In 1815 William Cobbett, Major
John Cartwright, Sir Francis Burdett
and Henry 'Orator' Hunt were the most important
figures in the Radical reform movement in Britain. Whereas Cobbett
had used his weekly journal, the Political
Register, to advocate parliamentary reform, Cartwright, now
in his seventies, concentrated on helping the formation of Hampten
Clubs. Cartwright's ideas had a large impact on Manchester and
by 1817 there were several Hampden Clubs in the area.
However, it was Henry Hunt who had established
himself as the most popular of the radical leaders in Lancashire.
With the reputation as being the best public speaker in England, Hunt
drew large crowds to meetings all over the country. Although from
a privileged background, Hunt, was the acknowledged leader of working-class
radicals.
Hunt
had a large following in Manchester. A group of Hunt's supporters,
including James Wroe, John
Knight, Joseph Johnson and John
Saxton, started the weekly newspaper, the Manchester
Observer in 1818. Wroe became the newspaper's first editor
and within twelve months the Manchester
Observer was selling 4,000 copies a week. Although it started
as a local paper, by 1819 it was sold in most of the large towns and
cities in Britain. Henry Hunt called the
Manchester Observer "the
only newspaper in England that I know, fairly and honestly devoted
to such reform as would give the people their whole rights."
In March 1819, Joseph Johnson, John
Knight and James Wroe formed the Patriotic
Union Society. All the leading radicals in Manchester joined the organisation.
Johnson was appointed secretary and Wroe became treasurer. The main
objective of this new organisation was to obtain parliamentary reform
and during the summer of 1819 it decided to invite Major
Cartwright, Henry Orator Hunt and Richard
Carlile to speak at a public meeting in Manchester. The men were
told that this was to be "a meeting of the county of Lancashire,
than of Manchester alone. I think by good management the largest assembly
may be procured that was ever seen in this country." Cartwright
was unable to attend but Hunt and Carlile agreed and the meeting was
arranged to take place at St. Peter's Field
on 16th August.
Drawing by George
Cruikshank of Henry Hunt, Francis
Burdett,
Major John Cartwright, Samuel Romilly
and Murray Maxwell.
(1)
Samuel
Bamford met the three main leaders on the Radical reform movement
at a meeting in London in 1815. He described the men his book Passages
in the Life of a Radical.
Major Cartwright was I suppose about seventy; rather above the common
stature, straight for his age; thin, pale, and with an expression
of countenance in which firmness and benignity were most predominant.
I saw him walking up the room, in his long brown surtout and plain
brown wig, and seating himself placidly in the head seat. A mild smile
played on his features, as a simultaneous cheer burst from the meeting.
Cobbett stood near Cartwright's right hand. I had not seen him before.
Had I met him anywhere save in that room and on that occasion, I should
have taken him for a gentleman farming his own broad estate. He was,
I should suppose, not less than six feet in height; portly, with a
fresh, clear, and round face, and a small grey eye, twinkling with
good-humoured archness. He was dressed in a blue coat, yellow swansdown
waistcoat, drab kersey small-clothes, and top boots. His hair was
grey, and his cravat and linen were fine, and very white. In short,
he was the perfect representation of what he always wished to be -
an English gentleman farmer.
Henry Hunt was a gentlemanly in his manner and attire, six feet and
better in height, and extremely well formed. He was dressed in a blue
lapelled coat, light waistcoat and kerseys, and topped boots. He wore
his own hair; it was in moderate quantity and a little grey. His lips
were delicately thin and receding. His eyes were blue or light grey
- not very clear nor quick, but rather heavy; except as I afterwards
had opportunities for observing, when he was excited in speaking;
at which times they seemed to distend and protrude; and if he worked
himself furious, as he sometimes would, they became blood-streaked,
and almost started from their sockets. His voice was bellowing; his
face swollen and flushed; his griped hand beat as if it were to pulverise;
and his whole manner gave token of a painful energy.
On the day when Parliament was opened, a number of the reformers met
Hunt at Charing Cross. We were crowded around, and accompanied by
a great multitude. Now it was that I behold Hunt in his element. He
unrolled the petition, which was many yards in length, and it was
carried on the heads of the crowd. He seemed to know almost every
man of them, and his confidence in, and entire mastery over them,
made him quite at ease. When they shouted "Hunt! Hunt! huzza!"
his gratification was expressed by a stern smile. He might be likened
to the genius of commotion, calling forth its elements, and controlling
them at will.
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