f IB UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES A DISCLOSURE of PAROCHIAL ABUSE, ARTIFICE, AND PECULATION, in the TO WN OF MANCHES TER. Price Two Shillings. 8 2 A DISCLOSURE of Parochial Abuse, Artifice, & Peculation, in the Town of MANCHESTER; which have been the Means of burthening the Inhabitants with the present ENORMOUS PARISH RATES : with other existing IMPOSITIONS OF OFFICE, IN A VARIETY OF FACTS, exhibiting the cruel and inhuman Conduct of the HIRELING OFFICERS OF THE TOWN, towards the POOR. To which is added, A BOOK OF COUNTY RATES, shewing the exact Proportion of every HUNDRED IN THIS County, and of every Township in the Hundred of Saljord. BY THOMAS BATTYE. SECOND EDITION. " If a long train of abuses, peculation, and artifices, all tending the same way, make the ; design visible to the inhabitants, and they cannot but feel what they lie under, and see whither they are going ; it is not to be wondered, that they should then rouse themselves 1 and endeavour to put the management into sui:h hands, as may secure to them the ends, 1 for which parochial offices were first appointed." SOLD BY J. THOMSON, MARKET-STRE ET-LANE, Manchester* 1796. ADVERTISEMENT. This publication has Ian deferred, in expectation that Mr. Hallows' s books and accounts, for the year 1 794, would ham enabled me to discover the extent of his profits in that year ending at Easter 1795;- as he still withholds his accounts from his succes- sors there is no prospect of their being submitted to the public unless he be compelled thereto by law ; and though Mr. H. is now out of office, he still continues to collect the parish money, in opposition to the churchwardens. Manchester, January 25, 1796. >A Co * A DISCLOSURE, &c. carp % -*!. he importance of the subject to the inhabitants of the town of Manchester, which an enquiry into the conduct of its officers involved, might have been deemed sufficient to preclude the necessity of any prefatory observations; but as it may ap- pear rather extraordinary, that an individual should obtrude himself, as I have done, upon the public attention, it may not be altogether improper to State, that had I experienced that liberality, can- <%ffaur, and love of justice, which is so much the fav- r r ij-7 ounte topic or some men's professions, and so little ^ the subject of their actions and proceedings, this ^ publication would not Mve made its appearance, ^j Jt was with a view to disclose to the inhabitants a scene of abuse, artifice, and peculation, practised in the township, that I first excited this investi- gation; and though many obstacles have been thrown in my way, by those who should have countenanced the proceeding, yet they have not deterred me from prosecuting my original design. The information conveyed in the following pages, was intended to have been submitted to the con- sideration of the public, through the medium of a .town's meeting; therefore, if any apology be neces- =5 .sary for the mode in which it is now brought for- g ward, it is due from those gentlemen who so un- ^ accountably obstructed the regular and intended course of enquiry. B When 300966 When, the business was first agitated at the. Bull's-head, the opinion of the town was evident- ly and decidedly for an investigation into abuses, known to exist in its civil regulations. At that meeting, the long lost book, called the Red Basil, was brought forward to public view, with a bal- ance in favour of the town of THREE THOU- SAND THREE HUNDRED AND SIX POUNDS SEVENTEEN SHILLINGS AND SIX-PENCE! The few charges adduced at the meeting, were established by the concurrent evidence of several witnesses, while the prevari- cating and shuffling counter testimony of Mr. Hal- lows, with his story of his friend the poll-davy weaver, and his " dusty shelf," flashed conviction into the minds of every person present. Indeed all seemed to manifest a zealous wish to prosecute the enquiry, and to heal those cancerous and cor- roding parts in the system, which ignorance, mis- management, peculation, and breach oj trust had en- gendered! It seldom, if ever, happens, that public opinion, fairly and impartially taken, errs in judg- ment ; such was the case in the present enquiry, which appeared from the decided approbation given to the proposed measure. I should be wholly at a loss after this, to account for that sub- sequent opposition given by certain individuals in its progress, did I not sufficiently know to what absurd lengths the spirit of party leads, and the gratification it feels from opposition even to meas- ures of public good. It will not be improper in this place to observe, that by the advertisement of the Boroughreeve and Constables of the gth Nov. 1794, the charges "against Mr. Unite (which appeared in a para- graph in the Chester paper) " were conceived to be " of considerable magnitude, and worthy the most t( minute investigation ; that they then called upon the ( 3 ) ** the Author to substantiate his charges if true, that " justice might be done to the public by the immediate *' dismissal of Mr. Unite from his office, or otherwise " that he might come forward and PUBLICLY "exculpate himself from so foul an accusation." Upon avowing myself the Author of the para- graph alluded to in the above . advertisement, a public meeting was convened on the 26th of the same month, to hear Mr. Unite's defence, when the following resolutions were entered into. Bull's-head, Nov. 26, 1794* THOMAS RICHARDSON, Esq. in the Chair. Resolved, ist, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that Mr. Unite's conduct, during the time he served the office of Overseer and Deputy Constable of the Township of Manchester, shall undergo a gen- eral investgation. After some progress in the investigation of the said charges, it was resolved, 2dly, That a committee of twelve should be appointed to investigate the nature and particu- lars of a certain book, called the " Red Basil Book," then produced ; and also to investigate the gener- al conduct of Mr. Unite, during the period he was in the offices of Overseer and Deputy Consta- ble of the Town of Manchester, and that such committee should report the result of their inves- tigation to an adjournment of this meeting. 3dly, That any five of the said committee should be competent to act, 4thly, That the said committee should consist of the following gentlemen, viz. Mr. James Smith, Mr. Seddon, Mr. A. Clegg, Mr. Farrand, Mr, f 4 ) Mr. Routh, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Bingham, Mr. C. Rider, Mr. Branch, Mr. Thomas Preston, Mr. J. Hurst, and Mr. Roberts. 5thly, That the unanimous thanks of the meet- ing should be given to the Chairman, for his very FAIR and IMPARTIAL conduct on this occasion, and also to the Constables, for their attention to this business. 5thly, That the meeting should be adjourned, to be held at the call of the Boroughreeve and Constables. After a very long and laborious enquiry, in pur- suance of the above resolutions, in the course of which I produced evidence to substantiate my charges, the Boroughreeve and Constables were requested by the COMMITTEE to call a town's meeting, agreeably to the last resolution, to receive their REPORT. But what must be the astonishment exciied in the mind of every thinking and impartial person, to find this requisition refused, and on a plea the most frivolous and groundless, as appears by the following extract of their letter on the 4th March last, inserted in the public papers, " that a public " meeting cannot -with any degree of EFFE C T or " PROPRIETY be called for the purpose expressed " in your (the committee"- s ) requisition, for it is ev- " ident that such a meeting could not be competent, " either to ACQUIT Mr Unite, if INNOCENT, " or PUNISH him, if GUILTY! Can any man, possessed of common understanding, read this new declaration of the Boroughreeve and Constables without astonishment ; or by any means reconcile it to the purport of their former letter of the Qth November 1794? Did not these gentlemen, at the public meeting, held on the 26th of the same month, conceive, that if the charges against Mr. Unite could have been conveniently investigated, and the sense of the inhabitants taken, that they would ( 5 ) would have been bound by tbe determination of that meeting ? If not, why was such a meet- ing called ? Why did they themselves propose a committee of investigation, if no attention were to be paid to the result of it ? Why was I put to a very considerable expence in bringing evi- dence before the committee, to substantiate my charges against Mr. Unite, if the public must be deprived of the benefit ? Let no pretence of party (which I totally dis- claim) be an obstacle to the public good. For my own part, I cannot help considering the re- fusal of the Boroughreeve and Constables to car- ry into effect the resolutions of a town's meeting, a proceeding of a very curious complexion; and I am at a loss to discover from whence they derive an authority, thus to put a negative on the public will. What! have the inhabitants of this town no right or power to enquire into its abuses, and into the conduct of its servants ? Are they quietly to witness enormities and abuses that disgrace its civil regulations, without a liberty to investigate and remove them ? I declare I know not which would be the more glaring, the impudence and ab- surdity of such a declaration, or the blameable and injurious apathy and inattention the public would manifest by neglecting to assert and exer- cise this its acknowledged and most important priv- ilege. We are surely not so totally unacquainted with the laws of our country, as to be ignorant that a town's meeting is neither competent to ac- quit innocence, or convict guilty in a judicial ca- pacity ! The nature and object of the intended meeting was not that it should there and then ex- ercise the functions of a Jury, or Court oj Justice, but simply those of an Accuser and Prosecutor, if ground of accusation had been established. Mr. Unite, as a servant to the town of Manchester, was ( 6 ) was clearly amenable to the public for any im- propriety of conduct in his office. It was for a town's meeting to decide on the charges brought against him, and to have determined in conse* quence, either to have dismissed him for neglect, or inattention to have punished him in a court of jus- tice, if guilty of peculation^ or breach of trusty or t if innocent and blameless, to have continued to- wards him its support and patronage. But Mr* Unite in his advertisement, impudently asserts " that the public are incompetent to judge of his con- " duct," and pretends to challenge and court an " investigation by law!" But will the Boroughreeve and Constables undertake, at the town's expence, to support such a prosecution, if instituted, or will they defend it? If Mr. Unite had indeed been clothed in the impenetrable " armour of innocence" he speaks of, what could he possibly have to fear from any en- quiry into his conduct, at a town's meeting? Con- scious that every lance must have glanced harm- less, he would surely have been proud and wish- ful of an opportunity to vindicate his character, assured of the triumph that must in that case have awaited its investigation ? Why, thus doubly shielded with innocence and coat of mail, he should have shrunk from the prop'osed enquiry, it is not for me to decide. Innocence loves and courts the light, it is guilt alone that shuns the face of day, and flies into caverns of darkness for concealment. But to come more immediately to the subject in question. At this time, the most serious attention of every Ley Payer is requisite, to reduce, or at least, as much as possible to prevent the increase of the very heavy and accumulating burthens, which the inhabitants of Manchester lie under. On the perusal of the following sheets, the public ( 7 ) public will cease from surprise at the disburse- ments of this township having encreased since the year 1790, from EIGHT THOUSAND to upwards of TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS per annum ! ! I shall now proceed to lay before the public some part of the evidence I brought before the committee; and that .it may appear as little tedi- ous as possible to the reader, I shall only insert one or two instances under each of the various classes of abuse ! The RED BASIL BOOK, produced at the Meeting at the Bull's-head, on the 26th Nov. 1794, is entitled " AN EXACT ACCOUNT OF "THE ARREARS IN BASTARDY, from May "1773, to February 1787," which amounts to THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND SIX POUNDS SEVENTEEN SHIL- LINGS AND SIX-PENCE. This register was first formed by Mr. Beaumont, the late overseer of the poor, from other books in his possession, the balance of which is calculated up to the latter date, Feb. 1787, and -which arrears must have been progressively accumulating since that period* This book seems deficient, in not stating the pre- cise time the debts became due ; and it is like- wise