Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

T

taken no part in the disturbances, was shot through the arm as he was standing upon the and quay, on the opposite side.

[ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]

the yard and the Governor's house, and were busily employed in throwing every moveable article into the new river, and as the tide was Immediately after these occurrences, Colo- fast ebbing, all was carried off by the stream. nel Brereton rode down to the square, follow-The caravan used for conveying the prisoners ed by a considerable number of men and boys, to the Guildhall was launched into the water who cheered him on his way thither. He as-entire, and thither also were consigned the sured them that there should be no more Governor's books and the apparatus for confiring, that the 14th should be immediately structing the drop. The rioters, we have sent out of the city, and again exhorted them heard, procured hammers from to return to their homes. ship-yard, and with them the on the iron doors of the

This was about eleven o'clock, and it was

locks

truly awful to reflect on the scenes which were smashed to attoms. Therent wings were

passing at the time when service was com-
mencing in the churches in the neighbour-
beod.

In the square, with the exception of the
scenes of drunkenness which were still going
nothing particular transpired until the
evening, with the exception that an individual
mounted the statue of King William, and fix
ing a tri-coloured cap on a long pole, pro-
nounced aloud, The Cap of Liberty !" The
soldiers were drawn upiti front of the Mansion
house, and the mob seemed nowise disposed
to molest then, After a while, however, they
manifested a restlessness for action, and a party,
by no means numerous, proceeded to the

BRIDEWELL

1

prisoners were now released, and the scenes which followed were beyond description. Many of them, both male and female, stripped off their prison clothes, and proceeded on their way almost in a state of nudity. As they passed along, the mob cheered them and followed after them with exultations. Many of them met their friends on the outside, and it is not easy to depict the extravagant joy with which they mutually embraced each other.

After the prisoners had been liberated, amounting altogether, exclusive of debtors, to more than one hundred, the next step taken was that of setting the prison on fire; and a black handkerchief having been tied to the weathercock on the top of the porter's lodge, over the gateway, it seemed to be the sigual for commencing operations, for immediately after dense clouds of smoke were seen to issue fromevery part of the building. The flames were seen first to break out from the treadmill, which burnt with fury until it was quite consumed. In about an hour, the Governor's house, over which was the chapel, was completely enveloped in flames, and the reflection on the heavens was grand and terrific. The wings, however, being built almost exclusively of stone and iron, with iron roofs, were but little injured by fire; though the rioters left behind them every mark of wanton outrage. During the proceedings, and while the prisoners were in course of li liberation, a party ay in number, of the 3d, Guards, about twenty arrived, but the mob appeared nothing intimidated; on the contrary, they cheered the troops, who acknowledged the compliment by taking off their caps, and almost immediately after turned round and departed. As soon as the work of destruction was here completed, the rioters divided themselves into parties, the one proceeding to the

for the purpose of rescuing the prisoners, On thereal, they lost no time in procuring sledge hammers from the nearest smith's shop, and immediately proceeded to beat in the doors. The keeper (Mr. Evaus), we have een informed, had just sat down to dinner when he received the visit of the unwelcome intruders. Having succeeded in opening the ders, they became apprehensive that the large folding gates which at night shut up the thoughfare, would be enclosed upon them, and they directly set about removing them. This they accomplished with most astonishing cility, and disposed of them by throwing nem over the bridge into the floats they then Reeded to liberate the prisoners, and, ing accomplished their end, they forthwith set the building on fire, During their operation not the slightest molestation was offered them. This happeted about two o'clock. About the same time a stronger party, comprising, indeed, almost the whole body, proceeded to jods wall THE NEW JAIL, strong-built, modern building, having been erected about ten years since at a cost of nearly 100,0001, When we first heard of this move Beat we regarded any attempt upon the pri on as the wildest scheme that could have b imagined; but we lost no time in repairto the spot. The scene which there pre ted itself, will never be effaced from our memory. Along the New Cut, in front of the , a dense mass of rioters had assembled; d on the opposite bank of the river, and in-o'clock, to the deed, wherever the eye could range, the people were posted in thousands. The mob had Lawford's-gate, which in a short time was already succeeded in forcing an entrance into broken into, the prisoners all released, and

[graphic]

(1

[ocr errors]

