The Sun. — London, England, 1832-10-25 00:00:00

That evening, more then once, Colonel Brereto was rre quired to c l ear t h e streets, hut it appears he couldt get act no which from th e M ag i strates those specific orders to were necessary ; f or w h en h e was told to &ear the streets , he asked whether he was to use violence or not ? He was told to do it in any way he chose ; but that, n z , , ou . will perc e i ve , p u t upon hi m a great rpsi)n lity. Th e mo b was, i n f act, t h en dispersed ; there was a cessation of violence, and several of the special constables were dismissed by the Magistrates the t %- selvee. In the course of that night, independent of attack on the Mansion .house in Queen square, another act was done by the mob, which plainly indicated their 'ntentions. The Coun c il-h ouse was attacked by the mob. I A party of the 14th Dra goons was there by the orders of Government. They fired a few shots, and one of the rioters was killed, which seemed greatly to exasperate them. The Mayor and Magistrates had a full expectation of mischief for several days before it had been put to the Government, whether Sir Charles Wetherell should appear at Bristol at all, and it was decided that he should be there, and, consequently, Government had provided a force in case of a riot. That night, very dangerous in dications were made; and the man being shot, produced the very worst feeling between the mob and some of the troops. Now, suppose I were to admit that the Mayor exerted his authority to the best of his power on the night of Saturday, the question would then arise as to how far he was justified after such appearances in not requiring all the Magistrates to meet him early on the Sunday morning, in order to make preparations to meet any ap prehended mischief? It does not appear that either on that evening or the following morning, the Mayor sought for any accession to the civil force. Some complaint had been made respecting the Special Constables, and the Mayor threw some degree of blame upon them, but there was a total want of all organization of that force, and nothing was done with them except calling about 300 of them out. That was all the Magistrates did. The Mayor read the Riot Act twice, but there was no tender of his services to ac company the military, and no provision was made for the meeting of the Magistrates on the following morning. On that morning, although as early as 7 o'clock the barricades against the Mansion -house were pulled down by the mob, I don't find that the Magistrates took any pains to col lect the civil force. That they looked to the military I will believe, but the military might have exhausted all their ammunition and all their force ; and if they had done so it would have left the civil power more entirely at the mercy of the mob. But no steps were taken. The Man sion -house was exposed, the cellars were emptied of the wine, and a great part of the mob got intoxicated, until it became necessary for the Mayor (not having sought the protection he ought to have had) to meet the other Magis trates at the Council-house.--( The Learned Counsel here re ferred to a plan in his hand, showing the short distance from the Mansion-house to the Councildniuse.)—At the Council house the Mayor summoned the citizens to attend, but he did so, not with the voice of authority as he w rote a sort of polite invitation to p was his duty; come forwa r d. T here were numerous citizens in the to anxious hope of b e i ng employed to provide measures of security, t 00 pl an was provided by the Magistrates; on the contrary, there was a kind of advertisement for others to propose some plan, when nothing could be more distinctly clear than that it was the duty of the Mayor to exert his authority and insist on the citizens assisting him. But instead of that, there was a debate or discussion courted by the Magistrates, in order that some other gen tlemen might propose a plan. A great deal was said about the minter y, and it appeared that the danger of em ploying them was the greater ; indeed Colonel Bre! et on gave his opinion that it was so. At the Council-house, it ' r em, the agree a Magi s t rates a b out 11 o ' clock received notice of n evt of a moat important description. You will . n en o doubt, with me, that when the mob was parad ing the town and getting the upper band, one of the first objects should have been to secure the gaols from attack ; but they heard, at el even o ' c l oc k , that the Bridewell was ne" about bein g attacked; but alth oug h t h e B r id ewell was so to th e C ounc il H ouse, they made no preparation to wer e Prevent its b e i ng storme d . Although many complaints made against Colonel Brereton for not doing what t o, be Magistrates wished, under the general order, to clear strt ets, he was not c died upon to direct his troops against the Bridewell • nothing of that sort was done, l and during three hours ' that the storming of the Bride wel took but place by a mo b i ns i gn ificant in numbers, and little exasp era t e d, not a s i ng l e e ff ort was rn made reto prev rkabent its b e i ng destroyed. The Br i dewell i s tiost maly sit uated, the oth er of for you will se e by the plan tarn end b that th e Governor's house is on one s id e an d t h e pr i son on a n arrow pass age , t h e entrance to wh i ch is at e th c y gates, and it cou ld only be got at by forcing th°e se gates If only a few constables, or half a doyen of Sheriff's men had been placed there when the first no ble' was given of the probability of an attack, it would T A t Vs been next to impossible for the mob to attack it. el,r" ns a peri o d o f t h ree hours, during which some of the '2emade applications to the Mayor and Magistrates, who expressed themselves unable to do any thing, and "nsequently the mob were left to pursue their lawless m en e u se, and the building was destroyed. Now, gentle itTc:You cannot but perceive the sort of encouragement 13_7iotsvas thus given to the wrong-doers, and, therefore, , surprising that having rescued the prisoners from Viper' J eell, the mob should go to the gaol. No arrangement 4:ara to have been made to protect that building. The gaoler eating what had t a k en place at the Bridewell, and fearing rn°b would go to the gaol, came to the Magistrates and told piac..,...the.m what he apprehended was likely to take , An instructions were then given, there was some siesiate, and on the gaoler asking what was to be done to de fend th • e gaol, he received a most remarkable answer, for, shift. mgt ?la res ponsibility from themselves, the Mayor said, if the Were only to be appeased by releasing the prisoners, it !'night b e as well to release them, but left the gaoler to act a ' ; he ch ose. The gaol was soon afterwards attacked. °t even then were the military called upon to act in any Particular