Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
22nd December 1827
Assembly Rooms , Egham,
1828
Barnard Deane
Begs leave respectfully to inform the Nobility, and Gentry of Egham, and its Vicinity, there will be a Ball, at the Assembly Rooms, on Monday, January 7.1828, at Nine o'clock.
Under the Patronage of
Lady Freemantle
Hon.Mrs.N.Reid
Honourable Mrs.Westenra
Mrs.Bishop
Stewards
Richard Torin, Esq.
Neville Reid, Esq.
Tickets including Refreshments, 10s.
Windsor & Eton.
The Berkshire Chronicle.
This Reading Paper is making great efforts to push itself into Windsor; and the means it adopts imply as much lack of principle as poverty of real recommendations.
It is enough for us to allude to the low expedient of canvassing from house to house for orders and advertisements ! It could not take a more effectual method of disgusting the respectable inhabitants of this town.
In a hand bill distributed in Windsor, the Berkshire Chronicle pretends to have hitherto forborne from urging its claims to the patronage of the inhabitants, out of respect to Mr.C.Knight; and it puts forward the change in the proprietorship of the Windsor Express, as a reason for its present stir in this quarter. Upon this we shall simply remark -
1. That Mr.C.Knight has practically relinquished the conduct of the Windsor Express for many months; and consequently that the Berkshire Chronicle, in its tender concern for the neglected state of Windsor in regard to editorial superintendence, should have commenced operations much earlier, and not have waited till the neglect was entirely removed.
2. That Mr.Knight has strongly recommended his successor to the inhabitants of Windsor; and that the Windsor Express holds, and will continue to hold the same liberal and moderate political tone which it maintained under Mr.Knight's management; while it enjoys the advantage of a resident proprietor, as well as the anxious efforts at improvement which every man of any spirit, or indeed regarding his own interest, feels bound to make on coming to the possession of a property of this peculiar nature.
Some experience of the London Newspaper press, is not, we conceive, the worst preparation for the conduct of a country paper, since three-fourths of its contents must necessarily consist of matter derived from London sources. With regard to local news, residence and a knowledge of the proper mode of procedure, are, we presume, the chief qualifications. Some introductions at the outset are no doubt important; and these, we are happy to say, have been afforded us in the most encouraging manner. The insinuation of our would-be rival, about "strangers to the county," comes with a ludicrous effect from a paper printed and published at the other end of that county, seeking to thrust itself into Windsor upon the strength of having an agent here for its sale, and asserting its superiority in regard to local matters over a paper altogether produced at Windsor by a resident conductor !
We detest controversies of this petty description, and shall hasten to conclude. These few remarks have been induced by the unblushing assertion of our assailant, and a desire to say, once and for all, what we think may help to put the attempted rivalry in a proper light. The Berkshire Chronicle asserts that it is the only paper in the county which gives Assize and Sessions Reports. It will be best refuted however by fact, when opportunity offers. We are quite willing that all its pretensions should be judged of in the same way; the encouragement and support we have received in our efforts to improve the arrangement, and give increased variety and interest to the contents of the Windsor Express, strengthen our confidence that we shall be able to augment the popularity and prosperity of the paper; and far from dreading fair competition, we shall always feel it as a wholesome incentive to exertion.
It gives us great pleasure to announce that a donation of fifty pounds was, on Friday, most graciously sent by his Majesty to our worthy Mayor, Thomas Jenner, Esq., for the relief of the necessitous poor of this town.
We are happy to observe the name of our worthy member, Sir.R.H.Vivian, in the list of the thirteen newly-appointed baronets Gazetted last night. The long and distinguished services of this gallant officer justly entitle him to this distinction.
Monday the King's hounds threw off at half-past ten at Folly hill, near Maidenhead Field. The stag went off towards Henley, turned down in the direction of the Thames, ran like the blazes down the Henley hills with the whole pack at on his back, took to the river at Henley bridge, crossed it, cut along through Sir Gilbert East's park on to Raddage farm, five miles beyond Henley, where the hounds came up with him, and he was safely taken after a severe run of an hour and twenty-five minutes. A good day's sport, and the hounds did wonders. There was a large field out, and Lord Maryborough, we are happy to state, was sufficiently recovered to join the sport, which, from the fineness of the weather and the manoeuvring of the stag, was almost unexampled. The horses suffered severely , and two or three have since died.
Yesterday morning as Mr.Roberts, carpenter, of Sheet-street-road, was unloading his gun, by some accident the piece went off, and discharged its contents in the arm of the unfortunate man, a little above the wrist. Mr.Fowler was immediately called in, and it is hoped the limb may be saved.
It is our painful duty to record the death of Dr.Robert Pope, who departed this life at half past three o'clock on Tuesday morning, at his house at Staines. This eminent surgeon and highly respected man was in his eightieth year, and his loss will be greatly regretted.
