The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1820-04-12
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Bp GIDatt.
FOREIGN NEWS.

most important Of which relate to . premedi-
tascd attempt 10 ssssssinstc The whole British
Ministry, while st cabinet dinner. The par
ueulars are thus related in tho London pa
psrs.
- TREASON.
LoNDox, 24.-Priyate informa.
tion having been received by the civil
power, that it was in contemplation BY a
gang OF diaboIical rufhans to make an al. !.
tempt the lives OF his majesty's Min
: isters whilst assembled at the house OF
Earl Bathurst, in Mansfield street, to a
dinner yesterday evening. Richard Bir-
ME, Esq. with a party Of IL of the Bow
street patroIe, proceededabout 8 O'Clock,
70 the place which had been described as
the rendezvous Of these drsperadocs, III
Canton.st. on the EdgewareToad. They
were in loft -dcliberating. The only
approach to this Pandemoiium was by
narrow ladder. Ruthven, one of the
principal Bow-st. officers, led the way,
and was followed by Ellis, Smith, Sur.
man and others, of the patrole.; on the
door being opened, n or 80 men, most
OF whom were apparently engaged either
In charging FIRE arms, or girding them
selves with belts similar to those worn BY
the military. There were tables about
the room, on which lay number of cut.
lasses, bayonets, pistols, &c. in large
quantities As the officer entered the
room, the conspirators all started up,
when RuthveD, who had been furnished
with warrant from the magistrates, ex.
claimed" We are ait Peace officers lay
do7vn your arms in moment'-upon
which all became confusion. A man,
whom }uthyen describes az the notorious
Arshu, Thistle,vood, opposed himself to
the officers, armed with cut and thrust
sword Of unusual length; Ruthvcn at
tempted to secure the door, and Ellis,
who had followed him into the room, ad.
vanced towards the man, and presenting
his pistol, exclaimed "drop your sword,
or LII fire Instantly )" upon which A. i.
bsandished his sword with increased VIC.
lence. In the affair one of the peace of.
kcers, SmifheYs, was killed.
Whilst this deed was doing, the lights
were ex,~ yuished. and desperate strug-
gle ensued, in which many Of the officers
were severely wounded. Surman, one
Of the patrolc, received a musket ball OH
the temple, but fortunately il only glanced
along the side of his head, tearing up the
scalp in its way. The conspira,ors kept
up an incessant FIRE; whist il was evident
10 the officers that many of them were
escaping by some back way. AT this
moment Capt. FitzclareiGe Zone Of the
sons Of the Duke of Clarence) arrived at
the head of a detachment OF the Cold
stream Guards, and three files of Grena.
diers mounted the ladder and entered the
room now filled with smoke and only il.
Illuminated by the occasional flashes of the
FIRE arms Of the conspirators. A ruffian
instantly approached the gallant Captain,
and presented pistol to his breast, but
as he was in the act of pulling the trigger,
Sergeant Legge rushed forward, and
whilst attempting to put aside the des-'
tructive weapon, received the fire upon
his arm.
1t is impossible to give minute de-
tail Of the desperate conflict which follow
ed, or the numerous instances of personal
daring manifested by the peace officers
and the military, thus brough, into sud-
den contact with band OF assassins in
their obscure den, and in utter darkness.
Unfortunately, this darkness favored the
escape Of many of the wretches. and the
dreadful skirmish ended in the capture OF
only nine Of them They were instantly
hand cuaed together, placed in hackney.
coaches, and brought down to the Police
Office, in Bow street, under strong mil
itary escort; andgNr. Binie having ar