The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-29 00:00:00

said " Why you would stiff„• the arms to fall into the hands
of the mob, and turning round to Alderman Daniel,
witness asked him what was to be done with him. To
which the Alderma❑ replied, " Let the whole of them be
thrown into the Float." Witness sail " Surely Sir, you are
not in earnest ? ' To which the Alderman replied, he was.
No disapprobation was expressed of this by the Mayor.
Witness then stated that the inhabitants had assembled in
the different churches, and proposed that the arms
should be sent to them, that they should form them-
selves into companies and scour the city, from
one end to the other, and if the villains would not
quit they should be fired upon ; and, if every one was
killed, the Magistrate would be fully justified. Witness
then quitted the room in company with Mr. Alderman
Daniel. On returning again witness stated to the Mayor
be had bee❑ round the city, and ordered all the arms to be
packed up ; and again entreated for an order for a re-
moval, as the mob was expected in by thousands every
moment. Mr. Sheriff Lax said that every necessAry
order would he given. Witness then retired, and sent in
a written request to the Mayor for an order for the re-
moval of the arms.

Cross-examined by Sir J. SCAALETT-Had not contri-
buted to.spread the report of the absence of the Mayor from
the city. It was about ten o'clock when witness made
the proposal about the arms being sent to the churches.
Mr. Alderman Daniel said to the proposition, we can not
do anything without a person whose name witness did not
recollect. The plan was not adopted, and witness came
to town and made a statement to the Secretary of State.
Would swear 500 times over that he was not desired to
be sworn in as a special constable. Heard a few hours
af'erwards that some of the arms were distributed among
the citizens. In answer to witness's note, the Mayor
stated that the necessary orders had been given about the
fire-arms.

