The Sun.
London, England, 1819-07-24 00:00:00

SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1819.

As a Magistrate, he could only pledge I,lifist:li
to Ilse the utmost exertions to promote so impor-
tant an ingniry,--(Hear, heat !)—With !tweet
to the printed bill, he could not help recollecting
that during his own Nlayorilly, on the 2tl of De-
cember, one had been posted up every where,
on the very tnorning of the Spa-fields Meetin.::,
headed in letters so large that every chill could
read them, " SPA VI R LD•' Row !•-•-" Go it, my
Boys !"—t" Truth fora Penny !“---The object of
that bill ,vas evidently to instigate the people to
acts of violence, and he had ptobed- it to the bot-
tom, as he hoped the Lord Mayor wonlit do in this
case. He had ascertained that it was printed by a
person connected with one of the corporate bodies
of the city (the Bridewell), and with the know-
ledge, it not with the approbation of persons
understood to be connected with Government.
--(Loud cries of Hear !)--.-The Corporation, he
was confident, would assist his Lordship in every
effort, by rewards or otherwise, to detect and
punish whoever the persons wrie who had been
engaged in such practices. As far as regarded the
people at the late Smithfield Meeting, not the
slightest attempt had been made by any person
among theist to riot or disorder ; so that the au-
thor of the bill contemplated what the parties
themselves, judging from their actions, evidently
did tint.—(l-fear, hear l)
Mr. S. DIxoN said, it would better become the
Worthy Alderman to have moved thanks to the
Lord Mayor, than to have introduced this conver-
sation.

Mr. FAVFLI, alluded to the Spafields Bill, and
condemned such proceedings altogether, as being
the most likely to countetact the necessary Inca-
sure of a salutary Reform.
Mr. Alderman \VAITHMAN expressed his
that his Lordship should have said so little
about the information he had received respecting
the Bill, and so murh about the authors or the
plot to fire the City. The latter, he thought, might
have been spared, for prudential reaaons, until
some of the conspirators were detected. After al-
luding to the Spafields Bill, and the author of it,
the Worthy Alciertnan said he-was not prepared to
attach the utmost weight to Bills of such a descrip-
tion; and when he recollected the machinations of
Oliver and other spies, he could not overlook the
possibility that persons of a similar description
might be at work at present.---(Hear!)—with a
view of exciting such a ferment as would give
room for the introduction of force to put down all
free discussion among the people. With respect
to Meetings like those alluded to, he in general
looked upon them as' the worst enemies of real
Reform, on account of the opportunities they
afforded of calling into play the indiscreet zeal
of individuals. He believed, however, that
the great mass of the people was sound, and that
they could not be led away without great ex-
ejtement and much difficulty: The manner its
which the Meeting on IVednesday went off, chewed
that the people contemplated nothing violent ;
such was, he knew, the opinion of 'persons re—
siding on the spot in Smithfield, and who
during the Meeting only dreaded the occurrence
of intemperate interference-as the sonrce' of any
-danger. He hoped that no pain 3 -would be spar-
ed-to discover the'authors'(it there were any) of
so fotil a conspiracy as .that of firing-the City and
murdering its -inhabitants:- Even the information
of an -Oliver onght-noc to -beat tended to in'such a
viesv of bringing the' inquiry to some
issue. Looking, however, at the- Meeting, and
at the heavy grievances and distresses-of the peo- '
pie, he did not think insinuating the possibility
of their being participators, by contemplation, in
bloodshed and rapine, was the kindest way of
treating- them. For his own part, he expressed
his •astonishment that the Meet-ing, under all the
circumstances; went off so quietly as -it did. No-
thing could be more rash .or •ill-advised, 'or more
against the unanimous opinion of all the Magi-
strates, than the appearance•of dragoons in the
streets of the City on Wednesday ; it 'was against '
the express understanding that a soldier should be
seen, though the fullest means were• taken to
have an adequate force at hand; in case of danger.
He wat also astonished, at' the very time of the
Meeting, to see some nt the' Light Horse in
spur-street, and, as he had heard, actually tl4- •
termined; were it not for the admonition of tome
of the Civil Pciwer, to impede the procession then
passing for the Chairman. of the -Meeting. The .1
Worthy Alderman then reprehended, in the warmest
terms, the act of sending thirty or fortyconstahles.,
in time very middle of the business of the-Meeting,
to arrest Harrison.—(Cries of Hear !)
The LORD MAYOR denied that any Dragoons
were by his authOrity in the City. The City
Light Horse were only in Giltspur-street, one or
two at a tune, riding to receive his orders `every
hall hour as to the state of the Meeting. He
warmly animadverted upon the Mit-thy Alder-
man's (Waitlmian's) conduct. He was told he had
insulted those Gentlemen (the City Light Horse),
and endeavoured to instigate the people to attack
them—his conduct throughout the Meeting of the
Magistrates had been indecent, intemperate, im-
prudent, and obtrusive. The Lord Mayor then
said, that he would take every step to bring the
author otthe Bill to punishment, whoever he was,
and-he wondered his friend (Alderman Wood) did
not do the same to the author of the Spafields
Bill. He also meant to offer a reward to discover
any of the persons who were instigating-the people
to acts of violence on the late occasion:

