The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-21 00:00:00

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SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock.

Report of the Commissioners appointed to
Inquire into the Disturbance in Hyde-
park on the Ist July.

TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
May it please your Majesty,—We, the commissioners
appointed by your Majesty's letters patent under the great
seal bearing date the 14th of July in the nineteenth year
of your reign, and commanded to inquire into an alleged
disturbance of the public peace on Sunday the Ist of July,
1855, in Hyde-park and the adjoining streets, and into all
the circumstances thereof and all matters connected there-
with, and particularly into the conduct of the officers and
constables of the Metropolitan police in connection with
the same, and into the truth of all and singular the com-
plaints of the conduct of them or any of them upon that
occ ision which might be brought under our investigation ;
Humbly report, that on the receipt of your Majesty's
commission we gave notice by letter to several persons who
had sent written complaints to your Majesty's Secretary
of State for the Home Department, and also gave general
notice in the public newspapers of our intention to bold
an inquiry into the matters submitted to us by your Ma-
t jesty's said commission, on Tuesday the 17th day of July,
185 in the Court of Exchequer at Westminster, at ten
o'clock in the forenoon, and at the time and place so ap-
pointed we commenced our sittings.
In the outset of the inquiry we were met by a difficulty
as to obtaining evidence. Most of the persons who con-
sidered themselves aggrieved by the conduct of the police
on the day in question were strangers to each other, and
no combined arrangement had been made for the purpose
of bringing their several complaints before us. Some of
them could not afford to procure professional assistance,
and perhaps felt unequal to speak for themselves. In fact,
with one exception, no individual appeared to be prepared
to make any statement or give evidence before us with re-
ference to the matters into which we had met to inquire.
It happened that Mr. Mitchell, a respectable and intelli-
gent attorney, who had attended at the police court on
behalf of a client taken into custody in Hyde-park on the
Ist of July, also appeared before us on behalf of the same
client to complain of the conduct of the police. In order
to discharge this duty for his client, Mr. Mitchell le d
made himself acquainted generally with the occurrences
which were to become the subjects of our inquiry. Under
these circumstances we felt ourselves warranted in re-
questing Mr. Mitchell to give his assistance to any of the
complainants who might be willing to avail themselves of
it in bringing their several complaints before us. To this
proposal Mr. Mitchell assented. The complainants wil-
lingly availed themselves of his assistance, and entrusted
their cases to his management. To him, and also to Mr.
Ellis, the attorney who conducted the case on behalf of
the police, we are much indebted for their able assistance
in eliciting the facts and discussing the points brought
before us in the course of our inquiry.
We continued our sittings in the Court of Exchequer
from day to day until Thursday the 2d of August, when,
after hearing Mm'rMitehell and Mr. Ellis on behalf of their
respective clients, and repeating the statement which we
had on several previous occasions publicly made, that if
there were still any persons who had complaints to prefer
we were ready to hear them, and receiving no answer to
this invitation, we closed the investigation, having sat 15
days, and examined upon oath 86 witnesses on the part
of the complainants, and 94 on the part of the police, a
full report of whose evidence is annexed.
The scenes in Hyde-park which gave rise to this inquiry
seem to have had their origin chiefly in popular feeling
against a. bill introduced into the Commons House of Par-
liament by Lord Robert Grosvenor, to prevent trading
on Sunday within the Metropolitan police district and
City of London, and commonly called the Sunday Trading
Bill. Prior to Sunday 24th of June, a handbill was printed
and circulated referring to this measure as the New Sun-
day Bill, and stating that an open-air meeting, to see how
religiously the aristocracy observe the Sabbath, would be
held in Hyde-park cu Sunday afternoon, at three o'clock,
on the right bank of the Serpentine looking towards Ken-
sington-gardens.
Accordingly, between three and four o'clock on the
afternoon of Sunday the 14th of June, a large multitude
assembled in Hyde park on the spot indicated on the north
back ole
fltratthe Serpentine.cail carriages, and a
Thereg the crowdde suchshouted,
noises hooted,asto
and
frighten the horses in the drive, to the annoyance and dan-
ger of those on horseback or in carriages. This interrup-
tion naturally caused alarm, and prevented many carriages
driving in-that direction. An attempt was also made by
some persons to organise a meeting, and address the crowd,
but they were required to desist, and stopped, by the
police.
In the course of the following week handbills were dis-
tributed and placards exhibited calculated to attract peo-
ple to Hyde-park on the next Sunday. It was stated in
one of these at " Hyde-park the open-air fete and monster
concert would be repeated on Sunday next." In another,
" Let us go to church with Lord Robert Grosvenor next
Sunday morning. We can attend his lordship in Park-
lane at half-past ten, go to church with him, then go home
to dinner, and be back in time to see our friends in Hyde-
park." The police superintendents of various districts also
reported that large numbers of people were likely to attend
the meeting in Hyde-park on Sunday the Ist of July.
Under these circumstances, on Friday the 29th of Juno,
Sir Richard Mayne communicated with the Secretary of
State for the Home Department, and prepared a notice
cautioning and requesting well-disposed persons to abstain
from joining or attending the meeting announced to be
held in Hyde-park, and stating that all necessary measures
would he token to prevent such meeting and to preserve
the public peace. On Saturday. the 30th of June, this
notice was published in the morning newspapers, and also
posted at the entrances of the park in the afternoon. Sir
Richard Mayne on the same day also issued orders for
Superintendent O'Brien to take up a station with a party
of police iu the neighbourhood of Lord Robert Grosvenor's
house on Sunday, and for four superintendents and 2SO
men to assemble in Hyde-park et 2 p.m. Other parties
were also directed to be in reserve at Stanhope gate, the
Triumphal-arch, the Marble-arch, and Walton-street,
Low ndes-square.
On Sunday morning the Ist of July, owing to the illness
and consequent absence of Superintenderit May, the general
direction of the police in Hyde-park leas given to Super-
intendent Hughes, Sir Richard Mayne remaining during
the day at the head office in Scotland-yard.
The police constables, before they took up their stations
in Hyde-park, were made acquainted with a written order
of Sir R. Mayne, that the directions in the printed notices
were to be firmly enforced, and that any persons com-
mencing a meeting or assemblage, or shouting, or making
any noise, or acting in any way calculated to cause dis -
turbance or frighten horses in carriages, were to be cau-
tioned as to the consequences, and required to desist ; and
that if they did not immediately do so they were to be
removed, and, if necessary, taken into custody, and sent to
the Police-station at Vine-street. Directions were given
verbally to-the men to sit or lie down quietly on the grass,
and not to interfere, unless interference became absolutely
necessary.
Up to half-past two o'clock few persons arrived; those
few were orderly, and the Park was quiet. Between half-
past two and three o'clock the concourse of people in the
Park increased, and dense masses collected on the north
side of the Serpentine, especially near the Humane So-
ciety's Receiving-house. The multitude assembled con-
sisted of various classes. A vast number of persons of all
ranks were there, simply for the ordinary and legitimate
purposes of exercise and recreation, to which the Park is
specially dedicated ; others came led by curiosity to
watch the proceedings of the day ; others with a view of
expressing by their presence their disapproval of the
Sunday Treding Bill ; a large number also, chiefly lads
and young men, with a view of giving expression to their
disapprobation by shouts, cries, and noises along the drive.
There was also a mixture of thieves, pickpockets, and other
reckless and disorderly persons, bent on plunder and mis-
chief, and seeking to effect their purposes under the shield
of popular excitement.

