The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-08-04 00:00:00

DISTURBANCE ON THE RACE COURSE.

(FROM THE EDINBURGH STAR
We regret to state, that a scene of the most seminal die-
order and riot occurred on the Musselhorgh Race tiro
yesterday. A larger cosscuurse than usual of the corking
clssses had assesolded, in coesespersce, it was supi.oasel. of
its bring fast day in the West Church parish of thi• city ;
and a large portion of these consisted of Irish I thoneers and
journeymen bakers, many of the former armed with bbt.l-
- as though they had gone for the purpose of slisdith.
ing the peace. Th. re were seven or eight Lo .less on the
ground for the sale of refres'.ment, and these ha I b-en li
berally resorted to on she early part of the slay. The ir.o.
signs of riot were the breaksng up the stares which sup-
ported the booths ; but wheth r this act originates' in lbe
desire of plunder. or from provocation offered by the il-
instes, e e are not in'orm..d. The attack, however, whether
retributive or aggressive, prompted the besieged party to
resist their assailants ; and, in a ghost time, the whole
curse became divided between the two 1 e irrents, au
those who occasionally interposed at mrdiat.,r4.
tare mss nvage and brutal in the e creme, aid s. I con--
tinned for a considerable time, without any interfrr•usce •
the pact of the civil power. The ut t consternation pre
%railed among the peaceably disposed, and many of the .1
who belonged to the town thoudst it prudent to take re-
fege in their abodes. Finally, we understand, a great st Ise-
ber of the rioters acre apprehended and lodged in Mass.:.
twig!' jai'.
1 he folloning history of the aff sir has jest been coninvt-
nicated to us by an eye witness :—Between twelve and 0n...
as the keepers of the gronnsl were preparing to cle:tr the
courts, tor the horses, an Irishman fl•turis, ed his bludgeon
and exclaimed, " Stand aside; I'll clear the way for yn t,
my honey;" and thereupon he struck a baker, who stool in
tie middle of the course. Th- baker returned the Wow,
which brought sere I or el; ht more Irishmen upon him, and
they beat hint most shatit..fully before any assistance w
atlinied him. At last about ;d or PO bakers were aaseninle I
by the shout of "she Rdinhorgn side," and the I risk r
treated into a boost), where they were pursued, and, after t!so.
commotion already described, they were apprehended 171
conveyed to prison by the bakers. The riot was not quells-
before two o clock. The race afterwards l'011)111elleOli.
The most s'arming reports acre c,rcsilated about tow •
in the course of the evening ; and according to Uses., c;,,
ge era' impression was, that a number of lives were Init.
We are happy in being stile to allay the public anxiety a I
this account ; as far as we have ys s inquired ; no actss,,l
of life appears to have resulted from this must unpleasa
affair ; and we have hitherto received hut too a stlientie a-
ed cases of accident—the one was that of a maul who 4'14
conveyed to the Royal Infirmary last night, with his boa I
very much cut and bruised ; the °tiler is one ut the pets .so.
era at Musselburgb, who is understood to be still more so.
verely wounded. If a seaman for his removal tumid be ob
tinned from a Magistrate, he was leo to have been c.l s•
revel to the Infirmary riming the night.
There cannot be a doubt bat that many others have h
severely hurt ; in particular, a young farmer, who etort
himself in endeavouring to separate the contendsne par: i es,
was observed to he dreadfully cut in the face. and about due
eyes; and many of the injured were supposed. from tier
appearance, to belong to the more respectable class .st
spectators.

CORN EXCHANGE, AUG. 4.-1 tie aerivsls of nearly
sorts of tirain and Flour last week were again considerahie.
This morning there we modem e quantities of Wheat tre
in from Essex, Kent, and Suffolk, and a few vessels from t . •
north with Oats. The floor trade continues so very .I.tP,
that the Millers purchased lViteat this morning very spa
ingly, and the prices remain unaltered trout this uay se'
Night.—Barley fur grinding being scarce, is again rat!,
drsrer —More money is asked for Bans, and such as sic
dry obtain rather higher prices.—ln Pease of both kio
there is no alteration.—There is rather more life in the Oa
trade, at the prices of this day seennigat, and a con%irler.,
demand of samples has been made.—Flour is unaltered.
SMITHFIELD MARKET, Anti. 4.—The •bitve market my
well supplied this morning. particularly With Sheep, of
which there was a great number, and the pekes donna .1
ate rather higher that. last Friday, on ing to,tne
of the weather. Beef of yOO I tina!ity, obtains a 111.:11
price. The butchers are c.itnur shi i t
a it,a•le of weather.

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