Mr.. S. DIXON- then- reiterated his' -complaint
against the Worthy Alderman who had introduced
and kept up:this 'conversation, and intimated his
intention to move a vote of thanks' to • the Lord
Mayor.
The communleation made by the Lord Mayor
was ordered .to -be inserted on the .14.urna;s.
Mr: 5, D 1 0s expressed-Alia-14h appruhitiun

of the Lord Mayor's conduct'. It was such ride-
served to he followed, under similar cireumstaoces,
by every Chief Nlagistrate of that city, and would
carry his name down to postetity with respect and
applause. So far as regarded the apprehension of
Mr. Harrison, he acted upon what he conceived to
be toe dictates of duty. The warrant was sent
trout) the country, and it it writ not promptly else.;
cuted, to what motive could scch conduct be at-
tributed ? To nothi►ty else but tear and apprehen-
sion On the part of the Lord Mayor ?--(Hear
Mr. Alderman SCHoLgY expressed his admira-
tion of the Lord 11 —lot's conduct. He was sorry
to hear so many objections raised against it with-
out any grounds. He conceived that the inhabi-
tants of the city, and the public at large, were
highly indebted to him for the effectual prepara-
tions he made to put down riot and disorder, it
they should chance to manifest themselves.
Mr. GRIFFITHS concurred in the statements e%•
pressed by the worthy Alderman who spoke last.
He was no stranger to the preparations his Lord-
ship was making to preserve public tranquillity.
His Lordship asked him (Mr. G.) what was best
to be done, and be advised that two of the City
Light Horse should be in constant attendance to
cart y intelligence from his Lordship to any of it 4
Magistrates, as occasion might require. T. be
aware of the zeal and activity with which he per-
formed his duty, they should have been where
their worthy Chief Magistrate was stationed at
the time.

