The Sun.
London, England, 1832-01-12 00:00:00

QUEEN- S QUARE.

Two poor miserable-looking boys, clad in rags,
named James and John Miller, apparently between
ten and twelve years of age, were brought up in cus-
tody by a police constable of the A division, and
p!aced at the bar before Mr. GREORIE, charged
with stealing a few cinders out of a dust-hole, at
the mansion of his Grace the Duke of Leeds, in
Privy-gardens, Parliament-street.
The police constable detected the boys, and found
a few cinders in an old rag on their person, and
took them to the station-house. The few handsfull
of cinders did not appear to be of the slightest value.
The poor children had the appearance of being
nearly starved, and they cried bitterly. On being
questioned by Mr. GREGORIE, the eldest boy,
James, a fine intelligent little fellow, stood forward
as spokesman, and said that he was the eldest of
five children, and they lived with their mother, No.
1, Cottage-court, Orchard-street, Westminster, and
they were nearly starved to death for want of food.
His father had forsaken them some time ago, and
left them quite destitute. His mother went out to
work as a charwoman when she could get any thing
to do, but latterly s!!e had no work to go to. He
had lately come home from sea, and had sold all his
clothes to purchase victuals for his younger brothers
and sisters, but now every thing was gone, and they
had not a morel of firing. He admitted picking
out the cinders from the dust-hole, to try to make
his mother some fire, and he did not know that he
was doing wrong. The poor child then went on to
state that they had nothing but potatoes to eat ;
and on the previous day they had a few potatoes
left, but no fire to boil them ; that he had pulled
the rushes out of an old chair to make a fire, but
they could not get the potatoes warmed through,
and were forced to eat them nearly raw. Several of
them were left, and he wanted the cinders to try and
boil them a little more. He wanted to go to sea
again, but had no clothes.
Mr. GRI£GoRIE asked him what his father was,
and if he knew what had become of him ?—The boy
replied that his father was a musician, and formerly
was in the band belonging to the Guards; he be-
lieved that he was at present engaged in the
orchestra at the Brighton theatre, at a salary of 355.
per week.

Mr. GREGORIE immediately gave directions to
the officers to go to No. 1, Cottage-court, and in-
quire into the truth of the boy's statement, and also
to bring the mother of the boys to the Office.
In a short time the mother arrived, and looked
the picture of wretchedness; but although clothed
in rags, she was remarkably clean in her person.
The statement of the boy appeared too true. In
a miserable room, without any fire and destitute of
furniture, with the exception of part of an old table,
one chair, with the rushes all pulled out, an old
blanket, and part of a bed-tick, the wretched mo-
ther and two children were found; on moving the
blanket at the corner of the room another child was
found covered with an old rag, apparently about two
years of age.

Mr. GREGORIE questioned the mother, and she
made a similar statement to that of her son.

Some money was immediately given to her, and
she was directed to go home and get her children
some victual=. The boys were instantly discharged.
About the close of the Office business, Mr. Gal-
lon, the landlord of the King's Head, in Orchard-
street, came to the Office, and said that he had vi-
sited this unfortunate family, and a scene of greater
misery and distress he never had witnessed in his
life. He had seen the mother frequently about, and
believed her to be a sober industrious woman.

Mr. Munns, the landlord of the house where this
unfortunate family lodged, bore testimony to the
good character of the mother. They had lodged at
the house a considerable time, and were to have paid
him 2s. 6d. per week for the room. They wete in
arrears to him 2/. Is. 6d. ; but such was their dis-
tress, that he had not the heart to turn them into
the street, although he had no chance of getting a
farthing of rent.
Mr. GREGORIE gate some money out of his own
pocket to be laid out for the present necessities of
the family, and promised to endeavour to do some-
thing more for them.

