I beg your pardon. You, however, were in the magistrates’ room, I think you said, at Mr. Buxton’s?—I was.
Of course you had an acquaintance with the gentlemen who were there assembled, as acting magistrates of the committee for the counties of Chester and Lancaster?—With two or three I had.
Probably upon terms of intimacy with one of them?—Certainly.
Was that gentleman there at that time?—He was.
Did it occur to your mind at the time that the cavalry were sent for (because you went back to a window, and saw the messenger crossing the field, for the purpose of bringing them to the place, and were told or heard there was a rumour in the room above, that the cavalry had been sent for) did it occur (attend to my question) to you, at the time, from the observations which you had made on the subject, that that step was improper or premature?—I don’t think it occurred to me either one way or the other.
Am I to understand from that then that you exercised no judgment upon the subject at that time?—I certainly did exercise some judgment, some opinion on it, at that time.
Having exercised some judgment upon the subject, I ask you whether, in your judgment, such as you exercised upon that point, the step was either improper or premature?—I saw no necessity for it.
Then you deemed it premature?—I saw no necessity for it.
It struck you then as an unnecessary act?—Certainly.
Then you would go down, of course, immediately and speak to your friend upon the subject?—No.