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 THE 
 
 EPORT AT LARGE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CORONER'S INQUEST 
 
 ON 
 
 JANE WATSON, 
 
 AT MR. ROBINSON'S, IN OLD BURLINGTON-STREET; 
 
 WITH 
 
 MR. ROBINSON'S ADDRESS, &c. 
 
 TO THE INQUEST, AT LENGTH. 
 
 THE VERDICT, WILFUL MURDER, 
 
 AGAINST 
 
 MR. ROBINSON'S BUTLER, THE CORPORAL, 
 AND TWO SOLDIERS. 
 
 SPECIALLY REPORTED 
 
 BY WILLIAM HONE, 
 
 ONE OF THE EVIDENCE ; 
 
 AND REPORTER OF THE EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS BEFORE 
 THE CORONER'S INQUEST, ON THE BODY OF EDWARD VYSE, 
 ALSO KILLED BY THE FIRING AT MR. ROBINSON^S. 
 
 ILoiOum: 
 
 PRINTED FOR WILLIAM HONE, 55, FLEET-STREET. 
 1815. 
 
 Price Eighteen-pence.
 
 J. M'Creery, Printer, Black-Horse-Court, London.
 
 StacK 
 Annex 
 
 SS 3 ! 
 TO THE READER. 
 
 t 
 
 ON the CORONER'S INQUEST being held on 
 JANE WATSON, who was mortally wounded 
 on the ?th of March, 1815, at the same time 
 that EDWARD VYSE was shot dead at the 
 HON. JOHN FREDERICK ROBINSON'S, M. P. in 
 Old Burlington- street, it became my duty to at- 
 tend that Inquest to give evidence, as I had 
 done upon VYSE's Inquest, touching the death 
 of the deceased. 
 
 This attendance afforded me an opportunity 
 of taking down in writing, at the time, and 
 reporting at length, the whole of the evidence, 
 &c. before the Inquest. The columns of the 
 newspapers being deluged by the influx of 
 foreign news, they did little more than mention 
 the Verdict. 
 
 The very interesting ADDRESS, which Mr. 
 ROBINSON delivered to the Inquest the ques- 
 tions they put to him his answers and every 
 thing that occurred during the REMARKABLE 
 INTERVIEW, I have carefully narrated at length.
 
 VI 
 
 My Circumstantial Report of the Extraordi- 
 nary Proceedings before the Inquest upon 
 Edward Fyse, and this Report of the subsequent 
 Inquest upon Jane Watson, contain every parti- 
 cular attendant upon the deaths of the unfor- 
 tunate Victims; and present a faithful picture of 
 the Scenes exhibited at Mr. Robinson's, from 
 the time the Military entered the house, until 
 after the fatal events, which the Verdicts of 
 the two Inquests have pronounced WILFUL 
 MURDERS. 
 
 WILLIAM HONE. 
 
 Z3d March, 1815.
 
 REPORT, 
 
 FIRST DAY. 
 
 JANE WATSON, resident at No. 5, Charles Street, 
 Long Acre, widow, aged twenty-six years, was mortally 
 wounded at the same time that EDWARD VYSE was 
 shot dead by fire-arms discharged from the windows of 
 the Honourable FREDERICK ROBINSON, in Old Bur- 
 lington-street, on Tuesday, the 7lh of March, 1815. She 
 languished until Friday Morning, the 17th, and then died in 
 great agony in St. George's Hospital, where she had been car- 
 ried on receiving the fatal wounds, and the following persons 
 were summoned as an 
 
 INQUEST UPON THE DECEASED, 
 * CHANTREY, Eglintoun- street, Pimlico, Sculp- 
 
 tor. 
 
 WILLIAM BRAMWELL, Ebury-street, Brandy Merchant, 
 (FOREMAN.) 
 
 * THOMAS HALL, Grosvenor- place, Stable-keeper. 
 
 * THOMAS CODING, Knightsbridge, Wine Merchant. 
 
 GEORGE JUDSON, Ranelagh-street, Pimlico, Tinman. 
 
 B
 
 8 
 THOMAS CUNDEY, Ranelagh-street, Pimlico, Builder. 
 
 * HENRY LEWER, Ranelagh-street, Piralico. Clerk at 
 
 Messrs. Elliott's Brewery. 
 
 CHARLES BINGHAM, Ebury-street, Pimlico, Gentleman. 
 
 * JAMES PARMER, Arabella-row, Pimlico, Ironmonger. 
 JOHN CULLEN, Knightsbridge, Appraiser. 
 
 JOHN GOODENOUGH, Knightsbridge, Tailor. 
 ROBERT BURN, Knightsbridge, Tailor. 
 
 * JOHN PALSWORTH, King's-row, Pimlico, Bookseller. 
 
 * JOHN HILL, Little Eaton-ttreet, Pimlico, Carpenter. 
 THOMAS WOOTTON, King's-row, Pimlico, Farrier. 
 RICHARD DUNN, Arabella-row, Pimlico, Appraiser. 
 
 CHARLES CLEAVELAND, Ebury street, Pimlico, Vic- 
 tualler, Red Lion. 
 
 JOHN LINNEY, Pimlico, Tallow Chandler. 
 
 JOHN JACKSON, Ebury-street, Pimlico, Victualler, Three 
 Compasses. 
 
 * WILLIAM CADBEY, Chapel-street, Grosvenor-place, 
 
 Builder. 
 
 * JOSEPH SALMON, Halkin-mews, Green Grocer. 
 JOHN JONES, Ranelagh-street, Piralico, Linen Draper. 
 THOMAS EDKINS, Ebury-street, Pimlico, Carpenter. 
 
 Those persons whose names have this mark [ ] against 
 them did not attend ; the rest were sworn as the Inquest.
 
 The Constable on referring the Coroner to the list of the 
 persons summoned, said, that Mr. CHANTREY could not 
 possibly attend upon the Inquest, as he was gone to take a 
 model of LORD CASTLEREAGH. 
 
 The following day, SATURDAY, at Half past twelve o' Clock 
 precisely, being the time for which the Coroner's Inquest were 
 summoned to meet at the sign of the TRIUMPHANT CHARIOT, in 
 Halkin-slrecl, Grosvenor-place,at the back of Si. George's Hos- 
 pital, the Reporter of this account of the proceedings attended a 
 few minutes before the time, and on entering the room, ap- 
 pointed for the reception of the Inquest, found the Coroner ex- 
 amining JAMES RIPLEY, the Butler to Mr. Robinson. Two 
 gentlemen who report for the Newspapers, and who took mi- 
 nutes at the Inquest on EDWARD VYSE, were also present, but 
 none of rhe Jury had arrived. 
 
 JAMES RIPLEY, 
 Butler to Mr. ROBINSON, stated to the following effect: 
 
 That on Monday Evening, the 6th of March, the mob as- 
 sembled at Mr. Robinson's house at about a quarter before Nine 
 o'clock. A person had previously arrived at the house, and 
 given notice that there was a great mob in St. James's Square, 
 and that they were inquiring for Mr. Robinson's house. They 
 shortly after arrived and destroyed the windows and railing in 
 the front of the house, and broke in and began to destroy the 
 furniture. The next morning, about half past ten, the house 
 was assailed in like manner, and they forced an iron bar through 
 the inner door; after which the horse-soldiers came up they 
 were then dispersed by the soldiers. In the course of the two 
 attacks, the iron railing, I think I may say the whole of it the 
 stone work, and gate, and all in the front of the house, were 
 forced down principally into the area. Witness does not know 
 whether any of the iron railing was carried off. Some of the 
 iron work was thrown on the balcony of the drawing-room 
 windows. Most or the whole of the drawing-room windows 
 were broken ; and the windows in thejhousekeeper's room were 
 broken, but, perhaps, they were broken by the fall of the 
 iron railing ; the window-shutters in the Drawing-room were 
 forced or split by the things thrown. 
 
 B 2
 
 10 
 
 THOMAS THOMPSON, 
 
 Assistant Surgeon at St. George's Hospital, Sworn. 
 
 Deposed, that JANE WATSON was brought into St. 
 George's Hospital about eleven o'clock at night, on Tuesday, 
 the 7th of March. She had two wounds in the head, on the 
 lower part of the scalp, covering the parietal bone on the right 
 side of the head the two wounds were situated at about an 
 inch in distance, one above the other. I have regularly at- 
 tended her until the day of her death, which was yesterday the 
 17th instant, when she died at about seven o'Clock, as Witness 
 was informed. I have examined her head to day she was 
 also attended by Mr. Brodie, assistant surgeon to St. George's 
 Hospital. When Mr. Brodie saw the head, he had cat down 
 upon the head, and removed a great many pieces of fractured 
 bone. This day, on opening the head, we found a large abscess 
 in the brain, under the bone, where that was fractured ; the 
 bones between the two wounds, and in the neighbourhood of 
 the wounds, were broken or splintered in many places ; there 
 was a protrusion of the brain when she first came in. We 
 (omul no shot, and suppose that if she had been struck by a ball, 
 it had entered at the upper wound, and coine out of the lower 
 wound. We entirely dissected the brain, there can be no shot 
 there. The wound had more the appearance of being made by 
 bull or shot, than by any thing else. The upper wound was 
 a clean cut wound, the lower wound was more rough and 
 ragged. 
 
 JAMES RIPLEY, 
 fhe uller t 
 
 Asked if he might withdraw. He said that Howe and two 
 or three others, whose depositions had been taken before the 
 Inquest on Edward Vyse, were below, ready to be examined. 
 By permission of the Coroner he withdrew. 
 
 ANTHONY CELL, Esq. fht Coroner, 
 was not present. 
 
 JOHN HENRY CELL, Esq. his Son, 
 officiated as Coroner. 
 
 The Coroner then told the witness THOMAS THOMPSON, that 
 as he might perhaps wish to go back to the hospital, he should
 
 11 
 
 be sent for when he (the coroner) was ready For him, for there 
 were not yet enough of the jury assembled to permit him to 
 administer the oath ; but two or three of the Inquest arriving 
 almost immediately, and twelve in number being present, the 
 coroner called over the list, the inquest was sworn, and WI LLI AM 
 BRAMWELL appointed Foreman. Proclamation was then 
 made for all persons who could give evidence touching the 
 death of the deceased, to draw near and attend the court. 
 
 The CORONER read the deposition of the witness, THOMAS 
 THOMPSON, he being present ; not having withdrawn. 
 
 The witness added, that the injuries he had described were 
 the cause of her death; but although he. was persuaded that 
 the wounds were inflicted by shot, yet from not having found 
 any, he cannot positively tell what actually occasioned the 
 death of the deceased. 
 
 The jury now proceeded to St. George's hospital to view the 
 body. There was a hole on the right side of the head, above 
 the ear, of an irregular form, and about an inch and a half 
 in diameter. The brain having been previously dissected, its 
 cavity was empty. The hair had been cut off from the head. 
 The features were regular and handsome, and the countenance 
 was not unpleasing even after ten days of great suffering, 
 and an agonizing death. 
 