At Cambridge borough sessions on Monday,
HENRY BRAINS, a student of the university, was found
guilty of putting combustibles into the letter-box of the
Post-office with a view to destroy the letters, and was
sentenced to six months' imprisonment, pay a fine of 51.,
and to find two sureties of 501. each to keep the peke
to.vards Mr. BRowN, the postmaster. The defendant
throughout the trial did not hetrAy the least emotion, but
his eye was intently fixed on the Recorder and the Coun-
sel during their respective addresses. It was understood
that every convenience, with a view to the prosecution of
his studies whilit in prison, will be afforded, so far as is
consistent with the sentence ; and he left the Court, which
was crowded almost to suffocation, to learn, it may be
hoped, not to make such perilous experiments for the time
to come. When the sentence was passed, considerable
satisfaction was manifested by the crowd in the body of
the Court,---Batton Gazette.

NOTTINGHAM SPECIAL COMMISSION

NOTTINGHAM—TUESDA Y.
The Court assembled this morning at nine o'clock,
and the first cage called on was another indictment
arising out of the late fire at Beeston mills.

BEESTON MILLS.
Adam Waßstafe, aged 26, Henry King, aged 17,
William Hitchcock, aged 23, and Tho Mas Grundy,
aged 40, were indicted for having riotously and tu-
multuously assembled, with others, at Beeston, and
feloniously broken and entered a certain silk mill,
the property of William Lowe, and set fire to the
s tme, on the 11th of October last. The prisoners
all pleaded Not Guilty.
Mr. CLARKE stated the case for the prosecution,
and to substantiate the indictment he called nume-
rous witnesses, after which the Jury retired at half-
past seven o'clock, to consider of their verdict. Af-
ter an absence of forty minutes, they returned into
Cour', and gave in the following verdict :—Adam
Wagstaffe, Not Guilty ; Henry King, Not Guilty;
W. Hitchcock, Not Guilty ; and Thomas Grundy,
'ot Guilty.

This verdict was received with a cry of huzza by
the audience in Court.

BRISTOL SPECIAL COMMISSION.

BRISTOL, WEDNESDA Y, JAN. 11 .

Christopher Davis was put to the bar, charged
with having, with others, riotously and tumultuously
assembled on Sunday, the 30th of October, and
demolished and destroyed a certain house,--to wit,
the new gaol of this city.
The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty. He seemed
to be greatly affected by his situation, and wept much
while the Jury were sworn in. His appearance and
manner were those of a respectable man, and we
understand that he lately retired from business, hav-
ing secured a comfortable independence.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, for the prosecution,
said that the mob which laid Bristol waste for three
days must necessarily, in that time, have undergone
change in its component parts, but the prisoner
would be proved to have been present from the
first moment at the Mansion-house, not with a good
motive, but inciting and encouraging violence by
the most inflammatozy language. That language,
too, was addressed to the lowest and most ignorant
persons, and therefore doubly calculated to be in-
jurious, coming from a person in a station more ele-
vated than their own. It would be seen that the
mob was peculiarly capable of diversion, had such
men as the prisoner taken pains to advise them, and
make them desist from their mischievous practices.
He would be shown to have been at the Mansion-
house on Saturday, when Sir Charles Wetherell
was attacked. That afterwards, on the Sunday,when
it was broken in, he partook of the repast there. That
he was near the Bridewell, was in front of the gaol,
cheering the mob,saying that theßishops mus the pulled
down, and the churches used for mending the high-
ways. Ile was afterwards at Queen's•square,and the
l3ishop's Palace, and appeared overpowered with de-
light at the crash of the gates, and the demolition
there effected. He ought to state that the prisoner had
undoubtedly taken a great deal of wine, and the un-
fortunate man boasted of it, when he was spoken to
by persons, who said to him, " Good God, how can
a respectable mart like you join in this—come into
my house and stay no longer." Having said that
he was drunk, some one said, " Surely you have not
drank any wine from the places plundered ?" He
said he had ; that he was at the Mansion-house,
where he saw the feast set out for Sir Charles We-
diesel], and took part of it. The Learned Attor-
ney-General then went into the law with respect to
the effect of liquor upon men, and their guilt in
taking more than they could bear. He spoke of this
as a part of the defence intended for the prisoner,
and also said he understood that the prisoner was to
be defended on the ground of his weak understand-
ing. If, however, he went through the ordinary
business of life steadily, this could not avail ; and it
would be moreover proved, that he had quite sense
enough to tell a friend the day after the fire, that he
had placed himself in an awkward situation ; that he
in consequence absconded, and was found concealed
with great art in a house at Sutton-Monies, in Dor-
set shire.

