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

speeches which they had heard—and others evidently in
flamed by the desire of plunder. The tri-coloured flags
were the rallying points, and after them teeny pursued their
mad career. On emerging from the fields however, Mr.
Stafford, attended by Limbrick, one of the officers of Bow.
street, rushed forward, and seised the small hag and the
banner. A faint attempt was made at resistance, but It was
overcome. and the bold effort of Mr. Stafford was sneeesoful.
At this (hue, the designs of the multitude were unknown, and
ass still greater number remained in the field, awaiting the
arrival of Mr. Hunt, It was thought prudent not to depart
from the original directions given to the Police. Thus the
mob passed on without further interruption, and shaping
their course towards Smithfield, alarmed the inhabitants by
whose houses they passed. with the wildest shouts. Many,
Itewever, from the rapidity of their course. lost their breath;
a-ad en stopping to recover themselves, evidently reflected on
their improldent conduct, and retired to their homes or re-
turned to Spa-fields. Salle few of the desperadoes ;hewed
cutlasses and pistols, from whence it was evidont that they
&dm prepared for deeds of Mood. These, however, were
very rare instances.

la Smithfield it rats annonneed that they were going to
die Lord Mayor • but a cry for areas being raised, some of
the leaders led dee way through C.ow.laise to Saow.hill. to the
Manse of Mr. Beckwith, the gansmith. A young man who
Was rather before the mein body first rushed into the shop,
in which Mr. Platt 144 other geatiessen were standing. lo
a voice of great trepidation he demanded arms. Mr. Platt
told him to go about his business; upsa which he drew a
a pistol from his breast.poeket and discharged its contents at
Mr. P.'s body. He was intently seised, and given to the
custody of Worrell, the Ward °dicer of St. Sepulchre's. The
great balk of the insurgents then came up, and in a moment
allied all the arms in the shop, and converted them to their
owe use ; some carrying off two or three guns together on
their shoulders, while others armed themselves with pistols
and madames.
When the rioters got into the Miseries, about 'teem Horse
Guards, beaded by an °deer, rode up to the top of the
Minorite just as the rioters were en their march with their
spoil, to joie their comrades in Spa-gelds. The foremost of
tins throng discharged their guns and pistols at the soldiers
wianded two of theft horses, and immediately turned to the
right about. The , panic became gesteral; the guns mesa-
aides, swords, and pistols were thrown and abandoned; the
Items of Spa-bolds were in "two minutes invisible, and seven
red coats remained masters of the geld.

