The National Register. — London, England, 1817-06-23 00:00:00

.104 dleint•elf ma le it. In the evening they met, and it was , pro• duced ; Des Watson Said it was a follOtet Weapon. Watson Mien gave him a paper, with No. o, Greystoke-place, sternum, .o • the how,: ss here the. cramiiittee was ilea. About that -time Isle 101 l been to Paddington by Thistlewood's directions, waoss•t the navigators, fowled many out of employ, and some 11f t. cis $.11 , 1 they world rather die any hew than be starved death. Upon main,: Issw Monty could be got toe s th s s in a .1.: thine, they w ett• tole) that live or six hundred (mid be a•rarered. From tliesee they called at the peddle ( a nuses iu Base street and Viaeear-y area to sesintd the opinions ise the on duty at the thralls. , and to the lox ;under the Ire:K Adelphi, ar el se vosol ether poiblie houses, to tient ps e s aple out of employ, mei he owe told if he found one 11113 e s io last Othel! , , to take leis name and adilsess and commenis .4.4te it to Thistlewood. Ali appointeneut was made at GI - 11:ikt-pIUCA 'tier the Fe idayfeilewieg, at eleven : lie gorthere spreeistely to the tense, but there was nobody iu the hones; iu ir.bn.'.f.g away he met 'lliastlewood, and they wsalt back; letrutturi had wit corme with the key, hat he some afire• arriied,. as.d they went into the lisovie; soon after young Watson at eel, ho announced that he mid Thistlewood had inspected tse barracks to see how they email be tired, but these was t a :node of getting the people together. The pike head was ptoduced ; Thistlewood said it was a Cameos weapon, and I! at he would love 2SO made. All the Committee was there escept Hari isoa. %illness reported that he and Watson had also inspected the barracks to see how all the asenuee might I.e tiled at once ; that there were six avenues to hang-street Barracks, and only two to Portelau.strect Barracks. Watson was desired to valentine bow mud' combustibles it would take to tire all the avenues at the same time, and they appointed the next Sunday fur a general Meeting of the Csenneitie. at eleven. to arrange the whole plan. 'limy did inert ou the Sunday and in the semen time he bad ordered 2ao pike heads of flunky and pawl him dos. so advance. This tiewuod said he had inquired where handles were to be got, 'sand that they 'Mean be oletaioed at some place behind the laiug's Bench. The next Sunday nurseling they all met, the „home was searched, to see that no one was coneraleal, and they lie4an their deliberations. Thistlewood pcoduced a snap of London ; first the reads wile marked out to the places of attack—they were arranged where every 'non was to take his station as a genteel. The Committee were all generals. Dr. Watson proposed Thistlewood to be commander in chief, ars he fouucl ail the money. They were to be armed with ).Lltes and different other weapons—whatever they could get. Watson the elder was to set tire to Portman-street Barracks --the na aerials 'Hothoused for the purpose were pitch, tar, rosin, turpentine, spirit. of wine., sulphur, dc. The thing was to be dour by attacking and setting the to the barracks .at every avenue, at One teolock in the morning. All persons asset in the meets WPM to he slopped; gentlemen's carriages -were to be stepped, the hoe ses taken Irma them and mounted by men who were to art as eavaley. After this, witeleve was for join the raster Watsou at the top of Os ford-road, near the :Park, mass havina ° seen that noise rSe3p , -d 'fron t the hooting Or the barracks. Harrison also Was to join th , le with the Roo pieces-of artillery ; a volley W.'S to be filed to chew they had got alum Some ' , daimon wire to be left at Hyde-park [hac to protect the gnus. They were thou to .proceed to to barricade the avenues to the Park, to bassi 'settle Portman -street, and all the entrunces in that quarter, efsr the pin pose of prevelaing uny eavalry.frOill coming in elan might be out of quarters. They were then to go to the Pie -caddly gate, (witnese means the turnpike gale at the corner .eta Hyde-park. Piccadilly ;) that gatst was to Ise chained and -I leaded, and a party was to be left there to fire ou any .horse that might come from the country—then to proceed to Charing-cross and the bridge (wino-its means Westminster lohlg,e), and barricade MI tlioreabouts, to stop any troops Iliac might come in by way ofClielsea. As soon as Thistlewood and the younger Watson had secured the gents, (which wit alesi had already said they were ordered toaake), they were then to attark the gonsmiths' shops and oil shops.; every shop where any arms or combnstible materials