Star.
London, England, 1821-08-29 00:00:00

AFFRAY AT KNIGHTSBRIDGE.

In consequence of NeTircumstances which took
place at Knightsbridge, on Sunday afternoon, Mr.
Sheriff WAITIIMAN has addressed the following letter
to Lord BATHURST :

" My Loito--I consider it my duty to apprise his Majesty's j
Government, through your Lordship, ok a most violent outrage I
of the public peace committed by some individuals of the Life
Guards at Knightsbridge yesterday, and of an attempt at assas-
sination upon me personally, while in the exercise of my duty as
Sheriff of liddlcsex, as the head of the Civil Poorer of the County.
" Your Lordship thought proper to direct the Lord Mayor,
on Saturday, to take the necessary measures to preserve the
peace of the City during the intended Funeral of Honey and
Francis ; and although no such caution was addressed to the
Sheriff, as conservator of the public peace of the County, I felt
it my duty to direct the Deputy Sheriffs of the City and County
to order out the constables of the divisions nearest to, and
through which the Funeral was expected to pass; and also to
attend in person with proper officers, to prevent or quell any
tumult or disorder.
" Conceiving that, under the existing irritation of the people,
and the circumstances tor which they had assembled, some in-
sult might be offered to the Life Guards in their Barracks, I
disposed of the constables chiefly in that vicinity, and actually
ranged a body of them in front of the Barracks, with instruc-
tions to apprehend every individual who should attempt to com-
mit any act of outrage or disorder.
" The Funeral, in consequence of these precautions, passed
the Barracks in an orderly and quiet manner, marked by no
other peculiar circumstance than that of a brick being thrown
from the Barracks, which fell near my horse, and wounded, as
1 ant informed, a young girl. My admonitions, and the pre-
sence of the constables, succeeded, however, in repressing the
irritation this wanton act was calculated to excite.
" When the Procession had passed, and while the road con-
tinued to be crowded with people, the gates of the Barracks
were thrown open, and the avenues filed with the soldiers. The
people, as might have been foreseen, gathered round the spot,
and expressed their displeasure. A tumult seemed inevitable. 1
requested to speak with the Vfficer on duty, but without effect ;
and at length, by repeated expostulations with the soldiers, I
succeeded in prevailing upon them to retire and close the gates.
" Some time after, upon returning to the same spot, I saw a
number of soldiers running from the wicket gate, and pursuing
the people on the causeway. Fi..sli .g an affray actually coin-
meuced, I sprung my horse dpoo the causeway, interposed he. '
tween the partit.,, and succeeded in separating them. While
thus engaged, a soldier, with whom I had before been expostu-
lating, and who was therefore acquainted with my official sta-
tion, started forward at a man and knocked him down. Ar
the same moment, while using my utmost endeavours to prevail
upon the soldiers to retire into the Barracks, and the people to
desist and keep the peace, the bridle of my horse was violently
seized, on the one side by a young Officer ;n undress, and on
the other by the soldier whose violence I had just noticed, who
together endeavoured to throw my horse over the causeway;
and I only succeeded in eau icating myself by striking the sol-
dier with my stick, and making my horse plunge. Immedi-
ately several of the soldiers rushed at me with their swords
draw:;, and one actually loaded his carbine, and directed it to-
wards me, but was, as I have been informed, knocked down
by one of the constables. Further mischief was prevented by
the interposition of some Military Officers of higher authority,
and the soldiers at length retired into their Barracks.

" /il, Lord, these circumstances require no comment. At a
critical conjuncture the soldiers were left to their own exaspe-
rated ..elings, and manifested a lawless spirit. The civil power
under my direction was fully adequate for the preservation of
the peace among the people, but not to encounter an armed sol-
diery. I had no communication from his .Majesty's Govern-
ment, nor could I ()Stain an interview with any of the Officers
of the Regiment ; and when I directed some of the constables to
represent to the Officers, in the most respectful terms, my desire
thst the so!diers should be kept within the Barracks, the mes-
sage Cc:tamed was,' That the Sheriff might be d—d, they would
not make their men prisoners for him; and I feel assured, that
had I not interposed with the civil power, and even risked my
own life, a frightful slaughter must have ensued. Of subor-
dination to civil authority, the soldiery appeared to be wholly
unconscious, and that authority, in my person, was repeatedly
insulted and grossly outraged.
" It would, my Inrd, be as needless as presumptuous in me,
to attempt to instruct your Lordship and his Majesty's Govern-
molt in the nature of the constitutional authority under which I
attended yesterday, or the right I possessed, in my official cha-
racter, to have claimed the aid and assistance of those very mi-
litary to suppress tumult, who have, upon this occasion, in open.
defiance of the civil authority, been the promoters of it ; nor
need I add one word in aggravation of the enormity of the of-
fences committed : the offenders can, some of them, be identi-
fied, and I tru•t your Lordship will cause immediate and effec-
tual 111::4113 to be adopted to bring them to justice, as a salutary
example to others.—l have the honour to be, my Lord,
Your Lordship's obedient humble servant,
" Bridge-street, Aug. 27, 1821. OR. WAITHMAN.
" The !tight Hon. Earl Bathurst, &c. acc."

