These are the people all tattered and torn, part II
I've been trying to draw out the parallels between current protests and eighteenth and nineteenth-century protests. I discussed it with my third-year students in their final seminar of the year, but there is much more to be said, so I shall start to put it down here, as work in progress.
First of all some links, some old, some new:
Attack on the Prince of Wales:
Leeds Mercury, 1 February 1817, on the attack on the Prince Regent's Coach during the state opening of parliament, 28 January 1817:
'The multitude was vociferous - and the most outrageous epithets were applied to His Royal Highness as he passed along in the State Carriage, guarded on both sides by a strong escort of guards and constables. On the return of His Royal Highness from the Lords' Chamber of Parliament, the crowding, clamour and insults increased. ...After the calvacade had entered the park, at the Horse Guards, and that it had processed about half way down the Mall, one of the windows of the state carriage in which His Royal Highness was placed...was shattered in two places by stones or some missiles, from a hand unseen'.
Forms of action by the authorities:
Papers relative to the internal state of the country, 24 November 1819
Government legislation and proposed legislation:
On 14 December, Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson made some comments about the current situation, which included (as reported in the press):
- The actions of mounted colleagues during protests was "absolutely splendid" and they are part of the "proud tradition" of British policing.
George Cruikshank, 'Massacre at St. Peter's, or Britons Strike Home!', 1819
First of all some links, some old, some new:
- Guardian article on the 1795 attack on George III's coach;
- A Scottish nationalist take on the attack, with references to 1795 and 1817;
- An early modern comparison with 1641 attack of the apprentices in Parliament Square
- Report in the Independent on the initial suggestions of Sir Paul Stephenson concerning policing future demonstrations;
- BBC News report on Stephenson's suggestions;
- New Statesman editorial, with references to Peterloo
Attack on the Prince of Wales:
Leeds Mercury, 1 February 1817, on the attack on the Prince Regent's Coach during the state opening of parliament, 28 January 1817:
'The multitude was vociferous - and the most outrageous epithets were applied to His Royal Highness as he passed along in the State Carriage, guarded on both sides by a strong escort of guards and constables. On the return of His Royal Highness from the Lords' Chamber of Parliament, the crowding, clamour and insults increased. ...After the calvacade had entered the park, at the Horse Guards, and that it had processed about half way down the Mall, one of the windows of the state carriage in which His Royal Highness was placed...was shattered in two places by stones or some missiles, from a hand unseen'.
Forms of action by the authorities:
Papers relative to the internal state of the country, 24 November 1819
Government legislation and proposed legislation:
On 14 December, Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson made some comments about the current situation, which included (as reported in the press):
- The actions of mounted colleagues during protests was "absolutely splendid" and they are part of the "proud tradition" of British policing.
- Senior officers will consider applying to the Home Secretary to ban forthcoming marches if necessary and if it will not inflame the situation further.
Here are two links to some Youtube footage of the mounted police: one taken by a protester, and another from the BBC.
George Cruikshank, 'Massacre at St. Peter's, or Britons Strike Home!', 1819
The 'Six Acts' of 1819, passed in response to Peterloo - extracts from the London Magazine, vol 1, 1820:
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