The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-25 00:00:00

THE RIOT ET HYDE-PARK.

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That the disgraceful scene in Hyde-park, recorded
yesterday morning, continued throughout the day
will not be matter of surprise, considering the ele-
ments of which the mob consisted. At a very early
hour in the morning there was a considerable
gathering chiefly of those who, by appearance,
would not under present circumstances be qualified
either for lodger or household suffrage ; but as the
day wore on the crowd increased, numbers of
women and children thronging to see the " fun."
`With the exception that a few decently-clad per-
sons yiere " bonneted," and that some half dozen
semi-fashionably dressed women had their long
skirts first trodden on and then torn off—when they
fled as best they might—there was not much sign of
serious disturbance till about half-past two- o'clock.
Only a few of the police had been visible during
the morning, till about the time mentioned a car-
riage was driven rather rapidly through the park,
which seemed to arouse the wrath of the mob, and a
few stones were thrown, one of which hitting the
coachman he lashed at the people, who then tho-
roughly pelted, and materially damaged, the car-
riage. As in duty bound the police sought to pro-
tect the vehicle and its occupants. Whereupon
the usual vindictiveness of a mob against the police
broke out with tremendous force, and the few
officers present were obliged to beat a retreat, and
leave the populace " masters of the situation." A
few of the more violent amongst the mob had been
captured, but released, when the arrival of a strong
posse of constables evidenced that mischief was an-
ticipated, and that, if attempted, the authorities
would enforce the law. Numerous skirmishings
took piece, and a few ruffians were locked up, when
the Life Guards took up position in the Bayswater-
road and on the new road in the park to prevent the
mobocracy using brickbats as on the day before.
Between 6 and 7 o'clock two members of the Re-
form League Council obtained permission from Sir
Richard Mayne to address the assemblage in the
open part of the park, and endeavoured to persuade
the mob to disperse. In vain did Mr. Geo. Brooke
and Mr. Cunnington use their strongest but not
most grammatical language—"the people" would not
assent to the urgent entreaties of their tribunes un-
less the police were withdrawn, and the park left to
their tender mercies. It was in vain that Lieut.-
Colonel Dickson urged this on the attention of Sir
Richard Mayne, who, doubtless acting on instruc-
tions, remained firm. Colonel Dickson then threat-
ened the Chief Commissioner that, unless the police
were withdrawn, he (Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson)
would not be responsible for the consequences.
This continued parley had occupied some time,
and it became evident that the dense mass out
on the open part of the park were being
moved, and the helmets of the Life Guards over the
hill showed those at the Marble-arch that the mili-
tary had been called out to assist the civil power ;
and so gradually the mob were driven up to and out
of the north side of the park. A detachment of the
Grenadiers cleared the shrubberies from stragglers,
and more than one " patriot" was captured with
stone in pocket and bludgeon in hand, but gradually
the whole expanse was tolerably clear. Scenes of a
similar character had been enacted on the south side
of the park, but the Marble-arch has evidently been
made by the mob the key of the position. No one
can pretend tb give a list of the casualties, but it is
certain that one policeman had his face cut open with
a sharp stone, and that several of the mob must have
suffered when the volleys of stones necessitated a
" charge" in self-defence, which scattered the mob
like dust. None of the self-styled friends and. self-
ccnstituted spokesmen of the " working, classes"
seemed to have interfered in any way to check these
disgraceful scenes, nor, as far as could be under-
stood, has any attempt been made by the Reform
League to assist in quelling a riot originated by their
conduct and perverseness. It was left to Mr. Geo.
Brooke and Mr. Cunnington to speak on their own
behalf, and countenance the dispersion of the mob,
for both those persons most emphatically stated
they had not any authority from the League,
but were only delivering individual opinions.
It has been stated that Mr. Beales lost his
watch, and to this we may add that the same
" patriot," or some friend also " annexed " the
illustrious gentleman's pocket-hvidkerchief and two
pair of gloves.
Rumour asserts that Ministers had a meeting
last evening, and that probably special constables
would be sworn in, and the Riot Act read if the ex-
isting lawlessness of affairs continues.

MEETING OF THE WORKING MEN'S
ASSOCIATION.

A crowded meeting of the London Working
Men's Association was held last evening, at the
Brougham Dining-hall, Fleet-street—Mr. G. Potter
in the chair —to consider the conduct of the Go-
vernment in reference to the Hyde-park meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said the object of the present
meeting was to express au opinion on the conduct
of the Government in its attempt to suppress public
opinion by the bludgeons of the police and military
force. He detailed at some length the proceedings
connected with the demonstration on Monday even-
ing, and thought the Tories could no longer say
with truth that the working men of London were
indifferent to reform. No one regretted more than
himself the disorderly conduct which had taken
place in the park, but the Government and the
police were alone to blame. Had the Reform League
been allowed to hold its meeting, everything would
have passed off in the most orderly and peaceable
manner. The Government, however, had thought
proper to attempt the suppression of public opinion,
and the responsibility for all the subsequent events
rested upon them alone. (Cheers.) Mr; B. Lang-
ley, however, had held a meeting in the park on
Monday evening, and he much regretted that the
League had not done so likewise, having had the
same opportunity. (Hear.)
A long and animated discussion took place,
during which several instances of violence on the
part of the police were given, and a general opinion
expressed that a continued agitation must be kept
up to get rid of the present Ministry, who, it was
averred, had shown by its conduct it possessed all
the old spirit of Toryism, arid distrust of the people.
Mr. BLIGLI moved the following resolutions :
" That this association emphatically condemn the
action of the Government in attempting the suppres-
sion .of the reform meeting in Hyde-park, called by
the Reform Leaghe on Monday evening last, and
consider the Government to be responsible for all
damage or breaches of the peace committed in
Hyde-park on the above evening."
"That this association, while deeply regretting
the disorders which occurred in Hyde-park on Mon-
day evening, is of opinion that such disorders were
mainly, if not wholly, provoked by the brutal vio-
lence of a large portion of the police on duty in the
park on that evening."
" That the best thanks of this association are
given to Mr. Baxter Langley for his taking the chair
at a public meeting held in Hyde-park on Monday
evening last, in defiance of the police authorities,
and thus practically vindicating the right of the
people to hold a meeting in the park."
Mr. RANDALL seconded the resolutions, which
were carried amidst loud cheers.

Mr. STRONG then moved—" That the association
call an open air meeting in Lincoln's-inn-fields on
next Tuesday evening, to give the working men of
London an opportunity of expressing their opinions
on the conduct of the Tory Government on Monday
last."

The resolution was agreed to, and the executive
committee were instructed to carry out the details.
The meeting then adjourned.

PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE BISHOP OF DURHAM.
—Ecclesiastical proceedings are about being instituted
against the Right Rev. Dr. Baring, Bishop of Durham, for
an alleged violation of the law of tho Church. It appears
that at a confirmation recently held in his diocese his lord-
ship openly rejected in church 30 candidates who had been
prepared and presented by the Rev. William Darnell, M.A.,
rector of Bamburgh, and chaplain to the Duke of Buccleucb,
on the ground that they were under 15 years of age, one of
them being the rector's daughter. The opinion of Sir R.
J. Phillimore, Q.C., the Queen's Advocate, has been taken
upon the point, and he declares the conduct of the Bishop
of Durham to be illegal.
The Rev. Thomas Beard, 8.A., of Jesus College,
Cambridge, has been instituted by the Bishop of Norwich
to the rectory of Stokesby-with-Herringby, in the county
of Norfolk, on the presentation of his uncle, Charles Beard,
Esq., of Rottiugdeau, mar Driglatou,