Soon after three o'clock noisy and riotous proceedings
like those on the precedin.. Sunday were commenced by
some of the crowd who lined the rails of the drive along
the Serpentine. Carriages and riders in passing were met
by shouts of " Go to church" and other cries, yelling, hoot-
ing, whistling, and discordant noises. Missiles were occa-
sionally thrown at them. One man, who was afterwards
fined for the offence, was taken into custody for flinging
part of a hurdle at a gentleman on horseback. A boy ran
before a cariiage, and repeatedly struck at the horse's nose
with his cap, and the crowd cheered him. The horses in
an open britska, in which an officer and his daughter were
seated, became frightened, and plunged ; a clod of earth or
other missile passed over the carriage, and had it not been
for the police, who prevented the people from getting in
front of the horses, the consequence might have been seri-
ous. Other vehicles experienced a similar reception, were
pelted with stones, and narrowly escaped injury. At the
suggestion of the police some carriages tunic(' back from
the drive ; and eventually those vehicles which did pass
were chiefly filled with persons who shared and sympa-
thised with the excitement of the crowd ou the subjact of
Sunday legislation.

. -
About half-past three the danger to vehicles was greatly
increased by the throng in the drive, where it was most
easy to alarm the horses. It was observed that many of
the most disorderly characters were collected in front of
the rails on the south side of the drive near the Receiv-
ing-house. Superintendent Hughes consulted with Su-
perintendent Martin, and thought that the time was come
to use more vigorous measures to clear the carriage-way,
and also, pursuant to directions from Sir Richard Mayne,
to clear the crowd back to some distance from the railings,
and he accordingly gave orders to the police to clear the
road and the rails, and to use their staves.
In order to execute these orders the police advanced
with tlitir truncheon., drawn along the carriage road of the
drive, clearing it of the people; some of whom, not
readily yielding or quitting the road, were pushed, struck,
or roughly handled.
The policemen also passed along the drive, striking on
the rails, and brandishing their staves over the heads of
the crowd there, and in some instances striking at them,
in order to compel them to fall back. Parties of police
also passed with drawn staves on to the footpath between
the drive and the Serpentine River near the Receiving-
house, and drove the people back from the rails, arid iu an
eastward direction along the bank of the Serpentine. This
movement, owing to the crowd and the narrow space, was
attended with great alarm and confusion, and some
of the people, including well-dressed woman, were
forced ankle deep into the water ; others were struck
with the staves. Parties of the police also passed
behind the rails on the north side of the
drive, and drove hack the people 30 or 40 yards, and in
some cases further on to the grass. After these movements
the police did not ocenpy or keep a line along the cleared
space, so as to prevent the return of the people, conse-
quently crowds collected along the rails again, and were
again driven back repeatedly, with more or loss violence
and confusion. These proceedings produced or increased
irritation and ill feeling on the part of the people assetn-
bled ; offensive expressions were used to annoy the police,
some stones were thrown at them, and frequent collisions
took place.
The complaints brought before us for unnecessary vio-
lence and misconduct on the part of the police chiefly refer
to transactions which took place during these efforts to
clear the carriage-way and to remove the crowd to a dis-
tance from the rails Some of the complaints we consider
well founded, but postpone the particular consideration of
the several charges, our present object being simply to
give a general summary and outline of the incidents of
the day.
From half-past three until half-past five o'clock a state
of tumult and disturbance prevailed, especially along the
drive from the east end of the Serpentine to the Humane
Society's Receiving-house. Tho police were, engaged in
endeavours to prevent sho tiug and stone-throwing, and
iin clearing the crowd out of the drive and away from the
rails. Many persons were taken into custody for riotous
conduct and throwing atones. SOlll9 were taken in cabs

