The Sun. — London, England, 1831-11-04 00:00:00

THE BRISTOL RIOTS. (Prom the Times Correspondent.) ht:stl -•• .4 • BRISTOL, - THURSDAY MORNING, Nov. 3. ' In - the course of yesterday I continued to make • careful inquiry among persons of different political • • parties, especially among individuals who, neither by position nor inclination, were at all likely to alter facts to suit particular opinions, and I feel fully -warranted in saying, that. not the slightest circum stance has transpired from which it can be inferred that the late enormities originated in any question of politics.. I shall therefore' take leave of this point, until it comes to be fully elucidated in evidence be fore the tribunal appointed to try the rioters. tr is, however, matter of very general convic tion, that but for the Recorder's untimely entrance into the city, these black events would no t h ave occurred. - Sir Charles Wetherell's headlong oppo sition to the Reform Bill, and his gross misappre hensioa of public sentiment regarding it, had ren dered him in the last degree odious to the people of Bristol. This feeling—known to every body-- afforded a pretext to the robbers and incen diaries, of which, brutish though they were, they well knew how to avail themselves. The un called-tor concentration of the military in the neigh bourhood also served to create an irritation in the winds of the citizens. A vacillating Magistracy, and a constabulary force without strength, or pruS deuce, or organization, completed the catalogue of disastrous contingencies and ill-concocted plans The inhabitants now seem as if they were awaking from a hideous dream. They ask themselves, how was it possible that such things could have occurred, and shame and anger almost efface the impressions of the dire calamity. No wonder that they should give way to these emotions, when they reflect on the fatuity which permitted a handful of ruffian boys, drunken porters, and abandoned women to perpetrate diabolical excesses, attended by a pro digal waste of life, and a destruction of property amounting, at a minimum valuation, to 400,000/., —excesses, too, which might have extended much farther, and which cast a shade on the moral dignity that has long been the proudest attribute of the English nation. The ordinary police of the city, under competent management, was amply sufficient to repress a much more formidable tumult than that which produced such terrible results. The rabble that went to attack the county gaol did not exceed a hundred, and of the number very few had attained the age of man hood. The that blow was given to the prison gate by a boy who was hardly strong enough to raise the hammer with which he struck. Even where the ravages have been grea'est, the plunderers were in capable of meeting a determined show of resistance. Three gentlemen armed with pokers, repelled the at tempt to burn a house in Queen's-square. Had the constables at the Mansion-bou , e maintained a firm and resolute front, instead of rushing upon the mob, needlessly exciting exasperation, it is the general opi nion that nothing would have occurred to shake the public tranquillity. Individuals who speak very favourably of the Mayor's personal worth, concur in censuring his public conduct. They pronounce him deficient in the nerve necessary to provide for perilous erner gencie;. I have heard various instances of remiss ness cited against the city Magistrates. At half past ten o'clock on Sunday morning they issued band-bills, requestingthe attendance of the citi zens at the Guildhall to co-operate with them for the restoration of order. My respectable informant attended accordingly at twelve o'clock, but no Ma -s,tistrate made his appearance ; and, on inquiry, he was told that the Mayor and Council were engaged :n deliberation. He and others consequently with drew. A troop of yeomanry cavalry had been sum moned from Sodbury—a place about eleven miles distant. They entered the city, but, finding no Ma gistrate to direct them, they took some refresh ment and rode back. A detachment of the 3d dragoons, under similar circumstances, retired dur ing the assault on the New Prison. - Unable to act for want of legal authorit3, the soldiers returned the sheers of the rabble, in order to escape a shower of missiles. The 14th dragoons were withdrawn on Sunday, to be succeeded by this party of twenty men, who were less offensive to the mob. The Mayor and Corporation owe it to themselves and their fellow-citizens to offer an early explana tion of their apparent supineness. The subject was brought before a meeting held at the Commercial rooms yesterday. A resolution was passed calling for inquiry, and regecting strongly on the Magi stracy. Mr. Samuel Waring proposed thiia re quisition should be drawn up, requesting the sub scribers to the rooms to meet for the purpose of petitioning the Government to institute an invesd gation into the conduct of the civic authorities dur ing the late disturbances. The proposition was adopted unanimously, and the meeting will be held at twelve o'clock to-day. A gentleman who has taken the trouble to ascer tain the fact states, that not one 101. householder was to be found among the persons apprehended yesterday for having in their possession property plundered during the riots. These prisoners are the very offal of the city—inmates of the stews of Marsh-street, with some vagabonds from the country. A great quantity of the plunder has been recovered, and is deposited in the Exchange. Correct particulars of the riots are contained in the Bristol Mercury of Tuesday. A General Officrr arrived from London on Tues day, and assumed the military command of the town. Throughout the whole of this harassing service the troops have acquitted themselves extremely well. lii addition to the soldiers of the line there are four troops of Somersetahire Yeomanry Cavalry on duty. Trade, which was previously very dull at this port, has been greatly paralysed by the alarm which has prevailed. (From tie Bristol Gazette of yesterday.) . . Upon inquiry of M.-. Richard Smith, who was surgeon of the week at the Infirmary, we learn that on Saturday evening four persons were received with sword wounds, one shot through the lungs.