UNDER THE MENDIPS.

A TALE

By Emma Marshall

Author of In Colston's Days, Life's Aftermath,
In the East Country, &c.

SIXTH THOUSAND

Bristol Harbour.

LONDON
SEELEY AND CO., LIMITED, ESSEX STREET, STRAND
1892

[Pg iv]
[Pg v]

PREFACE

I am greatly indebted to that very interesting book, "Bristol Past andPresent," for the details of the Bristol Riots, in the autumn of 1831,which are introduced into this story. It closes with the birth of thenew year, 1832; and therefore the special commission appointed to trythe prisoners does not come within its limits.

But anyone who may be interested in the fate of Colonel Brereton, may,by referring to "Bristol Past and Present," and other contemporaryrecords, learn his sad and most lamentable end.

Feeling the evidence of the Court Martial was entirely against him, heforestalled his sentence with his own hand, and shot himself through theheart, on Thursday night, January the 14th, 1832.

With all the many complications of Colonel Brereton's position it is notfor us to deal, nor judge him harshly for apparent failure in duty at atime when the hearts of many brave men sank within them, for looking onthese things which were coming[Pg vi] on their ancient city. But this, hislast act, must ever awaken one of the saddest memories of those sadtimes, casting a shadow over the name of an English officer, andpresenting the most painful and pathetic picture of what a man may do,who, in a moment of despair and helplessness, cannot cry to the strongfor strength.

Woodside, Leigh Woods,
Clifton, Bristol
Nov. 1, 1885.
[Pg vii]

CONTENTS.