2

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

oll TOLL-HOUSES, at Prince's street Bridge, another to the one at the wells, and another to the one at St. Philip's. These, in the present state of things, were considered minor affairs, and were speedily in flames. The tenants, we were informed, had liberty given them to remove their effects. While these were being destroyed, the fire at the prison raged greatest fury. They then set off, about seven

3

with

GLOUCESTER COUNTY PRISON.

the

1

THE BISHOP'S PALACE, Canons' Marsh, and having effected au entrance, immediately commoueed the work of destruction. A few individuals, however, were hastily collected, and for a while suc ceeded in staying their diabolical desigus. Orders were then sent for the military, who had been guarding

THE MANSION-HOUSE,

1872

ashes." The Right Reverend the Bishop, who happened to have been in town during the last ten or twelve days, removed out of the city about the middle of the day; and we hear that the most valuable of his effects had also been removed, as a measure of precaution. He preached, we believe, at the cathedral in the inoruing.

1

THE CUSTOM-HOUSE,

the building also fired. Here the flames were as appalling as at the New Jail. At the same time also a party proceeded to Bridewell, which had only partially been destroyed, and kindled up the wing occupied by the keeper; so that the three prisons were in flames at the same instant. There was now not even the appearance of a check to the licentiousness of the mob, nor indeed had there been since the firing of the soldiers instruction of the Mausion-house, it was hoped But to return to the square: after the dethe morning; but they now seemed to revel that the fury of the mob would have been apin a consciousness of their security. cordingly a mere handful of the miscreants The military, having no orders to act otherAc-peased; but, unfortunately, it was otherwise. proceeded to wise than as mere spectators, were, immediately after their arrival, withdrawn, and we altogether few in number, in protecting the believe joined the remainder of their comrades, Council-house, which it was expected would be the next public building attacked. It was at least hoped that the house adjoining the Mansion-house, if not protected from the flames, would be the last that would be permitted to be destroyed. But we blush for the to repair for the protection of the Bishop's like conduct which followed. The rioters honour of our city, while we'record the fiendresidence. They had no sooner, however, left couceived the plan of firing the adjoining for that purpose, than the mob, who had all day houses, and by twelve at night, the whole meditated the total destruction of the Man-mass, from the Mansion-house to the middle sion-house, commenced operations, and in a very short period set it on fire, commencing avenue, including in the kitchen under the banqueting-room. On the arrival of the troops at the Bishop's and all the back building, in Little King Palace, they found things there tolerably se- street, was one immense mass of fire. Thi cure; but the flames which even then rose Custom-house, as may readily be supposed a from the Mansion-house too plainly indicated was a large building, and the expertness o that they had gone to the protection of the the wretches in lighting it up here, it is certain one place at the expense of the destruction of proved the destruction of many who were the other. They, however, turned back again, ranging the upper apartments. Many of them and, by the time of their return to the square, were seen as they approached the windows to the reflection on the opposite side of the Froom drop into the flames, and others, among whon made it apparent that, by their endeavours to protect both places, each had been sacrificed from the windows. The latter was carried to was a female, threw themselves in desperation to the fury of the incendiaries. When they the infirmary, where she has since died arrived in the square, they found the whole of Again the hope was raised that the dreadfu the back premises of the Mansion-house work would now cease; but it was in vain. A burning with fury, and the apartments in the small band, chiefly boys, who seemed to go front rooms occupied by wretches facilitating about their work as if they had been regularly the destruction of the building, by firing the trained to the hellish employment, proceeded apartments simultaneously. The infatuated to extend the devouring element, preceding creatures, no less intoxicated with their suc- their operation by giving half an hour's notice cessful career than with liquor, pressed for- to the inmates to retire. The windows were ward to the windows and waved their hand-afterwards smashed in, the furniture thrown kerchiefs, cheering, at the same time, in exultation of the final accomplishment of their designs on the ill-fated building. We are almost certain, however, that many of them paid the forfeit of their lives for their criminal temerity. From the rapidity of the progress of the flames, it is supposed that some were cut off from a retreat, and that they thus met with an untimely end. The fire spread with most surprising quickness, aud in about 30 minutes the roof fell in, and, together with the whole front, came down into the street

with a tremendous crash.

