themselves quiet, and disperse. That, however, was advice not always very palatable; for the irritation which these events had excited in the minds of the people was not likely to cease immediately. They stayed, therefore, for a considerable time before the barracks, hooting the military, and loading them with every term of vituperation that the English language could afford them. The women who were in the streets, and who had either walked or ridden to Hammersmith to see what occurred there, were particularly violent in the language which they used towards them. This circumstance rendered it necessary for the Sheriff to remain riding up and down the road till nearly eight o'clock, to prevent the accumulation of crowds before the barracks. This he was at last enabled to accomplish, partly by threats, and partly by the influence which his conduct in the affray with the Life Guards had given him with the multitude. By eight o'clock the streets about Knightsbridge were comparatively cleared, and it did not appear that any interruption of the public tranquillity occurred, save that which has been just recorded. Fortunately, there was not any person mortally wounded in this affray; though several of the people received heavy contusions, and some severe cuts. Several of the Guards were bleeding copiously from the nose and mouth, when they were called into their quarters. DISMISSAL OF SIR ROBERT WILSON, AND SKETCH OF HIS LIFE. THE gallant Major General Sir Robert Wilson considered it his duty to pay his last tribute of respect to the memory of her Majesty, and for this purpose, with many other highly respectable characters, attended the Funeral; and for that offence (as it was supposed) his Majesty thought proper to deprive him of his well-earned rank in the army, as will appear by the following particulars: "WAR OFFICE, September 17, 1821. " MEMORANDUM.-The King has been pleased to remove Major General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson from his Majesty's service." And a respectable journal of that period, thus accounts for the event. "The Gazette of Tuesday contains an official notification of Sir Robert Wilson's dismissal from the army. One rumour is, that Ministers entertained a suspicion that the obstacles so perseveringly opposed by the people on the day of the Queen's funeral to the progress of the procession along the route prescribed by Ministers, owed their origin and effect to Sir Robert's suggestions. The following, however, has been given in the military circles as the accredited cause of the dismissal : "On the day of the Queen's funeral, at the time the procession was approaching Cumber land-gate, and after the firing by the military at the people had commenced, Sir Robert Wilson rode up to Captain Oakes, then on duty near Cumberland-gate, and remonstrated with him on the conduct of the soldiers under his command, which he said was disgraceful to the regiment, and injurious to the character of the service.' Captain Oakes replied, 'Sir Robert Wilson, I know you perfectly well, but I shall enter into no discussion with you at present. I shall do my duty, and my men will do theirs.' Nothing further passed on that occasion. On the following day Captain Oakes submitted the occurrence to the other officers of the regiment, in order to obtain their opinion on the course which it became him, as a man of honour, to pursue on the subject. He. was willing to regard the affair as one of a personal nature, solely affecting himself, and only required their sanction to take immediately the proper measures to obtain reparation. The other officers of the regiment, however, refused to allow a transaction which they considered to imply a general reflection on the regiment to be adjusted on the terms of a private difference, and would not consent that Captain Oakes should take the affair upon himself in the manner proposed. A statement of what occurred at Cumberland-gate between Sir Robert Wilson and Captain Oakes was in consequence drawn up, and transmitted to the Duke of York. His Royal Highness, on |