 After the inquest had viewed the body, they returned to their 
 room, at the TRIUMPHANT CHARIOT public house. 
 
 JAMES RIPLEY, the butler, being present, the co- 
 rener proposed to read over the deposition of this witness, 
 which had been taken before the inquest, held on the 
 8th, 9th, 10th, and llth of March, on the body of EDWARD 
 VYSE ; and also the deposition of the same witness, which the 
 Coroner said he had been taking this day, before the Jury had 
 assembled, in order to save the jury time. The coroner further 
 observed, that if the jury wished to ask any questions of the 
 witness, in explanation, they could do so. 
 
 The coroner then proceeded to read the above-mentioned 
 deposition of JAMES RJPLEY. 
 
 The DEPOSITIONS of this and other witnesses before the 
 coroner's inquest on the body of EDWARD VYSE, being read as 
 evidence, it is necessary to refer to the Report of the evidence 
 upon that occasion.* 
 
 * See " A CIRCUMSTANTIAL REPORT of the EXTRAORDINARY 
 EVIDENCE, PROCEEDINGS, and INCIDEKTS before the CORONER'S IN- 
 QUEST on the body of EDWARD VYSE, who, on Tuesday Evening, 
 the 7th of March, 1815, was shot dead from the parlour windows of the 
 house of the Hon. F. Robinson, M. P. in Old Burlington Street. 
 Specially reported, and revised from minutes taken by the Inquest. 
 With the Surgeon's Report and other documents. By WILLIAM 
 HONE, me of the Evidence" with Wood-cut Illustrations, 6vo. 2>. 6</.
 
 The reading ofjAMES RIPLEY'S deposition by the coroner was 
 interrupted by the jury putting questions to the witness. The 
 points upon which they required explanation are printed in 
 Italics, and inserted within crotchets [thus] with minute re- 
 ferences below to the particular parts of the " Circumstantial 
 report of VYSE'S inquest," in which they may be found. 
 
 Sutler to Mr. Robinson , sworn. 
 
 [The corporal told me he came for the protection of Mr. 
 Robinson's house.*] 
 
 Jury. About what time did the soldiers arrive? 
 
 Witness. About six or seven o'clock. About that time as 
 near as I can tell. I cannot say exactly. 
 
 [The witness look the man by the collar^ Stc.f] 
 
 Jury. This is very important. There certainly could not 
 have been that violence that could have justified the firing, if a 
 man could have been taken from the middle of the people in 
 this manner, by a single individual. 
 
 Witness. 1 did take the man. There were a great many 
 people. 
 
 One of the jury. It appears to me, that if there had been 
 a dozen peace officers doing their duty, the life of this poor 
 young woman would not have been lost. 
 
 The jury expressed their persuasion to the same effect. 
 
 Jury. Was the pistol loaded or not? 
 
 Witness. I desired my lellow servant 
 
 Jury. Answer directly yes or no. 
 
 Witness. It was with swan-shot. 
 
 [ After this witness loaded the pistol again, &c. ^c.J] 
 
 Witness. 1 loaded with shot. 
 
 Jury. And where did you fire? 
 
 Witness. Into the area. 
 
 Jury. Are you sure you fired into the area? 
 
 Witness. I am sure that I fired in the direction of the area. 
 
 There was no peace officer in the house. 
 
 I was obliged to keep away from the window. When I fired 
 I advanced from the folding doors to the window, and fired. 
 I fired because I presumed the under part of the house was in 
 danger. The pistol was loaded the night before after the first 
 attack. When witness addressed the mob, he felt secure, be- 
 
 * Circ. Rep. of VYSE'S Inquest, p. 24, 
 f Ibid. p. 25. 
 t Ibid. p. 26.
 
 13 
 
 cause the military was in the house. The mob was quiet 
 whilst witness was talking to them. They had thrown in not 
 half a minute before. Witness did not see the deceased fall. 
 Had no authority to fire any farther than to prevent people 
 coming into the house. Had no police in the house. Was 
 protecting his own property as well as Mr. Robinson's. 
 
 Jury. What time elapsed after taking the man into cus- 
 tody, and the death of the woman ? 
 
 Witness. I suppose about two hours, 
 
 Jury. Will you say it was one hour. 
 
 Witness. I really cannot say. 
 
 Jury, Say as nearly as you can. 
 
 Witness. I think about two hours . 
 
 Jury. Will you swear it was oHchouv ? 
 
 Witness. I cannot say exactly, Sir. I should think it was 
 about two hours. 
 
 Jury. Will you upon your oath swear it was half an hour. 
 
 Witness. I really do not know, it is impossible for me to say. 
 
 After several other questions by the Jury to the same point, 
 to which they could obtain no satisfactory answer, they com- 
 plained of the witness's equivocation, and he was ordered to 
 withdraw. 
 
 WILLIAM SUTTON, 
 Footman to Mr. Robinson, sworn. 
 
 The Coroner proceeded to read the deposition of the witness 
 in his presence : 
 
 [One of the soldiers took the plslol, 6-c.*] 
 
 Jury. C ould you point out the soldier again who fired the 
 pistol ? 
 
 Witness. I don't know whether I could or not, Sir. 
 
 Witness heard the people say they would murder the ser- 
 vants. He was in the passage. He heard a voice say it. One 
 voice certainly. I was in the back room and heard it. 
 
 The Jury put various questions to the witness, to learn if he 
 could identify the soldier who Bred the pistol, which, he an- 
 swered in a way that the Jury deemed evasive. 
 
 The witness examined. 
 
 Tuesday evening, the 7th of March, about eight o'clock, 
 the mob threw and forced open the shutters that were fastened. 
 Heard a voice say they would break into the house. They 
 forced on some time. The soldiers fired blank cartridges, as 
 they told witness. The Corporal told him. Witness believed 
 
 * VYSE'S Report, p. 27.
 
 it was the corporal by his voice. Knows the corporal. Should 
 know the corporal from a juryman in a corporal's dress. They 
 fired from the parlour windows and fan-light. They did not 
 fire till the windows were broken open. Witness gave every 
 man a horn of liquor a piece, and the corporal another horn. 
 It was a small horn ; it does not hold half-a-pint a piece. -. 
 Witness did not say any thing to the soldiers when he heard the 
 voice threaten to break in. Does not know whether the sol- 
 diers heard it. Witness never fired a gun or pistol off. Knew 
 none of the soldiers by name. Ripley fired. Does not exactly 
 know how many shot he gave his fellow servant. Never went 
 further than from the parlour to the hall. 
 
 'jury. Did you say any thing to the soldiers about firing? 
 
 Wilness. I did not. 
 
 Jury. What, did nothing pass after the firing, about the 
 people that were shot? 
 
 Witness. No, nothing. I did not hear any thing said at 
 all. A soldier asked witness for the shot. Witness fetched 
 the shot for the protection of the house. It was got after the 
 Monday night. 
 
 Jury. Who ordered you to get the shot? 
 
 Wilness. Nobody ordered me to get the shot. 
 
 Jury. Who ordered you to get the pistol? 
 
 Witness. The butler asked me to get the pistol. 
 
 The Jury inquired where he got the shot from; He avoided 
 the question much, but at length said that he got it from 
 Lord Buckinghamshire's; from his under-butler ; from Robert 
 Packer, he thinks his name was. Had got the pistols from 
 there. Was there and saw the shot there, and asked them to 
 give him some. The soldier asked him for the shot. 
 
 Jury. By what, or whose authority did you get the shot ? 
 
 Witness. By nobody's, I got it of myself. 
 
 Jury. What conversation had you with your master after 
 Monday night ? 
 
 Wilness I had noparticnlar conversation ; Mr. Robinson was 
 not in the house on Monday night ; he dined out, slept out, 
 dressed out. Witness saw Mr. Robinson on Tuesday morning. 
 
 Jury. How long was it before the young woman met with 
 her death that you saw Mr. Robinson. 
 
 Wilness. I cannot tell exactly. Witness dressed Mr. Robin- 
 son Tuesday evening. Mr. Robinson gave no directions to 
 witness. 
 
 Jury. What conversation did you have with Mr. Robinson. 
 
 Wilness. I cannot tell. 
 
 The witness being repeatedly pressed with questions to the 
 same effect, at length said that Mr. Robinson told him he 
 expected soldiers and civil power in the house, and that Mr.
 
 15 
 
 Robinson sent him home to say, that if the soldiers were outside, 
 they were to come inside, but when the witness got home, they 
 were inside already. The witness could not tell whether Rip- 
 Jey addressed the mob or not. He might have done it. Wit- 
 ness did not know, although he was in the parlour. He could 
 not say. 
 
 The Jury considered the witness to evade the questions. 
 
 Jury. Have you ever spoken to the soldier that fired the 
 pistol since? 
 
 Witness. I have spoken to all of them. 
 
 Jury. But have you not spoken to that soldier iu particular? 
 
 Witness. I spoke to no one soldier in particular. I spoke to 
 all of them. 
 
 Jury . Do you know Mathews ? 
 
 Witness. I know the man I gave the shot to. 
 
 Jury. You do know him ? 
 
 Witness. I think I should know the man again. 
 
 When the firing took place, the witness heard the report of 
 a gun at the same time that the pistol went off: they were very 
 nearly fired together about the same time. Witness did not 
 hear the soldiers say they fired shot. After the firing of the 
 pistol and gun, there was no more firing : as soon as the firing 
 was over, witness heard a man was killed or wounded : recol- 
 lects no conversation afterwards : believes the pistol was fired 
 first cannot be positive. The man whom I gave the shot to, 
 and whom I saw load it, I saw fire it ; he was one of the pri- 
 vates. Has spoken to them all since : thinks he could point 
 out the man who fired the pistol. The house was assailed at 
 the time the pistol was fired : there were stones and brickbats ; 
 a great number of stones was thrown together: there was 
 throwing together. The soldiers went to the window, and my 
 fellow-servant, when he fired; and when he addressed the 
 mob. 
 
 Jury. Did any other of your fellow- servants see Ripley give 
 the soldier the pistol? 
 
 Witness. I think the coachman did he was standing by. 
 The coachman, the witness, the under butler, and the groom, 
 were in the room together: witness considered his life in 
 clanger was afraid of it, notwithstanding he was in the back- 
 parlour. Did not know that an accessary to a murder was 
 guilty of murder. Witness got the pistol on Monday, and the 
 shot on Tuesday. Mr. Robinson did not tell him to get it 
 had no conversation with the butler, when the soldier was 
 going to fire on the people : did not think any thing about 
 it, whether wrong or not did not think about it at all. 
 
 Before the examination of the next witness, the Jury objected 
 to the Coroner's reading over to each witness his deposition
 
 16 
 
 before the Inquest held on Edward Vyse. They wished (o 
 examine the witnesses themselves, to enable them to judge of 
 the consistency of their evidence on that occasion, with their 
 evidence on the present. 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, 
 
 Coachman to Mr. Robinson, sworn. 
 