or on foot to Vine•street Police Station, and the yard
of the dairy lodge near the receiving house was used se a
temporary place of custody for prisoners. The police hav-
ing been ste orgly reiuforeed in the course of this period,
the ccm notion began gradually to subside, and at 6 o'clock
the disturbance was effectually subdued in the neighbour-
hood of the drive.
At various times, and especially between six and seven
o'clock, many groups of people collected in Open parts cf
the park, and collisions took place dining attempts made
by the police rushing forward to disperse them or to arrest
those who had thrown atomic. Seine of the complaints
made to us arose out of those collisions.
Soon after seven o'clock some young soldiers of the
Guards who had mingled with a portion of the crowd
seemed disposed to take part in the tumult. Information
of this was brought to Superintendent Hughes, who sent
to the Ma„ealine Barracks, and a serjeaut was despatched
with a picket to bring in .the soldiers. Some stones were
thrown by the crowd at the serjeant and his party whilst
engaged in the performance of this duty, and the crowd
followed after the soldiers to the barracks, and remained
there throwing stoker. The acrjeant in command then
sent in his turn to the police for assistance, which was
promptly rendered. One of the offenders who had hit a
soldier with a stone was given into custody, and after-
wards fined, and this crowd was dispersed without any
unnecessary violence.
About nine o'clock in the evening the park was cleared
by Superintendent Hughes, with a body of about a hun-
dred nolicernon, formed in open line, with two or three
yards between each man, extending northwards from the
Serpentine, and advancing eastwards towards Hyde-park
Coiner and Stanhope-gate. This operation seems to have
been effected successfully.
It has been stated that a party of the police had been
stationed by way of erecaution neer Lord R. Grosvenor's
house. About six o'clock in the evening a large mass of
people set out from Hyde-park towards Grosvenor-gate
and Park-street, with cries of" Now to Lord Grosvenor's.'!
Soon afterwards a crowd, variously estimated by the wit-
nesses at two, three, four hundred, or more in number,
was collected before Lord R. Grosvenor's house in Park-
street. No actual violence, beyond throwing a stone at
Lord R. Gro venor's messenger, was committed by them ;
but their number and clamour wore alarming. The crowd
ger,
yelled and groaned, calling " Chuck him out," and using
other expressions of hostility to Lord R. Grosvenor, and
their aspect and proceedings were sufficiently menacing to
excite the fears of the inmates of the house, though some
of the cries were of a jocular character.
In the meantime, Superintendent O'Brien, who was
stationed with a reserve of fifty men at Stanhope Gate,
had received information of the- movement from Hyde-
park, and brought forward his party with all despatch into
the south end of Park-street. Ho there formed the men
in a column of sections of ten, having a front of five men,
and marched them up the street, in order that the crowd
might see them coining, and have time to move off. A
smaller body of police had previously mingled with the
ere led, and endeavoured by persuasion to induce them to
disperse, but without effect.
On the approach of Superintendent O'Brien's party,
some of the crowd retired ; but a large body remained, and
received the police with a yell. On entering the crowd,
Superintendent O'Brien called on them in a loud voice to
disperse. Just at that moment ho was tripped up, fell,
and hurt his knee The police who were following him
rushed forward with their staves drawn. Though there
was no serious resistance, some of them, whilst dispersing
and pursuing the crowd, used their staves, and otherwise
acted with violence, inflicting severe injuries on several
persons who were not shown to have been guilty of any
violence, but who refused to move off when requested so
to do, or who, being inoffensively .there, ran or stood still
when the police came up the street. This conduct on the
part of the police was complained of, and will be consi-
dered hereafter. _

SuperintendentO'Brien states that he gave no orders to
remove the crowd by force, but that he should have
thought it his duty to do so if the crowd had disregarded
his summons to disperse. He expresses his opinion that
in the confusion when he fell, and was prevented from
advancing along with his party, the men mistook his call
on the people to disperse for an order to themselves to
disperse the crowd at once. One person only, the witness
Lewis Frankland, was taken into custody in Park-street.
During the afternoon 71 persons in Hyde-park and one
person in Park-street were removed, pursuant to the order,
to Vine-street Police-station. Ten of these were
charged with felony, and the rest with riotous conduct, or
assaults on the police.
Great complaints were preferred before us of the insuf-
ficiency and unfitness of the cells in Vine street for con-
fining so large a number, and of the suffering experienced
by those conned in them during the Sunday night, and in
some instances on Monday night also. We visited and
inspected these cells. Though they may perhaps bo suffi-
cient for the purpose of receiving the ordinary number of
prisoners daily brought there, they certainly were unfit to
confine such large numbers as were placed in them on this
occasion. Even after 31 prisoners had been removed by
direction of Sir R. Mayne and of the superintendent in
charge to the Maryleboue and Edgeware-road Stations, the
heat and closeness of the cells caused very great suffering,
and seriaus risk to the health of those who remained. Seve-
ral, indeed, stated that their health had been affected in
consequence of their confinement.
Many of those taken into custody offered to procure bail,
but the application was postponed by the inspector in
charge of the station, and finally rejected, after a reference
to Sir Richard Blayne. This refusal was made the subject of
complaint before us. It appears that under the 2d and
3d Vict. the inspector on duty r-t any police station has
a discretionary authority to take bail on all charges which
might bo summarily disposed of by a magistrate ; but in
this case the charge against most of the prisoners was for
riotous conduct, and the inspector doubted whether he
ought to take bail, and" requested instructions from Sir
Richard Mayne. The instruction given was, that no bail
should be taken for those charged with riotous conduct or
aetuod disorder in .Idio Park, and i s the result, though hall
was often offered for certain prisoners, it was uniformly
refused.