half-past
30th o
eightf October;
o'clocklger; washa Edward Culliford, a grocer in Bristol, was here
soqnu Sunday,are fron the 3
morningin Q Queen-
square e
until half-past two. There were a great number of
that
persons riotously assembled, and heaving stones and
bottles at the Mansion-house. Saw the prisoner
there about one o'clock. He was standing opposite
the Mansion-house, in the red path inside the rail•
ing of the square. Then the mob was rather quiet.
Heard the prisoner abusing the Corporation, the
Bishops, and the parsons, as loud as he could speak.
Prisoner also wished that hell might open and swal-
low up all the churches and the Bishops. He had
an umbrella in his hand, and his hat, which he was
waving. Saw him for about ten minutes, and the
witness went to inquire who he was. Was now cer-
tain of his person. Witness retiredinto the Man-
sion-house. Supposed there were altogether about
two or three thousand people in the square.
Cross-examined—Had been sent for to the square
by the Magistrates.
he saw the prisoner than after. The red path runs
parallel with • the houses. There was a considerable
number of mere peaceable spectators within the
railing. There was a mob and lookers on. This pri-
sonerwas as much with the one class as with the other.
Can't say that there was a great deal of indignation
expressed by the peaceable part of the spectators
against those who were supposed the cause of the
riots. What the prisoner did in taking off his hat
was a common act to ease the head. The umbrella
was spread over his head. Could not say whe-
ther prisoner did so to ease his head or to en-
courage the mob. Could not say whether he
had not moved his own hat the same way whil
he stood there. The mob were not attacking
the Mansion-house while he saw the prisoner in
Queen-square, nor were they doing any mischief or
violence whatever at that time.
John Gilbert examined—Resided in Bristol, and
was in Queen-square on the Sunday of the riots,
about one o'clock in the afternoon, under the piazzas
of the Custom-house. There was a multitude of
people there. Saw prisoner Davis, who came to
witness and addressed himself to him. Had known
him before. He said " This is the end of your
:Magistrates and Bishops, and we'll send them
all to hell." He said this in an angry tone of voice,
and loud enough for every one near to hear. He
also called them -- robbers, and that he would
have them in chains in Queen-square, if he had his
will.

Cross-examined—Was a merchant, carrying on
business at No. 1, Little King-street, near the
Custom-house. Did not know that the mob had
been that morning in possession of the Mansion-
house. Had known mischief was done by breaking
windows ; and was there the night before, when
Sir Charles Wetherell escaped through the back
way, and asked witness's son for a hat.
Thomas Davey kept the Pilgrim public-house,
about a quarter of a mile from the Bridewell. Re-
membered the Sunday it was destroyed, and saw
prisoner at his house between two and three o'clock
that day. Prisoner had a glass of beer. John
Cross was with witness in his parlour. Prisoner
said there were pretty works, or fine works,
going on. He said he had expected such for a good many years. Prisoner appeared to be fresh in
liquor by his talking, and he said himself he was
almost tipsey. Prisoner said he had been up all
night, and that he had been down in the square.
Witness said he hoped he had not been drinking any
of the wine, and prisoner said he had. He also
said he wished every -- church in Bristol was
burned down.
Cross-examined—Had known the prisoner 14 or
15 years before. Had seen him at other times when
excited by liquor. He was in the habit, wen in
liquor, of expressing himself in a violent and h
extra-
vagant mariner. His habit this way was so noto-
rious that witness took no notice of him then more
than any other time, and would always express him-1

self on any common occasion in the same way. This
language was addressed merely to Cross and whiles;
as conversation, and not to excite any one to lair
chief. had heard some people blame the Bishop
and the Corporation, and that language was used by
those who blamed the mob.

By Mr. SMlTH—Davis was always humane .and
persevering in business, while sober; but when drunk
was very talkative and wild.

