The National Register.
London, England, 1817-02-10 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

ARRESTS order of the SEC RETCOM,VIITTI:E.

The Committees of the Home of Commons and the Home
of Lords, to whom the bags of political papers have been re •
ferreil for their investigation, sit very closely; they even sat
yesterday. On Saturday they made such discoveries as to
lecture Ministers to ilia- tine on the apprehetation of a num-
ber of persons on &wee:: of political offences ; and Peat Les,
Lavender, Tameon. Adkins. Bishop, and Vickery, the Bow-
street officers, Perry the constable, and a number of others,
were to hold deem•elves in readiness. It was v, r v prudently
determined ti nparehend them all at the same time, in order
to avoid alarm. On Saturday night the officers w ere Nil '
tered, and departed under the direction of Mr. Stafford. the
chief clet 1. tedmigirg to the (AN., Mr. Brown, and Mr. Pres,
the Kim's Mt s‘ engem ; they wens in pnrmit of all the persons
charged; but not being able to tind them all et home, after
waiting till a h•te hoar, they gave up their pursuit. The prin-
cipal men wriiting asJs. Dr. W same', and he being said to be
living with Preston, in cm obscure court in the neighbourhood
of Gonelt•sqnare, Las ender. end another officer, were ob-
served waiting on the outside of the house; and some friend
of Preston's went and informed him of the circumstance, but
Picchu) treated it with his usnal boldness of contempt, saying
he did not car• if there were Oj constables, for he should be
the better protected.
Yesterday mornine by seven o'clock the messengers and
officers resumed their exertions to apprehend the lal`a against
whom they had warrants. They ginned admittance before
ght o'clock into the house where Pre:ton lodges, and foiled
him and Dr. Watson in bed together, in the most abject and
deplorable state of poverty, having very little more than a
ragged quilt to cover them ; they were very reluctant to get
up, and Hr. Ntartson demanded by what authority they were
taken, denying any power except it was authorised by the
Lord Mayor, as he was then ht the city of Lontiou, and nt the
same time regretted that he had gene to ledge with Preston,
which was the cause of his being brought a second time into
treulde. The King's Messenger, who headed this party,
.c wed him hi: badge, with the revel arms, denoting his office,
and a wariant !•rum Viscount Sidevouth. his Majesty's prin-
eiral 'Secretary of State fir the Home Department. The
D•:ct• r and Preston then being satisfied as to the authority,
surrendered very quietly, and were conveyed to Bow street
office. Mr. Evans and his son, brace-makers, in Newcastle
street, Strand, were apprehended fly another party shout the
same time ; they also made considerable objections as to the
authority, bnt were at length satisfied. Mrs. Evans ohs% eyed,
it was only va hat she expected. We understatul this woman
and her timbale] were taken into custody 20 years atm by
Mr. Shaw, the King's Messenger, on at charge of political
offences ; the soh was then only one year and a half old. He is
described to be a young man of sonic abilities, and was to have
beta the principal orator this day in Spetields, There were,
also, brought to the office, who were apprehended about the
same time, two men, whose ti trees he understood to he Keene,
or Kearns, from a court in Old Cavendish-sheet ; and a man
of the name of Castles, fro it Cernaliy market. All their
papers were seized and sealed up, and in oilier respects
properly secured. They were all refreshed with breakfast,
elec.

It being known at the Secretary of State's Office, a Meet-
ing of the Cabinet Ministers were immediately stunttioned,
and they met at o:ie o'clock at the office for the Home De.
hutment. The Attorney and Solicitor General, Sir Nathaniel
Conant. . Uteldield, the Solicitor to the Treasury, together
‘t Alt the tinder Secretaries of State, wile in attendance.
The Lard Mayor attended at the office at half-past three
o'clock.

The prisoners weie examined separately. Preston was
examined inst. They were kept in separate rooms, with
officers to Nice care of them.

The Cihinet Ministers present were, the Lord Chancellor,
the Earl of Harrowtry, the Earl of M'estinorland, the Earl of
Livcrp ril, tie Chancellor of the Exchequer, Viscount Sid-
month, Viscount Castlereagh, Earl 'ration st, Earl Milgrim.,
Viscount Melville, Mr. Canning, Mr. B. Bathurst. They
continued their investigations till half past five o'clock. The
Attorney and Solicitor General, and the (Alter oflieial gentle-
men were occupied till halt past six. At seven o'clock the
prisoners were conveyed in coaches to diffeient places of
confinement, guarded inside and out by police officers.

We have received the following communication re-
specting the arrangements fur the preservation of the
public peace this day
" Saturday morning, there was a letter received at each of
the police-officers limn Mr. Beeket, thn. Under Secretary of
State. containing instructions for maintaining the preserva-
tion of the i tibia: peace this day, and to prevent any riot or
disturhimea from the meeting at Spatields. In c. nseque• et'
of which a Magistrate from each of the police officers at-
te at the Seer etary of State's office, where tiny comet rued
tit• most effectual measures to proven' riot or confusion, and
f r tit, better maintaining the i eace of this mete. pole-. On
their tel urn to their respective office, there w. re in char
several extra-constables sworn in, each police officer has inr,
a certain station appointed him. with a number of constabh s
under hint, and each stationed so as not to form a crowd in
themselves, but still so as to set in conceit. 'There ate two
Magistrates to rr main the whole of the day at t aril office, to
r. eeive any cliar2es that may come before them; they like-
wise are to be made de/maimed with whatever passes in each
part of the toter by awaits of ettli-ai ries, so as to be aide in-
stantly (iii ease of any disturnance) to proceed there a ith
proper torec. Dlr. !'rniart, the high constable, will he in the
field, and sevei al hundred constables under his command
'tattooed in various quarters, but so as to cemmunirate ; and
that every man will he found on ditty. Mr. Ccttereli, the
Magi.' rate, and a party of the light-horse, will be stationed in
the Itonse of Correction, in aid of the civil power, if found
necessary ; a party of the life-goods will be stationed at lite
City Artillery-house iu ay's-i nit-lane, for the same purpose,
s call parties of which ale occasionally to pal ado the sirt.t ts:
there are a party of horse and infantry to be in the New read,
in readiness, if Maud necessary. The better to prevent (1:5.
Wham..., a Magistrate presided at eaelt of the offices ad day
yesterday, and sent their officers round the iiiftcumit public-
11011NeK at uight, to see they were clear of ail Improper coin-
p-ny, and male ilit,ll shut up at aii cart. hoar. 'flue peace
(Witte city is intrusted entirely to the Lord Mayor, who h. II
taktut efiectual means to preserve it : the guards at the Tower
ate reinforced, the great guns urdertd to be loaded, and the
gates kept shut all day.
" Al r. tinut has promised to produce the boy, Thomas Da-
gno:! who wItA Cow:a:Ito d for tea nth: dim a lay posting b: 1),
the populace, and make theta actiu4ioted with his suay."