— In anticipation of the probable consequences, every possible preparation was made during the night for the accommodation of, and attention to, casualties, which the house would afford. On Sunday, in the forenoon, eight persons were brought in succesion, with gun-shot wounds. With the exception of one man, who was struck with a ball which had passed over the river, all were under twenty years of age, and one only twelve years old, chiefly from St. Philip's. They had been fired upon by the rear guard of the cavalry, near St. Augustine's church, in College-green, or in an attack upon the billets in the Boar's Head-yard, to which the soldiers had been ordered to retreat. On Monday the wounded began to pour in, nearly all cut by the sword se verely, either in the face, neck, or head. In a great many of the !atter cases the sabre had slashed en tirely through the hat into the skull, so that some will probably terminate fatally. That these were actually rioters there can be no doubt, as many were athletic stout fellows, with plundered articles in their possession, and in the highest state of excite• ment from liquor. One lad was shot through the body, and is since dead; as also a woman, who en tered the house in Queen-square, for the purpose of theft, and being caught by the flames was burnt in a dreadful manner. Mr. Smith's week ended at twelve o'clock on Monday, by which tome there had been sixty-four casualties, and Mr. lletling, who succeeded him, had several more during the day. A great many persons were brought to the house in the mos t wretched state of intoxication, so that they ap peared almost lifeless. One actually died, but the rust had the liquor removed from the stomach by the pump, and were the next day taken away by their friends. It was chiefly rum which they had drunk, probably at the Custom-house. ' / - 1 ,.. ( :( A tWa learn that the medical gentlemen, by makin g c -- .-1 '?:.•-...• • ' k ts of all the convalescent and minor cases -' .. - k -4 . ei? \ care, and by the help of the new build . ju .! 1 4 1 4" , . e other arrangements, have been en - t 1 . this emergency in a s3t i s factor7 man :: -:... - • - 4:7ei , N. , , ',..,.. ~'" ri e 0 tier, and without the inconveniences which might have been expected. (FURTHER PARTICULARS.) Two persons died this morning at the infirmary, one by a sabre wound in the forehead, and the other, Thomas Morris, shot through the body. Mr. Grindon is holding an inquest upon them. Other inquests were held yesterday by Mr. Langley, Co roner, when it appeared upon the examination of Mr. Richard Smith and Mr. Morgan, that Stephen Bush, wounded on Saturday, was killed by " a pistol-ball," and a verdict accordingly. Mary Cum mins, " burned to death." A man, name unknown, " died in a state of apoplexy from excessive drink ing." This man has since been identified by a gen tleman who saw him heading the mob with a paper in his hand (probably a list of houses, to be at tacked) ; he saw him afterwards brought out of the Mansion-house dead drunk. He is from Birming ham. One of the sabred men had under his coat a hus•ar's jacket, and his pockets were filled with broken china, &c. He has been removed by the constables. A lad, who is severely wounded in the head, had in his bosom a lady's glove, some chil dren's books, some keys belonging to the Custom house, and a book with the owner's name upon it. Around another msn was wrapped a blue silk shawl, and his pockets were filled with plunder. This man was maimed by leaping from a burning house. There was only one woman brought in; she had been cut by her husband after he returned home. No female was hurt by the soldiery. By inquiries at the gaol, we learn that up to four o'clock this afternoon, about 150 .individuals have been brought in on suspicion, most of them having been found with plundered property in their possession. Eight inquests on bodies of persons who lost their lives during the riots have been held by Mr. Langley; of which two died by excessive drinking, four were burnt in the square, and two were shot. A very great number must have lost their lives, of which we can obtain no account. It is calculated that no more than half the pre sent Commissioners of Bankrupt will claim, or be entitled to, compensation, and where given it is to cease on the party obtaining any other appointment of equal value. The City police would do well to keep their eye upon the neighbourhood of the Royal Exchange about dusk, it having become the favourite resort of certain smart well-dressed members of the " swell mob." Sir CHARLES WETHERELL made his ap pearance in the Vice-Chancellor's Court on Wednesday, and received the congratulations of his numerous friends on his recent narrow escape. It is said that a Special Com mission will be sent to Bristol to try the rioters. The friends of Sir CHARLES WETHERELL are very actively disseminating a report that he did not proceed to Bristol without first consulting the Home Se cretary upon the subject, and whose sanction he obtained. Whether such was or was not the case we have, of course, no means of ascertaining. The road from Battle-bridge to Islington re mains i n th e same disgraceful, indeed now impassable, state. It is stated that the parties have traversed the indictment, which means, we suppose, that they have inney for law, but none foe mending the road. The London parishes are at length beginning to do that which they should have done months Rf_7o-ti, look to the cleansi,g and purifying of the by-streets, lanes, and alleys in their different districts. DEAL, Nov. 2.—Arrived last evening, after post, his Majesty's ship Imogene, and Tweed corvette, from the North Sea squadron ; and to-day the Coracoa, Galatea, Tribune, and Stag frigates ; also the Brisk 4un.brig. The fleet, on approaching the Dutch coast, met with a severe gale of wind and thick weather, conse quently the Admiral directed, by signal, each one to take care of itself, and proceed back and rendezvous in the Downs. The three line-of-battle ships and the rest of the squadron are riding off the Galloper Light, to which place the Onyx ten-gun brig proceeded this afternoon, with despatches for Rear-Admiral WARREN. The demand for gold in the North of Europe, after a partial cessation cf it for some time, has begun to revive. The quantity removed to-day from the Bank of England has been very considerable, chiefly, it is supposed, for Amsterdam, where the very low rate of exchange on London makes such exportation an operation of some !nob. We understand that the rate of exchange at Amsterdam has not been so low fur a very long period as it is at present. Those remittances, therefore, which are required for the purchases of Dutch stock lately made here, are effected to most advantage in bullion, and probably form the chief source of the new demand which has sprung up. It is not, however, of that magnitude to excite any uneasi- ness on the subject.