The Sun.
London, England, 1823-04-01 00:00:00

evening increased, and about 12 o'clock at night an affray be-
gan in John-street, Edgeware-road, between a number of the
l-rish resident about that neighbourhood and a party of the-
Bargemen, who were compelled to fly, but again returned
with an. increase of strength, and renewed the contest ; they
however, were defeated and driven off, many being severely
injured. The weapons used in this combat were pokers,
sticks, shovels, and several long poles loaded with iron and
surmounted at one end with a large pronged hook. The affray
about its termination becoming very riotous, several watchmen
interfered and endeavoured to prevail upon the Irish to retire,
but they only answered by knocking down and beating them.
However, having driven the bargemen off, they retired into
Cato-street, followed by a strong party of watchmen and police,
who endeavoured to disperse them, without any effect, as they
were returned upon, and obliged to retreat themselves. At
length, finding that they had a number sufficient to attack the
rioters, they rushed on them, and one man, named Poole, a
watchman, was instantly struck lifeless to the ground ; and
Shirley, a comrade, who went to his assistance, had his head
laid open in two places,/ and fell over Poole nearly insensible.
However, the watchmen pressed on, and a desperate battle fol-
lowed, in which many were severely wounded. At length it
was deemed necessary to send for the assistance of the military,
and a picquet of infantry was directly sent from Portman-
street barracks ; but by the time they arrived the rioters had
fled, seeing them approach, and had taken refuge in houses
in Cato-street. During the affray, nearly all the watchmen
were dreadfully beaten, and many of them sustained severe
fractures and cuts. Poolei was taken to the 'Middlesex Hospi-
tal, where he remains in a deplorably dangerotts.atite. A Bow-
street patrol, named Jennings, who arrived after the affray was
over, followed the rioters into the houses, and in a very short
time apprehended all the prisoners, some of whom were con-
cealed under the beds and in the chimneys. The prisoners,
many of whom presented the appearance of having been severely
cut and beaten,• mostly all denied being in the affray. How-
ever John Kelly, Patrick Stanton, John Flynn, Patrick
--11.14,e1 it, John Simian, James Hildane, William Monro, Tho-
mas Flynn_, and Michael M'Ceil, being fully identified as being
active in the riot, were committed in default of bail ; Michael
APCeil being sworn to as having struck Poole., the watchman,
was remanded until his state be known. The rest were ths-
charged.
ATTEMPT AT MURDER.
Maresiost HouSE.--Edward Sheridan, a lad of about 18
years of age, was brought up charged with having assaulted
Patrick lord, an elderly man with a sharp-edged hammer,
with an intent to murder or do him some bodily harm.
It appeared from the account given by Ford, who is a fel-
low-labourer of Sheridan's, that the prisoner and he were em-
ployed by their master, a builder, to pull down the ceiling of
houSe, and that they had been at work together for some time
before the words which led to the desperate assault were tit-
tered between them. The prisoner addressed Ford, as soon as
they had nearly concluded their work, in the following man-
nner Paddy," said he, " what's this you have been telling
master about me ?" " Nothing it ale, open my conscience and
soul," replied Paddy. 'By My send, u have; though,
Paddy ; you have been telling, hint lies aboutme," said the
prisoner. " I tell yOu," said Paddy, " that I never tould lies
of you to any one. " Yes, iipene My seal, Faddy, you have,"
repeated the prisoner, " andtake that," hitting the unfortunate
old man with the hannter on the head. Ford staggered, and
thought " the life was out of him ;" but the prisoner
was not satisfied, with stichis trifle' Of revenge, and crying out
to him' !" Paddy., you're not kin tet, you tiff of the world,"
made another effort to dispatch him. Paddy, however, caught
the arm' that Vraa descending upon him, and weak as he was
frown the Anion of blood from the crown of his head, prevent-
ed the prisoner from doing what he positively believed it was
the bnite's intention ter do'—" killing him dead." The cut in
Ford's head was long and deep ; his clothes were covered with
blood: He felt " cruel weak," and was afraid he should suf-
fer front the blow as long as lie lived.
Mr. Alderman Cox—Did you use no provoking language ?
". Not a word, your Honour he struck me without showing
me ho was going to do it ; and if he hit me the second time, I
wouldn't be here to tell you all about it."
Sheridan was remanded- for farther examination, after having
said in his defence that Paddy struck him first, and that he
meant to hit Paddy with the blunt end of the hammer, but the
hammer would turn round 'whether he would or no, and hit
Paddy of itself with the sharp end. Ford is under the care of
a surgeon, and not yet considered quite out of danger.
AN AINIATBUR VENDER OF MATCHES.
GotnirAt.T..--Amongst the prisoners brought up yesterday
before the Sitting Magistrate, Mr. Alderman T. SMrru char-
ged under that most comprehensive of all terms in the Police
Vocabulary, being disorderly, was a highly respectable young
citizen, the exposure of whose name (and we trust he will feel
it, so) would most probably do him an irreparable injury; and
