corn was fortunately removed; and the machine | " let them be convinced, by every mark of filled with straw, and covered with some com- "dutiful attention, that their distresses are not bustible material, which was discovered after" disregarded by their wealthier ne ghbours, the fire.

"induce the lower orders--I mean those who "are not the slaves of wickedness aud vice"to look up, with proper respect, to the "higher orders, as their natural friends and

protectors; and would raise a bulwark of "strength against the disorders and divisions "which now threaten our distracted country "with ruin and confusion."

"but that they are really desirous to see On Monday evening, soon after five o'clock," them happy aud comfortable. This would the atmosphere west of Bingham was most brilliantly illuminated until half-past seven ; incendiarism was suspected to be the cause, and it was soon found to be too just a sus*picion. Five stacks of barley (the produce of 20 acres, and estimated to contain 100 qrs. of grain), and two of beaus (grown on eight acres, calculated at 40 qrs.), together with an adjoining hovel, all the property of Mr. Rich. ard Butler, a respectable farmer of Radcliffe, about four miles from Bingham, but which stood in that part of the field which is a little more than two miles from the latter town, were totally consumed. It is not doubted that the calamity was caused wilfully. Happily no lives were lost; but it was to be regretted that Mr. Sheppard, in the corn trade, from Hull (formerty of Boston), was passing near in his gig, and took up a stout farming man to render all assistance possible, and, owing to the darkness of the night, in crossing the fields to get to the fire, Mr. Sheppard was thrown out of his gig, and much hurt. He was taken up senseless, and conveyed to the village in a hopeless state.

On Monday night, between ten and eleven o'clock, a large stubble stack, belonging to Mr. Samuel Barrow, of Kegworth, was set on fire by some incendiary, and entirely consumed.

A

PAST SIX O'CLOCK. An express has just arrived from Eastry, for the military, who have left the garrison on coaches and other vehicles in the utmost haste. Another fire, they say, is now raging, and a mob is collecting near it. Other reports say a number have been taken into custody, and a rescue is ap prehended, or further mischief.

One cannot read the account of soldiers travelling post in Kent without calling to mind the words of Mr. HODGES when he presented some peti tions in favour of reform early in the month of March last or late in February. His words were these :-"In presenting "these petitions I took the opportunity "of expressing the sincere pleasure I "felt in being enabled to state that the "disturbances, which had first.com"menced in the county of Kent, had

On Friday night, the 4th instant, a barn belonging to Mr. Gilbert, farmer, of Barsby, near Melton Mowbray, was wilfully set on fire and destroyed. On the following Sunday" wholly subsided, and I trusted' that afternoon, between four and five o'clock, a barn and a stack of oats were discovered to be on fire on the premises of Mr. Black, of Ashby Folville, near Melton; they also were completely destroyed. And on Monday night

nothing would occur to re-excite them. "In saying this, however, I begged. to state my entire conviction that the continuance of the tranquillity, not of "that county only, but of the whole DOVER, Nov. 15.-Only one day has passed kingdom, mainly depended on the since the incendiary fire at the Elms Farm" successful issue of the great question and this neighbourhood has again witnessed" of reform." the midnight torch of devastation. About

several stacks of corn were fired and consumed at Seagrave, in the same neighbourhood.

four o'clock this morning a fire was seen This prediction, if it had extended to from these hills to be raging at some distance, all England, would have been verified. towards the north, and continued till some The fact is this, the farmers rose the time after daylight. We are informed that

the Parsonage house, at Eastry, near Sand-Wages to a point still short of what the wich, was the scene of the devastation, and men ought to have had; but to a point that several stacks of corn were consumed. which they could not without ruin It is also reported that the neighbourhood of Eastry is in a very unquiet state. "We hope the higher orders will consider, before it is "too late, that the lower classes are indeed "their brethren; and that haughtiness and contempt, which have too long been "falsely considered as marks of superior importance, will give place to the nobler feel❝ings of kiuduess and compassion. Let the poor be treated, at least, with that civility that is due from one man to another; and

maintain, without a great reduction of tithes and of taxes. From a parlia mentary reform they expected this reduction to come. Believing, as I do, that there will be no efficient reform at all, by peaceable means, they are now endea vouring to reduce the wages; and as the men do not like to be condemned to death and transported for life for rioting,