— Times. TIIE NEW NO VEL.-Mr. COOPER'S New Woi k " The Bravo" is now occupying the almost exclu•ive attention of the lovers of fiction. Cooraa," says the Athentrum, " is an author whom we love—he has a fine conception of character—a true eye for the picturesque.— and an art in employing his many-coloured materials at once striking and original. His heart is alive to all emo tions, whether of heroism or pathos—of tenderness or of sorrow." The gorgeous pageantry—the festivities—the jealousies, and the intrigues, peculiar to Venice render it of all spots on the face of the earth best adapted for the scene of romance. " The Bravo" shows how well Mr. COOPER has availed himself of these advantages. THE TENURE OF A BISHOP'S SEAT IN PA RLIABIRNT —Tile number of Bishops having seats in the House of Lords is thirty ; namely, the two English chbishopv, twenty-four English Bishops, and four Irish Bishops; and they all sit in the House, not as Church men, or Peers representing the Clergy, in their various grades (for theFe are all represented with the eommonalty in the Lower Houle), but absolutely as soldi ers ! 1 That is, as Barons holding certain lands by military tentire tenants in capite par baronium ; and therefore compelled, under the feudal system, by which they were creat, d, to furnish their quota of knights, or men at arms, and do other military service to the Crown. True it is that all this has now become Action ; but that alters not the nature or propriety of a Bishop's tenure to his seat in Parliament. A tale of scandal is the exclusive topic at pre sent in the neighbourhood of Kingstown. A saintly clerk is one of the parties concerned. The matter, it said, is likely i:o furnish some of the gentlemen of the long robe occupation in the ensuing term.—Dublin Evening Post. JONATHAN'S DESCRIPTION OF A STEAM- BoAT.—lt's got a saw-mill on one side, and a grist-mill on Cother, and a blacksmith's shop in the middle, and down cellar there's a tarnation pot boiling all the time. At Catskill, N.Y., a crazy man lately attempted to cut his own throat ; then jumped from the top of a pre cipice of 20 feet ; nett attempted to drown himself in the river ; and was at last secured whi!e beating his head against the rocks.—. New York Paper. CHRISTIAN M the aspersions cast upon the Missionaries to the South Sea Islands, from various quarters, the religious world will be happy to learn, that they nave been pursuing their holy labours for the propagation of the 'Gospel, with a zeal worthy of the good cause which they have espoused, The Rev. C. S. STEWART, we hear, in Lis " Narrative of a Visit to the South Sea Islands," announced for immediate publication, ably vindicates their pi nceelings, details the success which has uniEirmly attended their efforts, and de scribes the present state of that ;:emote, but highly interest ing portion of the globe. ODD CIRCUMSTANCE.—The following very singular interruption occurred at a village church, not five miles south of Yarmouth, iu the afternoon of Sunday, the 23d ult. After the reading Of the Evening Prayers, the Rector proceeded to the pulpit, for the purpose of preach ing the t‘ertnon, which he commenced by annouucing the text, Hebrews, ch. iii. 14th verse, but had scarce [kept) the words, " Take ye heed, brethren," when a man, seated in a pew near the pulpit ; exclaimed in a voice loud enough to be heard by all the congrkiation, " And take you heed, and bring my two grave-stones home to.morrow !" The Rector paused and looked queer—most of his auditors looked queer also ; some smiled, others tittered ; :Ike Clergyman, however, having overcame his first alarm (which had nearly changed him from Brows* to white), proceeded with his sermon. The Gccasion which gave rise to the above strange scene was, we understand, 46 1.)1 0 W 9 —" The worthy incumbent had (for some time past) beef; in the habit of taking the grave-stones from the church yard, for the purpose of paving a biking-office, he having huilt one on bis parsonage-farm, two of which stones, it appears, belonged to the person who caused this interruption. The Rector, we hear, grounds his claim (whether leyally or otherwise is not for us to say) on a right which, he con tends, be Las to tilt stones after i 35 Anglian. BRISTOL, Nov. 3. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. have herewith sent you a sketch of the square, by which your readers may judge how very daring the mob were in destroying the buildings. This property belongs to the Corporation, they having granted leases for it on lives, which are renewable on paying a certain fine, according to its value. The square is one of the finest and largest in the king dom ; the houses were formerly occupied by the first merchants in Bristol. The interior of them were built in a superior style, the doors, pannels, and tairc as e s being fitted up with mahogany. Under the houses were large vaults which lately were let out for stowing of goods. These were generally filled with wines and spirits, and made into bonding warehouses. Many of the houses were let out for offices for the merchants. You will notice that one of them was occupied by Mr. Miles, one of di. richest men of Bristol ; consequently many valua ble papers and books are destroyed. A friend of mine occupied one of the houses, Mr. Beverley, an architect; he had filled his pockets with his cash and other articles, and was about to remove an iron repository with his papers and plate, when three or four fellows rushed in and stripped him of every thing excepting his watch, which they would also have taken, had not two sailors, who perceived what was going on, rescued him by the collar, 4od dragged him out of the house, and saved him. His house was burnt to the ground, and the repository lost. The two houses adjoining were saved by a mere stratagem, Two men went to the door of one of them and waited until the rioters came, told them to go on, and they would go in and set the house on fire. The other house