who had been sent to the Compter from Aldengate watch-house,
through the following whimsical adventure :
Returning homeward from spending his evening at the west
end of the town, with just wine enough to be what is termed
", fit for any thing:" He was accosted in Smithfield, at about,
half an hour after one on the morning of Sutiday, by a poor
match-Woman who intreated his charity rather than his custom ;
and in a fit oiCorinthianism bargained with her for the whole
contents of her basket, sonic two or three dozen bunches of
matches, well brimstoned at both ends ; and got in addition to
hits purchase her hearty prayers and wishes for good luck to
him, which, however, subsequently proved of no avail for his
success in his new occupation. His first essay as a timber-
merchant was to solicit the custom of the watchman stationed
at the corner of Long-lane, Aldersgate.street, which he did
• with so much apparent meekness of supplication, that be at
least half hoaxed him to begin with ; but before the latter
could determine whether he was to be angry or platted, two
young men came by, to whom the new tradesman address-
ed himself, with—" Please to buy a lueporth of matches of
a poor distressed young man."—The earnestness of the tone,
and the sight of the matches themselves, completely hoax-
ed the new comers, notwithstanding the youth and respect- !
able appearance of the supplicant. " Surely," said one of
them, ' you cannot be distressed." The tuatch.verider, how-
ever, assured them lie was in great want; and one of them, in
consequence, half doubtingly, offered him a penny piece,
which was received with great apparent eagerness and grati-
tude ; on which the second became a purchaser, and got three
bundles of matches, for his halfpenny, with an abundance of
prayers and blessings. Just at that moment a third young
man, who had been in company with the other two at a public-
house in the neighbourhood, and had merely stayed behind for
a minute or two, came up. His companions immediately, with
a mixture of surprise and compassion, pointed out the distressed
match-vender to him, told him what therhad done, and urged
him to follow their example. The last corner, however, was of
a different temperament from his companions; for though he
was as much deceived as they, and really believed the pnsoner
wanted to sell his matches he began to abuse him as an im-
postor. The match-vender took this pretty quietly, as an
unavoidable consequence of the great humility of his apparent
character and calling ; but when he proceeded to call him a
" d—d thief," all the brimstone in his composition took fire at
once; he bundled his matches altogether into the pocket of his
fashionable surtout, buttoned it tight round him, and was
about to commence a furious attack upon his uncharitable
calumniator, and would soon have reduced him to a state
of distress by no means fictitious, when the watchman, who
had stood by all this time wondering and pitying, seeing the
peace about to be broken, interfered, and at the desire of the
party took the prisoner to the watchhouse. As no blow
had actually been struck, the Constable of the night might
have understood the joke, and, as the young man conducted
himself very peaceably in the watchhouse, made the party
friends together with much propriety ; but thinking it probably
beneath the dignity of his magisterial office to make a joke of
any thing, he treated the offence with all the seriousness of a
midnight robbery, searched the person of the prisoner, and
transmitted hint pennyless to the Compter. At the watch-house
tohissctahtaeracwhteor and what
aespecta he
bwdasity;
the prisoner had given a false name and address, but before the
andt.llby nnaageiays uponietlrr,aa
after
(htiheeeernr eadwpearisne
suitable
ceennont al Pt eolnl e tol f
hoadantitoennittiledon,wlttratte'dthleiinwtorttohyre'tlirle
and make some recompense to the officers for the loss of time
his foolish frolic had occasioned them ; and he was thereupon
discharged.

LAM DETII-STHEET.—In pursuance of the express orders of
the Magistrates yesterday morning the officers visited Stepney.
fair and its neighbourhood, for the purpose of keeping order,
and the prevention, of that species of gambling called hustle
cap," and other " chance" games. They apprehended two
women who had hustle caps and round boards, with which they
were playing, and brought them to this office. The imple-
ments were destroyed, and one of the prisoners, named Mary
Dewley, sent to the . House of Correction for a month. The
other prisoner pleaded her great distress, and having a large
family, was discharged after being reprimanded.

DREADFUL AccinisT.—Yestertlay morning
the Swallow Dover coach upset on Shooter's-hill. It appears
that the driver, On the descent of the hill, was holding the
reins tight up, when they broke, and the horses darted off at
speed, rendering the efforts of the coachman to stop them un.
availing. Opposite the Red Lion, at the bottom of the hill,
the coach overturned, and a French lady, on her way to a
brother in London, was dreadfully injured in consequence of
the coach falling upon her. The vehicle was raised by the
help of several men, and the unfortunate sufferer extricated
and taken to a tavern, where she was visited by Lady Robe,
who resides in' the neighbourhood,. and Dr. Patten ; but it is
feared she will not recover. The other passengers received no
material injsr7.