manner, such as to send them with a body of constables ; but some constablee, with two or three Alder 'nen at th e i r h ead, went at one time, and the troops at an °thther ; there was no c oncert , no unan i m i ty, an d the mob got a e rn U o P r e Per h and. But th ere was no p l ace w hi c h presented walls an e d ° n'Plete fr ont to an enemy than t hi s gaol. The fl oat , gates were hi g h an d s t rong , an d there was a le it, so that if there had been a force previously provided, mob might have been repulsed or have been driven into thethe float. There was po p per ce m . ore easy of def • a " c c if there had been a better understanding between tue — nyor. the constables, and the troops—if all had acted together the place could have been saved. How ever, it 'was not saved, and many prisoners, to the Intniber of 150 were let loose to join in th e ac t s o f plunder, Othe r acts were then done, the dock gates were d, the gaol out of town, belonging to the county of `slouce ster, Was fir e d, an d t h e pr i soners released ; so that during the fi r i ng of the Bridewell no effort was made, and dduring the firing of the gaol there w as on l y one e ff ort, ~ W h ich, f rom being unconnected and detach e d, wasren red us e l ess . I t appears very s i ngular that the constables f ete desi re d no t to s h ow t h e i r staves, b ut to keep them i n their pockets and to persuade the p e opl e t o retire; and a lmost the only device used was to get a Dissenting Mi nister, certainly of great respectability and eloquence, to s nake a speech to the multitude to endeavour to persuade . th etn to disperse —a ver y use l ess waste of eloquence ` ru lY• I have now stated generally what was going nn t and what was the conduct of the M and • Ta gietrates--the Mayor being the principalayor so pern, .and naturally th e l ea d er. Well, then, it was C i a r n ged that they should separate and come again at did— e'ne Past three o'cl oc k. A t t h at time many of the citizens ord ers again. S t ill t h ere was no plan agreed on—no °II th e given — no aut h or i ty exercised, and nothing done m end Part of th e M ayor to show a disposition to com. rio ;:ti or to exercise any of his authority to suppress the PaPableOne constable stated that he had about 100 men f • ° acting, to which the Mayor replied, he was Ib l i P t P h Y t tionhear it. The constable then asked if the men infor m ' d case of necessity, use fire arms, and the Mayor ft e e h ian at first, that was a very doubtful point, but f a o rWards said that it would be improper to use fire arms, f o r if a nY Person were killed, the constable might be tried Piece Murder. That was the Mayor's very singular s"ece of law.. It really appears to me a most Ed'Xtraordinary view which the Megistrates took of their duty and of the situation of the town. 'lle coustabtes ca l tte at half-past 5 o'clock, and put the same questions, ~ it to what they were to do, and they were all told It t they must act on their own r esponsibility, the Magistrates evidently wishing to take care of themselves. ro ll posse o'clock in the morning it was suggested that the 1 -1 posse should come. If it were possible, suppose that there even was a wish that this should be so, and that the toree sho u ld go forward, I don't know how any thing ,_(ttould have been thought of more likely to prevent its tations th an telling respectable persons to separate, titheile the city was in a blaze almost from one end to the r, at four o'clock in the afternoon, to meet again in 14 ouris afterwards, when such great acts of violence had °ten don e , The whole of the Magistrates, however, did net separate. It was soon stated to them that the Man- Zon-hourre was set on fire, and that the Bishop's , v t l_l . ace was about to be fired. The witnesses will ate to you, Gentlemen, that at this moment some !,,°fo.the most respectable persons in Bristol were desirous of _ o lpg out to see what inapression could be made on the 17:n but they said the Mayor must accompany them. .zonsented to do so—they pro and as they passed Ni t)? gen three cheere RI ( h e eded' Mayor, but Q locoltin hack to their great astonishment they they found that he had turned back, and re-entered the Council-room from whence he had proceeded ! I was unsupported by magis terial presence; they also returned, or gave up their un dertaking as hopeless. The Bishop's Palace was fired— the Mayor then went down to the Green, and from thence to Colonel Brereton's Recruiting Serjent's office. When he started he stated he was going to the Palace to offer some resistance, but how he could have done so Ido not know, because he had no force whatever with him. When he got to the recruiting serjeant's office he inquired of some of the soldiers how his own personal safety could be effected—he wished to he protected—he wished to escape, and he did escape from the recruiting office, having first beheld the destruction that was going on at the place, and having seen that there was a personal conflict at that very instant going on between respectable persons and the mob, man to man—hand to hand.— and the jury, I am sure, will consider what effect the presence of a Magistrate must at such a junc ture to give sanction and effect to the efforts of those who were endeavouring to enforce the law against the lawless mob. Gentlemen, it is charged that the Ma yor withdrew, and secreted himself so, that lie was not to be found by those who were seeking to put down the rioters. He escaped, as I have told you, from the Palace, and from the recruiting office. Sometime afterwards he cilled at the Sheriff's, accompanied by another alderman, and saw a servant. He told the servant that he was go ing to Mr. Phipps, 30, Barclay-square. Upon which the servant said, " Oh, I knew what you mean, I will take care not to betray his Worship." He went there, and from thence sent a note to Colonel Brereton, desiring him to put down the mob—Colonel Brereton and Captain Codrington being at that very time in search of the Mayor, and could not find bins. On Sunday morning the Mayor sent another note to Colonel Brereton, but he could not act without the Mayor. At a later period two private gentlemen, one a medical man, feeling alarmed at seeing the houses in Queen-square consigned to flames by men in a state of intoxication, many of them very young, went in search of the Mayor, and guessed (guessing rightly) that he was at the house of Mr. Phipps. When they arrived there they inquired if he was there, and were some time before they could get an an answer. At list they learnt he was there, and they were informed by a note from him up stairs, that he was iteirous that Colonel Brereton should quell the mob at one particular place, where he (the Mayor) could have no earthly idea whether the military assistance was required at that