The Homicidal Earl by Saul David
Author:Saul David [David, Saul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biographies & Memoirs, Leaders & Notable People, Military, History, Historical, Military & Wars, Professionals & Academics, Military & Spies
Amazon: B00EZ6X6O2
Publisher: Endeavour Press Ltd.
Published: 2013-12-22T13:00:00+00:00
At the end of April 1842, shortly after the replacement of Prince Albert by General Sir Arthur Clifton as colonel of the regiment, the 11th Hussars was relieved of the Queen’s Duty by Cardigan’s original corps, the 8th Hussars, and moved to York with detachments at Burnley, Sheffield, Barnsley and Colne. This was a response to a resurgence of Chartist activity, particularly in the north.
The movement had begun three years earlier, in May 1838, when the London Radical William Lovett had drafted the People’s Charter — a demand for sweeping parliamentary reform as the only solution to the social injustices of the new industrial order. Born out of the economic depression of 1837-8, when high unemployment and the effects of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 were causing suffering throughout the country, the People’s Charter appealed to all shades of the working class. Its six demands — universal manhood suffrage, equal electoral districts, vote by secret ballot, annually elected parliaments, payment of parliament members, and abolition of the property qualification for membership — seem tame by today’s standards (with only annual parliaments not yet law), but to the ruling classes of 1838, just six years after the passing of the Great Reform Act, they were seen as nothing short of revolution.
Threats by the more extreme leaders like Irishman Feargus O’Connor to resort to ‘ulterior measures’ if their demands were ignored only hardened the government’s stance. When a massive petition in support of the People’s Charter was presented to Parliament in July 1839, it was rejected out of hand. There followed in November an armed uprising of extremists at Newport, but this was swiftly crushed and its leaders transported to Australia. Even the moderate leaders who had eschewed violence were arrested and given short prison terms.
By early 1842, with the moderates once again in control and an efficient national organisation in place, the Chartist movement began gathering signatures for a second national petition, and it was to guard against any consequent public disorder that the 11th Hussars were sent north. Cardigan, however, remained in London for the summer Season, content to let his second-in-command, Brevet-Colonel Rotton, take charge of policing operations in York.
The massive Chartist petition, containing an estimated three million signatures — many of them fakes — was finally presented to Parliament in August. Again it was rejected, and again there were disturbances, particularly in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire. With detachments in all three counties, the 11th Hussars was in the thick of it. Perhaps the most serious riot took place in Halifax when a troop under the command of Captain William Forrest, a company from the 61st Regiment and a force of special constables were caught between two mobs entering the town from different directions. The Halifax Guardian reported:
The whole of North Parade was densely crowded, and many of the bludgeon men made their way into the bye streets. The mob not appearing willing to disperse, but becoming rather more furious in their behaviour, Captain Forrest was ordered to clear the streets.
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