upon their antagonists, and kept them in custody all night. In the course of a strict examination next morning, it appeared that the engine-loom weavers, who were the complainants, had not only assembled in a riotous manner, and unlawfully detained several persons; but had fired into several houses, and been a terror to that part of the city, as well as disturbers of the public peace; mobs were raised by each party, and the valuable manufacture of weaving was threatened with destruction; but a timely interference of the legislature, re-established harmony among this numerous class of his majesty's subjects. It should be recollected to the honourable memory of Mr. Harley, the lord mayor, that to alleviate the distresses of the poor, and to reduce the exorbitant price of butcher's meat, he proposed and carried into effect, bounties for bringing mackerel and other fish into Billingsgate market, at cheap rates, which produced the intended benefit. But unhappily various concurrent adversities continued disaffection and discord. The ministry had been rigid in their proceedings, and the resistance they met, was encouraged and approved. Mr. Wilkes, of whom we have al ready mentioned, having resided for some years in France, without answering to the legal processes which his enemies had urged against him, was declared an outlaw. But notwithstanding the great persecution he had suffered, he determined to try the strength of his popularity. The parliament had been dissolved on the 12th of March, and the election for the city of London being appointed on the 16th, Mr. Wilkes suddenly came over, and offered himself a candidate. The other candidates were, the right honourable Thomas Harley, lord mayor, Sir Robert Ladbroke, William Beckford, esquire, Sir Richard Glyn, Barlow Tre cothick, esquire, and John Paterson, esquire. The shew of hands was declared in favour of the lord mayor, Ladbroke, Beckford and Trecothick; but a poll being demanded in favour of the other candidates, the books were immediately opened, and continued till the 23d, when the numbers for each appeared as follows; For 1,247 John Paterson, esquire · John Wilkes, esquire On the determination of the election, Mr. Wilkes returned his thanks to the hall for the suffrages he had received, complained of the exertion of ministerial influence against him, and declared his intention of standing candidate for the county of Middlesex. The election for Middlesex having been appointed on the 28th, the majority of hands appeared in favour of Sir William Beauchamp Proctor and Mr. Wilkes; but a poll being demanded in favour of Mr. Cooke, a third candidate, it was immediately commenced; and at five in the afternoon, Mr. Wilkes had polled six to one more than that gentleman; at nine o'clock the poll finally closed, and the numbers for each candidate were, The former were consequently declared duly elected. The mob on each side committed many outrages: in the procession of Mr. Wilkes's opponents, was carried a banner, on which was painted, No Blasphemer: this irritated his party, and gave rise to many affrays. At night, the advocates for Mr. Wilkes illuminated their houses, and the mob parading the streets, obliged all those to do the same who chose to prevent the demolition of their windows and houses. The windows of the Mansion House were all broken, as well as a large chandelier and some pier glasses, to the loss of many hundred pounds. The houses of Lord Bute, Lord Egremont, Sir Samson Gideon, and many others belonging to the inhabitants of the most public streets, shared the same fate; and the whole evening presented one continued scene of noise and confusion. The next morning the guards on duty at St. James's, received orders to be in readiness to march to suppress any riot that might happen: and the following day a court of common council was summoned to consider of the most proper and effectual means to prevent future riots, and to punish those who should be found guilty of the late disturbances. In consequence of which, a reward of fifty pounds was offered for the discovery of every offender, to be paid on conviction; and it was determined to prosecute them with the utmost vigour. At the same court, it was referred to the Mansion House committee to order the immediate reparation of all such damages done to that building by means of the riots and tumults. As a counterpoise to these violent proceedings, the city was honoured by the presence of the Prince of Monaco, at whose court the late Duke of York had died. The great civilities and attention which the duke had received from this prince, induced his majesty, in acknowledgment, to invite him to England. During his stay in London, the lord mayor thinking it incumbent on the city to shew their respect also, invited the prince to an entertainment at the Mansion House, On the 18th of April, the prince, with a great number of the nobility, dined with his lordship; and in the evening the Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland honoured the company with their presence at a ball, which was opened by the Duke of Cumberland and the lady mayoress. The entertainment provided on this occasion was magnificent, and the company in general, particularly the visitor