The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-20 00:00:00

from that officer the reason why Mr. Walker ad-
dressed him, he answered that the Magistrate had
same
asked what the prisoners were taken for; the officer
explained the nature of the occurrence, when the Ma-
gistrate replied, What is the use of taking them
prisoners, there is no case against them ?'
Some tune after
Magistratelockhad
-ups,
whereconveyed,
accepted bail for two, and suggested that bail should
be taken for others, and finally said that he would be
absent from town and the Court-house to-morrow,
therefore he would be out of that mess.'
" On the following morning this circumstance was
reported to me by a Superintendent, to whom it had
been communicated by the officer on duty at the time
at the lock-ups ; and during th 4 day he found, by the
official returns, that 43 prisoners were all set at liberty
by the stipendiary Magistrate on their own recog-
nizances in 20/. each to keep the peace for three
months, and the remaining two were bound over in
40/. each, and 20/. from two sureties, to keep the
peace for the same time, one of whom was foremost
in throwing stones at the police, and the other in ex-
citing the mob.
" I will not here comment on the above conduct or
magisterial
they are represented to you, till I explain the unac-
countable instructions and the facts by which they
were preceded and followed. .-
"At half-past ten o'clock on the morning of the
14th inst., information was brought to the Magis-
trates, and conveyed to me, that vast numbers of arti-
sans and weavers were assembling on the borders of
this borough, beyond the township of Beswick, that
they were armed with bludgeons, and that their in-
tentions at the time were unknown.
"Further information confirmatory of this arrived
shortly after; I therefore immediately
concentrated
200 of the police in that quarter of the town, and
awaited the order of the Magistrates. Further re-
ports up to one o'clock were continually received by
the Magistrates and transmitted to me, to the eft'.2ct
that numbers were coming from Ashton to unite with
those who were meeting at the before-mentioned place.
Notwithstanding the information of these threatening
circumstances, I still remained without instructions
from the Magistrates to proceed to the ground where
the meeting was going on ; but fearing, however,
some evil consequences, I ordered out 100 of the
special constables, who were on reserve at the Town-
hall ' • and when in the act of doing so I was addressed
by the Magistrate on duty, who told me he would
first go to consult the stipendiary Magistrate (who
was then at the Borough Court) about the special
constables going out to the meeting. I informed him
in reply that it was then one o'clock, and since eleven
o'clock informations to the foregoing effect had ar-
rived, and were communicated to him ; he therefore
had had three hours to consult or deliberate, and that
I should forthwith proceed with the force to the
ground ; I would do my duty to protect property
and the public, he therefore might send his instruc-
tions after me.
" On hrriving at the boundary of the borough, near
Beswick, having on my way united with the 200 re-
serve police previously stationed near that quarter, I
found that the reports to a very great extent had been
correct ; but on the approach by two different roads
of the force under my command, they moved off
towards Ashton, many people having appeared on the
roads, a.-.d crossing the country in considerable num-
bers ; I rode forward to Ashton, being anxious to
satisfy myself, if possible, of their intention, leaving
the police stationed within the limits of the borough.
On my return to Beswick I found, much to my asto-
nishment, that the force which I left there to stop
any body of people that might attempt to come in
that way, and in order to protect the works of Mr.
Chapel, which in the forenoon were threatened by the
mob, had been reduced by the unnecessary with.
drawal of the special constables, at the direction of
the Magistrates, although I had left .50 as a reserve at
the Town-hall ; thus leaving exposed that part of the
borough to the incursions of those who had been hold-
ing illegal meetings during the forenoon.
" Although I feel the high importance attached to
the moral influence Magistrates should possess, and
consequently am sensible of the criminality of unjustly
self
animadverting on their conducts Yetil conceive
bound, while reverting to that which I have already
stated, to direct your attention to the following facts,
which, when linked together, will leave you to draw
