Do you remember  ?     …         Fribourg and Pontet  …History No. 2

Mr. Pontet is now in trouble with the law.

             1831

SPECIAL CONSTABLES.-----On Yesterday week,  Mr. Pontet, of Cockspur-Street, snuff purveyor to his late Majesty, appeared at Bow Street, to account for his having refused to be sworn as a special constable for the parish of St. Martin.   MrPontet said that the reason he refused to be sworn in was, that he had no one to protect his house at night but himself, and if he were ordered to act elsewhere as constable, his property would be left entirely unprotected in the event of riot and disorder.- Mr. Minshull observed, that if all persons were to stay at home and defend their houses, public property would be left at the mercy of mobs, because it was apparent that one man, or even twenty men, could make no stand in a house attacked by 200 or 300 persons.   The object of making special constables was to afford protection to all.- Mr. Minshull informed him, that he had incurred a penalty of 5 pounds by his refusal, and if the parish officers chose to press it, he must inflict it.-    The overseers said they had no wish to press it, and Mr. Pontet withdrew.