Item Info

Accession Number: 87-1590
Physical Description: [1] page
Material: paper
Transcription:

Tavistock House
        Fourth July 1855

Dear Leech.

  I saw Egg yesterday, and he told me what you had told him you saw of the Police in Hyde Park[1]. I cannot rest—I really cannot—without urging you in the strongest manner, to write a letter to the Times[2] to day with your name and address[3], stating the plain fact.[4] It is what a public and known man is bound to do.
  Ever Faithfully
  CD

MssDate: Fourth July 1855
Media Type: Letters
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

 [1]  Lord Robert Grosvernor having declared in the Commons (26 June) his intention pursue his Sunday Trading Bill (see To Miss Coutts, 27 June), an assembly of protesting working-men was dispersed in Hyde Park on 1 July with much brutality. The Times, 2 July, dismissing Lord Robert and “this Sabbatarian tomfoolery”, wondered why, instead of six policemen keeping carriages out, 600 were used to attack the crowd. About 70 people were brought to Marlbororough Street Magistrates’ Court on the  Monday: after a delay of seven hours, the Home Office directed most of them to be released (The Times, 3 July). In the Commons, Grosvenor said he would ask the House for the discharge of his Bill at its next reading.
[2] Leech’s letter, dated 6 July, appeared on 7 July.
[3]Leech referred to himself “as one pretty well acquainted with London and its people”. The Times had published letters on 3 and 4 July protesting against Police brutality.
[4]Identifying himself as one of the “quiet spectators” the previous Sunday, Leech said he would not have written but for the complacency of the Home Secretary (Sir George Grey), who in the Commons on 5 July had refused a Committee of Enquiry into police conduct on the grounds that redress could be had through the courts: Sir George stressed that each policeman could be identified by letter and number. 

Recipient: Leech, John, 1817-1864
Provenance: Gift of Mrs. D. Jacques Benoliel, 12/6/54.

Bibliography:

Volume 7, p. 666, The Letters of Charles Dickens, edited by Madeline House & Graham Storey; associate editors, W.J. Carlton…[et al.] 

Country: Creation Place Note:Tavistock House
Country:England
City/Town/Township:London

Call Number: DL L516j 1855-07-04
Creator Name: Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 - Author