1

and for "highway robbery," in taking Two-penny Trash, No. 8, of Volume I. four copper pennies from a farmer by And the chief thing pointed out to your means of threats, or bullying; as they was a free pardon to all the labourers! do not like to be hanged for giving a who were still at home, and to bring blow, unattended by bodily harm, to an back those who had been already sent employer who comes and takes them by away, and give them a free pardon also. the collar; as they do not like these, You were upon your high horse when they resort to the silent and undetectable that advice was offered you: your horse use of that element which is proverbi- is not quite so high now; but you will ally the best of servants and the worst not adopt that measure; and yet, unless of masters, and which presents itself to you do adopt it, you will never, as I them in the knife that they carry in their told you to your faces, see the rural popockets and in the flint which they pulation in a state of content again. trample under their feet. I warned you What a grand figure you made with of the inefficacy of any other measures WILDE at your elbow, when you were than those of conciliation with regard to prosecuting Cooper and Cook, and poor this race of men, against whose revenge farmer Boyes. Can you now look at there is no defence any more than there Nottingham without thinking on Hamp is efficacy in the measures of "Charley" shire? If you can, you are thoughtless Pearson to preserve us against the cho- indeed. You came back boasting that lera morbus. It is curious that you had your Special Commissions had tranhalf a mind to prosecute me for the very quillized the country. Have they tranTwopenny-Trash which contained this quillized it? Look at the state of the warning. But, at any rate, there are the counties whence comes the intelligence fires; and though I must not say that of the blazes above-described, and then they have done good, you will hardly review your boastings in the House of disagree with me when I say that they Commons. have brought forth, subjoined to the ar- To conclude, let me once more tell ticle of intelligence from Dover, some you and your colleagues that you will observations which never would have never tranquillize the country except by been made had it not been for these fires. the measures recommended by me. The observations are very just: they are The "vigorous Ministry" to which you such as I have been in the constant habit belong have shown vigour but in two of making during the whole course of things, namely, in the Special Commismy life; but never would they have sions, and their prosecutions of the been made, had it not been for the press. The bull-frog farmers who terror excited by the fires. I have chuckled at the success of the Special counted, in the country papers, a hun-Commissions, who delighted in the dred and forty-three fires since about transportings and the hangings, begin the middle of October; and there have to feel that all did not end there; and not been forty of them mentioned in the the low and reverential bows that they London newspapers. Every farmer made to you and to WILDE, would now, leads a life of terror; and yet not a if you were to see them again, be turned single incendiary is detected. Deceived, into something which I do not choose indeed, are you and your Whig col- to describe. leagues, if you think that the labourers are ignorant with regard to what is going on in London, and with regard to the manner in which it affects their interests. It is you that are the ignorant. men, aud not they. They know very well what are the causes of their suffer

WM. COBBETT.

BRISTOL.

I INSERT here an official account, ing. The only mode of conciliation given by the Mayor of Bristol, of the which would have been effectual was late transactions in that city. He writes that mode which I pointed out to you in a letter to the Editor of the BRISTOL

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MERCURY, and sends to him for publica- immediately went to make arrangements for tion his own official account, made to getting their billets. When the officer called the Secretary of State, together with all the documents to which that account alludes. My readers will find the whole of it very interesting, especially that part which relates to the conduct of the

soldiers.

at the Council house, he was directed to the commanding officer's station, in the Collegegreen, to report himself. Shortly afterwards, an officer called at the Council-house, from Colonel Brereton, to ask for a magistrate, and was told the Colonel should hear from the Council-house in five minutes; within that

time, a call was made at the Colonel's office," in College-green. He was not at home, and Council-house, Bristol, Nov. 14. no directions could be obtained where to find Mr. Editor, A fortnight has now passed him. In about half an hour from this time, since the distressing scenes took place in the letter in the Appendix, No. 5, and also the city of Bristol, which will long markbillets for the troop, were left at the Colonel's Sunday, the 30th of October, in the memory office: the troop had, in the mean time, gone of those who witnessed them. During the in- from College-green to the livery-stables, in terval which has elapsed, the magistrates and College-street, where the 14th Light Dragoons their officers have been occupied almost with-had been stationed, and where, in the preout intermission in satisfying the numerous sence of Colonel Brereton, the same accom. claims upon their attention, which the appre-modation was offered to this troop which the hension of persons charged with offences, the 14th Light Dragoons had received there; recovery and reservation of abstracted pro- but, whilst the lights were being placed in perty, and other matters of continual and the stables, they went away and left the city. pressing occurrence, presented. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,

CHARLES PINNEY, Mayor.

