Hyde Park from Domesday-book to Date

CHAPTER XVI.

This riot was accidental and unpremeditated. We now come to the reign of King [Greek: dêmos] in the Park, and it began on Sunday, July 1, 1855, in a demonstration against Lord Robert Grosvenor’s “Sunday Trading Bill”—the following account of which is abridged from The Times of July 2, 1855.

“Three o’clock was the advertised time for the proceedings to begin, and, notwithstanding that Sir Richard Mayne[50] had had placards posted in the metropolis, announcing that the meeting would not be allowed to take place, long before that hour Constitution Hill, and the walks in St. James’s Park, were literally crowded by thousands, who were all wending their way towards Hyde Park. By half-past two o’clock there must have been nearly 150,000 men, women and children present. Many, judging from their dress, were of the respectable class. The proceedings began by the usual stump oratory, which continued for some time, until a cry of ‘the Police’ being raised put an abrupt termination to it.

“About 30 or 40 policemen made their way towards the man, but he had decamped, and a great number of men, finding that he was not allowed to address them, commenced hissing and hooting at the police, and some cried out, ‘Down with the Crushers!’ This gave rise to an extraordinary scene of confusion. Some of the men commenced knocking the constables’ hats off, and, to protect themselves, the men were obliged to use their truncheons with considerable force. Several carriages containing company came in sight, when every one present commenced crying out, ‘Go to church,’ and ‘Take your horses out.’ The police, finding that this frightened the horses, commenced seizing those who uttered the expressions. In return, the crowd laid hold of the officers, and endeavoured to rescue their prisoners. Of course, this could not be allowed, and the police were compelled to use their staves vigorously, and with marked effect on the mob—but they kept their prisoners, and sent them off to the police-station in cabs. One man, to escape capture, plunged into the Serpentine, but had not got more than half across, when he seemed likely to sink. He was rescued by an officer of the Royal Humane Society, and duly was enrolled in the ranks of the captured. The police were heavily reinforced, and the riot was put down—but not before 104 rioters were lodged in the police cells, who were in time dealt with by the magistrate.

“On the next day, Lord Robert Grosvenor withdrew the objectionable Bill; but this did not satisfy the mob, who met again in Hyde Park on the following Sunday, 8th July, but, finding no excitement there, they went into Belgravia, and took to the pleasant pastime of window smashing, the houses which suffered most being those of the Earl of Sefton, Duke of Marlborough, Lady Somers, Count Kielmansegge, and the Archbishop of York. Lord Palmerston, who was then Prime Minister, and Lord Brougham, both had a narrow escape from stoning.”

This making Hyde Park a Cave of Adullam, was too great a novelty to be let rest; so we find, that it being war time, and provisions somewhat high, a meeting must needs be held to talk about the high price of food—and one took place on Sunday, 14th October, 1855. The Times of next day says:—

“For many days past large placards have been posted on the hoardings about London, deploring the present high price of bread, setting forth possible causes and certain remedies for the evil, and calling on the working men of the metropolis to meet in ‘Our Park’ on Sunday next (yesterday) for the purpose of giving expression to their feelings on the subject, and taking measures for bringing about a change in so sad a state of affairs. Accordingly, yesterday, about 2 o’clock, great numbers of persons were found wending their way towards the Park, where already had assembled many, not of the best orders of society, and of those itinerant gentry who ply their various callings on such occasions.

“Until 3 o’clock nothing of an unusual character occurred; but, shortly after the hour named, a movement towards the centre of the Park gave indication of something exciting, and a rush from all parts to the point of attraction brought together, of a sudden, a crowd that continually increased, until, at last, as many as 5000 persons must have assembled together, the majority of them being of respectable appearance. All the available men of the police force, and those who would have been, otherwise, off duty for the day, were disposed about the Park, in case their services should be required, but not the slightest interference in the subsequent proceedings took place.

“Presently, two immense rings were formed, and a man of serious aspect, with a profusion of hair about his face, made his way to one of the spaces thus made, and addressed the people. He said he was a hard-working man; that it was no vain desire for popularity that had induced him to leave his large family on the Sabbath for the purpose of meeting his fellows in Hyde Park; it was because he believed he had it in his power to help his fellow-countrymen to a right understanding of the purpose for which they had assembled together. After two of the most plenteous harvests that ever blessed the earth, bread was at famine prices. The war was set forth as the cause of this. There was plenty of corn in Turkey, which could be imported at 20s. a quarter, and yet Russian corn at 73s. a quarter was permitted to be brought over. The speaker, who was said to be an eloquent carpenter, had proceeded in this strain for upwards of an hour, when a counter-agitation seemed to be rising within twenty yards of the crowd which had gathered around him.

