y were accordingly
referred by each house to a secret committee. It was expected that
coercive measures would be adopted; but in the face of this a mob,
headed by Henry Hunt and others, met in Spa-fields on the 10th of
February, under the pretext of petitioning for parliamentary reform. The
reports of the secret committees were presented on the 18th of February;
and, on their recommendation, stringent acts were passed to correct the
evil. The first consequence of these reports was the apprehension of
the elder Watson, Preston, Hooper, and Keene, who were committed to the
Tower on a charge of high-treason; a reward of five hundred pounds was
also offered for the apprehension of a man named Thistle-wood; and he
was also taken and lodged with his associates. The measures adopted by
parliament for the security of the public peace, were the suspension of
the _Habeas Corpus_ Act until the 1st of July next; an extension of
the act of 1795, for the security of the king's person, to that of the
regent; the revival of an act of 1795 against corresponding societies;
and a reenactment of that regarding the seduction of soldiers and
sailors from their allegiance. Petitions were presented against these
restrictions on public liberty, and they were opposed in every stage
by the opposition; but they were carried in both houses by large
majorities. Although these acts appeared to infringe on the public
liberty, yet they were effectual in saving the country from violence
and bloodshed, if not from the horrors of anarchy. Powerful measures are
required for the restraint of hydra-headed faction. The suspension of
the Habeas Corpus struck an unexpected blow against the hopes and plans
of the apostles of reform; and Mr. William Cobbett, who at this period
figured as one of the most ardent reformers, deemed it prudent to retire
to America, promising, however, to return as soon as England should be
again under the protection of her constitution, and in the meantime to
transmit his weekly register from the land of his voluntary exile.

On the assembling of the peers after the Easter recess, it was ordered,
on the motion of Lord Grey, that a copy of the circular-letter recently
addressed by the secretary of state for the home department to the
lord-lieutenants of counties, relative to seditious or blasphemous
publications, be laid before the house. In this document Lord Sidmouth
had stated, as it was of the greatest importance to prevent, if
pos