The National Register. — London, England, 1816-12-09 00:00:00

speeches which they had heard—and others evidently in flamed by the desire of plunder. The tri-coloured flags were the rallying points, and after them teeny pursued their mad career. On emerging from the fields however , Mr. Stafford, attended by Limbrick, on e o f th e officers of Bow. street, rushed forward, and seised the small hag and the banner. A faint attempt was made at resistance, but It was overcome. and the bold effort of Mr. Stafford was sneeesoful. At this (hue, the designs of the multitude were unknown, and ass still greater number remained in the field, awaiting th e arrival of Mr. Hunt, It was thought prudent not to depart from the original directions given to the Police. Thus th e mob passed on without further interruption, and shaping their course towards Smithfield, alarmed the inhabitants by whose houses they passed. with the wildest shouts. Many, Itewever, from the rapidity of their course. lost their breath; a - ad en stopping to recover themselves, evidently reflected on their improldent conduct, and retired to their homes or re turned to Spa-fields. Salle few of the desperadoes ;hewed cutlasses and pistols, from whence it was evidont that they &dm prepared for deeds of Mood. These, however, were very rare instances. la Smithfield it rats annonneed that they were going to die Lord Mayor • but a cry for areas being raised, some of the leaders led dee way through C.ow.laise to Saow.hill. to the Manse of Mr. Beckwith, the gansmith. A young man who Was rather before the mein body first rushed into the shop, in which Mr. Platt 144 other geatiessen were standing. lo a voice of great trepidation he demanded arms. Mr. Platt told him to go about his business; upsa which he drew a a pistol from his breast.poeket and discharged its contents at Mr. P.'s body. He was intently seised, and given to the custody of Worrell, the Ward °dicer of St. Sepulchre's. The great balk of the insurgents then came up, and in a moment allied all the arms in the shop, and converted them to their owe use ; some carrying off two or three guns together on their shoulders, while others armed themselves with pistols and madames. When the rioters got into the Miseries, about 'teem Horse Guards, beaded by an °deer, rode up to the top of th e Minorite just as the rioters were en their march with their spoil, to joie their comrades in Spa-gelds. The foremost of tins throng discharged their guns and pistols at the soldiers wianded two of theft horses, and immediately turned to the right about. The , panic became gesteral; the guns mesa aides, swords, and pistols were thrown and abandoned; the Items of Spa -bolds were in "two minutes invisible, and seven red coats remained masters of the geld. It men, new be satisfactory to give • descriptles of the 'Were, es they appeared ie their march ep the Minories. Far 'die meet pert they consisted of.sailers. Some black, sins& Ultimo*, some English, some foreign—some boys and maie mem. (hoe fellow with a wooden leg seemed as active as the rest. They were armed is various ways. Some had bearding pikes, others broad swords, others guru, and ethers plitals. RIOTS IN THE METROPOLIS. • The City of Landon has not for many years exhibited such a geese of outrage and tear& as that which took place on It was easily pepeelved a few days ago, from the peePandlear inakiett en the part of Government, that there was pretty geed reason to suspect that an attempt would be made by the disinfected to incite the lower orders to acts of riots and devastation, and that the naseting in Spa-fields was merely a pretence for the dissolute and disorderly to assent hie, and proceed thence to disturb the peaceable part of the inetrepaffii. It would seem, indeed, from every thing which has transpired, that a system had been organised to raise the standard of lasurrection at leant, if .not of rebellion. We Mtn stated Jaime account of the Spa-Gelds meeting, that a . coaddorallie astatbei left the fields, lifter beefing an infirm =bangers *op:the waggon orator. This person's said to he Wats on. It appears tbartbough he boast ed dust Ise had • lye thousand Mends who were ready to, fol low Meantime., and though in fact, about one demurral of the meet rnilan-looking fellows present kilned his stanasrd, yet, beam die pug reached St. Marthta-le-grand, their unielser was reduced to seedy two knadred. The first out rage they commtheird, wages reaching Skimmer-street, Snow ball here one ado