impossible to state what amount was received by Mr. Beaumont in his life, as the committee appointed to investigate Mr. Unite's conduct, was not able to procure an inspection of his BOOKS and PAPERS, which appear to have been regularly- delivered to him as successor to Mr. Beaumont. Jn this Book, there are Twelve Hundred and Twenty-eight, persons mentioned, and it is rather Extraordinary that Mr. Edgely should have only received from Mr. Unite two hundred and ninety- three orders of filiation, which orders are necessary to enforce the payment of the arrears. Will any man, man, possessed of common understanding, sup-* pose that all the bastardy accounts, which appear posted up to Feb. 1787, could have been closed by Mr. Beaumont in two years? If the pub ic are credulous enough to believe that all the chil- dren belonging to Six Hundred and Fourteen Fa- thcrs % or the children born since the year 1787, died before the year 1790, I shall then admit, that the RED BASIL BOOK was of no use, but justly closed at the death of Mr. Beaumont. It is likewise somewhat extraordinary that this register should have been delivered to Mr. Hal- lows, when it was the appointed department of Mr. Edgley to keep these accounts ! It appears ihat Mr. Edgley has kept the bastardy accounts since July 1790, when he applied to Mr. Unite for all the accounts in his possession t but never saw the Red Basil Book before the meeting at the Bijil's- head, nor ever knew that Mr. Hallows was in possession of it; that he heard some months after he came into office, in the year 1790, that there was such a book; but that he never saw any regular accounts of BASTARDY MONEY before he came into office,! so that there does not appear any regular register of illegitimacy kept frvm the year 1787 to the year 1790, nor any balance to have been received from Mr. Unite when he quitted the office of overseer ! Mr. Edgley has justly observed, that this book would have been of in- finite service to him in the keeping of these ac- counts, for that he experienced much inconveni- ence from the circumstance of only receiving from Mr. Unite, when he came into office, A FEW LOOSE SHEETS OF PAPER !! Well might Mr. Edgley make this complaint on the irregularity of his predecessor's conduct, in furnishing him only with scattered and confused sheets ( 9 ) ihdets of paper, which, instead of elucidating, must have involved him in doubt and obscurity, and afforded him no clue whatever to the nature and duties of his new office. In short, they might justly be compared to the faint glimmerings of our thinly-scattered police lamps, which serve only to make " darkness -visible" and to bewilder, where they should guide and direct. Mr. Edgley, however, soon finding these ille- gitimate concerns to encrease on his hands, very properly opened a new set of books, for the ex- press purpose of recording these transactions; the begetting of bastards, seem$ to have been a part cf the parish business, totally unknown to Mr. Unite, as overseer. By the minutes taken at the Bull's-head meet- ing, by Messrs. Milne and Sergeant, it appears by the testimony of Mr. Hallows, that he did not receive the Red Book in question, till three months after he came into office, that he after- wards wisely called in his friend Leyland, the poll- davy weaver, to assist him in the examination of it, when their united opinion judged it not worth Five Shillings ! This, Mr. Hallows says, was his 4nly reason, for keeping it so long upon his " dusty ** shelf;" but if I may be allowed to differ from these gentlemen in opinion, I should think it a heap purchase at Five Hundred Guineas, to have it regularly transferred, with its necessary vouch- ers, and security given to have such sums of money returned as may appear to have been collect- ed, and by MISTAKE unentered ! The account given by Mrs. Hallows, relative to the delivery of this book, agrees with that giv- en by her husband, except that it was delivered some time after the other books. That she thought the reason of its then being brought was, that Mrs. Bfaumont, widow of the late overseer, had ex- C pressed pressed some doubts to Mr. Hallows, as to the propriety of Mr. Unite's keeping the book, and receiving monies from it. And that Mr. Hallows was greatly distressed when he came into office, for want of the proper BOOKS and PAPERS being delivered to him. The notes extracted from the Red Book, can by no means be said to constitute its value, though Mr. Unite positively asserted, that Mr. Beau-nont sent for him to Eccles, when he was on his death- bed, to tell him that the Red Basil Book was of no use whatever : yet there appears to be the names of many persons of property and respectability, from whom a considerable sum might be collect- ed, if it had not already been received, of which I can find no account in the book. It is like- wise very improbable that Mr. Hallows, and his friend Leyland, should form such an opinion, that the book was of no value, for it evidently ap- pears that some persons must have thought dif- ferently, or they would not have taken the trouble to foist in a deceptive alteration, which is a con- vincing proof that it had not entirely been un- noticed. It likewise appears that Mr. Unite had received many sums of money from persons named therein, that he called upon a gentleman in the neighbourhood of Manchester, who paid him the amount of the balance therein specified, which sum of money Mr. Unite has not accounted for ! Yet, in the minutes taken by Messrs. Milne and Sergeant, at the meeting at the Bull's-head, Mr. Unite declares that he never received any monies from the Red Book. Messrs. Harrop and Wheel- er, in their papers, both mention Mr. Unite to have answered every question unequivocally, and that he never had received a farthing from the book in question. From the information - which Mr. Hallows, who) (who succeeded Mr. Unite in the office of over- seer) must be capable of conveying to the public, it was thought proper to request his attendance, but he refused to appear. The committee were in- duced to repeat their request, representing to him, that he would be treated with great respect, as they were appointed at a numerous town's meeting, to make a particular investigation, and that it was thought necessary to call upon him to facilitate the same, but he again refused giving the necessary information. It ought to be remembered, that Mr. Hallows at that time received a salary of ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS a year, as one of the deputy overseers of the town. The following examination forms a charge of a very serious nature. James Taylor, musician, says, that about Easter, 1789, he was employed by the church-wardens and overseers of the poor, as an assistant to Mr. Beaumont, the standing overseer of Manchester, that he does not recollect, during his employment with Mr. Beaumont, that the Red Book was ever omitted being brought Jor the inspection oj the magis- trates at the weekly sessions^ that it was written by Mr. Beaumont, who calculated the arrears up to 1787, and that it was of great service to him, in the collection of the out-standing bastardy money > as he could immediately have referred to any ac- count, having arranged them in alphabetical order; that it was his department to visit the poor, and report their situation ; that he continued assistant to the said Mr. Beaumont from that time until his death, which was about July 1790; says, that during all the time he was assistant, when applica- tion was made to Mr. Beaumont, by poor people belonging to other parishes, he visited them to see whether they were sick, or in distress, and if they were, were, Mr. Beaumont wrote to the overseer of the parish where they belonged, and informed him of their situation, and what they earned weekly, at the same time begged to know if it were agreeable that they should be relieved, and to what extent, and if the township of Manchester would be in- demnified for the same, otherwise they would be removed. The overseers in their answer, gener- ally requested Mr. Beaumont to relieve them, as he would his own poor, holding their townships responsible for repayment. Says, Mr. Beaumont, on receipt of such answers and promised indem- nity, relieved them by an order upon the cashier, or pay-master of the town's money, with such sums as he thought necessary, and as he from time to time specified in each order. That in relieving such poor, who were every day very numerous, Mr. Beaumont made it a constant and invariable prac- tice to write the parish, township, or place, to which each pauper belonged, at the foot of every note, in order that the cashier might debit such town- ship, parish, or place with the amount of each mm paid; that Mr. Wharmby was cashier the first part of the time he was assistant, and Mr. Edgky during the latter, and that it was agreed and per- fectly understood among them, that when the PAR- ISH, TOWNSHIP, or PLACE, to which the persons sent to be relieved, was not inserted in the note, they were in that case understood by the cashier to belong to Manchester. Says, when Mr. Beau- mont was either going himself, or sending him, this examinant, any journey into the country, about removals, or bastardy warrants, or upon any town's business, the cashier was previously applied to for the account of monies owing by the respec- tive overseers, that happened to be in or near the rout of their intended journey, which was always made out, and the money collected accordingly. Says, ( '3 ) Says, when Mr. Beaumont sent him, this examin- ant, any journey on the town's business, he always required the particulars of the expences in writing, which were regularly noted. Says, that after the death of Mr. Beaumont, this examinant continued for some time the practice of relieving the poor belonging to other places, by inserting the parish^ township, or place, to which they respectively be- longed, at the bottom of each note, for a short time, until it was observed by Mr. Unite, who dis- approved of the practice, and ordered him to dis- continue it, and to tear the two notes he had just made out. This examinant says, that he told Mr. Unite that it was Mr. Beaumont's prac- tice, in order that the cashier might know to what flace they belonged, and to prevent them from being entered as MANCHESTER POOR, to which Mr. Unite replied, " what is it to me where they " belong, so that I keep an account of them myself." Mr. Unite then ordered this examinant to write the two notes again, and not to insert the place to which the paupers belonged; that when he had written them, Mr. Unite pulled out a small memorandum book from his pocket, and wrote down the names of the pauper s> the places to which they belonged, and the sum ordered to be paid. Says, that from the time Mr. Unite ordered him to destroy the notes, (which was about two months after he was appointed overseer, until he, this examinant, left his service, at Shrove-tide, 1791) he discontinued the above practice adopted by Mr. Beaumont, and also the practice of entering the particulars of the expences of each journey, and instead thereof entered the same in a gross sum. Says, he has frequently seen Mr. Unite make entries in pri- vate memorandum books, to which this examinant never had access. Says, after the above prac- tice was discontinued, he, this examinant, when any ( 14 ) any journey was to be taken into the country, was never sent to Mr. Edgley for the accounts 0 . OY-O O . "f N O g " - t " - IO 01 P_i 6 d r*- ci "^ . o c >, CO 00^ ^3 W > N ^ C< 5 1 - CJ , CI 1 vo 'O O co *J 1 L_( rl tQ . ^1 CO 3 . *s j ^ r~ co co J; *^ cr> J" c/5 - IH M w ? r ~^~* > , gi^ CO O ** 08 g c^ ^ ^ c o 10 a O -.2 ^^ o c ^ < .ti . .^ .5 i ^~ Q Q P Q ** "ra Cu 3 O CO**O ^J* /^ ^" ^- >O ^, f-1 t- Q Q 3 . 1C O U3 o C, ^ COO C4 HH ^ ^^CTiCOr-. ^|COC^ 1 OO K *% OO t*l 4 Oi r-^o co H ** ** ^4 W) ^ ;co -< 4 cl CT> f_, CO o CO W 10 rt H IT. . ~ CT'. o . r- . t j-^ U U C- " . u < C c ^ ci -2 c 5 2 PU r ^^5 ^, a -tf n _ o C- p" 1 ^ 'c o u *"^ C ^-t C ^H r; OS U (/) CO ^^ , . w) ,-C ^ V _v ^ -G *i CA C ~"S s cJ 3 -al M M ^ t. ja c T\ > CO II H ^ ~i ^7 ^ ^ a 0> ( < > > r-j . Q CO > ' -^ ITI i " ^ co K ^ 2 o H e i ] 03 , u] s nj ^^ c*^ * H S K ^VO 3 ^D C > C P> - "* i t <^ ^ a ~ C c H.H ** W ^ ^ > H o w -\ Q"> c O C ^c 3 J r-l ^ ^ w <-< co s" r^ O ^^ H t M " s i ^ ^ 2 H D J3 | * H Q 5^" i i 3 ^ Z > ~ H W H o> Nj Z ** Ld $4 ^ * H > j ^C ^^^ CxJ R cr> m co *^> | T^ Q "S '_^ ^ 5 "^ .;,, r ^*"! 