The Sun.
London, England, 1817-09-08 00:00:00

BARTHOLOMEW FAIR.

APPREHENDED TUNIULT.

In consequence of information received by the
LORD MAYoa that an attempt at insurrection kVal
to he made at the close of Bartholomew Fair, ott
SatuTtlay night, every necessioy step was taken to
prevent such an occurrence, if it were indeed se-
riously contemplated. The information. conveyed
to Iris Lordship Was in substance, that a multitude
of persons:were to assemble at B.lrthoJoniew Fair
in the evening, armed %vitt' piles tend other %tea-
potis, with. which they intended to sally forth.
attack. the Rank and other public hnildings, d
finally excite a general insurrection. The ren-
dezvous of the rioters was announced in cards,
which were industriously circulated in t he tollow-

ng terms :

" Friendq of Reform—..supper on Satnrdne ere&nr, Sept.
6,1817,40 the Pie)ald H.rfte,Chtsweit-,tr,et.nwiluFy squat°.
Supper prvcisek at 11411: o'clock.—:pickets 4s rid."
• The Lot it flavor, felt. it his doty, tmcontmuni-•
Cate to the;Home D paratittlit the intelligence
which • had reached him, and the 53ilitary wets
called out, and remained Illhlet arms at statiotis
Where they might be called in action in fire
minutes, if necessary. His Lordship also ad-
dressed circulars 'to the Bank of England,
the East India Company, and other grew
public bodies, stating the pariicidars which had
peached him. The measures taken upon the occa-
sion were prompt and vigorous. The Lord Mayor
summoned the attendance of the whole City P
lice. His Lordship made Giltspur-street Comp. r
his head-quarters, and frequently, doling the
evening, perambohited the fair, issuing orders
and dispatching the various Officers in the most
prominent directions of the expected tumult. De-
tachments of the Horse arid Foot Guaras were
stationed on. the Surrey side of Black friars Bridge,
and the guards at the think and other public build-
ings were doubled.
Perhaps there has been no occasion upon which
more disgraceful scenes, took place in.Smithfiehl,
than on Friday and Saturday last. Notwithstand-
ing the most laborious exertions of the Police,
clothes were torn from the backs of respectable
persons, and, in many instrtnces, cutaway with the
flesh. The spirit of thieving was never known
to animate her votaries with more•energy. Where
handkerchiefs or pocket-books, or witches, were
missed, _the new-fashioned kuixes were sure to
hear away pieces of the dress in which those arti-
cles are generaly supemsed to be deposited.—
Bid thns-e- excesses are not to be classed with
-le practices of numerous gasigs• of profligate
wretches; who prowled about With the ob-
ject of abusing and exposing unprotected fe.
males. Two fellows, named Nichols and Sheen,
were brought before the. .Lokl Mayor, charged
with having exposed the person of a very modest
voung woman in themiddle of the fair. The man.
ner in which they did this disgraceful action was
so sudden and so irresistible, that before the girt
knew there.was any intention of the kind, her
clothes were raised from her heels over her head.
Her shrieks could not tie heard, but an Officer
saw the prisoners in the,midst of their amusement,
and apprehended them. • They were ordered to
find goad bail to answer the complaint at..the
next Quarter Sessions. The. fair, which was pro.
claimed nit Wednesday, terminated 'on Saturday
night,