From the Belfast News-Letter of 7 February 1823, an evocative description of scenes at the Four Courts on the first day of the trial of Henry Handwich, George Graham and others for conspiracy to assault the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by bottle-throwing at the Theatre Royal, Hawkins Street, during a performance of Goldsmith’s ‘She Stoops to Conquer:’

“At an early hour the avenues in the Four Courts exhibited all the parade and bustle of an election – cars and carriages – gigs and equestrians moved swiftly along the quay, vying with each other who should first attain the destined and much-wished for goal. The drivers whipped and bellowed – the equestrians spurred and galloped at full speed; while the foot passengers moving with quick step, seemed less anxious for the preservation of their lives than the gratification of their curiosity.

The comic interest of this bustling scene was much heightened by the infusion of a vast quantity of forty-shilling freeholders who moved along on a mission essentially different from that of the sober citizen; but who pursued, for a time, with noisy riot, the same route. –

The show of wigs and gowns was terrific in the extreme. The Barristers had assembled long before the opening of the doors, and grouping together they speculated and conjectured on the probable result of the trial.

The most unparalleled disorder and outrage took place this day on the opening of the Court, owing to some informality in the Officers of the Court, who had not made due preparation, when bags, wigs, silk and stuff gowns, coats &c. were torn, and it was only at length we obtained, in the midst of darkness, a glimmering of light to give an account of this most important day’s proceedings.”

Readers of previous posts may remember that the bottle, which did not break, was acquired by an eccentric member of the Law Library, who enjoyed showing it off to his colleagues.

The vibrant and crowded Richmond Bridge and Inns Quay shown in the accompanying image is characteristic of the appearance of the early 19th century Four Courts during trials of popular interest.

Image Source: Unknown.