The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-11-11 00:00:00

ILLUMINATIONS.

The rapidity with which the fate of the Bill
against the QUEEN was circulated yesterday
through every part of the town is incredible. In
less than half an hour it was universally known in
every part of the metropolis. The whole town
exhibited more then usual animation. A smile of
eatisfactiou mantled on every cheek, and the female
countenance particularly was lighted up with joy.
An illumination was generally contemplated to
crown the night, and a great portion of the town
lost no time to make preparations for it. Several of
the squares and streets at the west end of the town
were lighted up at en early hoer; many of them
displayed festoons and variegated lamps in a taste-
ful style; but the appearance was scattered and
irregular, and it was not until parties of the popu-
lace traversed the town in all directions, cryin7
out " the QUEEN for ever !" and calling upon the
inhabitants to light up, that the town presented any
thing like a general illumination. These parties,
consisting of men, «•omen, and boys, were very
vociferous, and in very few instancee were their
demands refused. Redford-square, Oxford-street,
Tottenham Court-road, Great Russell-street, and
the surrounding neighbourhood, made a most bril-
liant display. Fire-works of every description an-
noyed the passengers.
Some of the windows exhibited transparencies and
placards, inscribed, " The Queen Triumphant !"
The hackney-coachmen were obliged to mount
white favours, and ordered by the populace to take
off their hats and give a shout for the Queue as
they pas+ed. The drivers of the sese-al stage coaches
leaving Loudon also decorated themselves, by placing
white favours on their horses' heads and flames*, and
in their hats, and likrwise their rahio, in order to
announce the QUEEN'S triumph.
The police were on the alert, in couae'luent•e of
orders received by the persons connected with the
peliee establislnuents. They were no where so tie-
ce.sary as in that part of the Strand which is the
principal seat of the Daily Newspaper*. While
all the inhabitants of the place, including even The
Sun office, the consistent, and purely
t mate Ministerial Print, lighted up at the approach
of the populace demanding lights, The Courier
office refused emnpliatice, and remained in dark-
nee*. The populace became incensed, and from
limning and groans, proceeded to h,reak the windows.
There was a large force of constables in front of the
house, but they were not sufficient to restrain the
outrage. A little after eight o'clock a detachment
of horse guards, and of the horse patrol, made
their appearance, and continued to traverse that
part t•f the Strand until about half-past ten
o'clock, wh n tram-1.41114 was perfectly restored.
During this interval lare parte* of the populace
followed the military huzzaing arid shouting, " the
QUEEN ! th. QUEEN !" amid at one time a
placard was exhibited in The Courier office window,
amiounving that the Riot Act had been read.—
Fortimatele, however, the populace &hewed no div-
position to further violence, and the military
bore this very harassing and annoying service with
patience and good temper. A few farthing candles
in the windows of The Courier office, would have
prevented all this trouble and confusion. We can-
not excuse the conduct of any individual, what-
ever his political feelings and sentiments may be,
shu would tl.us endanger the safety of his neigh-
bours, the public peace, and the lives of the populace,
and spew himself' ready to make so great a sacri-
fice to his olAtinacy. It is not our intention to advo-

rate the acts of violence committed, they can-
not be too strongly condemned ; but carer.
thing was due to the enthusiasm of the popu-
lace, so strongly excited by the triumph of her
MAJESTY, and we do not think that The Cowrie►
office would have lust any character for coinage or
consistency if it had put up a few lights like The
Sans and its other neighbours.
Between half-past ten and eleven o'clock the fol.
lowing occurrence took place at Charing-cress :
A large crowd had assembled discharging fire-works
and applauding such individuals as had lights in
their windows in houour of the QUEEN. The
house of one person (aa army-clothier) became
a particular object with the pupate/lei who were
a considerable- time calling upon the owner to
light up, but tiudiog their cries disregarded,
they commenced an attack upon the windows,
many of which they demolished. Whilst the crowd
were thus employed, a man of good appearance
rushed amongst them with a dagger, about fuurtee►t
inches long, iir his right hand, with which he began
indiscrimiiritely to stab all about him, and wounded
several peesenis very severely. A maw received a
thrust throu4l4 the palm of the hand, a boy was
stabbed in the cheek, sod a great many others had
their clothes reat'hy stabs aimed at their bodies.—
The panic Muds the imiaduct of this violent person
•truck into the populace, caused them to disperse in
all direction•, and uoone seemed inclined to oppose his
.araer. At length .young nisei made a rush at him,
and grappled with him a while, belt was, by the su-
perior streesgt le of his opponent, at length compelled
to desist, sod look to his personal surety. How.
ewer, his conduct had the effect of inciting others,
and some one shouted,. " Fall on the villain alto-
'..rether." The person who held the dagger seemed
Alarmed ter nrsinfety-, and Of the relief guard was
;not then pssi.-g;'hierdatied in-stwongst thein, and
141 d countd.i,•g which was not audible,. but was

thought to ba an appeal for pram:ties ; bet the
soldiers passed on eitisciat regarding him, sad as
that moment a youth, who tripped up his heels sad
instantly threw himself over him, wrested the
murderous weapon livre his grasp. and immediately
placed it in his bosom, between his waistcoat and
shirt. There was • violent rush at she moment, and
such an anxiety manifested to behold the dagger.
that the person who had been the cause of the mis-
chief and disturbance, slipped off. The person
who took the weapon persisted iu keeping it. and
finally took it home with him: it was a•Midahip-
man's dirk, and war in good repair. The attack
on the house of the Gentleman before alluded to
then increased and continued with unabated ardour,
till a detachment of the Life Guards and a division
of the mounted patrol came up. A partial cessa-
tion then took place. and continued till the military
had passed, amidst loud hissing and clapping of
hands. when it was again renewed. At It o'clock
the tumult had not subsided.