“A baker by trade was endeavouring to defend the corn-factors and landed proprietors, against whom his opponent had been inveighing; but the mob was in no humour to listen to the ‘other side,’ and a cry of ‘Out with him’ having been raised, the baker was pushed and dragged, and carried off in the direction of the Marble Arch. Two or three gentlemen interfered to defend the unfortunate man from the usage to which his boldness had subjected him; but he did not escape even then, and he would, undoubtedly, have received some rough treatment, had not a body of police appeared to the rescue. The inspector on duty at that spot evidently saw an admirable chance of giving a favourable turn to the events of the day. Eight officers, surrounding the baker, trotted off with him at a smart pace, followed by an immense number of persons, among whom were those who appeared to be most bent on mischief; they ran on, following the baker and his guard towards Apsley House and outside the Park. Returning to the carpenter, whose audience had been considerably thinned, he was found to be still holding forth; he continued to speak and to declaim against ‘the powers that be,’ until dusk, when he brought his harangue to a close.”

On the next Sunday, Oct. 21st, another meeting took place in the Park, upon the same subject, when the same speaker congratulated his audience on again exercising their now recognized privilege of meeting in “their own Park.” Of course he wandered from his subject, and became violently political. “He also propounded a plan of attaching the police to the cause of the working classes, by appealing to them, as men and brothers, through the intervention of tracts, adding that every citizen should be a soldier, and every man a voter. He was winding up in a magniloquent peroration, when a diversion in his immediate neighbourhood attracted the attention of the greater portion of his audience towards a new object. This was an unfortunate young man dressed in livery, apparently an officer’s servant, whom a great crowd was chasing, hooting, and pelting with turf. What umbrage he had given them—whether it was his connection with a wealthy or an aristocratic master, as indicated by his dress, or what else, it was difficult to ascertain. Some said he had been circulating a tract among the crowd which was obnoxious to them; others, that he was the servant of a nobleman equally obnoxious; but be that as it may, he was followed and pelted without mercy for a considerable distance. Being hotly pressed, he took refuge behind a tree, but this availed him little, and he started afresh, but only to be subjected to renewed ill-treatment. At last he took to his heels, contrived to elude or outstrip his tormentors, and to get beyond their reach.

“This incident over, the idler and more wanton part of the crowd amused themselves by throwing tufts of grass and other missiles at a number of police who had returned in front of the magazine guard-house, from protecting the unfortunate footman. This continued for some little time, and, at one time, looked threatening; but the policemen, who showed the greatest forbearance under the annoyance, contrived to separate, and the delinquents gradually became tired of the fun. Proceeding, after this, in the direction of the Marble Arch, to a spot where a crowd had collected, we found another orator holding forth in a style of rude eloquence, which, both in its matter and manner, was not without its attractions to many. He was relating the history of the appropriation of land in this country, and, at the point when we came within reach of his voice, he was telling how William the Conqueror parcelled out the English territory among his followers. Another philanthropist, with a brown-paper parcel under his arm, and somewhat advanced in life, was advocating, in another part of the Park, the system of Communism as a panacea for the high price of food and almost every other evil.”

Of the next meeting The Times of October 29, 1855, says, “Yesterday (Sunday) another unseemly assemblage of persons congregated in Hyde Park, partly under the auspices, and at the bidding of a small knot of individuals who, under the pretext of agitating for cheap bread, really seek to disseminate political doctrines, which the people of this country, including almost every class of them, have long since, and over and over again, refused to endorse, and who, for the last few weeks, have converted a place to which thousands of the inhabitants of this metropolis, of all ranks, were accustomed to resort for agreeable and healthy recreation, into the rendezvous of a mob. It is however, satisfactory to be able to add, on the assurance of those persons themselves, given yesterday, and in the course of the week, that this is to be the last of the gatherings, as far as they are concerned.” The mob wound up their day’s amusement by smashing windows at the West End, the value of the glass broken in Curzon Street alone being over £150.

Of course, the promise that the meeting of 28th October was to be the last was not kept, and another, and, if possible, more disgraceful riot took place on Sunday, November 4. Commenting upon it, The Times of next day observes:—

“Yesterday, from about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, till about nightfall, Hyde Park was the scene of one continual riot, of a disgraceful and intolerable description; and not the less so, perhaps, because it was not accompanied by any serious injury to property, nor any loss of life—results with which the mind is apt to connect great popular tumults—though in many instances it was attended with the commission of personal violence on a number of unoffending persons. It is a naked, incontrovertible fact, let it bear what interpretation it may, and with whomsoever the blame may rest, that a place set apart for the recreation of the people of all ranks and classes, without distinction, was, yesterday (a Sunday), almost wholly surrendered to a lawless, ruffianly mob, without anything like an organized attempt to suppress the tumult to which they gave themselves up, or to prevent the violence they were ever ready to inflict, although some creditable, but isolated, and not always successful efforts were certainly made by individual members of the police force, at the inevitable risk of great violence to themselves, to secure the most conspicuous of the ringleaders.

“And who were the persons, and what was their character, by whom this reckless and unprovoked attack was made to disturb the public peace? No section of the middle—still less of the upper class of inhabitants; none of the community of artisans; nobody having a just, or well-defined grievance to complain of—none even, perhaps, of the parties by whom these Sunday gatherings were originally convened; but a pack of contemptible boys and lads, including a large proportion of vagabonds and ruffians of all kinds and degrees, with which this metropolis abounds, some thousands strong in the aggregate, who had collected there for no other purpose than that of the most wanton mischief, and from no other but the most insensate motives.”