was saved by giving the rioters money. You will observe those are the only two houses saved. It would be folly to repeat again what you have already shown, that the whole might have been saved, but for want of a co-operation be tween the Magistrates and the inhabitants. I myself attended with several friends on Sunday morning early and offered our services, but there was no Ma gistrate to take or give directions what was to be done. It was true some of them were shut up in a room debating what was to be done, but they came to no decision. At five o'clock several gentlemen went into the chambers and brought out word that the Magistrates could do nothing for us. This got wind, for there was a number of vagabonds waiting to carry any in telligence. I forgot to say that whilst many were waiting in the 'naming for instructions, some of the Tories did nothing but abuse the Reformers as the cause of the whole mischief; this gave offence to many and they left the place. One gentleman, a Mr. John Hall, a linen-merchant, and a partner in Parsons arid Hurle's house, was called out of church to lend his assistance, he went home, was taken ill, and died in a few hours, Many families left Bristol, some of them burying their plate in the gardens; in fact, the whole city was in a panic. It is not fair that the Mayor should have the blame, he having only been in office one month, and never before taking any part in the proceedings of the corporation; some believe that he was chosen at this time because they could not get a Tory that the citizens would have cared any thing for. We are now quite recovered, and hope soon to resume business. lives thus destroyed is very considerable; neither is it true that any of the military have been killed, although a few of them were wounded by stones. The account I gave you of the matter connected with the death of Stephen Bush is correct, notwith standing any representations to the contrary. Some of the London Papers affect to doubt the misconduct of the 14th Hussars. I again state that they have been guilty of excesses, and I will detail one case in support of my assertion. I mention one only, be cause I will not risk one that is not authenticated, and as I have been on duty since Monday I have had little time for inquiry. A Mr. Nash, a very respectable broker, who had been on business on Monday last to Unity-street, was returning by Mr. Protheroe's sugar-house, when he met two of the 14th. " Well, soldiers," said he, "I am glad you are come to town." " Oh, you —," replied one of the fellows, " you are as bad as the rest ;" with that he struck at Mr. N. with his sword, and cut off part of one of his fingers. " You are not going to cut me down to be sure," cried the terrified Mr. Nash. The soldier agai❑ raised his sword, and, making use of a similar expression, he cut at him a second time, and severed his hat in two, barely escaping his head. This, I assure you, is riot the only case detailed, in which all the laws of human nature and human right were outraged by the" man butchers," as they are now very generally termed. A. man was shot by one of them, and an intelligent lad who was standing close by, declares that the man had committed no offence, and that he was delibe rately killed by a pistol bullet. Are these, I would ask, the measures best calculated for the prevention of riot ? or, is it not better to endeavour to conci liate the affections of the people, than to overcome excitement by the power of the sword? The conduct pursued by many parties is far from being that which prudence and judgment would have dictated. The Bishop's servants should learn that they did no act of Christian justice which can be even justified by worldly policy, when they tied two of their fellow men back to back, and left them to perish in the flames. All these things will be remembered, and will serve little to allay the angry feelings already existing in the breasts of the populace. Now that the hour of danger has in some measure passed away, the public begin to express their opinions freely of the conduct pursued by the corporate body. It is in vain that those employed by them endeavour to defend them. The general—the almost universal opinion is against them. Their conduct cannot be justified; it can scarcely be palliated. Time and circumstances have attached a criminality to acts of imprudence, otherwise' amounting to imbecility. The facts of the case are against them, and it re quires but a recapitulation of facts to convict them in the face of the world. That a number of imbeciles should exist in a large and popu lous city, is riot surprising; but that a professedly wise and learned body—a corporate body—a magis terial body—assuming to be the administrators of the laws, and the conservators of the public peace —should, with a horrible and destructive madness, which could not be exceeded by the inhabitants of a lunatic asylum, at once plunge the city which they presumed to govern into anarchy, con fusion, and bloodshed, and sacrifice the lives, liberty, arid property of its inhabitants at the shrine of their infatuated ignorance and pomp, is too mon strous to be calmly spoken of. The Magistrates of Bristol knew that Sir Charles Wetherell was decid edly unpopular in Bristol—they (themselves, a self elected body) chose him without consulting the opi nions or the will of the citizens. But blind as they are, they could see that he could not he brought into Bristol without endangering the public peace—they therefore, first endeavoured to prevail upon the sailors to assist them in their unconstitutional opposition to the public will. The sailers refused them, and told them honestly and plainly that they would not be come corporate cats'-paws. They then appealed to other parties, firemen, &c. and were refused ; what lesson should they have derived from these rejected invitations ? What would have been the impression produced upon the minds of sensible men by these refusals ? Would they not naturally enough have read, in these unequivocal signs, the decided opposi tion of the people to their magisterial freak, and the utter impracticability of their Quixotic attempt ? But what did the infatuated corporation ? they de rived no lesson from all this, they knew not or had forgotten that all legitimate power was derived from the people, and they had long been accustomed to think that they