precise time or not; that, however, was all the assistance or advice the gentlemen could get from the Mayor. Colonel Beckwith likewise received a note from the Mayor, and though he was most desirous of putting down such a mob, he was very anxious to have the presence of the magistrates, or a magistrate, and he proceeded to the Mayor and Aldermen for their presence. This was at the time Queen square was burn ing. He wished them to ride along with him, but they declined to do so—some of them said they could not ride—others that they had not been on horseback for 18 years(—laughter)—and thus he was left to his own dis cretion, all the Aldermen having declined to accompany him. Colonel Beckwith then, of his own accord, rode through one side of Queen-square, and in a quarter of an hour put an entire stop to the destruction going on there. This showed with what effect a vigorous effort alight have been attemled to have put down the whole at any early period. It was to be remembered, too, that nine-tenths of the persons assembled on such occasions are always ready to join the force sent forth against such mobs. In this way, however, the thing at last wis put an end to, but not without great loss of property, and I am sorry to say great loss of life. These, Gentlemen, then are the charges which you will have to try. What we charge is sh ,rtly this, that the Mayor did not exercise the powers of his office, as he was bound to have done. That he exercised no au thority which he had for the purpose of protecting his fel low citizens, but with full knowledge that the mob were likely to pursue their violence ; with full notice on the Saturday that the acts of destruction would be repeated ; with full knowledge of the violence going on, this gen tleman, having full power to require the attendance and assistance of all his fellow citizens, instead of demanding that assistance, and going forth against the mob with such a force, threw himself upon them for his personal protection which they had no right to consider; and all this at a time when the military and civil force (which be had a right to command), were likely to have put a de cisive stop to the destruction threatening and going on ! In a riot like this, us yon all know gentlemen, there are some places more than others likely to he attacked. There are the gaols, the bank, and so on. Fortunately it did not appear that the mob bad any intention of proceeding to the banks. But one gentleman, from a bank, attended at the Council-office, to requset assistance—in reply he was told the magistrates could do nothing, and that he must do the best he could for himself. Nosy even if it appeared to the Magistrates at this time that there was no chance of their making any head against the mob with any force they could collect, still I should submit to you that it was the duty of the Nlagistrates to have had together the best force they could, even if they could only have had the sheriff's officers as a nucleus for others to rally round, to have done all they could in time of need, instead of desir ing them to go home as they did. Some of the Chelsea pen sioners came and offered their services against the rioters. The Magistrates said,they had no means of employing them. They said we should wish to exert ourselves against these acts of violence, but we must have arms. " Oh," said the Magistrates, " we can give you no arms," and something was added about injury having been done by arms. Then the gun-smith's shops are places likely to be resorted to on such occasiosions as these—and I mention this to show the great neglect of duty of these Magistrates. Gen tlemen came to them and said they bad been making an estimate of the number of guns. that were in Bristol, and found there were about 800 ; they added that something ought to be done with those guns. "Oh (said one of the Magistrates), you had better throw them into the Float ?—(Much laughter)—but one of the gentlemen observed, you bad better arm SOO men with them, who will be ready to afford their assistance, and would that not have been the reasonable, the rational, and proper way of proceeding by persons competent to hold situations of such power? On one side of the square were the Custom-house and Excise-office. A great many persons are employed there. It was, indeed, Sunday ; but suppose notice had been given to the heads of those offices there was likely to be an attack made on their premises, would they not have got together every person employed in those buildings, who would have prepared themselves to defend them? You will find, gentlemen, that two re spectable Catholic Priests came to the Magistrates, and said they could produce from one to two hundred sober Irishmen—(Much laughter)—who would immediately join in support of the law and to put down the rioters, but they would not except of that offer. In every instance where suggestions of this sort were made, constant answers were given that there was no power to do it ; that they must lie by till military force came, and without them the civil force was not even to be organised for the purpose of making a defence, or assisting in making a de fence, when it became prudent to act even in the eyes of these Magistrates themselves. This, gentlemen, being a case of negligence —a case in which something was to be done that was not done—when all the cir- cumstances which took place shall have been de tailed to you, you will have to consider whether it was not the duty of Magistrates, particularly of the Chief Ma gistrate, to have done every thing that could possibly have been done for the purpose of suppressing such outrageous acts. These two gentlemen, you will recollect, are ex clusive Magistrates—the county Magistrates could not act in the city at all ;—these Magistrates were the men alone who could act, and who ought to have acted. Gentle men, I shall call various witnesses before you. I shall also lay before you the statement which the Mayor himself made aftewards, viz. on the 4th of November, to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and it may be convenient now to show you how he shapes that state ment. It is a statement of circumstanc e s, and, in all probability, you will find the circumstances stated as strongly as possible against others, and in order to find an excuse fur the magistrates. Taking it even in that way of viewing it, I feel confident it will leave such grounds of neglect apparent to your minds as will f sat' Is y you that the Mayor is guilty of the misdemeanour with which we charge him. I shall read a few parts of the statement to you now, and you shall have the whole of it laid before you hereafter. The Learned Counsel then detailed some parts of the statement, and concluded by comments on it, by saying, t hat had the Magistrates been at their posts, and dole their duty, the whole