In consequence of the continued rains during the last week, the river has for some days been rapidly rising, and the waters continuing to increase, great anxiety prevails lest Eton should be once more the scene of an inundation. The lower part of Home Park has been entirely flooded, and wears all the appearance of a peaceful lake, adorned with rows of magnificent trees. The effect is singularly beautiful. The fields between this and Clewer too are completely flooded, and the road in that direction is quite impassable for foot passengers, the waters rising to a height of two and three feet. The operations of the workmen employed in the erection of the new gas works have been suspended in consequence of their work lying beneath the water in Clewer lane.
Another most disgraceful outrage has been committed by the soldiers stationed in this town. At midnight on Monday, the inhabitants of Thames-street were aroused from their beds by a party of four of the 2d Life Guards violently knocking and kicking at their doors. This conduct was continued, in defiance of the remonstrances of the watchman on duty, until another came up to his aid, when they changed the object of their attack from the bells and knockers and commenced a most brutal, cowardly , and unprovoked assault upon these unfortunate men, one of whom was removed in a state of insensibility. It appears that these soldiers having escaped from the barracks after the evening muster, first directed their steps towards a public-house in Thames-street, where being very judiciously refused admittance, and also foiled in another similar attempt, they made a regular attack on all the doors and bells as above described. Sir John Chapman witnessed the outrage from beginning to end, and he declared that more infamous and unprovoked conduct was never witnessed.
It is now pretty generally understood, that an enmity of a very bitter description has long existed between this regiment and the Fusileers; and it is not to be supposed that this feud has been materially diminished by the recontres which have lately taken place.
Hence the minds of the soldiers it may readily be supposed have been in a state of ferment. All excitements are near of kin, and the transition of one to another is easy. The Guardsmen, who conceive themselves insulted by the other regiment, when thwarted in their desire of revenge, have since been ripe for mischief in any shape, and rather than quietly digest their spleen, would go to loggerheads with a brick wall. Hence the scaling of the Barrack walls, the pounding at doors in Thames Street, and finally the pounded head of the watchmen. These are the natural consequences of excited feelings. True, but it does not clearly follow that those feelings should be encouraged by an exhibition of the exciting cause, or that they should be suffered again to manifest themselves to the alarm and bodily fear of his Majesty's lieges. The means of prevention are not more easy than obvious, and we cannot see why the peaceful inhabitants of Windsor are to be subjected to a repetition of a grevious nuisance, when by changing the station of one or both of the regiments, it could easily be removed. It can surely be no very desirable object in any quarter that a rooted antipathy between the troops and townspeople should grow up out of these differences. Than such a state of things indeed we can conceive of nothing more truly fearful. And yet if a system can be persevered in, under which the people are in constant fear of outrage and insult from a military mob, such will assuredly be the final result. We are informed that in an early part of the disturbance, Sir John Chapman, with a laudable anxiety to prevent the most alarming consequences, sent a watchman to the guard-house for a picquet, which was refused, on the plea, we believe, that it was not the etiquette for the regiment to interfere with another ! A subsequent personal application from Sir John was not more successful. This appears quite unaccountable until some explanation is afforded. Is not somewhat on the principle of keeping Jack to do nothing, and Dick to help him ?
Colonel McLean has behaved in a very handsome manner in the affair, having expressed his regret at the conduct of his men, and offering every assistance in his power to aid the civil authority for the detection of the offenders, and the causing them to be brought to justice. Immediately upon receiving information of the outrage, the Colonel caused the dormitories to be searched, when, although it was ascertained that none of the men were absent, four pairs of trowsers were found completely beplastered with mud, so as to leave little doubt as to their belonging to the offenders. Indeed, there is but one opinion as the entire good feeling which animates the officers of both regiments, to whom these animosities and disturbances cannot be less painful then they are perilous to the inhabitants generally. One pair of mudded trowsers, we understand, belong to the owner of the cap.
On Friday night, as Captain Deime Radcliffe, of the Grenadier Guards, was returning alone in a post-chaise from Cranford Park (the seat of the Countess of Berkeley), between the hours of twelve and one o'clock, three men rushed from under a hedge by the road side, about a quarter of a mile beyond Cranford, on the high road to Hounslow, and desired the post-boy to stop; one at the same time snatching at the reins, while the other two succeeded in opening the door. Fortunately the post-boy was proceeding at the time very rapidly, and, moreover had the nerve to disregard their menaces; upon the instant of their attack, instead of abating his pace, spurring and whipping his horses to their full speed, striking at the ruffian who was endeavouring to maintain his hold on the horses, till he was disengaged. His accomplices, who were likewise clinging to the door, were also shook off by the rapidity which the vehicle proceeded. One or more of the villains, upon quitting their hold, fired two pistols without effect. After firing, they discontinued the pursuit; and the post-boy continued to exert the utmost of his speed to Hounslow, where the captain gave notice of the circumstances, as also of not having met any of the Bow-street patrol on the road.
