The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-14 00:00:00

JULY 14, 1856

SERIOUS RIOT BETWEEN ORANGEMEN

AND 1:IBBO Nlf EN.

NEV,T.,A.STLE-ON-TYNE, SATURDAY ENT.NING.

We reeret to have to record a meet brutal en I serious
riot end as,ault, caused by a large body of Ilii.ierniaus,
or Ribbon:nen, attacking a body of Orangemen, near
the Felling, by which several of the latter haVe been
moat seriously injured, and, If report he true, one or two
have been killed. The particulars, as far as we have
been able to learn, are chiefly as follows :
This day being the commemoration of the battle of the
Boyne, the Grand Protestant Association of Loyal
Orengemen apesembled at the Wheatsheaf, Gate-head,
for the purpose of going iu procession through the streets
of Gateshead and Newcastle. About ten o'olock they
formed in proession, with numerous banners, the men
being well attired and adorned with saihes, and beaded
by Hawks' band, They marched to the Mack Swan
IL)tel, in this town, where they were joined by another
lodge of Orangemen. After some delay the procession
was re-formed, and from thence proceeded down Grey-
street, Dean-street, and so on across the Tyne-bridge to
Gateshead, and onward towards the Felling, with the
intention of joining another lodge at that place ; but on
arriving within a few yards of the Felling toll-gate, they
observed a large body of Ffihernians, ( r Ribbonmen,
amounting to several hundreds. Some were in their
working dress, while others were stripped to the shirt,
With the sleeves folded up, and armed with pistols,
swords, bludgeons, morgan rattlers, and one man with
a scythe, which, he flourished over his head. Some of
the Ribbonmen tLen drew up to the hand, and ordered
t them to stop, which they did ; and then the procession
of Orangemen came suddenly to a stand. One (if the
Orangemen then stepped forward to the Ribbonmen,
and asked the reason of the interruption, and re
quested to be allowed to go peaceably on, urging as
a motive that on St. Patrick's Day, when the Hi
bernians walked, they were not molested or is-
saulted by any of the Orangemen. This, however,
instead of satisfying the party only irritated them,
as a hundred voices cried out—" You shall never
go on. Death, or turn back again !" The Orange-
men, finding themselves thus menaced, and as they were
not only unarmed but considerably less in numbers to
their opponents, deemed it best to comply in order' to
avoid making any disturbance ; but no sooner had they
turned to go towards Gateshead than the large body of
armed Ribbonmen, with a yell, made a deadly and
cowardly attack upon the Orangemen, who fled in dis-
may from their fierce and brutal assailants. As might he
expected several of the Orange party were felled to the
ground, others wounded by the discharge of firearms,
and left lying on the ground in their blood. In the
-meantime the Felling lodge, uneenscious of what was
going on, had issued from their lodge-room, but, on per-
ceiving the affray, they made a precipitate retreat, and
thus escaped the wrath of the Ribbonmen, some of whom
pursued them.
On the arrival of the Orangemen in Gateshead they
created considerable alarm and excitement, and Inspector
Schorey and a holy of police came to their rescue; but,
as their assailants did not follow further than a few hun-
dred yards, no further mischief was then apprehended.
Cabs, however, were immediately despatched to the
scene where the affray took place, when several Orange-
men, lying senseless and bleeding from their wounds,
were taken up and conveyed to the Gateshead Dispen-
sary, and other places, where their wounds were speedily
dressed. Several of these, it is said, had gun shot
wounds, and were considered in a dangerous state, and
they were afterwards taken to their respective homes in
Gateshead and Newcastle.
It was estimated that between 16 and 20 men have
been more or less seriously injured in this cowardly and
brutal attack. -
One man named John Spencer, a tailor, residing in
this town, as well as a boy named Edward Badger, were
taken to the Infirmary. Spencer had six contused
wounds on the head, his front teeth were all knocked
out, and his face and body dreadfully bruised ; and the
boy had a gunshot wound on the thigh, but it was not
considered serious. The lad took no part in the affray,
and was standing on the side of the road when he was
shot.

A man unconnected with either party, who saw the
whole affray, informed the reporter that the first man
who came forward was he who had the scythe, and he
struck out right and left, regardless of consequences.
Several pistols were fired, and the Ribbonmen, with
fiendish yells, attacked men, women, and children in-
discriminately for some time.
Great excitement and alarm still exist both in Gates-
head and the Felling, where, at the latter place, were as-
sembled several hundreds of Irishmen and Ribbonmen ;
but it is understool that the authorities, both of Gates-
head and the county, are on the alert in order to prevent
a further outbreak.
Several of the offenders are known, but, up to the pre-
sent, only two are in custody—John Hannah, a metal
cleaner at Messrs, Hawks', and Patrick M'Avoy, a la-
bourer at the Birtley iron works. The latter was bran-
dishing an open knife when taken into custody.
It is evident from the above facts that the attack upon
the Orangemen was a premeditated plan by the Ribbon-
men, as the latter had assembled at the Felling early in
the morning by stealth, some walking to the place, while
others came by the train from Newcastle, having their
arms secreted about their persons.