Aldernititt %%Tour) wished to know whether

his Lordship Was aware that some of the Lite
Guards were stationed in the Breen-yard, where the
Lord Mayor's carriages were usually kept. Th
requited some explaoation. They were not sta-
tioned in secret, hut appeared in the streets, and
excited considerable apprehension among 'he peo-
ple. He SAW no more than three ; but this number,
th0t4.7,1i stuali, Could not have been titer@ without
giving rise to some alarm. With respect to the
hand-bill posted up at the time of the Spafields
Meeting, he was asked why he did not b, log
forward the publisher of it. [le did Ming him
forward ; but no proceedinga to judgrtl neces-
aary, because the article in the KU itself IV3S Oct
objectionable, toting only ati admonition to peace
anti good order. The heading of it was the thiog
complained of, and that of which Lord Sidmouth
expressed his disapprobation. lie (Alderman
Wood) got hold both of the printer and ooh-
Usher, the latter of whom ,s as held to ba I He
believed, and the Common Council were of the
same opinion, that the man had no bad in'en-
dons. For this reason he was not proceeded
against. He hoped the Lord Mayor would make
strict inquiry, and do every thing in his power to
discover by whom the atrocioos bill circulated on
‘Veduesday was printed and published. would
then appear what the real intentions of the author
were. The person from whom his Lordship le-
ceived information, upon oath, with respect to
the horrible design of burning the city and mur-
dering the inhabitants, should not conceal him-
self for a moment. It he bad any objection to
come forward openly, when such desperate at-
tempts were in preparation, he could not be look-
ed upon as a friend to his country.
Mr. WILLIAMS defended the conduct of Alder-
man Waithman. He did not see how he could
have acted otherwise under the circumstances
The Lord Mayor was more earnest in the pertor-
mance of his duty titan prudence required, and he
was sure the people of Smithfield were more ap-
prehensive that tni•chier. would arise fain the
zeal and earnestness of his 'Lordship, than trout
any.attempts of the persons assembled. It was
prudent, nu doubt, .upon such an occasion, that
a sufficient civil force should be at hand, to quell
any disturbance that might arise, but it was
nut quite so prudent that they - should exhibit
themselves openly, as he understood the fit-enacts
awl others had done. He believed .the Lord
Mayor intended peace, but if. his intentions
were of the very opposite nature, he could not
adopt more efficacious means for carrying.- thew
into effect. The way-its which he went 'to work
was calculated to produce consequences directly
the reverse. There was alss ay, souk risk where
numbers were assembled, awl it was proper that
it should be guarded against. Fortunately, how-
ever, upon the late occasion there was no breack
of the -peace, though circumstances • occur red that
were calculated-to excite it. One of the Middle-
- sex. constables,. a' very. stout man, rushed into
Smithfield, in the midst of the crowd, exhibiting
a case of pistols. This was most dangerous and
indecorous. if the zeal of the Lord Mayor had
not bre!' held in. by the judicious advice of his
brother Magistrates,- the Meeting, he had no
doubt, would not have terminated so quietly. No

men were more inclined, or did in tact exert

thzrnselves more for the preservation of peace a• 41
goad order, whenever they were threatemd, than
Such 33 were friendly to rational reform. TLis
was proved upon the.occaiion of the last Meeting.

Mr. JACKS expressed his surprise that Gentle-
men should think it necessary to introduce so
much party feeling upon an occasion like the pre-
sent. They must all rejoice that no di.tutiuincs
arose from the Meeting in Smithfield, and surely
there ought to be only one opinion as to the me-
rit of those exertions that wele made to prevent
it. In his individual capacity he contributed every
thing in his power to effect so desirable an object.
He had scouts out in different parts to ascertain
how matters were going on, end they brought
him occasionally the pleasing intelligence, that
tlley were going on in a quiet and peaceable way.
It was very strange that the Chief Magistrate of the
City should be taxeti with an excess of zeal in the
pet formanct of a most important duty, and upon
du OCCdsitAl when the peace and the lives of the
ciiiirns were supposed to be put to some tisk -
appealed to tuiut to have duns ua wore (Less