such conclusions and take such steps as you conceive
that justice and the public are entitled to. In the
first place, on the night of the 12th of August I waited
on the Mayor by your orders, to inform him the
police were worn out, and that the town, therefore,
was unprotected, and that I was to urge his Worship
to request of the military chief to furnish night pa-
trols, as it wasimpossible to say what might occur in
the present excited state. Ibis Worship regretted
that I should have troubled him, and referred me to
the stipendiary Magistrate whom he had deputed,
and who was at the York Hotel; I accordingly
hastened there, and saw the Magistrate, in the pre-
sence of the Assistant-Adjutant-General* To the
former.l made the same communication as I had to
the Mayor; his reply was, that he (lid Slot think
anything would take place, and that there was no
alternative but to leave the town as it then was. I
replied that it was exceedingly dangerous in my
opinion, more particularly as the hot Act had been
read during the day ; and that, at all events, I should
remain on the look out all night.
"Again, on the following day, while moving to-
wards Granby-row Field, where it was reported that
the rioters were re-assemblin with the police and
special constables, accompaniedg, by Mr. Steward, a
Alagistrate, I was ordered by you to hasten the force
forward, in order to take up an advantageous position,
which could not be attainable if the military, which
was marching on the same point parallel to us,
arrived at the fields before us. I accordingly gave
the order, but on the instant it was countermanded
by the Magistrate, who obliged the body to come
almost to a dead halt, although I explained the object
and necessity of the order.
result of this was,
that the military force halted across and before at
right angles to the civic force and became clubbed
together, which so embarrassed
both, that had a mo-
derately determined resistance taken place, the confu-
sion arid the evil consequences might have been serious.
" Furthermore, on the 7th inst. I was requested to
attend at a meeting of the Mayor and Magistrates, in
order to account for some falsely-stated inactivity
the police on the preceding day, which the Guardian
newspaper had represented, an on the faith of which the
Mayor remonstrated with me on the mob which the re-
port alluded to not having been dispersed. Ireplied Iwas
on the ground myself, and the statement was un-
founded. At the same time I requested definite in-
structions from the Mayor and stipendiary Magis-
trate; when I was told by both that her lajesty's
proclamation of the 13th of August, and that of the
111avor:and Magistrates, were still in force, and would
be (luring the continuance of present circumstances,
by which alone I was to be guided, and that every
meeting should be dispersed at all hazards, and if the
assemblage' would not separate arrests were to be
made, and that the law would enforced. On the
faith of the sincerity of these instructions I acted on
the evening of the 13th inst. in dispersing the meet-
ing in Brown-street, and arresting 45
prisoners, all of
whom were liberated, as previously intimated, by the
Magistrate who was resolved to be out
of the mess on
the 14th, I also acting on the salue, when three hours
were allowed to pass without thef Magistrates ordering
the borough to be protected in re-occurrence
and when at the expiration of fro
that time I moved off
on my own responsibility to afford that protection,
.and to disperse, according to the proclaulation and my
nstructions of the 7th inst., d egaj as"'"._biages,
was told by the Magistrate on duty, h,
Would consult
before I was to take the special constables; and
lastly, the withdrawal of that force,. without my know-
ledge, at the Ashton road, while
id:lnger still threaten-
ed that quarter of the to circumstances,
united to the transactions of the night of the 12t1;
and the day of the 13th of August,. the instructions
me to eby the Mayor
and
.Alaglatrates on the
7th instant, added to other anterior eor occurrences of a
judicial nature, emanating from two of the before-
mentioned persons, which, although serious in them-
selves, are, in some degrees irrelevant to the present,
became imperative reasons in hopour: amid honesty why
I should lay them before you for the
_Public good as
her Majesty's Chief Commissioner of Police, and in
order that in future I may held irresponsible len
i by
if
you and her Majesty's Governnobliged to act
in conjunction with or followthe instructions of those
ndene."
in whom I cannot repose co
(Signed by Captain Sic ig
hfi and eaddressed to Sir C.
Shaw.