It men, new be satisfactory to give • descriptles of the
'Were, es they appeared ie their march ep the Minories.
Far 'die meet pert they consisted of.sailers. Some black,
sins& Ultimo*, some English, some foreign—some boys and
maie mem. (hoe fellow with a wooden leg seemed as active
as the rest. They were armed is various ways. Some had
bearding pikes, others broad swords, others guru, and ethers
plitals.
RIOTS IN THE METROPOLIS.
•
The City of Landon has not for many years exhibited such
a geese of outrage and tear& as that which took place on
It was easily pepeelved a few days ago, from the
peePandlear inakiett en the part of Government, that there
was pretty geed reason to suspect that an attempt would be
made by the disinfected to incite the lower orders to acts of
riots and devastation, and that the naseting in Spa-fields was
merely a pretence for the dissolute and disorderly to assent-
hie, and proceed thence to disturb the peaceable part of the
inetrepaffii. It would seem, indeed, from every thing which
has transpired, that a system had been organised to raise the
standard of lasurrection at leant, if .not of rebellion. We
Mtn stated Jaime account of the Spa-Gelds meeting, that a.
coaddorallie astatbei left the fields, lifter beefing an infirm-
=bangers *op:the waggon orator. This person's
said to he Watson. It appears tbartbough he boast-
ed dust Ise had• lye thousand Mends who were ready to, fol-
low Meantime., and though in fact, about one demurral of
the meet rnilan-looking fellows present kilned his stanasrd,
yet, beam die pug reached St. Marthta-le-grand, their
unielser was reduced to seedy two knadred. The first out-
rage they commtheird, wages reaching Skimmer-street, Snow-
ball here one ado body advancing before the rest, entered
the shop et Mr. Beeftwitit the gun-smith, calling out," anus,
arms." A gentknum who happened to be In the shop, named
Platt (a Maaeltestea warehouseman, of Cateaton-street), affa-
bly attempting to remonstrate, said, " My friend, you are
mistaken; this is not the place for arms." The ruffian in.
neatly drew forth a pistol, and lodged the contents of it la
the hip or grotto of Mi. Platt. Three other fellows who were
by this time entering' the shop, respecting by the report that
their leader was shot, turned, round and fled in haste. The
shop door was instantly closed open the assassin, whom Mr.
Beckwith's shaman with great spirit seized, and berried
into the beck shop, where he was given in charge' to a eon-
stable, who neeligently permitted the primmer to temp stairs.
The latter instantly sprung up to the wiaden *row tip die
sash, waved his handkerchief and atlinwelesibit mob, a-
dored them that they had nothing to tear, as dam were bat
few prisms in the house and, besides coametdatiarions
ineeeellainierfe4 if tie prink/eras he had excited the . On
their -departure, they also plundered the shop of a astladtty
of guns, pistols, &e. Fortunately a number afire ana=
deposited our of sight, which they did not find. The
taus armed, pursued their course into the city, with dtiview,
it was apprehended, of attacking the Bank: As tirro.
ceeded along Cheapside. they loaded and rlischargtO their
pirees, and displayed wardens meowing gestures as if to hi-
' tunirlate the spectators. Having arrived at the Royal Ex-
cheap, they were met by the, Lord Mayor, and Alderman
Cr James Shaw, to deseilbe wh'ese proceedings it will be ne-
eeseary to state, chit his Lordship had made a must judicious
arrangement, by stuttering peruses between the Mansion
House and Spa-fields, to give an account every half hour of
what'vriss passing. It nnfortenately happened that the men
pasted at Spa-bells did' not discover that a party had gone
off towards the, city, in consequence of which oversight on
their part, the Lord Mayor bad no account of the rioters
until they had reached .Aldersgate-street. Sir James Shaw
and Mr. White were then at the Mendes HOMAC.• At the
same moment that intelligence war received of the rioters
Wig In Alderagate-street, a person arrived with an account
of their being in Skinuer-street, and er their having shot a
num The Lord Mayor and Mr. White, attended by Cur
men, immediately set out to meet the mob; they got to ilte
Swan with Two Necks, in Lad-lane, when they beard the
itob going to the Mansion House; they retired at a quick
pace, and found the rioters had passed the Old Jewry. His
Lordship and his small party went into Princes-street, whore
they heard reports of several muskets which were fired in the
air. His Lordship could not get before the mob until they
turned into Sweeting's-alley, himself and his party titenyam

THE NA'

