| Citation |
MG-A(G.770.019
19 Jul 1770:3232,3233 (1297)
London, May 8. Extract of a Letter from a gentleman in
Wiltshire.
Thursday the last day of the sessions, part of the 5th,
38th, 50th and 56th regiments of foot did in a most daring
and insulting manner (contrary to custom at the time of
sessions) keep patrolling the street, with drums beating and
fifes playing. At the time the court was sitting they
continued beating their drums, &c. all along the front of
the town hall, or court house, &c. After the business of
the court had been impeded for some time, Sir E Bayntun, and
the rest of the justices ordered the constables to desire
all the soldiers to desist from beating their drums and
playing their fifes before the court, but the insolence of
the soldiers was such, that instead of paying due respect to
the order of the court, they made no apology, but kept on
beating their drums and playing their fifes; and, in my
humble opinion, if the court had offered to punish them for
their disobedience, we might have had another Boston affair
in the town of Devizes.
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