Complaint wee also made of delay in bringing the per-
sons in custody before the magistrate. None were in fact
brought before the sitting magistrate at Marlborough-
street until between four and five o'clock on the afternoon
of Monday, the 2d July, and the consideration of many of
the charges was postponed until Tuesday, causing deten-
tion in s rine instances during another night in Vine-
street, although bail was taken on Monday evening for all
charged with misdemeanour who could procure it.
The investigation before the magistrate led to the fol-
lowing results. Ten had been apprehended as thieves and
pickpockets; of these, five were committed for trial, two
remanded, one was committed for a month, and two wore
discharged. Twenty four were charged with riot or throw-
ing stones; all of them were convicted, and fined, some
10s., with the alternative of imprisonment of seven days,
others 55., others half a crown. Twenty were charged
with riot or assaults on the police. Of these, four were
fined 10s., three 55., one committed for fourteen days, two
for seven days, five were discharged (ei their own recog-
nisance to keep the peace, and four were discharged un-
conditionally. Eighteen were charged with obstructing
the police in the execution of their duty. Five of these
were discharged on their own recognisances to keep the
peace, and thirteen were discharged unconditionally.
According to the police return, forty-nine policemen
were reported as assaulted and hurt; of these twenty-
seven were struck with stones, thirteen with sticks or
pieces of hurdles, seven kicked and knocked down, and one
thrown down and his knee slightly hurt.
In entering on the consideration of the violence and in-
juries imputed to the police, we may remark, that there
has been no evidence before us of any loss of life or bone
broken, of any limb seriously hurt, or
permanent injury of
any kind inflicted. Seeing that such formidable weapons,
as the truncheons of the police undoubtedly are, were used
on the occasion, we think there has been some exaggeration
in the evidence which describes them as having been used
with the utmost violence, and 30 indiscriminately that
neither age nor sex was spared. Many witnesses deposed
that on various occasions women and children were struck,
yet no woman or child appeared before us to complain,nor was
the name of any such sufferer ascertained ; and we are led
to conclude that if such cases did occur they were less
numerous and less serious than some of the witnesses re-
present.
The accusing witnesses were numerous ; but there were
also many witesses who came forward, impelled, as they
said, by a sense of justice, and bore testimony to the good
conduct of the police in all that fell under their observa-
tion in the course of the transactions in question. Not a
few of the complainants accompanied their accusations as
to the incidents on this day by stating that the conduct of
the police on the let of July was at variance with all their
former experience, freely admitting that the general cha-
racter of the police stood high for moderation and for-
bearance, and that many policemen on the let of July
showed great self-control in the execution of their duty.
On the other hand, it is satisfactory to find that none of
the crowd came armed in any manner, and that no vio-
lence seems to have been contemplated by, the general mass
even of those who conducted themselves in a disorderly or
riotous manner. Their intention seems to have been, to
limit their interference to shouts and petty annoyances to
those riding or driving in tho Park. Nevertheless, we con-
sider that the crowd contained a sprinkling of bad and
dangerous persons, who required the control of the police,
and who, but for such control, might have led the way
and been followed by the thoughtless and inconsiderate
to mischief and damage to property, the extent of which
would only have been limited by the resistance met with.
Whatever view may be taken of the conduct of the police,
their presence and acts on the let of Julyhad the effect of
preventing any such result.
After the proceedings in Hyde-park on Sunday the 24th
of June it was fit and proper that measures should be
taken toi secure to all classes the undisturbed exercise of
their right to ride or drive in the Park. The arrangements
for this purpose seem to have devolved on the First Coin-
misioner, Sir Richard Mayne, according to the distribu-
tion of duty sanctioned by the Secretary of State for the
Home Department.
With the prospect of a recurrence on the Ist of July of
the tumults of the 24th of June, it was right to issue some
warning to the public, and to apprise the unwary that
such proceedings were illegal, and would be checked by
the police. The police notice which was advertised, and
also printed and placarded, had in view these objects, and
also (as we understand it) the prevention of a public meet-
ing in the Park, at which it was anticipated the subject of
the Sunday Trading Bill would be discussed, and the as-
" sembled multitude addressed by speakers, with the usual
forms.
An attempt to hold such a meeting had been foiled by
the police on the 24th of June. It seems to us that meet-
ings of this nature might properly be interdicted and sup-
pressed, as novel, and not sanctioned by usage, or the re-
gulations of Hyde-park. To make Hyde-park an arena for
, the discussion of popular and exciting topics would be in-
consistent with the chief purposes for which it is thrown
open to and used by the public. Whether the holding
any such meeting was contemplated it is difficult to say ;
but it is certain that the police, notice was understood by
many, not as prohibiting a meeting in this limited sense,
but as interdicting and prohibiting any meeting or assembly
of large numbers of persons in Hyde-park on the Ist of
July.
i This construction induced many to go to the park to
assert a right which they imagined to be impugned by the
notice of the Police Commissioners. The language of the
notice, and especially the use of the term "meeting" in a
sense not clearly defined, seems to have given some ground
for this construction. The notice, however, produced a
good effect, by inducing many to abstain from going to the
park in carriage,: or on horseback.
SUPERINTENDENT HUGHES,
The appointment of; Superintendent Hughes, although
accidental, seems to have been warranted by his experience
of nearly twenty-five years, at Erma, Ascot, the opening
of Parliament, and other occasions whore large crowds are
congregated, on which he hal directed the police with ge-
neral approval.
The first object which the police had to effect, in order
to protect persona using the-drive, was to keep the car-
riageway clear. When it is considered that an open iron
railing, extending for several hundrad yards on both sides
of the way, was lined with a dense multitude, any one of
whom could pass with ease in a moment under the rail,