could be got. This tlewood end young Wataon were to block up erevy place from Guy's liindiane to St. Cites's, where 'Thistlewood was to make Les grand stand; a gun was to point tip Tottenliameourt .Road. Preston's business was to attack the 'Power; young Watson was to proceed from St. Giles'; to Cumberland-gate, barricading all the seennesam the right as be went ou. Pres ton, it' lie failed of taking the Tower, was to barricade ton dan bridge against any artillery that might-conic from Wool wich, then to barricade Whitechapel against any troops that vapid come that way. After that, ;Preston was to join the a ttain body at the Bank, which was known by the cant Haile or The Oki Lady," as the Tower was by the name of" The Old Gentleman," or " The Old Man," et was all - the same. Whilst these plans were forming, Thistlewood asked Watson what the eorobustibles would cost, and how much would he wanted for each avenue to the barracks? Thistlewood bid the Doctor calculate it ; the Doctor made a calculation that that the whole would eost something short of 1001. Thistle avocet then said, " Do not spare a matter of 201. let us roast them well.' Dr. Watson observed, that the combustibles week, burn so rapidly, and the stench so strong, as to slide NI the soldiers in a few minutes. The next day, after (leis -plaii was settled, witness and the younger Watson were de s;ned to go look for a 'twist between the two barracks, to be oniar them, in which the combustibles and arms were to be lodged, they were to say the house was wanted for acv bllsi- LiebS they chose—they said an oel and colour shop, liocaase — then the eonalmstibles could be bloaght in witholit, ally sus *ciao. The whole Committee seas present when this It.ti- Le.. 5 was settled. Thistlewood said to witnese. " Do not .131azid the price err the hones, at we do not intend to pay for at," and then ordered witness and young Watson to go about' :Ow Louse next prorn;ne . and the Doctor to bring Mt , coin bustibles. In agreeing for the house, young Warron was to pats fur the master who wanted it, and Witness for his ter •eat. Wane.), held the fourth place in the Committee, Dr. Warren proposed him for it. 'Thistlewood was to be the tirst,. Ttt. Watson the second, Harrison the third, witness the f.airth—Preeton proposed yoesog Watson the fifth, and hien- • lilt' the last, -on account of his lameness. It was then set t isd that they should appoint a Committee, the Committee of. Pahlie Safety—it was Thistiewood who proposed it. This sCotomitiee was to he called togs tier titles they (witness and •Illtilitertythad got the better el the soldiers, or been joined .by them. Twenty-four semes.were mentioned to form the 4 7 ( omenittee ; witness remembers the following names :—Sir :a • raneisßurdett, the 'Lord Mayor, Lord Cochrane, Henry Brun, Fag. Major Cartwright, Gale Jonce, Mr. Roger 1)1:oolitic, Squirt Folkes or Fawkes, of Yorkshire, Samuel Brooks, Me. 'fhompson, of Holbosn Hill, Watson the elder, isnot Thistlewood. As soon as they had got the better of the soldiers, that is " " • prociamm • was to. to any It bet- TFT7 NA'TTONAT, nrG ter, they weee to have donne pay for life, instead of the tee euinces. 'l'histiewood asked Watson how much it woold : 111 ,,,mit to if all the eoldiers should prefer the 100 guineas, and the Doctoe aaswered, aloeit eente.th'Ul. which was no thing to compare with the tiatiomil debt that was to be wiped t% itures and the younger et atsoa went to look out for an empty lioase ; they found oust 'mar Seymour Place ; a woman chewed them the house, and Force red diem to a tim ber merchant near that (the Conti.) Witness does not remem ber the inc. tentitt's name, but it may be Crasser; be requite,' lel, or lat. fur tisiuris, and asked for a reference. Witness gas a .ehistlaeroode e address, in Soathampton Buildings. Wit ness and voting Watson theti wait to Greystoke Place, No. e, and fotind the whole Committeesittiug there, and reported e hat they had done; Th.stlewood said,Nery well, and that he <hoohl be at home for Mr. Cesare. Witness came away with 'lliistlewood, who said as they were coming along, that the miter) of the people was, they wanted arms, and be then ordered witness to get 250 pikes :ions.. Toon; 11 arson went to Casser, who refused without three mouths rent paid, and that he had not got the house. The whole Committee met no the following euuday, in Greystoke Place; Harrison pro posed that 4, they had been disappointed of getting men, they should eolleet a public meeting. 