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF AN EXTEN-
SIVE COTTON FACTORY By FIRE.
MANCIIMER, SATITEDAY.—This morning, at an
earlyo‘i,n n
largotte cotton-millr considerable alarm was spread through the
t
consequence
of Mes
e ofitsbesirsng announced that
the . Lockwood and
Thornton, situate at Blackfriars-street, Salford, was
in flames. The mill is situate on the borders of
Salford, on the edge of the Irwell, which divides the
towns of Manchester and WWI and in 4 densely.

populated neighbourhood, where the streets are ex
ceedingly confined and narrow, except the mai
street, to which the factory fronted.
Soon after the arrival of the engines an
body of water was poured into the factory from a,
six engines, but it was of no avail. It was
after this experiment that the efforts of the
police Were directed to the surrounding pro-
perty, and it is fortunate that nearly a dead calm
prevailed, or the whole of Blackfriars-street would
most certainly have been consumed. It was rumoured
about that the factory had been set fire to by an in-
cendiary, but on the best inquiry that can be made at
present it is ascertained with tolerable certainty that
it was a pure accident, having originated in what is
termed the blowing-room, and is supposed to have
been caused by friction from one of the shafts. From
the basement story there is a communication from
room to room to the top of the factory, by means of a
kind of basket or tub, which is hoisted up through
trap-doors in each story. Through these places the
flames immediately spread through the factory, and
with such astonishing speed that the workpeople, who
had only just begun labour, were compelled to make a
precipitate retreat from the spot,.ipost of them with
the loss of some portion of wearing apparel. Such
was the rapidity with which the flames spread
that in little more than two hours the whole
edifice may be said to have become little better
than smoking ruins, not a vestige of the property
having been saved except the books of the con-
cern. For some time considerable alarm was ex-
periencel lest an explosion of the boilers should
take place, they having been filled with water for the
day, and it was apprended that should the fire heat
them red hot, the quantity of steam which would in
consequence be generated would cause a tremendous
blow up, but either from the safety valves proving haw
safe and efficacious they are, or from some other cause,
the anticipated event did not happen. Nothing is now
standing of the immense edifice but the ruins of a
pOrtion of the walls. The damage is variously esti-
mated, but the most probable amount is about 13,000/.
ha machinery and stock was insured at the amount
of 9,0001., and it is said the building is also insured,
but of this fact there is not sufficient authority for
stating it to be correct. Several fire-offices are also
mentioned as being losersr by the event, but such
statements are not ascertained to be correct. The
factory was at work, and has been for about a fort-
night past since the turn-out, with nearly the full
number of hands, and during the fire it was pleasing
to observe how anxiously and earnestly they afforded
every assistance in their power.
There has been no fresh attempt to renew the dii-
turbances in this town, and the situation of affairs
with respect to the weavers remains the same. In
Stockport and Stalybridge the mills are at work
with few exceptions, but at Ashton-under-Line only
one is working. At Bolton this day the spinners
ceased work, the notices which they gave to the mas-
ters a fortnight ago having expired. Reports are rife
that another general turn-out of power-loom weavers
is to take place throughout the whole of the manufac-
turing districts next week, and that delegates from
the union have this day been despatched to the dif-
ferent towns to effect the object.
ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, SATURDAY EVENING.—At
length we are justified in announcing that there is
decided prospect of a speedy termination of the out-
break. This town has all along been regarded as the
nucleus of the agitation, and the vigorous steps taken
by the authorities here within the last day or two pro-
mise to be attended with the best effects. We allude
more particularly to the apprehension of a batch of six
or seven of the most active ringleaders, under whose
direction the whole of the riotous proceedings in this
district have been concocted and carried into effect.
At the head of these is Pilling, the leader of the
Chartists of Ashton, who accompanied the mob in
their circuit through the whole of the manufacturing
districts in Lancashire and Yorkshire, urged
them on in their most desperate attacks on the
various works, and publicly boasted on several occa-
sions that he had been the instrument of throwing out
of work at least two millions of hands. This daring
and unprincipled fellow was, thanks to the intrepidity
of Mr. Robert Newton, the chief-constable of this
boteiii#ll, apprehended last night in the midst of a
Chartist meeting, held in the Chartist Association
Room, in Charlestown. Pilling was spealches when
Mr. Newton entered the room, and the mob'imme-
diately broke into the most savage yells and threats,
crying " Knock him down," "Turn him back ;" but
Mr. 1\ ewton was not to be deterred from the dis-
charge of his duty, and he succeeded, with the assist-
ance of a small force of special constables, in securing
Pilling and five other well-known individuals. They
were immediately lodged in the gaol, and though the
town was in a very disturbed state in the evening, no
outbreak took place.
At eleven o'clock this day, the Magistrates sat in
large room of the Town-hall, to investigate the
charges against Richard Pilling, James Thorpe, Saml.
Fean, George Taylor, William Wild, and James
Nague. All of the prisoners are of mature age
Taylor is apparently about 60 years of age.
A great deal of evidence having been taken,
The Rev. J. S. R. Evans, the chairman, addressed
the prisoners, and said they must be satisfied that the
case had received every requisite attention, and the
conclusion which the Magistrates had come to, after
giving'their most careful consideration to the evidence,
MIS that the charge of conspiracy was distinctly
proved against the whole of them. It was their duty
to commit them all on that charge ; but two of them,
Pilling and Nague, stood prominently forward, and
the amount of bail required for their appearance
would be, in each case, themselves in 100/., and two
sureties in 501. each ; in the other four cases, the
principals in 501. each, and two studio in 2.5/. each,
with 48 hours' notice:of bail. Pilling will take his
trial in the county of Lancaster, the others in the
county of Chester.—The prisoners were then removed,