John Abraham Parker, clerk to Messrs. Lucas,
was in this city on the Sunday named. Went to
Queen-square through the avenue leading to the
back of the Mansion-house. Mr. Davis was then
under the window of the banqueting-room, an um-
brella in one hand and his hat held up over his head.
Heard him say as he passed," Hurra, go it my boys."
Cross•examined—Had known prisoner for seve-
ral years. Had often seen him excited in liquor, and
if auy body expressed political sentiments different
from his, he used to express himself in a peculiarly
extravagant manner. Notwithstanding his violence
of language, from his knowledge of Davis he would
have supposed him incapable of any atrocity, and
was very sorry to see a decent man like him on that
Sunday. It was between two and three o'clock he
saw hits.
By Mr. Serjeant WlLDE—There was a great
noise at the time mentioned, principally the yellings
of women, of whom there was a great number.
Daniel Underwood, a boatman belonging to the
Customhouse—Was in Bristol on the three days of
the riots. Witness saw prisoner on the Sunday,
opposite the new city gaol—not opposite the door,
but a part of the wall. That was between three
and four o'clock. There were great numbers of
people about him, looking on, and some were break-
ing open the gaol door. Prisoner had his hat on
when witness Srst saw him ; afterwards he took it
off, and put it on his umbrella. Prisoner cheered
the mob, and said, " Now, ye, ye would not
let us have Reform. This is what ought to be
done years ago." Saw prisoner the best part of
an hour there. There might be about 300 attack-
ing the gaol, and great numbers at the other side of
the water.

Cross•examined—Saw the soldiers come up, and
the prisoner was then standing where he described.
The soldiers passed between the prisoner and the
gaol. Prisoner was standing still at that time. Did
not hear him say anything as the soldiers passed ;
but he might have said something without witness
hearing him.

James Edward Carver was detained for debt in
the prison when the mob came there. Could not
exactly say the time the mob came, but it was in
the afternoon. Saw the prisoner in the gaol some
time after the gaol was broken open. Witness was
in the debtors' ward, and there saw prisoner in the
building. This was a considerable time after the
mob first came. There were people near the pri-
soner, but he could not say he was with them. Did
not hear prisoner say anything.
George Phipps —Lived in King-street, and heard
of the Bridewell being destroyed about one or two
o'clock on the Sunday in question. Saw the pri-
soner and other persons coming up Back-street about
two o'clock. Knew Mr. Davis for 20 years. One
of his doors was barricaded; opened it, and called
out, " Mr. Davis, Mr. Davis, for God's sake come
in." Whether he heard him or no, could not
say. It was 18 or 20 feet across the road. Witness
knew prisoner's manner so well, that he could say
that three glasses at any time would make him al-
most mad.

Cross-examined—lt was from knowing the manner
of the prisoner so many years, that witness, as an
act of friendship, wished to take him from the mob.
For 20 years he knew prisoner to be a respectable
and humane man, and if he was worth 10,0001. he
would put it in his hands.
Peter Harvey—Was on Sunday, the 30th of
October, in company with Mr. Wood at Prince's-
street-bridge. Saw Davis after the gaol was on fire
at the bottom of Prince's-street. Prisoner came
close abreast of him, but did not see from whence
he came. Davis said to witness, " I have been to
the fire, and it was a beautiful sight, only it did not
blaze fast enough to please one." He also said he
hoped all the Bishops would be hung, and the
churches burnt. Prisoner said that he had been with
the mob, and liberated the prisoners, and some of
them were timid in coming out ; also, that if they
did not come out, they should be burnt there. He
was much intoxicated, and said he was at the Man-
sion-house, and had partaken of the dinner that was
intended for Sir Charles Wetherell, which dinner
was composed of roast beef, ducks, fowls, &c., and
that he considered it a disgraceful waste while to
many thousands were starving. Witness went away
from prisoner, and before he went heard a man ad-
dress him, whom, from his accent, he took to be an
Irishman. He said, " Mr. Davis, this is the blaze
of libetty." Davis replied, " I wish I bad a hundred
such men as you are with me last night.
The trial was proceeding when our express left
Bristol.
The cases tried during the day in the other Courts
were of the most trifling and uninteresting chi:racter.