There was the same rioting next Sunday (11th November), only this time some arrests were made. One man got a month’s imprisonment for obstructing the police, another two months for assaulting two policemen, a boy had fourteen days for disorderly conduct, and a man was fined £3 1s. for distributing handbills.

Sunday, 18th November, was the last of these series of riots, and on this occasion there were plenty of police—some 700 or 800, and they seem to have been better handled than usual. “Towards 4 o’clock a rush was made in the direction of the bridge at the east end of the Serpentine, and the crowd followed in considerable numbers, as did also a portion of the police. Crossing the bridge at a run, the crowd—chiefly boys—made for the Albert Gate, for a purpose, probably, which had better be imagined than stated in terms; but there they were received by two mounted inspectors and a company of policemen on foot, who guarded the outlet, and effectually prevented their escaping into the adjacent streets. The youngsters, thus foiled, stood for some time in a body in front of the residence of the French ambassador, and eventually dispersed, some returning into the Park. This incident had the effect of thinning the crowd considerably in the middle of the enclosure, but night had set in before those who lingered there could be persuaded to depart. Captain Labalmondière kept moving his patrols through and through the crowd in every direction, without any very perceptible effect in lessening their number. At length the police completely tired them down, and the people slowly retreated into the streets, without, so far as we could ascertain, doing any damage.”

CHAPTER XVII.

There were no more meetings in the Park for a long time, but there was one on Sunday, 8th May, 1859, to propose an address to the Emperor Napoleon, sympathizing with the Emperor in the course he had taken with respect to the war in Italy.

This meeting passed off quietly, which was a great deal more than another did, which took place on Sunday, 28th September, 1862. This was, presumably, to express sympathy with General Garibaldi, and to protest against the French occupation of Rome. It was numerously attended, and especially by large numbers of Irish labourers, whose hatred of Garibaldi excited their fighting blood to such an extent that a serious riot ensued, which a violent downpour of rain helped to stop. Several arrests were made, and the prisoners duly fined.

But this was mild to what occurred the next Sunday, 5th October. The Irish had had time to brood over it, and although “The Working Men’s Garibaldian Fund” had not convened any meeting, it was generally understood that something would take place. By half-past four there must have been some 80 or 90,000 people present, and to hold them in order there were but about 400 police, who were ordered not to interrupt any speaker, nor, if possible to avoid it, to ascend the mound of earth, or rubbish, which had been chosen by the speakers as the platform from which to address the meeting. The following is The Times (Oct. 6) account of what occurred:—

“It appears that the possession of this mound of rubbish was the great object of contention between the rival supporters of Garibaldi and the Pope on Sunday week, and so it was yesterday. It appears to have been first occupied by a mixed body of people, but, owing to an aggressive movement of Irish labourers, it was soon held exclusively by the champions of the Papacy. The Garibaldians submitted reluctantly to this state of things for a short time, and, when two or three soldiers appeared, belonging to the Foot Guards, a cry was raised for ‘Garibaldi’, and some dozen or so men attempted to regain a footing upon the mound.

“This was the signal for a fearful conflict. It became apparent, in a moment, that almost every Irishman had a stick or bludgeon in his possession, and with these they struck about them right and left, crushing hats and breaking heads with relentless brutality. The Garibaldians struck back in return, some with sticks, and some without, and, for some ten minutes, the struggle was sufficiently fierce to awaken fears among the spectators that loss of life would ensue. One stalwart Irishman laid about him with a heavy-looking stick four feet long and two inches in diameter, and another with a roughly squared piece of wood, equally long and equally strong, and with sharp edges, until both were disarmed by the Garibaldians, without the intervention of the police.

“At the end of this struggle the Irish remained masters of the ‘Redan,’ as it was termed; but suddenly there came up about a dozen soldiers—Coldstreams and Grenadiers—who shouted for Garibaldi, and charged up the mound with desperate gallantry. Twice they charged in vain, but the third charge was successful. Up they went, amid loud cheers, and cries of ‘Go it, brave Guards,’ and followed by some 200 people. The front ranks of the Irish gave way; then there was another fierce struggle with sticks and fists on the summit of the mound, and then the Irish were kept off to a man, leaving the position in the hands of the Guards and the Garibaldians. Suddenly some sticks and stones were thrown at them from below, and the Guards plunged down to punish the aggressors. Away went the Irish, away went the Guards in pursuit, and, in a minute, a dense disorderly mass of 5000 or 6000 people was flying across the Park, spreading fear and confusion around them.

“Like a herd of infuriated oxen, they rushed onward, carrying all before them, till it seemed to occur to them that they were running for nothing, and then they returned to the mound. This occurred again and again, women being sometimes thrown down and trampled upon, and men compelled to turn and fly, till the wonder was that serious injuries were not inflicted upon many. Then, at short intervals, whenever the police fixed their eyes on some prominent aggressor, they made a plunge into the heaving mass, and resolutely brought out their man, generally, but not always, succeeded in conveying him away in safe custody. It is impossible to overrate the cool manner in which they set to work. Three or four officers would thrust themselves fearlessly into a mob of 200 or 300 infuriated men, collar one, cling to him, and hold him, despite the attempts made to favour his escape, never drawing a staff, nor striking a blow but holding their man by the bare assertion of the authority of the law, and this not for a brief period, but during the course of several hours.