By this time the fire at the Bishop's Palace raged thoughout the whole pile of building, which, in a short period, was reduced to

with a rapidity truly astonishing. In this out and carried off, and the premises ignited manner they swept away one whole side, and then proceeded to another; commencing with THE EXCISE OFFICE

at the corner. this time, three o'clock in the morning, would To follow up the account from only be a repetition of the details at which out heart already sickens. Unrestrained as were the flames, they extended to the houses of the parallel streets; and, as in this quarter of the city are many of the principal wine and spirit scarcely be conceived. stores, the fury of the devouring element can

stroyed forty-two dwelling-houses and wareAltogether there have been completely de

[ocr errors]

houses, exclusive of the Mansion-house, Excise-office, Custom-house, the four Tollhouses, the three Prisons, and the Bishop's Palace.

believe, originated in the utter ignorance of the Magistrates of the state of the city. The shops bad remained unopened, and the military were ordered to clear the streets; an orNot the least painful reflection is, that, after der which was fulfilled to the letter by a party the destruction of the Custom-house, the re- of the troops which had experienced some mainder of the mischief was owing to the rough treatment, and had in consequence wanton fury of a truly insignificant number of fired upon the people on the previous day. wretches almost exclusively boys. We saw The sight of this useless piece of duty was three urchins, apparently not more than ten peculiarly distressing; nothing was to be seen eleven years of age, who, when their re-ou every side but unoffending women and treat from the attic floor of one of the houses children, running and screaming in every dihad been cut off, and while the flames were rection, while several men, apparently on bursting out from beneath them, coolly their way to work, were deliberately cut at, damber along a coping, projecting not more several seriously injured, and some killed. A fan three inches, and, entering an adjoining poor fellow who attempted to take refuge in bose, immediately set fire to a bedstead and a house from which we were just emerging fiture, From the time we have named, on business connected with the restoration of any of the older ones gave themselves up tranquillity, was wounded at our side. Yet holly to drinking and revelling in the scene worse effects might have followed this illand them. We feel certain that, if fifty advised measure if the soldiers had not been only could have been collected, more shortly after withdrawn from their bloody than one-half of the property could have been work, and the streets principally manned efectually protected. But the whole city with the inhabitants, armed with good strong med panic-struck, and but few cared ex- staves, and having strips of white linen tied cept for their personal safety. Ou this night, round the left arm; a regulation suggested atleast, it may be truly said, that the city was by the Magistrates to distinguish them, supgiven up to plunder. In the heart of the town, posing the interposition of the military should young fellows, in parties of four, five, or six, be again required. Several troops, however, repared to liquor-shops and public-houses, at of soldiers, together with the 11th Regiment the time intoxicated, knocked at the doors of Foot, continued to arrive during the day; and demanded drink or blood. In some in-and in the course of the afternoon, intellistances we know that they broke into pre-gence, having arrived that there was some mises, helped themselves, and insulted the disturbance in the neighbourhood of Lawowners. And yet military, brought for our rence-hill, a party galloped off, and secured especial protection, could not act for want of four countrymen in the very act of robbing a orders! Oh, shame! shame! Few as they house. With these exceptions, we are happy were in numbers, had they been employed with to state that no further collision with the becoming energy, we should not have to de- military took place. pare the disgrace of our city.

beads than men.

Towards the evening, the flames in several Morning dawned on such a scene as had houses in the square broke out afresh, and er before been witnessed in this place. part of the pavement in King-street was forced The flames, it is true, were subsiding, but the up by the heat arising from some brandy ppearance of Queen-square was appalling in which was burning in the vaults beneath, but the extreme. Numerous buildings were re-the engines being in readiness, no further inced to a heap of smoking ruins, and others jury occurred. An attack on the shipping vere momentarily falling in; while around, having been anticipated, the ships' bells were a various parts, lay several of the rioters, rung, signal guns were fired, and every thing the last stage of senseless intoxication was prepared for an attack. The Earl of Liver and with countenances more resembling pool was moored in the centre of the river, Meantime the soldiers, and mounted with guns, an attack on her in who had been ordered out of town, were particular having been expected; but happily remanded; and the Magistrates, having these anticipations were not realised. It being assembled, came at length to a decision, thought possible, that if the rioters commenced aled out the posse comitatus, and made an their attempts, they would, in all probability, application to Mr. Herapath, through the endeavour to reduce the streets to total darkeam of Mr. Under-Sheriff Hare, for the ness, by cutting off the gas-pipes, the magisdistance of the Bristol General Union. Mr. trates issued a notice, recommending the inHerapath, their Vice-President, called the habitants to illuminate their houses, a recomembers together by public notice; a course mendation which was pretty generally comwhich we understand he had already deter-plied with. The churches, also, were lit up, mined on; and in a short time a large body and the posse comitatus of the several parishes of them had collected together; previous to were stationed in them, a constant guard ich Mr. Herapath was invested, by the being kept up, and relieved at stated intervals; Magistracy, with an authority equal to that the Members of the Union paraded the streets of the Under-Sheriff. We are sorry to have during the whole of the night. These mearecord another piece of folly, wanton sures will be the undoubted means cruelty we would call it, if it had not, as we restoring public tranquillity; already have