 On Tuesday, about 8 o'clock, the witness saw people out- 
 side there were six soldiers and a corporal inside the house : 
 a little time after, stones and, he believes, brickbats were 
 thrown, and broke open the windows. Sutton was in the back 
 room' the folding doors were open. Does not know how the 
 shutters were fastened : they were broken open several times 
 before they fired. Heard one of the soldiers ask Sutton if he 
 had got any small shot? Did not see any given does not 
 know what they loaded with. Heard the soldiers tell the mob 
 they fired with blank cartridge cannot tell how the shutters 
 were fastened. When the shutters were broken open, they put 
 chairs against them, or tacks, or any thing at hand ; they had 
 not time to fasten them. Witness was alarmed for his life. 
 
 [Mr. CELL, the Coroner, now arrived ; and, after remain- 
 ing about an hour, withdrew.] 
 
 The soldiers had some supper; perhaps a little after eight. 
 Does not know what they had to drink ; saw them drinking 
 some ale. Witness was close to the soldiers when he gave the 
 soldier the shot : heard no conversation amongst them ; heard 
 no orders to them to fire, by the corporal, the butler, or any 
 other person : gave no orders himself. The coachman had the 
 small pistol. Ripley fired his pistol off some time before the 
 last firing : should know the man who fired the pistol : believes 
 that if the young man himself had been called in at the former 
 examination, he would have said himself that he had fired the 
 pistol. Does not know how many soldiers were in the front 
 room at the time of the firing: thinks that the soldier fired the 
 pistol from the window nearest to the street door. Heard the 
 cry of murder after it was all over. Did not hear the soldiers 
 say any thing afterwards. Was in the parlour at the last dis- 
 charge. There were two or three firings, as quick as possible, 
 after the soldier had fired the pistol. Believes there was firing 
 over the fanlight. Saw the soldier fire the pistol from the 
 window next the street door. Cannot say which soldier fired 
 the pistol. Did not see Mr. Robinson on Tuesday. Witness 
 had a pistol in his pocket, which he received from Sutton. 
 Sutton did not tell him what it was for : Sutton did not say any 
 thing to him. Did not tell him to do any thing with it, nor
 
 17 
 
 what it was for. Did not tell him it was loaded: nothing 
 passed when Sutton gave him the pistol. Did not ask him to 
 take it. Does not know whether it was loaded : cannot tell 
 whether it was loaded or not. Witness said nothing to Sutton 
 when he took it. Sutton might have asked witness to take the 
 pistol. Recollects that Sutton gave it him to protect himself. 
 
 Jury. Was it loaded, or not? 
 
 Witness. 1 did not examine it. 
 
 Does not know whether it was loaded or not. Upon his oath 
 does not know whether it was loaded or not. Never said it 
 was loaded. Swears he never said that it was loaded, or that it 
 was not loaded. Did not examine the pistol : did not see 
 it loaded. Heard nothing from Sutton of his getting shot from 
 Lord Buckinghamshire's. 
 
 Heard the soldier ask William Sutton for the shot. Witness 
 is sure he heard two or three guns go off altogether, at the time 
 the pistol was fired. Witness then heard the cry of murder : 
 he then went down stairs. Witness was frightened then; but 
 not so frightened as he had been before. At the time of the 
 firing, there had been throwing. At the instant the soldiers 
 were firing, the people were throwing into the house. The 
 soldiers said nothing when the cry of murder was heard nor 
 the servants, nor himself. Saw no Horse- Guards. 
 
 MRS. BRITTON, 
 
 Of No. 5, Charles- street^ Long Acre, 
 
 Stated, that JANE WATSON, the deceased, lodged in the wit- 
 ness's two pair of stairs back room. The deceased was a 
 widow, and had been married twice ; both her husbands had 
 been drowned ; her last husband had been dead about two 
 years. On the day she was mortally wounded, she was de- 
 pressed ii, her spirits. She said to the witness in the fore- 
 noon, " To-morrow will be two years since my husband was 
 drowned." She told the witness she should go to Somerset- 
 house, and inquire about her husband's affairs. She went out 
 with the papers relating to her husband's concerns between one 
 and two, and returned in the afternoon. A few minutes before 
 eight the deceased went out again, and the witness heard, about 
 a quarter before eleven, that she had been shot in Old Burling- 
 ton-street. The deceased had probably gone to Burlington- 
 street through curiosity ; but was the last person in the world 
 that the witness should in the least suspect ot being riotous, or 
 any thing like it. She was a remarkably well-disposed, dis- 
 creet, and amiable young woman, and, as the witness under 
 stood, had just got a situation as dresser in one of the theatres. 
 The deceased has left a fine little girl, between six and seven
 
 18 
 
 years of age, an orphan. The deceased's mother keeps a little 
 public-house at Plumstead, near Woolwich, but is not in cir- 
 cumstances to enable her to bury her daughter. The child is 
 upon the parish, who allow half-a-crown a week towards its 
 support. The witness concluded by expressing a hope, that 
 the gentlemen present might be able to do something for the 
 poor orphan. 
 
 . The above witness not being able to state any thing touch- 
 ing the death of the deceased, was not sworn. 
 
 AMELIA DAVIS, 
 
 Of No. 2, Duke's Court, Duke-street^ St. James' 's, widow, 
 Sworn . 
 
 Witness has been a widow above a twelvemonth. Knows 
 nothing of the deceased. Never saw her before the night of 
 her death-wounds. On Tuesday evening, the 7th of March, 
 witness put her children to bed, and went to Berkeley-square. 
 She left home at half past eight exactly; looked at her watch 
 the moment before she went out ; went merely out of curiosity 
 to see Lord Darnley's, in Berkeley-square, and other houses, 
 which she heard in the course of the day had been damaged. 
 Went quite round Berkeley- square. Looked at Mr. Yorke's 
 house, in Bruton-street ; stopped looking at Mr. Ycrke's house 
 some time. Entered Burlington-street from Clifford-street. 
 There were then very few persons in the street; it was just 
 about nine o'clock ; there were about twenty persons about the 
 nd of the street. The horse-guards were in the street ; they 
 were riding two and two up and down the street. I was stand- 
 ing on a step with two young women. The deceased was 
 standing there when I went. The people walked about. The 
 horse-guards soon drew up in a line before Mr. Robinson's 
 house, and then, on the word of command, they all went away 
 together. I remained there, and the deceased too, and we 
 talked quietly between ourselves about the Corn Bill, saying 
 what a pity it was that they should destroy the houses, and 
 such like, because it would do no good ; it would only make it 
 worse. I think it was I who said so. The deceased agreed 
 that it was a pity to destroy people's houses, and a pity that 
 people could not keep their boys in, and not let them come to 
 such a place as that. A few boys had began to collect opposite 
 the house. The people said what a pity it was they should 
 suffer boys to throw stones. There was not a great collection 
 of boys. Saw some of the boys. There were people walking 
 before the house, passing and repassing. There were some of 
 all kinds, men, women, and children. There were a few more 
 collected after the horse-guards went. The men and women
 
 19 
 
 gassed through the boys, but did not mix with them, as wit- 
 ness perceived. There were a few stones thrown. The wit- 
 ness walked up and down the street about three times, on the 
 side of the way opposite to Mr. Robinson's house, the deceased 
 having hold of her arm. It must have been after nine when 
 the guards went. Cannot exactly say exactly how long after the 
 guards went that the stones were thrown. Did not see any 
 thing thrown. Heard stones thrown at Mr. Robinson's house, but 
 did not see them thrown. I thought at the time I was walking 
 there, I was as safe as if I had been in this room ; but before 
 this, being near Clifford-street, I heard guns go off, and then 
 I returned to the step. The people were not off the pavement ; 
 they were not in the middle of the road. Cannot say how 
 many. Witness does not think more than fifty. The deceased 
 never left witness's arm all the evening. Cannot say how 
 many not more than fifty, if so much, were attracted by the 
 firing of the guns. 
 
 The deceased and I then walked only the space of two houses, 
 when she fell from my arm. I heard three or four guns go off; 
 to the best of my belief there were three or four. She fell, 
 and I was in a float of blood myself, from being hit by a shot. 
 1 felt my jaw very much shattered. It took a small piece out 
 of my chin. The deceased lay on the pavement some time be- 
 fore she was carried away. The Horse-Guards, when they 
 came up, said, " Bear the bodies off." The deceased lay near 
 twenty minutes before she was carried off to Mr. Tebbs's, in 
 Bond-street. There were three bodies laying when the Horse* 
 Guards said " Bear off the bodies." Those were the words 
 they used. The people did not appear to be riotously disposed. 
 Witness was in Burlington-street from nine till the deceased 
 was shot. Saw the deceased EDWARD VYSE laying just by the 
 kirb. The people were principally on the pavement opposite 
 Mr. Robinson's street on the side of the way opposite to Mr. 
 Robinson's house there was room on the pavement for people 
 to pass and repass. It did not appear to witness that the people 
 were riotously disposed. If witness had thought there had 
 been any danger, she should not have remained. Saw the, 
 lower shutters of Mr. Robinson's house open and shut a little 
 way several times, for people inside to look out. Witness 
 could see the hands that opened the shutters, but could not see 
 faces. The upper shutter opened and shut twice; it was 
 opened much wider than the others. She could see the bodies 
 of persons inside ; but whether military or not, could not tell. 
 At one of the times when the lower shutters were opened and 
 shut, witness saw the flash, and heard the report from the 
 vacancy between the shutters. 
 
 Coroner, " I wonder that you did not go away then."
 
 20 
 
 Witness^-" I did not think there was any danger. There 
 were very few people. The people did not think they were 
 firing any thing but powder. It was not what could be called 
 rioting." 
 
 PHILIP CHAFFEY, 
 
 Footman to Lord Somerville, 28, Hill-street^ Berkeley -square^ 
 sworn. 
 
 [This witness was sent by Lord Somerville, to give evidence 
 before the Inquest, in consequence of his Lordship having 
 been made acquainted by him with what he had seen of 
 the affair in Old Burlington-street.] 
 
 The witness was in Old Burlington-street about five minutes 
 before the deceased was shot, on Tuesday evening, the 7th in- 
 stant. Witness was passing accidentally through the street. 
 It was ten, or a little before ten o'clock. There were very few 
 people in the street. About thirty. Some were opposite to 
 Mr. Robinson's house. There were no Horse-Guards in the 
 street. There was no riot; but as boys will do, they threw a 
 stone at the house, and there was a rattling. It might have 
 been thrown at the windows. It might have been a stone or a 
 log of wood. Upon which there was firing of guns from the 
 windows. Cannot say whether it was one or two, or more. 
 The witness was hit with something at the upper part of the 
 face, near the right eye. Was about twenty yards from the 
 house. It left no mark. The deceased fell just before me on 
 the ground. I nearly fell over her. She lay on the pavement 
 of the opposite side of the way to Mr. Robinson's house. I 
 said to a tall thin woman, who then stood by, " there is a woman 
 down; whether she is wounded or fell down I cannot tell." 
 We then saw the blood coming from her mouth. In about 
 five minutes the horse soldiers came. At the time of the firing 
 there was no disposition to riot ; the people were very quiet, 
 only that something was thrown at the house; a stone or some- 
 thing was thrown at the house; a stone or something. 
 
