The Sun.
London, England, 1832-08-04 00:00:00

FATAL AFFRAY AT CLITHEROE.

We copy the following ffom the Blackburn Gazette of Wed-
nesday :

At four o'clock this morning we received by express from a
valued correspondent at Clitheroe, the following particulars of
a transaction unequalled in atrocity since the bloody affair at
" Peterloo." Will the authors of this, like. the authors of
the Peterleo massacre, go unpunished? No, no; forbid it
justice. It cannot be !

We shudder whilst we announce one of the most atrocious
outrages committed by a body of military last night in the
borough of Clitheroe, which it has fallen to our lot to record
since the infamous massacre of Peterloo. We are not in pos-
session of the details of this melancholy affair, but learn from
an eye-witness that yesterday being the day appointed for the
entry of the Tory candidate, Mr. Irving, into that borough, he
was received, as a most unpopular candidate might be expected
to be, with groans and hisses, and we are sorry to add, by cer-
tain individual strangers in the town, with less justifiable tokens
of disfavour—showers of stones.

Mr. Irving and his party took what appeared to them the
prudent course of driving through the town without stopping ;
nor did they reappear in Clitheroe during the afternoon. In
an evil hour, under the excitement of the indignity they had
sustained, and in spite of the advice and remonstrance of the
Bailiff* of the borough, Mr. Garstang, a requisition was dis-
patched to Burnley for two troops of horse, signed by Colonel
Clayton, Charles Whitaker, Esq., of Simmondstone, and the
Rev. R. Noble, of Whalley.
In the evening Mr. I. and his party returned, escorted by
fifty dragoons, and attended by two clerical Magistrates, and by
some strange unpardonable infatuation, instead of taking the
Worston Road, which was open to them, and would have en-
tirely avoided the borough, they chose to return through
Clitheroe, at the close of the day of extraordinary excitement,
and before the people had entirely dispersed. The conse-
quences were what might be expected; the sight of the troops
and the unlooked-for appearance of Mr. Irving influenced the
multitude, already under the influence of liquor—insults were
offered on both sides—the ferment increased. The Riot Act
was read, and then the troops, without orders it is said, charged
the defenceless populace. Eight or ten individuals, most of
them, as is but too frequent in such cases, guiltless and unof.
fending, were sabred in the street. The wounds were last night
pronounced to be severe, but not mortal. One man had his
arm broken. Mr. Dickenson, a respectable surgeon of Colne,
was wounded in the cheek, and nearly lost his eye. The cuts
on the head and stabs in the body were numerous and merciless.

FURTHER PARTICULARS,
(From the Second Edition of the Blackburn Gazette.)

We have just learned from a gentleman who left Clitheroe at
noon this day, after witnessing the whole proceedings of this
atrocious act, that at six o'clock last night five-sixths of the
strangers had quitted the town, and the streets were more the
appearance of a festival or fair than the scene of a contested
election. The chief part of Mr. Fort's men had returned
home, the Low Moor and Primrosemen were fast dispersing,
Mr. Garnet and Mr. Thomson had just quitted the town, con-
sidering the tumult of the day as passed and their presence no
longer necessary, when, without notice, without previous warn-
ing, without suspicion, Mr. Irving and his party entered the
town surrounded by cavalry, sword in hand, who charged
through the streets, driving the multitude in every direction.
The order for this proceeding is understood to have been given
to the commanding officer of the troops by Colonel Clayton,
the Magistrate. We are credibly informed that the influential
individuals of the Reform party were actually pointed out to
the military, as fit objects for vengeance ; and from among the
demons in human shape who thus employed themselves in the
exultation of the moment at the prospect of near revenge,
writhing with passion, and distorted with rage, the cry was
heard—" Who are masters now ? Who are masters now ? Cut
them down—cut them down." And they were cut down. Thus
began the fray—thus began that riot of which Mr. Tory Irving
and his advisers are the guilty authors

The Bailiff of the borough, Mr. Garstang, protested strongly,
and in vain, against the requisition for cavalry. He was
answered shortly and decisively by the Rev. R. Noble, of
Whalley, " we shall take the responsibility upon ourselves."
A heavy responsibility they have incurred. Innocent blood
has been shed which cries aloud for justice, and justice will be
done. The influential inhabitants of the borough are in mo-
tion—a public meeting is about to be held, and a petition to
the House of Commons prepared, praying for inquiry into the
conduct of the military, into the conduct of the Magistrates,
and the punishment of the guilty. We have this moment
heard, which God avert, that this infatuated man, the Tory
Candidate of Clitheroe, intends to renew his visit there to-
morrow. The indignation of the people is hourly increasing.
The belief is, that he will canvass at the point of the bayonet.
We cannot believe it, but if he does set foot in Clitheroe his
military escort must be a strong one, if he ever intends to quit
it. We are told that the people are arming themselves,
and that a bloody shirt of which not four square inches remain
unsteeped in the gore of one of the victims of crimson dye deep
as the badge of his own party, will be hoisted as a standard
against him. The number of wounded exceeds what we have
before stated.