POLITICAL HISTORY 



Reference has already been briefly made to the Bread Riots ""' which 

 from time to time occurred in Manchester, particularly in the years 1762 

 and 1795, when the scarcity of corn almost brought a famine upon the 

 county. Another crisis occurred in 18 12, and the people, animated by the 

 general theories then prevalent in France concerning the Rights of Man, 

 began to look to political representation as the radical cure for all their social 

 and economic miseries.'"' 



The distress following the peace brought matters to a crisis. Many 

 political associations of workmen had begun to be formed, and two subjects 

 were continually being agitated : the repeal of the Corn Laws and the 

 reform of parliamentary representation. A meeting to discuss reform and 

 advocating universal suffrage and annual parliaments was called in St. Peter's 

 Field, Manchester, as early as October, 18 16. The multitude came together 

 peacefully and dispersed quietly. Next year the simple-minded workmen 

 determined to march to London, thinking to lay their complaints, not before 

 a parliament which had previously rejected their petition, but before the 

 regent himself. From their preparations for sleeping on the road they were 

 styled the ' Blanketeers.' The government regarded this proceeding with alarm, 

 and some of the petitioners were arrested and the remainder dispersed. Nothing 

 daunted, the friends of reform made yet another effort, and decided to 

 have a mass meeting in Manchester or near it, and invited the well-known 

 Radical, Mr. Hunt of London, to address the people. 



On 19 August, 18 19, workmen and artisans came from Middleton, 

 Royton, Oldham, Ashton, Stockport, and a radius of fifty miles round Man- 

 chester to listen to the orator, who had just begun to address the assembly, 

 said to number some 80,000, when by the order of the lord-lieutenant to the 

 magistrates a detachment of yeomanry rode up with drawn swords, arrested 

 Mr. Hunt and others near him, and rode down the unfortunate people who 

 stood about the platform. This was afterwards known as the famous, or 

 rather infamous, ' Massacre of Peterloo.' *"" 



For a time the 'peace' which is made from a desolation followed. The 

 king died, and the coronation of his successor, George IV, was splendidly 

 celebrated at Manchester. In 1823 the Manchester Reformers sent up a 

 very dignified petition to the House of Commons asking for adult suffrage 

 and for vote by ballot."" 



Meantime from time to time efforts were being made by enlightened 

 Whigs in Parliament to obtain reform. The leader of these efforts was Lord 

 John Russell, but his proposals were, in 18 19, rejected, and again in 1822. 

 But ' Liberty ' was in the air. Other bodies were now making an effort for 

 reHef, particularly the Roman Catholics, who still laboured under the severe 

 disabiUties imposed at a time when, as has been shown, their toleration 

 appeared to threaten the state. Strange as it may appear, it was the Tories 

 (who, by tradition at least, ought to have favoured them) who, in the country 

 ;at all events, most strenuously opposed their emancipation. Here again 

 the influence of that great Whig statesman. Lord John Russell, was 



"' Baines, Hist, of Lanes, (ed. Harland), i, 335. 



"" See below, pp. 309-12, for an account of the suiFering of the manufacturing population at this period. 

 "' See the account given in The Hist, of the Reform Bill, 1832, by the Rev. W. N. Molesworth, 22-5 ; 

 also by Petitioners of Manchester to the House of Commons {Journ. Ixxviii, 249). 

 "" Conii Journ. Ixxviii, 249. 



2 249 32 