 THE CORONER read the deposition of Richard Burton, the 
 Corporal, before the Inquest on EDWARD VYSE. 
 
 ADJOURNED until MONDAY next, at half past 
 Twelve o'clock. 
 
 ;. '
 
 SECOND DAY. 
 
 AT A MEETING of the INQUEST, held at the Triumphant 
 Chariot, in Halkin street, Grosvenor-place, on MONDAY, 
 the 20th day of March, 1815, at half-past twelve o'clock, 
 pursuant to the preceding adjournment. 
 
 ANTHONY CELL, Esq. the Coroner, 
 was not present. 
 
 JOHN HENRY CELL, Esq. 
 officiated as Coroner. 
 
 GEORGE ULPH, 
 
 Private in the 3d Regiment of Foot Guards, sworn. 
 
 I went into Mr. Robinson's house on Tuesday, the 7th of 
 March, at about six o'clock, perhaps about half an hour after- 
 wards. Graves was put my partner at the kitchen door. We 
 were there all the evening. We never moved. Stones came 
 against the door, and into the area. Against the kitchen win- 
 dows and against the door. There were a great many stones 
 thrown. Could hear the voices of a great many persons in the 
 street. Could not hear any thing that was said. Thinks the 
 persons in the parlour might have heard better than he could 
 below. Cannot say whether there were one hundred stones 
 thrown, or not, or what number. We had a little beer, not 
 very strong beer ; it might have been ale. Had no beer from 
 any public-house ; had not more than a pint altogether ; had it 
 out of a horn. Did not hear the servants say any thing after all 
 was over. None of the servants was with us at the kitchen 
 door. The Horse-Guards came up as soon as we got up stairs. 
 The corporal did not order us to do any thing after we 
 came up. 
 
 Jury. During the time you were at the kitchen door, was 
 there any report of a pistol as having been fired down the area 
 of the kitchen ? 
 
 Witness. None whatever. 
 
 Jury. No rattling of shot down the area, as if fired from 
 above? 
 
 Witness. None.
 
 There were a great many stones thrown, they broke the 
 shutters open several times. 
 
 One of the Jury stated that the shutters of the house were not 
 broken they were not destroyed. 
 
 Never heard any body fire into the area. To the best of my 
 knowledge no person fired into the area. If any person had 
 fired into the area from the parlour window, witness must have 
 heard it. I cannot tell exactly when the firing began. Graves 
 was stationed with me. When I came up, the parlour was all 
 dark. Cannot tell who was then in the parlour. Cannot.tell 
 who the men were that were stationed in the parlour, nor 
 which men were at the hall door. The butler gave us the 
 beer. Cannot tell whether it was the man that had the pistol. 
 Did not see any man with a pistol. Cannot tell how the par- 
 lour window shutters were fastened. Saw them when he came 
 up. Did not see them broke one was broken. 
 
 A Juryman stated that the pannels of the shutters seemed 
 about three-eighths of an inch thick. 
 
 Received and returned twenty-one rounds of ball cartridge 
 entire. Returned them to Jones, the armourer. My comrade 
 never fired whilst we were at the kitchen door. Nobody came 
 down to us during the time we were stationed there. 
 
 The Jury requested that JONES, the Armourer , might be 
 sent for. i; ^ 
 
 We returned our ammunition in the pouches to the Ar- 
 mourer. It is the duty of the corporal to see the ammunition 
 returned. It is the duty of the corporal of the company. It 
 was not his duty. 
 
 A Letter being delivered to the CORONER, by the Constable, 
 from the HON. JOHN FREDERICK ROBINSON, M. P. who was 
 waiting outside the Inquest Room, the Coroner read it to the 
 Jury. The following is a 
 
 (COPY.) 
 
 Monday, March 20, 1815. . 
 " SIR, 
 
 " Having understood that, in the course of the 
 Inquest held before you on Saturday last, several questions 
 were asked of my servants in which my name was mentioned, 
 I feel it to be my duty to offer myself to you and to the Jury, 
 in order to give any explanation that may be required upon the 
 subject. I should wish, also, to state to the Jury some cir- 
 cumstances connected with the state of my house, previous to 
 the different attacks upon it, which appear to me not to be 
 immaterial to the justice of the case.
 
 23 
 
 11 1 request lo be favoured with an answer, and to know 
 whether my testimony is to be admitted or not. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 T. ROBINSON. 
 
 Addressed to the Coroner. 
 
 The Jury ordered Mr. Robinson to be admitted. 
 
 MR. ROBINSON'S INTERVIEW WITH THE JURY. 
 
 Mr. ROBINSON entered the room attended by a gentleman 
 who expressed some doubt as to the propriety of his ap- 
 pearance. 
 
 The CORONER said there could be no deubt of his right to be 
 present if he thought proper, that it was an open Court, into 
 which any person might come that chose. He could not pre- 
 vent any person coming in it was an open Court. The 
 gentleman seated himself for a minute or two, and then with- 
 drew. 
 
 Mr. ROBINSON alluded to his letter to the Coroner, and said 
 he came in consequence of some questions having been asked of 
 his servants, on Saturday, respecting what had taken place 
 between him and them before the accident, and that he wished, 
 himself, to explain and state to the Jury every thing in his 
 power. 
 
 Mr. BR AM WELL, the Foreman, stated to Mr. Robinson, 
 that he had inquired of Mr. Robinson's servant what particular 
 conversation had taken place, on Tuesday, between Mr. Robin- 
 son and the servant. 
 
 Mr. ROBINSON delivered himself in words to the following 
 effect. 
 
 " I cannot recollect any particular conversation that took 
 place. I presume that I am asked to state the particulars of 
 what took place that morning (Tuesday) and the preceding 
 evening. I think I saw the servant in the morning of Tuesday, 
 who stated that the people had attacked the house that morn- 
 ing, that they had entered it, and destroyed a figure up stairs 
 in the window. 
 
 " I wished to state the cause of the house being attacked, 
 and the reason of my application to the Secretary of State for 
 protection. It was for the purpose of informing the Jury to 
 this effect, that I certainly did desire my servant Ripley to state 
 to the Jury, what took place on the Monday, which I understood 
 he did. " 
 
 The Jury said that RIPLEY had not himself acquainted them 
 with any thing of the sort.
 
 24 
 
 The Coroner said that he had taken the deposition of Ripley 
 to that effect, which he had read over to them. 
 
 The Jury replied that the deposition was not taken in their 
 presence ; that what had been read to them had been written 
 before the business of the Inquest commenced, on the first day 
 (Saturday), that it was taken; when they were not present; and 
 consequently when they had no opportunity of examining or put- 
 ting questions to Ripley. 
 
 Mr. Robinson resumed, 
 
 " I had reason to believe, in the course of the Monday, 
 from common report, from no particular information, that there 
 would be disturbances in the town. I removed my wife that 
 morning, I had previously settled with her that she should be 
 removed ; on stating to RIPLEY that I should not come home 
 that night, I said don't alarm yourself or your fellow servants. 
 Take no particular precautions, I do not suppose they will do 
 me any mischief, only keep at home, and don't be out of the 
 way; don't shut up the windows earlier than usual, but be in 
 the way, and look to the door. I only expected my windows to 
 be broken, and had made up my mind to the consequent trifling 
 expense. 
 
 " Whilst I was at the House of Commons, that evening, I 
 was informed by a Member, that he had met a mob, who 
 said they were " going to break Mr. Robinson's windows." 
 Not long after I had more particular information. I learned 
 afterward that the mob not only broke the windows of the house, 
 but the railings, which they used against it; that with the stones 
 of the railings and the steps, they had attacked and entered the 
 house, and broken two chairs and a table in the hall, the pieces 
 of which they also used to finish the breaking of the windows. 
 I learned too that the troops had come up, and the people dis- 
 persed. 
 
 " Finding that the attack on my house was of a very different 
 kind from what I expected, that the mob desired to avenge them- 
 selves on me personally, I thought it my duty, whilst in the 
 House of Commons, to write to the Secretary of State, which I 
 did, stating the particulars, and that for ought I knew, my pro- 
 perty, and the property and lives of my servants were in dan- 
 ger, and I requested that a military force might be sent to my 
 house for the protection of my property and the lives of my ser- 
 vants. I did this under the persuasion that without such pro- 
 tection there was no security. I received no answer from Lord 
 Sidmouth, but I understood, that on information being receivr 
 ed from Burlington-street, that Lord Sidmouth had sent troops 
 previous to the receipt of my letter. 
 
 " The next morning, at tea, my Butler came to me, and 
 stated the dilapidation and the threats against me personally,
 
 and against the lives of the servants also. He also informed 
 me, that between nine and ten that morning, the mob had again 
 attacked the house ; that they had used extreme violence, and 
 had attempted to force open the house; that the soldiers, who 
 had been sent the night before, had withdrawn at day light; and 
 that no one was at the house to protect it, from that time until 
 the time he came to me. Very soon after, the footman came, 
 and informed me, that after Ripley had left the house, the mob 
 had succeeded in breaking into it ; that an actual entrance had 
 been effected soon after Ripley left. In consequence of this in- 
 formation, and the apprehension of the servants, I felt it my 
 duty to write again to the Secretary of State for some soldiers, 
 and desired him to take care, that whatever force was sent there, 
 should be kept there permanently. It being my decided opi- 
 nion, that if they were not there permanently, neither the pro- 
 perty nor the lives of the servants would be safe. 
 
 Jury. " Why did you not call in the civil power?" 
 
 Mr. Robinson. " My expectations were, that it was abso- 
 lutely necessary to have both civil and military protection, and 
 I did think, that no protection other than that would have been 
 sufficient for the protection of my property and the lives of my 
 servants. I certainly did think it my duty to afford them my 
 protection. 
 
 " In the course of the morning I told the footman to take 
 care that the soldiers were placed in the house. I believe I 
 told them both, both Ripley and Sutton ; and my reasons for 
 desiring that the soldiers should be placed in the house, were 
 these in the first place, as they were sent for my protection, I 
 thought they were entitled to the shelter of my roof; and in the 
 second place, as the iron railing, in front of the house, had been 
 totally destroyed, and as the door, which had been forced open, 
 had been barricadoed subsequently, as well as the means would 
 allow, it appeared to be perfectly clear, that if any attack were 
 made on the house, as I apprehended, and the soldiers had 
 been placed outside of the house, and they had been attack- 
 ed by superior numbers, they could not have afforded protection 
 to the house, and would have had no retreat from superior 
 numbers, who might press upon them. 
 
 Jury. * Then of course we are to understand that you gave 
 orders to call in the soldiers?" 
 
