Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/149

 i82a] Close of the War to the Death of George TIL 135 was with great satisfaction that he obeyed the commands of his Royal Highness by requesting that he would express to Lieut-Col. L'Estrange, and to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates who served under his command at Man- chester on the 1 6th of August, his Royal Highness's high approbation of the exemplary manner in which they assisted and supported the civil power of the county palatine of Lancaster on that day.* This was the sort of royal approval which it was usual to address to troops who had distinguished themselves by bold and brilliant services in war, and it was now used to men who had ridden fully armed into a mass of unresisting English citizens. Nowhere was there any official expression of sympathy with the people who had suffered, or of regret that the massacre had occurred. There was a cry of indignation throughout the country when the Manchester tragedy became known. If open sedition or rebellion had been contemplated or possible, it would have been attempted then. But the public mind, although excited, had no turn towards violence ; where it was allowed orderly expression, it spoke in peace. At Paisley, the authorities unwisely attempting to prevent a meeting, a tumult took place, and the town was kept in an uproar for two or three days. At Leeds and Birmingham and other towns, meetings were held to denounce the conduct of the Govern- ment, and although there was strong language used, there was no riot or disturbance. The country waited to see how the ministers would meet the new crisis which they were called upon to face They met it in the old fashion. Sidmouth and Castle- reagh and Eldon had but one remedy for every political evil, but one reply to every popular demand. Repression and ever more repression, that was their only resource. Parliament was called to an autumnal sitting, and met on the 23rd of November. The Regent's speech explained that the unusual period of the meeting was the consequence of seditious parties, and declared that "a spirit is now fully
 * "Annual Register," 1819, p. 107.