The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-22 00:00:00

ALARMING STATE OF THE CITY

EXTRAORDINARY FLUCTUATIONS IN THE. PRICE OF

TURTLE - TUMULTUOUS PROCEEDINGS, IN CONSE.

QUENCE, IN THE TURTLE-DISTRICTS-INSURRECTION.

ARY SPIRIT AMONG THE ALDERMEN-DISAFFECTION

IN THE COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL-CALLING OUT

OF THE BEEF-EATERS - MARCH OF THE TRAIN

BANDS TO THE MANSION-HOUSE-SANGUINARY CON.

FLICT BETWEEN THE LORD MAYOR AND A FAT BPE.

CLLL-AND LOTS OF HORRORS

Sir Robert Peel's Tariff—at least that portion of it
which relates to the prices of turtle i_ilikturbot—has,
it is well known, occasioned for some weeks past con-
siderable agitation in the turtle-districts of the metro-
polis; atid=the discovery by Mr. Charles Pearson on
Saturday, of an old Civic Charter of the date of
Henry the Eighth, which enacts that the prices of
these dainties shall be kept up at one uniform rate,
for the convenience (as the document asserts) of
" his Majesty's loyal Aldermen 'and Burgesses of
the City," has, we regret to state, thrown the entire
neighbourhood of Guildhall into a complete state of
insurrection ! At an early hour this morning the
Court of Aldermen assembled to discuss the question;
and after lamenting the present fluctuations in the
prices of turtle and turbot, came to a resolution that
they would stani by the Charter, and would not
cease from agitation till that portion of the Tariff,
which tended to neutralize its spirit, was repealed.
Alderman Humphery was the first to proclaim him-
self a Chartist, and was followed by Aldermen Square-
stern and Patsides ; the latter of whom swore, amid
the cheers of the. Court, that he would die in the last
ditch in defence of the Corporation privileges. He
added, that the Common Council had also "nailed their
colours to the mast," and had just passed a vote, to
the effect, that they would either conquer or die in up-
holding the Charter. News of these insurrectionary
proceedings was immediately conveyed to the Home-
office ; a Cabinet Council was held; and at ten o'clock
it was determined to call out the Beef-eaters, and
dispatch two troops of the Train-bands, and a detach-
ment of the City Light Horse, into the heart of the
disaffected turtle-districts. The following particulars
are from a City Correspondent, on whose statements
we can place implicit confidence :
" GUILDHALL, 10 O'CLOCK, A.M.—lnsurrection is
spreading hourly through the turtle-districts. An
immense body of Common Councilmen, with Alder-
man Puddinghead as their leader, have just passed up
Cheapside on their way to the Mansion-house. They
look stern and sanguinary, and each man has his fist
doubled. The shops are all shut up, and business is
at a stand-still. God knows how all this will end!
I fear the worst !"

(EXTRACT FROM A PRIVATE LETTER, DATED THREAD

NEEDLE-STREET, ELEVEN O'CLOCK.)

" The Beef-eaters are in full march for the Man-
sion-House, and it is reported that fhb -Lord Mayor
has proclaimed himself a Chartist. Placards headed
The Charter, and no fluctuations in turtle and
turbot,' are everywhere disseminated through the City!
I have just learned from the Water-bailiff that it is
the intention of the insurgent Aldermen to set the
Thames on fire, if their demands are not complied
with. What have not Ministers to answer for ?"