HC Deb 01 August 1850 vol 113 cc636-7
MR. H. BERKELEY

wished to make a short explanatory statement. In a recent debate he had animadverted upon the conduct at the Bristol riots of a regiment of yeomanry, which he was made in the reports, by an error no doubt, to describe as the West Somerset; whereas, in fact, he had meant the North Somerset Regiment. Now, in the Times of to-day there appeared upon this subject a most abusive and blackguard letter reflecting upon him.

LORD J. MANNERS

rose to order. He apprehended that the epithet just used was unparliamentary.

MR. H. BERKELEY

Well, at all events, the letter was most offensive. It was as follows:— Sir—Lately there appeared in your columns the 'lie official;' now I must as plainly give the lie direct to Mr. Berkeley's statement respecting the bad conduct of the West Somerset Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry in any case where the members thereof have been called upon to aid the civil power. Had he taken the trouble to refer to the statement of the Lord Lieutenant (Portman) and Sir George Grey in 1847, during the time of the bread riots in this county, he certainly would not have had the unblushing impudence so to have misrepresented facts. One thing is certainly established, that the imaginative powers of the hon. Gentleman (having, as in the recent debate, a total disregard for truth) are of that order which generally tends in the long run to bring odium on the originator, rather than injury to the parties to whom he re ferred. With regard to the Bristol riots, his statement of the conduct of this regiment is a pure fiction, as not a single member on that occasion received marching orders.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, JOHN CHAPPIE. In reply lie had only to say, that he had never mentioned the West Somerset Yeomanry at all. He was advised that the letter was a decided breach of the privileges of the House; but as he found he could only call the editor of the Times, and not the writer of the letter, to the bar, he would take no steps in that direction, but would merely observe that after the explanation which he had given, the writer of the letter would—if a man of proper feeling—be sorry for the expressions which he had used. If he were not so, then he was a low ruffian, whom lie would only I condescend to treat with contempt.

MR. PINNEY

having held a commission in the West Somerset Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry for some years, wished to say a few words. From the reports which were given in some of the public newspapers, the yeomanry considered that the hon. Member for Bristol had made statements impugning the alacrity with which they had assembled when called out in aid of the civil power. In justice to the West Somerset Yeomanry, he ought to say that when he held a commission in that regiment they were twice called out in aid of the civil power, and on both occasions received the thanks of the Lord Lieutenant, who called them out for the promptitude with which they obeyed the call, arid the assistance which they rendered to the civil authorities on those occasions.

Subject dropped.