 Mr. Robinson. " Most undoubtedly I did. I believe I 
 told both Ripley and the footman, that in my opinion they 
 ought to be inside in the house." 
 
 The Coroner having proceeded in committing to paper por- 
 tions of Mr. Robinson's statement, a Juryman suggested, that it 
 would not be proper to take any part as evidence that was 
 merely hearsay, and that he conceived they could only receive 
 
 c 2
 
 as evidence, what Mr. Robinson himself actually knew. The 
 Jury concurred in this opinion, and wished that part of Mr. 
 Robinson's communication to be expunged, which could not be 
 admitted as evidence in a court of law; 
 
 Mr. ROBINSON resumed, 
 
 " I wish it to be distinctly understood why I came here. 
 I certainly feel that I am placed in a situation of peculiar de- 
 licacy finding, that on the former Inquest (Vyse's) no state- 
 ment was permitted from the servants, as to the attack of the 
 preceding night (Monday), and that the evidence of a woman was 
 received as to some supposed expressions of my servants on 
 Monday night, or Tuesday morning, I thought it was essential 
 to fair dealing, that it should be stated what had taken place 
 the night before the accident ; that the transactions of Monday 
 night should be stated, as the soldiers were sent in consequence 
 of what took place then, and on Tuesday morning, in conse- 
 quence of my requesting that a permanent protection might be 
 sent there," 
 
 A Juryman stated, that at half-past ten or eleven on Tues- 
 day morning, he had seen the Horse Guards in the streets. 
 
 Mr. Robinson. There were horse-soldiers in the street, but 
 that was not the kind of guard I wished to have ; the Cavalry 
 were for the protection of the street, I wished to have Infantry 
 for the protection of the house and I thought it extremely 
 strange that the Infantry were withdrawn. 
 
 Jury. " Do you occupy the whole of the house ?" 
 
 Mr. Robinson, " I occupy the whole of the house it does 
 not belong to me." 
 
 The Jury thought that as Mr. Robinson's statement related to 
 the Monday and the Tuesday morning, it could not be evidence ; 
 that their concern was with the business of Tuesday evening. 
 
 Coroner. " This is a court to take evidence on both sides." 
 
 The Jury acquiesced, but contended, that they had only to 
 inquire touching the death of the deceased, which had taken 
 place after the Horse- Guards left the street on Tuesday night 
 at past Nine o'clock. 
 
 Coroner. " I confess that I do not agree in opinion with 
 .either the present or the former Jury I think the Tuesday was 
 a continuation of the Riot on the former evening [Monday], 
 and that it was all one act." 
 
 A Juryman stated, that the Cavalry had been in the street 
 nearly the whole of Tuesday that he had been at each end of 
 the street, and they would not permit any person to enter the 
 street without his being attended by a soldier to the particular 
 house he wished to go to in the street. 
 
 The Jury told Mr. Robinson that they thought his statement
 
 27 
 
 as to the Monday night and Tuesday morning could not be re- 
 ceived as evidence, but they wished to give him every oppor- 
 tunity of explanation, and particularly as to the conversation 
 he had with his servants in the course of Tuesday. 
 
 Mr. Robinson said, that he would, if he could recollect all 
 that took place, but he really could not recollect what took place, 
 he no doubt inquired what had occurred he no doubt expressed 
 himself very warmly he certainly wished to learn all that he 
 could understand of the affair at his house. Mr. Robinson 
 could not give tbe Jury any further particulars of the conversa- 
 tion. He had nothing' to conceal, but could not remember any 
 thing else. 
 
 Jury. " Did you give orders for the Military to come in?" 
 Mr. Robinson." Certainly I did." 
 
 Jury. " Did you give your servants orders to procure fire- 
 arms, or to load them?" 
 
 Mr. Robinson. " Certainly I did not. I had a double 
 barrell-gun fee. in pieces, and locked up; and if 1 had been in 
 the house, I should most certainly have armed myself." 
 
 Jury. Do you conceive that your servants were at liberty to 
 arm themselves the people for instance that merely opened 
 and shut your door? 
 
 Air. Robinson. " In my opinion the servants did right to 
 arm themselves, the propriety or impropriety depends on cir- 
 cumstances." 
 
 Jury. " In your opinion as a Senator, as a Member of 
 Parliament, do you think that your servants were justified in 
 going to Lord Buckinghamshire's, and getting shot and fire-arms 
 to fire on twenty or thirty people before your door?" 
 
 Mr. Robinson proceeded to answer this question, but seeing 
 the Reporter of this account of the proceedings before the Inquest, 
 who sat at his elbow, taking down the answer, he begged, that 
 as it formed no part of the evidence, his mere opinion might 
 not be committed to writing. The Reporter acquiesced in Mr. 
 Robinson's wish, and that gentleman concluded by expressing 
 his opinion. 
 
 In answer to questions by the Jury, Mr Robinson said as 
 follows. I never gave my servants orders to procure shot. I 
 certainly did desire that there should be soldiers in the house 
 with fire-arms, I did expect that the house would be attacked 
 with a view to gain an entry, and in my opinion an attack on 
 the door is an attempt to commit felony. It is impossible to 
 detail a particular conversation with the servants. 
 
 Jury. " Did the Footman tell you that he had got fire-arms 
 from Lord Buckinghamshire's." 
 
 Mr. Robinson. " I cannot recollect." 
 
 Jury. " Or any shot ? 
 
 Mr. Robinson." I cannot say." " I have no doubt that
 
 28 
 
 I said the house ought to have been defended. I did order the 
 soldiers to have refreshment." 
 
 Jury. As you have been at the house since Tuesday, you can 
 probably say what is the state of ihe window-shutters they 
 were broken open it appears what is their present condition? 
 
 Mr. Robinson. " They are cracked." 
 
 Mr. Robinson replied as follows to other questions put by the 
 Jury. 
 
 The window-shutters are cracked Some of the pannels are 
 cracked They were forced open. There are no holes in the 
 shutters through which anything could be thrown. The fasten- 
 ings to the shutters are a sort of common fastening. Cannot 
 tell precisely what kind of fastenings. Cannot say any thing 
 about ihe fastenings in particular. 
 
 The Jury asked Mr. Robinson, if he himself really supposed 
 there could have been what could be called Riot, when Ripley 
 himself had gone into the crowd, and taken a man out of it, 
 from among the rest of the people, and carried him away? 
 
 Mr. Robinson. " Ripley told me that he had taken a man 
 into custody, and that he had been obliged to let him go." 
 
 The Jury said, that Ripley had taken the man into Clifford 
 street, where he let him go, upon condition that he acknow- 
 ledged he threw a stone, and would not do so any more. 
 
 The Jury pressed upon Mr. Robinson the unreasonableness of 
 supposing such a kind of assemblage at that time as could have 
 been considered riotous, or generally ill disposed. 
 
 Jury. Did Ripley tell you he had addressed the mob? 
 
 Mr. R. He did say that he did put his head out of window 
 and address the mob. 
 
 The Jury said they were obliged to Mr. Robinson for what 
 he had said. 
 
 Mr. Coroner presumed Mr. Robinson's deposition might be 
 taken. 
 
 The Jury said that the greatest part of what Mr. Robinson 
 had related, was not evidence. 
 
 Mr. R. "If you heard one person as to what passed before 
 Tuesday, I think you ought to take ray evidence. I understand 
 questions were put to my servants relative to circumstances be- 
 fore Tuesday, and I did think that I ought to give what evi- 
 dence I could relative to the former transactions." 
 
 A conversation ensued between Mr. Robinson and the Jury, 
 in the course of which Mr. Robinson repeated, that in the second 
 letter he had addressed to Lord Sidmoulh, that of Tuesday, he 
 had requested that whatever protection was sent to his house 
 should be there permanently. 
 
 " For the soldiers being in my house on Tuesday night, the 
 whole responsibility rests on myself and Lord Sidmoulh." 
 
 A juryman, said that Mr. Robinson might, if he had thought
 
 29 
 
 proper, have filled his house with military ; the business of 
 the Jury was to inquire how the military in his house had con- 
 ducted themselves ; and to determine from the evidence, whe- 
 ther whilst they were there, they had not committed murder. 
 
 The Coroner said, that the affairs of Monday and Tuesday, 
 were one continued act of riot, in his opinion. 
 
 The Foreman said that the Jury were not to be dictated to. 
 They should, according to the best of their ability, upon their 
 oath, determine how the deceased had come by her death, and 
 declare it by their verdict. 
 
 Mr. Robinson adverted to the evidence of his servants, and 
 in particular to that of Ripley ; when [the Jurymen observed 
 to Mr. Robinson, that his servants came prepared to give them 
 every information, but what they wanted, and had so evaded, 
 equivocated, and prevaricated, that if such evidence had been 
 given at the bar of the House of Commons, they would have 
 been committed. 
 
 Mr. Robinson withdrew. As soon as Mr. Robinson had 
 left the room, the Jury said, that as his coming there was for 
 the purpose of explaining and relating the conversation he had 
 with his servants, and as when they wished for the particulars 
 of the conversation, he related nothing, they concurred in opi- 
 nion, that his appearance there was attended with no advantage 
 to their inquiry. 
 
 WILLIAM GRAVES, 
 
 Private in the 3d regiment of Foot Guards, sworn. 
 
 The Witness was stationed, on Tuesday evening, the 7th of 
 March, at the bottom of Mr. Robinson's house. It was about 
 six when witness first went in. He had twenty-one rounds of 
 ball cartridge with him. He was not ordered to fire, and did 
 not fire. His comrade was George Ulph. No servants were 
 there. He had one horn of beer. Was at supper when the row 
 began, and the soldiers were called up to go to the kitchen door. 
 Whilst there, a great many stones were thrown. Heard no re- 
 port of a gun coming down the area. Cannot tell what time 
 he went to the area door. Was stationed there about an hour, 
 when Herbert called us up. He is a soldier. Herbert 
 was stationed up stairs. He was the man that called us 
 up. He said himself that he called us up. I asked the cor- 
 poral if he called us, he said no. Did not see any of Mr. 
 Robinson's servants, until after the Horse Guards came up. 
 Saw them in the parlour after the firing. Heard " murder" 
 cried whilst down stairs. Heard the people say, " If we did 
 not open the door, they would break it open and murder us." 
 Thought they would have murdered us. Cannot say how many
 
 30 
 
 were outside. Had two horns of beer after the firing, during 
 the night. Heard no disposition to riot whilst eating and drink- 
 ing. 
 
 Jury. At what hour was it the people said they would 
 break in, and murder you? 
 
 Withess. I think it was about half-past seven. 
 
 It was about a quarter of an hour before the firing. Has no 
 idea as to what time it was. Cannot say what time it was. 
 Cannot tell how long it was. (Reminded of his knowledge of 
 time as a soldier). 
 
 The witness being very much agitated, was desired to collect 
 himself, and keep cool. 
 
 Thinks it might be an hour, or not more than an hour and a 
 quarter after he was stationed, that he heard the people say they 
 would break in, and murder the people inside. 
 