THE REPORT. OF THE COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC OFFICES.

At length there seems to be a probability, if not some-
thing more, of the anomaly of different departments
of the Government spread over divers portions of the
metropolis, being brought, if not under one roof, at
least so close together that public business will not
be retarded, as it has been, by one branch of a de-
partment being a mile off from another. It will be
remembered that the question of sites for new public
offices has attracted the attention of suceesssive Ad-
ministrations for the last 20 years ; but such has been
the penny-wise and pound-foolish policy of different
Houses of Commons, that Governments have not liked
to come forward with a bold and comprehensive measure.
They have, therefore, contented themselves with prop-
ping up old houses until they could he hardly propped
up any more, or else taking, at exorbitant rents, houses
belonging to other persons ; for it is a matter of noto-
riety that no sooner does the Government come forward
as a tenant than the rent for the property is immediately
enhanced some 25 per cent, by the, fertunate landlord.
At last, however, even the House of Commons showed
symptoms of discontent at the large amount demanded
for the rental and repairs of Government offices. The
present Government, therefore, taking advantage of this
favourable mood, moved for a select committee, who
have completed their report, which will be presented in
the course of next week. It is stated that the recommen-
dations will be of a most comprehensive character, and
will, perhaps, startle the house by their extent and by
the first cost. But Parliament having already expended
some two millions in erecting the palace at Westminster,
which is now comparatively shut in, cannot complain if
it is propo,=ed that their handiwork should be brought
for Jrard in its real beauty, so that it may be appreciated
by the public, who have not paid the heavy bills with-
out a considerable amount of grumbling. The comnit-
tee era understood to rece,mmend that the whole of the
property lying between the Treasury and the Broad
Sanctuary, Westminster. and between St. James's-park
and the Thames from Richmond-terrace, should be ac-
quired by the Government. This will ca,u,e the entire
abolition of all Downing-street (with the exception of
that portion covered by the new Treasury.huildirrs),
Fludyer-etreet, King-street, Charles-street, Perliament-
street, Great George-street, Cannon-row, Bridge—trect,
d the various wharves on the hanks of the Themes.
The space of ground covered by the houses in Bridee-
street, hiding the houses of Parliament, would not he
built upon, and should the site of the new Westminster.
bridge he altered, and should it be erected in a line run-
ning from Richmond-terrace instead of from Bridge-
street, a magnificent area would be obtained that
would tend snore than anything else to throw open the
beauties of the Houser of Parliament and Westminster
Abbey, in which case the church of Se Margaret's,
Westminster, would have to come down. A wide open
road would then run from about Richmond terrace into
the park, and eventually out at the Duke of York's
column. The space between the Treasury and the Broad
Sanctuary would be exclusively devoted to the public
offices, which are to be erected according to the best
design, all the architects in Europe and America having
the option offered to them to compete. Upon this site
all the principal offices of the State will be erected ; that
is to say, the Admiralty, the Army Department, Ord-
nance Office, &c. The cost, as was said before, will be
great, but to meet this the Government will be able to
offer for sale some of the most valuable sites in the me-
tropolis, which are now occupied by different depart-
ments, and there would also be some surplus property
after the new erections had been completed, which would
fetch an almost fabulous price from its proximity to the
Houses of Parliament, and from the improved character
of the neighbourhood. Should these recommendations
be carried out the whole aspect of Westminster will be
changed. Victoria-street has already been the means
of getting rid of some of the worst'property in the me-
tropolis, and should the improvements recommended be
carried into effect, the remainine portion of Westminster
would soon be materially altered Jes the he'ter. The
house of Commons must not, however, be frightened
with the cost. It will not have to be paid at once, but
will be thrown over a period of years, so that even the
next generation will have to contribute its proportion.
Most of the leading statesmen in both Houses of Par-
liament, and of all parties, have expressed their desire
that elieleris somewhat similar to those recommerded by
the committee should be carried into effect. The report
will probably be presented early next week, and, should
the house appreve of its recommendations, steps would
of course be immediately taken to obtain possession of
the property, by giving the proper notices, and then a
bill will be introduced next session to enable the Go-
vernment to carry out the undertaking.—Observer.

The Courrier de Havre says :—" The persons com-
posing the suite of Count de Morny as Ambassador
Extraordinary to Russia were expected here this day
(Tuesday), but a despatch from Paris announces that
the departure has been delayed for a few days."
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