Local Police
Monday
At a sitting of the Magistrates at the Town-hall, this morning, Thomas Bailey, a coachman in the employ of Mr.Milton the coachproprietor, appeared on a warrant charged with assault and defamation.
The complainant, Henry Frowd, a respectable looking young man, in the service of Mr.Aldridge of Datchet, stated, that on the evening of the 6th instant he was at Egham hill, where he had been to pay a last visit on the remains of his father, who had died on the previous evening; that on the Windsor coach coming up, his brother hailed the accused, when complainant mounted behind, and after his reply to the coachman's usual question of "all right ?" the latter drove on; that, when they had proceeded a little beyond the Nelson public-house, at Old Windsor, an inside passenger called to Bailey to stop the coach, as a bag was then hanging from the roof; that immediately the accused drew up, he turned round to complainant, and asked where he got up, and upon his (complainant's) answering "at Egham," he replied, "It's a lie, you only want to rob the coach, and if you don't get down immediately I'll bundle you down." Complainant, to prevent altercation , alighted, telling the coachman he should complain of him at the office; upon this accused also got down, again charged witness with attempting to rob the coach, collared him, and repeatedly struck him on the head, although he offered to accompany accused wherever he chose.
Cross-examined by Mr.W.J.Voules. Had no previous acquaintance with the young man who sat beside him; had not seen the bag till noticed by the gentleman inside; did not hear the gentleman call out that the coach was being robbed; the accusation of robbery might have been equally pointed at the other young man; thought that the coachman's impression was, that a robbery was being committed.
William Frowd, brother to the complainant, corroborated the above statement as far as related to his stopping the coach at Egham hill, and his brother getting up behind with the knowledge of the accused.
Thomas Mills, jun., of Old Windsor, was an outside passenger on the evening in question, sitting in the front seat; remembered a gentleman calling out that the coach was being robbed when between Frogmore and the Nelson, in consequence of which the coach stopped. Observing the bag hanging from the roof, Bailey made the accusation stated by the complainant. The night was very dark, and the luggage so high, that witness had not previously observed any one behind. Saw the coachman get down with Frowd, and heard him repeat the accusation; a scuffle ensued, but did not see any blows struck; heard complainant , however, beg of Bailey not to strike him, as he was willing to go with him where he chose. When Bailey came back, he said he had got a hat belonging to the other young fellow, which, he should keep; but immediately restored it upon witness assuring him he knew the young man to be respectable. He believed that the coachman, from first to last, acted from a conviction that his employer's property was in jeopardy, and not from any intention of committing an assault on either of the parties.
Mr.W.J.Voules, for the accused, wished it to be clearly understood, that not even the slightest shadow of imputation could attach itself to the character of complainant now that he stood before them in open daylight, and the only object of his putting the various questions to Mr.Frowd was to show that his client in the course he had pursued, had acted throughout with an impression, which he now fully acknowledged to be an erroneous one, that his masters property was in danger, and not from any wish to insult or maltreat complainant. Up to a certain point, indeed, he conceived Bailey's conduct was, under the circumstances, perfectly justifiable; but when he struck complainant instead of having him taken into custody, as he should have done, that was only to be pallisted by the very suspicious circumstances of the case, by the frequency of coach robberies, the heavy responsibilities attached to the situation, and above all, to the laudable wish to protect his employer's interests. He begged leave to suggest, therefore, with the approbation of the worthy Mayor, that as the object of Mr.Frowd was to clear his own character from any stigma which this transaction might be supposed to have left upon it, and not inflict unnecessary punishment on the accused, that the parties should be allowed to retire and settle the matter among themselves, his client paying the expenses incurred, and stating publically and unequivocally , as he then did, his belief in the respectablity of Frowd, and his sorrow for what had occurred.
The court acquiesced, and the parties withdrew. On their return, complainant stated his readiness to forego further proceedings on condition that Bailey would insert an apology in the paper. The worthy Mayor thought this would not be necessary. The complainant Frowd might satisfy himself that he quitted the court with an irreproachable character, and he had no doubt that through the medium of the paper a similar impression would be conveyed to the public.
Thursday- The Magistrates met this morning for the purpose of investigating the atrocious conduct of the Life Guards, who committed the assault on Monday night. None of the culprits, however, were produced, as the watchmen present expressed their inability to fix the offence on any particular individual. Smith, the watchman who was first attacked, and whose evidence would be probably the most complete, was stated to be incapacitated from attending, in consequence of the severe injury he had received.