- ---- ---
WANTED TO BE MARRIED.--On the morn-
ing of Christtnas-day, a circumstance occurred at North-
fleet Church, which unfortunately interrupted divine
service in a most ludicrous manner. The clergyman had
nearly delivered half his sermon, when a young clod-
hopper, dressed in a white smock frock, with a blooming
lassie by his side, and attended by two friend.,, entered the
church, and, advancing towards the pulpit, exclaimed,
" An you please, your Honour, I am come to be married !',
The minister was for the instant, astounded by his most
unreasonable application, but presently recovered his com-
posure, and told the young joskin he must come the next
day. The congregation were unable to restrain their
risible faculties, and, for a few moments, an unhallowed
tatter disturbed the solemn stillness of the sacred edifice.—
York Courant.

A WEALTHY BEGGAR.--A short time ago,
a mendicant, an elderly man, came into a house in Quarry
Mill, in this neighbourhood. He stated, that in
ping
the mill-darn in the dark, he slipped a foot, and hadass fallen
in. He was completely drenched, and shivering with
cold. The good people administered every thing in their
power to his necessities, but still he remained restless and
dissatisfied. The cause of this uneasiness at length came
out ; he had lost his meal pockets, and could not rest until
they were found. Accordingly the whole house issued
Out on the search, with candles, lanterns, &c. and after
considerable toil, and some peril, the wallets were at length
found immersed in the mill-dam. In turning out the meal
to dry (which he was very averse to allow to
_be done),
andthey
a de
besidepsotsithermeceeaiil:t
fortocotinataeem hfiutntedernedshianld-
foity pounds, in the name of DAVID MARTIN, of the New
Bank, Dundee. When hard pressed, he acknowledged,
that besides this sum, he had an income of fifteen pounds ten
shillings a year from houses which he had purchased.
were
e r
silver, I found, besides
His habiliments were of the mast wretched description,
and his general appearance most squalid and miserable.—
Perth Advertiser.

OBIRTHS.
daughter. Halln the Bth inst. at Drove, the Lady Louisa Pole, of a
On the Bth inst. at Newcastle.on.Tyne, the lady of Lieut.. Co.
lone! Holloway, C.B. Royal Engineers, of a daughter.
On the 10th inst. Mrs. Davidson, Southampton_street,' Blooms.
bury-square, of a daughter.

RRIED.
On the 9th inst. at St. James's church, Robert, eldest son of
Robert Snow, Es-.,
Savile-row, to Georgina, eldest daughter
of Roger Kynaston, Esq., of St. James's-place.
On the 10th inst. at Clapham, the Rev. C. Lawson, M.A., of
Richmond, surrey; Morning Preacher at the Foundling Hospi-
tzil, to Frances, second daughter of the late T. Borradaile, Esq.,
of Streatham-common.
On the 10th inst. Hensleigh Wedgewood, Esq., third son of
Josiah Wedgewood, Esq. of Maer-hall, Staftbrdshire, to Frances
Emma youngest daughter of the Right Hon. Sir James Macin-
tosh, M P.

DIED.
On the 6th inst. in Brompton, Mrs. Stewart Montgomery
Hood, aged CS.
On the 2d inst. in Portman square, Mary, relict of the late F.
Dennis, Esq. of the Island of Jamaica, aged 83.
On the lith inst. M Park-street, Windsor, Mary, widow and
relict of the late Sir Wm. Herschel, K.G.H., in the B'2.d year of
her age.
On the 10th inst. at Dover, Julia Ann, third daughter of W. T.
Knight, Esq., of Great Marlborough-street, St. James's.
On the Bth inst. at Weymouth, Arabella North, widow of
Fouataine North, Esq., of Rougham, Norfolk, and late of
Hampstead.

On'the Bth inst. in Woburn-place, Julia Anne, the daughter of
P. N. Rogers, Esq.

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SUN OFFicx, 1J?, STRAND, LONDON,