tion, the defect of the original holding was not remedied. Under these circumstances,. the jury was dismissed, without being called upon for their anxiously expected verdict.

On the evening following the extraordinary occurrence at St. Peter's field, Manchester, disturbances were apprehended at Oldham, and, in consequence, some troops of the Cheshire yeomanry cavalry were on their way thither, but fortunately no riot whatever took place, and the military returned.

Mr. William Fitton, surgeon, of Royton, a practical and comprehensive advocate of parliamentary reform, delivered his first public address at the county meeting, held at Preston, February, 1817, for the purpose of voting an address to the Prince Regent, on the atrocious attempt which had just previously been made on the royal person. In August, 1819, Mr. Fitton was indicted for taking part in an alleged seditious meeting held at Blackburn; but it does not appear that he was imprisoned for that offence. This popular speaker was the chief adviser of "a small but firm band of radical reformers at Oldham, who proved themselves the truest supporters of the cause of radical reform of any party in the county." These individuals ultimately became the leaders of one of the principal political parties in the borough, adopting as the bases of their views the opinions of Mr. Cobbett. On the introduction of the reform bill, in the House of Commons, in 1831, Mr. Fitton was mainly instrumental in taking such measures as ultimately secured the inclusion of the three townships of Crompton, Royton, and Chadderton within the borough of Oldham. Mr. Fitton died November 15, 1840.

Mr. John Knight, an ardent and resolute radical reformer, was for several years an inhabitant of Oldham. At the assizes at Lancaster, August 27, 1812, Mr.

172