end that many of the foremost were disorderly,
to balk the police, and cheke the road, the moment they
were nol, restrained, it will be easily-understood that this
was a tick of groat difficulty. and eager
The next object was to check shunts, noises, and other
proceedings which might by alarming horses endanger the
saf ty of those seeking health and recreation in the drive.
Owing to the exeitatnent of the crowd, and the disposition
of ninny to give noisy expression to their sentiments, it
was impossible to effect this object completely. The at-
' tempt was harassing to the police, andleading, as it did,
to arrest of individuals, produced irritation in the crowd.
The measure most likely to be effectual was to remove
• and keep the people back at some distance from the rails,
so that the noises and gestures of the crowd might produce
less effect, and the drive be kept clear. Sir 'Richard
Mayne, anticinating that this course might become advi-
sable, mentioned it verbally in the forenoon'to Superin-
tendent Hughes, and at 5 p.m. directed it in his written
instructions. It was, however, an operation requiring
judicious management, not t be attempted without ado-
gusto force, and every precaution which tact and temper
in dealing with a crowd could stipply.
The conduct of Supezintentendent Hughes, in his en-
deavours to surmount these difficulties, has been impugned
on several grounds. He has been accused of undue .excite-
ment, of using improper language, of having been per-
, sonally guilty of many assaults with his horsewhip, and
with issuing to the police, without sufficient grounds,
orders to use their staves, and with failing to control many
excesses ou the part of the police under his command.
It is impossible to reconcile the evidence as to the super-
intendent's personal acts of violence. Several witnesses
assert that they saw his horsewhip used, and men and
women struck with it. Superintendent Hughes most dis-
tinctly denies having struck any person, but says that he
cut the air with his whip, with action which might mis-
lead some of the witnesses. His evidence is corroborated
by several witnesses. If women had been struck, as re-
presented, we think it highly probable that we should
have had souse woman o her companion as a witness. No
such testimony, however, was laid before us • neither was
the name of any woman or other person alleged to have
been so struck ascertained. On this state of the case we
consider that, whatever suspicion may arise on the evi-
dence, we might do Su,e'iatendent Hushes injustice if we
were to hold this imputation to be proved.
As to excitement, the evidence is again conflicting.
Superintendent Hughes says be gave his orders with deci-
sion, and showed himself promiuent in order to encourage
his men. Assuming that there were moments when he
did not, in giving his orders, or addressing the bystanders,
preserve that coolness of language and manner which is
always desirable, yet, under the difficulties with which
he was beset, wo think allowance ought to be made, and
that this charge affecting his dumeanour and language, as
distinct from his acts, may be passed over.
In offering au opinion now as to the orders given, we
ate sensible how much easier it is in such cases to criticise
the past than to choose the right course of action at the
moment. Superintendent Hughes states that at about 10
minutes past three or 20 minutes to four in the afternoon
he ordered the men to use their staves ; meaning that they
were to be moderately. used. This order was given on his
own responsibility. He states that he gave it considerie,,
that the critical moment was come when, unless controlled,°
the dangerous elements in the crowd would become un-
manageable, and serious mischief ensue. The road was
then much obstructed, the rough people in the carriage-
way and at the railings were obstinate, and some stones
were thrown at himself and Superintendent Martin.
Weighing all the evidence, however, we think this resort
to violence was not warranted. No attack had been made
by the people, no combined or serious resistance had been
made to the police, the carriages and riders passing were few;
and, considering how many inoffensive individuals were
mixed up with the disorderly portion of the crowd, the
execution of such orders would of necessity be dangerous,
and attended with unjustifiable violence.
If the order to use the staves had been strictly limited
to the clearance of the road we might have considered it
justifiable. There was an obvious propriety in clearing
the carriage-way, and we think there should be little sym-
pathy for those who at such a time refused or delayed to
quit the road, expecting the police to enter into discths'on
as to their right of way, or to make exceptions in their
favour. But there was not the same necessity to drive
the crowd from the railings, and still less to clear the space
between the rails and the water of the Serpentine, to which
object it is clear the order extended, and it was in the
course of executing it that the witnesses Vassie, Maxwell,
and others were struck.

It also appears that, after orders issued by Superinten-
dent Hughes, staves were used by the policemen, who
' passed under the rails to drive the crowd back, and who
rushed upon the people from time to time, driving them
back thirty or forty yards over the grass on the north side
of the drive. In the course of these proceedings the wit-
nesses Woodward, Martin, and others were struck with
staves. The object of these movements were frequently
unintelligible to the people, and consequently the acts of
the police had the appearance of wanton outrage.
If the attempt had been made by an adequate force it
seems to us that the people might have been moved with-
out resorting to the use of staves, and a line might have
been formed and kept at a suitable distance from the
rail; but the attempts made. with inadequate force pro-
duced much ef the violence which cannot be justified.
It might indeed be difficult to know, before the experiment
was made, how far it would be practicable to remove and
keep back the crowd from the rail ; but prudence required
that this experiment should have been abandoned imme-
diately the collisions attending it were perceived. But
these charges or rushes of the police on the people were
numerous, and continued for a considerable space of time.
Again, up to a late hour in the evening, when groups
were collected even at a distance from the olive, parties of
the police came rushing forwards, and used their staves to
disperse them. The witness George Jennings and others
were hurt on these occasions. We do not know on what
principle such dispersions by violence can be justified, as
it dOOO not appear that any riotous or other illegal proceed-
ings were going on in these groups.
some of the witnesses remarked that the conduct of the
police posted along the drive from the oast end of the Ser-
pentine to the statue of Achilles contrasted favourably
with the conduct of those more immediately under Super-
intendent Hughes, and the complaints made before us seem
to support this view ; but it must be considered thet
Superintendent Hughes had the chief post of disturbance
alone. the line from the east end of the Serpertine to the
Dairy Lodge.
Ou a review of all the facts in evidence we think that
Superintendent Hughes, in en leavouring to discharge a
difficult and embarrassing duty, gave too much sanction
to the use of the staves, and exercised less control over his
men than a due regard for the safety of unoffenditig indi-
viduals required. We believe that by a more calm and
forbearing course on his part much angry excitement at
the time, and complaint afterwards, would have been

