The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-06-22 00:00:00

SIR FR.I.VCIS BURDJTT.

The avowed intention of Ministers, and the
preparations made by the Friends of Sir FRANCIS
BURDETT, left no doubt that his release from the
Tower would take place yesterday. The Pro-
grammer, or Plan of the Procession, we gave on
Wednesday. Every possible publicity was given to
it, and the morning dawned with a sanguine expec.
tation of a most brilliant display. The weather
was delightful, and every thing bore the most flat.
tering appearance. Although the procession was
not to form until about one, the people began to
repair from the West end of the Town to the city,
so early as nine o'clock. The population of the
town was increased by a great influx from the
suburbs ; and, indeed, from distances of many
wiles, all attracted by the preparatory means
adopted to give interest to the scene. The streets,
however, however, did not display any appear.
ance of bustle, until about twelve o'clock. At
that time, the several volunteer corps had mus-
tered on that respective stations, and the regular
troops made their appearance in almost every di-
rection, either in small parties or in large bo-
dies.. The 12th regiment of Light Dragoons
marched into town from Essex, and passed
through the City, and along the Strand, to the
west end of the town, where they remained dur.
ing the course of the day. On their arrival in the
Strand, opposite Catherine-street, they were met
by a large party of Sir FRANCIS BURDETT'S friends
from Soho, amounting to upwards of 500, walk-
ing hand in hand, and two by two. They all
wore the Baronet's lamas, via. a purple ribbon,
inscribed with various appropriate mottos, such
as " Burdett and Liberty," ." Burdett and In.
depcndence," " Hold to the Laws," &c. kc.
They were accompanied by a full band of music,
with colours flying ; and at the moment when they
cello in contact with the 12th dragoons, were march.
big to the national Irish air of " St. Patrick's
Day."—Tbe band of the 12th dragoons immedi-
ately struck up " God save the King," and both
corps proceeded for their respective destina-
tions without further nutice.—The 12th dra.
goons were soon after followed by the 14th.
—They both mustered very streog, being not
less together than 1,500. Every thing had
now assumed the hue, complexion, and appear.
ance, of the expected procession., In every hack.
ney-coach, stage-coach, or tax-cart, that passed
in the line between the Baronet's house, in Picca-
dilly, and the Tower, a distance of between two
and three miles, the horses and drivers were deco-
rated with bunches of purple ribbon. The whips
of the drivers, and bosoms of the driven, boasted
similar favours.—Parties paraded the streets, to
the dulcet sounds of marrow-bones and cleavers ;
all uniforai and emulous.in the great work of ce-
lebrating the release of Sir FRANCtS from the
Tower with appropriate splendour. The west-
end of the town appeared to be forsaken, and the
,whole line of the Strand, Fleet-street, Cheapside,
Leadeahall.strcet, and the Minories, was filled
• with au influx of visitors. In this motley mass,
the ladies appeared to predominate, as well in
numbers as in spirit. Purple, the colour of the
Baronet's favours, was the order of the day. In
honour of it, some of the fair pedestrians wore
purple pelisses, others purple shawls, or hats and
bonnets, but none less than purple ribbons on
their heads, 'lend their lovely waists, or on their
still more lovely bosoms.
The windows in all these streets, and the balco-
nies also, shared their full proportion of spectators,
principally elegantly-dressed females, all eager to
see she passing spectacle, of which they had heard
so much, and which promised so much gratification.
Even the churches, and public buildings . were
crowded, St. PAUL'S formed one of the most
. •
splendid and interesting scenes that could possibly
be imagined--the great gallery, the grand portico,
and every part on which any person earuld Nand;
were filled with persons of rack, mostly Ladies,
and the Cathedral seemed nearly covered with
BURDETT favours. The carriages destined to form a
part of the cavalcade, and also the led horses, added
considerably to the eclut and variety of the passing
scene. They were profusely °mamma ted with purple
favours, the demand for which exceeded the supply.
Mr. DONNE'S shop, in Great Russell-street, Co.
veut-garden, was a great emporium for, this arti.
cle, with which it furnished the friends of Sir
FRANCIS on their way from the west to the east
end of the town, to an extent almost incredible,
fur the votaries of the Baronet were not content
with weariug his favours in their hats and at their
bosoms, they had bunches of them at the ends of
their sticks, and of their whips, and their horses'
heads and furniture were covered with them. One
o'clock was the hoar appointed for the Gentlemen
'who meant to join the procession, to feria at their
respective stations, vit. the Pedestrians on Great
Tower-bill, the Gentlemen on horseback in Moore
fields, and the carriages in the Minories,—By that
time, a great • proportion of the shops in the in.
tended line of the procession, were shut, and some
of them barricaded fur defence, against the ea.
pcctcd pressure of the crowd.