 Had twenty-one rounds of ball cartridge, returned twenty 
 rounds. He drew his charge at the armoury. The armourer 
 saw him draw it. It was blank. He has the ball at home now. 
 It was not the business of the corporal on duty with them that 
 day to see to the ammunition of the soldiers. He did not be- 
 long to the same company. Cannot tell whether any person 
 fired into the area. Does not know whether any pistol was fired 
 down into the area from the parlour window, or not. Thinks 
 if a pistol had been fired down from the parlour window above in- 
 to the area, he should have heard it. He did not hear any, and 
 therefore does not believe that any was fired down. If two 
 persons at the parlour window fired together, and one fired di- 
 rectly straight forward, and the other down the area, he thinks 
 he should have heard the difference. Did not hear any person 
 in the area. Stones were thrown down the area. Did not see any 
 soldier in a foraging cap. Is certain of it. Cannot say but that 
 one of the men up stairs might have had a foraging cap on. 
 Cannot tell which were the two men stationed in the dining 
 room up stairs. Herbert, Mathews, Pawley, and Clements 
 were stationed up stairs, but cannot positively say at what parts. 
 
 JOSEPH PAWLEY, 
 
 Private in the 6lh company, \sl battalion 3d regt. of Foot 
 Guards, sworn. 
 
 The witness does not know the name of the Captain of the 
 company. Knows him very well, but does not know his name. 
 The officers are changed very often. Entered Mr. Robinson's 
 house on Tuesday, the 7th of March, about six or seven o'clock, 
 about three quarters of an hour before he was stationed. When 
 he went in first he sat down. Had a horn of beer. Had a 
 mouthful of victuals. Was stationed at the door with Clements.
 
 31 
 
 Was there a very few minutes, when a great number of stonei 
 were thrown against the street door. Thinks it was about seven 
 o'clock. .It continued some time. About half an hour or bet- 
 ter, at intervals. Heard a voice cry out " open the door. If 
 you don't open it, we'll break through, and destroy the house and 
 you to." They were knocking at the door, at the rapper, some 
 with stones. Seemed to be a great many. Thought his life 
 was in danger. This was about a quarter of an hour. It was 
 not at the time of the firing. Never fired off his piece. Wit- 
 ness loaded. Had twenty-one rounds of ball cartridge. Loaded 
 with powder only. Saw Mr. Robinson's servants occasionally 
 in the passage. Returned twenty full rounds, and a ball. 
 Did not hear them in the parlour. Cannot tell where the but- 
 ler was. Cannot tell whether the corporal ordered witness to 
 load. Witness is sure he bit off the ball. Corporal ordered 
 witness to load with blank cartridge. Witness's comrade fired 
 blank through the fan-light. The corporal did not see him 
 draw his charge. The corporal was gone to the magistrate. 
 The other soldiers were present, and saw him draw his charge. 
 Cannot tell when the firing was in the parlour. Witness's 
 comrade had not fired through the fan-light when he heard the 
 cry of " Murder." It was not till after the cry that he fired. 
 Thinks the firing was about nine. Cannot read or write. Un- 
 loaded his musket by reversing it. Powder fell out. It was 
 in the street he unloaded it. Did not stoop down to pick it up. 
 Returned twenty-one' rounds to the armoury. Fifteen to the 
 corporal of the pioneers, and six to the armourer. Gave in the 
 one ball as a charge. Always gives ammunition to the pibueeer 
 corporal when he has an extra quantity. Had fifteen rounds 
 from the Sergeant, and six from the non-commissioned officer 
 he fell in with in the morning ; gave fourteen complete rounds 
 and a ball without cartridge to the Pioneer Corporal ; when 
 ordered into the street, stood abreast; the Corporal was away 
 about half an hour with the Magistrate the Magistrate took 
 him away The Magistrate with his officers took him away I 
 should have fired if they had oppressed us, and broken in I did 
 not fire because I was not oppressed The Corporal ordered us 
 to prime and load, but did not order us to fire Witness said 
 nothing to his comrade when he fired through the fan-light, nor 
 did his comrade say any thing to him Witness had his bayonet 
 in the scabbard when his comrade fired does not know 
 whether his comrade at the time he fired had his bayonet on or 
 not.
 
 WILLIAM CLEMENTS, 
 
 Private in the 3d Res,, of Foot-Guards, sworn. 
 if 
 
 The witness went into Mr. Robinson's house about 6 o'clock: 
 all went into the back kitchen. The servant took us down to 
 shew us where to put our things : the first thing we had was 
 one horn of beer a piece. Sat there about two hours. The 
 man-servant took us all up stairs, and shewed us where we 
 were to be stationed. He took the whole up, and shewed us to 
 our different stations. Witness was stationed in the passage at 
 the street-door, with Joseph Pawley: was stationed by the 
 corporal and the servant. Ulph and Graves were stationed 
 below : Herbert and Mathews were stationed in the parlour. 
 We were only taken there te be shewn our places, and then we 
 went down stairs again. We sat for some little time, perhaps 
 near half an hour, and then we had something to eat some 
 bread and beef, and mutton. We had nothing to drink then. 
 Before we had done eating, we were called up. All went to 
 their stations. A crowd was round the door. Gould hear 
 they were there, by the brickbats and stones thrown at the 
 windows and the door. Could tell there were brickbats thrown, 
 by what came in through the fan-light. This continued for per- 
 haps an hour not constantly. It was about 8, or a quarter 
 past 8, when witness was called to his station. The shutters 
 were broken in : I could hear them whilst I was in the 
 passage. 
 
 [Mr. GELL, the Coroner, came in, and remained about an 
 hour, and then went away.] 
 
 Witness heard a gun go off from the parlour after the throw- 
 ing had been about half an hour, or more. Cannot say whether 
 it was a musket or a pistol. Was certain it went off from the 
 parlour. Witness then wenHnto the parlour to see what had 
 happened: remained there two or three minutes. Cannot tell 
 what conversation passed. The corporal, and Mathews and 
 Herbert were there. The servant was in the parlour who had 
 stationed them there. 
 
 [Mr. Robinson's butler, footman, and groom, were then 
 ordered into the Inquest-room, and the witness identified 
 JAMES RIPLEY, the butler, as having stationed the sol- 
 diers.] 
 
 Witness does not know who fired. Saw no pistol. The 
 corporal and the two soldiers had their muskets in their hands. 
 In a few minutes after the witness had returned to his station, 
 the mob came up, and threw stones and brickbats, as before, 
 into the passage. It continued about 10 or 15 minutes. I got 
 no blow from any thing, but something dropped on my arm.
 
 33 
 
 Heard a voice say, from outside the door, " Let us begin and 
 pull the house down." Some one made answer, and said, 
 " So we will." The people who spoke were close to the door. 
 Stones might have fallen upon those who said so. Witness then 
 heard something like pulling up of stones or bricks outside the 
 door. Witness then levelled his piece through the fan-light, 
 and fired it. It was only loaded with powder. I cannot say 
 whether I fired first : there were three or four went off nearly 
 at once from the parlour. Was induced to level his piece, 
 from believing they were going to pull the house down. Can- 
 not tell how many stones were in the passage : did not count 
 them. Cannot tell how many brickbats were there. Did not 
 see a bit of brick so big as a half brick. Cannot tell how much 
 the stones and things thrown would make whether a wheel- 
 barrow full, or a bushel-basket full, or how many cannot tell 
 at all. 
 
 The armourer, Thomas Jones, gave witness six rounds of 
 ball-cartridge; first Herbert gave him six, Sergeant Massey 
 gave him six; witness left his ammunition in the armourer's 
 room in the pouch, no particular men were present ; the armourer 
 ought to have been there to receive the ammunition, but was 
 not ; left nineteen cartridge and two balls in his pouch did not 
 unload his piece at the street door recollects some man trying 
 to unload his gun, he reversed it on the ground as if to throw 
 out the powder ; did not see the man stoop to pick any thing up 
 should not have fired ball unless the door had been broken open, 
 and he had been obligated to fire. People were at the door when 
 witness fired. The corporal ordered us whatever we did not to fire 
 off with ball, he desired us to bite off the balls ; witness cannot 
 tell whether he fired off first or not ; the pieces fired so near to- 
 gether, he cannot tell which fired first ; there were three or 
 four fired including his own witness p<imed and loaded again, 
 loaded again with pnwHer; did not fire with ball, because he 
 had not orders knew himself better than to fire ball without 
 orders. It is very easy for a man to put in a ball, if he is 
 obligated to fire with ball. Is certain Pawley did not fire ; the 
 Horse-Guards came up and cleared the streets. In a minute after 
 the firing, heard " Murder" called. When witness fired he 
 was close to the door, and levelled upwards through the fan- 
 light. There was no firing but by the witness, and from the 
 parlour. 
 
 THOMAS WHITE, 
 Of 39, Broad-street, Carnaby market, Cabinet-maker, sworn, 
 
 On Tuesday evening, the 7th of March, witness went into 
 Old Burlington-street about ten o'clock, a few minutes before
 
 34 
 
 or after. Walked through the street, from curiosity, to see 
 what havoc the public had made at Mr. Robinson's house. 
 Went to the front of the house. A dozen or fourteen persons 
 were directly opposite to Mr. Robinson's house, on the same 
 side of the way. They were not on the pavement, but as near 
 to the kirb-stone as possible. They were apparently men and 
 lads. Some were lads. Witness believes there were persons 
 passing and repassing on the opposite side of the way. Those 
 on the opposite side the way appeared to be merely passing 
 and repassing, but could not exactly say, it beiag rather dark. 
 Some of these twelve or fourteen persons were talking to a 
 soldier and a person in coloured clothes at the window next 
 door. They were tantalizing the soldiers in consequence of 
 a gun having been previously fired. They said to them, u you 
 had better load, or charge, with e'ghly shillings" The soldier 
 spoke in a very brutish savage kind of way, " you had better 
 mind what you are about," or " how you conduct yourself, 
 or you will find to the contrary." He said this, or words to 
 that effect. Witness then immediately went, in an oblique 
 direction, towards Burlington Gardens ; and before he had 
 got three parts of the way across the road obliquely, witness 
 heard a small stone, or bit of brick, or something of that kind, 
 thrown against the house ; it sounded as if against the sashes 
 or shutters, and witness instantly heard the report of three guns 
 or pieces ; two nearly together, and one almost momentarily 
 afterwards. Instantly, as I. stepped on the kirb the deceased 
 dropt directly before me, at the distance of about thirty yards, 
 in an oblique direction from Mr. Robinson's house. The 
 soldier that spoke seemed intoxicated he seemed so by his 
 speech. He had his gun levelled on the window sill. There 
 was a person in plain clothes at his right, shorter in size than 
 the soldier. The gun was not presented as if it was aimed at 
 any person in particular, \\\\t the bayonet wac fivp.H, and I did 
 not see it at first, but the moment I did I went away instantly, 
 for the soldier spoke in. a savage brutal manner, and I really 
 was afraid of some mischief happening. I saw no disposition 
 to riot. There was no body of people to make it. The right 
 hand parlour window shutter was open. There was another 
 soldier in the room, and a light in the back parlour, and some 
 persons there. Witness heard at the moment that there was 
 a man shot at the other end of the street. 
 