Upon such an occasion of expected tumult it appears to
us that the presence of a superior officer on the scene of
action would have been desirable, and preferable to any
attempt to direst the proceedings from a distance.
SUPERINTENDENT O'BRIEN.
For the excesses committed on the part of the police in
Hyde-park some extenuation may be pleaded from the
annoyance to which the police were subjected by the crowd;
but the case was different in Park-street, as the police called
in' o action there had remained at Stanhope-gate, and had
not previously been in the presence of the people, yet seve-
ral cases of serious injury to unoffendiug individuals there
prove a discreditable exercise of violence. We have no
hesitati ,n in expressing this opinion, though we have
found it impossible, except in two instances, to fix on the
offending parties. As to Superintendent O'Brien, who led
the police here, an injury which befell him at the moment
of collision seems to have incapacitated hint from command
and control at the time.
After full inquiry into the complaints submitted to our
consideration, we have deemed it our duty to report mis-
conduct on the part of various members of the police ; a
result the more to be regretted on account of the high
character of that body; but if excesses were shown to
have been committed by some, ample testimony was also
borne to the moderation and forbearance of other mem-
bers of the same body ou the same occasion; and what-
ever blame may attach to individuals, it was through the
exertions of the police that accidents were prevented in the
park, and property in that vicinity protected from damage.
When the events of the day are properly appreciated,. we
think they will not be found to afford any ground for les-
sening the confidence of the public—a confidence founded
on the experience of six-and-twenty years—in the general
good conduct and efficiency of the Metropolitan Police.
All which we humbly submit to your Majesty's most
gracious consideration.
10th November, 1855.
(L. S.) JAMES STUART WORTLEY.
(li. S.) ROBERT BAYNES ARMSTRONG.
(L. S.) GILBERT HENDERSON.

-----
COPY OF A LETTER TO SIR RICHARD MAYNE, K.C.8.,
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE OF THE METROPOLIS.

^ Whitehall,
November 13, 1855.
to I anl directed by Secretary Sir George Grey to transmit
you a copy
of the Report of the Commissioners ap-
pointed to inquire into the disturbance of the public pcaoe
in Hyde-park on Sunday, the Ist July, and into tlao con-
duct of the Metropolitan Police on that occasion. This
Report, which was delivered to Sir George Grey on the
10th instant, has received his serious attention.
From the description given by the Commissioners of the
nature and character of the assemblage in the park on the
day in question, of the noisy and riotous proceedings
which took pace, and of the danger caused by them to
persons in carriages and on horseback, as well as from the
statement of the Commissioners that the crowd contained
a sprinkling of bad and dangerous parsons who required
the control of the police, and who, but for such control,
might have led the way and been followed by the thought-
less and inconsiderate to mis :hid and damage to property,
the extent of which would only have been limited by the
resistance they met with, there can be no doubt that the
interference of the police was indispensably necessary; and
Sir George Grey is happy to find that, in the opinion of
the Commissioners, the presence and acts of the police on
the Ist July hail the effect of preventing any such result,
and that it was through their exertions that accidents were
prevented in tho park, and property in that vicinity pro-
tected from damage. It is also satisfactory to know that
there was no evidence before the Commissioners of any
loss of life or bone brokex, or of any limb seriously hurt,
or permanent injury of any kind inflicted. It is, however,
with great regret that Sir George Grey finds that the result
of the inquiry has been to establish, in the opinion of the
Commissioners, charges of serious misconduct on the part
of some members of the force, while they report that
ample testimony was borne to the moderation and for-
bearance of other members of the body on the same occa-
sion, and that when the events of the day are properly
appreciated, they would not, in their judgment, be found
to afford any jest grounds for lessening tha confidence of
the public in the general good conduct and efficiency of the
Metropolitan Police.
This high character which the force has acquired, and
which is highly creditable to it as a bandy, and to those
under whose immediate directiona it has been placed,
renders it the more important that every precaution should
bo taken to prevent its reputation being compromised and
its efficiency impaired by misconduct on the part of any
of its members. With this view I am to call your p
arti-
cular attention both to the general statements of rliaiscon.
duct contained in this Rert, and to the particular
in-
stances in which the Commissioners have reel'
opinion that such misconduct has been•preveel against ea their
in-
dividual members of the police force.
The
with
ructahs firstsesar in
are not numerous, and nays .oporly
dealt be
The first to which Sir George Gray
advert is, the case of Superintendent Hughes,.whoH was
feels it his dnty to
nmyp
ar os
charged with the general
Commissioners state him
park on the Ist July. The.•using .
direction of the police in yde-
to have been accused of
husnedul
par language, of rls lo
nee ye ngt guilty, of
m
saults•
with his horsewhip, of issuing to the police without
sutficient grounds orders to use their staves, and of failing
to control many excesses on the part of the police under
his command. Tao evidence in support of the first three
of these charges was insufficient to satisfy the Commission-
ers of th&r being well founded; but even after making
allowance for the circumstances in which he was placed,

