LETTER FROM MR. HUNT.

New Bailey-prison, Manchester, Saturday, Aug. 21. Dear Sir,-1 do not know that I can send you any news, because, I suppose, you know, or at least hear, more than I do: but as I know that you and all my friends in Lon don will be happy to hear that I am well, pray inform them from me, that I never enjoyed better health in my life, and that I am in tip-top spirits. What should make me otherwise? I sleep as sound as a bell, and I feel more plea sure in five minutes' reflection than the Manchester Bench of lamb like magistrates will obtain of consolation during the remainder of their lives. The blood of the poor murdered people sits heavy on their heads, and will haunt their guilty souls as long as they live.

"Let the gall'd jade wince; my withers are unwrung."

I fear that it will never be forgiven, and that here will be but too strong a disposition to demand "blood for blood.” Our enemies will not now, I hope, say any thing about assassination; they have taught the people how to assassinate by wholesale. They have struck the first blow, and have taken the advantage of attacking a peaceable multitude, who studiously came to the meeting unarmed, by a large military force, the regulars keeping guard, while the Yeomanry Cavalry butchered all that they could get at ; and in their disorder murdered alike friends and foes: I believe their friends suffered most. I have not heard of one Reformer suffering yet whom I know, or ever heard of. I never before saw such a multitude: 1 think there were three times as many as at Smithfield; and I never saw the people more disposed to be perfectly peaceable and good humoured. It seems, there were various parties or unions, each attended by flags, with mottos something like those at Smithfield, and each a band of music. As soon as they assembled, they all struck up the national air of-"God save the King," and after that "Rule Britannia." But even these symptoms of loyalty, it seems, were not to be respected on this occasion. I was as much taken by surprise as any part of the people could have been, for I was particularly guarded and cautious to give the magistrates no pretence for interrupting the meeting. I arrived at Mr.

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Johnson's house on Monday, and I was never two miles from it but once during the whole week, although I had repeated and kind invitations, not only in Manchester but the neighbourhood, and that was on Saturday previous to this bloody business It was reported that the magistrates had issued a warrant against me for some supposed or real offence, in order to put it into execution by apprehending me at the meeting on Monday. Now, mark this, that they should not have any pretence for interrupting the proceedings, I drove into Manchester, and waited upon the magistrates, who were sitting at the New Bailey: I informed them, that, as I had heard there was a warrant issued by them against me, I thought it was my duty at once to wait upon them to say, that I was, and should be, at all times, ready to meet any charge they may have against me, without giving them the least trouble. They politely answered, They knew of no such thing, or any such intention."— Therefore I retired perfectly satisfied in my own mind that it was only an idle report. This fact cannot be too generally known, and as I have not seen it in any of the newspapers, perhaps you will send the whole of this to the STAR.

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Recollect that I received this answer from two of the very magistrates (one of them a clergyman) who signed the warrant against me on Monday. Be assured, my good fellow, that they have not the shadow of a shade of pretence for charging me with high treason. But they are in a dreadful scrape, and they will flounder further into the mire every struggle they may make.

I am, dear Sir,

Your's sincerely,

H. HUNT

P. S. Do send me a London newspaper every day.

Printed and published by R. Shorter, at the Office for the Theological and Poli

tical Comet, 49, Wych Street, Strand.

PRICE ONE PENNY.

'No. 1, VOL. I.] LONDON, FRIDAY, Aug. 27, 1819. [PRICE 2D.

TO THE PUBLIC.

As this cannot be altogether considered a new publication, but merely a continuation of that entitled Sherwin's Weekly Political Register, which has been invariably the bold advocate of the only rational system of Government, namely, the REPUBLICAN; the Editor presumes that he need not make any apology for, or issue a new prospectus of this work, as its title needs no explanation, nor shall its object be disguised. As the honest avowal of sentiment, is becoming daily more dangerous to the Englishman, and the advocates of a full, fair, and equal representation, must inevitably be subject to frequent arrests and imprisonments, whilst the present deficient representation exists, the Editor humbly stands forward to fill the post of danger, ambitious of incurring, (if martyrs must be found) even martyrdom, in the cause of liberty. The question of reform is at this moment to be looked at in two points of view, the first is whether there is sufficient virtue to be found in the aristocracy and landed interest of the country to enforce it; or whether the unrepresented, and consequently, the injured part of the community, must rouse and bring into action their strength to bring about that which must finally be enforced. I am of opinion that every opportunity has been afforded the former, had they possessed the virtue; and having neglected the opportunity, or rather having shewn a want of feeling altogether in the cause, the latter are imperatively called upon immediately to unite, to rally their strength; and I have no doubt but they will be found sufficiently formidable to carry the measure, with very little obstruction.