of the mischief having been done by small parties, many compos ing them being intoxicated, and many others young, the outrages might easily and soon have been suppressed by a common civil force, if there had only been resolution and vigour. The Hon. Gentleman then concluded by saying, that he thought, therefore, that he should be able to prove the Mayor guilty of the misdemeanour laid to his charge. John Walker Newcomb was then called and examined by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL, as follows : —He is a printer, residing in John-street, Bristol. lie remembered the 29th of October last year. He was not present at the entry of the Recorder into Bristol. He went to the Mansion house at 4 o'clock that afternoon. There were some civil officers outside of the Mansion-house : there were lull fifty of theta. The persons collected were some thousands. The rioters were not fifty. He went into the Mansion house between Elia and seven, but did not see any of the Magistrates. The military soon after arrived. He then raw the Magistrates. He told the constables there were very few actual rioters, and he was sure that if a dozen of them were to go out they could disperse them. One of them answered by saying, that if they went out they were sure to have their heads broken. This was when he first went into the Mansion-house. Previous to the arrival of the military, he did not hear any orders given to the constables. He heard Colonel Brereton ask the Mayor for directions. He did not hear them, as all strangers were desired to retire.—The constables were drawn up by Major Mackworth. They sallied out and cleared the streets two or three times, but the rioters re turned soon after. He assisted the civic officers in clear ing away the mob. The gas lights had been put out by the rioters. The military said that th, y could not see where they were riding, and a torch w is given him by the Mayor to carry before the soldiers. He left the Mansion house about 1 o'clock. The number of the civil officers in the Mansion-house had diminished when he left. They had no direct orders to remain. When a dozen made a charge, perhaps only seven or eight of them returned.-- He went away because he was very much fatigued with running before the soldiers with the light.-- When witness left he was not desired to stay. Could not speak to any thing of his own knowledge of what occurred at the Mansion-house after he left. Returned on Sunday morning to the Mansion-house about half•past 9 o'clock. The windows were then completely demolished, the furni ture broken, and it was in possession of the mob, whom the officers were unable to drive out. The mob were in the rooms, hall, and cellars, in which possession no one molested them till after witness arrived. Witness supposed there must have been 20 rioters in the house at the time, and no officers outside, nor any military force. The mob appeared to be intoxicated, at least the major part of them. Witness and a few persons drove the mob out without any difficulty. Afterwards a number of inhabitants came to the Mansion-house. After the house was cleared, witness saw Alderman Hillhouse, who went with witness to the side-door of the Mansion-house and read the Riot Act. Witness did not know from what part Alderman Hillhouse came. There was no impedi ment to his reading the Riot Act. At this period there were about 200 rioters assembled, who immediately after the reading of the Act began to throw stones and glass bottles, which caused witness and the Alderman to retire within the Mansion-house. No attempt was made to repress the conduct of the rioters. Witness re marked to Alderman Hillhouse, that a small force acting judiciously would find little difficulty in dispersing the mob. This was witness' decided opinion at the time. Witness remained at the Alansion-house till about half past 12 o'clock; during which period the Mansion•house was almost filled with respectable residents of the city. The Mayor was also there, but witness did not perceive him till after the Riot Act:was read. The persons as sembled offered to do all in their power to quell the disturbance. The Mayor anti Alderman Hill house directed no force to be used towards the mob, and enjoined the officers not to take any of them into castody. Recollected the Mayor stating no staves were to be used, and the mob were, if possible, to be persuaded to go home quietly. No attempt during this period was made by witness or any other person to dis perse the mob. Did not see the Mayor after he had given the directions witness had spoken of, to the best of his recollection. Saw Mr. Alderman Hillhouse and Mr. Alderman Frith after that period, but they did not take any active part in quelling the disturbance. Witness went to Guildhall at half-past three o'clock in consequence of a gentleman calling on him and saying, he was directed to call out the posse committatus. Many persons had assembled there when witness arrived. Saw the Mayor, one or two of the Aldermen, and Mr. Serjeant Ludlow soon after his arrival. The Mayor remarked on the dreadful state of the city, and called on the citizens to assist him to put an end to the disturbance. The citizens wished to be authorized to use fire-arms, but the Mayor and Aldermen refused to give them any such authority, saying they must use their own discretion. A Mr. Johnson, a solicitor, asked Sergeant Ludlow if they might not be permitted to use arms? The Sergeant said he could give no authority, hut he thought they would be justified in using them. No directions were given to the inhabitants on the subject. The Lord Mayor and Magistrates then went to the Coun cil House, where they called uponthe citizens to join them. Witness should think at one time there were a hundred persons present at the Guildhall, where the meeting broke up without any plan being settled. Witness went home, and remained there till 7or 8 o'clock. Went to Queen- square about 11 o'clock, and remained there till half-past 12. Saw the mob firing the houses ; from two to 300 were engaged in this scene of demolition. Did not see the Mayor or any Magistrate there; saw some of the civil officers pass backwards and forwards, but they were merely looking on When witness first went to the square saw the Custom-house on fire; two or three other houses were set fire to afterwards. The direction the fire took was from the Custom to the Mansion-honse ; the houses between which were fired in succession, beginning at the Mansion-house. Was present at the firing of the Bishop's palace about 9 o'clock, before which period it had com menced. There were from 50 to 100 persons actually engaged in setting it on fire. Witness saw no civil force there, nor did he observe either the Mayor or any of the Magistrates there. Witness stopped at the palace about an hour, endeavouring to