“The Guards and the Garibaldians having firmly established their supremacy, quiet reigned, at one time for about a quarter of an hour; and, taking advantage of this interval of rest, a working man, came forward, who, in a brief speech, denounced the Emperor of the French as the would-be Dictator of Europe, and the enemy of Italy, the opponent of liberty everywhere, and, above all, the hater of liberty in England. In conclusion he called for three cheers for Garibaldi, which were lustily given, and, when he asked all those who sympathized with Garibaldi to hold up their hands, a forest of dirty hands were extended.

“Then another speaker followed, who, with great common sense, said, ‘Enough has been done. It had been made plain to the world that the feeling of the people of London was in favour of the great patriot, Garibaldi; and with that assurance, they might settle down without any more speeches.’ This speaker had hardly concluded when the tumult was renewed, the mound being lost and won several times, and the rushes through the Park followed close upon each other; while conflicts with sticks and stones were both frequent and severe. Knives were drawn several times, and one formidable weapon, apparently a shoemaker’s knife, with a wooden handle, and a blade nine inches long, was taken from a man, who said he found it lying on the grass after one of the tumultuous rushes. This was delivered up to Sergeant Savage, who forthwith shivered the blade to fragments.

“During one of the assaults upon the mound, a corporal in the Coldstreams had his bayonet snatched from its sheath, and later in the afternoon when it was recovered, the Irishman who had taken it was soundly thrashed, and threatened with a ducking in the Serpentine, towards which he was carried by several soldiers, who, however, yielded to the persuasion of others, and permitted him to go at large.

“At half-past five, two strong pickets, one of Grenadiers, and one of the Fusileers, marched into the Park, for the purpose of carrying off the men belonging to their respective battalions. They marched straight to the mound, and, just as they ascended it, a soldier received a terrific blow on the head from a thick club, wielded by an Irishman. The blood ran down the face of the soldier, who was led away in a fainting condition, his dastardly assailant escaping by plunging into a mass of his sympathizing countrymen. After this, the pickets cleared the mound, of which they held possession till a body of police approached, half an hour later, when the military power yielded to the civil. From that time the police held the mound, and, although there was a great deal of disorderly and tumultuous rushing to and fro, with an occasional scuffle, and wholesale destruction of hats, the fear of any very serious outbreak was passed. The people had begun to disperse at five o’clock, when a few drops of rain fell, and gradually thinned afterwards. But a fine moonlight night was the means of prolonging the demonstration; at seven o’clock, there were still some thousands of people remaining on the ground, and it was late before the Park was restored to its usual peaceful aspect.”

During the next week a strong body of men were engaged in levelling the objectionable mounds, the Guards were forbidden to enter the Park on the following Sunday, and a notice was issued by the Commissioner of Police:—

“Whereas numbers of persons have been in the habit of assembling and holding meetings on Sundays in Hyde Park, and the other parks in the metropolis, for the purpose of delivering and hearing speeches, and for the public discussion of popular and exciting topics; and, whereas such meetings are inconsistent with the purposes for which the parks are thrown open to, and used by the public; and the excitement occasioned by such discussions at such meetings has frequently led to tumults and disorder, so as to endanger the public peace; and on last Sunday and the Sunday before, large numbers assembled in Hyde Park, for the purposes aforesaid, and, when so assembled, conducted themselves in a disorderly and riotous manner, so as to endanger the public peace; and, by the use of sticks, and throwing stones and other missiles, committed many violent assaults upon persons quietly passing along the Park, and interrupted the thoroughfares; and, whereas it is necessary to prevent such illegal proceedings in future:

“Notice is hereby given, that no such meeting, or assemblage of persons, for any of the purposes aforesaid, will be allowed, hereafter, to take place in any of the parks in the metropolis; and all well-disposed persons are hereby cautioned and requested to abstain from joining, or attending any such meeting or assemblage.

“And notice is further given, that all necessary measures will be adopted to prevent any such meeting, or assemblage, and effectually to preserve the public peace, and to suppress any attempt at the disturbance thereof.

“Richard Mayne,
“The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
“October 9.”

The appearance of about 800 policemen in the Park, and a pitiless rain in the afternoon of the 12th October, probably prevented a repetition of the scene of the 5th, as a sufficient number of suspicious characters were there, but did not stop long. There was an attempt, in Ireland, to get up a subscription for the injured Irish, but I cannot find that it met with any success.