of

376

they effected much, for up to the hour of our eleven years of age. In the same place there
publication, we have heard of no further out-is also a considerable quantity of furniture,
rage: and we cannot but regret that the want
of commou energy in the magistracy should
have prevented the having recourse to the
same measures early on the Sunday morning,
since it is evident that the actual destruction
of property might have been as easily pre
vented as the places have been saved which
were only marked for destruction.

mostly in a shattered condition, which was
found in the residences of the prisoners, many
of whom were discovered in a state of ina
toxication, and in the act of enjoying them-
selves over the wine which they had purloined
from the cellars in the square. There is now
evidently a re-action; and, in their turn, the
We hear that all sorts of stratagems have been
plunderers have been seized with a panic.
resorted to by them to dispossess themselves
of their ill-gotten booty.

The total number of killed and wounded, as far as we have been able to ascertain, is as follows:-Four men and one woman, the latter in consequence of severe bruises received in one of the houses where she had for the truth of the statement, that seventeen We have also heard, but we cannot vouch been engaged in plunder; a little boy also, of the ringleaders in the outrages of Sunday who was shot through the bowels, is not ex- are confined in the most secure wing of the pected to recover; fifty-one other persons, jail, the dilapidated building being now guarded including four women, have also received in- by a strong body of soldiers. The persons aljuries, some of them very severe oues, princi-ready apprehended were principally found in pally sabre wounds; a few in consequence Back-street, Great-gardens, Lewin's-mead, of the parties leaping from the burning houses. In this account we enumerate the cases taken to the public hospitals only. Many lives were lost in the flames, and several persons who received injury having been taken to their own homes, we have no meaus of acquiring the requisite information respecting

them.

(From the Second Edition of the same Paper.)

ONE O'CLOCK.-The narrative we have given above brought down the principal circumstances connected with the present deplorable state of our city until the hour of our going to press. Being closely pressed for time, we however found it was impossible to speak of the laudable conduct, as we could have wished, displayed throughout the night by the Members of the Political Union, acting in conjunction with the parochial authorities. The firmness and patriotism they have displayed on the present emergency, entitle them not only to the esteem of their fellow-citizens, but to the gratitude of the whole country. A stronger contrast can scarcely be conceived than the good order of the last evening presented to the uproar and confusion of Sunday night. Under their protection we may now say that confidence is restored, though the city still wears the appearance of gloom-very few shops being open, and business still being in a measure suspended. sincere pleasure in stating that they are, We have now at the present moment, employing the most efficient means to bring the plunderers and incendiaries to that justice which their crimes deserve. Being authorised by the Magistrates to search all places where they had a suspiciou any of the stolen property was secreted, and to arrest all persons in whose possession such property was found, they have already exercised that power with such success, that, at the time we write, there are confined in the Exchange no fewer than sixty individuals, men, women, and children, some of the latter (corroborating our previous statement) not more than ten or

1

Host street, Temple-street, the Pithay, and
Bedminster. We have just learned that the
52d regiment from Southampton, will arrive
here to-morrow, and the 35th was to leave
Portsmouth this morning for the same desti
nation. We regret to add that the fires are
not yet extinguished though there is no fear
of their extending beyond the premises pre- Mi
viously materially damaged.

BY THE KING.