3^ t r, ^ *^_ p. c vo Q> t rtC^ K w 13 C H Q Kl ( 36 ) It is curious to remark, that during the period in which this surprising decrease in the consump- tion of butchers' meat took place, there was an av- erage increase of TWO HUNDRED AND SIX PAUPERS WITHIN, and a still greater number WITHOUT doors, and all the poor were as well sup- plied with provisions, as in the preceding year ! And what is still more extraordinary, notwithstanding this increase in the poor, and the great advance in the price of wheat, oatmeal, and potatoes, added to the expence of erecting a large range of buildings, besides no sales whatever being made of spun cot- ton, yet the animal expences of the house were diminished more than TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED POUNDS! and the funds of the year 1793, after an ample allowance for losses and errors, proved FIFTEEN HUNDRED POUNDS superior to the calculation in favour of the town, at the commencement of that year, and leftasurplusof FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS! These beneficial effects may be justly attributed to the constant and judicious attention of the gentle- men who have so laudably exerted themselves to correct the parochial abuses of Liverpool. And I must not omit to do justice to the characters of Mr. Halliday the treasurer, and the overseers of that town, who favoured me with an inspection into their books, which exhibit a precedent highly worthy the imitation, not only of the overseers of Manchester, but of all the parish officers in the king- dom. Many other surrounding townships, not- withstanding the badness of the times, and the great price of provisions, have more or less decreased their annual disbursements, whilst a kind of party spirit in Manchester, continues an obstacle to the benefit which the public would derive from the reg- ulations and instructions suggested by the Report of the Associated Ley-payers, and this is permitted to ( 37 ) to exist, though the town is burthened with a debt of more than FOURTEEN .THOUSAND POUNDS ! besides the annual expenditure hav- ing increased, since the year 1790, from EIGHT THOUSAND to upwards of TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS per annum ! The following accounts are selected from the printed Report of Birmingham, beginning with Easter 1786, in which I have made a comparative statement with those of Manchester. From Easter 1786 to Easter 1787. Ccmpositionmoney>(inManches- ter termed " Hushmoney" ) %^ 18 O Certificate cases REPAID by other parishes 325 3 10 670 1 1O Easter 1787 to Easter 1788. Composition money t &c 332 3 o Certificate cases 246 6 4 -- 57 8 9 4 ^1248 11 2 The following is a MANCHESTER STATEMENT during the period of Mr. Unite's overseership. April 2<)th, 1790, to April zgth 1791. Composition money , (WISELY termed " Hush money") from four gentle- men 101 5 O To cash from the overseers oj other par- ishes for board of their poor in our workhouses-weekly payments by order of country overseers, certificate cases* and pensions, &c. &c. only said to be re- ceived this year 26 11 O 127 16 ( 38 ) Brought forward 127 i6 o from May zd t 1791, to May zd, 1792. Composition,or"Hushmoncy," from four gentlemen 117 10 .O To cash of country overseers, &c 31 2 O r- 14^ 12; O 276 8 o which makes a difference of the receipts in cash, in "HUSH -MONEY/' and CERTIFICATE CASES alone, 97 2 35. It appears from the head overseer's books, that there has only been received twenty-nine founds eight shillings and six-pence for ALL the boarders in die Manchester workhouse for TWO YEARS! and in the above time there only appears credit given for EIGHT SHILLINGS for ONE WOMAN lying-in, and one pound sixteen shillings for Jihation orders. On the 4th, 15th, igth, and 23d of June 1790, (the time of Mr. Beaumont's indisposition) Mr. Unite appears regularly to have paid Mr. Farrington for four filiation orders, at six shil- lings each; but, after the death of Mr. Beaumont, which was on the 3Oth of the same month, Mr. Unite does not appear to have accounted for a single order, during the following ten months of Mr. Farrington's churchwardenship. The next that appears entered is the 19^1 of December 1791, after a lapse of eighteen months. An- other entry is made of six shillings for one of these orders on the 2ist of January 1792; but on the i6th of May following Mr. Unite has accounted for one hundred and eight orders, a- mounting to THIRTY-TWO POUNDS EIGHT SHIL- It should be noticed, that this money is ( 39 ) is received by separate payments, casually made, at six shillings each, during a period of more than TWO YEARS ! For the appearance of this sum, I rather believe the town is indebted to Mr. Edgley, he having, in the absence of Mr. Unite, received one or both of the intermediate sums, which he took to Mr. Horsfall the treasurer; and on ex- plaining to him the nature of these accounts, and the monies received, he declared it was the first cash he had ever received on the same occasion. On which Mr. Edgley observed with some sur- prize, that it was not the first by many that he OUGHT TO HAVE RECEIVED ! This accounts in some measure, for the credit given for the sum of thirty-two pounds eight shillings, after more than a two years collection, in a GROSS SUM ! In my Reply to Mr. Unite, page 15 to 20, there is a complete jumble of accounts, or chapter of confusion, collector, churchwarden, overseer, &c. &c. .all appear in the wrong. Mr. Edgley's dis- bursements, amounting to / 2377 195. io%d. are cast up ^2419. 65. 50?. a difference in his favour of 4 1 . 6s. 6 d. But this account, as well as the ac- counts of those higher in office, wa)' in all probability proceed from MISTAKE, yet I am inclined to think, had this sum of 4.1. 6s. 6~d. been against Mr. Edgley, it would have stood a better chance of be- ing found out at the close of the year, and not have been passed " ADJUSTED, EXAMINED," and ATTESTED UPON OATH ! ! When mistakes are numerous, and ALL appear tending the same way, every unprejudiced reader must naturally think unfavourably. In the bastardy account there appears to have been paid in two years, commencing April 1790, and ending May 2d, 1792 2650. And ( 40 ) Brought forward ^2650. And in the same period we appear to have received only > 820. Loss 1320* which is a. difference of near seventy per cent. while most of the large towns through the king- dom make this a profitable concern. In the Re- port published at STOCKPORT, June i794> the entries are as follow. To cash received on bastardy account .... 85 7 4 By ditto paid on ditto 77 4 3 PROFIT % S 3 i The above accounts shew a saving of more than ten and a quarter per cent, whilst our immaculate overseers lose near seventy per cent. To what motives must the public attribute this astonishing loss ? for supposing the officers of Stockport had transacted business to the extent of that in Manchester, the parish of Stockport would have gained ten and a quarter per cent, amounting to more than TWO HUNDRED AND SEV- ENTY-ONE POUNDS! which would have been applied to the relief of the poor, IN RE- DUCTION OF THE RATES TO BE LEVIED ON THE INHABITANTS; but, by the management of the overseers of Manchester, there is a biennial loss of EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY POUNDS! which occasions additional rates to be levied on the inhabitants, by a comparative calcu- lation of our/oisand their gam, of more than TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS. And it is still more extraordinary that this difference should exist be- tween two manufacturing towns not SEVEN MILES DISTANT from each other. Mr. Edgley, in March 1794, at the request of the Associated Ley-payers, gave in an account of the arrears in bastardy, which (exclusive of the arrears arrears contained in the Red Basil Book) amount- ed to twelve hundred and forty pounds, though this suin did not constitute the whole of the ar- rears subsequent to the dates of the said book. It likewise appears from the dates of the BASTARDY OR.DE.RS, that a great part of these subsequent ar- rears originated in Mr. Unite's overseership, and though there is not a less number than TWO HUN- DRED AND FORTY-SIX defaulters, yet, I do not find the amount of Jive pounds accounted for by Mr. JJnite during the whole course of his overseership. There appear on the face of these accounts ma.iy people of property and credit, that are indebted very considerable sums, of several years standing, and who have not till within these few weeks been applied to. The very confused state of these ac- counts, and Mr. Hallows not having yet given up his books, prevent the present overseers from collecting these balances. They are, likewise, afraid of issuing warrants, lest the accounts should be found settled and the monies not accounted for, which would, in that cage, subject them to an action for false imprisonment. We have a recent instance of this sort, where a second warrant was granted for arrears in bastardy, though security was lodged in the hands of the overseer for the payment of the first t the circumstance of no memorandum being made, nor credit given in the late overseers books, caused a journey to Leeds, where the mys- tery was unravelled. In the accounts of bastardy, which constitute part of the above balance, it appears that Mr. Unite has received different sums, which I cannot jind credit given for. Mrs. Hallows, likewise, gives an account of Mr. Unite being in possession of a note of hand, which appears in the list given in by- Mr. Edgley, the balance whereof is twelve pounds shillings. In the same book there appears an G account ( 4* ) account open since the year 1789, where no cred- it is given by Mr. Unite, though I am in posses- sion of many of his receipts, signed R. UNITT, given at the lime he was OVERSEER, and 'which he continued to receive during his CON STABLES HIP, to a considerable amount ! If epistolary evidence may be relied on, Mr. Hallowshzs received many sums in bastardy, dstacll as on other accounts, that he may, in all probability, in the hurry of business, have onjitted to enter. It is, in my opinion, highly necessary, that these books should undergo an immediate inspection. Surely it is a time most fit to correct abuses of this na- .ture, when the funds of the town are in such a sit- uation as to have lost the confidence of every tradesman who has served the house ; and, if I am not misinformed, the poor might now starve for want of necessaries, were they not supported by the personal credit of the present overseers. It has been from time immemorial the constant practice of overseers, to enter all paupers received into the workhouse, as boarders, (when they were not to be supported at the expence of the town) in the governor's book, as a reduction of the house ex- pences ; but this practice (for reasons too obvious to need a comment) WAS TOTALLY DISCONTINUED BY MR. UNITE ! Mrs. Taylor gives an account of one John Shannon, who was sent into the house by Mr. Unite, the ist of December 1790, without Mr. Unite ever mentioning that he belonged to a sick club, which was held at Ellis Rose's, the Dyers-arms, in Long-mill-gate. On the 1 4th of the same month, the stewards of the club came to the workhouse, and paid John Shannon twelve shillings, being two weeks allowance, and on the 2ist of the same month, the stewards brought six shillings more, which Mrs. Taylor, the governess, took from him, John ( 43 ) John Shannon, on account of his incapacity to take care of it. On the same, or following, day, Mr. Unite came to the workhouse, and demanded of Mrs. Taylor the money she had received of Shannon, saying, that he had PAID his quarterage into the box, and therefore he would receive H i s PAY. Mrs. Taylor told Mr. Unite, that he was mistaken about his paying the money into the box for Shannon, as it was the general method of the stew- afds to deduct the quarterage from their fay. The whole, sum really paid amounted to six pounds and three-pence, to the 2Oth of April, when Shannpn <}ied. Though Mr. Unite received these sums weekly, save one payment of twelve shillings for a fortnight's pay, there appears only a credit given for five pounds nine shillings, which is on the i^t/i. of April entered in GROSS. ! The society of Fustian- cutters, in the time of Mr. Unite's overseership, had to find a substitute to serve in the militia, for one of their members who was ballotted, which they procured and paid for out of the box; and Mr. Unite received for this society the usual allowance of four gui- neas : repeated applications have since been made from the society to recover this money, but to no effect. Mr. Unite avails himself of the old ex- cuse, that the town is indebted to him such large sums of money, as to prevent him from paying his private credit. I shall not be presumptuous enough to say, that this hackneyed story is told to tradesmen, his creditors, as a subterfuge to avoid the payment, of his .debts.; but certainly it appears that his sal- ary has 'been paid him quarterly, and that he has always been in possession of monies for the use of the town. In the orde-rs of filiation made by the magis- trates, for the maintenance of bastard children, a sum of money is usually allowed for the expences of ( 44 ) of lying-in, exclusive of the weekly allowance for the support of these women at the work* house ; but this practice was discontinued by Mr. Unite, who, during the time of his overseer ship, sent a great number of women to lie-in, and kept them very often many