came up, and accompanied the troop to the office in College-green, where Capt. Codrington enquired for Col. Brereton, and observed to his men "that as they had ridden sixteen miles they had better put up their horses." Lieut. Mc Leroth stepped forward and begged him to wait a moment, and he would try and find Col. Brereton. On his return, he stated that the Colonel was at the Palace, where Captain Codrington went to him. After remaining there some time, the troop accompanied Colonel Brereton towards the stables in College-street, which the Magistrates had engaged for troops in the morning. Mr. Fisher seeing the troops in the street, put lights in the stables. Capt. Codrington and Col. Brereton were engaged for some minutes in conversation, the subject of which has not transpired; but immediately afterwards Capt. Codrington wheeled round with his troop, in the presence of Col. Brereton, and taking the Palace and the Exchange in his way, finally left the city. The Doddington troop consisted of about 40 men, and might have been employed with advantage, had Col. B. given them any orders, but he neither availed himself of their presence nor gave any directions for their employment or detention.*

*It is much to be regretted, that, after the great personal exertions used by Capt. Codrington to muster his troop, and the laudable activity which his men displayed in turning out when they heard their services were required, they should, on their arrival in Bristol at a very momentous period of the riots, have been compelled to remain inactive, and even to leave the city. It is no small part of the delinquency that attaches to Col. Brereton that he neglected to avail himself of the assistance of this efficient corps, after their Commanding Officer formally reported his arrival to him, and placed the troop under his military guidance. This breach of his duty constituted the eighth charge against Col. Brereton on the Court Martial, and to which, on the day preceding his suicide, he offered

The circumstances attending the arrival and departure of this Yeomanry Corps have been given in detail, because great blame has been very unjustly thrown upon the Magistrates, on account of an inactivity the cause of which could not rest with them. After Capt. Codrington had reported himself to Col. Brereton, all difficulty should have been over. He had then no more to do with the Magistrates than any other soldiers equally under the command of Col. Brereton. And were not the Magistrates at their posts?-if the Mansion-house were the post of danger they were there ;-if the Council-house, some were there likewise. But, however they may be knocked down or dispersed by the rush of determined villains, there are those who are unreasonable enough, without procuring for them the gift of superhuman ability, to demand from them a miraculous ubiquity. Nor was there any interval at which the Magistrates were not at their known public posts, excepting it be after they were driven from the Palace to Berkeley-square; and if Berkeley-square was the next object of attack, it was not to avoid danger they fixed themselves there. It should be remembered, that the Mayor was separated from the large body of con

to plead guilty. The charge alluded to was the following:-" For that he, Lieut.-Colonel Brereton, on the arrival in Bristol of the Doddington Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry under the command of Captain Codrington, on the said Sunday evening, which arrival was reported to the said Lieut.-Col. by the said Captain in person, neglected or omitted to avail himself (as in his capacity of Commanding Officer of the Troops in Bristol it was his duty to do) of the services of the said Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry, or even to give any distinct or sufficient orders for retaining the same in the City, although numerous houses and buildings in different parts of the City were then on fire, and although further conflagrations were threatened and expected."

stables on his way to the Palace. He, however, felt it to be his duty to remain near the Green; and knowing that the Mansion-house had been fired, and that the Councilhouse had been put in a state of defence, he was compelled He was refused to go to some private residence. admittance at two or three houses nearer the scene of destruction than Berkeley-square. Having no quarters left, he went thither, and on his arrival a messenger was sent to the Chamberlain at the Council-house stating where he was to be found, and also a messenger to Col. Brereton to the same effect. Billets were at the same time sent for the Doddington troop to Colonel Brereton. It has been reported that the Mayor ordered the bearer of the letter to Col. Brereton not to say where he (the Mayor) was; but the letter itself is the best denial to such a statement :

"The Mayor of Bristol desires Colonel Brereton to "consider himself fully authorised to take whatever

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steps, and give whatever orders, he, as the military "commander of the troops in this city, may think fit, “ to restore and preserve, as far as possible, the public peace. The Riot Act has been read three times to-day, "Col. Brereton will have the goodness to consider this "order to apply not only to the troops at present under "his command, but to any which may subsequently "arrive in the city.

"Mr. Daniel Fripp's, No. 30, Berkeley-square, "Sunday night, 12 o'clock, 30th Oct. 1831."

"The Mayor of Bristol begs to inform Col. Brereton "that if he should have occasion for the orders of a

Magistrate, either the Mayor or some other Magistrate "will be found at No. 30, Berkeley-square, Mr. Daniel Fripp's, the second house on the right hand on turning "into the Square from Park-street.

Berkeley-square, 12 o'clock, Sunday night.

"This communication is made to Col. Brereton, in "consequence of Lieutenant M'Leroth calling at the "Council-house, and requesting to see a Magistrate; "Colonel Brereton was gone out when a call was made "at the Staff station to inform him as above."

PART XI.

FIRING OF QUEEN-SQUARE.

The Narrative must now return to Queen-square. After the attack on the Gaol, the Square remained comparatively quiet some hours. There was a mob about the Mansion-house, and although it was guarded by six of the 3rd dragoons, there were persons continually and uninterruptedly leaving the cellar loaded with wine. The stock was very large, nearly 400 dozen. But when the other objects of the rioters were accomplished, and they were thereby enabled to send reinforcements to their ruffian "army of observation" in the Square, their further intentions became evident. An attempt was made to set fire to the back of the Mansion-house ;this was communicated to the soldiers, and their aid entreated. It was refused, on the plea that their orders confined them to the front.

There was an immense mob in the centre of the Square, as if waiting some signal for action. About four hundred persons immediately round the Mansionhouse were now in commotion; four of them were seen going into the cellar under the kitchen. Two hastily returned and called for a light. One went up to a dragoon and spoke to him-there was some parley,-on going away the fellow said, "Well, you will not fire." After waiting some ten minutes for a light, one of the party, (a strong-built bow-legged fellow, about 40 years