'I his was unitaimoted agreed to, and Spatields propostd as the place. Thistle wood and the elder Watson went to see the round, and re• . ported that it was a famous place, near the Tower nod the Bank, so that the town might he bike,' by surprise. Thistle wood said, " Now, Doctor, draw up a hand bill that may be distributed or stuck on the walls as a placard. ninotie the low er orders nut of employ in the Borough, Spitallields, Petty France, Paddiegton ' and where vor there ate most mecha nics and (ohms without employ." This WAS accordingly written by Doctor Watson. The elder Watson and witness then went to the printer's tot the bills ; the printer, who was out, came in in a few minutes, said he had been at some office to knots it' he could legally print them, as he Vial afraid of being brought into trouble, and had beta in a scrape before, therefore he would destroy those he hail printed, and give them the paper for the remainder ; the printer kept the bills in his own lianas, and would not even ehow them; young Watson then arrited, and proposed to tear of Ilse printer's name at the bottom ; the printer would not agree ; the elder Watson brought away the paper to a public house, from whence witness hronght it to the Committee, and reported Butt the printer refused , witness does not recollect his name —it may he tritest er ; then the elder Watson said he would go to one Scale, in Tottenham Court Road, a ho would print 250 immediately, npon ROM! extra payment: event accordingly, and came back and resorted that 258 -would be printed by eight o'clock next morning. Dr. Watson then said he could get a man to distribute the bills and stick the placard,: at 2s. ed. the small, and 4s. MI the large ones ; it was next agreed that letters slimed be written to Niel.% Burdett and Mr. Hunt, inviting them to the meeting at Spa-fields, and the advertisement for the raper was given to Watson, the elder, with seven shillings to pay for it. The whole committee came in the afternoon to the Cock, and the men wets: .paid there, and were desired to come nekt morning. They did so and went into the streets, as on the slay before, with the hand-hint, having the placards on their back. A meeting in Spa-fields was agreed upon, atilt the plan was detailed to Llooper as follows—that the two WilIM)1111 were to address the mob from a waggon at twelve o'cl9ek, to he befureitand with Hunt, who was to 40040 at one, and if the spirit of the people appeared good, Thistlewood seas to . itimp down .frosn the waggon and head the twoh into town ; they (witness and i the rest of the committee) weeds to jump down along with him, having cockades in their hats or bosoms. and with a .flag. If the mob said they wanted weapons, they (the counnietee) were to say they should soontnd them in the gunsmiths' shops. Scarcely one gunsmith's shop had been left without inspec tion, to see what arms they contained, and where siteuted. This was tnentioticd by the elder Watson or by Thistle wood. Whet' the arms were thus procured, the Bank and the Tower were to be taken by surprise. If the Bank was taken, they were to get on the top of it, and on the tops and in the windows of the neighbouring houses, to kill the soldiers by throwing any thing they found, such as bottles ; and if the Bank was in danger, of being retaken, they were to destroy the books in order to do away the National Debt ; this was the plan detailed to Hooper; they met on the Tharsday, that is, the committee met; Hooper, being one, sentont placards and hund bills as before ; met again in the evening, but Preston came there only for some bills: I went to the 'Power three or four times, once with 'f hietlewood, and the other times with young Watson—l distributed a great munv bills in the Tower—twice on those occasions I showed the soldiers the tri-colotired cockades—it was in one of the taps—half a dozen soldiers might be present—we conversed with the soldiers, we asked them whether they would like to work for a master that would give them double wages, or be as they were Whether they would sooner fight for a big.loaf or a little one ? ' One of the Jury.—Were these questions asked in a tam pering manner, secretly ?—No, they were spoken aloud ; the people we were drinking with could hear ; they said they all wanted a big loaf. Conrt—Did you and young Watson report to the committee what you had done ?