r across the Royal Exchange, whilst the rioters were going into
.1 a gun-sinities. Sir James Shaw nized the colours; the Lord
Mayor took the arms from oni man, and Mr. White (corn
another. Mr. Powell and Mr. Hicks, of Cheapside, who had
accidently come up, assisted them 41 securing she men. None
of the mob advanced into the Exchange, but before 'the gates
were shut they levelled their muskets, and two of them fired
at the Lord Mayor. His Lordship held the man whom he
had taken into custody, directly opposite the rioters; and
told them to fire away ; one of theta fired, but it is doubtful
whether the piece was loaded with shot. When the gates
were shut the rioters fired nuclei them. A fresh force ar-
riving to the Lord Mayor's aid, the paints depaited, taking
the direction of the Minories, where they entered the shops
of Mr. Brander and Mr. Rae, gunsmiths. The gnnmakers
in the Minories had by some means been apprised of the
previous proceedings of the rioters, and had with proper
precaution (as far as it went) shut up their shops, and
secured them in the inside. The. freebooters' however,
would not be disappointed; the leader, with the but end of
his gun, broke in the fan light above the door of Mr. Bran-
der's shop, through which a sailor with a chip kat contrived
to crawl, and in this manner they all gained admittance.
They carried off muskets, fowling pieces, pistols, besides a
four pound carronade, and a brain swivel Tbas supplied,
they were about to depart from thi Minoties, when it was
supposed that more arms, as well as powder, could be had at
Mr. Rea's, the gunsmith's, a few doors distant. Mr. Rea had
also made his premises as secure as he could; but so de-
terntlned were the villains to eater, that they broke in the
russets of the doors and windows. At this place they were
joined by a loan on horseback, who took a lead in the three-
don of their proeedinp. A man also who had the appear-
ance of a countryman, and was armed with a pistol and a
sword,.led them from shop to shop. Mr. Rea, apprehensive
for his life, took shelter on the roof of the house; but even
there be was not out of the reach of possible danger, for the
plunderers ransacked every corset of the shop and house in
search of powder with lighted candle', None, however, was
found here or at Mr. Branders, add they were therefore
obliged to leave the Minoriee in greet disappointment. To
sake amends, they carried off alsos.z eighteen silver spoons,
and a quantity of wearing append, and various other move
aisles. By this time a mob of five thousand persons were as-
sembled, but not- a man or a boy aided the party in their
lawless prongs. The rioters next took the direction of
Aldgate, when it the top of the Marin the party divided,
onehalipertuiog their ways, thmesdsditeb, and the other
the road to Mile-end. 'These who took the former route met
a small party of the Ilth d and instantly abandoned
their heavy lottol and took to their heels; but the soldiers
came op with them, and they lindaotly surrendered their
small arras without resistastee. The party which took the
Whiteckeped-road were also pursued, and those who escaped
the cavalry were attacked W the butchers, and compelled to
give up their arms, whisk the butchers express a wish to re-
tain as tropidel suit peyote of their (briny and coot-age. A
ebiowtel-oWeertriortpod the Biotin H the elinories, and was
offered the choke of various wesposa, but nothing took his
fancy like a Ml dress sword. This laity hero was more
amusing than alarming to the inhabitants, for he displayed
some of the Satins usually practised by this tribe on the
Ist day of May.
A portion of the mob front Spa-fields, after indalglag them-
selves for an hour or two, proceeded by the way of St. Giles's,
and Catharine-street, into the Strand, making pretty free
wherever it suited their purpose. litklrell-otreet, St. Cle-
ment's, seemed particularly to Invite theta. The chief object
of attack there, about seven o'clock, was tie Dog Tavern.
They broke almost all the front windows, and carried off
the whole of the exposed larder. Next they assailed the
premises of an elderly man, a Mr Gilbert, who sells a variety
of clothing attacks. From his Amp, after smashing a few
panes, they took different articles of webs:log *l*mM.
Thence, in the same narrow street, they precededlt piece
broker's, named Levi, where they helped theatielves tO what-
ever his saemsdimmd assortment afforded tisane af great coats
and askinweas, asaloteoats, sad other coswesieet snicks of
dress. Os their march, thee. didstati tbe gin-shops,
but took cars to have akw drops oIYM dial gratis. A am-
ber of other dopirodatlitas were ceravalttei is various parts
of the tows, whirls *will be more adverted Win the polka
proceedings.
A party of &melt bad hoes shattered at the Bask at six is
the mornisg• scale of them was ioarched ont,at two o'clock
far, the proteeties ekteMaaslos Moe% the- the hem Paraded
all parts of tbensetropolisdmiig ad' evening sad the night,
and preserved ogder *very wee.—The East-Lila House
were provided** selliciest Fares to Tel say attack, sod
the. eitymtlitis kept watch in the Royal scheele--Tico Ztass
of Court had their galas eissod,usdlhe shops is almost all the
principal 'tents liras city woos shat .At the reconsims-
ditto, elf the Lord Mayer, the ishabilasas of the
IMAM wards forward to swam is as special emir
'tablet ; is C sdlawieit ward ellsse,usorriabas oleo MVO
the enrolled id lea this iihwer. It is imp
Paten asetitiathismarlswere spoistfrawftele, swore is,
sad others, the amembeis of Liles sad the-Stick Ex-
charsge. A detaches* °Cheese sad Mot, asdorroral pieces
of artillery, were posted seer the lLiars Beach. Soldiers
were ale. is roadissis at %mate, sad all she ether prise*.
were earefallyimarded.
In the Maori's a vitiate levelled a binadarissua at see of
the soldiers ; he happily missed hisalm, sad the ball mitered
the neck of the rider's hear. An attempt was Instantly msde
by a mast in the crowd to secure him, but be fought hard, and
was ultimately rewind. Several of the soldiers received slight
blows of stones and brickbats, while others were occasionally
saluted with offal sad mad. -
It it a most carious fact, that while the mob were la the ?di-
mities, souse silly dozen of persons. headed by an iodates! sell=
elected commander, demanded the surrender of the timer!
The commander finding that kis message was laughed at. as-
sumed the character of an orator, actually harangued the sol-
diers from without the walls, telling them that they were the
protectors of the pear% and not of the Omen—that they were
paid by the people and not by the Criss—and that now was
the time for theist to chew their allegiance , to juin the carat
of the people, and they would each be reworded with 100
guineas, and secure to themselves promotion! The sentinel
was directed to level his musket at hint, which the he.o no
roomier perceived, that' himself and contpauious scampered
away with the fleetness of greyhounds.
Mr. Platt, shot in Skinner Street, as soon as his strength
• would perms[, was conveyed in a coach to his house at fins-
ton, but we are sorry to ad•l, in a deplprable state. There
are two slugs lodged ip the groin ; but, unfortunately, though
the most eminent surgical aid had beeq obtained, they had not
been extracted on Wednesday forenoon. Hopes, however,
are entertained of ultimate success, anti that thiesinnocent
sufferer would shortly be restored to his young family and
Moods.

