112 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1810. 



stable was not credited for his as- 

 sertion any more than the soldier 

 who had spoken from the Tower. 

 At half past four o'clock, however, 

 three placards were suspended over 

 the gates of tlse Tower, with tlie 

 following inscription : " Sir Fran- 

 cis Burdett left the Tower by 

 water, at half past three o'clock." 

 This he was enabled to do, though 

 it was within a few minutes only 

 after the prorogation of parlia- 

 ment was pronounced, by means 

 of a sort of telegraphic commu- 

 nication, established between the 

 parliament House and the Tower. 

 The news of sir Francis having 

 gone from the Tower by water, 

 excited not only surprize, but in- 

 dignation in many. For some time 

 considerable confusion prevailed, 

 and discontent appeared in every 

 countenance. After a short con- 

 sultation, the Westminster com- 

 mittee resolved to conduct the 

 procession to sir Francis Burdett's 

 house, in Piccadilly : but it was 

 near half an hour before they 

 could communicate their intention 

 to the whole of those who were to 

 form it. The order of procession 

 being fixed, colonel Hanger, fol- 

 lowed by major Cartwright, led 

 the van. Immediately at their 

 heels were several gentlemen from 

 the country, on horseback, four 

 abreast, and, after these, a long 

 column of the electors of West- 



minster on foot, six abreast, and 

 an immense number of carriages, 

 in some of which were several 

 members of the common council, 

 and many liverymen of London. 

 NextcamesirF.Burdett'sphaeton, 

 the horses of which were led by 

 several attendants on each side. 

 A great part of those, who had 

 originally intended to take part in 

 the procession, left Tower-hill, 

 St. John's Street, and the Mino- 

 ries, when it was ascertained that 

 sir Francis had gone by water, 

 but many others joined it in its 

 progress. 



The procession was preceded by 

 horsemen with trumpets, and a 

 long line of people on foot, with 

 blue sashes and ribbons, decorated 

 with the appropriate mottoes and 

 emblems. A close coach appeared 

 in the calvacade, drawn by the 

 populace, preceded and followed 

 by an immense line of hats with 

 blue ribbons, as deep as the pas- 

 sage through the streets would 

 permit, and surmounted by a num- 

 ber of persons wearing the same 

 livery. This was a hackney coach, 

 with Mr. Jones, the primary 

 cause of all this tumult. When 

 he arrived at Piccadilly, hemount- 

 ed the roof, and harangued the 

 populace ; but, such was the con- 

 fusion and noise, that not a word 

 was heard of what he said.* 



The grand procession, as it was 



* As it was apprehended that Jones, alleging a right to a trial, would not quit 

 his quarters in Newgate peaceably, it was determined to effect his ejectment by a 

 stratagem. As soon as notice was given to Mr. Newman, liceper of Newgate, of the 

 prorogation of parliament, one of the turnkeys informed him that a gentleman 

 wished to speak to him at the lobby door. Mr, Jones immediately descended from 

 his apartment, but seeing nobody in the lobby, the turnkey said, " he is on the 

 outside of the door, where you may speak to him if you please." Mr. Jones had 

 no sooner slipt through than the wicket was barred against him ; and all his en- 

 treaties for re-adn.ission were ^in vain. He frequently harangued the mob out of 

 the hackney coach window, on the grievance of being both illegally imprigoned, 

 «ad illegally turned out of prison . 