months after their delivery, at the expence of the town, without paying the governor any thing under the order. One CHRISTIANA GASKILL lay-in at the workhouse twice, and continued there with her children considerably more than twelve months, whilst the fathers of both children made regular payments, and for several years after, agreeably to the orders. Upon her delivery of the latter child, one pound eighteen shillings were paid for lying-in, which should have appeared to the credit of the town, for the indulgence of the workhouse, yet, there only appears accounted for, in the whole, three pounds five shillings received from both fathers. Mrs. TAYLOR, the governess of the work- house, says, that she has spoken of Mr. Unite's con- duct to Mr. Horsfall, and of his receiving these monies ; and that she told him, if an overseer v;as allowed to board people in the workhouse, and 10 proceed as Mr. Unite had done, it would, be adviseable to put up the overseership by auction^ and sell it to the best bidder ! Mr. HORSFALL required Mrs. Taylor to make out a list of such people who had had the in- dulgence of the workhouse in Unite's time, which was made out accordingly, amounting to between sixty and seventy pounds. Says, that Mr. Horsfall told the governor, that he thought Mr. Unite had accounted for some part of it. Mrs. ( 45 ) Mrs. Taylor further says, that it was very often the case, when poor women came to receive their, weekly pay under the order of the magistrate, for the support of their children, to complain of Mr. Unite having withheld their jiliation orders, AND KEPT PART OF THEIR PAY ! Says, that she gave from the workhouse great quantities of wearing-apparel, by ORDER of Mr. Unite, to the poor oj other parishes, and which Mr. Unite always took an account of. That she gave one Mary Fazakerly, who belonged to Liverpool, in the month of December 1791, the following wearing-apparel, viz. 5. d. Two pairs of shoes-- 7 4 Two bed-gowns 4 6 Six yards of ' linen-. 4 4f Six yards blue plain 7 9 . s. d. i 4 if Mr. Unite got 'the above account made out, and TOOK HER HIMSELF the following morning to Liverpool. The above curious account of cloth- ing given, with linen UNMADE, to a woman who was immediately removed to her place of settle- ment, I do confess, has a strange appearance ; but, far be it from me even to insinuate any incon- tinent remark here yet, for the reputation of Mr. Unite, I sincerely wish that ****#****# ***************** h e had nO ( forgotten to bring back with him the one pound Jour shillings. Mrs. Taylor gives an account of Ann Chad- wick, who lay-in of twins in the workhouse, in April 1792, where she continued a month, when two men from Timperley, in Cheshire, took her away, and paid Mr. Unite \ 55. Says, by order of Mr. Unite, she provided one Linney's children, belonging to Newton, with wearing apparel, amount- ing to one pound twelve shillings and ten-pence. That ( 46 t That one ROBERTS, a pauper belonging to Chorlton,was supported in the workhouse, and that the. overseers of Chorlton were to.pav. two shillings .eek for his maintenance. That after thq dcatfi of Mr. Beaumont he continued in the work- house forty-eight .weeks, when he died. Says, that to her knowledge, fifteen shillings were paid Mr. Unite, December 16, 1791, for Ann Travis and child, for board. That one George Griffith paid, 'jllen Folkes's lying-in, March 8, 1792, one 1 one shilling. That Mary Horton, of Ash- tOn, was only in the house one week, when Mr. Unite insisted on the overseer paying for that time five shillings, which', was paid in her presence. It appears, likewise, from the head church- warden's cash-book in 1791, that Mr. Beaumont's executor was p3L\d/qur founds sixteen shillings for goods for Mr. Unite; and that he, Mr. Unite, had ffcjm the poor-house, a quantity of sheets, blankets^ rug^ and towelling, that does not appear to his debit. The balance, likewise, due to the town from Mr. Unite, 'of seventeen pounds, since April ., I do not find accounted for. GfJtt CHARLES MOLLINEAUX and his wife, in Hilion's-entry, Fennel-street, were raken into the workhouse in the month of November 1790. He was to pay three shillings per week for. his board, and tjic service of his wife was to be considered equal to the expences or her support. On the 25th of July 1791, Mollineaux paid Mr.' Unite four pounds fourteen -shillings on. this account, and three shillings the week following; that on the i.itli of November he paid Mrs. Unite two pounds twelve shillings and six-pence ; but says, that af- terwards hearing that Mr. Unite was leaving the office of overseer, he asked him for a receipt, when Mr. Unite told him " there was no fear, the money money was down in Mr. Horsfall's books."- Mr. Hallows, who was to succeed Mr. Unite, was pres- ent at this conversation, and also said, that he had no occasion to be afraid. A copy of Mr. rfors- fall's books and papers I have examined, where there appears a credit given for four pounds, ten shillings, instead of Jour guineas and a half, the old method Jive' per cent, commission. It is worthy of remark, that this money is stated to have been re- ceived on the 28th'of June 1791, for thirty weeks; when the real fact appears to" be, that the four pounds fourteen shillings and six-pence were not paid till the 26th of July 17.91. Nor is there any account given of the TWO GUINEAS. AND A HALF paid to MRS. UNITE. After this period Mr. Tay- lor had Mr. Horsfall's orders to receive the monies himself, which appear accounted for by Mr. Taylor till he left the house on Shrove Tues- day 1791. It appears, likewise, from Mrs. Taylor's book, that Mr. Unite received the following sums from a Mr. Bracewell, for the board of Joseph Rider. . s. d.' Cash received by Mr. Unite 4 10 o 1 79 1 > J ul X 2 7 th Do 330 Nov. 22, Do 3 10 o 1792, Feb. i, Do 3 3 o 14 6 o 1791, Nov. 26, by cash accounted for by Mr. Unite 3 10 Q Balance, which Mr. Unite does not . appear to have accounted for -io 16 o After the payment of the above sums, Mr. Tay- lor, ( 48 ) lor, the governor, received the remainder from Mr. Bracewell, amounting to seventeen pounds six shillings and six-pence, which the town has credit for. A GENTLEMAN, in the neighbourhood of Piccadilly, paid, at two separate times, about thirty shillings, and which he was distrustful Mr. Unite had no right to have asked for; this also I cannot find accounted for. Mrs. Taylor likewise observes, that during the time of Mr. Beaumont's overseership, she re- ceived at the workhouse considerable quantities of household goods and wearing apparel ; that it was then in her power to have stocked a poor family with almost every thing necessary, but, that since Mr. Unite came into office, neither goods, nor clothes, have ever found their way into the workhouse, nor is the cash arising from the sales accounted for. THOMAS DAVIS, constable, of Stretford, brought at different times to town in his cart, a great number of vagrants, the expences of which he ought to have been paid on delivery. At one time he was desired by Mr. Unite to leave his papers which he did. That he afterwards called frequently, but that Mr. Unite always put him off, by pretending to be in a hurry, or some such friv- olous excuse. That he sometimes saw Mrs. Unite, who appeared offended at his calling. The last time he called, he saw Mr. Unite, and told him he had had a great deal of trouble about his money, when Mr. Unite gave him to understand, that the papers he should have received his money from, were lost! This settled the business at once, and the constable lost his money. The various instances of peculation arc so nu- merous, ( 49 ) merous, that I shall only recite two or three of the following cases, merely to convince the reader, that they are of that complexion which could not have proceeded from mistake. A YOUNG WO MAN in Fennel-street was de- livered of a bastard child in the workouse, in the year 1789, and an order was made upon the father by the magistrates, to pay two guineas for her lying- in, and one shilling and nine-pence per week to- wards the maintenance of the child. The mother continued in the workhouse about one year and a half, during which time, and about twelve months afterwards, she received no pay under the order. At the expiration of this period, she began to receive weekly pay for about two years and a half, when Mr. Edgley found Mr. Unite had been regularly receiving pay from the child's father during this time, though he (Mr. Edgley) had been paying her t cut of the town's cash ! Mr. Edgley then in- formed her, that as Mr. Unite had regularly received the money from the child's father, she must apply to him for it. She according- ly waited on Mr. Unite, who told her, that the town owed him so much money ', that he could not then fay her. She frequently repeated her applications, when the same answers were given, and she re- mained six months without pay. About eighteen months ago, this poor woman, by desire of Mr. Edgley, went into the country to enquire after the child's father, as it was Mr. Edgley's intention to serve him with a warrant for the money owing. XDn her return, she informed Mr. Edgley that he was at home, when Mr. Edgley gave her half a guinea, and observed, that he had been with Mr. Unite the night before, who had acknowledged the re- ceipt of the monies from the father of the child. Mr. Edgley then desired her to attend on the next H nurses' ( 50 ) nurses' day, when he promised to pay her two guineas. Mr. Edgley from this time renewed her former allowance of one. shilling and nine-pence per week, and continued it for about six months, when he again told her, that he was obliged to dis- continue it, as he could not get the money which ha,d been received by Mr. Unite. Says, she of- ten afterwards made application to Mr. Edgley, who told her he would pay her no more, until he got the money from Mr. Unite, which, he said, amounted to between nine and ten pounds. She then applied to Mr. Unite, and took a shop- keeper with her from Newton-lane, who told Mr. Unite, that he had assisted her with provisions for a considerable time, or she would have perished for want, in consequence of which she owed him near forty shillings. Mr. Unite again put her ofF, by telling her he was going to Lancaster assizes, and that he should receive a considerable 'sum, and would then pay her. She applied on the Saturday following, when Mr. Unite- gave her two guineas; since which time she has received no pay whatever. The following are payments made by Robert Allen, the father of the child, to Mr. Unite, as per his receipts. 1 79 1 , Aug. 9, received from Allen 220 No date, do 220 1792, Feb. 23d, do - i n 6 April 26th, do i 11 6 Ang. 25th, do i 11 6 8 18 6 The above receipts, to the 25th of August, are the hand- writing of MR. UNITE, though signed R. UN ITT, as OVERSEER. On the same day, in another receipt, he signs UNITE as CONSTABLE, which ( 51 ) which is somewhat applicable, after the union of the two offices; but,had he signed his name CIPHER, and accounted for the cash he had received, I should have been half inclined to think he had both done justice to himself, and to the public. It is worthy of remark, after the last payment on the 25th of August 1792, MR. UNITE observed to Allen y that he had only ONE more payment to bring him, as it would then make up his books ! It appears that the late Mr. Beaumont received two pounds two shillings for Betty Allen's lying-in; but her board during eighteen months that she was in the workhouse, amounting to six. pounds six shil- lings, and the different sums, as per Mr. UNITE'S receipts, I do not find placed to the credit of the town. It ought to be remarked that Mr. Edgley, pay- ing Betty Allen out of the town's purse, two years and a half, without ever looking' after the father of the child, is an unpardonable neglect. This poor woman I saw at the time she was deprived of her pay, in. a very wretched and helpless situation; the small allowance, on which her existence, find that of an HELPLESS INFANT depended t was withheld and pocketed by an' unfeeling overseer. The following is another case, which differs from the last recited examination, and will be a further proof of peculation in bastardy. A YOUNG WOMAN, in Thomas' s-street, was delivered of a bastard child, on the gth day of July 1788, which she afterwards fathered upon a weav- er, before two magistrates, who made an order for lying-in, and a further sum of fourteen-pence per week towards the maintenance of the child. The young woman not having yet received her lying- in money, p.r_ any part of her weekly pay, a distant relation of hers, who had chiefly supported her, repeatedly ( 5 ) repeatedly applied to Mr. Unite for the money, who always made some excuse of being en- gaged, and desired him to call again. At one of these applications, he was desired by Mr: Unite to stay, and he would pay him. This promise in- duced him to wait nearly jive hours, during which period he repeatedly desired