preserve the books which had been taken from the Chapter-house, which the mob were proceeding to burn. Witness, without being wounded, saved a great quantity of valuable parchments. Several of the inhabitants were similarly engaged. The fire was going on at the Mansion-house at the same time the Bishop's Palace was burning. Witness then went home. He afterwards went to the Bridewell ; at that time there were about 150 persons present. No military or civil force was there. He was there for a considerable time, attempting to prevent the fire from extending to the neighbouring houses. The people were some armed with sticks, and he saw one with a sword, but many had nothing in their hands. There was a passage about four feet wide run along the Bridewell, which had no gates at the ends of it. Cross-examined by Sir JAMESSCARLETT—Went to the Mansion-house on the day of Sir Charles Wetherell's entry, abouti o'clock, when he found some of the windows broken. Heard the Mayor read the Riot Act between 5 and 6. There were thousands assembled outside, but only a few were engaged in the breaking of the windows —no one interfered to prevent them from the violent con duct they were pursuing. Thinks that a few resolute men might have prevented all the mischief at that time. Some stones were thrown when the Mayor was reading the Ri ot Act, and also much noise, as shouts of appro bations d istti h n e gt v ti i s o h le e li d ce. from T appro bation, appar en tl y to encourage t h e r i oters. Saw no dispositi on to apprehend the riotors by the multi tude a Atl theyay or dhiddd notretired, disperse an d he he would l r t l o at aten tht actually committin geet i crowds s s eh ewho t w nid form o co f n teh t n i e mentuhreriedleiafterry— did so, and when they came lie went up to the Magis trates with the officer, but did not bear what passed, as strangers were ordered to withdraw. The 3d Dragoons, which came first, were received with great cheering by the people, many crying out, " The King and Reform," which was repeated by some of the soldiers. Many of the people were busy shaking hands with the soldiers. Heard the populace say, " You are for the King, and we are for the King ;" but never heard any one say, "Yon won't hurt us." The military sometimes went round the square, but more generally stood still. He took one of the officers of the 14th Dra goons into the Mansion-house, who was wounded by his horse falling over the broken buildings. He supposed there were from 30 to 40 of the 3d Dragoons. The 14th did not come till after the V. He believed it was some where about nine o'clock, and he hail heard that the people groaned at them on their entry. He left about one o'clock to go home, when every thing was quiet in that part of the town. On the road, however, he heard a shot from the 14th Dragoons, about a quarter of a mile from the Mansion-house. Could not tell what the occasion for the shot was. As far as he could judge, the dispositionin the town was as touch against assisting as constables on that day as the day before. Many would not go out as constables, not from a disposi. tion to embarrass the Magistrates, but from their dislike to Sir Charles Wetherell's Parliamentary character. Next day he went to the Mansion-house, at nine o'clock, when be found every window smashed, and not one piece of fur niture was left entire. Saw the Mayor and Alderman Hillhouse; the latter read the Riot Act; at that time did not see the Mayor. Soon after the military ar rived and drove away the people, who were throwing stones. At 3 o'clock, in his own house, he received a requisition to meet the Mayor. He went to the Guild hall, and at that time there were about 100 persons pre sent. Heard one party declare that they would not act as constables, unless supported by the military. Did not hear any one say they would not act unless the military was sent away. Did not see Mr. Taunton there. Col. Brereton was there at the time. The 14th Dragoons had before this been sent out of the town. Sergeant Ludlow asked Colonel Brereton where they were, and be said they were about a mile out of the city. The sergeant then said, "In the King's name I command you to order them instantly into the town." Colonel Brereton persisted in his refusal, and then requested to have a private interview with the Ma- gistrate;. They then retired, and Sergeant Ludlow re turned in about ten minutes. Heard the sergemat aay he Would report him for his refusal. Sergeant Ludlow, when be returned, said the Colonel had given such rea sons to the Magistrates that they were satisfied it would be imorudent to bring in the 14th. Heard Colonel Brereton say, that if they were brought in not a man of them would be left before the evening, and that his own troops, the 3d Dragoons, were so fa tigued, having been 48 hours on duty, that they were in capable of doing further duty. Did not hear of any offer made to him of fresh horses for his men, nor any request made to him to dismount his men and send them to guard the Bridewell. At this time news was brought that the Bridewell was on fire. It was his opinion that 100 men, acting in concert, would have quelled the mob. Went home, and about four o'clock went down to Bridewell ; from what he had heard in the early part of the day, was not surprised to see no military there. Was present when the Custom-house was burning ; there were many thou sands present, and no ono interfered to prevent destruction ; did nut hear any one say " We do not care much for the burning of the Custom House," nor any one say so of the Bishop's Palace. Never heard any one say, " the Re colder ought to he led to a lamp-post," nor that it would have been better had he been thrown over the bridge. He knew how that origin ited. After the riots, he himself said, before such a scene of destruction had taken place, it would have been better that Sir C. Wetherell had been thrown over the bridge. Was sure that he did not say so before the riots. Knew the Bunch of Grapes, but never said so in that house before the riots. Was applied to to serve asa special constable to protect Sir Charles, but refused. He said he would not go out to protect him, neither would he go out to insult or molest him in any way. Was quite sure he had not made use of the words now imputed to him before the riots, nor on the day they took place. Knew a Mr. —, a turner, but bad never seen him in the Bunch of Grapes. Examined by by Mr. Serjeant WILDE. John Cossins—ls a straw-hat manufacturer, at Bristol. Was chief constable of Castle Ward. Attended to esc)rt the Recorder. That about 200 constables were in the Exchange. It is usual for the Recorder to go to the Guildhall to open the Commission. There was a great deal of hissing, hooting, and some stones thrown in Tem ple-street, before we got to the Guildhall. When we had got to the Guildhall there were a number of stones thrown. After the commission was opened at the Guildhall, the procession went on to the Mansion-house. I remained at the Mansion-house till 12 o'clock at night. The mob was throwing stones and breaking the windows all the time. The constables were surrounding the Mansion house. At 4 o'clock the mob was very riotous. The con stables assembled together in the Mansion-house to consult together, and they told the Mayor that if he did not send for the military the house would be about their ears. Sir Charles Wetherell came up to witness and said that there was not sufficient reason for the military to be sent for. He recollected the Mayor coming out to the snob. He said if they did not disperse he would send for the military. He remembers the soldiers coming soon after. Mijor Mackworth, with the Mayor, marshalled the constables at about nine o'clock. 