could say to the people, " Thus far shall ye go arid no farther," arid that by the holding up of an Alderman's finger they could level popular power with the dust! What did they do ? Why, in an evil hour —in the hour of their phrenzy, they braved public opinion—they defied its mandates, arid scuffed at its expression ! And what has been the horrible result ? Let the murdered citizens an swer me—let the ruins of all that was grand and powerful reply to me. They tell me, that a time shall come when corporate despotism and brutal ig norance shall pass away, arid, " like the baseless fa bric of a vision, leave not a wreck behind." I gaze on the mangled remains of my fellow-men and I say, " how is this ?" How fearful is the answer, " behold the dire effects of usurped dominion and perverted power !" By dint of entreaty,of persuasion, of threats, of public and of private interest, they succeeded in obtaining only about 500 assistants, as special con stables. Was it then too late to repent, and would not this circumstance have justified them in depart ing from the usual course ? Let us see what they did. Why, this Worshipful body gained the assist ance of armed troops to enable them to persist in obstinacy, and by these: means they succeeded in plunging the city into irrevocable ruin. The soldiers arrived. The specials, dressed in a little brief authority, commenced aping their superiors ; t h e people were excited ; no means were taken to allay the popular irritation ; it betrayed itself in acts of outrage, and then, at the time when firmness was required, the Corporation for the first time trembled : like Frankenstein, they created a monster and then shrunk from it in the hour of its fury. The Magi strates deserted the citizens ; they betrayed their weakness, and the result has been bloodshed and carriage, mill and desolation. The Political Union were the first to endeavour to avert the threatened BRISTOL, Noy. 3. RIOTS AND BURNINGS. (FRO3I A CORRESPONDENT.) On my entrance into this city this morning I was addressed by an Anti-Reformer—" A!1 this is owing to your Reform." My immediate answer was—" It is owing to your Anti-Reform." Now, how stands the case ?—it was simply this. Sir Charles We therell should never have attempted to have made his appearance here, after his own conscience had dic tated to him, on his quitting the city the last time that it was necessary, for his own safety, to leave by the back gate over Prince's-street Bridge, as the nearest way to Bath ; and especially as his friends were of opinion that troops should be in attendance, and that his entrance should be at an early hour, whilst the working classes were employed, instead of six o'clock in the afternoon—the usual hour for the Recorder to enter this city. There is a party here who believe that all the long and tireseme speeches made by Sir Charles 'Wetherell were very clever, and creditable to himself and his party; others think they were disgraceful to both; and it was evident to all that his unpopularity in Bristol had greatly increased since his last exit : and would it not have been better to have dispensed with his visit, rather than have risked any ebullition of public feeling So far, in my view, the Anti-Reformers are an swerable for the mischief; that both parties are guiltless of the horrible results that have followed, further than the above imprudence, must be admit ted—for the state of excitement was taken advan tage of by the lawless of both parties, and must be alike deplored by all. The conduct of the Magis trates forms no part of my inquiry : it will be inves tigated in a higher quarter. BRISTOL, FIVE O'CLOCK. The city continues tranquil. Two more bodies have been dug out from under the ruins of the Cus tom-house this morning. BRISTOL, Nov. 3. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—Since I last wrote to you public confidence has been in some measure restored, and the protnp_ tit ude and firmness displayed by the members of the Political Union, who, ever since Monday, have been parading the streets in bodies, in conjunction with he parochial authorities, have had the effect of put ting a stop to those disgraceful outrages which have unhappily disturbed the quiet of our city. The shops are now partially open, although there is very little business doing. A tradesman who I know, and who has been in the habit of taking from 251. to 30/. a eek, has only sold to the amount of Is. 4d. this week, although his shop is situated at some distance from the scene of tumult. In times of popular ex citement you must be aware of the great difficulty of arriving at the truth, when we have to depend in a great measure upon the verbal accounts of indivi- danger. On Sunday they offered, if the military duals, and perhaps those accounts derived through were withdrawn, to protect the Magistrates ; they three or four direct and indirect channels of corn- were refused; a respectable solicitor also offered five munication : with every precaution it is utterly im- hundred men to act in the Mayor's name, and they possible that some unavoidable misrepresentations were refused permission to do so, and yet this Union should not occur. You will, therefore, lam sure, has been branded with infamy and disgrace by the excuse those trifling inaccuracies in my re p or t to cr ea t ure o f t h e Morning Post, and by a s y s t em o f you, which report is substantially, an d a l mos t perverted argumen t it h as b een accuse d o f exc i t i ng circumstantially correct. At th e t i me I ma d e tumu l t . L et me try t h e i r system of logic, and see my calculation of the number of burnt houses in if it will not recoil upon its authors. The Ministers. Queen-square there were many of them in flames, are the protectors and enforcers of the law ; Me which, together with the general ruin of the whole, Morning Post exeitis the peopl e aga i nst t h e Mini and the destructi on o f many o f t h e party-walls, in sters, th er eforc does t irritate them to breaches of the some measure deceived me. lum happy to say, that law. How blind are persons to imagine that the I have somewhat overrated the numbers destroyed. Union have not done their duty, because they You cannot conceive, without you become a specta- could not repel the rioters. Under ordinary circum tor, the extent of the ruin and devastation. Q ueen ., stances the sands of the