 The JURY ADJOURNED at a little before six o'clock until half 
 past seven precisely, when they again assembled.
 
 35 
 
 ROBERT PACK, 
 
 Under butler to Lord Buckinghamshire, in Hamilton-place, 
 Piccadilly, parish of St. George, sworn. 
 
 Knows nothing of the death of the deceased. Knows James 
 Ripley and William Sutton, servants to Mr. Robinson. Saw 
 William Sutton, footman to Mr. Robinson, at Lord Bucking- 
 hamshire's house on Tuesday morning, before twelve o'clock. 
 Had no particular conversation with him, except about some 
 shot Sutton asked witness to give him. Witness had a 
 bag of shot, of the size uf peas, in his hand when Sutton 
 came to the house. Witness was then loading a brace of 
 pistols belonging to Lord Buckinghamshire. Su ton never said 
 a word to witness about any thing that happened at Mr. Ro- 
 binson's the night before. Sutton asked witness to give him 
 some of the shot. Witness never loaded those pistols before. 
 He always had a brace of pistols of his own loaded. Witness 
 does not know how it was, but so it was that he loaded the 
 butler's pistols that day. Does not know whether Sutton 
 saw him loading the pistols. When Sutton came, witness had 
 loaded the brace of pistols. The pistols were not in the room 
 when Sutton came to witness for the shot. Witness was in the 
 pantry when Sutton asked for the shot. It is usual for witness 
 to put the shot away with the pistols, on loading the pistols, 
 immediately. Witness, to the best of his knowledge, was put- 
 ting away the shot when Sutton came in. Does not recollect any 
 thing that passed, but Sutton asking witness to give him some of 
 the shot. Cannot at all say what quantity. To the best of 
 witness's knowledge, not more than two dozen. Put them in 
 a bit of paper. Sutton never said any thing of the purpose for 
 which he wanted them. He said " will you give me some of 
 those shot ?" and I gave them to him. I really did not ask him 
 what he was going to do with it. Saw Sutton this morning. 
 Sutton borrowed no pistol of me, nor did James Ripley. The 
 witness was most particularly pressed respecting the conver- 
 sation between him and Sutton, and particularly as to whether 
 Sutton had not said any thing whatever respecting what had 
 taken place at Mr. Robinson's the night before, but the witness 
 positively denied that Sutton had said any thing about the affair 
 at Mr. Robinson's. 
 
 WILLIAM SUTTON, 
 
 Footman to Mr. Robinson, re-examined. 
 
 . Witness borrowed the pistol from Lord Buckinghamshire's 
 butler. Witness took a note to Lady Buckinghamshire, and
 
 36 
 
 JRipley \gzvt witness a note to MITCHEL, the butler, in con- 
 sequence of which he gave witness the pistol. The note was 
 to borrow the pistol. Witness asked the under butler for the 
 shot. He had not the shot. The under butler went for it. 
 He went for it into another room. Witness knew the under 
 butler had shot, because he saw him with some when witness 
 was there before in the course of the day. Witness had been 
 backwards and forwards all day with notes. Cannot say what 
 time he went there first, nor where he saw the shot. It was 
 somewhere at the lower part of the house. Saw the under 
 butler with the shot. It was in a bag. Witness knew it was" 
 shot. Saw the under butler teeming the shot up and down in 
 his hand. Cannot tell how many shot he had. Cannot tell at 
 all Not how many dozen. Not whether it was a tea-cup 
 full. Cannot tell any thing of the quantity. Cannot tell what 
 pocket he put them into, whether the waistcoat pocket, or the 
 coat pocket, or the breeches pocket. 
 
 The shutters were nailed up, a carpenter nailed them up. 
 They were fastened up and nailed up. Cannot tell whether 
 they were barred. They were barred up. Therrott was the 
 carpenter who nailed them up. Cannot tell who used to bar 
 the shutters up at night. Will not swear what kind of bars 
 they are. 
 
 The Jury proposed that the soldiers should be called up, for 
 the witness to point out the man to whom he gave the shot, 
 and whom he saw load his piece with it, and fire out of the win- 
 dow. The Witness inquired whether all the soldiers had been 
 examined. The Jury desired to know of the witness, his 
 reason for the inquiry. He said, that he did not know whether 
 he should be doing right in pointing out the man, and requested 
 to be informed, by the Coroner, if it was proper. The Co- 
 roner said, certainly, if he knew the man; and all the soldiers 
 having entered the room, the witness pointed out RICHARD 
 MATHEWS. 
 
 I saw him, Mathews, go to the window, and discharge his 
 piece, after he had loaded it with the shot I gave him. Can- 
 not say whether any other man had shot in his gun, but 
 Mathews. Cannot say how many shot he gave him. Mathews 
 fired both the pistol and his own piece, he fired them nearly 
 together. Does not think Mathews was at all intoxicated. 
 Certainly not from what witness had given him, or seen 
 given him. Believes Ripley was in the room when the shot 
 was fired : when Mathews took the pistol out of Ripley's hand, 
 he fired it so immediately that witness thinks it impossible that 
 Ripley could have left the room. Heard the reports of guns 
 at the same time that Mathews fired the pistol and gun. 
 Mathews fired the pistol and gun. Never saw Ripley fire but
 
 once, 'when he fired it down the area. It was loaded with 
 shot. It was fired twenty minutes before the last firing. The 
 pistol was loaded when Mathews took it out of Ripley's hand. 
 The different pieces went off as near as possible together. There 
 were three or four, they went off " clap, clap," as quick as pos- 
 sible. Cannot say whether three or four went off. Mathews 
 fired both off almost together. He fired so quick together that 
 witness really cannot say which he fired first. 
 
 ROBERT PACK'S 
 
 Examination resumed. 
 
 . ; .'jt 
 
 Never saw Sutton more than once on Tuesday morning. Not 
 more than once that day. He might have been at the house, 
 and witness not have seen him. 
 
 The butler came to witness after he was a-bed on Monday 
 night, about twenty minutes or half-past ten. He said he 
 wanted the pistol I had in the cupboard, and I got up and gave 
 it him. It is a pistol used by a footman when he rides post, 
 a holster pistol. The butler did not tell him what it was for. 
 Nothing passed at all. Really does not recollect a word pass- 
 ing between Sutton and witness when the shot was given. Saw 
 Sutton to-day, but no conversation took place respecting the 
 business of his coming here. It was one of the pistols that 
 witness constantly had in the pantry with him. Should 
 know it. 
 
 THOMAS JONES, 
 
 No. 10, Castle Yard, Westminster, in the Parish of St. 
 Margaret's, Sworn. 
 
 Witness has the charge of the arms and accoutrements be- 
 longing to Col. Stewart's company. Cannot state the number 
 of ball-cartridges he delivered out. It was the duty of the 
 corporal to take account of the ammunition. Remembers de- 
 livering ammunition to the six soldiers, but cannot tell how 
 much. It is impossible for him to recollect. He kept no 
 account. The men were not on regular duty. Upon regular 
 duty always kept an account of the ammunition. George 
 Ulph's piece, No. 626, was never fired off. There was one 
 other piece that had not been fired, but cannot tell which. 
 Herbert said, " I fired some blank cartridge," he said to the 
 witness, " it must be washed." Cannot tell whose pieces 
 had been fired out of; there had been four pieces fired out of. 
 The corporal did not belong to my company, I had nothing 
 to do with his piece. Is sure there were four out of the six
 
 38 
 
 pieces fired out of. Had no corporal in the way but himself, 
 and cannot say what ammunition he delivered out. Took no 
 account of it. Upon my oath, two of the pieces had not been 
 fired, and four of the pieces had been fired. If a man had 
 drawn his charge, it would have been different from a piece 
 that had been fired. When upon regular duty a regular ac- 
 count is kept. If any is missing, then, it must be paid for. 
 It must be paid for by the man who is deficient. This was not 
 regular duty. There were a great many men out that night, 
 and witness had to give ammunition to all. To some he gave 
 sixteen, some twenty, some twenty-four rounds, just as they 
 wanted it. It is quite impossible for him to say what he re- 
 ceived back from any man. 
 
 RICHARD BURTON, Corporal, 
 Re-examined. 
 
 Did not see Mathews load with shot, or ask Sutton for it, or 
 take it, or see him with a pistol, or any body else with a 
 pistol, or a pistol at all. Cannot say which of Mr. Robinson's 
 servants was in the room at the last firing. 
 
 RICHARD WHITE, 
 
 39, Broad-Street, Garnaby Market, Sworn. 
 
 Went out with his brother to Old Burlington Street, at very 
 near ten o'clock, to see the outrages that had been committed 
 at Mr. Robinson's. There were very few people in 
 the street. There were fourteen or fifteen persons on the 
 pavement very near to the windows, they were on the pave- 
 ment. There was a soldier had a musket over the sill of the 
 window. The people said to him, " You will only fire eighty 
 shillings," or " Bullock's Blood," or something to that effect. 
 The soldier said if they did not mind, they would find to the 
 contrary, or to that effect. The words were hardly out of his 
 mouth, when witness heard a stone thrown against the house. 
 They fired instantly I went towards Burlington Street. I heard 
 a terrible cry of " Murder," and was afraid my brother was 
 killed. He saw his brother holding the woman's head between 
 his knees her friend was with her. Heard the Horse-Guards 
 coming in, and endeavoured to persuade his brother to go 
 away, as the Horse-Guards were then coming into the street. 
 There were a few persons at the end of the street as witness en- 
 tered it. The people did not appear disposed to be riotous. 
 When the woman dropped, three pieces went off. The 
 window shutters were not open at the window farthest from 
 the door, and, therefore, thinks it likely the guns were fired
 
 59 
 
 from the window next door. Upon his oath, the window 
 shutters of the window farthest from the door were shut. Can- 
 not positively say that they were. The instant he heard the 
 first gun go off, he turned his back away, and went off. When 
 witness first went off, a soldier was at the window nearest the 
 door, with his musket levelled over the sill of the window, 
 and, I believe, there were two persons in coloured clothes 
 standing by him. Was exactly at the end of Mr. Robinson's 
 house when the first gun went off. Witness then made off as 
 quick as possible, and found his brother as before mentioned. 
 Witness and his brother then went away, and left the woman, 
 as he supposed, dead. The Horse-Guards were arriving a 
 the time. 
 
 THOMAS MITCHELL, 
 JSutler to the Earl of Buckinghamshire, sworn. 
 