on whose account it was made, expressed the highest satisfaction. But a most unpopular and shocking transaction now took place. On the tenth of May, the day on which the new parliament was to assemble for the dispatch of business, great numbers of people crouded about the gates of the King's Bench prison, whither Mr. Wilkes had been committed, to suffer two years imprisonment, to pay a fine of one thousand pounds, and to find security for his good behaviour during seven years; the expectation of seeing their favourite go to take his seat in the House of Commons, had drawn. numbers numbers from affection or curiosity. Having waited a long time in vain, they began to clamour for the prisoner, whom they intended to convey in triumph to the senate. This induced some justices to read the Riot Act. The populace, exasperated at a proceeding not justified by the occasion, as they had committed no violence or outrage, except clamour deserve that appellation, began to shew their resentment by throwing stones and brickbats at the justices as they read the obnoxious act. This assault exasperated in their turn, the soldiers, who happened to be Scotch, and who, on account of the public dissatisfaction to their countryman, the Earl of Bute, felt themselves interested in his favour. Some of these, therefore, singled out a supposed offender, and breaking from their ranks, pursued him a considerable way; but at last missing him, in his stead shot Mr. W. Allen, son of Mr. Allen, master of the Horse Shoe Inn, and Livery Stables, Blackman Street, in his father's cow-house, as he streched out his innocent hands to implore mercy from his murderers! This atrocious deed alarmed the neighbourhood; which, prompted by curiosity, flocked to enquire into the cause of this barbarous act. Ignorant that the Riot Act had been read, the multitude increased; as every passenger stopped at the sight of such a croud, opposed by a body of horse and foot. The justices now thinking their authority set at nought, ordered the soldiers to fire upon the people, of whom above a score were killed or wounded. We do not at this distance of time, enter into the necessity for, or the rectitude of such conduct; suffice it to say, that the whole nation was scandalized by the wantonness of the proceeding; more particularly so when the offending soldiers, who were indicted for the murder, escaped justice in an extraordinary manner. The spirit of riot had certainly assumed great power, and except in the case of Mr. Allen, some sacrifices to legal public justice were necessary; for by this time, the sailors had begun to unrig the ships in the river; the watermen had been very riotous in Greenwich; the sawyers had destroyed great part of an ingenious saw-mill at Limehouse; which had had cost Mr. Dingley, the proprietor, 5,000l.; the coalheavers had stopped all coal carts, declaring that they would suffer no coals to be brought into town; the journeymen hatters had struck, and refused to go to work till their wages were raised; and a large mob had assembled before the Mansion House, complaining of the high prices of provision, &c. on which pretext they had broken the lamps before the building, and destroyed the windows; but nothing could sanction or apologize for the illegal tragedy in St. George's Fields*. • The laudable and humane design of keeping down the price of mackarel, so as to be within the reach of the poor, produced the most beneficial effects. The premiums were extended in the following manner: For every first vessel which arrived at Billingsgate, every market day, twenty-five pounds; second vessel, twenty pounds; and the third vessel fifteen pounds. By these means the finest mackarel were sold under twelve shillings per hundred, to the great relief of many distressed families, and to the lasting credit of those who promoted the subscription. *The title of the Riot Act is, " An act for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies, and for more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters." It is a maxim in civil government, that the law seeks no revenge. The punishments it inflicts, are merely exemplary, and are calculated to prevent the future commission of crimes; not to avenge itself on the criminal for what is past. Public justice is inexorable; but it is never cruel. The ministers of that justice, therefore, abuse it when they arm it with their own passions, and proceed to destroy, when they should only correct. A magistrate, by this act, is not empowered to call in assistance to disperse, seize, and apprehend the rioters; but is required only to request and command them to disperse; and if they do not disperse of their own accord, within the time limited, he is then impowered to call in assistance, [not to disperse, but] to seize and apprehend them for not dispersing. This is the only mode of action prescribed by the statute; and therefore the only legal means a magistrate can take to suppress a riot. He is not impowered wilfully to destroy some, in order to disperse the rest; but is expressly directed to seize and apprehend as many as do not voluntarily disperse when legally required and commanded. Such are the clear and express terms of the act. VOL. I. No. 24. 4 D On |