body advancing before the rest, entered the shop et Mr. Beeftwitit the gun-smith, calling out," anus, arms." A gentknum who happened to be In the shop, named Platt (a Maaeltestea warehouseman, of Cateaton-street), affa bly attempting to remonstrate, said, " My friend, you are mistaken; this is not the place for arms." The ruffian in. neatly drew forth a pistol, and lodged the contents of it la the hip or grotto of Mi. Platt. Three other fellows who were by this time entering' the shop, respecting by the report that their leader was shot, turned, round and fled in haste. The shop door was instantly closed open the assassin, whom Mr. Beckwith's shaman with great spirit seized, and berried into the beck shop, where he was given in charge' to a eon stable, who neeligently permitted the primmer to temp stairs. The latter instantly sprung up to the wiaden *row tip die sash, waved his handkerchief and atlinwelesibit mob, a dored them that they had nothing to tear, as dam were bat few prisms in the house and , besides coametdatiarions ineeeellainierfe4 if tie prink/eras he had excited the . On their -departure, they also plundered the shop of a astladtty of guns, pistols, &e. Fortunately a number afire ana= deposited our of sight, which they did not find. The taus armed, pursued their course into the city, with dtiview, it was apprehended, of attacking the Bank: As tirro. ceeded along Cheapside. they loaded and rlischargtO their pirees, and displayed wardens meowing gestures as if to hi ' tunirlate the spectators. Having arrived at the Royal Ex cheap, they were met by the, Lord Mayor, and Alderman Cr James Shaw, to deseilbe wh'ese proceedings it will be ne eeseary to state, chit his Lordship had made a must judicious arrangement, by stuttering peruses between the Mansion House and Spa-fields, to give an account every half hour of what'vriss passing. It nnfortenately happened that the men pasted at Spa-bells did' not discover that a party had gone off towards the, city, in consequence of which oversight on their part, the Lord Mayor bad no account of the rioters until they had reached . Aldersgate-street. Sir James Shaw and Mr. White were then at the Mendes HOMAC.• At the same moment that intelligence war received of the rioters Wig In Alderagate-street, a person arrived with an account of their being in Skinuer-street, and er their having shot a num The Lord Mayor and Mr. White, attended by Cur men, immediately set out to meet the mob; they got to ilte Swan with Two Necks, in Lad-lane, when they beard the itob going to the Man sion House; they retired at a quick pace, and found the rioters had passed the Old Jewry. His Lordship and his small party went into Princes-street, whore they heard reports of several muskets which were fired in the air. His Lordship could not get before the mob until they turned into Sweeting's-alley, himself and his party titenyam THE NA' r across the Royal Exchange, whilst the rioters were going into .1 a gun-sinities. Sir James Shaw nized the colours; the Lord Mayor took the arms from oni man, and Mr. White (corn another. Mr. Powell and Mr. Hicks, of Cheapside, who had accidently come up, assisted them 41 securing she men. None of the mob advanced into the Exchange, but before 'the gates were shut they levelled their muskets, and two of them fired at the Lord Mayor. His Lordship held the man whom he had taken into custody, directly opposite the rioters; and told them to fire away ; one of theta fired, but it is doubtful whether the piece was loaded with shot. When the gates were shut the rioters fired nuclei them. A fresh force ar riving to the Lord Mayor's aid, the paints depaited, taking the direction of the Minories, where they entered the shops of Mr. Brander and Mr. Rae, gunsmiths. The gnnmakers in the Minories had by some means been apprised of the previous proceedings of the rioters, and had with proper precaution (as far as it went) shut up their shops, and secured them in the inside. The. freebooters ' however, would not be disappointed; the leader, with the but end of his gun, broke in the fan light above the door of Mr. Bran der's shop, through which a sailor with a chip kat contrived to crawl, and in this manner they all gained admittance. They carried off muskets, fowling pieces, pistols, besides a four pound carronade, and a brain swivel Tbas supplied, they were about to depart from thi Minoties, when it was supposed that more arms, as well as powder, could be had at Mr. Rea's, the gunsmith's, a few