 On Monday evening after the attack on Mr. Robinson's house, 
 witness received a note from Ripley, Mr. Robinson's butler, 
 brought by William Sutton, the footman, the purport of which 
 was, that if I had any fire arms, he requested I would send 
 them by the footman, as they had that night experienced a very 
 desperate attack at the door, and the windows were broken in, 
 and they had no arms of any kind to defend themselves, for 
 they expected another assault. On this witness went to Robert 
 Pack, the under butler, who has pistols for the protection of 
 Lord Buckinghamshire's plate and other property, and asked him 
 to give witness a pistol. I told him what had happened at Mr. 
 Robinson's. He got out and went to a closet, and took from it 
 a pistol, which he delivered to the witness, who gave it to Wil- 
 liam Sutton. (Witness looked at the pistol, believed it to be 
 the pistol, but could not positively swear to it.) It had been in 
 the under butler's possession many years. Does not recollect 
 what ammunition the under butler gave him. Saw Sutton once 
 on the Tuesday, but he might have been there several times 
 without witness seeing him. 
 
 The CONSTABLE was sent to Mr. Robinson's house for the 
 pistol, which he brought with him. It was loaded with pow- 
 der, and eight shot, of the same description as those produced 
 from the brain of EDWARD VYSE, upon the former inquest. 
 The constable had unloaded the pistol, and produced it, with 
 the powder and the shot loose.
 
 40 
 
 ROBERT PACK, re-examined. 
 
 Does not recollect the last witness having told him any thing 
 respecting what had happened at Mr. Robinson's house, at the 
 time witness gave him the pistol. The witness was shewn the 
 pistol. 
 
 Witness. That is the pistol. It was loaded with powder 
 and shot. 
 
 The Jury seeming disposed to close their inquiry, the CORO- 
 NER proposed to close with the examination of the next witness. 
 
 WILLIAM HONE, 
 
 55, Fleet-street, Bookseller, sworn. 
 
 The Coroner produced the deposition of the witness before the 
 inquest on EDWARD VYSE, and asked him if he meant to vary it 
 at all. The witness answered in the negative, and the Coroner 
 read the deposition as evidence upon the present inquest.* The 
 witness added, that it 'was not inserted in the deposition, although 
 he had deposed, that had two horse soldiers, or the officers who 
 took the man into custody, as related in witness's deposition, been 
 in attendance, and done their duty in Burlington-street, they 
 could have cleared it of the people at any time the witness was 
 there. 
 
 The Jury wished to see MR. BRODIE the Surgeon of St. 
 George's Hospital, who was assisted in dissecting the brain of 
 the deceased, by THOMAS THOMPSON, whose evidence had been 
 received the first day. Mr. Brudie being sent for, the constable 
 returned with Mr. fhompson, who said, that Mr. Brodie was 
 not at the Hospital, and as it was then half-past eleven o'clock, 
 the Jury declined fetching him from his house in Sackville street, 
 but put some questions to Mr. Thompson, relative to the exami- 
 nation of the brain of the deceased. Mr. Thompson, in explana- 
 tion, said, that Mr. Brodie and himself had carefully examined 
 the brain of the deceased, and found no ball or shot, and the 
 witness had no douot whatever, of the wounds having been 
 produced by a discharge from fire-arms; but witness, who 
 is a young man, spoke with considerable diffidence as to the 
 kind of shot or ball which had made the perforations: upon 
 the whole, he believed that the wounds were inflicted by a ball, 
 and this persuasion was grounded on the very unusual density 
 and thickness of the deceased's skull, in that part, which lie 
 thought could not have been penetrated by shot. 
 
 * VYSE'S Report, p. 18.
 
 41 
 
 At ten minutes before twelve o'clock at night, the Jury in- 
 timating to the Coroner that they did not require further 
 evidence, h proposed to read over the depositions ; but they 
 stated, that they had given close attention to the evidence, and 
 would not trouble him ; they merely required to be alone, for 
 the pwpose of considering their Verdict. 
 
 The Coroner expressed considerable regret, that his conduct 
 on receiving the Verdict brought in by the former Inquest on 
 EDWARD VYSE, had been misstated. It had been alleged, he 
 said, that he had with that Verdict received certain RESOLU- 
 TIONS of the Jury,* and he wished any gentlemen then present, 
 and he knew there were some, whs had witnessed the close of 
 that Inquest, would state what really did take place, and as far 
 as depended on themselves, contradict the erroneous allegation. 
 The Reporter of this account then said that he was present when 
 the Inquest on EDWARD VYSE gave their Verdict, and that, on 
 the Foreman having delivered the Verdict, he presented the 
 Resolutions on which the Jury had grounded it, which the Co- 
 roner declined receiving, saying all that he wanted was their Ver- 
 dict, he had nothing to do with their opinions. -f 
 
 The Coroner said, lie hoped that if the gentlemen of the pre- 
 sent Jury thought proper to come to any resolutions, that they 
 would see the propriety of not letting such resolutions meet his 
 eye, all that he could receive from them would be their Verdict, 
 whatever it might be ; as Coroner he could neither record or 
 notice any thins: else. 
 
 The Coroner and strangers then withdrew, and left the Jury 
 to deliberate at ten minutes before twelve o'Clock. 
 
 At half past twelve o Clock, the Jury announced to the Co- 
 roner that they were ready ; and when he entered the room, 
 the Foreman of the Inquest returned the following 
 
 VERDICT, 
 
 " Wilful Murder, against JAMES RlPLEY, 
 RICHARD MATHEWS, ROBERT HERBERT, and 
 RICHARD BURTON, by firing ball, or shot, from 
 and out of Fire-arms, from the windows of MR. 
 ROBINSON'S house in OLD BURLINGTON-STREET, 
 PICCADILLY." 
 
 * VYSE'S Report, p. 68. 
 
 t For the particulars at length, autl tie Resolutions alluded to, sec 
 also VYSE'S
 
 42 
 
 When the Coroner had recorded the Verdict, he filled up a 
 warrant to the constable, committing the corporal and the two 
 soldiers to Tothill Fields priion, and authorizing the appre- 
 hension of James Ripley, the Butler, and his committal to the 
 same prison. Ripley had left the house when the Jury were 
 about to retire. 
 
 The following persons who had given evidence, were then 
 called, 
 
 1 'homos Thompson. William Clements. 
 
 William Sutton. Thomas White. 
 
 Amelia Davis. Robert Pack. 
 
 Philip Chaffey. Thomas Jones. 
 
 William Smith. Richard While. 
 
 George Ulph. Thomas Mitchell. 
 
 William Graves. William Hone. 
 Joseph Pawley. 
 
 They all answered to their names, and entered into recogni- 
 zances of Forty pounds each, to appear and give evidence at 
 the ensuing sessions ; and THE BEADLE of the Parish of St. 
 George^ Hanover-square^ was bound over on behalf of the 
 parish, then to prosecute RICHARD MATHEWS, Private in 
 the 6lh Company, 1st Battalion 3d Regiment of Fool Guards; 
 ROBERT HERBERT, Private in the same Company; RICH- 
 ARD BURTON, Corporal in the same Regiment, and JAMES 
 RIPLEY, Butler to the HON. JOHN FREDERICK RO- 
 BINSON, of OLD BURLINGTON STREET, on the Inquest's Ver- 
 dict of WILFUL MURDER. 
 
 The business having concluded about One o'clock in the 
 morning of Tuesday, the 21st of March, 1815, 
 
 THE COURT was dissolved by Proclamation. 
 
 THE END.
 
 43 
 
 Just Published^ by William Hone, Bookseller, 55, Fleet- 
 street, in Svo. price 2s. 6d. 
 
 A CIRCUMSTANTIAL REPORT of the Extra- 
 ordinary evidence and proceedings before the CORO- 
 NER'S INQUEST, on the body of EDWARD VYSE, 
 who, on Tuesday evening, March 7, 1815, was SHOT 
 DEAD from the parlour windows of the House of the 
 Hon. Frederick Robinson, M. P. in Old Burlington-street. 
 Specially Reported, and Revised from minutes taken by 
 the Inquest, with the SURGEON'S REPORT, and other 
 Documents. 
 
 BY WILLIAM HONE, 
 
 ONE OF THE EVIDENCE. 
 
 TO THE READER. 
 
 HAVING been present in Old Burlington-Street on Tuesday 
 Evening, the 7th of March, at the time of the firing from the 
 windows of Mr. ROBINSON'S house, I was unexpectedly called 
 upon to give evidence before the Coroner's Inquest, and I was 
 the first witness examined upon the second day's sitting. 
 
 Mr. CELL, Jun., who examined all the witnesses after the 
 first day, after taking my deposition, in the presence of the 
 Coroner, and after I had subscribed my name to it, presented 
 me a blank sheet of paper, and requested that I would sign it 
 in the part he pointed out, towards the bottom corner of the 
 sheet. 
 
 I hesitated, and expressed a wish to know for what purpose 
 a blank paper was given me to sign.
 
 44 
 
 Mr. CELL said, that it was a matter of form ; it was requi- 
 site that there should be a Copy of my Deposition signed by 
 myself; and still presenting me the blank sheet of paper, he 
 said, " You will sign this, and we shall put a Copy of your 
 Deposition upon it afterwards." 
 
 I said, " Sir, I cannot sign a blank paper. I will wait, if 
 you please, or I will wait upon you at any time, any where you 
 will have the goodness to name." 
 
 Mr. CELL. That will not do. It must be done here 
 now. 
 
 Myself. I am very sorry, but I cannot sign a blank paper. 
 It is impossible, and (turning to the jury) to say the least of it, 
 it is irregular. 
 
 Mr. CELL. Very well you must wait then. 
 
 After the lapse of about an hour, during a short pause in the 
 examination of a witness, I stood forward, and said : 
 
 *' Mr. Coroner, Sir. I beg pardon for the interruption, 
 but I have particular business, and if you will permit me to 
 withdraw, I will attend here again in an hour, or two hours, or 
 any where else, if you will permit me." 
 
 Mr. CELL. No. You must wait now. You must attend 
 the Inqutst till the business is over. 
 
 The inquest adjourning that evening, I was induced, on my 
 attendance on the following day, to take minutes of the proceed- 
 ings ; and in particular, to take down the "Testimony of the Wit- 
 nesses , in the words wherein they delivered themselves. This 
 I continued until the Verdict of the Coroner's Jury was re- 
 corded, after midnight, on Saturday, or rather on Sunday 
 morning, the 12th instant. 
 
 In doing this, I exerted myself to report every syllable that 
 was uttered in evidence, with scrupulous fidelity. 
 
 The preparation of that part of the report which embraces 
 the proceedings before I attended to be examined, and conse- 
 quently when I was not present, has been most essentially 
 assisted by the minutes of the Gentlemen of the Jury, which 
 they permitted me to use as I thought proper; and those 
 Gentlemen themselves have, upon my solicitation, personally 
 aided me in endeavouring to present a faithful report of the 
 proceedings of this important Inquest. 
 
 WILLIAM HONE. 
 
 J. M'Creery, Printer, Black-Horse Court 
 London.
 
 
 CAL! F0% OF-CAL! FO/? 
 
 f, 
 
 1