The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-07-13 00:00:00

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TO THE EDITOR OF TOE STATESMAL

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LIBELS AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF

Sty—lt seems .t a ear. ____
by several character-assassins, for the purpose of ex-'
citing the particular resentment of Onvenimeni
against the inhabitants of this town, as several of the
London papers of this week. ht, e teemed with abuse
against them, equally false aid malignant. We are
told that a man has been shot at, whe had been ac-
tive to bringing the " evil-disposed people to jus.
tice ;" that " parties of these deluded people are in
the habit of assembling in different parts of the
tows, tecarry their revengeful designs into execution ;
that it Is. dangerous for the military to walk. the
streets in the evening; that on the pith ult. Brigade-
Major Hemphries, who is on the Stall here, was laid
wait for on his return from the Theatre (which seems
to bet favourite resort of these lawless ruffians)by a
large-party, and without the slightest provocation on
his part, was knocked down by a shower of stones,
two of which took effect, and one, which struck him
en . the forehead, nearly terminated Ills existence";
and that an Officer of the Somerset Militia, who was
quietly stalking along the streets, was as-
laulNel by a considerable party of these despera-
does,-andisarrowly escaped with his We," Jim. Now,
Se, the truth or falsehood of these grate charges
will sheer what credit is due to the testimony of these
calumniators, who seem to ape 'the conduct of those
meths gentry, that some time ago cortespouded
with the celebrated John Bowles.
n Is tree that a man was shot' at eight miles
hence an the 20th ultimo; but the writers in ques-
tion might, with as much propriety, hare chairf eeernl the
Lord Chancellor of England with Wile
cessary to the assassination of Mr. Petceval, as to
implicate the people of Nottingham with au attempt
on the life of a man eight mites hence, for his Lord-
ship was very likely much nearer the House of Com-
mons when Bellingham drew the fatal trigger.
As to the other charges, brought by these scrib-
bling Gentlemen they are still of a more infamous
complexion; but a short stateme .t of facts will set ,
the business to rights.
The theatre is described as having been the rallying ,
point fora set of ruffians ; and perhaps this may prove
correct ; for it can be proved by many respectable wit-
nesses, that few evenings passed over during the late
season of performance at that should-be place of so-
dal amusement, without a row being kicked up by
certain military characters, and a few strippling ruf- I
fiaus who had honourably enlisted under their war-
Jikel
batmen.
The practice generally was for these worthies to
make their sober epeparance at half price, and as
soon as the curtain fell, to vociferate " God save
the King ;" and those who did not immediaely obey
their second imperious mandate, which was " hats
off," were instantly assailed with oaths, sticks,
swords, ec. Party in politics made no distinction
bore; for many persons of great respectability, who
are known to be staunch friends to what is called
" the high party," met with much abuse, because
they chose to act as men ; nay, manrof the fair sex
felt the effects of the gentlemanly conduct of some of
these defenders of our country, and their worthy co-
adiutors. One of them, a conspicuous Officer of the
45th, for abusing a man in the pit, was brought be-
fore the Magistrates ; and had not the Prosecutor
have taken the hush money, he would have appeared
in his true colours in a court of justice; a Gentle-
man of high character both for property and per-
sonal respectability, was a volunteer evil eace on the
occasion, but who has had the tables turned upon
him for his services; for this same gallant officer has
since Caused him to be bound over to the Sessions, on
a charge of having excited an assault upon tie latter,
though I do not understmtd that he exhddted say
honourable wounds obtained in either his eftnefee
or 411,91:ire operations. A Jury will, however, set
this business to rights.
As to the charge about the Somerset Officer, I will
beg leave to inform you that his vetoer had often
been displayed against the hots of the audience in the
Theatre, and that he one evening received a severe
chastisement by the aid, as I understand, of a horse-
tchip, for which he has caused a man to be bound over
to the Sessions.
As to the wound received by Brigadier-Major
Humphries, I have no doubt, but every person in the
town laments the unfortunate circumstance ; because,
since his residence here, he has invariably conducted
himself as a gentleman. The truth is, however, that
as he was departing from the Theatre, in company
with some other etfieers, he was struck en the fore-
head by a stone, or some other hard substance; but,
happy I am to say, so far from his life being endan-
gered by the blow, that a Gentleman of my ac-
quaintance met him the next morning going about
his business.
The principal sufferer, in consequence of these out-
rages, is Mr. Robertson, one of the Managers of the
Theatre; who, as a good husband, a good father,
and in other respects, a good member of society, it
grieves me to say, was deprived of his benefit,—the
Mayor ordering the Theatre to be shut ; but who, I
hope, will be remunerated when he makes his ap.
pearance here at the Races.
The writer of the Inflammatory article in one of
the London papers, whose character and station in
life, I believe, I am acquainted with, concludes by
saying, "It is a lamentable circumstance, that with
the powers granted by the Watch sqd Ward Bill,
such acts of atrocity should, not be prevented." To
this I will reply, that, with the exception of the
disturbances occasioned as above described, so peace-
able is the state of the town, that the Magistrates
have not seen it necessary to saddle the inhabitants
with the expense and trouble of %Whim and Ward.
lug since the 6th of June. So reach for the veracity
of these correspondents to the Leaden papers! *
• A FRIEND TO TRUTH.

- that a dark scheme has been laid

%MCKIM, ArCCIDINT.—On Friday last, aline
boy bre years old, was passing over Areasingfonzeom-
mon accompanied by his father and mother, a
crieliet.ball struck himou the breast, from the bat
of a player, and he died en the spot. The party
hatfasade a short pause several yards frdes She *kite.
Saterday aftetraeon, -as a child 4eas eresslag.the
way in Queen-street, C'helosr,^a tazed oast, passim
at the time, knocked it dtme, elld a wheel hoot onr
its leg and severed Its foot from it.

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