doors distant. Mr. Rea had also made his premises as secure as he could; but so de terntlned were the villains to eater, that they broke in the russets of the doors and windows. At this place they were joined by a loan on horseback, who took a lead in the three don of their proeedinp. A man also who had the appear ance of a countryman, and was armed with a pistol and a sword,.led them from shop to shop. Mr. Rea, apprehensive for his life, took shelter on the roof of the house; but even there be was not out of the reach of possible danger, for the plunderers ransacked every corset of the shop and house in search of powder with lighted candle', None, however, was found here or at Mr. Branders, add they were therefore obliged to leave the Minoriee in greet disappointment. To sake amends, they carried off alsos.z eighteen silver spoons, and a quantity of wearing append, and various other move aisles. By this time a mob of five thousand persons were as sembled, but not- a man or a boy aided the party in their lawless prongs. The rioters next took the direction of Aldgate, when it the top of the Marin the party divided, onehalipertuiog their ways, thmesdsditeb, and the other the road to Mile-end. 'These who took the former route met a small party of the Ilth d and instantly abandoned their heavy lottol and took to their heels; but the soldiers came op with them, and they lindaotly surrendered their small arras without resistastee. The party which took the Whiteckeped-road were also pursued, and those who escaped the cavalry were attacked W the butchers, and compelled to give up their arms, whisk the butchers express a wish to re tain as tropidel suit peyote of their (briny and coot-age. A ebiowtel-oWeertriortpod the Biotin H the elinories, and was offered the choke of various wesposa, but nothing took his fancy like a Ml dress sword. This laity hero was more amusing than alarming to the inhabitants, for he displayed some of the Satins usually practised by this tribe on the Ist day of May. A portion of the mob front Spa-fields, after indalglag them selves for an hour or two, proceeded by the way of St. Giles's, and Catharine-street, into the Strand, making pretty free wherever it suited their purpose. litklrell-otreet, St. Cle ment's, seemed particularly to Invite theta. The chief object of attack there, about seven o'clock, was tie Dog Tavern. They broke almost all the front windows, and carried off the whole of the exposed larder. Next t hey assailed the premises of an elderly man, a Mr Gilbert, who sells a variety of clothing attacks. From his Amp, after smashing a few panes, they took different articles of webs:log *l*mM. Thence, in the same narrow street, they preceded lt piece broker's, named Levi, where they helped theatielves tO what ever his saemsdimmd assortment afforded tisane af great coats and askinweas, asaloteoats, sad other coswesieet snicks of dress. Os their march, thee. didstati tbe gin-shops, but took cars to have akw drops oIYM dial gratis. A am ber of other dopirodatlitas were ceravalttei is various parts of the tows, whirls *will be more adverted Win the polka proceedings. A party of &melt bad hoes shattered at the Bask at six is the mornisg• scale of them was ioarched ont,at two o'clock far, the proteeties ekteMaaslos Moe% the- the hem Paraded all parts of tbensetropolisdmiig ad' evening sad the night, and preserved ogder *very wee. —The East-Lila House were provided** selliciest Fares to Tel say attack, sod the. eitymtlitis kept watch in the Royal scheele--Tico Ztass of Court had their galas eissod,usdlhe shops is almost all the principal 'tents liras city woos shat .At the reconsims ditto, elf the Lord Mayer, the ishabilasas of the IMAM wards forward to swam is as special emir 'tablet ; is C sdlawieit ward ellsse,usorriabas oleo MVO the enrolled id lea this iihwer. It is imp Pat en asetitiathismarlswere spoistfrawftele, swore is, sad others, the amembeis of Liles sad the - Stick Ex- charsge. A detaches* °Cheese sad Mot, asdorroral pieces of artillery, were posted seer the lLiars Beach. Soldiers were ale. is roadissis at %mate, sad all she ether prise*. were earefallyimarded. In the Maori's a vitiate levelled a binadarissua at see of the soldiers ; he happily missed hisalm, sad the ball mitered the neck of the rider's hear. An attempt was Instantly msde by a mast in the crowd to secure him, but be fought hard, and was ultimately rewind. Several of the soldiers received slight blows of stones and brickbats, while