'Witness was stationed in front of the Mansion House. He remained there till 1 2 o'clock, when as the square was all quiet, he left it. At about 12, all the constables were going home in various directions. At about 9 o'clock, the Sheriff called upon him, and asked whether he had any influence with the Political Union, and asked him whether he could get them to assist. (The Trial was going on when we went to Press.) PRICES OF STOCKS THIS sank Stock 198% 8 34 3 per Cent. Red .. B2%R• 3 per Cent.Cona. 5314' 334 per Cent. 9 0 14 Ditto Red 911 % 1 4 New:3% per Cent. ass 3 per Cent Ann. 17'26 - 4 per Cent. 1826 Bank Long Ann. to expire Jan. 5, 184 1 l6q 5-16 Oct. 10, 1859 1634 Jan. 5, 1860 Jan. 5, 1880 April 5, 1880 Jan. 5, 1870 SIR WALTER SCOTT. (From Galignani's Messenger.) The voice of him who was truly called the Minstrel of the North sleeps in death, and all the mountains, vales, and glens of Scotland must resound with wailing. Ages may pass before his rival will appear. Eight years and a half have elapsed since we lost Byron, then in the prime of manhood ; the two most popular au thors which Great Britain ever produced, yet whose genius had no similitude. The one had intenseness, the other copiousness and rich va riety—the predominance of one was tragic, of the other comic. Byron was but a variety of self; Scott was everybody, and everywhere. Byron, at least, in the present writer's apprehension, was not often happy in his prose ; of Scott, the prose was far better than the poetry. There was deep misanthropy in Byron ; the truest honhomnzie and sunshine in Scott. Scott rose occasionally to pathos and sublimity, but they were not his leading characteristics ; he dealt in familiar and colloquial life, in dialogue, in fulness and rapi dity of incidents, in filling his canvass with groups of busy people, and in the humour of a Dutch fair. All the touches of accidental cha racter, of the peculiarity of habit and manners, were caught by him to the very life. But his native country had been the grand object of his happy observances. He knew her in the past and the present, as if he had lived with every age. He knew the shapes of the surface of its varied soils in its mountains, its he . aths, its pre cipices, its depths, its rivers, and lonely sea shores ; and he knew all the secrets of the hearts of its people. He threw .a smile upon all nature ; and cheerfulness echoed from him through all the tracts of Caledonia. He came like a magician sweeping across the stormy seas of the Hebrides, and peopled the isles with the airy beings of poetic spirituality. Yet he was no enthusiast ; he was a perfect man of the world ; social, lively, sagacious, quick, and happy in conversation ; of exquisite tact, and willing to bend to all men's humou•s. The turn of his invention enabled him more than any other fabulist to play off a contrast of charac ters. In this sort of combination and group ing lay one of his grand spells ; the collisions were always happy. He never, like Byron, represented a single figure in the wild aber rations of his solitude. All his ideas were in rapid movement ; he never seems to have pon dered long on one excluding thought. Ido not think, therefore, that profundity was often his character. Now and then he touched the deeper chords, which had a double effect from the con trast with what they were intermixed. Meg Merrilies was a grand invention ; and Edith Elspeth was as sublime as original. The Witch, in The Pirate, would have been magnificent if it had not been too much a repetition of Meg Merrilies. The two daughters of the 0 rcadian Chief are lovely originalities. But in some of his most interesting pictures there is perhaps a little mixture of playfulness and irony, which now and then disturb the unity of the feeling. It is remarkable that in all his writings and cha racters we never see a trace of spleen or malice in him ; yet he must have had his keen disap pointments and wrongs like other men. We mark no clouds in him ; it is always sunshine, though with an innumerable variety of tints. Fantastic groups are always playing before his fancy ; and at every turn the magic of his wand brings up new pictures. Like Shakspeare— " The forms of many-coloured life he drew ; Exhausted worlds, and then imagined new." Were we to analyse all the ingredients of Scott's compositions, we might, perhaps, pronounce that many of them, when separated, are not new ; the novelty, which gives them the character of high genius, is i❑ the combination. But so it is even in Shak s p eare ; hi s l anguage i s often careless, never studied. Sometimes he is too colloquial —rarely quite flowing. His ordinary narration wants chaleur. It may be said of his diction what Johnson said of Prior's verses. He does not often like to be confined to con tinued n arrat i ve , b ut b ursts i n to dialogu e , o f which the drollery is inexhaustible. Smollett was droll, Fi e ldi ng was droll, but it was always in low life ; t he y h a d nothing of picturesqueness, and their characters were more the result of ob servation than invention. 'While Scott was true to life, he yet was always inventive. He de scribed material objects, whether animate or in animate, with the utmost felicity. He de lighted in chivalrous images—grandeur in its DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK• New 5 per Cent. llndia Stock Ditto Bonds ....... 13 14 pm. South Sea Stock Old Annuities 8 1 1,4 New Ditto ......... P 2 7ii 3 per Cent. Ann. 1751 EL Bills, Xl,OOO 23 24 pm. 21 pm. Ditto Small Ditto Commercial —pm. L)itto Advertised Bank for Account India for Account. Cons. for Nov •`3 PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS Austrian Bonds B9 Belgian Bonds 75% Ditto Account 76 Brazilian Bonds Ditto Account...... 48!4 8 1 4 Buenos Ayres Bonds 22 Ditto ACcount Chilian Bonds ......... 