For three or four years the Park was not troubled with noisy demagogues, until there arose an association called “The Reform League,” of whom a Mr. Edmond Beales, a barrister, was a prime mover. This association gave out publicly that they would hold a meeting in Hyde Park on Monday, July 23rd, 1866, and Sir Richard Mayne, in consequence, issued the following notice on July 17th:—

“Whereas information has been received, and it has been publicly announced in various printed notices, that it is the intention of certain persons to assemble in the open air at several places in various parts of the metropolis on the evening of Monday, July 23rd, and to walk from thence through the streets in procession, with banners, and preceded by bands of music, to Hyde Park, to hold a meeting there for the purposes of political demonstration and discussion:

“And, whereas such a meeting, being inconsistent with the purposes for which the Park is thrown open to, and used by the public, is illegal, and cannot be permitted, and such an assemblage there of large numbers of persons is calculated to lead to riotous and disorderly conduct, and to endanger the public peace:

“And, whereas it is necessary to prevent such proceedings, and to preserve the public peace: notice is hereby given that NO such Meeting, or Assemblage of persons in large numbers will be allowed to TAKE PLACE in Hyde Park, and all well-disposed persons are hereby cautioned and requested to abstain from joining, or attending any such meeting, or assemblage; and notice is further given, that all necessary measures will be adopted to prevent any such meeting, or assemblage, and effectually to preserve the public peace, and to suppress any attempt at the disturbance thereof.”

A copy of this notice was sent by the Commissioner to Mr. Beales, with a request that he would exert his influence to prevent any attempt to hold the meeting. This, in his reply to Sir Richard Mayne, Mr. Beales declined to do, unless he could be shown by what statute, or law, or principle of law, the Commissioner was acting in declaring the meeting illegal: and he went on to say, “The Park is either the property of the nation, as there are strong reasons for contending it is, under the transactions which have taken place between the Crown and the people, through Parliament, respecting it; or it is still Crown property, though kept up and maintained out of the public purse. If the former be the fact, where is your authority for excluding the public from their own property? If the latter be the case, then show me that you are acting under the express authority of the Crown, as claiming to be the exclusive owner of the Park.”

An attempt was made to carry out the meeting, and the following is a portion of The Times account of it. “Meanwhile vast crowds had collected in the neighbourhood of Hyde Park. A force of foot and mounted police, numbering 1600, or 1800, were assembled under the direction of Sir Richard Mayne and Captain Harris, and at 5 o’clock the gates were closed. Before that hour a considerable number of people had collected inside, in order to witness what was about to take place, and these were permitted to remain there. Outside, the throng was, as might be supposed, much greater. Masses of people had assembled at all the approaches. The Marble Arch was the centre of attraction, and for an hour or two previous to the proposed commencement of the demonstration, traffic was seriously impeded. The windows and balconies of the neighbouring houses were also crowded with spectators.

“Shortly after 7 o’clock Mr. Edmond Beales, Lieut. Col. Dickson, and other leading members of the Reform League, in a line of cabs which headed the Clerkenwell, Islington and other processions, advanced to the Arch; and, the sub-committee having succeeded in making a clear passage, Mr. Beales and his friends went up to the police, who were drawn up in line, staves in hand, some of them being mounted. The crowd immediately closed in, and endeavoured, by an ‘ugly rush,’ to effect admission. The police used their staves freely to defeat this attempt; and, it is stated that both Mr. Beales and Col. Dickson were struck in the scuffle. At any rate, after having been refused admission, and having raised the question in the form they desired, they went back to their vehicles, and, with some difficulty, managed to make their way through the crowd, in order to proceed to Trafalgar Square, there to hold the meeting, according to the programme which had been laid down.

“Printed bills were distributed among the various detachments as they came up from Clerkenwell, Southwark, Finsbury, etc., directing them not to attempt to force an entrance into the Park, but to proceed to Trafalgar Square. It is much easier, however, to collect throngs of people, than to keep them in leading-strings when collected; and a large portion of the ‘masses’ were not disposed to follow implicitly the instructions of their leaders. The gates, it is true, were strongly fortified, but to throw down the railings seemed a feasible undertaking, and this was promptly attempted. The police, indeed, hastened to every point that was attacked, and, for a short time, kept the multitude at bay; but their numbers were utterly insufficient to guard so long a line of frontier, and breach after breach was made, the stonework, together with the railings, yielding easily to the pressure of the crowd. The first opening was made in the Bayswater Road, where the police, rushing to the spot, prevented, for a time, any considerable influx of people; but they could not be ubiquitous, and along Park Lane especially a great extent of railing was speedily overturned, till in the end the crowd entered ad libitum.

“A good deal of scuffling attended these incursions. The police brought their truncheons into active use, and a number of the roughs were somewhat severely handled. One man, who was stated to be a mechanic, named Field, received serious injury on the head, and was carried off insensible to St. George’s Hospital. It is said that he had just thrown a brickbat at a policeman. A man named Tyler, living at New Road, Chelsea, also received blows on the head, and was taken to the hospital, as were, likewise, others, whose injuries were of a less serious character. The police, on the other hand, did not come off unscathed. One of them, named Penny, received a thrust in the side from an iron bar; another was knocked off his horse by sticks and stones, and several others sustained slight injuries. Stones were thrown at Sir Richard Mayne, who, as well as his men, was much hooted. Between forty and fifty persons were taken into custody in the vicinity of the Marble Arch, and about as many more at the other approaches. Many of the leaders of the crowd exerted themselves to prevent a breach of the peace, and Mr. Bradlaugh got considerably hustled for so doing, falling under the suspicion of being a Government spy.