others were occasionally saluted with offal sad mad. - It it a most carious fact, that while the mob were la the ?di mities, souse silly dozen of persons. headed by an iodates! sell= elected commander, demanded the surrender of the timer! The commander finding that kis message was laughed at. as sumed the character of an orator, actually harangued the sol diers from without the walls, telling them that they were the protectors of the pear% and not of the Omen—that they were paid by the people and not by the Criss—and that now was the time for theist to chew their allegiance , to juin the carat of the people, and they would each be reworded with 100 guineas, and secure to themselves promotion! The sentinel was directed to level his musket at hint, which the he.o no roomier perceived, that' himself and contpauious scampered away with the fleetness of greyhounds. Mr. Platt, shot in Skinner Street, as soon as his strength • would perms[, was conveyed in a coach to his house at fins ton, but we are sorry to ad•l, in a deplprable state. There are two slugs lodged ip the groin ; but, unfortunately, though the most eminent surgical aid had beeq obtained, they had not been extracted on Wednesday forenoon. Hopes, however, are entertained of ultimate success, anti that thiesinnocent sufferer would shortly be restored to his young family and Moods. On Monday night, about eleven o'clocs, as Miles, thi horse patrole, was on duty at Highgate, he passed three mrtt who appeared to avoid being seen by him, and recollecting to have heard of three footpads committing robberies in klmeg lately, he looked after them. They appeared as if they went pro ceeding into the lane leading to the Earl of Mansfield's house, but they returned towards the town of Highgate. The patrole then communicated his suspicions to a Wall hhian, nod took him with him to stop them. • They came stp with them sleet , the Red Lion politic bogie, when the patrols having no doubt, but that he saw • pistol concealed in the breast of one of them, under a large loose rough coat, he ',hinged his hand its, and found his conjecture right. Immediately after, the ()user two presented a pistol each ; 'one of them went otf: butt provi dentially missed the patrole cud watchman ; the other pistol missed fire. The watchman was much Warmed; that he ran off and sprang his rattle. ' le two who had presented their pistols took the opportunity and rau away. An alarm was created by the discharge of the pistols, anti a number of persons came oat of the Red Lion public house, and from other places. The patrole gave the MAU he had seized with the pistol, and on whom also be found a dagger in a stick, into the care of two men named Goulding and Rhodes. while he went in pursuit of the two who ran away. Immediately on 'the patrole's &pas titre, the person in custody instantly drew a dirk from his stick, and said—" If yon don't let me go, I . will run you through," and he struck at Goulding with the dirk, which perforated his great coat, but only scratched Isis skin ; he then attacked Rhodes and stabbed him in the thigN,. bet not to any dangerous extent. A straggle ensued, ami they all fell Into the kennel together. The patrole at this' juncture returned, having ineffectually pursued the other two,: and the prisoner was secured, and a pistol and a great sear papers were taken from hint. The patrole brought the mast to Bow-street Tubsday, when he proved to be Mr. Watson,. the gentleman who advocated the cause ofthe people at the first meeting in Spafields, and who has been assay years a' respectable surgeon and apothecary, residing in Neweissate-' street, in the Strad, and be was in consequence hendscaffesr and brought to the Graublic house, in Bow-street. Thh' circumstance of Mr. W atsona being in custody under a charge of felony, was soon made known, and curiosity led several people to the house to see hies. He was particularly deafens' to know the fate of his see—[thls was the yodel; man whs addressed the mob from the waggon, on Monday, in Spit fields],—and on being Informed by a person present, that he unsferstood him to he in custody in the city, he observed that he was a noble youth, and deserved a better fate—that there had been too great a degree of precipitancy in his proceed; ings—and that, had he conducted the cane well, his poor snffering countrymen would have been relieved without blood • shed! He then with mach calmneskspoke of the distresses be had been an eye-witness to, and more particularly of those