Charles Francis Adams to William H. Seward, July 26, 1866

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

Sir: The west end of this great metropolis has been this week the scene of host unusual popular excitement, on account of the decision of the authorities to close the gates of Hyde Park at five o’clock on Monday last. The object if this extraordinary step was to shut out the organizations engaged in the support of reform from holding a public meeting there, which had been forbidden by the police, but which they had nevertheless determined to persevere in, at least until actually turned off from the gates, with a view to bringing the question of right into the courts.

Unfortunately for all the parties, the remarkable spectacle of the assembly of large divisions of the police, and their march in military style along the streets to the point of concentration, had so strongly roused the curiosity of myriads of the floating proletary population, ever on the watch for an excitement, that by the hour designated a great multitude had assembled in front of the principal gates. Hence, when the reform associations made their appearance and experienced the expected refusal, the weakness of the lines of iron railing extending on a street running to the southward had already been tested by these idlers. The immediate consequence was that in a short time the rails, together with the stone coping to which they were fastened, were laid prostrate for almost the entire length of the street. The crowd then rushed in from every point in such numbers, and spread so far and wide, that it was impossible for the comparatively small force prepared for the emergency to think of further measures of prevention. An attempt to have recourse to the military force nearest at hand only served to show the weakness of the device, and to excite the derision of the populace. There seems to have been no bad temper, for the cavalry were received with cheers, whilst for the police were reserved the manifestations of disgust. The end of it was that the people kept their ground all night, and the government prohibition proved utterly powerless.

The news of this event, spread abroad in the journals of the next morning, had the effect of multiplying the numbers of people anxious to witness the scene of the struggle. The magistrates were busy all day in inflicting penalties on some of the offenders, but no possibility remained of regulating the ingress into the park, so that crowds of idlers continued standing from noon till night, which were heavily re-enforced after dark by multitudes of laborers and artisans released from the day’s work. Occasionally portions of them showed signs of a disposition to mark their disapproval of certain individuals who had made themselves obnoxious from their remarks on the reform bill, by attacking their windows; but, with the single exception of Lord Elcho’s, I believe they did little actual injury. Some damage was done by mistake. At the same time it cannot be denied that the aspect of things was growing more and more grave. Last evening the multitude was greater than ever. The reform associations now felt themselves called upon to interpose. After a conference of the leaders with the head of the Home Office, Mr. Spencer Walpole, in which the latter agreed to promote the submission of the question of right to the courts, they exerted themselves with success to persuade the mob to disperse.

Thus the matter stands to-day; but it is very certain that the result is far from satisfactory to the governing classes. * * * * *

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,