The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-29 00:00:00

THE HIGH PRICE OF BREAD.

TUMULTUOUS MEETING IN HYDE-PARK.
Some time since Sir Richard Mayne, the chief com•
missioner of the metropolitan police, as well as the Se-
cretary of State for the Home Department, were found
fault with for interfering with what was termed
the liberty cf her Majesty's subject, and a grave
question, it will be remembered, arose, not only
out of doors, but also at the special committee appointed
by the House of Commons, as to whether the Govern.
ment ought or even had the power of preventing large
assemblages of persons from meeting in what is termed
the people's park.
The result of the special commission is not at present
known, but whatever it may be quite sufficient trans-
pired yesterday to show that un'e-s the police are em-
powered to nip these gatherings in what is technica ly
termed the " bud," it is impossible to tell to what extent
mischief may be carried out.

As was generally understood, the meeting took place
at three o'clock yesterday afternoon in Hyde-park, ou
the green sward between Kensington-gardens and the
Royal Humane Society's receiving-house.
The various delegates appointed at the previous meet-
ing on Sunday last were in attendance to give their re-
ports, and to state what the millers said should be the
market price of flour during the ensuing winter; but
upon the chairman commencing to explain what would
in all probability be the price of the flour, and conse-
quently the charge of the 41b. loaf, a scene of indescrib-
able confusion took place, and loud cries of "No mono-
poly" ensued. Order, however, was soon restored, when
a man standing at the rear of the chairman moved that
those who could not bear should be allowed to hold two,
three, or four separate meetings in different parts of the
park. Without putting the resolution to a show of
hands four meetings were formed.
One of the speakers began by stating that Sir Benja-
min Hall was no doubt a good man, and much respected
up to the time be brought into Parliament his new bill,
which, having now passed the Legislature, every one was
enabled to see was calculated to carry out nothing more
nor less than class legislation. (Hear.) Would it be
believed by that meeting that in order to be qualified to
become a vestryman under Sir Benjamin's bill he must
be rated at—he could not say whether it was 301. or 401.
per year. (Cries of " Shame," and " Let us go and see
him," and " We will make him alter his bill, if not we
will serve his house as we did Bobby Grosvenor's.")
Another fellow (for no other appellation can be ap.
plied to him) cried out, "I know where Sir Benjamin
Hall lives ; come with me and I'll show you what to do."
In a moment a tremendous mob, probably 800 persons,
followed this misguided man towards South-street-gate,
leafing across Park-lane, whew, to their astonishment,
they espied two police constables on horseback, with
cutlasses at their sides. This at once struck terror into
their minds, but the officers passing along quiokly the
mob made for the mansion at the corner of the street,
and would no doubt have riddled the place had the same
officers not returned at a sharp trot.
It should, however, be stated that Sir Benjamin did
not reside in the house, and the majority of the police,
although kept out of sight, but located in the neighbour-
hood, would have been quite sufficient to quell any die.
turbance of such magnitude. The officers on horseback
rode backward and forward, and eventually succeeded in
clearing Park-lane and South-etreet of the populace,
when two respectably-dressed men were seen near the
Victoria-gate' and the mob at once made an onslaught
upon them, for what cause could not be learned ; but
asnoTdfhtehh
one thing is quite certain, that the parties commenced
pelting the gentlemen, and they shouted "Down with
the spies 1" and had it not been for Police Sergeant N
stones and clods were being plentifully thrown about,
etard Oteudrzooffn
aemvdionib:terhiteeaer:chawho protected the two at the moment
they might have been killed.
the windows. Another part-isatorftehtehet street, and pelted a directione r crowd
vi commenced
to 0
smashing
Mayfair.sasohui
tnh g.
public-house, breaking one or two
of the windows, and nearly killing a gentleman who was
writing in the parlour. The destruction of property,
however, was far more serious in the neighbourhood of
May-fair, and would have been still greater had it not
been for the timely arrival of the police.
Several persons were taken into custody, two by Mr.
Inspector Jackson of the D division ; but there is too
much reason to believe that the principal ringleaders
have escaped, and there is no doubt but their object was
simply to get up disturbances to perpetrate robberies, as
several persons bad their pockets picked, and it was
stated that an inspector of police, in plain clothes, well
known for his discrimination in detecting offenders, had
been robbed of some amount of money whilst listening
to the speakers in the crowd.
By eight o'clock last night the parks and the streets
adjacent began to assume their usual state of quietude,
fresh outoreak.
but the police were wisely kept in reserve in cane of a

The conduct of the police cannot be spoken too highly