that had befallen his own family ; and declared that one of his own children , a lovely daughter, had died from want, that is to say, she died from the want oiwine and such other limb rishments as it was not in his power, fromt he distressful state' in which be was, to give her. All this, be contended, arose from the oligarchy. He was piked if he was in Spafields on Monday, and he said he was, bat not with the oratorical past of the assemblage. At half-pest three o'clock be was ordered before Mr. &rub, and underwent a short private examina-• thin; he was afterwards taken to the Secretary of State's Office, Whitehall. FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE ATTEMPTED AS- SASIONATION OP MR. PLATT. Mr. Beekwith's 'Women state, that the mu who attempted to assassinate Mr. Platt, was, in the first instance, accompa nied by five comrades: when he °puled the do or and de manded arms, he had not the pistol concealed with which he shot Mr. Mot, but held it openly in his hand. Mr. Platt, who had &debut his business at Mr. Beckwith's, was going not of the doer, when the villain called out—" Arlin, arms!' Mr. Platt, la a conciliatory manner, laid his hand on the man*. shoulder, and ; reminded him that he was shout to do a great ilea/ of mischi ef; and was proceeding to ase Nether persua sion, when the &sauna presented a deadly weapon, and fired. Mr, Platt was placed in a chair, and addressing his savage asseillant, observed, " Yoe have shot me, and I was oo sine my et yours." " Then," replied die man, " lam sorry for It."—Mr. Platt wow desired that a stergi on might be sect for to examine his wound, when the assassin stepped forward sad asseredisbe that he wara professional gnu, and would wil lingly attend to him: aid he hasseediately began to prepare ' for the euminatien of the *Mind in a way that left no doubt on the minds of these peewit that what he had said was per fectly correct. Mi. Platt, however, decasesi his attentions, and woo take, up'stalts. ni t a urgent of asaineseee was sent for. The sholdialiplest Me time is seising the murderer, who made no rethstmile. Ilk esaiseades hod Resist the first report of the pine, ender the us it is supposed, that their leaderhireselthed bus Shot. Welk or the name of Wards Was at hafid, and the prisoner was timensitted into his ernitedy. His pocket-book and.various papers were taken Mss bins. Among the latter was a copy eta circular letter, e flerieheeriptiens. There were other scraps of paper,' .with the *asses of the 'l'realuref - lind Secretary of the Spa ded& society. While the stiopmen were thus employed .sa . this nsefid invesdiatioa, the eonstahle, instead of confining the assassin to sense close apertialint, suffered hint to range from one room to anther. blimpalbsent that p or ti o n o f t h e 4... mob which sanomeiledlim,644 upooid having bent sp. prized of the deludes it then ' ou seeeent of shooing Mt- Pieti..theY kaiak tiolnalefibd itheirokion, t)oei of the &berme& ainivesed, that le the suede the mu bad escaped. mid was got es the premises. This well-intentioned answer pacified the rioters for the asomeat, and they had actually turned away and were proceeding to the Royal Excliaage, when the beadle alllveed his prisoner to approach the n in dow, sad present himself to the view of his friends; the nob became furious, the honer and its contents urn , denoeiseed for destruction. and the murderer was immediately sod of necessity restored to liberty. The windows were 'tenant!) , demolished, aid all the fire inn iii the windows and ship were carried off. The assassin, feeling himself secure among these desperate plunderers, thought proper to give proof of his cooluess and courage before he left this scene of murder and devastation - . He accordingly took up a brace of pis:ols (about 11l inches long in the barrel), and loaded them wish great care mod deliberation. lin comrades followed his heroic example, and loaded their pieces with possder,. and with whatever materials suited their purpose. One of the shopmen, tired with this disgusting exhibition; and wishing to rid his toaster's premises of surly dangerous i ittfians, mired among the rabble. and immediately called out, unknown to them, " Now my lads, we have plenty of guise, let us t o th e Tower." This device seerceeded, and this ferocious rabble went in quest of further plunder and breathing other massa cres. From the curious circumstance of the assassin !lasing proffered surgical assistance to the man whom he had shot ;