16 Ditto Account Columbian Bonds Ditto Account Ditto Bonds, 1824 Ditto Account Danish Bonds 66%14 Ditto Account Greek Bonds. Ditto Bonds, 182 2B 7. Ditto Account Mexican Bonds, 5 per cent 22% Ditto Account Ditto, 6 per cent 26U Ditto Account "6% Neapolitan PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAT AT 081 O'CLOCK. Paid. Per Share. Anglo Mex. Min. Co. (iss. at Si pm.) £loo 8% Bolanos Mining Company £l5O 131 Brazilian Imp. Min. Co. (iss. at 5/. pm.) £2O Ditto SL John Del Rey British Iron Mining Company £so Columbian Mining Co. (iss. at 51. pm.) 4S! English Mining Company 12% General Mining Association ll Real del Monte Mining C 0...., United Mex. Min. Co. (iss. at 2/. pm.) 40 Ditto New Scrip 2 Alliance Fire Insurance Comp lO Protector Insurance Comp. Australian Co. Canada Company l7 General Steam Navigation Co Provincial Bank of Ireland 25 • 24 15 141' 433 8% £1 4 6 7% 31NN 8% 2,4 rtirflfll e,„ A. LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 25, 1832. We have, throughout the discussions which have been raised upon the Belgic question, main tained that the most perfect good understand ing prevailed between the Courts of England and France. As the crisis approaches, the cor rectness of our information is placed beyond a doubt. We refer to an article from the Journal des Debats, received this morning, as corrobora tive of our assertion ; and, that our readers may be fully aware of the importance of that article, we will state that one of the Peers, lately promoted to the Upper Chamber to support the Ministry, is principal proprietor ofthe paper from which it is taken. In fact, the Journal des Debats is the organ of the Doctrinnaire Ministry in all matters of this kind, the Moniteur being more in the nature of a gazette. The most conclusive document, how ever, that we have yet received as regards the question of war or peace, is the note of M. GOBLET to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs. Of course the application is made by previous concert, so that there can be no doubt of the manner in which this appeal will be answered. We see that several French Papers, the Con stitutionizel and the Tribune especially, make great complaints of M. GUIZOT making use of the word " subject" in a report to the KING, published in the Moniteur. We really think our French contemporaries too nice upon such a point. The word, as now used, has but little more meaning than the formula at the end of a letter ; and provided that a people be really free, and have their rights effectually protected, the word which expresses their relation to the Chief Magistrate is not worth disputing about, always provided, that public opinion does not attach a degrading meaning to it. Brussels and German Papers have been re ceived this morning. The extracts will be found in another column. Mr. SHELL, after much coquetting with the question, has at length come forward, and for mally announced himself as an advocate for the Repeal of the Union. We respect his boldness and decision, but think his judgment not merely questionable, but erroneous--deeply erroneous. He must know that the Union between Great Britain and Ireland never can—never will be re pealed, and for this reason, that it is opposed to the interests and the inclinations of the majority in both kingdoms. Still there is no denying the fact, that in Ireland, at least, the question is making some progress ; among the Orangemen from a desire ofrevenge, and among the Catholics !I- 0 m a vague idea that it will repair the wrongs of centuries. In the Dublin Evening Mail occurs the following remarkable passage, which fully corroborates our opinion, that many of the Orangemen, in clamouring for a repeal of the Union, are consulting only the dictates of a deep-seated, unjustifiable malignity :—" If Repeal mean separation, which we firmly believe it does; if there is to be a foreign war, as we are religiously convinced there will be the mo ment that Ministers can screw their courage to the sticking place,' it would be well if that member of the Cabinet most skilled in geo graphical knowledge consulted the map of Europe, and ascertained the relative position which Protestant and insulted Holland, and Protestant and misgoverned Ireland, bear towards each other. There is a mighty impediment to Whig valour and British aggression in the state of Ireland. A continental war would be the signal for an Irish rebellion." The rancour of these Orangemen is truly of the most desperate character. Even Mr. SHAW himself (the Conservative Member for Duhfin) bears indirect testimony to the fact, by declaring that he finds so many of his old supporters in favour of Repeal, that he shall resign all pre tensions to the future representation of the city. These facts are important, as showing the pre sent inflammable state of parry-spirit in Ireland. We direct attention to a report of a late Bristol meeting, which will be found in another part of The Sun. The speeches of Messrs. BRIDGES and PROTHEROE are, both of them, admirable specimens of plain, downright Eng. lish eloquence. In the course of some obseo vations on Church Reform, Mr. PROTHEROE said, " The abuses of the Ecclesiastical Courts have long engaged my attention ; and I have been for some time employed in collecting evi dence on the subject ; but my labours have been superseded by the appointment of a com mission ; and myfriend the Bishop of London tells me that the result will be a measure sl fj oi'- cient to satisfy even such a Radical as I. The reform of the Church in spiritual matters has been advancing with most rapid strides ; and, whatever the event may be, I will say, that no reform shall have my concurrence which does not include the removal of tithes, and the relief of Dissenters from the payment of rates.— (Cheers)" Mr. PROTHEROE is a Reformer of the right sort, and, we are gratified to learn, is sure of his election for Bristol. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.) pride and in its decay the ruined castle —the lonely turret, the abode of neglected poverty--and yet so represented adversity and fallen fortune as to cheer rather than depress the heart. Sir Walter had the good fortune to touch some springs which awakened all the in terests and affections of his countrymen. The nationality of Scotchmen is a passion which none will deny to distinguish them. Sir Walter drew almost all his characters from them, and made their peculiarities subjects of interest and picturesque romance. For more than three cen turies the Scotch, through the spirit of enter prising emigration, have, beyond other nations, spread themselves far and wide over the globe ; and wherever they have gone they have carried the fame of their popular authors. These combined causes have sill augmented the reputation of Sir Walter's transcendent genius. His persona dramatis have an individuality which springs from a junction of genius, sagacity, and obser vation. The force of his dialogue