The Sun.
London, England, 1821-10-27 00:00:00

insertion of which he should propose. it was a
statement of the circumstances drawn up by Mr.
Mortimer, 'a person' belonging to the officeof Mr.
Burchill, the Under-sheriff, who accompanied
him (Mr. W.) on the day of the riots at Knights-
bridge, and was an eye-witness of 'all that oc-
curred. Ile would merely present the papers,
the Court then would dispose of them as they
thought fit.

The letters, together with .the statement of
Mr. Mortimer, wlre then read. They were as
follows

"IWhitehall, Aug. 30, 1321.,
" SIR—At a late hour, last night I received your letter of
yesterday,' in ,which you ix six o'clock on Sunday afternoon as
the time wii.en'the outrage took place, which you represented in
your former letter to,have been committed on the Civil Power
by the Life Guards.

• .-
"- I liaTe—o-Oy to desire that you will state the precise time
when you withdrew from Knightsbridge; after tranquillity had
been perfectly restored, Unless you should have any objection
to make such a.statement. I am, Sir,
" Your most obedient humble Servant; • • -
" Mr. Sheriff WaithMan. " BATHURST."

" M Loin—l can have no objection to give your Lordship
every information in my power, but it is difficult to speak with
exact precision as to time. 1 has 4 already stated, that it was
six o'clock when the affray at KnighiSbridge took place; it
might have been a quarter of an hour after. 'I left Hyde Park-
corner, as nearly as I can state,libout a quarter before eight'
o'clock. • • •