—Ves ; and how we found the spirit or the ;people. The witness then proceeded :—At one of the esoetings either Thistlewood or the elder ‘Vatson said it would he well if we could get a couple of hundred young women and dress them in ;I;te, for them tirearry small flags, and have cock ades, or if we could 4et money enough to dress them all alike, for the purpose of walking tirst, in order to take the attention of the soldiers, so that they should not ride over. iss, and give them time to address the people. On Friday, the.S9tli of Novemh-r, T end young t 1 as on weld through Exeter Change, to see how many pistols, guns, and sobris, there were hanging up, and at the gun-shop opposite. We' looked at several other shops, and one which had a great quantity of carving -knives in the window. We went to the Savoy, amongst the people who were working at the' : new bridge; we delivered the bills of the meeting, and in.' . vited the people to come, and the same et the Fox undex the Hill ; then we went to 'the Rip, or canteen, at the Morse Gnards, where we saw /11),o , soldiers. They were•to et re'. the soldiers one hundred guineas dowr. AS soon as they should joins:hem, or dimible par for life, which!, they liked hest. The pistols he had brought were .loaded. At this time the colours and cockades wileif' 'I histlewood's t possession; they were brought to Gre) stoke-place on the Suuday. Me remembered, on the Saturday, a frame was, made for a piece of calico, on which an inscription was to be written by Dr. Watson, the elder. lie eras to put the in scription im the ealieo, with a pencil, in red letters.; witness saw the itteeriPliehl it was, ' The Brave Soldiers are nor' brothers, treat them , He OW. Watson:is:sir'," that would make a peat iutpiculonaualice min& of. the soldicrs."• JUNE .If.l. Witness thot evening went to Nt'inilermude and woid the row niaioder of the money for the hire of the waggon. The wig. gin was then ordered to he :tt flee lop of Guancery-!one, tint it conic accordingly at the titer agreed vipon. On the fol. lowing morning, witness went to the Mack Dog, where he tend Thistlewood, the elder Watson, Hooper, and !seams. Witness enquired l'or yarning Watson and Preston; he was answered, " Why did he ask that question, when he knew that they were to go ewly iu the mot gto raise all the men they could get at Spitallields, and in the :Wineries." Pistols were then given to witness, who loaded three of them: loc was then directed to put the colours in the waggon, and told, it' any of the Civil Magistrates or police of should inter. rapt hint, to shoot them or rim them through the hotly, awl it was added, they had no occasion to sided the cis it power, if they could bit keep off the horse soldiers; a quantity of 100.45, 60) or 70 or more, were pet into an old stocking. which was put into a dirty white handkerchief ; these, with some gunpowder, were given to Kcaas to wiry to the waggon; witness and Hooper then proceeded to the top of Chancery • Lute, where they foetid the waggon, and Wiedermude and his two bags; he and Hooper then went to his hidgings for the flag ; Windermude tied it to the staft; put it into the waggon himself, and pate it in charge to Hooper, it wits rolled up at that time; witness then went to No. I, Dean-st-eet, where he found Keens wrapping .np the banner in two old blaiikets: witness nssisted Leans to pin it up in the blankets ; left h!:•1 to take it to the waggon, and saw no inure of them ; lie then went to London-bridge, where he was directed to go it.: order to meet the smiths—be found none there, mid every thing was perfectly quiet—he saw nobody that he Isht•w—he proceeded down '!'Lames-street to the Tower• Mill, and to the Tower, where he found the gates shut, and an extra seritty on ; lie conversed with the soldier, mai asked him the reason of the :gates being shut? the soldier replied, " that it was on account of .the meeting that day in tipwdllelds ; Thistlewood anti Watson, sen. addressed the soldiers without the walls of :he Tower VI:TOSS the ditch t They returned with the mob tip the linories to go to tips Fields to get a greater force, as the seldiers did not seem to take any notice of them; witness was thirty or forty yards flow the place w here Thistlewood and IVatson stood while addressing the soldiers ; the re %il. a great noise at the time; he was above 23 yalds from nor feu thest gunsmith's shop. Exatuined by the Jory. Thistlewood and Watson both were speaking to the soldif•ti at the same time.; they %ere in front of the mub there nese forty or fifty so'diers on the parapet. Examination continned by Mr. Gurney. Returning up the Minories, a wheel came off the carriage of one of the field pieces ; young Watson then halted the mob w them to form m seine order; when near the top of the Minot its thirty or tot ly horse soldiers made their appearance, and immediately the• Ereater part of the mob throw doss n their arms mid ran away ; witness walked on till the soldiers were passed, as if he had not hr lunged to the rioters; Moulted: did the same —he went to a public house at the top of dark-lime, where he r••uruined till it wus nearly dark : he then went to No. 1, Dean-street ; got dime about half past six o'clock, where he found the two %Voisin's, Preston, and Thistlewood. Suon after he artived Oleic, the elder Watson began to pack up his papers and linen u• it' going away. Witness inquired where he and his son were gibing? Thistlewood told they were going a little way into the country, where a house. had been prepared fur them, and they would hear front theta soon. M . ituess iuqui►ed where Hooper was, and was told by Thisilewood that he was taken (as some of them must expect to he) with Um colones; lie added, that the Watson% were going a little way out of town,. but they-should soon hear from them at the Red Hart, in Slice lune, .by the name of John Williams. Witness asked if they bad shot auy body ? Young Watson said he did not know. Thistlewood said he was perfectly satisfied VOW that the peo ple were not ripe enough to act. The two Watsons and Thistlewood went away ta„ethcr, at about halt' past six, or seven o'clock. The things in the house Preston's daughter was to fetch aWily, and take them to Greystoke-plate. key of-the house was left with Preston. t °Mien, th.st os soon as they had suceseeded, a pro 'Jon vvis to ts• i•siied, telling that a new Government -he estahlkhed, and a !minty of inn guineas offered .st.h.liet who .I:l.atlttjoiu Weal; or, if the soldiara liked John Castle, cross-examined by Mr. WetheralL Witness came from Tuthill-fields prison, where be slept the last night. Had been a prisoner since Stun:lay, the toli of February, sedum he was committed no a charge of High Treason, never had a promise of pardon inconsideration of the evidence he was to give on this trial; he newer wanted any pardon, having never committed any thing which required a pardon. When he said he did not want a pardon, lie did not refer to the charge of High Treason, but he referred to two other things, of which, probably, the Learned Counsel was in possession. He was ready to communicate .every thing to their Lordships and the Jury. NV 011eS5 flews told G. t rispe that he, witness, had been better o'S since the Spa. fields meeting first took place. or any thing oldie guilt , %t it nest said he was described in the list of witnesses banded to the prisoner as a whitestnith by trade. The last piece of smith's business he had done, was about twelve or -fourteen years ago. Immediately he fore he was taken up and com mitted, he got his livelihood by making eltildren's figures, or paper dolls. That was the actual employment or husine.ss lie was in previous to .his arrest. But at that time he seas in great distress. He had been committed to gaol •twice on former occasions. Once to Guildford gaol, and the second time to Abergavcnny evil. On the first occasion lie WOO committed with Iwo others, on a charge of tinning oft . fotge el notes. He was not tried for that Mintier, but admitted King's evidence, and was a witness against kis companions, one of whom, named Da via, suffered the penalty of the death by the coinmon hangman. The other percent, named Greco:may, -was Only transported, in consequence of plead.. dug guilty to the charge. This was tio IT or fine yt.ins ago. He had no promise of pardon on that oceariun ; but being a young mall, and innocently drawee into the (((( , the moment lie was apprehended, he communicated to the pro secutors all the circumstance sof the ease. He is now about 2n or 29 years of age. The last hominess he did .u s a a line_ smith, was .at Doncaster, Minot liiitricen years ago, wli n lie worked as ate approntiee, being them almost a child. Was born at South Kirby, in Yorkshire. Would not swear Ina year or two of his age. Wa.. COIIIIIO !led 1.1 tA berrnvrilny gaol Oil a charge of aiding the escape of a French prisoner, , a Colonel Pavetty. Witness was to receive no particular stem for this piece nt service. Warner likisulf was .emstitird in Tothill-fields Brine:well for assisting the eseapeof French prisoners. Witness was introduced to %Valour in eosin:- pollee of payiiie a -visit to a -friend of his own in the same prison, teamed Ketiectt, who had since been ha nod tier his Orioles. Had keoun Kennett .two Or Oree years before. :Dickens was eseeaned in this lust nientineed transaction. Witness stared e« iii• examination it chief, Hint when Mt. ,'Watson, set!. speak Atith him in his lodging:, lie 'desired Lis Aide to r, , out of the moat. Llchad no.cl:4ldetia