for the obstruction of the road, for the obstinacy of what
they teens the "rough people" in the carriage-way and at
the railings, and the fact of stones being thrown at himself
end Superintendent Martin, the Commissioners think that
Superintendent Hughes was not warranted in the order be
gate the well to use their leaves at the time that order was
eiveie and that, although if the use of the staves had been
strictly limited to the clearance of the carriage-road, they
might have considered it justifiable, there was not the same
necessity to drive the crowd from the railings, and still
less to clear the space between the tedls and the water of
the Serpentine. They also think that prudence required
that the euperiment of removing and keeping back tho
crowd from the rail should have been abandoned immedi-
ately the collisions attending it wore perceived. The Com-
missioners further advert in this part of their Report to
the conduct of parties of the police in dispersing at a late
hour in the evening groups collected at &distance from the
drive, though it does not appear that any riotous or other
illegal proceedings were going on in these groups.
, They do not, however, state that these parties of police
were under the immediate orders of Superintendent
Hughes.
The opinion of the Commissioners with regard to him,
on a review of all facts in evidence, is, that in endeavour-
ing to discharge a difficult and embarrassing duty he gave
too much sanetion.to the use of the staves, and exercised
less control over his men than a due regard for the safety
of unoffending individuals required ; and they believe
that by a more calm and forbearing course on his part,
much angry excitement at the time and complaint
afterwards would have been avoided. It is right, how-
ever, to notice the opinion of the Commissioners that,
to remove and keep the people back at some distance from
the rails, so that the noises and guestures of the crowd
might produce less effect, was the measure most likely to be
effectual for the protection of persons using the drive, and
keeping the carriage-way clear, and that it was expressly
directed by you, though under the circumstances detailed
in the report, they state it to have been a task of great
difficulty. They intimate, wormer, that it was attempted
with an inadequate force, and that to this cause is to be
attributed much of the violence which cannot be justified.
Sir George Grey presumes that Superintendent Hughes was
not reponsible for the amount of the force at first employed,
which must have been determined by the Commissioners
of Police, and that the strong reinforcements which arrived
between halt-past 3 and half-past 5 o'clock were sent upon
his application. With respect to the order for the use of
the staves, Superintendent Hughes says that he gave it on
his own responsibility, and that he gave it considering
that the critical moment was come when, unless controlled,
the dangerous elements of the crowd would become un-
manageeble, and serious mischief ensue.
There can be no question but that calmnessandforbear-
ance aro as essential as firmness and resolution in an officer
place I in command of a body of men engaged in preserv-
ing the public peace, and that a marked or habitual ab-
sence of these qualities would render a man wholly unfit
for such a position. Sir George Grey has carefully consi-
dered the facts of the case as stated in the report, and the
opinion of the Commissioners, in order to determine whe-
ther the conduct of Superintendent Hughes, under the
circumstances in which he was placed on the let of July,
was such as to disqualify him from holding the office of a
Superintendent of Police. After taking into account all
the circumstances as detailed by the Commissioners, and
after considering the lon, service of Superintendent
Hughes in the force, and the general approval with which
ho had during such service discharged duties requiring
great judgment and discretion, Sir George Grey is of opi-
nion that while it is necessary to mark with censure the
conduct which the Commissioners have thought justly
liable to blame, his dismissal from his office would be harsh
and uncalled for.

You will convey to him the disapproval of the Secretary
of State of his want of forbearance and judgment on this
occasion, and enjoin upon him, in the strongest terms, the
necessity of maintaining perfect self-control in the perform-
ance of his highly responsible duties, and of checking,
both by his example and his orders, any unnecessary vio-
lence on the part of those under his command.
In connection with this part of the report, I am to direct
your attention to the recommendation of the Commis-
sioners, in which Sir G. Grey entirely concurs, that on oc-
casions similar to that of the Ist July, a superior officer of
the police ought to be on the spot. He is aware that this
course has been adopted on the occasions on which, since
the Ist of July, the attendance cf large numbers of polies
has been required for the preservation of the peace, and it
obviously one which ought in all such cases to bo taken.
Sir G. Grey has also already directed you to ensure on all
such occasions the presence of a force fully adequate for the
duty it may be called on to perform. The amount of force
requisite for any particular duty must be decided by the
judgment and experience of the Commissioners of Police.
But it is obvious that the presence of an adequate force at
any spot which is likely to be the scene of tumult or
disorder, is not only the best precaution against a breach
of the public peace, but the surest means for the prompt
and effectual suppression of any outbreak which may oc-
cur. He is happy to know that the amount of force em-
ployed by you, and the measures taken for its distribution
and employment on the recant occasions on which the ex-
traordinary services of police have been required, have
been such as completely to effect the object in view.
I am next to advert to the particular instances of
misconduct specified by the Commissioners in which they
have named individual constables against whom, in their
judgment, charges of such misconduct have been estab-
lished. Sir George Grey has felt some difficulty in decid-
ing on the course which it is his duty to take in these
cases. The misconduct imputed in most, if not in all of
those, amounts to an indictable offence, and it has been a
matter for consideration whether indictments should not
be preferred against all of these policemen for their alleged
illegal conduct ; but considering the length of time which
has elapsed between the occurrences in clues- ion and the
date of the report, the probability that some of the wit-
nesses who appeared before the Commissioners may not
now be forthcoming, and the fact that in some of these
e tees the persona alleged to have been injured or aggrieved
were not known or ascertained, it appears to Sir George
Grey that the better course is to leave the majority of
these cases to be dealt with upon the report by the exer-
cise of the power vested by law in the Commissioners of
Police. The cases themselves are few in number, and Sir
George Grey is of opinion that, with the exceptions to be
presently mentioned, `•the ends of justice and the object
with which the inquiry was instituted, can be satisfac-
torily obtained by this means.
The policemen against whom the Commissioners have
especially reported are:--

393 A, since ascertained to be William Gearing,
charged with the apprehension, without sufficient ground,
of J. J. White, and of inexcusable violence to him while
in custody.

George Thorpe, 363 A, charged with the unjustifiable
apprehension of Henry Austin.
‘Viliiam Bewlay, 20 D, charged with unnecessary
violence towards William Fioyd and James Vassie.
Charles Leach, 147 A, cbatged with unnecessary and
reckless violence towards John Thomas King.
Charles Madgett, 84 C, charged with taking part in
illegal violence against William Stephens.
James Teasdale, 375 A, and Thomas Wade, 385 A,
charged with violence towards persons who were not
known or examined.

Arid Sergeant Vincent Gummer, 21 C, charged with
unjustifiable violence i❑ dispersing the crowd in Park-
street.

