Fifth Of November Celebration. TO THE EDITOB OF THE TIB!ES. Sir,-I venture to trespass Upon your spaco in order to sty a word in defence of the good name of the people of Lewes. Your correspondent " Decenoy," referring to the Salvation Army riots at Brighton and Worthing, states that the way in which the Gunpowder Plot anniversary is celebrated in our town is a still greater evil, snd styles if even "lOntrageous rufflanism." Novw, Sir, I will only poini to the reports in the publio press for tieveral years past ix order to show that " Decency " has most unfairly stated the matter, and that he has grossly exaggerated the facts It is well known that the anniversary of Gunpowder Plot ii celebrated in Lewes on an extensive scale,but I am prepare to prove, if necessary, that for many years there has beer no rioting or anything approaching a disturbance ; and the police authorities of the town havo on several occasions pub. lioly expressed their satisfaction with the organization ol the demonstration, and the peaceablo and orderly way in which it is carried out. Mloreover, I might remind *' De cenoy " that some years ago, when an epidemic was prova lent in the town, the promoters of the proceedings unani. mously decided to postpone the celebration until l2eii Year's Eve, and the streets on that occasion were as quiet as on other nights, not even a single Irework being dis. charged. " Decency " asserts that ?1,000 a year is sub- scribed by the inhabitants to pay the expenses, and that the money is given through fear. l, Sir, say that this is a deliberate mis-statement. The money is most freely con. tributed, and instead of being ?1,000, I doubt if it is ?100, at all events, vory little more. The majority of the in. babitants approve of the proceodings, and heartily join in the fun. As for the *-re of considerable magnitude caused last year," it was but a few torches belonging to one of the societies vhich cauglht hre in a small shed, distant many yards from any other property. That accidents have oc- curred it would be absurd to deny. But they have been wonderfully few. I can only call to mind two of a serious nature during the last seven or eigbh years, and one of these was entirely owing to the person's own carelessness. On behalf of the various societies in the town, I say that your corresndent's letter is a libel upon all those who have anythmg to do with the proceedings; and I freely in- vite any one, ay, even the Home Seeresary bimself,to visit our old town ne;;t 5th November, and )uIge if such be not the case. I am. Sir. sours. &c. Lewes, Oct. 8. TRUTH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIES. Sir,-" Decency " draws a very highly coloured and exaggerated picture of our annual " Sare up," but, like Christmas, " it comes but once a year," and although to those of a serious turn of mind such a display might be " more honoured in the breach than in the observance," it causes a maximum of enjoyment for a minimum of incon- venience and annoyance. I am afraid that " Decency " is not a very old inhabitans of the county town, or he would have a by no means agreeable recollection of the interven- tion of force some years since to endeavour to put down our celebration of Guy Fawkes Day, an attempt which signaUy failed. A compromise was then happily arrived at, which has since worked well. Those in charge of and responsible for the various processions take upon them- selves to maintain order, and do do thoroughly. We have, for the size of the town, a large Volunteer force, highly effi- cient, and in addition two well drilled and active volunteer fire brigades. These may be said for the time being to have the town in their charge, and the police-are absent because they aro not required. Our old as wel as young bonfire boys thoroughly understand their business, and although the tar barrels are numerous, the squibs and crackers many and noisy, and the bonfire a large one, by skilful management the risk of fre is infinitesimal, and at 12 o'clock pre- cisely the members of the fire brigades extinguish every spark throughout the line of procession. Roughs from the neighbouring towns do not visit us, Brighton and other towns having functions and bonfires of their own on the same night. The fire to which " Decency " refers was the accidental ignition of a few torches in an outhouse. The torches were consumed, but the fire brigades and their engines were quickly on tho spot, and but little, if any, real damago was the result. Those who have no stomach for a little boisterous amusement, and think that the people should be content to take their amusements sadly, naturaly object to the mum- mery and dressings up. On the other hand, it mus1 be admitted that ' it is a poor heart that never rejoices," and boys wiU bo boys wherever they are. As the Home Secretary has quite enough on his hands, he will be wise th let sleeping dogs lie, for any att'mpt to abolish our Fiftt of November celebration would meet with serisus opposi. timn ; and so long as the so-called saturnalia are con, ducted as at present, albeit tho fun may be a lttle fast and furious, we who have reached years of discretioz may well be content to let a younger generation enjoy it' self in its own way, so long as our magistrates have on each 6th of NWovember to don their white gloves and com~ mit no one for disorderly conduct. F ~~~~V-sn ~T-hU^X-ens?n ST. Ali'S. I Lewes, Oct. 7. TO THE EDITOR OF TEE TIMES. Sir,-As you have opened your columns to a complaint from Lewes with reference to the disorderly proceedings in that town on the Fifth of November, will you allow a resi- dent in Exeter to call attention to those which:take place annually on that day in the cathedral yard of that eity I Within a stone's throw of the Guildhall and police-station, a bonfire is allowed to be built in the centre of the carriage- way immediately in front of the west end of the cathedral After 8 o'clock, when this bonfire is lighted, the whole Close is a sceno of tho wildest disorder, fireworks of all kinds being let off by youtha in the most fantastio diaw ilthough the Close is under the control of the magis' trates and local authorities as much as the High-street, theseproceedings are allowed to take place unchecked, and il the magistrates decline to take upon themselves the responsibility of putting a stop to them, I think the resi- dents in the city} and psrticularly those in the Close, many of whom are oblhged to barricade their houses to protect them from damage, may fairly ask the lHome Secretary to take such steps as may be necessary to enforce obediiace. to the law. Yours obedientlv. EXONIENSIS, VOODor 7t. TO THE EDItOR 01' THE TIM=S. Sir,-I observe in The Times of yesterday thJt tiwi correspondents, one well known as an habftud though nob resident in Lewes, attempt to traverse the facts stated in the letter signed " Decenoy";concerning the scenes enacted every year in Lewes on the evening of NSovember 6. I have referred again to "Decency's;" letter,and bear wit. ness that there iB nothing in it to controvert. It Is a ver3 temperate statement, and the factsarc notorious, includins the levying of subscriptions and the money wasted. I have no doabt that gentlemen of Mr. Willoughby'i position enjoy to the full their annual outing from th( Temple or elsewhere end their."'frolick and roaring fun.'s But how about the ordinary quiet and sober Lewes resin dents I How about the unhappy people, not, perhaps, in Mr. Willoughby's estimate, deserving of much regard, whc hate and abhor the disgusting and degrading travesty of mock religious ceremonial and devil-worship which is ax annual accomp3Diment of this most un-Engshsb carnival I WVhy cannot tnose who like in themselves to exemplify thi old adage, of Dr. Watts if I mistake not - " There is none but a madman wilt fling about fire " And tell you 'tis only i sport " go up on one of the Down hills and indulge there thei% tastes of a Guy Fawkes pandemonium ? There is only one word of warning to outsiders. Let the nobility and gentry of Sussex and of Brighton beware hovr they continue flocking in and taking up positions of privi- lege in the Lewes High-street behind curtains and in darkened frst-door rooms, lest some day or other their own quiet and peaceful habitations shouldl be invaded in some other guise witk the delights of mob law. Vrc bn - London, Oot. 10. SUSSEX MAN AfiD ft BABY. FIFTH OF NOVEMBBR CELEBRATION.
