ΤΟ

THE WEAVER-BOYS
OF LANCASHIRE.

MY FRIENDS,

Kensington, 19th July, 1826.

WHEN, on the 29th of last month, I, returning from Preston, was met by the good people of STOCKPORT, who conducted me into and through that populous and public-spirited town, there was, at the entrance of the town, a man, who having jumped up upon the hinder part of the open carriage in which I was, and having got hold of my right hand, held my arm up, while, waving bis other hand over his head, he exclaimed, "There, Lads! Here "is the LONG ARM that reached "THE TYRANTS across the "Atlantic!" As soon as I got released from his hand, I stooped down, and said to Mr. CLARKE, who was sitting on the seat of the carriage, "These people will "never lie down like dogs and "starve in silence."

[that people ever made, and when our leader so basely betrayed us. The shake by the hand; the exultation of the people all around me, preceded, as they had been, by the threats of the fellows at the hell-hole, Manchester; all these taken together brought fresh to my mind, my Letters to the WEAVER-BOYS of Lancashire, in that year 1817; an appellation given by the aristocrats, to the people of the north, by way of derision. The scenes at Stockport brought all these things fresh into my mind: I had before read of, and written to, the "WeaverBoys," but now I SAW them. I have now seen enough of them to know that they never will lie down, by whole parishes, to receive the extreme unction; that nobody ever will have to applaud them, as the base ferocious ruffians that: came from Ireland applauded the poor creatures in their country, becaused they starved and died so quietly. Thank God! There are laws in England yet remaining, which laws give men a RIGHT to food and raiment as well as to life and limb; thank: God! that there are no ruffians here that dare coolly to congratulate each other, that the people lie down by scores and receive the extreme unction; thank God! that no ruffians here, dare entertain such a thought.

It is impossible to express my feelings when this man uttered these words; it brought back to my mind all the circumstances of my flight to America; the prophecies of Long Island; the heavy blows But, my friends the "WEAVER that I dealt CORRUPTION, while I Boys," my object at present is, to was in exile; all these were call upon you to join me in looking brought fresh into my mind, with back a little, at the conduct of the the exclamation of this sensible, Cotton-Lords; or, as MR. FITTON and public-spirited man. Above at that time, called them, the all things, it brought back to my ORDER OF THE PIG-TAIL." In mind the circumstances of the that year, they were in high memorable year, 1817; when we feather: they thought to have made the most gallant struggle subdued you, for ever. They de

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ceived themselves; and little did | hounds appeared to thirst for the they imagine that their own rain people's blood. In no part of the was to be the consequence of their kingdom were the corrupt and then attempts to enslave you. In tyrannical in greater force than at that year, a million and a half Manchester; Manchester, never of men signed petitions for a last in any thing that is cruel or Parliamentary Reform. The foolish; that is to say, as far as country was then in a state of relates to the conduct of the ene distress: it was manifest to us, mies of reform. But, my friends, who wished for reform, that the there is a God above; and that distress arose from excessive taxa-God is just. He spares the base, tion; from an enormous expendi- the cruel, the hypocritical, for a ture and waste of the public mo- while; but he punishes them in ney; from pensions, sinecures, the end. He generally, too, is grants and emoluments, and from pleased to inflict on them the most other causes of wasteful expendi- appropriate punishment. He ge ture, all which arose from a want nerally makes them fall into their of due representation of the peo- own pit; but never, in this world, ple in Parliament; and that no were malignant wretches more remedy could take place unless justly, more appropriately punishthe Parliament were reformed ed, than the "Order of the PigThus we traced the distress which tail," at Manchester, now are. then prevailed, to the want of a I intend to give them some good reform in the Parliament; and we advice, before I have done; but, said that there was no remedy, they do not merit it at my hands: but such reform; that ruin and if I were to do what strict justice misery must be the lot of the would warrant, I should now give country, and that the earnings of myself up to laughter. I will not no man ever could be called his be hypocrite enough to say that I own, unless there were a reform behold their ruin with any degree of the Parliament. These were of sorrow: I will not be hypocrite, the doctrines which I proclaimed, enough to say this; but, they are and which you, my friends, the down; the ruffians are done for; "WEAVER-BOYS," acted upon, in and, without much caring whether they follow my advice or not; indeed, without caring any thing at all about the matter, I shall offer them my advice, before I have concluded this Letter.

1817.