“About eight o’clock, a company of the Grenadier Guards, and a troop of the Life Guards, entered the Park, but it was then too late to prevent the influx of people; for though the gates were still jealously guarded, breaches had been effected in every direction in the palings, and the military, who were loudly cheered by the crowd, confined themselves to manœuvres, the only effect of which was to oblige the mob occasionally to shift their position. The numbers in the park were, by this time, very large; and although, of course, there were a considerable number of ‘roughs,’ who look on the police as their natural enemies, many of the persons present appeared to be quiet and respectably-dressed people who had simply been attracted by curiosity, and showed no uproarious, nor even any political proclivities. Speeches were made at various spots, one of the orators being a Miss Harriet Laws, who delivered a very fervid address on the political and social rights of the people.”

The Times of next day (July 25th) says:—

“Yesterday morning Hyde Park presented, along its eastern extremity, a pitiable spectacle. Between the Marble Arch and Grosvenor Gate the railings were entirely demolished, and the flower-beds were ruined. Between the Grosvenor and Stanhope Gates, moreover, not a railing remained erect, those not actually levelled being forced considerably out of the perpendicular. This had been done out of mere wantoness, after ingress had been effected at other points, as was evident from the fact of the flowers and shrubs having escaped damage. On the north and south sides of the Park much damage had also been done, the railings having been overturned in numerous places. In many cases the masonry had given way, and was still attached to the ironwork, while in others the rails had been forced from their sockets; and one could not but reflect what appalling results might have ensued had the mob used them as weapons. The trees and shrubs were greatly injured, and, in fact, the appearance of the north-western portion of the Park was as if it had been overrun by an invading army. Waggons were engaged, yesterday, in removing the broken railings and shattered masonry, and a considerable sum will, certainly, be required to restore the Park to its original condition.”

CHAPTER XVIII.

But the London rough had tasted blood, and as a Reform Meeting was to be held in the Park on 25th, they gathered there in force. How the Park looked may be judged from the following, in The Times of July 26th:—

“The gathering in Hyde Park yesterday was, on the whole, probably of a more respectable and orderly character than on the previous day. It was generally believed that the rioting would diminish, if not entirely cease, and that the Government would adopt such precautions as would be likely to conduce to that result. The Park was, consequently, visited by large numbers of persons desirous of viewing the havoc which had been committed by the mob. During the morning, however, and the earlier portion of the afternoon, the roughs congregated largely, and spread themselves over the Park in search of amusement. For some time, this amusement appeared to be derivable only from an increase of the general destruction. The plantations especially have suffered severely from the hands of a ruthless mob, who appear, for the most part, to comprise the lowest scum of the London population. Shrubs and saplings have been broken near the ground, or forcibly torn out by the roots; and, in several instances, where the young trees were able to defy the strength of the attacks, the bark has been pealed off in every direction. This state of things is especially perceivable on the side of the Park facing the Bayswater Road; and from the Marble Arch for some little way down the Park Lane side, damage of a similar nature, but much less extensive, has been committed. Below Grosvenor Gate, however, the flower-beds remain untouched, the people, in entering the Park on Monday night, having seemingly avoided them. The railings lie in all directions, mingled with broken stones; for, as a rule, the wall itself seems to have given way, the railings, in many instances, though overthrown, still being connected for yards.

“In the Park itself, however, the damage, though not so great, is even more apparent. Many of the young trees have been broken off close to the ground, while branches have been wrenched off in all directions. Some little distance from the Marble Arch stands, or rather stood till yesterday morning, one of those venerable trunks, covered with foliage, which always invest the spots where they are to be found with an air of picturesqueness and wild beauty. But this tree has now shared in the general fate. After the mob had run riot over the plantations, the dryness and age of the trunk presented a temptation which it was evidently impossible for them to resist. They gathered together as much dry wood as they could find, and placed it at the foot of the tree, setting light to the pile. Dry as tinder, it was soon on fire, and throughout the day and night the smouldering tree afforded continual amusement. The police would not—at all events, did not—interfere, but two or three of the park-keepers were attracted to the spot by the crowd and the smoke. The roughs, however, were masters of the situation, and the keepers were consequently informed that if they remained long in the neighbourhood they would stand a good chance of being roasted. The fellows looked as if they would not require much provocation to induce them to fulfil their threat; and the keepers, fully believing discretion to be the better part of valour, at once beat a retreat.

“Even a burning tree, however rare as the sight is, will fail after a time to satisfy a London mob’s craving for mischief, and the fellows soon began to exert themselves in other ways. They attempted to fire some more trees, but without success, and then returned to the old trunk, where they occasionally diversified the proceedings by an exhilarating mélée with brickbats, stones, and pieces of burning wood. It was soon found that on being struck by a stick, the burning trunk would send forth showers of sparks, and the young trees in the neighbourhood were denuded of their branches, and in some instances broken off bodily for service in this way. But something still more exciting was needed, and it was soon determined in what quarter this might be obtained. The roughs then seized possession of the gates at the Marble Arch, and closed them, after which they commenced stoning the riders and the carriages passing along the drive in the Park, extending their favours in some instances to the more respectably dressed pedestrians and lookers on. These excesses rendered the interference of the police indispensable, and, accordingly, a strong reinforcement soon arrived. A fight, of course, ensued, in which stones formed the favourite weapons of the one side, and truncheons of the other. Several men were captured and confined in the Arch, until about five o’clock, when they were removed in cabs to the police-station.

