The Sun.
London, England, 1831-11-16 00:00:00

The Palace Was immediately set on fire and consumed.
This was followed by the firing of two complete sides of
Queen-square, containing nearly 40 houses, including the
Mansion-house, the Custom-house, and the Excise-office.
During all this time, it will he seen that the Magistrates
were wholly without any sufficient means of protection or
defence, the mob appearing to have had complete pos-
session of the city. There was no interval during which
the Mayor and Magistrates were not at their post, except
for a short time after their being driven from the Bishop's
Palace, and retiring to a private house in Berkeley-square,
of which notice was almost immediately given to Colonel
Brereton, as stated in the Appendix, Nos. 5 and 6.
About four o'clock, one of the Magistrates went to the
quarters of the 3d dragoon guards, and stated to the
officer in command the situation of the square, saying
that the whole of it would be consumed, unless military
assistance was instantly afforded. He expressed his
readiness to attend, but said he could only furnish 24
men : he mentioned that a letter had been received
from the Mayor; this appeared to be the letter No. 6,
in the Appendix. The officer, at the desire of the
Magistrate, went with him to Colonel Brereton's lodg-
ings, the door of the military office having been before
tried in vain. The Colonel, upon being called up, and
the circumstance stated, said it was of no use to take out
those jaded troops, they could do no good—what could
they do against such a mob ? He was, however, strongly
and repeatedly urged, and consented to order out the
troops : in about ten minutes they were out, and, on pro-
ceeding to the square, having found in Prince's-street a
warehouse in flames, and a mob of about six or seven hun-
dred persons in front of it, which the troops dispersed by
charging up the street. On arriving in the square, the
mob, consisting of about 600 more, were just commencing
an attack upon the first two houses on the third side of the
square, two entire sides being in flames. The mob had
entered the corner house with fire, and were battering the
windows and door of the next to it. The troops formed
in front of the two houses. The mob did not disperse,
but continued round the soldiers. The fire in the corner
house was extinguished and cleared, and, from the arrival
of the troops in the square, no attempt was made to at-
tack or set fire to any house.
About six o'clock the mob had separated into small
parties of twenty or thirty, in different parts of the square,
which the soldiers were occasionally employed in dis-
persing. Upon one of those occasions a soldier was
wounded by a shot fired by the mob; and, by a little
activity on the part of the soldiers, the streets were ulti-
mately cleared. In the mean time, having sent to Glou-
cester and other placer for assistance, and the two troops
of the 14th having been brought into the city from their
country quarters, and Major Beckwith having arrived from
Gloucester and taken the command of them, and received
directions from the Magistrates to disperse the mob where-
ever they were found to be assembled in force, they were
rigorously attacked. By these measures, and the arrival
of a considerable number of troops and yeomanry from dif-
ferent parts of the country, the city was soon restored to a
state of comparative peace and security.
I have laid before your Lordship, as simply and shortly
as possible, an outline of the principal transactions which
have taken place in this city, wishing to avoid comment
or observation upon them. I believe every fact detailed
can be fully verified. It any part of the statement should
appear to require explanation I shall be most happy to
afford it, as 1 also shall he to continue the detail at any
subsequent period.
I have the honour to be, my Lord,
Your Lordship's obedient humble servant,
CHARLES PINNEY, Mayor.
To the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Melbourne, &c. &c.

APPENDIX.
No. 1.

Council-house, Bristol, 37th Oct. 18.31.
It being apprehended, from information received through va-
rious channels, that some indiscreet persons may be inclined to
promote feelings of irritation and excitement on the arrival of
the Recorder in this city, the Mayor and Aldermen most earnestly
hope that all classes of their fellow-citizens, however they may
differ on political suljects, will see the propriety of cordially co-
operating to maintain peace and good order ; and that they will
abstain from manifesting any declaration of their opinions on so
solemn and important an occasion as the delivery of his Majesty's
gaol, in cases affecting the lives of the persons to be tried for of-
tener% against the laws of their country. The Magistrates confi-
dently trust that they may rely on the good sense and discretion
of the inhabitants not to depart from that orderly conduct which
has hitherto prevailed in the city ; but should any disposition be
shown, tending to create disturbance, they feel it will become
their imperative duty to use all lawful means for the apprehend-
ing and bringing to punishment all persons who may be found
committing any breach of the peace or other illegal act.
By order of the Mayor and Aldermen,
LUDLOW, Town-Clerk.