On Monday night, about eleven o'clocs, as Miles, thi horse
patrole, was on duty at Highgate, he passed three mrtt who
appeared to avoid being seen by him, and recollecting to have
heard of three footpads committing robberies in klmeg lately,
he looked after them. They appeared as if they went pro-
ceeding into the lane leading to the Earl of Mansfield's house,
but they returned towards the town of Highgate. The patrole
then communicated his suspicions to a Wall hhian, nod took

him with him to stop them. • They came stp with them sleet,
the Red Lion politic bogie, when the patrols having no doubt,
but that he saw • pistol concealed in the breast of one of
them, under a large loose rough coat, he ',hinged his hand its,
and found his conjecture right. Immediately after, the ()user
two presented a pistol each ; 'one of them went otf: butt provi-
dentially missed the patrole cud watchman ; the other pistol
missed fire. The watchman was much Warmed; that he
ran off and sprang his rattle. 'le two who had presented
their pistols took the opportunity and rau away. An alarm
was created by the discharge of the pistols, anti a number of
persons came oat of the Red Lion public house, and from other
places. The patrole gave the MAU he had seized with the
pistol, and on whom also be found a dagger in a stick, into
the care of two men named Goulding and Rhodes. while he
went in pursuit of the two who ran away. Immediately on
'the patrole's &pas titre, the person in custody instantly drew
a dirk from his stick, and said—" If yon don't let me go, I.
will run you through," and he struck at Goulding with the
dirk, which perforated his great coat, but only scratched Isis
skin ; he then attacked Rhodes and stabbed him in the thigN,.
bet not to any dangerous extent. A straggle ensued, ami
they all fell Into the kennel together. The patrole at this'
juncture returned, having ineffectually pursued the other two,:
and the prisoner was secured, and a pistol and a great sear
papers were taken from hint. The patrole brought the mast
to Bow-street Tubsday, when he proved to be Mr. Watson,.
the gentleman who advocated the cause ofthe people at the
first meeting in Spafields, and who has been assay years a'
respectable surgeon and apothecary, residing in Neweissate-'
street, in the Strad, and be was in consequence hendscaffesr
and brought to the Graublic house, in Bow-street. Thh'
circumstance of Mr. Watsona being in custody under a charge
of felony, was soon made known, and curiosity led several
people to the house to see hies. He was particularly deafens'
to know the fate of his see—[thls was the yodel; man whs
addressed the mob from the waggon, on Monday, in Spit-
fields],—and on being Informed by a person present, that he
unsferstood him to he in custody in the city, he observed that
he was a noble youth, and deserved a better fate—that there
had been too great a degree of precipitancy in his proceed;
ings—and that, had he conducted the cane well, his poor
snffering countrymen would have been relieved without blood •
shed! He then with mach calmneskspoke of the distresses be
had been an eye-witness to, and more particularly of those
that had befallen his own family ; and declared that one of
his own children, a lovely daughter, had died from want, that
is to say, she died from the want oiwine and such other limb
rishments as it was not in his power, fromt he distressful state'
in which be was, to give her. All this, be contended, arose
from the oligarchy. He was piked if he was in Spafields on
Monday, and he said he was, bat not with the oratorical past
of the assemblage. At half-pest three o'clock be was ordered
before Mr. &rub, and underwent a short private examina-•
thin; he was afterwards taken to the Secretary of State's
Office, Whitehall.