,con.;tuaces required, and :o mci't-z, "for 'cis a-
thanks and gratitude of all classes.
Ii a Okelt•tioll was called in question for ordering
'the execution of the wart ant against Mr.l-13rrison,
while addressing the multitude. Ile doubted whe-
ther, by it was not compulsory upon him to
do so, and whether he would not be open to a
etiminal information if the man escaped. What-
ever objections might-be made there against the-
Lord Mayor's' conduct, be .felt confident that the
conntry'arkrge. would 'give him ctedit for the
zreia, and tireti-iiiy displayed upon an oc-
casitoi t 1 ,1 required so much circlunspeetion.
Mr. OtnnAm defended the conduct of Mr. Al-
elf rm,tu lVaithman,. 'I here was no man to whom
the ep;rhers made use of by the Lord Mayor could
be applied with Its 3 justice. If any. thing tended
inore thou. another to excite.disturbtittee, it war
the apprehension of the man raided -to, tinder
-existing, circumstances. -lie would
.allow that it
was the•duty of the Lord Mayor to have the %var-
iant executed, but it would have been more prii7
dent to appoint an officer to watch Lint, and take
him into custody whet: the Meeting broke up.
Of Radical Reformers, he never entertained but
one opnion, that their ohjects were visionary,
;ord their designs dangerous. 011 this account he
always heard of !Itch' mretings with apprehension
and regret ; but if any thing could tend more
titan another to remove these impressions, it was
the pedeeithle 111,11Ilier in which the Meeting at
SmithfieLl conducted them-elves, when the man
wns so imprudently taken .tiom the cart under a

Watrant.
Mr. SMITH hoped that one of his brother-Ma-
gistrates would have proposed the thanks of. the
Court to the Lord Mayor, for the judicious •and
highly meritorious arrangements made by him to
preserve the peace -and good order of the metro-
polis. This not having been done, he was induced
to present himself to their notice for that pur-
pose. He Wai at Giltspur-street with his Lord-
ship upon the occasion alluded to by the lion.
Gentleman (Mr. Oldham) ; and he should have
abstained from till notice or comment upon the
conduct of the Worthy Alderman (Waithrnan),
did he not feel himself called upon to do so by
tome observations that, were made. The Lott!
Mayor received the two following letters froth the
Worthy Alderman :

(COPY.)
" M Lain—lt has been represented to me, that the Fre-
mot, who act as Special Constables, are now parading Smith-
field, and it is thought by the Inhabitants here assciohled,
t bat it would have been much better if they were in attend-
ance in some convenient place near thespot,,avd not to chew
t hemselves, unless required, which, however, I submit to your
Lordship's consideration.
" I have the honour to be,
" Tour Lordship's obedient Servant,
(Signed) It. WA ITHMAN.
" St. Sepitichre's Church, July 21, Half-past Ten o'Clock.
" The Right 11ust. the Luau Mavott."
(COPY.)
" LORD—Contrary to what was perfectly-understood
at the Court of Altlermen yesterday, I understand that there
;ire , Military now in Smithfield. It has 'already created ap-
prehensions in the minds of several, and it appears to mo so
tints a proceeding, that I most for myself protest against
it, as tending to excite tumult.' Indeed I cannot believe that
it "should have had your Lordship's concurrence.
" I have the honour to be,
" Your Lordship's obedient Servant,
