ceedings of Oliver, the spy, gave a new impulse to secret meetings," and plots became rife. On the 28th of March, eleven of these misguided conspirators were apprehended at a public house in Manchester, two of whom were William Kent of Street bridge, and a person named Taylor, of Roundthorn. Edward O'Connor publican, of Chadderton, voluntarily surrendered himself the following day, to answer a charge of suffering secret meetings in his house. On the 29th, Mr. Nadin, deputy constable of Manchester, accompanied by a party of dragoons, visited Chadderton and Royton, in search of suspected persons, having Mr. Bamford in custody at the time. Whilst at Royley, near Royton, a labourer, named George Howarth, was apprehended for using threatening language to the oflicers. The prisoners were conveyed to Manchester, through Oldham, which was in a state of great excitement during the day. Kent was imprisoned in Chelmsford goal, O`Connor liberated, and Bamford discharged on his own recognizance. "With the restoration of the Habeas Corpus Act, in February, 1818, the agitation for reform was renewed." Numerous meetings followed in various parts of the country, one of the largest of which was held on Bent green, Oldham, April 18, 1818. In September, 1818, the political fermentation was increased by a turnout of the weavers, for an advance of wages, and by almost daily processions of the workmen, who refused to continue their labour at the prevailing rate of wages. Whilst the cotton weavers were either unemployed or working for scanty earnings, the spinners were in a state of comparative prosperity. The wages of spinners were 82s. per week, while weavers could not earn on an average more than 8s. or 10s. within the same period. On the 3rd of September, a large meeting of the weavers of Ashton, Oldham, and Stockport, was held on Ashton moss, when resolutions demanding an advance of wages were passed. In a few days some of the employers complied with the wishes of the operatives. A troop of yeomanry cavalry,

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