The Exchange Herald was founded by Joseph Aston in 1809. Aston
was a staunch Tory and a strong opponent of parliamentary reform.
The Exchange Herald appeared every Tuesday. Aston virtually
wrote the whole newspaper himself and it is believed that he was the
author of the report that appeared in the Exchange Herald about
the Peterloo Massacre.
(1)
The
Exchange Herald (17th August, 1819)
At one o'clock another procession
passed the Exchange, escorting Hunt to the place of meeting. The leader
of this band bore a large club, and he was followed by some hundreds
of men and boys who marched in columns with military step, to the
music of a regular band, dressed in gay uniforms.
On the box of the carriage was seated
a woman! bearing a Flag: and in the open carriage stood the main Pivot
of Mischief;
several other persons were
seated in it, but we did not learn their names. The carriage was followed
by many hundreds of men and boys in the order above described, with
colours flying. They marched through Deansgate, in which, and in all
other streets through which they passed, the shops were shut up.
On arriving at the Hustings, Mr. Hunt and his friends ascended it,
amidst the shouts of the greatest assemblage of people ever collected
together at one point in Manchester. We understand the Travelling
Orator had begun to address the Reformers, when an hour having expired,
after the reading of the Riot Act, the Warrants of the Magistrates
were carried into effect.
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