Mr. Unite to come to some settlement, as he had that night to go nine miles home. Mr. Unite then replied, / have re- ceived about Jive pounds, which is worth staying for. He therefore waited till he was deprived of all hopes of receiving the money, and at last came away without it. Repeated applications were af- terwards made to Mr. Unite, without effect. On the 4th day of last December, he called upon Mr. Edgley, who told him that he had never received any thing under the order, to which he referred, and calculated the arrears due to twenty pounds six shillings, which Mr. Edgley observed, was a seri- ous sum, but that he could render him no assist- ance, as Mr. Unite had received the money. This poor woman has never yet received any thing to- wards the expence of lying-in, nor any thing towards the maintenance of her child, nor, has he ever given the town credit for the Jive founds which he acknowledged to have received. On the examinational Mr. RALPH WILCOX- ON, it appears, that about fifteen months ago, his shop, in Smythy-door, was broke open, and property stolen to the amount of sixty pounds and upwards. The thieves were afterwards taken, tried, and con- victed. That thirty-eight guineas in cash were found upon one of them. The magistrates, after the trial, ordered Mr. Unite to return to the prose- cutor his money. Mr. Unite gave Mr. Wilcoxon, in a few days afterwards, twenty-eight guineas only, with this observation, " / have made use of ( 53 ) of ten guineas, do not mention it to any body, hit call on me in the course of a fortnight, and I will fay you." Mr. Wilcoxon called according to Mr. Unite' s appointment, who then said, " I am toot ready for you, call again." About a month afterwards the application was repeated, and the same answer given by Mr. Unite, with this further observation, that he thought he should then keep the money, as they (meaning the persons who were in prison under sentence of transportation) had threatened him with law. Mr. Unite, after some conversation with Mr. Wilcoxon, desired him to call again, and if they did not proceed by law, he should pay him the money. In a short time after- wards the prosecutor paid Mr. Unite another visit, who accosted him with these words, "you scoun- drel, how dare you open my door without knocking?* 9 The prosecutor stated the reason of his appli- cation, when Mr. Unite observed, that he should not pay him, for that he could keep the money four years in his hands. Mr. Unite then ordered one of the beadles, Jonathan Butterworth, to take him im- mediately to the New Bayley, but the beadle only so far obeyed his direction, as to lay hold of him by the collar, and to turn him out of the yard. The pros- ecutor having been thus insulted, has since dis- continued his application, and Mr. Unite still keeps possession of his property. About three months ago, Wilcoxon's wife ap- plied, and painted the distress they were in, in consequence of being robbed, and having part of the goods to pay for, also a family of small children, Mr. Unite violently threatened, if she did not leave the door, he would have her con- fined in the New Bayley. After Mr. Wilcoxon had lost his property, added to the expence of pursuing the thieves, Mr. Unite with- held from htm, besides the ten guineas, two pairs of ( 54 ) silk and cotton stockings, which he told the prosecu- tor, though the stockings belonged to him, he had no right to receive them, not having sworn there- to, that they in that case belonged to the PO- LICE OFFICE. Says, that Mr. Unite took a fancy at that time to the pattern of a kerseymere waistcoat piece, which the prosecutor gave him. Mr. Unite, on examining the house of a Mr. Fore- man, of Liverpool, who Mr. Unite had had inform- ation of his having bought part of these goods, seiz- ed and brought off with him z quantity of shoes, waist- coat pieces, and gown pieces, which Mr. Foreman has not yet received back, nor do I find them any where accounted for. WILLIAM DARBYSHIRE, of Manchester, callender-man, says, that several months ago he met with Mr. Wilcoxon, at the Coach and Horses, in Dean's-gate, who told him that Mr. Unite had to pay him ten guineas, which he had kept out of thirty-eight guineas, which the magistrates at the New Bayley had ordered him to return. That he had called very often, but could not get it from him. This examinant promised to accompany him to Mr. Unite's, but on Mr. Wilcoxon's opening his back door, Mr. Unite immediately fell into a violent passion, and called him a scoundrel, and asked him how he durst presume to open his door with- out knocking. He then ordered Jonathan, the beadle, to take Mr. Wilcoxon immediately to the New Bayley. That on collaring Mr. Wilcoxon, Mr. Unite stamped, and was so very outrageous, that he, Darbyshire, was glad to get away. SAMUEL DICKINSON, of Long-mill-gaie, Manchester, print-glazer, had in the month of Jan- uary 1794, his warehouse broken open, and several pieces oj printed, calicoes and two glazing rollers stolen. ( 55 ) stolen. The thieves were afterwards taken, and convicted at the Manchester quarter sessions. Af- ter the trial he had an order to receive the goods back, as he had been at more than twenty pounds expence in apprehending them. Says, he made many applications to Mr. Unite, but could nev- er receive any thing back from him, except the coarse calicoes. That there were aboui fifteen yards of fine chints, and two glazing rollers, which Mr. Unite kept. Says, that he applied many times for the rollers and the chints, At one of these applications, he saw the rollers in Mr. Unite's house. Says, that the goods stolen belonged to Mr. Greenways, and that they only charged him for the chints twenty-one pence per yard, in consideration of the loss he sustained, but, that they were the same as they sold at two shil- lings and four-pence. Says, that he called upon Mr. Unite very often, to get them back. That the last time but one he called, Mr. Unite told him that his wife, or ^servants, had made them in- to rubbing rags. Dickinson, it should be observed, is a poor, industrious man, with a wife and several small children ; that the property stolen from his work- shop, belonged to different masters ; that the loss he sustained, with the expence of making the search after these thieves, detecting and bringing them to justice, so much distressed him, that he was obliged, for the support of his family, to sell nearly all his furniture, and the only bed which he had to lie upon. Mr. BENJAMIN MARLOW, hatter, and spe- cial constable, near Miles Platting, Newton-lane, was, about eighteen months ago, in the possession o>a quantity of fustian, which Mr. Unite obtained from him on the plea that he suspected it to be stolen. About three months after, Mr. Unite finding his suspicions suspicions to be groundless, informed Mr*. by one of the beadles, that he would send it him immediately. So.ne time alter Mr. Marlow ra| by chance with Mr. Unite at. Peter Fear ahead' 's, in Smithy-door, and asked him why he did not re- turn him the fustian, when Mr. Unite replied, " I HAVE SOLD IT, AND GIVEN THE MONEY TO THE POOR," and immediately shut the door in his face, Mr. Marlow says, he stated to the company, "that if ihe taking of his fustian, and never returning it t was law, there was no justice in the country." Mr. BENJAMIN WALKER, innkeeper/ St. gatf,** robbed of fifty guineas, and a silver n the month ofDecember 1793, and also of thirteen pounds five shillings, the property of a sick club society, htld in his house. The thief -was afterwards apprehended in one of the duke's boats, by a Mr. Kay, with nearly the whole of the prop- erty upon him, including that which belonged to the sick club, and which he gave to Mr. Unite. The trial and conviction took place at die last March assizes, when Mr. Unite gave evidence that he had received upwards of sixty-four pounds of the property stolen. Immediately after the trial, Mr. Walker, the prosecutor, observed to Mr. Unite, that he would apply to the Judge that his prop- erty might be restored. Mr. Unite made answer, that was unnecessary, for that he would return it immediately on going out of court. The prose- cutor made several applications in the course of the same day, but received only evasive answers. He then threatened to apply to the Judge the next morning, if his property was not returned to titn, when Mr. Unite told the prosecutor, he was very insolent. On which Mr. Walker applied to Mr. Milne, the attorney for the prosecution, in- forming him, that he could not get his property of - ( 57 ) of Mr. Unite, that; he was very Hardly treated, and if "Mr. 1 Milne -would 'matte o.ut his ac- count, he would pay him immediately. On which Mr. Milne gave the prosecutor a note to Mr. Unite to deliver thirty guineas and his watch, which he received. Mr. Walker has since frequently applied to Mr. Milne for his bill, who always said he was busy. Says, that about a month after Mr. Battye's advertisement appeared in the Chester paper, he again applied to Mr. Milne, who again said, he had not time to make it out. .That about four months ago, he desired Mr. Milne to get from Mr. Unite the remainder of the money, and let the business be settled, when. Mr. Milne informed him, that he would have nothing tv do toitk Mr. Unite, and that he should look upon him, Mr. Walker, for the payment of what was due to him. Mr. Walker; appears to have been very desirous of paying Mr. Milne, whenever he could have got his bill ; and till this period he was of opinion Mr. Unite, by Mr. Milne's order, kept this money as a guarantee for the payment of the bill. In consequence of Mr. Milne's informa- tion, he again applied to Mr. Unite, when he promised to call upon him and pay him the re- mainder of the money the day following, but Mr. Unite did not keep his promise. 'Mr. Walker, on the loth of December last, met Mr. Unite in St. Ann's-square, when he again promised to call the next day, but Mr. Unite again broke his word, and still continues to withhold the remainder of Mr. Walker's money, nineteen fotirids and up- wards. Examination of JOHN HARRISON, clerk of the Collegiate church, Manchester, who says, " tfrat he was a special Constable,and that about Christmas' 1702, one John Evan>, of Ballo6n-street, found a f i<>-r- i ** * I box box of cards about eight o'clock in the evening. That the box was so heavy, that it required two men to lift it, being about four feet in length, two in breadth, and about two feet in depth. Says, on Evans applying to him, this examinant, they went to Mr. Unite, as they suspected the goods were stolen. Mr. Unite ordered the cards to be taken to his house, which was done according to his di- rections, by Evans, in a wheelbarrow. Says, on Sunday the 3Oth of last November, he met with Mr. Unite by chance, at Mr. Matthew Green's, the Blackmore's-head, in Old-chvjrch-yard : that in the course of conversation, Mr. Unite said, he supposed this examinant had something to charge him with, who told him he had, and immediately declared the subject, and asked Mr. Unite, to defend himself. Mr. Unite replied, I have given the cards to the owner in the presence of the magistrates. This examinant then asked him, who the owner was. Mr. Unite said, he did not know the person's name, but he could find proof of its delivery. This examinant then said, it was very hard the poor man, who found the cards, and had so much trouble of taking so heavy a box to his house, should not have been rewarded in the course of two years. On which Mr. Unite said " he had LIBERALLY REWARDED him" and offered to lay this examinant a wager upon it. JOHN EVANS, of Balloon-street, sand-carrier, says, that in Christmas holidays 1792, he found a box of cards for carding cotton, in Hanover-street. That he applied to Mr. Harrison, the clerk of the Old-church, who went with him to Mr. Unite's house. Says, Mr. Unite desired the box to be brought to his office, and this examinant says he took it there in a wheelbarrow, and that it was so heavy that it required two men to put it in the barrow. ( 59 ) barrow. Says, Mr. Unite thn ordered him to call again, and he would advertise it ; he call- ed on Mr. Unite the next morning, who told him, he could say nothing to him until it was ad- vertised, and owned, when that was done, he should receive something worth his -while for finding and bringing it. Says, he saw Mr. Unite some time afterwards, who told him, he had not found the owner ; nor could he learn from any other per- son, that it ever had been advertised. Says, that he saw Mr. Unite about a month before Whitsun- tide, and he again told him, he had not yet found the owner.