John Norris, watchman, deposed that on Monday night, quarter before twelve o'clock, while on his beat at the top of Peascod-street, he heard a noise in Thames-street, and a rattle spring. Nearly opposite Sir John Chapman's he saw Smith, persuading four privates of the Life Guards to desist from knocking at the doors; and entreating them to go home; witness also advised them to go about their business. One of the men seemed inclined to obey, and bade them good night - but the others persisted, Smith threatening to take them into custody, and exhibited his staff; upon this the men fell upon him, knocked him down, and then kicked him is a dreadful manner, witness was also knocked down in attempting to assist Smith. At this time, another watchman, John Harberd, came up, and vigorously attacked the guardsmen with his stick, upon which two of them drew off from Smith, fell upon him, and kicked him in a similar manner [The manner in which they kicked the watchman, witness described as most savage, first stepping back a few paces to get impetus, they attacked the watchman by a running kick.] Sir John Chapman now came out, and desired Norris to go to the guard house at the Castle and apply for a picquet, which was, however, refused. On returning, he encountered one of the soldier's, who was running off with one of the watchman's lanthorn's, which witness took from him. Afterwards proceeded in company with two other watchmen, Kite and Coker, towards the barracks; saw two soldiers come from the hedge facing the barracks; saw Harberd's rattle in one of their hands - they demanded where they (the watchman) were going; Norris answered they were on duty, but refused to satisfy them further; the soldiers followed the watchmen down the road, as they retreated and said "If you don't go back, we'll blow your brains out." Upon this witness and Kite went back; Coke, without being perceived, proceeded to the Barracks.
John Harberd, also a watchman, belonging to High Street, was next sworn. - He deposed that when on his beat he heard a rattle spring; saw the four soldiers about Smith, three of them kicking him in the most desperate manner; began to lay on them smartly with his staff, who of them left Smith and fell upon witness; knocked him down, kicked and dragged him for some yards with his face towards the ground, in which position they continued kicking him in the manner described by Norris. Witness however managed to grapple one of his assailant's legs, who soon came to the ground, when his cap fell off. Conceiving that witness had detained the cap, the soldier demanded it several times, but not being able to recover it , and being released from witness's grasp, by his comrade, he seized his hat, while another took his rattle, and they both ran up Thames Street. Witness exhibited a deep cut which he had received on his right cheek, another on the left, he also got a severe blow on the upper lip. Smith was so disabled , that he was taken into Mr.Wooldridge's the chemist, where his wounds were dressed. The soldier's cap was subsequently found in the street, and was marked F 21. Witness had neither recovered his hat, a silk handkerchief which was inside it, nor his rattle. Was told by persons at the windows that he would have suffered considerable more injury, but for the men in their fury generally kicking over him.
William Coker, watchman, of Peascod-street, deposed that some time after twelve on Monday night, while on his beat, he saw two soldiers of the 2d Life Guards running down the street towards the barracks; heard one of them spring a rattle; presently after Norris came up, and acquainted him with what had passed. They were subsequently joined by Kite, and witness accompanied them towards the barracks; saw two soldiers near the gate this side of the barracks, who accosted his companions, but being unobserved witness passed on, and left the other watchmen behind. He knocked on the barrack gate, which was opened by a soldier on guard, whom he supposed to be a corporal. Witness related how the watchman had been ill-used by his men, two of whom, he told him, were standing by the gate. The corporal looked out, when one of the men came towards them with the rattle, but upon the corporal's desiring him to stop, he turned round, and ran towards the field.
The above witnesses said they could not possibly identify the men if they were produced, on account of the darkness of the night.
The court conceived, that as the culprits could not be identified by the watchmen, notwithstanding the suspicion that might attach to certain individuals, it would not be competent to the civil power to act further, than to submit the several depositions to the Colonel of the regiment.
The examination of Smith is deferred, until he can recover sufficiently to make his deposition.
Births
Dec.19 - the lady of the Rev.George M.Musgrave, of a daughter.
Dec.22 - at Eton, the lady of T.Hammond, Esq., surgeon, of a son.
Married
Dec.17, at St.James's, Mr.T.Mason, of Prince's-street, Leicester-square, to Christians Margaret, youngest daughter of the late Mr.H.Lambert, of Walworth, Surrey.
Dec.18, at St.Clement Danes, Wm.Wells, Esq., of Arundel-street, Strand, to Miss Susannah Adams, the niece of J.Bennett, Esq., of Hardwell Uffington, Berks, and daughter of the late Wm.Adams, Esq., formerly of Cricklade, Wilts.
Died
Dec.17, at Eton, Mrs.Flexon, in her 54th year.
At her residence, Bedford-place, Greenwich-road, Mrs.Atchison, late of Cambridge, aged 69.
At his house, Barnet, Leonard Dell, Esq.
Dec.20, at Eton, at an advanced age, Mrs.Tollett.
Dec.22, in York-place, Sheet-street, Windsor, Mr.Bowland, in the 83d year of his age.