A PROCLAMATION. of Great Britain, and more particularly in the WILLIAM, R. Whereas in divers parts. towns of Derby and Nottingham, and in the city of Bristol, tumultuous assemblages of people have taken place, and outrages of the most violent description have been committed both upon the persons and property of divers of our subjects: and whereas all the restraints of law and order have been overborne and trodden under-foot by such lawless multitudes, the mansions of individuals violently entered, pillaged, and set on fire, the ordinary course of justice forcibly interrupted, the jails for the confinement of criminals broken into and destroyed, and malefactors and persons charged. with offences let loose upon the public, to the weal, and the subversion of established Gogreat disturbance and danger of the common vernment: and whereas the welfare and hap piness of all nations do, under Divine Providence, chiefly depend upon the observance and enforcement of the law and whereas it is our firm determination faithfully to discharge the duty imposed on us, to preserve the public peace, and vigorously to exert the powers which we possess for the protection of all our subjects in the entire enjoyment of their rights and liberties; we therefore, being resolved to suppress the wicked and flagitious practices aforesaid, have thought fit, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, to issue this our Royal Proclamation, solemnly warning all

car liege subjects to guard against every attempt to violate the law, and to abstain from every act inconsistent with the peace and good order of society; and we do hereby charge and command all Sheriff, Justices of the Peace, Chief Magistrates of cities, boroughs, and corporations, and all the Magistrates Throughout Great Britain, that they do effec ly repress all tumults, riots, outrages, and breaches of the peace, within their respective risdictions; and that they do make diligent airy in order to discover and to bring to Justice the movers and perpetrators of all such atious and wicked acts as aforesaid: and He do further earnestly and sole:nnly exhort, jin, call upon, and command all our liege cjects, of all ranks and conditions, that they come forward upou the first appearance or prehension of any such disturbances as said, as they are bound by their duty to by their regard for the general interest, and by the obligation of the law, aud that they actively aiding and assisting to all Sheriff's, tices of the Peace, and other Magistrates, enforcing the law against evil doers, and protecting their fellow-subjects in enent of their property and the exercise of Leir rights, against all forcible, illegal, and tomtutional interference, contrul, or

land and Scotland; but I can give the most complete information as to the application of the crop as food for man. I have frequently had to observe, that for the feeding and fatting of oxen, sheep, pigs, poultry of all sorts, and even of horses, nothing in the world was equal to this corn. I have also, in my CORN BOOK, given very minute directions for the application of the meal, in But we various ways, as food for man. had not, when I wrote that book, any proof that this corn, grown in England, would be as good as that grown in America, or in other hot countries. We have now most ample proof on that head, and that proof I am now about to state; and to the statement I beg the reader's attention, if attention he can bestow on any-thing, with the awful transactions of Bristol in his mind! Every good Englishman feels, at this moment, as we feel while a beloved parent or child or sister lies dead in the house: all the pleasing objects around us seem to have lost their charm: our country seems, for the present, not to be worth our care: but we must again revive: having, in our This is very proper, as far as it goes; minds, strewed with sweetest flowers at I wish that it had contained a word the graves of the fallen; having betwo to sooth the people, to exhort them dewed them with our tears, and having patience. I warned LORD GREY besought God to bless their parents, gainst a long prorogation; and I do their widows, and their fatherless childimplore him to adopt quieting ren, we must again push forward in the Leasures as soon as possible. cause, and again bestow our attention on the cares, of our country.

aggression.

Given at our Court at St. James's, this secourt day of November, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, and in the second year of our reign.

GOD save the KING.

A notion, very industriously inculcatCOBBETT'S CORN. ed by the tithe and tax-eaters was, that though the corn might ripen in this ALWAYS said that I should not care country, still it would not have in it the straw about the success of even this qualities which it had in America and stat national good, unless the borough- other hot countries. If any other man ger power were abated; and, in- had introduced this corn, what a fuss ed, without that, every addition to the the tax and tithe-eaters would have ources of the country must be an evil. made with him! OLD MASSA WILBY w, however, that power must, by would have had him up for a grant, kor by crook, come down; and like JENNER; and TOM BARING (with est labour, in spite of the efforts of his muzzled and ringed bear for crest) THE LIAR and WETHERELL, will would have called on us for a grant, as e more enjoy its fruits. Therefore I he did for MACADAM, who only taught sincerely congratulate my readers what had been practised in France a the complete success of my under-hundred years before. If any man but ing with regard to this corn. I have me had introduced this corn, what now time to give an account of the praises the whole tribe of tax and titheops, raised in different parts of Eng-eaters would have bestowed on him!

C

« EdellinenJatka »