterwards impeached by the Commons for this, amongst other reasons.

"Whereas there are diverfe ill-difpofed perfons, who do daily print and publish many feditious and treasonable books and pamphlets, endeavouring thereby to difpofe the minds of his majesty's subjects to fedition and rebellion; and alfo infamous libels, reflecting upon particular perfons, to the great fcandal of his majesty's government. For fuppreffing whereof, his majesty hath lately iffued out his royal proclamation; and for the more speedy fuppreffing the faid feditious books, libels, and pamphlets, and to the end that the authors and publishers thereof may be brought to their punishment :

"Thefe are to will and require you, and in his majesty's name to charge and command you, and every of you, upon fight hereof, to be aiding and affifting

About this time (viz. May 24th, 1792,) commenced the patriotic, and on the 6th of June, 1792, the Reformation Society of this town. As thefe were afterwards connected with the Conftitutional Society, and ftill more, the objects of

affifting to Robert Stephens, meffenger of the press, in the seizing on all fuch books and pamphlets as aforefaid, as he fhall be informed of, in any bookfeller's or printer's fhops, or warehouses, or elsewhere whatsoever, to the end they may be difpofed as to law fhall appertain. Also, if you fhall be informed of the authors, printers, or publishers of fuch books, or pamphlets, as are above mentioned, you are to apprehend them, and have them before one of his majesty's justices of the peace, to be proceeded against according to law. Dated this 29th day of November, 1679.

"To Robert Stephens, meffenger of the prefs, and to all mayors, fheriff's, bailiffs, conftables, and all other officers and ministers, whom these may

concern.

"WILLIAM SCROGGS"-State Trials, vol. vii. p. 484.

There is also a curious paffage refpecting a fimilar proceeding of Charles the 2d in Hume's life of that monarch.Vol. viii. p. 16.

"Soon after the prorogation, there paffed an incident which in itself is trivial, but tends ftrongly to mark the genius of the English government, and of Charles's administration, during this period. The liberty of the constitution, and the variety as well as violence of the parties, had begotten a propenfity for political converfation; and as the coffee-houses in particular were the scenes, where the conduct of the king and the miniftry was canvaffed with great freedom, a proclamation was iffued to fupprefs these places of rendezvous. Such an act of power, during the former reigns, would have been grounded entirely on the prerogative; and before the acceffion of the house of Stuart, no fcruple would have been entertained with regard to that exercise of authority. But Charles, finding doubts to arife upon his proclamation, had recourse to the judges, who fupplied him with a chicane, and that too a frivolous one, by which he might justify his proceedings. The law which fettled the excife, enacted, that licenses for retailing liquors might be refused to fuch as could not find fecurity for payment of the duties. But coffee was not a liquor fubjected to excife; and even this power of refufing licenfes was very limited, and could not reasonably be extended beyond the intention of the act. The king, therefore, obferving the people to be much diffatisfied, yielded to a petition of the coffee-men, who promised for the future to restrain all feditious difcourfe in their houses; and the proclamation was recalled."

virulent abuse and perfecution, I have given the fundamental refolutions and declarations of these Societies, that the reader may judge how far they deserved the obloquy and reproaches of the people of Manchester or the minifters of govern

ment.*

On

"Manchester, May 24, 1792.

"At a Meeting held at the WINDMILL, in DOLEFIELD.

"Resolved, first, That this Society be denominated the Patriotic Society.

"Second, That the following be our declaration, which shall be signed by the Prefident and Secretary; published in all the Manchester newspapers, and fent to the Conftitutional Societies in London, Manchester, Sheffield, Norwich, Glasgow, and any other places where fimilar focieties are, or may be, formed.

"DECLARATION.

"The people of this country not being fairly represented, the object of this Society is to endeavour to gain by conftitutional means a fair and adequate representation in parliament; and till we have gained this point, we do declare that we will never cease, or relinquish our well meant endeavours, and that we are determined to proceed with firmnefs in defence of our own and our country's rights.

"Reformation and not Revolution, as fome would wish to infinuate, is our object: all ideas of the latter we utterly disclaim, as we abbor every thing that bears the flightest semblance to tumult or diforder. The arms of reason are our only weapons, and with those we hope to conquer; thofe of force may affift defpotifm, but are not neceffary to the cause of truth. Though we pay implicit obedience to the prefent form of government, yet ftill we have the undeniable right of pointing out our grievances, and of endeavouring by constitutional means to get them redreffed; we do therefore declare :

"I. That as government derives its origin from the people, they ought to be fairly and adequately represented in parliament.

❝II. That till this is the cafe the people of England cannot be faid to enjoy perfect freedom.

"III. That the sole object of government ought to be the profperity and happinefs of the people.

«IV. That