The whole country would rise and help them; their journey
would be a triumphal procession; they were not a hostile army; the
women would come to the doors and offer them bread and milk; they
would reach London; Lord Liverpool would resign; and they would come
back to Manchester with banners flying, having saved their country.
At nine o'clock the club was in St. Peter's fields, and a kind of
platform had been erected, from which an address was to be given.
Caillaud and the Major were down below. Both of them were aghast at
what they saw. Thousands of men were present with whom they were
unacquainted, who had been attracted by Ogden's proclamation; some
with coats; others without coats; some with sticks; some with
petitions; but most of them with blankets, which they had rolled up
like knapsacks. The Major's heart sank within him. What on earth
could he do? Nothing except accompany them and try to prevent
collision with the troops. The magistrates were distracted by no
doubts whatever. They read the Riot Act, although there was no riot,
nor the semblance of one, and forthwith surrounded the platform and
carried off everyone on it to prison.
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