THE ARMY.

WOOLWICH, SEPT. 17.—Captain Desbrisay's com-
pany, 3d battalion, and Major Durnford's company,
4th battalion, of Royal Artillery, were inspected in
heavy marching order on the guard mounting parade,
by Lieutenant-General Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B. and
G.C.IL, and the baggage of these companies was put
on board the Dee steam-vessel on Monday, the 12th
inst., and the companies embarked on the following
day at the Royal Arsenal, at half-past eight o'clock in
the morning, for a passage to Gibraltar.
On Tuesday last. the 13th inst., upwards of 50
non-commissioned officers and gunners and drivers
passed a medical board previous to obtaining their
discharges.
Major Anderson's company, Ist battalion, will pro-
ceed to Chester early in the ensuing month to relieve
Captain Dicken's company, 6th battalion. The latter
company will return to head-quarters.
On Thursday last 15 non-commissioned officers
and men embarked on board a steam-vessel at the
Royal Arsenal to complete the company and troop of
Horse Artillery in the northern district.
The practices at the mortar and howitzer battery,
and in the marshes, have been carried on regularly
during the. past week; and also battalion drills, under
the superintendence of Colonel Turner, C.B. The
battalions have been supplied with blank cartridges
at those drills, and the manoeuvring was excellent.
After her Majesty left the dockyard to-day the
Royal Marines, who had been on duty for so long a
period, formed and marched before the Earl of Ilad-
dington, Sir W. Gage, Lord Bloomfield, Sir F. Col-
lier, and other superior officers, in order of review,
first in slow and after in quick march, and then left
the establishment for their quarters. Lord Iladding-
, ton paid a high compliment to Colonel Parke on the
appearance of his men.
CHATHAM, SEPT. 17.—Yesterday afternoon the 2d
battalion of the 12th Regiment of Poot marched into
this garrison from Weedon Barracks, which place
they left by railroad on Wednesday, the 14th instant.
The battalion, which is newly raised, consists of 291
rank and file, 10 sergeants, and four drummers. The
troops are under the command of Major Sir Robert
Douglas, with Captain Percival, Captain Granet,
Lieutenant Bishop, Lieutenant Marcom, Lieutenant-
Adja,tan t Lawrence, Assistant-Surgeon Booth. The
rear of the battalion was brought up by 32 prisoners
handcieed, all charged with desertion. The batta-
lion will shortly embark for the Mauritius to join
their heaeltquarters.
This morning, a detachment of the 75th Regiment
left this garrison for Tilbury Fort, with their band
and drums. The band, which is new, having only
been in existence one month, played merrily out of
the town. The detachment is under the command of