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE ATTEMPTED AS-

SASIONATION OP MR. PLATT.

Mr. Beekwith's 'Women state, that the mu who attempted
to assassinate Mr. Platt, was, in the first instance, accompa-
nied by five comrades: when he °puled the door and de-
manded arms, he had not the pistol concealed with which he
shot Mr. Mot, but held it openly in his hand. Mr. Platt,
who had &debut his business at Mr. Beckwith's, was going
not of the doer, when the villain called out—" Arlin, arms!'
Mr. Platt, la a conciliatory manner, laid his hand on the man*.
shoulder, and; reminded him that he was shout to do a great
ilea/ of mischief; and was proceeding to ase Nether persua-
sion, when the &sauna presented a deadly weapon, and fired.
Mr, Platt was placed in a chair, and addressing his savage
asseillant, observed, " Yoe have shot me, and I was oo sine-
my et yours." " Then," replied die man, " lam sorry for
It."—Mr. Platt wow desired that a stergi on might be sect for
to examine his wound, when the assassin stepped forward sad
asseredisbe that he wara professional gnu, and would wil-
lingly attend to him: aid he hasseediately began to prepare '
for the euminatien of the *Mind in a way that left no doubt
on the minds of these peewit that what he had said was per-
fectly correct. Mi. Platt, however, decasesi his attentions,
and woo take, up'stalts. nit a urgent of asaineseee was sent
for. The sholdialiplest Me time is seising the murderer, who
made no rethstmile. Ilk esaiseades hod Resist the first report
of the pine, ender the us it is supposed, that
their leaderhireselthed bus Shot. Welk or the name of
Wards Was at hafid, and the prisoner was timensitted into
his ernitedy. His pocket-book and.various papers were taken
Mss bins. Among the latter was a copy eta circular letter,
e
flerieheeriptiens. There were other scraps of paper,'
.with the *asses of the 'l'realuref-lind Secretary of the Spa-
ded& society. While the stiopmen were thus employed .sa .
this nsefid invesdiatioa, the eonstahle, instead of confining
the assassin to sense close apertialint, suffered hint to range
from one room to anther. blimpalbsent that portion of the
4... mob which sanomeiledlim,644 upooid having bent sp.
prized of the deludes it then ' ou seeeent of shooing
Mt- Pieti..theY kaiak tiolnalefibd itheirokion, t)oei of the
&berme& ainivesed, that le the suede the mu bad escaped.
mid was got es the premises. This well-intentioned answer
pacified the rioters for the asomeat, and they had actually
turned away and were proceeding to the Royal Excliaage,
when the beadle alllveed his prisoner to approach the n in-
dow, sad present himself to the view of his friends; the nob
became furious, the honer and its contents urn, denoeiseed
for destruction. and the murderer was immediately sod of
necessity restored to liberty. The windows were 'tenant!),
demolished, aid all the fire inn iii the windows and ship
were carried off. The assassin, feeling himself secure among
these desperate plunderers, thought proper to give proof of
his cooluess and courage before he left this scene of murder
and devastation-. He accordingly took up a brace of pis:ols
(about 11l inches long in the barrel), and loaded them wish
great care mod deliberation. lin comrades followed his
heroic example, and loaded their pieces with possder,. and
with whatever materials suited their purpose. One of the
shopmen, tired with this disgusting exhibition; and wishing to
rid his toaster's premises of surly dangerous i ittfians, mired
among the rabble. and immediately called out, unknown to
them, " Now my lads, we have plenty of guise, let us to the
Tower." This device seerceeded, and this ferocious rabble
went in quest of further plunder and breathing other massa-
cres. From the curious circumstance of the assassin !lasing
proffered surgical assistance to the man whom he had shot ;