“From five o’clock, the crowd increased considerably, but the fresh arrivals comprised a large proportion of respectable working men, who appeared, for the most part, to be actuated only by curiosity. Some short time afterwards, Mr. Beales and some of his friends came into the park. Mr. Beales was, of course, immediately surrounded by an admiring multitude, and for the rest of the evening was the centre of attraction. Wherever he went, he moved, so to speak, in crowds. A rumour had for some time prevailed to the effect that the police were to be withdrawn, and this rumour was now developed into a certainty. Mr. Beales informed the people that his visit to Mr. Walpole had resulted in that gentleman’s promising that the right of public meeting in the Park should be legally tested at as early a moment as possible. Mr. Walpole had agreed to permit the holding of a meeting in the Park on Monday next,[51] and, in the meanwhile, it was expected that the Reformers should abstain from any proceedings, the Government having undertaken not to make any demonstration of police or military force. One of the leading reformers now arrived with a paste-pot and bills; and soon the various gates of the Park were covered with the following official announcement:—

This had the desired effect. Several speeches were made, the mob was congratulated on its “great and glorious victory,” and, in spite of the bitter feeling against the police, there was no further rioting; but the truth of the placard just given was denied by the Government, vide Times, July 26th, 1866.

“A placard having been extensively circulated on behalf of the Reform League to the effect that, in consequence of an agreement with the Government, every facility would be given to try the legal question of the right of the public to free admission to the parks for any purpose, no further attempt would be made to hold a meeting in Hyde Park, except only on next Monday afternoon; and such placard leading to the inference that the consent of the Government had been given to such meeting, we are authorized to state that no such consent has been given: and that on an application from the leaders of the League to be allowed to hold such meeting, by permission of the Crown, they were asked by the Secretary of State for the Home Department to prefer their request in writing, that they might receive a written reply.”

The Home Secretary in Parliament (26th July) said that, “In the meantime it is impossible for her Majesty’s Government to sanction that which they believe to be a violation of the law. It is added that if they desire to hold an open-air meeting, no objection will be raised to their meeting, as on former occasions, on Primrose Hill, but a meeting in any of the Royal Parks will not be sanctioned.... If, after the warning which has been given, after the voluntary offer to permit a meeting upon Primrose Hill, they persist in what we believe to be a violation of the law, they must be held responsible for all the consequences which must follow from such a reckless course of procedure.”

Special constables were sworn in, the railings were removed and carted away, and a strong hoarding about ten or eleven feet high erected in their place. The projected meeting for 30th July was abandoned, and the Park was once more given up to the recreation and amusement of the people.

Many arrests had been made, especially for throwing stones at the police, and punishment was duly meted out. Many people were taken to the hospitals, and there treated for injuries inflicted on them by the mob and the police, the latter of whom, however, had suffered severely, vide the following return (Times, Aug. 2nd, 1866):—

“Return of the number of each rank of Police injured during the meetings in Hyde Park, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the 23rd, 24th and 25th July:—

“Rendered unfit for duty.—Superintendent, 1; inspectors, 2; police sergeants, 9; police constables, 33; total, 45.

“Slightly injured.—Superintendents, 10; inspectors, 18; police sergeants, 23; police constables, 170; total, 221.

“The Commissioner was struck several times by stones thrown at him; he received a severe contusion on the side of the head, and a cut on the temple, which blackened his eye. Each of the assistant Commissioners was struck several times by stones thrown at them.”

Mr. Beales was, not long after, made a County Court Judge.

On 19th April, 1867, there was a meeting, convened by the “Working Men’s Rights Association,” held in Hyde Park, for the purpose of denouncing the Government Reform Bill, and to express their opinion “That the Parks are the People’s, and we hereby claim the right to the use of them for the purpose of discussing our political wrongs.” They had a red flag, surmounted by a Cap of Liberty, but, as they were quiet, the police did not interfere with their proceedings, although there was a reserve of mounted and foot police at the Magazine, to act in case their services were required.

On 17th April, 1867, it was resolved, at a meeting of the Council and delegates of the various branches of the Reform League, “That a demonstration of the Reformers of London be held in Hyde Park at 6 o’clock in the evening of Monday, the 6th of May.” This provoked much comment from the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, and from those who looked upon the Park as a place of recreation and innocent enjoyment; and on 1st May Mr. Walpole issued the following proclamation:—

“Whereas it has been publicly announced that a meeting will be held in Hyde Park on Monday, the 6th of May, for the purpose of political discussion; And whereas the use of the park for the purpose of holding such meeting is not permitted, and interferes with the object for which her Majesty has been pleased to open the Park for the general enjoyment of her people: Now all persons are hereby warned and admonished to abstain from attending, aiding, or taking part in any such meeting, or from entering the park with a view to attend, aid, or take part in such meeting.”