Council-house, Bristol, Nov. 4.

It is hoped that the candour of by far the greatest part of their fellow-citizens has, in the mean time, spared them from the censure and reproach which others, in ignorance of the facts, and without materials for judgment, My Lord,-The jail delivery having been have thrown upon them; their complete vin- fixed for Saturday, the 29th of October, it soon dication must be left to that full and fair in- became evident to the magistrates, as well quiry by which, whether it be called down from reports circulated in the city, and pla upon them by adverse application, or may cards upon the walls, as also from paragraphs take place under any other circumstances, in the newspapers, expressing the disappro they feel that justice will eventually be done bation of the friends of reform with respect to all, and by the result of which they are con- to Sir Charles Wetherell's conduct in Parlia tented to abide. In the meantime the en-meut, that a strong public feeling would be closed copies of two letters sent by the magis- excited against him, and that this might be trates on the 4th November, one of them with expected to manifest itself on his arrival and the Appendix, to his Majesty's Secretary of during his stay in the city. The magistrates, State for the Home Department, and the other therefore, took into their consideration the to the Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's propriety of making a communication to Sir Forces, (a copy of which last letter was also Charles on the subject, and of submitting to sent to Colonel Brereton,) will serve to convey him whether, under the circumstances, it an outline of the principal circumstances as would be advisable to postpone the jail-delithey occurred, and which, it being ten days very. A deputation accordingly waited upon since the documents were transmitted to the him in London, to make this representation respective offices, the magistrates think they and ascertain his decision; and in case it may now, without impropriety, lay before the should be determined to hold the jail-delivery, public; reserving the full detail of particulars to make a communication to the Secretary of for the proper time and occasion, and wishing State, and request that a military force might to refrain altogether from comment. The be sent to assist and support the civil authori magistrates, nevertheless, consider it necessary ties in protecting the city, and preserving the to notice a letter from Captain Codrington to public peace. It having been decided upon the Secretary of State, which has been very that the jail-delivery ought to be held as generally published in the newspapers. The usual, the proposed application was at once facts appear to be these :-Captain Cod- made to your Lordship, and your Lordship rington's troop arrived soon after the firing of having assented to the views of the magis the Bishop's Palace, where some of the magistrates, but wishing to see the deputation again trates had gone from the Council-house, as stated in their letter to the Secretary of State, and had in the result been separated by the rush of the mob.

The approach of the troops, on entering the city, was communicated by the messenger who had been dispatched for them to one of the magistrates of the Council-house, who

on the subject, you were accordingly waited upon by them and Sir Charles Wetherell on the following day. Your Lordship having then sanctioned the opinion of the magistrates as to the propriety of holding the jail-delivery in the usual form, and having directed that troops should be sent to the vicinity of the city, and placed under the orders of the ma

gistrates, upon the express understanding, at the magistrates while this address was being however, that their services should not be made, one of which struck the person who required except in case of actual necessity, was standing next to the Mayor, and knocked and the failure of the civil power to maintain off his hat. But the earnest desire of the the peace, the magistrates immediately took magistrates to abstain from using force until such measures as appeared to be necessary for the last possible moment, prevented them increasing the constabulary force. from having recourse to it until some time had elapsed. About 5 o'clock, however, upon the approach of evening, the number of people appearing to be considerably increased,' and their conduct becoming greatly more violent, the doors and windows of the Mansionhouse having been attacked with stones, and several of the constables having been brought in severely wounded, the Riot Act was read, and this appearing to have no effect, an order was sent to the troops, who had been before directed to hold themselves in readiness, to come at once to the scene of action.