- Says, he again applied to Mr. Unite a few days before Whit Sunday, who told him then he had\ found the owner, and that he should have a handsome present, and desired he would call about the middle of Whitsun week. That he ac- cordingly called in Whitsun week, when Mr. Unite told him, that the owner had made him no present for jinding it, or, he would have given him something. Says, he called on Mr. Unite sev- eral times, who always told him, he had no money in his pocket, or he would have given him a SHIL- LING, but has. never yet received any thing. MARY CLAYTON, lived in service with Mr. KNOTT, inn-keeper, at Ashton-under-line and Manchester, near thirteen years. Says, she was pregnant, and within six weeks of her time, by a person of the name of Schneider, a musician in the first regiment of dragoons, and that Mr. Knott, her master, directed her to go to Mr. Unite, the overseer, and father her child. That she went according to his directions, to Mr. Unite, in Dole- field, who ordered her to call again ; that she again waited on Mr. Unite, who told her, that she had no right at that time to father her child, as he said, there was a fresh act just new come up, against women per iueek from Me ars. Handy and, Franklin, \vitii the money he got by if ticking music. Says, after having lain-in a month, she went before jus- tice Griffith, and there saw Mr. Hallows, (Mr. Unite having left -the office of overseer) when her examination was taken on oath, but does not recol- lect what the magistrate's order specified, as Mr. Hallows kept it; to whom, she afterwards frequent- ly applied for relief, but was always refused. That she had then no employment but that of washing for hire, and having to pay four shillings per meek with her child at nurse, and .one shilling per -week for aj'urnh'htd room, the little money she had saved in her servitude was exhausted, and she was ob- liged, in order to support herself and child, to sell her clothes. Says, she afterwards called on Mr. Hallows, who again refused her relief, and that she became so cn/eebled and sickly for want of food, that she was taken to the Infirmary, where she con- tinued seventeen weeks. That during her confine- ment, she requested a Mrs. Rayney, a shopkeeper in Cock -gates, to apply to Mr. Hallows, and ex- plain to him the situation she -was in in the In- iinnary, and that the nurse had refused to keep r child any longer. Says, application was made by a Mrs. Rayney, but to no purpose, as Mr. Hallows still refused fo relieve her. At this time, the remaining part of her clothes were pawned and said to pay the nnr^e. That when she got a little strength, she came out of the Infirmary, and had not been relieved by different people in Cock- gates, gates, with broken meat, &c. both herself and child must have perished for want. Says^ that she afterwards applied to Mr. Wright, grocer, in Hanging-ditch, who has since relieved her with one shilling per week. MARTHA WESTLEY, No. 74, street, 'wife of James Westley, now in the marine service, on board the Crescent frigate, who inlist- ed in one of the independant companies in the year 1789, being anxious to regain the com- fort and society of her husband* about three weeks before the Christmas following,- she was induced to pledge one silk gown, one printed gown, one black gown, one green .quilled petticoat, one pair of stays, two white aprons^ t^rec .silk handkerchiefs, two fine shifts, twelve pairs of cotton stockings,, and other wearing-apparel, and, also one pair if .sheets, for seven guineas, which she sent to Chatham, in order to -purchase her husband's discharge. That on his return through London, he went on board the Crescent frigate. That when her husband left her, she had one child, and was big .of another; that she belonged to Manchester, and being unable to support herself, she went to the workhouse, 6th of January 1790, and was brought tp bed the Sat- urday following. That some time after her de- livery, she was seized with a fever, and continued ill many weeks ; but on her recovery, so as to be capable of being led to Mr. Unite's house, in Dole-field, she proposed tp give him the duplicates of her pledges,if hewould release,and give her part of her clothes, that he might have the remainder, and she would go home, to ber friends &Prees,\nShropr- shire, and give the town no further trouble. Says, that Mr. Unite paid the waggoner, for her convey- ance, and likewise gave her a note to inform the ovetseer.at Prses, that she belonged 'io Manchester. Mr. ( 6t ) Mr. Unite kept her pledges, and assured her, that she should have all her clothes, and that he would send them after her, and, if she could not support herself, he would allow her two shillings per week t and that it should be paid weekly, monthly, or quar- terly, but when she got home, her father was so much dissatisfied at having to support her and her 'two children, that she wrote to Mr. Unite, four lelters, to get the allowance which he promised her, but never yet was fortunate enough to receive an answer. That she was so infirm, that she could not come to Manchester, and therefore sent her sister to apply to Mr. Unite for her relief; but on application to Mr. Unite, as overseer, he refused to allow her any thing. That about two months af- ter she came to Manchester herself, and frequently applied to Mr. Unite, but could not settle with him. He then gave her a note to go into the poor-house that night, and promised to settle with her the next day. That she went the next day, and the day following, to get the duplicates, and an allowance out of the poor-house. Mr. Unite then promised, if she would call again, he would then settle with her. Says, she continued in the workhouse TEN MONTHS, and during that time kept repeating her applications, but that she al- ways received the same evasive answers, until she was tired of asking. Says, she lost the use of her limbs in the workhouse, and was taken in a carrying-chair to the Infirmary. That after she got better, and left the Infirmary, she applied to Mr. Hallows for a bed and bedding, which he gave her, and insisted on her getting the duplicates from Mr. Unite, and giving them to him. That she applied to Mr. Unite, who told her to give his compliments to Mr. Hallows, and tell him, that he had something else to do than to hunt for tickets for either her, or him. That Mr. Unite was in suck such a passion, that she durst not apply again, and that she has never since received the tickets from him. The examination of BETTY PIKE, taken at the Manchester workhouse, who says, that her husband was a miller, at Knott-mill, and rented a house of Mr. Gilbert, of Worsley, where they lived two years. That about fourteen weeks ago, (the beginning of October 1794) her husband left her with three children, the eldest under^zve, the second under threc t and the youngest under two years of age. That her children and herself were nearly starved for want of food, having sold the chief part of her goods for their support. That she then applied for relief to Mr. Hallows, but, not knowing the place of her settlement, her application was fruitless. Further says, that she made application time after time, for more than a fortnight, without effect. That she afterwards ap- plied at the New Bayley, but Mr. Hallows pre- vented her from appearing before the magistrates, by telling her, she must call upon him at his house. That she at this time begged him to have compas- sion on her children, who were ready to drop fpr want. Says, that she told Mr. Hallows she had a certificate at Baslow, in Derbyshire, and she then gave him directions to write, but that he again refused to relieve her; that she waited for some time with her children in such distress, that she was fearful they would have died of hun- ger ; no letter appearing, and it being then Sat- urday, Mr. Hallows promised if she would call on Monday, he would give her a pass, but again put her off without relief. On the following Monday she again applied, and saw Mrs. Hallows, who after some conversation, gave her a pass, and ordered her, before she arrived at Baslow, to destroy destroy it, to ttar it in pieces, and not to let any body lock at it in B a slow. Further says, that Mr. Hal- lows gave her a ticket to get a pair of shoes at the workhouse. That she set off with a walking pass, with her children, in a very weak state (having the fever, which was then so prevalent amongst the poor), and on her arrival at Stockport, she made appli- cation to one Stopfor 1, a constable, who examined her respecting her removal, when she told him she did not know where she belonged to, but that she was going to enquire at Baslow for her certificate. The constable took her before Mr. Prescot, the rector, and a magistrate, and shewed him the 1 pass. That Mr. Prescot asked, who gave her the pass? She ' replied, Mrs. Hallows. He then asked her, if she did not, on receiving the pass, go to Mr. Griffith, the magistrate, > to get it signed. She told 1 the rector, she did not, that Mrs. Hal- lows wrote it herself. On which the rector said, it was- not- a right pass, that Mrs. Hallows had done so frequently, and that she should proceed no further with it; betwixt eleven and twelve o'clock on the same day, she was ordered to meet the magistrates, when Mr. Prescott observed, that Mrs.'- Hallows acted 'in Manchester both as overseer aha justice ; but added, the pa-ss might havc'bec-n signed by Mr. Griffith in blank* That the 1 magistrates agreed to send her back to Manchester in a chaise ; and that letters were written, signed by the magistrates, to Mr. Griffith and * This is not at all. improbable, as it is well known to have been a practice for warrants, for the apprehension of accused individuals, to be signed in blank, and left v/ith the clerk, ready ta be filled up, in the absence of the jus- tice, though they purported to be granted on oath, taken in. the presents of the'-rtMgistrate. ,'lhuS'Was the liberty of the- subject liable to be. wantonly sported with, and rendered subservient to the most sinister purposes. ( 65 ) and Mr. Hallows. Says, she arrived at Manches- ter about eight o'clock, and was left by the over- seer at Mr. Hallows's house. That Mr. and Mrs. Hallows being from home, she waited a consider- able time for their return, when Mrs. Hallows told her to go about her business, that she had neither bed nor money for her. At this juncture, she was so far advanced in pregnancy, that she was frequently seized with the pains peculiar to that situation, and much enfeebled. That the night on which she was turned out of Mr. Hallows's house, was cold and rainy. That she wandered about with her three children, in search of a lodging, whilst she was able to stand, till at last, she, and her little ones, sat down upon some wet steps in Jackson's- row, when the cries of her children brought to her assistance a poor woman, who compassionately gave up her bed to her and her children, otherwise she thinks she must have died. Further says, be- ing then too weak to be removed without assist- ance ; on the following morning, Mr. Hallows gave her a ticket on Mr. Edgley for three shillings, and a room was taken for her in Queen-street ; but, continuing in a weak state, she was put to bed, and the women lodgers, who were in the same house, looked after her children ; that Mr. Hal- lows was applied to again for relief, when he sent her two shillings and six-pence; that on the Tues- day following Mr. Hallows called himself, and, finding her in bed, asked, whether she was lighter? she answered, no, but that she was very bad. Says, that he called the following day, and insisted on her being removed to the poor-house; that he was much enraged, and very abusive, telling her, that she had called at Mr. Paynter's office, and shewn the pass which had been given to her. Says, she told Mr. Hallows, if Mr. Paynter had any knowledge of it, ii must have been from the magis- K trates ( 66 ) trates at Stockport, as she herself had never men- tioned it to him, when he passionately answered^ " Madam, I'll make ym Jind it so." Says, at this ti neshe had had a midwife attending her for some time on that day, as well as the day before, but Mr. Hallows wished her to get up, and walk to the poor-house ; on which it was declared by the female lodgers, that she was unable to walk, and that it was very improper to have her taken out oj her bed ; that Mr. Hallows at length consented to send for a carrying chair, and in that situation she was conveyed to the poor-house. Further says, that she continued in labour until the Sunday morning following, when she was delivered of a DEAD CHILD, which, as well as her present indisposition, she at- tributes solely to the ill treatment she had re- ceived. What heart, possessing the common feelings of nature, can be unmoved at a recital of such com- plicated distress? A wretched mother, borne down at once with cold, hunger, and the PAINS OF LA- BOUR, wandering with her little ones through the streets, without food, or a place of shelter from the rude and chilling blasts of a winter's night, is, in- deed, a picture, at which humanity may shed her tenderest tear. But it is unnecessary for me to enlarge on so distressful, a circumstance ; the sufferings of this woe-worn and modest claimant will, I am sure, find a place for pity in every feel- ing breast. I