(Signed) " R. WAITHMAN.
'l. St. Sepulchre's, July 21, Eleven o'Cloek:
",The Right Hots, the LORD MAYOR." •
Who were the troop-. that excited this strong re-
monstrance ? .No more than two or three of the
City Light Horse, who came for the purpose of
receiving communications from -the-Lord Mayor,
and departed-immediately after... A few moments
subsequent to the apprehension-of,Haralson, the
Worthy Alderman (Waldman), nor content with
the letters. he .had written, came to Giltspur-
.stteer, out] exclainied with much vehemence of
manner, "1 protest, my Lord Mayor • against
_ these proceedings of your's. The way in which
the Worthy Alderman conducted himsellwas most
indecent. and unbecoming a Magistrate upon truch
. an•occasion. He approached the Lord Mayor, pro-
testing,exclaiming, shaking his.hand, and declaring
that it Wood was shed, it would be owing to the
conduct pursued by'his Lordship. The Lord Mayor
only asked whether he waS: aware of what:had
been dune, and.protested against this interference
as most unbecoming: •The. .Worthy Alderman,
even in. the public streets, spoke-with vehemence
against the employment of the City Light Horse
Volunteers., so as .to draw on them the hisses of
the mob. This-conduct was most imprudent,laud
upon such an occasion highly improper and dan
gerous. •No man in the world could be further
than the Lout Mayor from any wish -to introduce
the military • into the City,•or to adopt any mea-
sure tending in the smallest degree.;to excite riot
or disturbance: • One circumstance passed in• his
(Mr. Smith's) hearing, that gave evident proof of
this. Some Gentlemen offered to go and pull
down the bloody flag of liberty that was hoist-
ed. His Lordship refused the offer, and said he
would allow nothing to be done from which riot
or confusion could arise.—(Elear Smith
concluded by proposing the following motion :-
4' That this Court consider it a•just tribute due
to the Right Hon. John Atkins, Lord Mayor of
this City; to present to his Lordship their best
Thanks for the very able and judicious arrange-
ments made by him, on the 21st inst., for the
preservation of the Ptiblic Peace of the City of
London ; which this Court consider were not
only fully adequate, in any event, to have quelled
disturbance, but were also eminently effectual in
preserving the Peace of the City inviolate•"
Mr. JUPP seconded the motion. As a lawyer,
lie must say, when a warrant was brought to a
:Magistrate it was his duty to have it immediately
executed. Did he not do se', he would be guilty
of .a dereliction of his duty. He was happy to
have this opportunity of expressing his thanks to
the Lord Mayor for his highly meritorious con-
duct on the day of the'Meeting.
The question being put,
Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN said, he felt himself
called upon to say a few words atter the allusions
that bad been made to his conduct. He did not
intend to enter into any explanation of what
Was personal in the transaction, but some ex-
planation was now rendered necessary in his
own defence. He always drew a distinction
between the person of the Magistrate and' his
duty, and never refused to give him any support
in his power, however he Might disapprove of him
as an individual. The lion. Gentleman (Mt.
Smith) was pleased to allude to his (Mr. \V.'a)
t‘ner, and the abrupt wanner in which ...ha ad-