Upon application to the inhabitants of the several wards, their returus were insufficient for the number required, and such deficiency was immediately supplied by engaging hired constables for the purpose; the whole, with the sheriffs' officers, amounted to about 300 men. Ou Thursday, the 27th, the magistrates issued and published the address contained in the Appendix, No. 1. On the 29th, the Sheriffs met the Recorder at 10 in the forenoon, (being much earlier than the usual hour,) at the distance of about one mile from the Guildhall, and much nearer to it than the usual place of meeting.

In the interval of more than half an hour, which took place before their arrival, the These precautions, which were adopted in Mayor, and those who were with him in the the hope that they might lessen the difficulties Mansion-house, were in the greatest personal of Sir Charles coming in, had not altogether danger. The people on the outside had the desired effect; the number of persons as-driven in the constables, torn up the ironsembled was much larger than upon former railing in front of the house, and with occasions, and considerable tumult and pres- stones and large pieces of timber battered sure took place. Sir Charles was assailed in the windows and window-frames and the with violent groans, hisses, and other strong panels of the doors, and were with the greatest expressions of disapprobation, and occasion-difficulty prevented from forcing a complete ally by stones thrown at him, from the time entrance, by having the windows and doors of his being first received by the sheriffs to barricaded with beds and furniture; they had his arrival at the Guildhall, and again in pro-entered into the dining-room and another ceeding from thence to the Mansion-house, room on the ground floor, and destroyed the after having completed the usual formalities contents, and had made such a breach in the of reading the charter and adjourning the large street-door, as enabled them to rake and Court. In passing from one place to another, sweep the hall with stones and large bars of the constables experienced great pressure and wood; and they had, as it appears, provided annoyance, and were frequently struck with and placed straw in the dining-room for the stoues, and several of them were considerably apparent purpose of setting fire to the house. wounded. Upon the appearance of the soldiers, the peoThey, however, performed the duty assigned ple withdrew from the attack, but did not disto them, and Sir Charles reached the Mansion-perse; and directions were given to Colonel house in perfect safety, about noon. The Brereton, who came to the magistrates for crowd assembled in front of the Mansion-orders, to get the streets cleared; they, howhouse continued there for some hours, with-ever, still continued to occupy the courts of out any indication of riot, except by expressing the adjoining houses and the corners of the their disapprobation as they before had done, square, near the Mansion-house, in consideraand by occasional skirmishes which took place ble numbers, throwing stones at the windows when the constables endeavoured to apprehend and at the 14th Dragoons, two of whom were persons in the act of throwing stones, or to brought in wounded. Colonel Brereton came disperse those who showed a disposition to be in from time to time to report to the magismore forward than the others. This state of trates, and it appeared, from his statement, things having continued until nearly dusk, that the people were in very good humour, the numbers from time to time varying, and that he had been shaking hands with them their behaviour being occasionally more or until his own arm was tired, that their less tumultuous, and it appearing some of them number was lessening, and that he should had, in the mean time, provided themselves disperse them by merely riding the troops with sticks, the Mayor, accompanied by the about. It appeared, however, to the magismagistrates, went out in front of the Mansion-trates, that their number was rather increasing house and addressed the people, remonstrating than diminishing, and that their conduct was with them on the impropriety of their conduct, tumultuous and violent, as they still continued pointing out to then the danger of persisting in it, earnestly entreating them to disperse and go home quietly, and stating to them the necessity of the magistrates using stronger measures unless this recommendation should have the desired effect. Stones were thrown

to assail the house by throwing stones, and attempted to force their way into the kitchen and other parts of the building; and the magistrates considered it necessary to have the people dispersed. Colonel Brereton was asked if he had any directions which prevented him

morning, when a reinforcement of troops might be expected. Upon the arrival of the Mayor at the Guildhall, a notice was issued, apprising the citizens that the Riot Act had been read, as stated in the Appendix, No. 2, and also a notice, Appendix, No. 3, requesting a meeting of the citizens at the Guildhall, to assist in restoring the peace of the city. The Mayor also gave notice that Sir Charles Wetherell had left the city, which circumstance took place soon after the first attack upon the Mansion-house, Sir Charles having retired from it to a house at some distance, and, by the advice of the magistrates, withdrawn from the city.