Major Beckweth examined by Mr. Sergeant Wiann—
Is Major Commandant of the 14th Light Dragoons.
On the 31st of October, at two o'clock in the morning,
received in Gloucester a requisition from the Mayor of
Bristol, and proceeded with the Adjutant in a post-chaise
to Bristol, where he went immediately to the Council.
house. The Magistrates complained that Colonel
Brereton had not supported them, and that the
mob were in complete possession of the city. He told
him that the Riot Act had been read several times, that
the 14th were at Brisling-house, but that orders had
been sent for their return. Witness then requested 3or
4. magistrates to accompany him on horseback, and he
would soon restore order. This they all refused. Wit-
ness then asked them individually ; they all refused, one
saying it would make him unpopular, another that it would
cause his shipping to be destroyed. They also said none of
them knew how to ride on horseback—(laughter)—except
Mr. Alderman Hillhouse. Mr. Hillhouse said he had
not been on horseback for 18 years, and would hold any
one responsible who said that he could ride.—(Laughter.)
Witness then said he should require a written authority
from the Magistrates to adopt such measures as he might
think expedient for putting down the riots. Witness then
had a paper delivered to him, signed by the Mayor and
Town Clerk, authorising him to disperse the mob. Ou
asking the Mayor to accompany him, he said, if he did
so it would cause his shipping or his property to be de-
stroyed. At the time witness received the order, his
men had not arrived. Proceeded immediately in search
of Colonel Brereton, whom the Magistrates said he
would probably find in Queen-square. Witness's men
did not arrive for an hour and a half. Had seen Colonel
Brereton in Queen square and at the Adjutant's lodgings.
On finding the Colonel in Queen-square, witness ex-
pressed his astonishment at what was going on, anal asked
what had become of his squ idron of the 14th dragoons.
The Colonel said he had sent them out of Bristol the day
before, but that Major Macktvorth had been sent for
them, and they might be expected in an hour. lie also
said the Magistrates would not authorise hint in using
force ; and on witness telling the Colonel the orders of
the army tamale it imperative to act without Magistrate
if one was not present, be said, with so small
a force as was then in Bristol, it was impossible
to do anything, and he must wait for a considerable rein-
forcement. He then said he was very much fatigued,
would go home to dress, and desired witness to wait on
him in an hour, at the Recruiting-office, College-green.
Witness's men shortly afterwards arrived, and a report be-
ing made that the mob were plundering the Bishop's Pa-
lace, the men were monnted, several charges were made,
and the mob was put down in every part of the city. Did
not see a single Magistrate in any part of the city he had
occasion to go to.
Cross-examined by Mr. CAMPBELL—Made some of the
charges at full speed, in which the troops were employed
from 10 to 12 o'clock. The peace of the city was completely
restored. Colonel Brereton several times came up, hut
sat on his horse, doing nothing, stating to witness that it
was impossible to quell the riot. Witness said as soon as
the squadron arrived he would do so, to which the Colonel
then said, "It is on your own responsibility." Witness
said be would do so. Witness had never seen Bristol be-
fore in his life. It was not Mr. Alderman Camplin that
said he had never been on horseback in his life. Knew
the Mayor and Alderman Hillhouse. The Mayor was the
moot collected of the party witness saw. Witness had not
said that the Mayor had been unjustly blamed, and he
would take care that the saddle was put on the right horse,
but he had no doubt of saying he thought it unjust to
throw all the blame on the Magistrates and the Mayor.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that this was the case
for the prosecution.
Sir J, SCARLETT then rose at half past one and addressed
the Jury :—Gentienaen of tLe Jury, the time is at length
arrived when the Mayor and Magistrates of Bristol have
an opportunity of stating their case, and of proving it by
their witnesses. They have suffered much obloquy, much
persecution, much misrepresentation. They feel, and they
deeply deplore, the unfortunate calamity whirls has be-
fallen the city of Bristol ; but they cannot deem it other-
wise than as a great aggravation of that calamity, that
they should be made the subjects of reproach, as having
been the occasion of it, and that for the long period
of twelve months since it occurred, they had been
subjected to a secret investigation, not instituted by the
directions of Government nor by the Legislature, but
by a private committee of their own townsmen, anal
formed—however respectable the members of it might
have been, which Ido not doubt—but formed chiefly, if
not exclusively of that party in the town which, from
their line of politics and their religious opinions, have
been long opposed to the Magistracy of Bristol. Gen-
tlemen, the administration of justice in that town was
vested in the Magistrates, and whether tight or wrong
Thu.
thing
entertaining
unnatural in the
feeling
that they h
I trust there is na
ve
suffered a species of indignity in finding a tribunal,
formed of their own fellow-citizens, sitting in
judgment upon them, without their having an
opportunity of defending themselves. However, the day
has at length arrived when the result of that inquiry,
which I underreand received the countenance and support
of Government, has produced this information, among
others, instituted by his Majestv'sAttorney- General ; and the
Mayor of Bristol is now called on to hear the weight
and authority of this accusation by the prosecutor,
rt ithout his knowing until the evidence which has
now been given was produced, any one particular on
which his conduct was condemned. The information
deals in very general terms ; it embraces a period
commencing on the Saturday, and terminating on Mon-
d iy, and the only charge against the Magistrates is, that
they did not do their duty. In what respect they
neglected or failed to do their duty, or in what
particular instance is not stated. All this they
have had to learn from the evidence which has now been
produced. You have heard but a portion of the evidence—
you have heard, indeed, a statement read by my Learned
Friend, which was given by the Mayor, containing
a general outline of the proceedings—a statement
made up for the purpose only of giving a general
view of the transactions, without in the least under-
standing that the persons making it would have to
exculpate themselves of charges of which they were not
conscious. If I were to represent to you the very great
anxiety I feel in this case,- you might perhaps think
that I was using the common part of an advocate's
duty in endeavouring to bespeak your attention. lam
confident, however, when you look at the case in all its de-
tails, and in the result to which you will have to
come, you will think that it is one of the most
important cases ever brought before this great Tri-
bunal—one in which the Magistracy of this country
have a deep and important interest; for, if the
Mayor of Bristol can be convicted upon the evi-
dence you have heard, or on the topics which the
Attorney General has laid before you, there would be no
safety foe any Magistrate in the kingdom, no honesty, no
zeal, no integrity, could save save him from the malice or
vengeance of his enemies. Gentlemen, I shall
find it necessary to make some, though but
few, observations upon the evidence you have heard
to-day; for although I am afraid I must occupy a
great portion of your time in filling up these parts of the
evidence you have heard, I must not only endeavour to vin-
dicate the innocence but the honour of these Gentlemen.--
I should upon that evidence alone most confidently ex-
pect an acquittal, but you must hear furth,r evidence. It
will not be necessary for time to call your attention to
those p 4rts of my Learned Friend's statement, which have
been contradicted by the evidence, but there are two or three
topics in that speech to which I feel bound to call your