sea-shore are effective bar-' square was one of the finest, (and I believe the tiers against the encroachments of the waters, but largest) squares in England, and two sides of this let the convulsion of an earthquake occur, the beautiful spot, including the Mansion-house, Custom- barriers are cast down, and the mighty ocean, awful house, and Excise-offioe, are one general mass of and majestic, spreads ruin and devastation in its ruins, and those houses on the other two sides are resistless course. It is even so with the Union partially plundered of their contents. It was not Council, when argument will avail, and reason until Tuesday that the fires were got under, and the can be appealed to, they will have their in. :lea of the conflagration was awfully grand, the Auence —but whatever be the existing cause, when flames extending themselves in all directions, so that the passions of men are irritated and inflamed, the fire was visible at distances of eighteen, twenty, like the sands of the shore they become powerless. and in some instances twenty-five miles from the It is not worth while to waste any portion of your city. The accounts y ou have received from the Bath columns in reply to the ravings of the Post, I w ill •Tour na l, an d some other sources, are grossly exalt- therefore conclude with little iatelligence. Tues. gerated, b ot h as to t h e extent of the destruction of day the Political Union received informatio n of houses and hie. It is very true, that a number of where to obtain po sse s s ion of some stolen property, the plunderers and incendiaries fell victims to theit they therefore obtained the assistance of some own brutal excesses, and were consumed in the constables and commenced a general search, buildings, but there is ne possibility of ascertaining in the course of which they have succeeded their numbers for some time at least. Two men and in capturing a considerable portion of property and one woman were found in a cellar yesterday, and two u pwards of a hundred plunderers, 4c., including more have been got out this morning from the cellar the men who fired the Customehouse, the New of a house inhabited by a Mr. Smith, and from the Gaol, and the Bishop's Palace. We were some, stench) arising from the ruins in many places there what alarmed last night by the gas in some parts of iv too mud' reason to believe that the number of the town going out very suddenly, but nothing else particular occurred. It -is reported, but I know not with what truth, that the Magistracy are suspended, and that in consequence of Colonel Biereton's hu manity he is to be tried by Court-martial. The 14th, or " bloody blues," as they are called here, have just left town. BRISTOL Nov. 3. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) The Royal Proclamation has been posted in all parts of the city to-day, and groups are everywhere collected anxiously reading it. Few comments are made upon it. It is only such a document as could at such a time be issued, and in calling upon the people every where, and particularly the inhabitants of this city, to be active in support of the laws and in the suppression of outrage, it only stimulates them to greater activity in the discharge of a first and necessary duty. The evidence of such a duty being im perative on every man here meets his sight at every turn, and Royal Proclamations can he of little avail, if the scenes of destruction do not render any other appeal useless. I should think that man incorri gible who could not be moved by them. Every precaution is now taken for preserving the peace and property of the inhabitants. The special constables are very active, and yesterday evening a fresh no tice from the Magistrates was posted up, caut'oning the inhabitants against collecting in assemblages in the streets, thereby leading to disturbance, and pre venting the adoption of necessary measures for the recovery of property. The constables acted up to the letter of this notice, and dispersed every group that appeared. Individuals also stopping in the streets were compelled to move on. During the day a great deal of property has been lodged in safety, and a number of prisoners have been male; all, without an exception, that I have heard of are characters apparently of the worst description. A number of bodies have been found again to-day, and many more will doubtless be dug out of the exten sive ruins. Inquests have been held on the bodies of several, but the evidence has been of little mo ment in throwing additional light on the proceed ings. One man, who died in the Infirmary, has been identified by a gentleman as one of the leaders, who appeared leading the mob, holding a written paper, and he is said to be from Birmingham. PUBLIC MEETINGS. Yesterday a meeting of a private nature, or rather a preliminary one, was held in the Commercial room, and resolutions were mentioned as ones which ought to be adopted. lbwever, it was resolved that the meeting should be adjourned till to-day, in order that all the members of the room might be in formed of it ; and also, as it was desirous that it should not have a hole-and-corner appearance. Twelve o'clock was the hour appointed, and before that hour 1 proceeded to the Commercial-rooms, and found a pretty large number there assembled. At the appointed hour the room was well filled, and much anxiety and excitement was appa rent. Groups were collected through the room, and some angry discussions were carried on. The first business was the appointment of a Chairman ; and, strange to say, full half an hour elapsed ere any gentleman could be prevailed upon to take the chair. Some were connected with the Corporation, some were of the opposite party, some were this and some were that, and the most contemptible and absurd reasons were made by each in turn. At length a Mr. Byng was called to the chair, and after the gentleman had explained himself on accepting of the honour, and requiring calmness, deliberation, and so forth, the question was started whether non subscribers were to be admitted. This was not exactly settled, but it was ordered that no one should be turned out, and it was also explained that the meeting was to be considered a public meeting and not a meeting of the subscribers to the room. The moment that Mr. Byng heard this declaration he started from his seat—neither force nor persuasion could induce