The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-04 00:00:00

LATE RIOTS IN BIRMINGHAM.

The Committee appointed by the Town Council of
Birmingham to investigate the circumstances connected
with the late riots and destruction of property in that
town, have already examined twenty•six witnesses,
whose testimony has proved of the greatest importance
in elucidating the causes which led to the disturbances
in question, and the character and object of the rioters.
The evidence has been published up to the 28th Sep-
tember, and copies have been forwarded to the Secre-
tary of State for the Home Department, between whom
and the Chairman of the Committee, Joseph Sturges
Esq., the following correspondence has taken place
" To the Marquis of Normanby, Secretary of State for
the Home Department.
" The Birmingham Town Council has considered it
their duty, as the representatives of the rate-payers, to
institute an investigation, with a view to ascertain the
cause of the late riots in this borough. This inquiry
does not, of course, interfere with, but will rather aid,
the Government inquiry about to take place into the
conduct of the Magistrates. The Committee appointed
to conduct the investigation cons;der it rigbt to forward
the minutes of evidence to the Secretary of State for
the Home Department, and as their Chairman, and at
their request, 1 beg to send herewith the first five days'
evidence, and the Town-Clerk forward the remain-
der as it proceeds.
" Should any parties doubt the accuracy of the state-
ments of the witnesses, every facility will be afforded to
any further cross exanairaation that may be requested ;
but if the evidence of the publication remains uncon-
tradicted, the Committee, in making their report,
cannot do other ise than assume it to be established."
" I am, ',cry respectfully.
"JOSEPH STURGE,
" Chairman of the Committee.
"Birmingham, 9th month, 16th, 1839."
Whitehall, Sept. 21st, 1839.
" SIR-I am directed by the Marquis of Normanby to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th inst.,
forwarding a copy of the evidence taken by the Town
Council of Birmingham in the inquiry which they have
thought it their duty to institute with a view to ascer-
tain the cause of the late riots in that borough. And
I am to inform you, that Lord Normanby presumes
that the Council have instituted this inquiry for their
own satisfaction ; but his Lordship must decline giving
any opinion upon the evidence, or being in any way com-
promised by silence upon the subject.
" Lord Normanby further directs me to observe,
that at the desire of the Magistrates and other parties
in Birmingham, he has caused an investigation to be
made into those unfortunate events, by a gentleman on
whose talents and integrity for inquiring into all the
facts, and furnishing him with an impartial report of
them, his Lordship has the fullest reliance.
I ant, Sir, your obedient Servant,
" F. MAULE.
" Joseph Sturge, Esq., Birmingham."
" To the Marquis of Normanby, Secretary of State for

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the Home Department.
" I beg leave to acknowledge Lord Normanby's
letter of the 21st instant, in reply to mine of the
16th, written as Chairman of the Committee of
the Birmingham Town Council, appointed to in-
quire into the cause of the late riots. In refer-
ence to Lord Normanby's intimation, 'that at the
desire of the Magistrates, and other parties in Birming-
ham, he had caused an investigation to be made into
the ate unfortunate events by a gentleman on w hose
talents and integrity for inquiring into all the facts, and
furnishing him with an impartial report of them, his
Lordship has the fullest reliance,' I respectfully submit
that had the inquiry been indeed as comprehensive as
thus stated, the Council might probably have felt ex-
cused from proceeding with the laborious duty which
they have undertaken. But the Commissioner distinctly
stated on opening the court, that his instructions con-
fined him to an inquiry into the Conduct of the Magis-
trates on the 15th of July; and, in consequence, de-
clined taking evidence bearing on any other matter. It
is obvious, therefore, that such an investigation, far
from embracing the entire range of the subject, would
leave many circumstances which deeply affect the cha-
racter of the town, altogether uninquited into and un-
explained.
To remove any misapprehension, allow me, how-
ever, to state that this inquiry is nut instituted by the
Town Council with the view either of criminating or
exculpating the Magistrates, or any other party, but
simply to ascertain the circumstances, whatever they
may be, which led to the late disturbances ; nor could
the Town Council, as the representatives of the rate-
payers of this borough, have forborne, in the present
circumstances, to institute an investigation without a ne-
glect of the duty which they owe to their constituents,
and to the inhabitants at large, whose character and
pecuniary interests are so deeply and permanently af-
fected by what has taken place.
In forwarding the evidence the Committee have no
wish that any opinion should be expressed upon it, and
have no other object than to afford an opportunity for
its being subjected to the severest scrutiny.
" The Committee will terminate their labours by
preparing a report, founded upon the evidence brought
before them, and regularly published. The inhabitants
of Birmingham will then have an opportunity of judg-
in, of the fidelity with which they have discharged
their duty.

" I am, very respectfully,
" JOSEPH STURGE,
" Chairman of the Committee..
" Birmingham, 9th month, '26th, 1839."
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