Source: Bell's Weekly Messenger, No.1858, Sunday, November 13, 1831
The King, it is said, was so anxious for the safety of the Docks in case the rabble of London, in imitation of those at Bristol, should break out into acts of riot, that his Majesty actually wrote to Sir Joseph Keats, Governor of Greenwich Hospital, desiring him to send up 200 pensioners to each of those establishments, and the old men are now on duty there. It is added that 400 pensioners were sent at the instance of his Majesty to Chatham to relieve the marines, who have been removed near to Woolwich, in order that they may be at hand in case of a disturbance in the metropolis.
The King has presented to the Zoological Society the entire contents of his menagerie, now deposited in the Tower. They amount to about 30 in number, and include four lions, three bears (the large bear is a very extraordinary animal), one black wolf, three blood-hounds, five leopards, and three hyenas.
The young Princess Louise of Saxe Weimar, whose birthday was celebrated by their Majesties at the Pavilion on Monday, is the only member of Duke Bernard and the Duchess Ida's family who remains on a visit to her illustrious relatives. The Princess Louise has just entered her fifteenth year, and is the eldest child of her Majesty's sister. The Duchess and the other branches of her family have joined her husband, who has been for several years in the service of the King of Holland. The Duke is at present Governor of Eastern Flanders.
We are sorry to state that the Marquis of Anglesea is labouring under a more than ordinarily severe attack of his afflicting complaint of tic doleureux.
Z. Macaulay, Esq., the father of the M.P. for Calne, has been appointed one of the Commissioners for inquiring into Charities.
The following letter was forwarded by Lord Althorp to Mr. Protheroe's country residence, stating his lordship's inability to give a decided answer to the Bristol memorial. The following is a copy of the note :—
"My dear Sir,—I am sorry I cannot give you a satisfactory answer. I mentioned the subject of a Commission of Inquiry being sent to Bristol, but Lord Melbourne, being absent, from indisposition, we did not think we could come to a decision upon it.—Your's, most truly, "ALTHORP."
"Downing street, Nov. 8,1831."
The first general meeting of the National Political Union was held on Thursday at the Crown and Anchor Tavern. Sir F. Burdett in the chair, when a council of 72 was appointed, consisting of half of the working classes and half of the middle and upper classes—thus amalgamating reformers of all classes—to frame the regulations of the Union. Mr. Shiel was present, and made a brilliant oration, concluding with expressing his decided opinion that the object of the Union must be accomplished, for the bill must pass—they must, they should succeed.—Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and the meeting dissolved.
Mr. Hunt made his public entry into Preston on Saturday and harangued his constituents. On Monday a large mob, attacked the spinning factories, and insisted on the men being turned out. Two of them were taken into custody and placed in the lock-up, when the mob broke in, and set them at liberty. The authorities were resolute in putting down the riot, and the night passed off more quietly than was expected. On Tuesday morning a party of the 8th regiment arrived, and the town has since remained quiet and peaceable.