In the words of our famous countryman, our great and only prototype, THOMAS PAINE, we might say, "these are the times that try men's souls." The editor, impressed with the importance of the moment, has resolved, that no correspondence or essays be admitted into the pages of the Republican, unless accompanied with the

Printed and Published by R. Carlile, 55, Fleet Street.

real name and address of the author. In doing this, he is aware that he will exclude much talent, but the necessity of every man making a frank and candid avowal of his principles and sentiments at the present moment, far exceeds any other feelings that may be put in competition with it. He hopes that there are to be found in the country, men, not only of talent, but with sufficient property and virtue to render them men of importance and weight in society, who dare openly avow what they think necessary to be done. Most periodical publications of the day, are filled with anonymous essays, correspondence and information on various subjects, which are as many proofs of a degree of talent existing in the country, equal,, or superior, to any former period; but, it cannot be denied, that those essays. &c. would produce more effect and conviction, were they signed by some individual, whose motives and moral character are animpeachable. In noticing the talent of the age, a painful reflection occurs, that it has invariably happened in those countries which have been brought to the verge of destruction by misrule, that the greatest talents and virtues have been produced. It is the misery, which ignorant, imbecile, and wicked rulers, bring on a country, that draws forth the natural energies of the virtuous mind. It was the conduct of Cæsar, which became so fatal to the liberties of Rome, that produced a Caro. It was the miseries experienced in this country, by the incursions and ravages of the Danes, that produced an ALFRED. It was the tyrannical caprice of Charles the Ist, that produced a HAMPDEN a LILBURNE, and a CROMWELL; and that of the Second Charles, that produced a RUSSEL, and a SIDNEY. It was the cruel and oppressive conduct of the British Cabinet towards the colonists of North America, that produced a PAINE, a FRANKLIN, and a WASHINGTON. It was the accursed despotism of the an cient regime of France, that produced the talent so very conspicuous during the revolution, which often shone as brilliant as the stars in a clear atmosphere, and was as often buried in the black clouds of anarchy and misrule, until by the efficacy of its superior virtue, it became the sun of Europe, and could never have been clouded, but by the intrigues of the British Cabinet, destroying the resources and happiness of its nation, to goad a Bonaparte to become the victim of his own ambition, and his

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Country's ruin. It is to be hoped, that the germs of revolution is not rooted out of France, but that she will again shake off her fetters, and rescue her character. Indeed it is apparent and evident, that the tree of liberty, which was planted, and which grew and bloomed in France, although its blossom was blasted, yet it has taken a root deep and wide, spreading over the Continent of Europe, a root that will baffle the despot, who attempts to eradicate it. By dwelling on, and illustrating subjects like these, the editor hopes to rouse a unanimous and corresponding feeling among his countrymen, by endeavouring to subvert on the one hand, the evils of anarchy, and on the other, those of despotism. He will studiously point them to that state of society, which produces the greatest benefit to the greatest portion of the community-an equal representation in the legislature. The editor pledges himself that in this publication there shall be found nothing that has a tendency to create dissension among the advocates of a change in the present state of things: to those gentlemen who call themselves moderate in their claims, he would say, I have taken my stand on the rock of republicanism; I will advocate its principles, without looking back to those who do not go so far; and should the breath of calumny be raised, I shall leave it to be dispersed by the passing breeze, conscious that a rectitude of intention will sooner or later find its reward.

R. CARLILE.

Giltspur Street Compter, August 22, 1819.

THE CRISIS.-No. I.

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The massacre of the unoffending inhabitants of Manchester, on the 16th of August, by the Yeomanry Cavalry, and Police, at the instigation of the Magistrates, should be the daily theme of the press, until the MURDERERS are brought to justice by the Law Officers of the Crown, under the instruction of the executive, or in default thereof, until the People have obtained their proper rank and station in the legislature, by an equal representation, and thereby the means of enforcing the execution of justice, which in all probability will now be witheld. When have seen a Cashman put to death for committed whilst in a state of insanity from hunger and or an act, distress, and instigated to the deed by intoxication; and