The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-04 00:00:00

THE ROYAL ADELAIDE STEAMER.

PLYMOUTH, APRIL 2.—Mr. Payne, who left this
port with his wife and three children in the Royal
Adelaide steamer on Friday last, was a surgeon, and
has resided for some time past at Albany-place, Ply-
mouth, where some of his family were left to follow
by another conveyance. Mrs. Mary Anne Hurst is
the wife of a coachman in a gentleman's family re-
siding on the Surrey side of the river, about twelve
miles from the City ; she was married only at
Christmas, and had been on a visit to her relations at
her native place, Lostwithiel, whence she took with
her a sister, Miss Jane Wetter, as a companion, to
London. Ann Welsh, 35, of No. 16, Mulberry-
street, Devenport, had three children, 14, 9, and 6,
with her, and left behind a fourth, a son, aged 17,
employed at the shipbuilding-yard of Mr. Banks,
Frank's-quarry, Mount Edgcumbe. Ann Welsh took
her furniture, and was going to join her husband,
John Welsh, a boatswain in the Royal Navy, on board
a man-of-war at Woolwich.

MILITARY RIOT AT GREENWICH FAIR,

The three days of Greenwich fair closed last night
at eleven o'clock,-previous to which a scene took plate
that will not easily be forgotten by those who were
unfortunate enough to be present.
About a quarter-past seven o'clock, a large body of
the Royal Artillery assembled immediately opposite
Itichardson's travelling show, apparently enjoying the
outside performance, when all of a sudden one of the
soldiers gave a party standing near a violent blow on
the head, for the purpose of bonneting him. The
person having some friends with him, they remon-
strated with the soldier upon his impropriety of con-
duct, when a number of his comrades took his part,
and made use
.of several insulting . expressions. At
that time a great many persons were waiting at the
entrance to go into the theatre to witness the perform-
ance, when the soldiers commenced throwing nuts at
the females, and making use of the most disgraceful
language. Mr. Nelson Lee, the proprietor of the
theatre,' hen came forward, and having gained the
foot of the platform, he begged that the parties below
would not attempt to insult the audience, when a
general shout of " Off, off," and " Full the show
down;' was raised.
The artillery then rushed in a body up the steps of
the theatre, and having gained possession of the plat-
form, they forthwith commenced a violent attack upon
the performers, the audience, es well as the crowd
below. Men, women, and children were similarly
attacked, and having gained possession of the swords,
staves, and other theatrical properties belonging to
Mr. Lee, the same were used as weapons of warfare.
At this period there were about 100 men of the
artillery present, when a party of the Royal Marines
came up, and seeing how things were proceeding, they
at once went to the aid of the other soldiers. So far
bad the riot up to this time proceeded, that men were
knocked over the heads and so severely wounded, that
blood was running down their dresses, and women
with children in their arms were screaming most fran-
tically. The crowd below was so dense, that it was
extremely difficult for any one to escape.
The police on duty in the fair made towards the
scene of action, and endeavoured to quell the riot, Lut
the number of soldiers present was too great for them
to be of any assistance, for the moment they at-
tempted to arrest any of the rioters, they were
knocked about by the military, and it was at
length deemed necessary to send for a stronger
body of police, when Mr. Superintendent
Mallilicu, and Inspector Oravestock and Mark!, with

a body of mounted officers, started to the spot. The
mounted men, as well as those on foot, erred the
greatest forbearance, but upon their reaching the mi-
litary, the latter offered every resistance, and it was
only owing to the judicious directions given to the
police by the superintendent and inspectors that the
force were not overpowered, for the soldiers made a
fearful onslaught, and knocked down several of the
officers and civilians. The latter, in their turn,
fought desperately with the Artillery and Marines,
and a great number were seriously wounded, some
being carried off with their heads cut open. Mr.
Mallilieu at this juncture sent a messenger to Wool-
wich to procure the assistance of a picquet, to aid the
civil force, whilst his own men laboured incessantly
to apprehend the leaders of the riot. After some re-
sistance, the police succeeded in apprehending five of
the more desperate soldiers. These were instantly
marched off to the East Greenwich station, and were
locked up. Notwithstanding that the men saw what
was going on towards quelling the riot, and appre .
Lending the rioters, the work of destruction con -
tinued, and besides doing serious mischief to ti ,e
theatre, the dramatis personce, Mr. Nelson Lee, a' id
several other parties, were knocked about and injur rd
by the military. At length the police succeeded in
apprehending sixteen more of the ringleaders.

THE EXHIBITION OF__lBsl-TEiE

NATIONAL GALLERY.

The following correspondence has been handed to
us for publication :

TO HER MAJESTY'S COMBIISSIO/TERS FOR PROMO TING

THE EXHIBITION OF ALL NATIONS.

May it p'ease your Royal Highness, my Lords, and
Gen!lemen,—Feeling, in common with thousands of my
countrymen moving in as humble a sphere of life, the
importance of the undertaking over which you are called
upon by her Majesty to preside, I humbly beg leave to
lay Lerore you the following suggestion in the hope that
your Royal Commission may serve the twi fold object of
leaving a lasting memento of your distinguished services
to the country. and also a worthy receptacle for the
valuable collection of paintings belonging to it.
I venture, havinf, observed that a Noble Lord has, it
his pla,...et in Parliament, as,ured the public thq
building which your Royal Commission proposes to
erect for the purposes of the Grand Exhibition of 11451
is not to be a laqing "encumbrance," humbly to Aug-
gst that your Royal Commission may take it into your
consideration to erect such a building as may, after the
purposes of your Royal Commission have been answered,
be easily converted into or remein in its original state
for a National Gallery, and that your Royal Coramisaion
may take ennh measures as may afterwards be necessary
for establishing the building for the purposes of that
, institution upon a permat eat basis. •

In conclusion, I humbly beg leave to suggest to your
Royal Commission that in the event of your entertain-
ing my proposal, you will reconcile any opposition to
the proposed site of the building, and the privat* sub:
seriptior,s now being raised for the purpose:: of yout
Royal Commission will be largely increased by those
who have hitherto withheld their adhesion to this grand
epoch in the history of our country.
I have the honour to be, your Royal Highness, my
Loa's and Gentlemen, your most obedient and very
humble servant,

GEORGE MARCU,
Cornwall Cottiges, Henry-Arcet, Vauxhall,
March 26, 1850.
(Copy.)
—• •

1, Old Psil:ice-yard, Westminster,
2Sth March, 1850.

Sir,—l a•n directed to acknowlete the receipt of your,
communication i f the 26th inst., and to thank you for th a
interest manitei ted by you in this great undertaking, as
evinced by your suggestion, which has been reierrad to
the proper quarter.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant.
(Signed) M. 13icilY WYATT, Secretary.
To Mr. George March,
3, Cornwall Cottages, Henry-street, Vauxhall.