The Sun.
London, England, 1825-08-08 00:00:00

RIOT AT SUNDERLAND.

By the Po.st_thiemorning we have the follow-
ing Letter, respecting the riotous proceedings at
Sunderland, from an. intelligent Correspondent,
dated, - • .

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYIE, AUG. 6.

" As might naturally be ejcpected, the calamitous catas-
trophe consequent upon the riotous proceedings of the Union
Sea Plea at
.Sunderland, last Wednesday evening, has produced
a very deep sensation in this district. But with every bias to
..htnanity, and most deeply,deploring the sacrifice of the. lives
of our fellow-creatures, it is impossible not to admit it was Ale-
'mended by the exigency of the circumstances. The conduct of
the Magistrates is spoken of by every one as deserving of praise
for their forbearance and humane efforts to avert the pains of
military execution; tolit, unfortunately, there was no making
any impression upon the. riotous multitude. Nay, they, had the
temerity to attack the soldiers with 'brickbats and various other
missiles, some time before a single musket-was.fired. One or
more of the soldiers, in feet; were knocked down, and somewhat
seriously wounded in the fece. In this state of things there was
only one way of acting—force was to be repelled by force. And
it is but justice to observe, that in discharging a very painful
public ditty, the Magistrates displayed great coolness, and
.seemed perfectly reckless of personal danger. The military at
first were ordered"to fire over the heads of the rioters ; but when
'they saw nobody hurt, the mob seemed to defy the Authorities,
and to grow more outrageous than ever. Hence the dire ne-
cessity of prineetling to extremities in the way that has already
been mentioned in my Lett rof the 4th instant. Instead of
three, five persons,it appears, were shot; and two individuals,
it is said, are missing, supposed to be drowned. The Coroners
for Essington Ward and Chester 'Ward, I'. RUSSELL, Esq: and
M. HALL, Esq. with two several Juries; have examined a great
mass of evidence, with a view to ascertain all the particulars
that surrounded the five unfortunate men'at the time they came.
by their death ; and there can be no doubt that a most diligent
and ample investigation -has been gone into. It lasted nearly
the whole of two days. Although I cannot give the precise
phraseology of the verdict, it is equivalent lojustiflable homi-
cide. One-of the Magistrates, JOHN DAVISON, set off
Ibr London yesterday, in order to lay the whole details of the
distressing affair before the HOME SECRETARY.
Nothing, certainly, can be Said in defence of 'the seamen ;
for it is well known, that at the present moment the wages on
the Wear and the Tyne are higher than what axe paid to any
other of the same class of men in the kingdorn, or perhaps in
the world. One of our local papers Of this day observes, with
great truth, 4, It is the duty of every honest man to tell these
misguided individuals that the proceedings in which they are
engaged are intolerable, and cannot possibly he suffered with
impunity. What right has one man to interfere witlythe pri-
vate individual conduct of another? Let every man please
himself, either to work or not, upon the terms proposed by the
Ship-owners. This might be fair ; but it is not•to be endured
for a moment that men shall form combinations among them-
selves, dictate terms, and molest or murder all who do not con-
form to this abominable Association.' When the last. ac-
counts left Sunderland all was quiet, and the ships, were getting
to sea as usual. Independently of two troops of the 3d Light
Dragoons quartered there at present, a strong detachment of
the Tyne Hussars, under the command of Captain PEMBErt-
TON, is also there upon duty."