CANTERBURY RACES, Flimsy, Avors: 24.
Thu County Plate of IA t y Pounds. Four mile heats.
Sir J. C. klonywood's b. in. Enchantress - walked over
The Ladies' Platt of Fifty Pounds, for the losing horses of the

week. Two miles.
Mr. Brown's br. g. Marksman

2 1

Mr. Lushitigton's-br. m. Coral - . . 12 2
Colonel filorlano's ch. c. Hoopoe - 3 3 dr.
The City Plate of Fifty Pounds, on Thursday, which was dis-
puted in consequence of a cross by t'arbott on Merryman, in
the third heat, was not adjudged by the Stewards, but is to be
referred by them to the Jockey Club.
Although, as has too much prevailed for some years, our
Course has been deficient in sport, yet the Sweepstakes of 10,
vO, and GS guineas each, have been again renewed, as well as
the Hunters' Stakes, which latter, by a new article, are not to
be run for unless three horses are entered.
With the exception of some of the West Kent families, who
have occasionally -honoured our Races with their presence, the
company in general has been as numerous as on former years,
I indeed, the aggregate on the Course on Wednesday is mentioned
as being greater than any within recollection. The Ball, at
Bellingham's Rooms, on Friday night, enumerated upwards of
160, and the Public Breakfast, at the same Rooms, on Saturday
morning, onwards of 100 of the Nobility and Gentry of the
County. The Public Breakfasts were also well attended on
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday ; and the plan, this year first
adopted, of giving a Aims; a la fuurehette seemed to meet gene-
ral approbation.
The accustomed liberality of the Baron and Baroness de MM.
/ZIQUISU has again been evinced in a general invitation to the
company to take refreshments at their hospitable mansion at
Bridge Hill—an invitation, of which a large proportion of the
company were happy to avail themselva, as well on account of
the entertainment, as of the elegance and condescension with
which it was accompanied. The use of the stables of the man-
sion were also afforded for the accommodation of the horses be-
tween the several heats.•

SPARRING.
Crawley had his Benefit at the Fives-court yesterday, and his
merit as a boxer was rewarded by a good conic. Amongst the
best set—to were the following ;
Curtis and Hawkins.—This was a masterly display of courage
and science, at.cl although in favour of Curtis, who is as good a
man as ever stripped, yet Ilawkins worked his points skilfully,
cnd the applause was unanimous.
Oliver and the geotsesais of seventeen stone, so much talked of,
was a contrast to the preceding bout. Oliver, who appeared a
boy to his adversary, had an opportunity of spewing off his sci-
ence to fine advantage, and he kept his fists constantly at his
adversary's • head. Anderson was not quick enough to return,
but he received without murmuring, and ;hewed much good
humour upon the occasion.
Kendrick, the Black, and an athletic Coachman set-to, and
we only notice it to state that such overgrown novices disgraced
the stage by their awkwardness.
Spring and Crawley closed the performances in a masterly set-
to, and if any best, Crawley had it, and particularly towards
the end of It. The parrying was excellent, and the hitting clean.
There were no fresh matches made, and the principal topic
diecussed was the wrangle about Cooper and (.E Leary's fight,
upon which bets have been so long susper.ded that to pay and re-
ceive on it is absurd, The umpires first decided that O'Leary
had won it, Caper baying lett the ring beloi`e they had called
time. They- tben took a few days to reconsider the matter, and,
as Mt. Jackson termed to meddle with the dirty water, they
turned round and said Cooper won it: so it remains ; but the
impaitial part of the ring have considered ir, ueder all the Cis'-
, esinaatantesi a drow, and that no bets be paid.