The Sun.
London, England, 1835-06-15 00:00:00

VIE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 15, 1835.

Hon. Baronet's proposal ; and every day's experience
since has confirmed the most favourable anticipations
of its value as a protection to individual life and pro-
perty, and to.the public peace. The army need, then,
in scarcely a single instance be brought into collision
with the people.—Thnes.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
Sir,—The Bristol riots, which must be fresh in the recol-
lection of every individual, bear a similarity to those which have
lately occurred at Wolverhampton. At the former period I
wrote some remarks for the public prints on the situation of
the military using their own discretion—soldiers acting on their
own judgment, without the direction of civil peover, and from
the extraordinary proceedings at that time, with a combination
of opinion of civil and military authority. I ever said it would
prove the example for future trouble and the expence of public
inquiry. '1 he law was laid down at Bristol by one of our first
magistrates, the Lord Chief Justice, affirming that the soldier
had the right, in common with every other citizen, to use his
own discretion, and it was his duty to do so in all tumults, and
subdue the same without the immediate directions of the civil
authority.
The general officer ccrnminding, agreeing in the same opi-
nion, gave his orders accordingly ; and we have now before us
the consequences of such a measure, the discretion then given
being now complained of as indiscretion, and thus the soldier
is placed in a situation to expose him to censure and pu-
nishment. Authority is given him which he has not discri-
mination to exercise, and he naturally feels a sanguine spi-
rit in the execution of his duty, which leads him to excess.
In the former observations I offered for insertion in your
valuable paper, as coming from an old officer of rank and long
experience in such important duties, the variety of circum-
stances under my notice as to the movements of the troops
under my command, and the fulfilment of the orders of the civil
power.
The riots in London, in the year 1780, gave me in
the first instance an insight into those essential duties. In
those tumults a soldier was never allowed to use his sword or
fire his carbine without the positive directions of the magis-
trate then present, and who at that period was mounted on
horseback, wherever his presence was required, attended by
the military officer commanding, ready to receive and enforce
his orders. At every other tumult 1 have been present at in
various parts of the kingdom, and of the most alarming and
serious nature, I have witnessed the same regulations with
regard to the civil power, and its good example producing,
the most salutary effects. But when we find magistrates
standing in balconies and at windows reading the Riot Act,
and not attending the troops in person at the moment to give
the directions to use their arms, and following them in the
pursuit, how can that magistrate judge of the proper time for
the soldier to desist from the execution of his duty, when
out of his reach and sight ? The cessation of firing and
sheathing the sword is the important moment of discretionary
power, and who can be so proper a judge as the person in
whose hands the authority is placed? Having so far ventured
my sentiments on the military duties, I shall make some re-
marks on what I conceive necessary for the suppression of
tumults before the troops are called on for their assistance,
which should never take place but in the last extremity. That
the civil power should put in force such arrangements of em-
bodying well-selected citizens as constables who can be de-
pended on, and in number according to the appearance of the
mob assembled or likely to assemble (for I must here observe
there never was a riot contemplated) unknown to the civil.
authorities ; and from that circumstance there can be no ex-
cuse for the want of preparation to check it. The Mayor of
the town where the disturbance takes place must necessarily
convene a meeting of magistrates for the arrangements of this
measure, their respective duties being pointed out to the police,
and also their disposal in different parties or divisions. This
being similar to military organization, it would be attended
with tenfold effect to that of the loose and deranged manner, as
is generally the case ; it would also show the assembling tribe
what they have to expect if a breach of the peace was to take
place. Ninety and nine times out of a hundred it would de-
ter the people from excess, and crush the evil in the bud. In
the riots at Nottingham, and in all the disturbed districts in that
neighbourhood, at the memorable period of the Luddites in the
year 1812, the foregoing arrangements were so admirably ob-
served under the directions of his Grace the Duke of New-
castle, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, and so ably put
into execution by every magistrate under him, that though a
strong military force was at hand, they were never called on to
act but in cases of extreme violence. Such was the unre-
mitting vigilance of their efforts as to break up an organized
system of destruction in the country, which never showed
itself on any former occasion, and which meritorious exertions
should remain an example for future events of the same de
scription to be guided by.

A GENERAL OFFICER.

SECOND EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock.

THE PARLIAMENT.

(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The Speaker took the chair at three o'clock.
Mr. E NIE RSON TENNANT presented a petition from
the inhabitants and landholders of Belfast against the Belfast
and Cam-hill ltail-road.

dual of the name of Alexander Hoffentide, who had formerly
conducted two public journals in Jamaica. In 1831, an insur-
rection having arisen amongst the slaves of that island, it was
imputed to this gentleman that the general tendency of his
writings had the effect of exciting this insurrection, and the
consequence was that this gentleman was imprisoned without
any legal process, or specific charge being made against him.
Notwithstanding this, this gentleman had been altogether un-
able to obtain redress, and the public feelings had been so much
excited by his imprisonment, that this gentleman had been
unable to continue in his profession. He had, consequently,
returned to England, and applied for the situation of stipen-
diary magistrate, for which, by his residence in the island, he
was well qualified. Ile recommended the case to the consi-
deration of the House.
STATE OF SHIPPING.
The Hon. MEMBER then presented a petition from the
seamen of South Shields, complaining of the state in which
ships were sometimes sent to sea, and ►n very many instances
persons were sent in command of them who were unskilful, and
unable to manage the vessels in strong weather.
. Mr. ING RAM supported the prayer of the petition.
Mr. BUCKING 11 ANI presented five similar petitions from
Clonmel, Belfast, and other places, to the same effect.
Mr. INGRAM presented similar petitions from Newcastle-
upon-Tyne. Alao, a petition from South Shields, in favour of
some alteration in the Impressment Act.
SMALL DEBTS. _

Mr. C. FERGUSSON presented a petition from a person
named Robert Stirling, praying for some alteration in the law
with respect to the recovery of small debts in Scotland. The
Right lion. Gentleman trusted that in the course of the pre-
sent session, or in the next, means would be taken for the
better administration of justice in the Sheriff's Court.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
Mr. MARK PHILLIPS presented a petition from the
shopkeepers of Manchester, praying fora change in the law of
Debtor and Creditor, and for an increese of the number
of Local Courts.

Major BE AUCLERK pesented a petition to the same
effect from a place we could not hear.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that in the Bill,
,as it now stood, a clause had been introduced, providing that
where debts had been improvidently contracted, the party
oontracting them should receive imprisonment.
Mr. M. PHILLIPS, seeing the Attorney-general in his
place, wished to know when it was his intention to bring the
further discussion upon the Bill before the House.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that he had been
most anxious to put the subject into the paper for discussion
on Wednesday next, on which day he trusted it would be
brought forward; if, however, anything occurred to prevent it
he would bring it on that day se'nnight.
MR. CHILD'S CASE. _ _

Mr. M. PHILLIPS presented a petition from the Dis-
senters of Manchester, referring to the case of 111 r. Childs,
and praying for an alteration in the law of the Ecclesiastica'
Courts. Also a petition from the same place for a genera]
Registration.