jor llalifax, with Captain Jardine, Lieutenant
13Fowne, Lieutenant I3rummell, Lieutenant Gordon,
Lieutenant Hill, Ensign Knox, Ensign Matge, and
Assist-Surgeon Anderson. There are two other de-
tachments of this Regiment, one stationed at Har-
wich, and the other at Sheerness. The head•quarters
are now at the Cape of Good Hope.
A detachment of the East India Company's troops,
consisting of 120 men, left I3rompton barracks on
their march to Gravesend this morning, where thcv
embarked at the Custom•houce quay, on board the

On Saturday an inquest was hell by Mr. Thomas
Wakley on the body of Captain William Brew (for-
merly of the Queen's Bays), Captain and Adjutant
of the It_oyal West Middlesex Militia, and Adjutant
of the Uxbridge Volunteer Infantry Corps. The
following witnesses were examined :
Timothy Carter, Sergeant in the Royal West Mid-
dlesex Militia, knew the deceased. Lived with him
for the last seventeen years. He resided at Hilling-
don End, Uxbridge. Saw him last alive on Wednes-
day, at his own house. lie then appeared in good
health. He was in the dining-room. Noticed no-
thing particular in his conduct or manner. On
Thursday afternoon, about three o'clock, found him
at his own house in bed, quite dead. Noticed nothing
particular in the room at the time. Saw on the table
a parcel addressed to " Lieutenant Charles Brew."
Deceased was lying in bed as if asleep. Immediately
fetched Mr. Stilwell, a surgeon, and sent a messenger
off to London for Mr. Charles Brew, deceased's son.
Mr. Stilwell instantly attended, but could do nothing
for the deceased, the body being quite cold.
By the CORONER—Knew the deceased well during
the seventeen years I lived with him, and had of late
observed that he laboured under a deal of worry of
mind, in consequence of the conspiracy against him.
CORONER—Don't talk of a conspiracy unless you
can prove its existence. Did you observe of late any
alteration in his manner and mind, showing that he
fancied there was a conspiracy against him ?
Witness—l did. He appeared rather low of late.
Never heard him threaten that he would destroy him-
self. No one lived in the house but deceased and me.
Mr. James Stilwell, surgeon—Had known the de-
ceased about ten or twelve years, and had been in the
habit of meeting him repeatedly. I last saw him
alive on Tuesday evening. He then appeared to be
low spirited, and oppressed in mind. 1 understood
he was in some difficulties, and asked him how mat-
ters were going on. Ile said he was afraid matters
would be very serious with him. His manner did not
appear to me different than usual. On Thursday
afternoon was.sent for to the deceased's residence, and
on reaching it, found the deceased lying in bed, ap-
parently perfectly quiet and tranquil. He was lying
perfectly straight in the bed, with his arms folded over
his chest. Noticed no lividity, although the colour of
the skin indicated that death had taken place. The
hands were also cold and stiff. Made a post mortem
examination of the body about forty-eight hours after
death. Found the body to be in a rapid state of de-
composition. On that (Friday) morning had found
a bottle marked " laudanum" between the bed and the
mattress. It was still about two-thirds filled with
laudanum.
Collo:see—Are you aware of any papers having
been left by the deceased, tending to prove that he had
Wien poison? Mr. Stilwell—Yes, I have seen some
letters which were enclosed in an envelope, amongst
Lich is one addressed to you, Sir, as Coroner. They
are now in the possession of Mr. Charles Brew. I
attended deceased about six months ago, when he had
nearly destroyed himself by opium pills. Ile then told
me he had made the pills up himself from opium.
CORONER—Do you think from what you know, and
from all that you have seen of the deceased, that he
was insane I.' Mr. Stilwell—l never saw anything
insane in him, but he was certainly very excited; the
excitement not arising from insanity, but from natural
causes. Ile complained of persons wham he said had
ill-used him.
CORONER—Do you know of your own knowledge
that such a persecution existed, or did it exist only in