CORRUPTION took the alarm; her sons and daughters became infuriated at the prospect of seeing the labourer keep his dinner to himself, and at the prospect of seeing the weaver and the mechanic, wearing a good coat, and sitting down to a joint of meat. Corruption grew furious, and her myrmidons were upon the alert in every part of the country, the miscreants, at her command, hatched plots and conspiracies all about the country; the hell

The main object of my Letter,. however, is to take revenge, for myself, as well as for you, on this insolent, this ruffian-like, this savage order of the Pig-tail, who. exulted in the deeds of the sixteenth of August; who chuckled. at the, Oldham Inquest; and who applauded the Grand Jury, of which Lord STANLEY was the fore

which then was, as it now is, the regular supporter of corruption and all her works. You will perceive that the paragraph which precedes the Declaration is taken from the Courier. This is worth observing; for, it is necessary for

miscreants hoped to profit, by the misery of the nation at large; they thought they could be tyrants for life, and have slaves, whose sweat and blood were continually to contribute to their wealth.

Oh

man. The main object of this the London Courier newspaper, Letter is, first, to put upon record, or, rather, to revive the record of their deeds, in 1817, when they began their base calumnies on the reformers. Having fairly revived this, their infamous conduct towards us; I shall next advert to what their own infamous news-us to bear in mind how detestably papers now say of THEIR OWN malignant these wretches were, at SITUATION; and, when I have the time I am speaking of. The done that, I shall point out to vile miscreants knew well that we them, what they now ought to do. had reason on our side, as well as I have observed above, that, in strict justice. They knew, as well 1817, there were a million and a as I, that a Parliamentary Rehalf of us, who had signed peti-form was absolutely necessary to tions, for a reform of the Parlia-the people at large; but these ment; and that, in our petitions, we stated, that it was the want of reform that occasioned the distress that then existed; that such distress must continue to arise, until there should be a reform; and that, in the end, universal ruin and God! Thou art just! Thou hast misery would prevail, unless this now pulled the tyrants down! reform were adopted. Corrup-And now, Cotton Tyrants, read tion, as I said before, took the your own Declaration of 1817, alarm, and her partisans were no and complain, if you can; comwhere more active than at the hell-plain, if you can find the conhole, Manchester. The theatre, science to complain, of any pu the bloody theatre of the sixteenth nishment, any ruin, that may fall of August! At this place, sur-upon you. Read, towards the close passing all others in execrable of the first paragraph of your cruelty, and still more execrable base "Declaration"; read there, hypocrisy and lying, a "DE- that you deemed it guilt in us; CLARATION," as the ruffians read there, you base caitiffs, that called it, was hatched up, as a you accused us of crime, and sort of prelude to the green bags, marked us out for vengeance; of CASTLEREAGH, and the Power-marked us out for military slashof-Imprisonment Bill, of SID-ing, because we ascribed the disMOUTH. Whether this "Declara- tresses of the country to the Gotion," were the work of the fellows vernment! What do YOU do themselves, or were sent to them now then? And how shall you cut and dry, I cannot say, nor be treated, if we find you ascribdoes it signify a straw. They is-ing the present distress to the Gosued the "Declaration": it is vernment? enough for us to know that; and I shall insert their Declaration here. I took it, at the time, from

Now, my friends, "WeaverBoys," let us have the Declaration of the order of the Pig-Tail,

issued against us Reformers, in the month of January, 1817. Pray read it with attention; pray pay attention to every part of it; but especially to that part, in which they called us criminals, because we ascribed the distresses of the country, to the Government.

sons, deriving emolument from the public, and consequently of His Majesty's Ministers.

for these purposes, both publicly and 2. The numerous meetings held secretly, the organized system of committees, delegates, and missionaries, the contributions levied, particularly for disseminating pamphlets, calculated to mislead and irritate the public mind, the indecorous and highly A meeting took place, on Monday unconstitutional reflections upon the last, (13th January, 1817) at Man- exalted Personage now exercising the chester, attended by the most respect- regal authority, the marked dispaable inhabitants of that town, Salford, ragement of the most extensive chaand their neighbourhood-the Bo- ritable relief in seasons of unavoidroughreeve in the chair. Several Re-able pressure, the language of intisolutions were passed with entire midation, not merely hinted, but unanimity, and the following De- plainly expressed, the appointment claration agreed to, which CANNOT of popular assemblies in various BE TOO HIGHLY APPLAUDED, and which we trust will be adopted by all other towns:-COURIER, 18th January, 1817.