him to remain; he was not exactly horror-struck, but of one thing he was resolved, that sit as their chairman he would not any longer. The difficulty was soon got over, however; it was an nounced that Mr. Cunningham would take the chair, and that gentleman was immediately called to it amid loud acclamations. Mr. CUNNINGHAM, on taking the chair, said that he consented to take it at the solicitation of his friends, and he begged and entreated of the meet ing that every one should be heard, and that the discussion should proceed with quietness and order. Mr. MOORE then rose and said, that he held two resolutions in his hand to propose to the meeting. He said that they had been prepared by a Com mittee, and that they were only such as the emer gency demanded, and he lamented very much, he said, the necessity of the present meeting. The first resolution, he said, called for an enquiry into the conduct of the Magistracy, who had charge of the peace of the city. It afforded them an oppor tunity of explaining their conduct, and of exonerating themselves from the charges made against them. Mr. Moore then proceeded to read the first reso lution, which was to the following effect : " TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD VISCOUNT MEL BOURNE, HIS MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRE TARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPART. MEN T. " We, the undersigned merchants, bankers, traders, and other inhabitants of the city of Bristol, conceive that the late riotous proceedings and immense destruction of property in the city might have been prevented, had the due precaution been taken by the Magisterial authorities; we therefore pray that your Lordship will be pleased to cause an inve•tigation to be instituted, and the examina tion of witnesses to be produced as may be enabled to afford satisfactory evidence on the subject." The second resolution was also read to the fol. lowing effect : TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD HILL, COM MANDER-ES-CHIEF OF HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES. We, the undersigned merchants, bankers, and tradrra of the city of Bristol, &c. &c. ; concluding with a prayer that an inquiry might be institute) by his Lordship into the conduct of Colonel Brereton, which . was described as being highly reprehensible.'" Mr. MOORE, having read the resolutions, said of course they would put the parties on their de fence, and it was for the meeting to say whether both should be proposed to them.—(Cries of " both.") He proceeded to observe that some might think that the resolutions prejudiced the par. ties, but he maintained that they did not prejudice them, they only put the parties on their defence. The resolutions having been seconded, and some trifling alterations made at the suggestions of two gentlemen, Mr. MANCIIEE rose, and said that his object in rising at the present moment was to propose an amendment to the resolutions proposed to them. He thought it would have been better had the con- sideration of the business been delayed for a few days when they could have discussed the subject with more calmness and deliberation. He said he had been all day yesterday at Queen's-square; that he knew nothing of the resolutions, nor had any com munication with the gentleman who drew them lip, but he objected to some expressions,and said that had these expressions been omitted, he would have sup ported them. He said, after a few remarks upon the necessity of adopting the amendment, that him self and a few others met Captain Codrington on his arrival with his cavalry, for no Magistrate could be found. Captain C. was requested to act; the Riot Act had been read, but the Captain, said Mr. M., like a British soldier, refused without the sanction of the Magistrates, and although they were sought for, they could not be found. Mr. COOKE here called Mr. Manchee to order ? and thought that a narration of these things had no t . thing to do with the matter. Mr. MANCIIEE resumed, and after a few remarks read the following amendment : "TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD VISCOUNT MELBOURNE, lIIS MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRE the inhabitants notous and d usgrace f u l TAItY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTME NT. " We, the undersigned .of the city merchants, bankers,yof Bris tol, aud_ t t o ra l, der d s,: ep a i n y d lam oth e e n r t proceedings that have recently occurred in this city, and the sad destruction of property resulting therefrom; that the lives and fortunes of the citizens were frr able period entirely at the mercy of a desperat e firmly convi nce d, if proper precaut i ons h a d be' , these disasters would have been averted, sf ` request your Lordship will be pleased to ciule: gatiun to be instituted as the only course tbst . the mind of the public, and restore confidence ° Mr. WAKING seconded the amendmeH t. The CHAIRMAN observed, that the 011 was first to put the ainendmen!, when M. OSBORNE rose, and said that io l the amend men t, h e was d o i ng no more' P 5 due to the outrage d f ee li ngs and ru i ne d the citizens. Mr. MOORE said that his resolution wa 6 to, because it prayed for an enquiry into th of the Magistrates. Why, he said, an en f q at this moment go i ng on, i nst i tute d by . 1 ) bourne, who had applied for information t° gistrates themselves, of the very men conduct we complain. We demand an tion, and we shall have it. —( Gies of " 1 we shall.") I n answer to a quest i on , t man explained that M. Manchee's am end° ro do away with the resolution first po (The original resolution and the arnendl o again read by the Chairman.) Mr. IIvNG rose, and had earned for 11 very good reception by his vacation of t He was not at first heard, but proceeded t° he thought he could unite both parties , ceeded to read another amendment, which with cries of " milk and water." Mr. IL to give farther explanation, but h e was ro e deafening noise, and cries of " of, off, forced to n-tire. Mr. WEBB HALL (a gentleman who l'; / office under the Corporation) h ere preser it of : self, and endeavoured to prove that th e „ t l, should n o t con d emn t h e M ag i strates with°"ii. ing what course they had adopted. ii e „ that the meetin g s h ou ld fi rst wa i t f or k trates' explanation before it passed such ar e 're The meeting became impatient, and after 0 t 0 , ther discussion the resolution relative 0 0 1, Brereton was withdrawn, and the a mend ili ro it , and carried. The meeting wus most t'P throughout. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SV SlR,—lri this town we are blessed magistrate who is an alarmist, a man vi h :f t ef° buted largely to Sid mout h' s reputa bl e 5c",,09 able mass of fil t h, w hi c h was h o ld en f o rth'? for passing the abhorred Six Acts; he likel v , i l 4 , a local corps, and on the event of an illutsT i o e honour of th e l ate Q ueen, l e d on t h e soldier, Iti of riot or di sor d er , an d near l y caused both; continue and fill nearly a column of your YOB;, his Don Quixote like achievements. fi e of i; in nomination, and re-elected to the ro fi '',o o l4 direct contradi c ti on to t h e c h arter o f t he 41; though the !Jody of the freemen supporteu ponent, a liberal, yet by the mystificatOef d l charter, which makes it in appearance ° 'v eft election, the lib era l w i s h es o f t h e freemen ioo'( feated, for in re a lity t h e e l ect i on i s i n the fet r the Aldermen, who, with one or two ou" 0 0 individuals, can return whom they pleas ei re J, l the execration s of th e f reemen h e wa s el ec , c oi under the escort of the police, and the inu„,/0 0 hootings of th e p o p u l ace , h e arr i ve d a t his 41 0 house. La s tly, h e i s a f avour i te (fizeourel of Hugh Smith son , D u k e o f N ort h u mberlit yt i that I have said I cons id er necessary to O P ' following disgraceful act : The Duke and Duchess of Northumberleset passing through thi s town on Wednesday sets alighted a t th e h ouse o f t h e Mi sses Davidso n ; their horses were changed. A crowd of ab° eil persons collect e d, mostly tradespersons; most respectable crowd that I ever witnessed' chief magistrate hurried up to offer bri o of subserviency, and make retribution for b et s " with pleasure," presided at two Reform ip e , or at one of which three groans were ut tered i V Bishops and Boroughraongers. No sooner u l o r adored officer of peace issue from the house ° di ing the advo ca t e o f corrupt i on, t h an the bfr,d the multitude c ause d hi m to recoil l ik e pl has missed its sp r i ng . H e t h en b ec k o ned ' O ll police officers to c ome near , a l arge poss e d r oll wei e in immediate a tt en d ance , an d gave ° (LI; " mark the countenances of those who hi' s he li bring them t o hi m ." N o sooner did the Duke venture in t h e f ace o f H eaven and th e d :' tude, than their n a t ura l f ee li ngs we re vel lte i i o withstanding the Magisterial threat, in neous hiss. The head police officer in oe . r ,g seized a young man, a surgeon, and after if iv : hr el in charg e to another officer, who paraded / 10 'di' the streets like an y wretc h e d t hi e f, went) siding as Magistrate in a kitchen oPr g. r ° Mayor's Chamb er , or d ere d hi m to aPPe i .-rprc morning. A numb er o f p ersons atten ded, " o r young man was bound over in two sureties cio each, for his appearance at the Sessions' it) what act he is com m i t t e d I cannot imagine<oir. flagrant outrage on the liberties of Eng,:o for as y e t, if even a d og approac h e d us in t' l )iti we have been unmolested if we ventured a b le, him; dare we do it now ? Surely o ur verier ° off right, and discriminating Chief Migistrat e labouring under a delusion, imagining th et ji his darling Si x A cts was one terme d the Act, and that he would claim the honour of the first victim. The printers of an account of a trial of 13 , /i o f l i who exposed an o b nox i ous fl ig on t h e de ) „3 immense meeting of th e N or th ern U n ion, e 'ber. illustrated their report with a sketch of I f have been sent for and threatened by the sa r° ; o o 4 , Magistrate. To-day an advertisement aPP e % ing pri n t ers , t h at t h e fi ne w ill b e imposed tio° who have not their presses entered at th e n 0 1 ; office. I w ill mere l y as k t h e question, c',ll,ref'. rather ou g ht not , M in i sters to i nter f ere N o r e it; such petty vexat i ons , ar i s i ng f rom a paer'; el and contemptibl e sp i r i t, f rom annoying ji 4 liberties of the subject ? 13cfore closing this letter, I may as w e o j eo: you that on the 27th there was a Reforrn a pt held at Sunderland, which consisted of abou t , jC? The Marquis of Londonderry and the Durham %%ere burnt in effigy in the eve% o de' mob disputed as to the most ignominious : 0 4' disposing of th e l atter , h e was t h ere f o re a e " on the spot. „ n oo Yesterday a meeting of from 10 to J.Y"',O held at Durham; the Tories dared not P e ' c ' e r; The Council of the Union headed the Pr o from the north, which was of great exte n ; ;;b0 11 „; miners had heather and a piece of blue r"" 1 , 0 their hats. The freemen of the i . to wn !. s ly I ji r been partaking of Tory liberality since k r ' — 'o' attempted to seize some colours and creat e ee ls rutbanee, b u t t h ey rece i ved such speedy aln A ' l n s ) 1 ' chastisement, that in two minutes the Ine e r , o t j,e restored to p er f ect un di stur b e d order, I by never left their ranks, but were ag ain headed ( Council, and marc h e d two miles and a 1181 ' ° 01: Durham, w h ere re f res h ment was given t he whe 4 'hey ret urne d peacea b ly to the i r homes . 1- po ol'i titication o f t h e T or i es on t h is occas i on is ex for but every day affords them a new lesson , meeting was held in the Priests' den and the strong hold. Your's, &C. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nov. 1. er The " N e w M ont hly Magazine," a n d p , e 6 o ,' Editorshi p o f M r . E DWARD LYTroN BuLwEnt 3 P• e q?: have taken a fresh ground in periodical litei - agF3 u rerntived from the iabour.d formality of tie 7 ' oft fr Publicatio ns , an d th e friv o l ous person a lity' of son,.rit pl which appear monthly. Its general tone and t .",,i ) : 0 0 4 / remind the reader of the early numbers of the " Review," wherein political and literary discu 9 " °-' rendered fascinating by the wit and origina iii h ). :o lll ; writers. Should the work be continued with t " th O' of the present number, which is the first underi'• the management, it will probably take that plac e Quarterlies once held, hut which they have ho t of their heavy contents, and their tardiness in Oc wants of the time.-- Chronicle. W We II 0 P \„3 Ato 41 ki t , ',! ~ tt \\