his fancy ? Mr. Stilwell—l believe the deceased had
very good grounds for stating what he did to me.
Deceased was still retaining his command in the militia.
Richard Williamson, a Sergeant-Major in the Royal
West Middlesex Militia, had known deceased about
thirty-two years. For the last six months I did not
think he was in his right state of mind, from his
behaviour to persons with whom he mixed. I be-
lieved he had a cause for doing so, in consequence ofa
quarrel he had had with some persons in the town ;
and whenever their names were mentioned he became
a complete madman.
The Coeosat—That is a strong impression of in-
sanity, certainly.
Mr. Charles Brew deposed—i am Lieutenant in
the Royal West Middlesex Militia, and am the
youngest son of the deceased! I reside in London,
and was made acquainted with his death about ten
minutes past fix o'clock on the evening of Thursday
last. I came down to Uxbridge almost immediately,
having first read some documents in deceased's bawl-
writing, which were handed to me by my nephew,
Mr. William Brew. Amongst those documents was
one addressed " To Wakley, Esq., or the Coro-
ner, Uxbridge."
The witness here handed a letter to the Coroner,
who immediately handed it to a person present, and
requested him to read it aloud to the Jury, which he
did. Just as he had commenced,
The CORONER inquired whether the letter con-
tained accusations against individuals not present, and
being answered in the affirmative, said the room must
then be cleared of all persons not on the Jury.
All persons were then excluded, and kept out for
nearly an hour.
The letter read by the Foreman of the Jury was
as follows :
Per w
" Sir,—lt is under the severest depression of mind i.n_edi:!
I take leave to submit the enclosed to your perusal, n'annbl
that the cause may be known which has led to my
.!ia,set
melancholy and unfortunate fate. The fact, Sir, is, Coven
that for the last two years I have been the victim of tier
the most cruel conspiracy, who have unceasingly re- ;i,„„,',1
sorted to every possible unjust means to effect my tin
ruin, and have at last succeeded. The names of my
enemies who have formed the conspiracy are
. Oh, how I ever had to regret
allowing myself' to be drawn into an aequaintanee
and intercourse with that family !—people, I de-
clare before my God, I never injured either by
word or thought ; and yet they have shared
in what has led to my unfortunate fate. With
respect to the anonymous letter to the War-office:
Mr. knows that Mr. -- suggested and urged
him to allow him (Mr. --) to write to his brother,
Mr. , who is a clerk in the War-office, respect-
ing a small account I owed to the estate of Mr. '3
father, but from the respect, he said, for me,
he would not be led into such a transaction. It ap-
pears, however, that Mr. -- did so without his
sanction. I have, therefore, reasonable grounds for
enclosed
teglolsaerd-
accusing the of conjointly being the authors of
the said letter, which
was
couched in
landthtehme
o
in 6 colours, and has led to my
printed extract from the United Service Gazette, will
also show the part the other gentlemen of the con-
spiracy have taken against me.
" I have, Sir, served my country 50 years, with
unremitted zeal and honour, and been an Adjutant 43
years; and yet, from the unmerited and unavoidable
causes statea in the enclosed letters, which have led
to my being the loser of about 6021., and thereby
occasioned a deficit in my public
been removed from the eervice without the accounts,p; have
niter of affording a full explanation to the IVaer- iooffi e.
r •
Being thus suddenly thrown upon the wide
ld
without resources, and my mind being wide
s
and sensitive to bear me up against so cruel and un-
merited a reverse, 1 have been driven to this last fatal
act to end my miseries, humbly hoping, through the
merits of my blessed Saviour, I shall meet with the
forgiveness of Almighty God, who is ever more gra-
ciously inclined to snow mercy to man than his fel-
low-man.

S. SO S.
90
17 22
21 27
14 30
2.) :s5
It 4 29
91 110
,27

29 32
'26 32
3•2
114
NO 34
718

Bean•

- 26