from acting under the orders of the magis-slaughter. The Colonel said it would be bet trates, and answered that his orders were to ter to keep the mob in temper until the next be under their directions; upon which he was told that the magistrates required him to clear the streets. The people were soon after driven from the square, without any cut or wound being inflicted; and they retreated to the neighbouring streets, in oue of which the soldiers of the 14th Dragoons were exposed to great annoyance by being pelted with stones, and being unable to follow the people with effect, as they retreated across the quay to the ships, the lamps having been put out, and it being quite dark. Upon one of the officers of the 14th Dragoons coming in to complain of this, and stating that the troops would be uselessly sacrificed, and asking for permission to fire, one of the special constables offered to go About 11 o'clock intelligence was brought with a party of 25 men, if they could be sup-to the Guildball, that the mob were proceedported by the soldiers, and dislodge them:ing in considerable force to the city Bridewell, but this was given up upon Colonel Brereton's with a declared purpose of setting at liberty suggesting that, in his opinion, they would soon become quiet, and go to their homes, if they were unmolested, aud saying he would be answerable for the peace of the city, and would patrol it during the night.

The magistrates recommended the sheriffs to call out the civil power of the county, and requested Captain Shute, of the Bedminster troop of North Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry, to collect as many of his troops as he could in readiness by the next day.

some prisoners who had been taken into custody and committed thereto on the Saturday. At this time the special constables (being principally tradesmen of the city) who had been on duty from 8 o'clock on the Saturday morning, had returned to their houses, and only a few of the citizens had answered the Mayor's request by coming to the Guildhall, and those who did attend expressed their readiness to act if they were supported by the troops, but at the same time their unwillingIt appears that, during the night, there hadness to risk their lives unless they could be so been some further insult and violence towards supported. At this time Colonel Brereton apthe 14th Dragoons at some distance from the plied to the magistrates for their authority to square, which in the result led to a man being send the two troops of the 14th Dragoons out shot. Some few persons continued in the of town, stating that the mob were so exaspe square all night: early in the morning they rated with them, in consequence of their began to collect rapidly, and by 7 o'clock there having fired, that the lives of every man of were many hundreds assembled. Colonel them would be sacrificed if they remained. Brereton called at the Mansion-house, and He was distinctly told by the magistrates ordered home the few soldiers who remained that they could not authorise or consent there; shortly after which, the people com- to this, and that if he sent them away, menced another attack upon the Mansion- he must be personally responsible. He also house, and tore down the barricades which had stated that those troops, as well as the 3d been fixed during the night, and entered in Dragoon Guards, were harassed and fatigued, full force into the house. The Mayor and one as well men as horses, and could not render of the Sheriffs with difficulty escaped over the any assistance, or take auy duty, for some roof, and got to the Guildhall. The troops time. The magistrates remonstrated with him were recalled; and the people again with- against this proposal, as the city would be left drew, but retained possession of the cellar,in a defenceless state; and as the Colonel still and drank the liquors. About half-past ten insisted on the absolute necessity of the mea the 14 h again returned to their quarters, be- sure, be requested the magistrates to point out ing followed by the mob, and pelted with quarters for the men, at the distance of two or stones, which they returned by firing several three miles from the city, which the magistrates shots in College-green; not withstanding therefore did, informing him, at the same which the mob continued to pelt and insult time, they could not relieve him of his rethem up to their very quarters. The Riot Act sponsibility in this respect, or be considered had been read three times by one of the alder-as sanctioning, in any manner, the proposed men, who remained on the spot, and addressed removal of the troops. He insisted also on the mob, and entreated them to return to the necessity of refreshing the 3d Dragoon their houses; and soon afterwards the alder-Guards, and it is believed ordered most of man, in a conversation with Colonel Brereton, them to quarters for that purpose. In a short requested the troops might fire; but the Co-time after this (the mob having carried Bride lonel said that the troops would not and should well by force, and liberated the prisoners, and not fire, it would be of no avail, and the mob set it on fire, and being about, as was alleged, would be so infuriated that they might over- to proceed to the city Jail for the like purpose), come the troops, and the city be given up to several citizens having by this time assembled