2-791-498 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Scene in Privy Gardens, Whitehall, on Sunday last, 27 April 1844. '...considerable alarm was occasioned in various parts of Westminster by the appearance of a cow, which had escaped from its owners...and which, being followed by a crowd of boys, was driven to madness, indiscriminately attacking all those who attempted to oppose its course. For nearly two hours did the wretched animal attempt to outrun its pursuers...the poor cow, then nearly exhausted, ran down Parliament-street, towards the Treasury, at which time there could not have been less than 2000 persons following it, shouting and hallooing in a disgraceful manner. Avoiding Whitehall, the poor beast turned into Privy-gardens, and finding the garden-gate of the Premier (Sir Robert Peel) standing open, immediately took refuge therein, to the no small alarm of the attendants in the hall'. From "Illustrated London News", 1844, Vol I.