ought to observe, that this poor woman was confined to her bed- room near three months after delivery ; that at the time she gave me the fore- going relation, she had lain-in many weeks, yet she was so enfeebled, as to render assistance necessary to support her while she made the above declara- tion. As As a confirmation in part of the truth of the aforementioned narrative, I have here subjoined a copy of her examination, taken at Stockport. Cheshire,} Betty Pike, wife of William Pike, to wit. j late of Manchester, was taken before us, three of his Majesty's justices of the peace acting for the said county of Chester, the igth day of November 1794; " Who on her oath says, that her husband, her- self, and family, have for some time past lived iri Manchester aforesaid, and that her husband left her about six weeks ago. Says, she has since made frequent applications to Mr. Hallows, the overseer of the poor, for relief for herself and family ; that he always refused giving her any, until she should receive a certificate from Baslow, in the county of Derby ; that the certificate not coming, she com- plained again to Mr. Hallows, who then told her, " she must go fetch it herself" and gave her a walk- ing pass, for that, he said, " was all he could de for her." She observed to Mr. Hallows, that she had no shoes, and he gave her a ticket. That on waiting upon Mr. Hallows for the pass, Mr. Hallows not being at home, Mrs. Hallows gave her one for Baslow, with TWO SHILLINGS, and desired her not to shew it to any one, except the officers in the respective towns through which she had to pass, for relief, and by all means to de- stroy it before she arrived at Baslow, and not to mention it to the overseer at Baslow, and not to say to any one that she had -given her TWO SHILLINGS. Says, she does not know the place of her settle- ment. BETTY PIKE." Sworn before us, CHA. PRESCOT, JNO. PHILLIPS, GEO. HYDE CLARKE, ( 68 ) BENJAMIN HODGES, late of the New- market^ Manchester , died a widower about the latter end of April 1791, leaving five children. At the time of his death he had a house very decently furnished, and had many outstanding book debts due to him, but was indebted to several people in vsmall sums of money. As the creditors could not agree upon who should administer, or how the effects should be disposed of, it so happen- ed that Mr. Unite, as overseer, was called into the house the day after the funeral, when he took an inventory of the furniture, and the orphan children were placed out in the following manner. Mr. Paterson, of the Bridgewater-arms, took the eldest; Solomon Chadwick, the deceased's wife's brother, was to receive one shilling and nine- pence per week from the township, for the support of the second ; John Marshall, two shillings per week with the third; Peter Lawson, two shillings per week with the fourth ; and Robert Farrar, three shillings per week with the youngest child. Jt appears that Mr. Unite left two women in care of the furniture, and afterwards brought Mr. Walker, an appraiser and auctioneer, who made another inventory, and also an appraisement of the goods. On enquiry > (in the course of this inves- tigation,) Mr. Walker says, he thinks the valua- tion was about forty pounds, and that he delivered the inventory to Mr. Unite that he afterwards sold part of the goods, and paid the money to Mr. Unite, but the goods sold so low, that Mr. Unite thought he could sell them better, and therefore he left off. It is ascertained, ly the testimony of purchasers, that amongst the furniture, the following articles were sold, of which Mr. Unite has not yet pro- duced an account. Best s. d. Best bedstocks and furniture 3 17 o Children's bed ditto and ditto - i i o Corner cupboard o 18 o Painted ditto o 15 o Knife box, 2s. 6d. spade and bellows, 33 o 5 6 Frying-pan and oak stand ---q 3 o Grate and oven - i 11 6 Looking-glass -..- ..-'- 6 9 o Large mug, tea pot, and safe o 5 9 9 5 9 As to the remaining part of the goods t it has hitherto been impossible to learn to whom sold or to what amount or what remained on hand, except, that it has since been discovered, that Mr. Unite sold an engine for making reeds, and other working tools, to Bartholomew Reeves, for TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS, and a bureau and bookcase ', for six POUNDS, which monies Mr. Unite appears to have actually re- ceived; and to have ordered the books and papers to be tied in a handkerchief, with a striped silk gown belonging to Hodges, and to be taken to his house. The person, who attended Hodges' family in his illness which immediately preceded his death, and was afterwards entrusted with the care of the fur- niture until the time of the sale, at which she was present; Says, that Mr. Unite called upon her just before the meeting held at the Bull's-head, in No- vember 1794, on the subject of my charges, to ask her some questions respecting Hodges' sale, when he told her, " that he had delivered over his accounts to Mr. Horsjall, and that they were calling upon him again ;" but upon her telling him that he had not delivered over the books of accounts , and papers y and the striped silk gown, which she had carried to his house, ( 70 ) house, he said, " damn it, they got under some other books, and got out of the -way- that he had kept the feown about a twelvemonth, when he sold it for half a guinea." MR. UNITE, in account with the estate of the late BE N j. Ho D c s. To the different articles of furniture above enumerated, and proved to have been sold, amounting to ........................ 40 16 3 By Mr. Unite's petty expences*, amounting to about ............ 3 14 6 By cash paid twelve months after Hodges' s death, to one of his creditors, in part of a debt of 17 ........ -" 55 1791, June ist, do. Mr. Unite paid Mr. Horsfall on this ac- count .................................. 10 o o - 18 19 6 21 16 9 t It now remains for Mr. Unite to account for the above balances, as well as for the remainder of the goods, which were of considerable value. It appears from certain proceedings in Bow- street, that Mr. Milne has been actively engaged in the attempt to extricate Mr. Unite from his aukward predicament, and I sincerely wish that their joint * The funeral expences were paid by the friends of the deceased. i It has been attempted to excuse Mr. Unite from seven- teen pounds of the above balance, by saying that he stands debtor in the town's books for that sum si nee the year 1791; but, I am well informed, that the sum in the town's books is for cash actually advanced to Mr. Unite by a late church- \varden, and not on this account. joint efforts had been crowned with success ; but, I cannot help observing, that the charge so seri- ously wade against him t by the Associated Ley- payers- the * c gentle jog" I gave him in the Ches- ter paper the proceedings at the Bull's-kead weetingy and my subsequent publication have not yet been sufficient to bring him forward to satisfy the public mind on this subject. Surely this fifth publication will rouse the Ley-payers from their lethargy, and animate them to claim demand and insist upon, an immediate correction of these parochial abuses. The following is a similar examination, yet at- tended with circumstances of a still more distress- ing and aggravating nature. PEGGY WHITELEY, who resided with her parents many years in Chapel-walks a family well known as to their general character, and held in repute after the death of her parents, she rented a house in the same neighbourhood, and (before the facts disclosed in this publication happened) lived in credit, and saved money. This examinant saith, on the 4th of June 1790, Mr. Unite, as overseer of Manchester, with two men, seized her, and hawled her by force without shoes, stockings, or any covering what- ever, save her linen and undercoat and dragged her to the workhouse where he gave orders to have her chained to the Jloor, and that no person should be permitted to see her ; that she was a lu- natic. Says, she remained till the following day, when the governor, Mr. Taylor, paid attention to her story, and relieved her ; finding her (as he has since expressed himself) perfectly sensible and intelligent. Says, on the afternoon of her release, she was ordered to be taken by Mr. Unite to the New Bayley in the same nearly naked situation ( r- } she was brought into the workhouse; and that she imagined this was done to favour Mr. Unite's de- sign, that she might have the appearance of a luna- tic, as Mr. Unite had represented her, which seemed with the magistrates to have its desired ef- fect ; for in that situation she was not permitted to speak for herself. It should be noticed, that Mrs. Taylor, the governess of the workhouse, lent her a cloak to cover . her, and an -old pair of shoes % that she might not appear so indecent through the streets on the road to the New Bayley but, upon Mr. Unite's observing it, he was highly offended at the governess and ordered the cloak and shoes to be taken from her, and to be conveyed there in this almost naked situation! That on her return from the New Bayley, she continued in the workhouse till the Tuesday following, when a plan was formed in the house that she might escape as her confine- ment appeared to all who had seen and heard her story, to be an act of the most severe cruelty'! Says, that Mr. Unite had the key of her house, and made a search for her property, where he found, tied up in apurse> E IGHTY-EIGHT GUINEAS TEN CROWN PIECES and THREE DOLLARS; that he likewise found thirteen silver spoons y mark- ed E & K two silver table spoons, marked M W t being the initials of her name a pair of silver tea tongs a silver cream jug, marked also M W, and a pinchbeck watch and that Mr. Unite took away with him the above cash, plate> &c. * On the 8th day of March, Mr. Unite and a Mr. Walker, appraiser and auctioneer, disposed of all her furniture; in a short time after she called on Mr. .* I cannot help observing here, that some time ago I made enquiry of a very respectable broker, who attended the sale, and who told me, that the house was well fur- nished that she had not less than thirty mahogany chairs, with ( 73 ) Mr. Unite, much distressed for want of meat and clothes, and earnestly entreated him to advance her some part of her money for '- r present relief that she begged Mr. Unite would tell her the nature of her offence-^but that he made her no answer; -that the following is a part of her goods, which, she has since heard, was sent from her house to Mr. Unite's, viz. her best new bed, with chints curtains an elegant chest of drawers with 'pictures, chairs, china, looking-glasses, &c. without any account being delivered of the same. This examinant, Peggy Whiteley, says, that she made application to Mr. Unite for the chest of drawers; as they were of her father's making, she was desirous of keeping them in remembrance of him : but Mr. Unite put her off, by telling her, it would have an odd appearance the taking them out of his house again, but that she might get them valued herself, and he would pay her for them. Says, at the time she waited upon Mr. Unite, she saw the part of her china in use at Mr. Unite's Jwuse 'and that her glasses were on his sideboard and a picture, which was a much-admired painting of a battle in Cromwell's time, hung up in the hall. Says, Mr. Unite has since told her, that she might thank her brother for her present distress, and if she did not keep silent, it would cause her brother to be punished ! That a cellar was engaged for her to live in, in Thomas's-street, where she was ob- liged to wind yarn for her livelihood and having L to with three or four beds, and other goods in proportion. He likewise added, that many of the best goods (accord- ing to the information he received at the sale) WERE nor TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION and that he afterguards learned that one picture, now in Mr. Unite's, house, was said to be sold for two shillings and six-pence, that he should have been glad to have been the purchaser at two guineas, but that it was worth more money, and that a great -c.ritty of goods were taken to Air, Unite's house. ( 74 ) to pay two shillings and three-pence per week . rent, she was nearly starved to death hdving no as- ., hatevtr from Mr. Unite, though he wds tkfii in possession .of nil her property. Says, that ivay, a tradesman, who lived in the upper part of the house, recognised her features, and enquired t'iie reason of her distress, which, on repeating, he begged her to make herself as decent as possible, and to call upon Mr. Whittaker, attorney, and re- late her case ; that Mrs. Kay lent her some clothes, and she waited on Mr. Whittaker, to whom she related Mr. Unite's conduct; but says, she concealed from Mr. Whittaker, her dark damp and pitiful habitation that she did not tell him, at that time, she had not tasted meat for three days that she was pennyless without fire can- dles or victuals ; that she was afraid of