dressed the told iNhydr. ro;ift
quainted with the manner in which be, and )..he
Hon. 9 eutlemapusually detyeaned themselves,
and lie twould leave it.to then, toidecide which bad
a claimitiri'ifie ch‘racker.of abniptness. He 01t...
W.).,,.140: a duty-to Aigrforni upon the occasion
nildlted to. .• He niightlia4been* wrong, hut' Le
acted to the best of his judgment. At Fait-pavt
--11-seelock -he- was • in---pert eet- ignorance where, the
Lord Mayor was to be found, The Magistrates of
Middlesex and'some others were in the same pre-
dicament. Though ie,norant of it, he was stm-
thine(' very, neat his Lordship, and still received no
communication from him ,while others,Magistrates,
more distant, did receive comuomieatioto. He
sent a- messenger to the Mansion House, but the
Lord Mayor was not there. Some inhabitants of
the %Yard in which he was doing duty represented
to hint that soldiers, mounted upou black horses
with loot; tails, were observed in the streets, and
passing through Smithfield. As the Court of Al-
dermen had ordered, (red as it was undetstood by
them that no soldiers were to appear in the City,
he did not think 'it probable that the Lord Mayor
woold concur in such-a pity:ceiling, and it was in
consequence of these circumstances he acted. The
Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Smith)
,charged 'situ with
acting improperly and indecently towards the
Lord Mayor. The fact was not so. -It was true
'that he knew of no wat rant at this time for the
apprehension of any person. He inertly hearth
that thirty or forty constables took a men out of
the cart, and he still looked upon it as a 111041 in-
judicious , act. IVas he bound to execute
warrant, he would sooner take some responsi-
bility WI himself, under such eitemnitunces, anti
postpone it until the Meeting was over. ;laving
Been twenty or thirty constables rushing out, and
the people alarmed in consequence, he went to his
Lord,hip, with a respectable Gentleman of the
Ward Le had die honour of representing, and
asked whether these constables were acting sO
under his Lordship's orders.—(Mr. Smith, No )
He could trust to his inemory, and he hoped the
.Court also would trust to it. it Nature was fa-
vourable to him in one respect more than another
it was in accuracy of recollection.. He could sit
down that momenta
_and write down, without
mistake, every word he uttered upon the occasion.
All he said was, that the men, by going on as
they did, were likely. to create a tumult, and that
he protested against it. How this was received
by the Lord Mayor must be known to those who
were acquainted with the complacency of his
manner upon such occasions. Mr. Smith made
another broad assertion in that place, he would
not call it a gross one, with respect to a feet of
could know nothing. lie stated that he
(Mr. Alderman NV.) used language tending to ex-
cite, anti did excite, the mob to insult the City
Light Horse.—lt so happened, however, that
there was no insult, no excitement, no mob.
He merely asked those Gentlemen if they came
there by the directions, of the Lord Mayor, and said
that if such were the case, he protested against
it. As an Alderman of the City, and knowing
the orders that had
.been given with respect to
•the,military, was he not bound to act in-thiS twin-
lc was the right and duty of any simple in-
habitant to do, it. Even admitting that these
gentlemen belonged to the City Light„Uorse, still
it..was- objectionable to see them parading the
streets in uniform, particularly upon such an oc-
casion. When he went to the Lord Mayor to re-
present this circumstance, his answer was, that lie
twist, not be interrupted. Though the Meeting
went off quietly, it did not follow
.that the con-
duct of the Chief Magistrate was the cause, or
that he was entitled to,their thanks with respect
to all the proceedings adopted upon the occasion.
The LORD MAYutt said, the first thing done by
him was, to give directions for swearing inn suffi-
cient number of special constables. He
.ne.ver for a
moment intended to Adopt any other than civil
means for preserving the-peace of the City.,-Hav-
ing' written to the . Court of Aldertnen -upon the
Subject, they left it entirely to his disci-c 4ns. to
select any' number of special .:constables he might
tlijok necessary, and, expressing; their willingness
to' meet. the eispence.. He declared did not
know in what particular spot it would be,PeCes•
sary for him to act, but the first regulation made
was
.sufficient. toprevent mistake upon, ibis point.
The, regulation was, that, two intelligent,,consta-
Wes should be- appointed from among those of
each Ward, to. communicate between. 1411100-
trates and the Lord Mayor, and that by sending
at eight o'clock to. the-Mansion House, it
.would
be known whether he was to remain there.—
w,ould ask. the Worthy Alderman (Waithman)
why he had not read_ this regulation,. and if he
had, what ground there was for.. ;complaining
that lie did not know where to. ftnd the Lord
Mayor ? But the fact was, that the Worthy Al-
derman must have known where he .was ,to be
found, for he . (the Lord Mayor) received two
letters from him, one at,,* halt-past ten, and an,
other at eleven, .stating that the, military were
Parading the streets, and protesting against ,•it,
as tending to excite tumult.—[Mr.. Alderman
Waldman said, the letters lie wrote * were not
to the Mansion-Houie.]--He did not quit the
Mansion-House until half-past nine, anti left
word that directions should be given -where
he was to be found. As to the warrant so
much alluded to, it was executed with the
greatest caution .and prudence. Few knew of
it until it was -announced from the cart by
.one of
those persons who stood in it, and the Constables
proceeded quietly to the performance of this duty
without any bustle or
,noise. The Worthy Alder-
man (Waithman) soon after rushed in where he
was sitting, saying, that-Ice carne there to protest
against such conduct on the part of the Lord
Mayor, and that if -there, was a riot in-Smithfield
he would be the author of it. Against such be-
haviour on the part of the Worthy Alderman he
also protested, and begged to have
.no more such
interference. The intemperance of his manner
in rushing in and speaking was such, that, had
it occurred. in public, -be should have- felt it his
duty to order him into custody.
After a few-words from Mr. REEVES,
Air: PEARSON opposed the original motion. He
condemned time conduct of the Lord Mayor ia al-
lowing any of the military to appear in the streets,
and in ordering, under the existing circumstances,-
the execution of' the warrant against Mr. Harri-
son. This individual, be had sumac reason to know,