derives its chief charm from this contrast of characters. The familiar was that which he seemed most to execute con amore, in direct opposition to Byron, whose forte was the gloomy and misan thropic; and who, though in Don Juan he has exhibited much comic satire with extraordinary strength and point, yet seems to have done it by mere defiant effort, and surely deals in a degree of caricature which is not in the purest taste. Scott could not have written Manfred or Cain—Byron could not have written one of Scott's novels. Scott's is an intellectual mate rialism—Byron's primary inventiveness is spiri tuality. One is more touching—the other more harrowing. Scott was an excellent critic, both as to matter and style, as some of the articles in The Quarterly Review prove. Byron wrote prose with inequality, and often without ease or justness; and his critical opinions were unfixed, and often prejudiced and wrong. Scott wrote biography beautifully, and history at least amusingly, though sometimes too hastily. His literature was much more extensive than Byron's, and much better digested in his mind ; his moral opinions were always benevolent and amiable, and generally just—not, perhaps, of extraor dinary energy, but smiling and easy, like Addi son's. Geneva, Sept. 30, 1832. THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Peruvian Bonds 1 Ditto Account IPortuguese Bonds Ditto Account 49 M Regency Scrip 11 dis. Ditto Account 3l: dis. Prussian Bonds 99 4 Ditto Account Ditto Bonds, 1822 lO4l Russian Bonds, 1822...98% Ditto Account osk4 New Loan Spanish Bonds, 1621 133, Ditto Account 13N% ... _ . I Ditto Bonds, ISIn Ditto Account 131. i French Rentes, sp. c. —f --c. Exchange —f —c. —S per cent. —f —c. .-- Exchange —f —c. ;Dutch Scrip 40% Ditto Account 40.74 I Fr:mch Scrip ..... .... '2 iv,' FROM LLOYD'S PORTSMOUTH, Ocr. 24.—Wind N.E. strong.—Sailed the Susan, Gillics, for Bengal. COWES, Ocr. 24.—Arrived the Cock, Fleming, from Batavia, sailed 4th July. MILFORD, Ocr. 2.3.—Arrived the Doun Castle, from Memel; and the John Adam, from Wyburg. GREENOCK, OCT. '.V..—Arrived the Roger Stewart, Kerr, from Quebec. LIMERICK, Ocr. :22.—Arrived the Abecona, Russell, from Quebec. LEITH, OCT. 92.—Arrived the Margaret, Robertson, from Pillau. SHIELDS, OCT. 23.—Arrived the Mary Swan, Wright, from St. Pet ersburgh. LYNN, Ocr. 23.—Arrived the New Concord, Dove, from Memel. SHEERNESS, Ocr. 23.—Arrived the Penelope, Byram, from Archangel. CARNARVON, Ocr. :23.—Arrived the Swallow, Edwards, from Miramichi. MARGATE, Our. `.14. —The Culloden, Little, from London to Trieste, in leaving the harbour to-day, with the assistance of a steam-boat, struck the ground; she has since been hove in near the pier-head, with rudder pintles broken, and it is ex pected will be got afloat next tide. CLYDE, OCT. 72—Arrived the Cornelia, --, from Quebec. CHOLERA MORBUS, OFFICIAL REPORT. CENTRAL BOARD OF HEALTH. COUNCIL OFFICE, WHITEIIALL.—(THIS IM E) DAILY REPORT of ('HOLERA • ASES. New Cases. Deaths. Recoverie4. England and Wales 79 32 52 Scotland 93 53 60 172 85 112 (Signed) WM. MACLEAN, Secretary. THE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY). GENERAL AVERAGE PRICE OF BRITISH CORN, For the Week ended Oct. 19, 1132, made up from the Rctunls of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wales, eel Imperial Quarter. Wh Cat---516. :3.1.1 Oats 1.9 s 101.1 Beans- 345. Ild. Barley-- 1 9s 6 I . [Rye 3a. td, Pease- Ws. 6d. I mpERIAL AGGREGATE AYEK•OEK OF THE hiX WEEKS PRECRDEVG. 553. Oats 193. 361. 4d. 3125. 4d.1 Rye --... 333. Ild I 39g. 7d. DUTIES ON FORF.IGN CORN 11d.i Oats Ifis. 9.1.1 151. &I. Barley. 10d.I Rye 19i 9,1.1 Pease-- 11. 01/41. HAY )1 A R KETS.--tAt per Load of 311 Trusses.) CUMBERLAND (LATE sT. JAMES'S.) Coarse heavy Lowland Meadow Hay £2 10 to £2 15 lew Meadow Hay 2 15 3 15 Useful Old Ditto Fine Upland Meadow and Rye-grass Hay 3 15 4 0 .cover Hay 4 0 5 5 Oat 5traw.......Z1 Bto X 1 101 Wheat ?t, aw Supply moderate, trade dull, and prices as last quoted. SMITHI• IELD. Coarse heavy Lowland 11.1e.;do;riitZY — £3 0 to £3 S New Meadow Hay 3 0 3 10 Useful Old Ditto 3 5 3 15 Fine Upland Meadow and Rye-grass Hay ..... .... 3 15 4 0 Clover Hay (extra fine)....Cs s... Generally .... 3 15 1, 15 Oat Straw ...XI 10 to £1 I'2 I Wheat '•trp.w .... 1 13 1 13 Supply rather limited, trade dull, and prices stationary. THE FUNDS.-(THIS DAY.) CITY, T IV.EL VE 0' CL 0 CK. We have no arrivals, with the exception of the estafette from Paris, bringing a considerable fall in the French Funds, 6&. 95c. A Morning Journal states that the King of Holland's answer was received yesterday, and that it is of a conciliatory nature. His Dutch Majesty now perceives that the affairs have taken a very serious turn with England and France, who are making very extensive preparations to enforce the surrender of the ci tadel of Antwerp to the Belgians. He has caught the alarm, and we should not be surprised if he sends fresh powers to his Ambassador here before the departure of the fleet to the Scheldt, do arrivals from Portugal as yet. Consols opened at 83 a for the Account, after which they went, sellers, at EON, at which price they arc at present, with little doing. In the Foreign Market little or nothing doing as yet. HALF-PL ST ONE. The assertion of a morning journal, that the answer of the King of Holland has been received, and is of a favourable nature, is not entirely credited in the city, but despatches of COII6C. quence may be looked for on the arrival of the Dutch mail, which is hourly expected. All that we can state on good au. thority is, that Austria and Prussia coincide with the ope rations of the English and French Governments. Letters have been received from the Brazils of thet. , 3th of August : all was tranquil there. Exchange on London, 43. Great anxiety prevails for the arrival of the Pantaloon front Lisbon and Oporto : it is now expected that the steamer from Oporto will arrive before the Pantaloon. Consols have been done in the early part of the day at 83 .% ; at present they may be quoted 83X, N for Account, with little doing. The Foreign Market is alto inactive. Dutch Stock is rather lower. Portuguese Scrip 3ji dis. TWO O'CLOCK. The Dutch steamer has arrived with the mail, bringing Dutch Papers to the 25th instant. The paper of the 24th gives the Dutch price of Stock 41 %, but they closed at 41 7 1 , 42, owing to large orders from the Hague to purchase. It is expected that the Court of Prussia will he able to settle the Dutch affairs without coming to blows. T.EiREE O' CL OCK Consols for Account, fiSi MISNOMER.—The name of the plaintiff (SMALL) in the great Exchequer cause is the most inap• propriate that ever fund itr w4y into a Court of Ju•iice ; the lawyer declaring him to be the largctt chew, with the largest suit, the largest briefs, and the largest fees that every iramrtelited