122 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. III. 



absolutely necessary, for blows had been given desperately, and 

 many gashed heads testified to the fury of the contest. 'Tis 

 said, I know not on what authority, that many of the police got 

 their arms broken. I don't very well know, but it was their 

 own fault as a body. Meanwhile, an official was obtained, and 

 the Riot Act read at the gate, amid the pelting of the officer, 

 who got it knocked out of his hand, and himself driven out, the 

 students encouraging each other to kill the police, which they 

 could do before the reading of the Act was over. Meanwhile, 

 down came the military as fast as they could run, with two 

 ball-cartridges in their pockets ; and having reached the gate, 

 the bugle was sounded ! and with fixed bayonets, the officers 

 with drawn swords, they charged the gate, and, of course, drove 

 the students before them. The scoundrelly police now came 

 forward, and picked their men and the ringleaders, lugging 

 them off to the police-office. Meanwhile, the company of 

 soldiers was drawn up across the quadrangle, and five minutes 

 given for dispersion. The major looked very nervous, dread- 

 ing evidently that the students' rashness would drive him 

 to extremities. He is a fine fellow, a Waterloo man, and, of 

 course, like all good officers, dislikes quelling a civil riot. He 

 seemed afraid of his men taking the students' part, especially 

 when a Pole shouted over the window, ' Shoot the police !' 



" The major had him immediately apprehended, and with the 

 back of his sword drove back the students, declaring he did not 

 wish to hurt them. Very likely something awkward would 

 have occurred, had not Christison mounted one of the broad 

 corner stones of the balustrade, and thence addressed the stu- 

 dents, who received him with acclamations, and waved their 

 hats, which they took off as a token of respect. He bade them 

 go away, as they were all liable to be apprehended and lodged 

 in jail. We had to find our way out, through a line of soldiers 

 across the North Bridge, amid the jeers of the dastardly mob, 

 the soldiers laughing, while the police put out their spleen 

 against us. 



" That night every one like a student was assaulted by the 

 rabble, who always fell on single persons and abused them. 

 Macgillivray was prevented from coming over on Friday, in 