" I have the honour to be,

" Your Lordship's most obedient 'humble'Servant,
- (Signed) , "•ROBT.
" Bridge-street; Aug. 30, 1821:
"- To the Right lion. Earl Bathurst, &c."
• " 24, Red Lion-square, Aug. 27, 1821.
" SIR —Agreeably to your desire, J shall endeavour to enu-
merate a few oftheleading featnresoccasionedby the procession
and burial of Honey and Francis' yesterdak. It is unnecessary,
for me to enumerate the assemblage by your order of the -civil
power in and about Smithfield, or the orderly manner in which
the procession moved from thence to Hammersmith. The only
provocation given to-lin:di& on its -passage,' was occasioned by a
brickbat being thrown,.,- es it was said,: from the 'Barracks 'at
Knightsbridge; 'by the individual who produced it to you, and
Who appeared to be.cut by'the sane& tour' interference had the.
desired effect, and tranquillity was restored:. On out, ai rival at
Haminersmith; eyery_thing.appearing yereeerderly, and no dan-
ger of tumultey,oueSir, proposed returning towards the barracks,
for the purpose. of persuading the-populace assembled to reserain
any irritable &elle g which might be,excited if the Life Guards;
appeared ; with this in view We arrived at_Knightsbridge, but
.what was your snrpriSe at perceiving that the barrack-gates,
which it is necessary to Observe, on the procession paersing, Were
closely shut, and by which means tunaalt was prevented, had the
foot-path near the gates covered with soldiers, besides others
drawn up on the inside, but all preient to the public, which oc-
casionedgreat disepprObation to, be expressed by the 'people.--:-
*Upon which'you rode up and requested theM to withdraw from'
such position. Instead of cornplying, they immediately replied
' they had a right to stand there.' You observed that you did'
not intend at such a time to dispute their right, but requested
them to withdraw; that yonr sole desire was to preserve the
peace and prevent mischief, which their perseverance in
,ap-.
peering in such a Station was likely to create ; and farther or-
dered, that any individual who should insult or give any pro-
vocation to a soldier, should be immediately taken into custody.
At this the soldiers laughed, and appeared determined' to re-
main. You then inquired the name of the Commanding Officer.,
and that he might be. informed that. it was your particular re-
quest that the men might be withdrawn. No notice being taken
by them, youlannediately ordered'your Officers to inform the
Commanding 'Officer of this your request. Upon the Officers'
entering the barracksy they were ordered-Ace retire from the
same, with this, 4 that the Sheriffs and they might go and be
d—d.' Youthen, Sir; addressed the soldiers (perceiving t'ee
temper of the people being irritated upon this insulting an-
swer being circulated, and fearful of the, consequences), • `• ebat
as the Sheriff of the county of Middlesex you was their Com-
manding
.Officer„ and desired themimmediately to retire, and
that the gates should be closed.'- • This spirited address had
the desired effect, for after a short delay, the.„o-etes were closed
and the soldiers withdrawn. Part of the cavalcade thenarriv-
ing, we proceeded with the same as far asthe Cannon Brewery,
at Knightsbridge, 'eersuading the populate to quietness and good
order, When an officer of yours arrived and stated; , that during
your alasence a disturbance had arisen-between some few of the
g.uards and 'the-people ; we immediately returned and perceivtd
mat a seiiffie had ensued ' that others of the guards were climb-
ing. over the Barrack walls (the gates being then closed) to the
assistance of their comrades ; stones being then thrown by both
parties, a general scuffle took-, place; • this spreading in the
Barracks, and the soldiers likely to be defeated, about ffteen: or'
twenty others rushed .from the gates, armed with drawn
'sworde and. carbines, when you immediately rode up to 'the
scene of action and endeavOnred to disengage the combatants.
Not succeeding in the moment, we rode on the footpa'th in •
the hope of doing 'so; when I was attacked by a soldier who
made a thrust at lie .without effict ; bat' another struck me a•
blow on the thigh, and at the saineinetaeit one of your officers
was knocked down by my -side,. and whpm I nearly rode over,
which„pre.vented the in the instant from riding to your assist-
ance ; 'for on turning nand, I observed you in imminent danger
ordering the people to desist, contriving to separate them, and
desiring the soldiers ,immediately to retnrii to their Barracks. -
Uposi.which the.soldier whom you addressed relative to
the'gates in the fiestinstarree, at the Barracks, rushed up; placing
his shoulder to sour horse, whilst you, was. thus eneeged (being.•
then oa-the footpath, which being en eminence, rendered year,.
retreat the more dangerons),,sivore he would-teach you to ride
'on the footpath, and was in the act of foreinge-ou fro the same,-
,
ethen von, fortunately fee your Own preservation, struck the felt
law with your stick, which made him forego his intention of of-
feting further Violence. He could not plead' ignorance Of your
being the Sheriff, enereforeth.e insult'was. the snore gross. :The
officers arriving succeeded in protecting you froni fresh insults,
but not till you had been forced .by the soldiers 'fieiin the path
Into the road. ' It is also necessary to remarkethat eysoldiee was
observed loading; his .carbine,••leith theeeVident intention of else
charging it; which, upon being 'discovered by one of your officers,
was struck out of his head. The officers in the barracks, Ipre-
game, .heterinefof,thiseconchiet, ordered the soldiers to. recurne-
which, after. somethfie, was effected, To, reetore tranquillity
once, snore was ydurilegiree and your exertions succeeded hee
yond your most sanguine exPectetionse as also in withdrawing
.tfie greater part of theeeepulace from the busy scene. . About 8'
o'clock we returned towards Hyde Park-corneieeVery thieg, ape
nearing tranquillised ; "and'thiis ended a most fatiguing as well
hazardous:as uty for -hien.; to WhOrii r haVe the honour to sub-
scribe myself moseobedient humble servant, •1..
• • • - HENRY. MORTIMER.
" Sheriff AVaitinnan."

._.. .
. Mr. FAVELL thought the most '.desirable *ay
7 Wetkid be,. whe'n• the.- papers were received, `for
'for
insertion, ip..;the: Journals,:te refer them tOsa
Corninittee..4. "General Purposes.' The Coin-
mittee might then determine whether it would
•
..be-advisaple. to institute• any. further proceeding.
Mr...P,ixo)r.i thoughl,the-best way 'would-. be to
r..eferA,the' •Papirs to a CortiOlitt'ee...of- G ferieFifl)4r'7".
•„
:pcise,..s..., -They, would then have an opportunity of
lictaring
.rnore t4n,onq side, .of ,the,,question.---i
-,The're w,ere,dir,cumstances in. the .case.,.,that ap-
Feared, sorneWhat singufar, and, requ4e4,,,a little
..pliiiation.,;lfvas...yather a strapge,.thing that-two.
persons,, not..itativts ofliarnmerstnitbc„shquJd be.
conveied the l'e lot. thf!,,Ru raose. of. beiUgAtt4nfle,d.
..by a . fucif ral. Prqc,essicn,.,,. It *.lls
.aisp.,alf.akffe.
11q 41
1 -11iNs.IRtiltli#0411.1.4e.14..,..'&gc,- onktif.o.";, 5413-
• '