.;Of these men Sir G. Grey is informed that all are still
serving in the police, with the exception of Charles Leach,
who quitted the force in August last, and is therefore no
longer subject to the authority of the Commissioners of
Police. With regard to all these cases, with the excep-
tion of those of Wm. Gearing, Wm. Bewley, and Charles
Madgett, I am to desire that you will take into considera-
tion the facts stated in the report, as affecting each of the
policemen, and the finding of the Commissioners, and that
in the exorcise of the power vested in you by law, you will
award iu each case such punishment, either by suspension
or dismissal, as you shall think right, having regard to the
ordinary course adopted by the Commissioners in the case
of constables who are proved to have committed illegal or
unjustifiable acts in the performance of their duty. In the
three cases, however, of Gearing, Bewley, and Madgett,
the acts of violence deposed to before the Commissioners
appear to have been so gross and unprovoked, that if they
are satisfactorily proved, the mere dismissal from the force
would be an inadequate punishment for the offence ; and
as the description of the witnesses against them renders
it probable that the same evidence which was given before
the Commissioners will be available on a trial, Sir George
Grey thinks it right that an indictment should be pre-
ferred against each of these men. Sir George Grey
has not included Policeman Joseph Butcher, 109 B, in
the list of those against whom the Commissioners have re-
ported, because, although they record their opinion that
the arrest of James Bousted, who was taken into custody
by him and other policemen who are not named, was not
warranted by anything he had done, the constable appears
to have acted in obedience to the orders of Superintendent
Hughes, and no complaint is made against Butcher per-
sonally. The apprehension, moreover, of Bousted, after
the caution he is said to have received, may reasonably bo
supposed to have been sanctioned by your written order,
quoted in the report (p. 7) directing that any persons
shouting or making any noise, or acting in any way cal-
culated to cause disturbance or frighten horses, were to be
cautioned as to the consequences and required to desist,
and that if they did not immediately do so they were to be
removed, and, if necessary, taken into custody.
Iu addition to these cases, in which the policemen were
identified, there are others of a similar character, in seine
of which no evidence affecting particular constables waos
given, while in others the evidence of identity wr
but
t
satisfactory. Some ef those occurred in Hyde-Park'
that
in Park-street especially the Commissioners state that
there were several cases of serious injury to u%(1,10e
individuals, -which proved a discreditable exerci I
viu-
knee.
s of the charac-
It is impossible not to regret that
tar described by the ColumissionerPsehri!
h is stated in the
mixed up with a crowd such as that:.
:Irk, and at a later
onuld have been
report to have been collected in 11Y
hour in front of Lord Robert GrostveenoPi's house in Park-
distinguish between
street, as it cannot be always
Ykatocogcidentally or without
part in its illegal
persons mingling in such a crowtcd.
any bad intention, and t?
teshi ssioners, however, have not
proceedings. The
.sculties with which the police
been unmindful of tChe"Cidiflle
Hyde park they say the police were
Lad to contend.
engaged in efforts to Onctiecli disorder and tumult during
id
to annoyance -and insult, and often
several hours, P
of duty, and although surrounded
obliged to act uexdorselcirciunstances where it was difficult
received little or no support in
to discover the enact
by a vast multitude,to they
maintain order. Tho Con •
their exertions miss-loners
opinion, therefore, on the several cases they have detailed
is untitled the greater weight,
as having been formed
circumstances into account, and I am to
to
after taking a
direct your particular attention to it, and to desire that
injunctions may bo given to all the officers of the police to
exercise a strict control over their men, and carefully to
restrain them from any acts of needless violence. The
police will receive the full support of the Government in
the execution of the important duties they have to per-
form, but those duties can only he usefully or efficiently
performed by a cautious abstinence fromany abuse of
power, and from all acts which, if not strictly illegal, indi-
cate a want of the temper and discretion which are pecu-
liarly requisite in persons charged with the preservation
of the public peace, and which Sir George Grey is happy
to know generally characterise the Metropolitan police.
I have now to turn to some other portions of the report,
affecting some of the general arrangements connected with
the occurrences of the let of July. The first relates to the
confinement of the persons taken into custody at the 171,9e-
streefstation. The remarks of the Commissioners "u
defective nature of the arrangements with regard to the
numbers sent to that station, and the inadequireaprovi-
sion made for their accommodation,
Grey to be fully warranted by the facatr; ear
has been informed that the want of enzp andvi hfoourgh send-
inghe a portion of the prisoners, in thsevfiingt instance, to other
garneyat ly exceeded
stations, arose from the number taro
of
satisfactory
what was anticipated, lie is no
been removed from
reason for a larger number not aware
Vine-street to other stations after the insufficiency of_ the
accommodation in Vine-street bad been ascertained. From

comtaunloatlons, hawsvtr, whloh he has but with 3,4%
sinoe these occurrences took place, he is glad to know that
arrangements have been made by your directions for pre-
venting, en any future occasion, the recurrence of mi.-
menagement attended with such serious results.
Another subject very properly noticed by the Commis-
Jeers is, the delay in brieeing the persons in custody
before the magistrate. The utmost diligence ought
undoubtedly to ho used in taking before a magistrate
persons arrested without the authority of a warrant ; but
as the delay in this instance was inquired into at the time,
and its cause explained, and es directions have been given
which tviel prevent the oceurreuce of any such delay on
any future occasion, it is unnecessary further to advert to
it here.
Sir George Grey does not understand the Commissioners
to impute blame in any quarter owing to the refusal to
admit the prisoners to bail. With regard, indeed, to those
atch the
charged with
station w
riot,as notthauthorised
ntoried
correctlys bylaw to t
state that takhee
bail,e
thateyen could tot properly have advised him to trans-
gress the limit of his legal authority. With regard to the
others, although the Commissioners think that they might
have been lawfully admitted to bail by tho constable ia
charge of the station, if application fur that purpose had
been made, they decline to censure the advice given not to
exercise the power, and the refusal to do so, and they alto-
gether acquit you of any blame for not having personally
interfered for the purpose as was suggested.
There is one other remark of the Commissioners which
Sir George Grey thinks it right to notice. They advert
to the difficulty of identifying policemen, and they give the
statement of several witnesses, that the scroll or border of
the number round the letter on the coat confused their
sight, and was a great impediment in ascertaining the
number. Sir George Grey is not aware that any better
means of identification can be provided than the use of the
numbers and divisional letters, but these ought to be made
as distinct as po,sible ; and I am to desire that you will
consider whether any alteration can be made in the Man•
ner of affixing these numbers and letters in order to afford
greater facility for prompt and easy identification.—
I am, &c.,

(Signed) W. ALASSEY.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.)

The following appointments were male at the Admi-
ralty this day :