men- tioning her extreme poverty imagining, if all were told there would appear too great an improbabil- ity in the relation for any human mind to credit ! so that she kept the keen and pressing story of hun- ger to herself! Says, that Mr. Whittaker paid a compassionate attention to the account which she gave of Mr. Unite's conduct, and promised her every assistance in his power. That Mr. Whit- taker called upon Mr. Unite, and asked him the reason fpjr his turning her out of her house t and tak- ing to himelf her plate, cash, and goods. That Mr. Unite told Mr. Whittaker, that he had been in- formed by her brother, that she was not sound in mind, and that it was very likely she might become chargeable to the town. Mr. Whittaker asked, if she owed any thing for rent ? to which she an- swered, that she was punctual in every quarterly payment. Here, Mr. Whittaker appealed to Mr. Unite's feelings, and painted the atrocity of his crime when Mr. Unite's reply was "that she. a bad -woman and that he knew many who had been ( 75 ) been connected with her." Says, on hearing this account from Mr, Unite, she hurst into tears- when Mr. Whittaker called him a villain and asked him to mention one person that he knew had been connected with her. Mr. Unite re- plied, that " he knew many, but they were soldiers in the last regiment, and had left the town." Says, Mr. Whittaker threatened Mr. Unite with a law- suit, and that he, Mr. Whittaker, had a conference with Mr. Bayley upon this business but does not know what passed, only that Mr. Whittaker told her, that Mr. Unite's conduct ought to be made public. Mr. Unite afterwards waited upon her y and insisted on her stopping the proceedings against him, Says, Mr. Unite promised to return her clothes and money and that her extreme poverty obliged her to consent. Says, she thinks one of Mr. Milne's clerks was with him, and that they had a paper with them, ready prepared, which she signed, but the contents she is unacquainted with and she was likewise made to promise never TO MENTION TO MR. WHITTAKER the reason of her discontinu- ing the action. Says, that Mr. Unite, as she had (to use his own words) for ever lost her character in the town y if she would leave it she might depend upon his bfing a friend to her. Thus deprived of her property, and of the means of getting a livelihood, she existed in a miserable situation nearly six months, with scarcely half clothes being de- prived of the following articles, which were in her house, when Mr. Unite took possession, viz. Eighteen gowns y silk and prints ; Four black cloaks ; Two woollen ditto ; Nineteen aprons y caps, stockings^ in proportion; . Twelve, shifts ; Eighteen pairs of sheets,; blankets y &c. in proportion. Says, ( 7* ) Says, by this ill treatment, her health was so much impaired, that she applied to Dr. Percival. Says, that in consequence of the promise she made Mr. Unite to discontinue the action against him, he paid her one hundred and fifteen pounds, which i> the whole amount received for her cash, plate, mture, &c. and that she never saw any in- ventory of the sale. On the perusal of the foregoing narrative every reader must be struck with indignant astonish- ment, and will, doubtless, ask himself this question could an outrage like this be perpetrated in a land, where the liberty and security of the subject are held inviolate ? It is reajly so unaccountably atrocious, and t comprises so much fraud, cruelty, and op- pression, that had it not been a fact completely substantiated by concurrent testimony, it might have been deemed incredible. Allowing this poor and much-injured woman to have absolutely laboured under a mental de- rangement was it a justifiable proceeding to force her from her peaceable home to drag her like a felon through the streets to take her to prison to accuse her falsely with incontinency ^to obtain her signature to an instrument which was previ- ously prepared (when he had accused her of in- sanity) to demand her secrecy, on pain of having her brother punished to make proposals (when his conduct towards her had come to the know- ledge of Mr. Whittaker) for her to leave the town, and in consequence to be received into his friend- ship to despoil her of her property, and to ex- pose her to all the bitterness of want? This was a chain of cruelty, ill calculated to heal her infirmity, to restore lost reason. It ( 77 ) It is a lamentable consideration, that these re- xeptaclesfor the poor; these great and benevolent institutions, should be made subservient to the worst of purposes.- Various are the instances within our knowledge, where private mad-houses have been established, not for the laudable pur- .pose of restoring to miserable lunatics " their lost and scattered senses" but to be the engines of the most foul conspiracies against the peace, happiness, and fortunes/of individuals. Numberless unhap- py victims, in the full enjoyment of their senses, .have been immured in these infernal mansions for life on a false plea of insanity ! And, I wish I could say, that it was impossible for a parish work- house to be so wickedly perverted but, when I have it from indisputable authority, that a virtuous and respectable woman in the full possession of reason, and capable of fulfilling every domestic duty, is made a sacrifice to the depravity of a de- bauched and unprincipled husband and kept in a parish workhouse as a lunatic it becomes then a duty, which humanity dictates, to bring such dark and cruel proceedings to light and as long as such diabolical practices exist I trust the authors will ever be exposed! GRINDRED's Sale, Salford. Grindred be- came chargeable to Manchester, and was removed to the workhouse. At his death, his goods were sold but there does not appear any entry made whatever. Mr. Kinnaston, constable of Salford, says, they netted little more than what paid his debts but that Mr. Unite had a clock, which he does not know hozo accounted for. As As every effort of mine to obtain a sight of Mr* Unite's books, during his deputy constablcship, has proved ineffectual, I shall only make a few gener- al remarks on the abuses of his office^ not doubt- ing but the Ley-payers will soon see the necessity of these, as well as all other town's books, being, as the act directs, " kept in some safe place jor the inspection of the. public." The large folio constables' book, containing the whole of those accounts for the last twenty years, is said to be lost, so that it is impossible for me to make a retrospective comparison with accuracy. The constables' accounts, from Easter 1792 to Easter 1793, exceeded 1080 ; though, if I re- ttiember rightly, a few years ago, they did not amount to one-third, incluciizig the salaries of the deputy-constable and beadles, with the convey- ance of thieves and vagrants passes-^-firertien SCAVENGERS, &c. The public were not then burthened with a POLICE TAX, for winch such tnormous sums have been collected->aud which, should have operated in reduction of the constables' year- ly expenditures, but, there seems of late to -have been a general dread of investigation insomuch, thaton and it was afterwards compromised by Mr. Wharmby, for fourteen pounds, which did not amount to SEVEN-PENCE in the pound. It is notorious, that houses belonging to particular in- dividuals, were not assessed for many years ; but no sooner was the property tranferred by sale, than the purchaser was, in point of taxation, put in equality with his neighbours. The partial and unjust methods used in collecting^ equals that of assessing ; there are many persons of considerable property, whose taxes have been unpaid for many years. I have known instances of several notes being left in the course of a few days, for the same rtf/e,each note differing!;^ consider 'ably 'in amount; and it likewise may appear rather unaccountable, that the collector very often makes a demand of a particular sum of money, and afterwards reduces it to one-half of his original claim. The collector, Mr. \Vharmby, a few weeks ago, called on Mr, Hammond, the Star Inn, Dean's- gate, and demanded FIVE POUNDS for high-way composition money but before he left the house, he gave Mr. H. a RECEIPT IN FULL ON RECEIVING THREE POUNDS must not this demand have been made for more than the sum specified in his books? for no collector has a power to alter a BOOK OF RATES, after it is signed by the magistrates. Mr. Hammond, having got the receipt for THREE POUNDS, very facetiously observed to a friend, " If I had paid Mr. Wharmby the jive pounds, which he at jirst charged) -what -would have become of the JORTY SHILLINGS which he afterwards abated?" Such of my readers who peruse these pages with candour and impartiality, I trust will allow that the present mode of publication, is the only means left in my power to bring these charges before the P public, ( '06 ) public, and which were intended to have been brought forward at a public meeting, sanctioned at that time by the boroughreeve and constables but who afterwards declined countenancing the same, on the most simple and paltry plea t as men- tioned in the 4th page of this publication. It appears but too evident, that the borough- reeve and constables are wholly bent on keeping "things as they are-," but they are attempting that which is in its nature impossible. When the most flagrant acts of cruel and unjust proceedings are known to exist, and conviction shall have taken place no screen no subterfuge will impose so far on the judgment of the public, as to fascinate their discernment, and lead them tamely to submit to be the dupes of official con- federacy. I am by no means ignorant of the false motives which, from various causes, have been attributed to my conduct on the subject of the foregoing pages; I again repeat, what I asserted in the commence- ment of this publication, that no political or party spirit (every idea of which I disclaim) has had, even the smallest share, in this transaction ; and I trust it will also be allowed, that interest forms no part of my views, when I declare, that I am a very considerable loser both by the time I have dedi- cated to, and the expences which I have incurred in the procuring the necessary information on the subject. No apology will, I trust, be deemed necessary by those to whom these pages are addressed, for the extraordinary length to which they have unavoida- bly been extended. If I have trespassed on the attention of my reader, it has been with a view to elucidate and explain^ if I have any where warmly expressed an indignant feeling I trust the occa- sion ( 107 ) sion has justified the language; if I have erred in any manner, it has been in judgment, and not in motive; therefore, as I have had no private pique to gratify no partial interest to promote I rely on the candour of my readers to acquit or con- demn having acted solely from an earnest wish to do a public good. nr . ,- I ( io8 As it has been the uniform practice, for a long series of years, for the deputy constable to issue precepts to the constables of the surrounding ham- lets, and to receive the county rates t which have, in many parishes, exceeded their poor rates t and the deputy constable being of late restrained from re- ceiving the same, by circular orders, directing such monies to be paid to the head constables gave so general an alarm, that I thought it not only my duty to publish the following statement, for the/w- ture government of the surrounding constables but, that it may lead to detection of any past extortion ; and which may be easily proved by a reference to the money -warrants^ and the following calculation : c/5. .W H S a -e -u Q * S oT Q w 2; H D * o fN < w o ^^ ^ o^ c > < H G- Hrf5 QJ t> _Q O T3 u ti 1 o H o X t/l c .2 ' c u S IH *O < X re< H^ N SsJ O O O O O O w> oo r^ r^>o ^ O O O O O O 3 O O O O O O ? 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K, u ^ ^0 K i-t D > ! ' o ; g C 6 g-g S.c = iJ x 2 ? S g. = 2 ^ S-S M c "? S 5^ j3 4-t n^J o ^' 5 d ^ ^2^ c ^ r^ w 2 < S o ^ H- > J^ arnworth worth, ^ c -O u ! S JU M 3 o * PQ O C4 U O ?Q W PQ ft H? ^ hU Pi PQHS ooooooooooo ooooooooooo o C cs 3 o "O H<- ^0 C " o << to * S ooooooooooo J2 ~" H M- - ccooa N > - oo O >. ooooooooooo ^T ^ r-oo oo ^i ^ o O o^ O "t W !"<*'<* ^-^r' i ., O ^ re CO CO co^5 * "O > -^ ' ^ iJ -5 oo oo *H *< - O (Of < o . g JS O >vvo i-^eocO'rt < "5 "OOP O u < O " ,^p- "OOOOOOOOOOO 3 o --"- co eo o O r~ o c Id . > rr o o d o eo eo OVO ^O oo oo ic xr> eo o M ^ - eo eo 10 0000 S2 O O^O O o o r~ O co eo co'O \o O O l a .. H . M t l * E o ^js; 3 C- x s "> > 2 Jf c jj Cu'n ?~> u j t-> 13 G | 19 K I 5 .a "o u t> PT U CU a, I c w o .. U J " X ,J2 O c -a ^> ( "3. ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO CORRESPONDENTS. P. S 's account, relative to Mr, Unite's journey to Vale- Royal, to demand a reward of one hundred pounds for the ap- prehension of a felon the falsehoods he made use of to T. Choi- mondeley and T. B.Bayley^Esqrs. his method of taking the thief and of his being TWICE STABBED,