Star.
London, England, 1826-06-09 00:00:00

TART OBLTGED TO VIM

CARLISLE, Jun 6.

" I have just returned from witnessing a most me.
lanchr ly occurrence. Sir Philip Musgrave. of Edenhall.
the ministerial candidate for this city, was on hit can-
vass this morning in C.ldewgate, one of the suburbs.
Caldesvgate is principally inhabited by persons con•
cerned in the cotton manufacture, who arenow in a state
bordering on starvation, earning from 2s. 9d. to 4s. per
week, and whose feelings respecting the Corn Lows are,
most acute. The sight of Sir P. under such circum-
stances caused great irritation, and he and his friends
were pelted with stones by the rabble. He took refuge,
in a private house. The mob increased to some bun.
dreds, principally, however, women and boys ; but their
appearance was sufficiently formidable to prevent Sir P.
attempting to make his way through them. He con-
t:nued a prisoner until afternoon, the Mayor all the time
busying himself with swearing in special constables.
About half past one I was coming into the city from
that quarter where I had some business, when I met W.
Hodgson, Esq. the Clerk of the Peace for the County,
and Mayor of the City, proceeding to the place of Sir
P.'s imprisonment, with two or three constables, and a
dozen or so of Gentlemen. I turned and followed them
at a distance, and saw them advance to the front of the
mob; and here I mry observe that I, and everybody
near me, remarked the temerity and foolishness of this
attempt at rescue, as this small party would infallibly
be driven back, and a greater disturbance be raised than
ever. Mr. H. and his party advanced, preceded by a
resolute constable. The rabble slowly retreated, but a
party of them, esconced behind a wall which enfiladed
Mr. Hodgson's little party, suddenly poured such a vol.
ley of stones among them as compelled an instan-
taneous retreat. Part of Mr. H.'s little party betook
themselves into the neighbouring houses, which were
hospitably opened for them (for only a very small part
of the population participated jn this outrage) and part
betook themselves to the city ; but I do not think that
any of them were taken prisoners or otherwise ill-used,
than as I have mentioned. Sir P. continued a prisoner
all this time, and I and two or thre.f acquaintances posted
ourselves at a sufficient distance to be out of danger,
and near enough to see the further proceedings of the
mob. The rabble now began to pour from all parti of
the town, and I think, about half an hour after the re-
pulse of Mr. Hodgson, an officer, serjeant, and three
artillerymen, marched to the scene of action; they
were followed by a company of the 35th ; then came
another company of foot, then a few Magistrates and
private Gentlemen, and after them a body of special
constables. The whole party then halted on the bridge
of the Caldew, which separates the suburb from the
town. They paused a few minutes, forming into march.
ing order, and then pushed forward, the soldier: with
bayonets fixed and swords drawn. When within about
a hundred yards of the rabble they paused for a few
minutes, when I was told the riot act was read, but I
was not near enough to ascertain the fact, as I kept
aloof near the bridge, where I was out of danger, and ,
could see all that was going on. They then charged,
and the mob retreated, pouring on them vollies of
stones, of which indeed they threw a good quantity
during the pause above mentioned. They cleared the
area opposite the house of Sir Philip's imprisonment
with the bayonet, and then fired three vollies up two
small streets, called Shaddongate and Queen street, in
quick succession after the retreating mob, the hindmost
ranks of which continued after the bayonet charge, to
pour vol ies of stones upon the soldiers. Sir P. his
friends, and the special constables, then marched up,
tire street together, and in a short time the troops re-
formed themselves, and returned to the Castle, meeting
in the way a troop of horse, who had also been called
out to quell this tumult. So far the matter seemed tri-
fling, for every one near me believed that the vollies
were nothing but blank cartridges fired over the heads
of the mob. But to my great surprise I was overtaken ,
on my way home by a woman in the greatest agony of
grief, who requested me to visit her son in law, who was
shot. I went with all speed, and found him shot through
the chest, and bleeding profusely. After doing what
was necessary, I left him to see a young womar. She
was shot through the temple. I then hurried to a young
woman, whom I found under the care of a surgeon,
who happened, like myself, to be on the spot. She was
in the house at the junction of the two streets. A ball
had gone completely through the house, entering at one
indow and going out at another ; in its passage it
made a terrible fracture of the upper part of her Skull.
She was trepanned, and the depressed pieces extracted
or elevated ; but it is very improbable that she will
survive. I returned to the woman I mentioned before,
and found her dead ; the man shot through the body
seemed something recovered; there are hopes, but
feeble ones, that the ball has not touched the vital
organs. I also heard of another individual being ,
wounded, but did not see him—five in all."