The National Register.
London, England, 1821-08-26 00:00:00

KE.NI'.

PJ-DT AT CANTERPLIRT...-..THE KING V. BUSHEL AND

OTHER:2.
Mains-roue, Auo UST 18.—This was an indictment
against Johtt Bushell, W. Marsh, G. Harris, Mallard
lirice, Charles •Nlinott, Thomas Rye, and T. Gurney,
for a riot. A second count charged them with assault-
ing J. WitTrii; Esri Mayor td. the City of Canterbury;
and °the& counts charged them with assaulting certain
constables in the execution of their ditty, on the 16th
of November last, at Canterbury.
Titis case excited considerable interest. The trial
lasted from eight in the 'matting until past ten at night;
awl during the whole day the court was crowded to
intolerable excess.

. The proseCution was conducted by Mr. Noes and
Mr. Holland. The (ICrelldatllS sere deldaided separately
by Mr. Common Serjeaut, Common Serjeatit, Mr.
Adolphus, Mr. Andrews, and Mr. Chitty.
The following is an outline of the case, as it appeared
from the es Silence 011 both sides consequence of
the example set by the metropolis in November last, of
illuminating to celebrate the result of the proceedings its
the House of Lords against her late Majesty Queen
Caroline, a requisition signed by lour Aldermen,
several Consnioli Councilmen, and a great number of
other respectable inhabitants of Canterbury, was sent to
tttr Mayor, requesting hints to give public notice to the
inhabitants of the city, that they would be expected to
imitate the conduct of the metropolis on that memorable
occasion, by illuminating to celebrate the defeat of the
atlSeged conspiracy against her Majesty's life and honour,
it bring suggested that the sanction of the chief magis-
trate of the city for that purpose. would effectually tend
to preserve ,the public peace. To this requisition the
!Mayer retiimed an answer, declining to comply with
the wishes of she requisitionists, and declaring his opi-
nion to be, that if he were to accede to the request it
wdasid have a different tendency from that suggested.
The requisitionists, in reply to this. put forth a re-
ationsiraisee, stating their reasons why the City of Can-
terbury might out so shew any backwardness in demon-
strating their attachment and reverence for the Queen,
Its celeLratitig she termination of an inquiry which had
polluted the lamd with obscenity and indecency ; and
acting upon these sentiments they of their own accord
issued ass invitation to the inhabitants to illuminate
their houses in a proper and becoming Planner, on
Thursday evening, the 16th of November.
This produced on the part of the Mayor, a printed
pablicanon of the rerplisision which had been sent to
him, and the answer thereto, accomPJllied by an extract
from the Riot Act, with all intimation that any breach
of the peace would be visited with the severest penal-
ties of the law. On the moruing of the 16th, five per-
Sons, described as some of the wort respectable inha-
bitants of the city, waited upon the Mayor, and re-
quested hint to swear in a certain number of special cost-
stables for the preservation of the peace in the evening.
The Mayor desired that this request might be reduced
•into writing and signed by the parties. The magistrate's
clerk was instructed for that purpose, and he accordingly
framed a declaration to be deposed to on oath. It was
signed by the Mayor's brother-in-law, a journeyman
primer, and three other persons of humble condiubm—
Upods this the Mayor, without summooing his brother
niagistra•es, or consulting wish them; immediately is-
sued his precept for swearing in special constables, all
.of whom were either of the working class or middling
tradesmen. The wily magistrates who sanctioned this
,proceeding were two aldermen wisu were ',rearm.
At this time there was no symptom of any thing like
tumult or noise its the city. It was 11 o'clock in the
morning. An order was then sent to the Colonel Com-
mandlant of the troops to have the soldiers under arms
old ready for action, in case their services should be
teamed At five in the morning the special constables,
wereall stationed in the immediate vicinity of the mayor's
.house, and a Captain's guard of soldiers was drawn up
near the spot. No symptoms of riot or disturbance as
yet appeared. 'deal
About eight in the evening the streets began to be
crowded by persons lowliness the illuminations Shortly
after that tune a cart was drawn through site slicer before
the Mayor's door, with three effigies in it, rept,stuutte
Majocci, and Louisa Densont, the celebrated
witnesses against her late Majesty. In the cart, %%Stich
was drawn by one of the dle.endants. accompanying she
effigies, was a cliiinney-sweeper dressed in his sable ca-
nutitcals, with a flambeaux in one hand, and a stick in
the other, with which lie occasionally inflicted some cis
Ligation upon the effigies, to the great delight of the
crowd.—lle also appeared now and then to have a book
in hi hand nom which `he administered spiritual con-
solation so the culprits. This exhibition was followed
by a crowd of about 200 persons, composed of the
tradesmen of' the town end their suits. The crowd an-
nounced that their attention was to burn the effigies in
front of the mayor's !muse. As they passed the mayor's
door a few random stones were thrown and broke some
of his windows. Cries of " The Queen for ever 1" re-
sounded from all quarters. Previously to this there had
been two or three windows broken in front of the mayor's
dwelling.—The crowd then passed on with the effigies
towards she Guildhall. On their return about ten
o'clock, just as they got to the mayor's door, the special
constables, by a signal from a watchman's rattle, rushed
in a body upon the can and tore the effigies in pieces.
This act of aggression roused the indignation of the
mob, winch at that time had increaaed in numbers, and,
after driving away the constables, they commenced a
regular attack upon Ilia mayor's windows, and broke to
the number of 80 panes. Stones, brickbats, marbles,
bullets, penny.pieces, and evety oilier iniaginable missile,
were wed Ull the occasion. They then attempted to
force the shutters of theSisayor's shop (in which he car-
ted on the business of. a silversmith), and tried to get
Imo the house. At this time the mayor himself made
11:a appearance, and was immediately recognised by the
mob, who abused him svi;h opprobrious names, honed
and hissed him. In making his retreat he was pelted
with mud, and was struck on the back duns neck by a