DECLARATION.

parts of the kingdom on one and the same day, after the meeting of Parliament, and the previous assembling of deputies in London; all these circumstances afford strong manifestation of meditated disorder and 1. We, the undersigned Magis- tumult, and bear no analogy whattrates for the Division of Manches-ever to the fair and legitimate exerter, the Boroughreeves and Constables cise of that constitutional liberty, of Manchester and Salford, and other which is emphatically the birth-right inhabitants of these towns and their and security of Englishmen. neighbourhood, being at all times 3. With these decided sentiments fully sensible of the many blessings it is our duty to unite in supporting of the Constitution, under which we the laws and constitution against live, feel ourselves called upon at this those wicked efforts, which we are moment to express our firm attach- convinced must be regarded with ment to its laws, as well as our utter equal abhorrence by the great madetestation of those mischievous at- jority of His Majesty's subjects in tempts which are now pursued with every class and condition of society. incessant diligence and ardour, to We, therefore, severally PLEDGE excite a general spirit of disaffection. ourselves to contribute, by the most We especially deprecate the circula- effectual means our situations may tion of seditious tracts and the adoption allow, to the maintenance of the peace of inflammatory speeches, to produce and tranquillity of these towns and AN IMPRESSION AMONGST their neighbourhood, from the unlawTHE LABOURING CLASSES, ful and NEFARIOUS designs of THAT THE PRESENT DIS those who are SEEKING TO INTRESSES AND PRIVATIONS VOLVE US IN RIOT AND CONARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE FUSION; and we earnestly solicit CORRUPTION AND MISCON- the co-operation of all friends of DUCT OF GOVERNMENT, and SOCIAL ORDER and good governmay be removed by a system of re- ment, presentation, embracing almost universal suffrage, annual Parliaments, There then, my friends, is the the unqualified exclusion of all per- Declaration of these fellows!

Quaker, or other unbaptized and half-godless "poor deluded" creatures; nay, let even the beastly atheist CARLILE, whose writings the WHIGS now circulate against me; let them read the following paragraphs from the Cotton Lords

There is their attempt to cause us, the reformers, to be driven out of the country, or to be put in chains or in dungeons. Soon after they issued out this declaration, the Power-of-Imprisonment Bill was passed, and SIDMOUTH crammed the dungeons. How many victims," Gazette," published at ManGood God! suffered under those chester, on the 15th of this month; terrible laws, of which this base let them read these paragraphs; and lying "Declaration" was the and deny, if they can, that there chief fore-runner! The Decla- is a God, and a God of justice, ration of the scoundrel Merchants too! Let them, like the Devils, and Bankers of London was not read and tremble: and, as you issued until nineteen days after read, my friends, as you reformers the Declaration from the hell-hole, read, pray bear in mind all the Manchester. The former was in way, the conduct of these Cotton imitation of the latter: both equally Lords, in 1817. And, above all false, and equally deserving of things, bear in mind, that these God's judgments. The fellows who tools of corruption, these cruel drew up and signed these Decla- tyrants, wished to have us put in rations, knew that they were up-dungeons; harassed, chained, holding oppression and corrup-dragged from gaol to gaol; put tion; they knew that they were out of existence this way, or saupholding that which was the bred or trampled to death, because cause of infinite suffering to the we wanted a REFORM OF THE poor; they knew that; but, they PARLIAMENT; because we ashoped to fatten themselves, while cribed the distresses of the country the poor starved. They knew, as to the misconduct of the Governwell as anybody, that the re- ment; recollect this; bear this formers were sincere; they knew constantly in mind, while you are that they did not want to overturn reading the following descriptions the Government; nobody knew of the present suffering of these this better than they; and yet, same men. The judgment of God they could coolly and deliberately has fallen upon them; the cup of take part in putting forth lies and poison, which they had prepared false alarms, for the deliberate for us, is now returning to their purpose of paving the way for own lips; the mischier which they measures that would take away had invented for us, is now falling our lives, or shut us up in dun- on their own pates; into the pit geons. When I think of these which they dug for us, they are things, I can hardly refrain from now themselves falling. The folwishing to see the whole group lie lowing is the description of their before me, with horse-flesh or situation, which description is draff, half chewed in their mouths. taken from the MANCHESTER GAHowever, vengeance does not ZETTE, their old sanguinary supbelong to man. Vengeance be- porter; their loyal and bloodylongs to God; and, let any of minded newspaper; this descripthe mongrel deistical, Unitarian, tion of their present state, is taken