This was received with ridicule by some of the meeting, and Col. Dickson elegantly pointed out that it was a very milk-and-watery affair, and showed that there was some “funking” in official quarters; and Mr. Bradlaugh moved a resolution which, somewhat altered in words, was carried unanimously: “That this meeting, denying the right of S. H. Walpole, or any other person in this realm, to issue such a proclamation, and, regarding the parks as places open for the purpose of holding public meetings, which are the right of all Englishmen, reply to the proclamation, that they intend holding the meeting of Monday, and that the consequences of endeavouring to prevent it must rest with those who are wicked enough to take this course.”

Men’s minds were much exercised as to this meeting. Petitions, signed by upwards of 16,000 persons in the metropolis against the proposed demonstration in the Park, were presented to Mr. Walpole; and the question of the law on the subject was authoritatively laid down; which was, that in November, 1856, the law advisers of the Crown—Sir Alexander Cockburn, Sir Richard Bethell, and Mr. (afterwards Justice) Willes—signed an opinion to the effect that there is a right to close the gates and exclude the public: or, the gates being open, to exclude persons; but that persons who have once entered, cannot be turned out without notice that the license is withdrawn.

In July, 1866, this opinion was submitted to Sir William Bovill and Sir Hugh (afterwards Earl) Cairns, who were particularly requested to say whether there was any legal authority to disperse by force any meeting for political purposes in the Park.

Their answer was, that there is no such authority for any practical purpose.

They stated that when persons had once entered the Park, they could only be ejected after notice being served on, or brought home to each individually. Publication, they said, is not enough, for many cannot, and many would not read, and an express warning must be shown. They particularly impressed that the right of removal is a separate right against each individual who has had notice. No force, therefore, can be brought to bear against bodies, or masses, which may contain many who have not had notice. They also said that it would not be practicable to remove any number, individually, and prevent them from returning, and remarked on the probability of disorder, if even an individual were turned out. The effect, consequently, was that the Government had nothing but the common law of trespass to rely upon.

The Government, however, relied upon the strong arm; and on May 6th special constables were sworn in in different parts of London, whilst the several police magistrates were in attendance at their Courts for a like purpose. The public were officially warned that a force of over 5000 mounted and foot police would be in the Park, as well as Sir Thomas Henry, the Chief Magistrate, upon whose word would rest the employment of troops, who were, for that day, confined to barracks, in order to be in readiness at a moment’s notice. But the futility of guarding the railings and hoardings of the whole Park was so forcible that it was determined not to attempt to keep anybody out; and, at the last moment, it was decided to permit the demonstration, and not to interfere with it, so long as the peace was preserved.

Well, the day came, and so did the people, in their thousands, until it was reckoned that there were about 30,000 present; and soon after six the speechifying began. And when that was over, the people dispersed without the slightest disturbance worth mentioning, or without more than a dozen policemen being, at any one time, seen upon the ground. The Times of May 7th thus winds up its account of the meeting:

“At a little before 8 o’clock most of the meetings began to disperse, and the crowd to quit the Park, in a quiet and orderly manner. In some cases, where the stations were quitted early, speakers not named in the programme took the places of the official orators, and held forth for a time; but the interest had died away, and none could retain their audiences long, even where, in one case, the speaker was a lady, and declaimed, with singular vehemence, about the rights of women. As the crowd from one of the stations was leaving, one of the reformers seized a pickpocket, who had taken a gentleman’s watch, and who succeeded in passing it away to a confederate, in an instant. Others of the same gang made an effort to rescue the prisoner; but, with the aid of some detectives, who instantly came up, he was forced along in the direction of the police barracks. Thither an immense crowd followed, which, passing in through the narrow, funnel-shaped entrance, between walls, made, for a time, a crowd so dense, that it seemed as if some lamentable result would ensue. Yet the reformer and the detectives stuck to their prisoner, and the great mass of the concourse around them most earnestly cheered them in their endeavour to secure him. When at length he was forced through the pressure of the mass into the station, great cheers and clapping of hands arose on all sides at the success of the capture, and those who at first had attempted to rescue the prisoner at once slunk away. After this nothing worth notice occurred. Only five prisoners were apprehended, three for picking pockets, and two for gambling.

“At ten o’clock the police and military were withdrawn; at eleven the Park was quite clear, and all the streets adjoining even emptier than usual. No accident of any kind took place, as far as the police were able to ascertain.”

The Reform League had not done with Hyde Park yet awhile. On July 31, 1867, it issued the following poster and handbill:—“Reform League. ‘To your tents, Oh! Israel.’—A monster meeting of the working men and other inhabitants of the metropolis will be held in Hyde Park, on Monday evening next, August 5th, at 7 o’clock, under the presidency of the Reform League, to express the public indignation at the Parks Prohibition Bill, attempted to be passed through an expiring and self-condemned Parliament, by the enemies of all popular rights; and also to protest against the attempt of the House of Lords to rob the lodger of his franchise.”

The meeting duly took place, and passed away without event. The League was on its last legs. As The Times observed,—“Yesterday, however, the League put forth its strength for a final effort, but sad to say, it failed egregiously. It made a grand effort of despair, but it lacked the strengthening impulse which that feeling ordinarily instils. A dull, lethargic passiveness pervaded every movement of the demonstration.”