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freedom with their lives. That, for his part, he would run all hazards with the people; and if the people were too lukewarm to run all hazards with him, when their confcience and their country call them forth, they might get another prefident; for he would tell them candidly, that he was not a Jukewarm man himself, and that if they meant to spend their time in mock debate and idle oppofition, they might get another leader. This fpeech was received with the loudeft applause, and his lordfhip then moved the following refolution: "That the whole body of the Proteftant Affociation do attend in Saint George's-fields, on Friday next, at ten o'clock in the morning, to accompany his lordship to the Houfe of Commons on the delivery of the Proteftant petition;" which was carried unanimously. His lordship then informed them, that if lefs then 20,000 of his fellow-citizens attended him on that day, he would not present their petition; and for the better obfervance of order, he moved, that they should arrange themselves in four divifions; the Proteftants of the city of London on the right; thofe of the city of Weftminster on the left; the borough of Southwark third; and the people of Scotland refident in London and its environs to form the laft divifion; and that they might know their friends from their enemies, he added, that every real Proteftant, and friend of the petition, fhould come with blue cockades in their hats.

Accordingly, on Friday, June 2, at ten in the forenoon, feveral thousands affembled at the place appointed, marthalling themfelves VOL. XXIII.

in ranks, and waiting for their leader. About eleven o'clock, Lord George arrived, and gave directions in what manner he would have them proceed, and about twelve, one party was ordered to go round over London-bridge, another over Blackfriars, and a third to follow him over Weftminster. A roll of parchment, containing the names of those who had figned the petition, was borne before them. They proceeded with great decorum on their route, and the whole body was affembled, about half paft two, before both Houses of parliament, on which occafion they gave a general shout.

But however peaceable and well difpofed fome of them might be, others foon began to exercise the moft arbitrary power over both Lords and Commons, by obliging almoft all the members to put blue cockades in their hats, and call out, No Popery!' Some they compelled to take oaths to vote for the repeal of the obnoxious act, others they infulted in the most indecent and violent manner. They took poffeffion of all the avenues up to the very doors of both Houfes of Parliament, which, they twice attempted to force open. The Archbishop of York was one of the first they attacked. As foon as his coach was known coming down Parliament-ftreet, he was faluted with hiffes, groans, and hootings. The Lord Prefident of the Council, Lord Bathurst, they pushed about in the rudest manner, and kicked violently on the legs. Lord Mansfield had the glaffes of his carriage broken, the pannels beat in, and narrowly efcaped with life. The Duke of Nor thumberland had his pocket pick[R]

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ed of his watch. The Bishop of Litchfield had his gown torn. The wheels of the Bishop of Lincoln's carriage were taken off, and his lordship escaped with life, being obliged to feek fhelter in the houfe of Mr. Atkinson, an Attorney, where he changed his cloaths, and made his escape over the leads of the adjacent houfes.

The Lords Townshend and Hillsborough came together, and were greatly infulted, and fent into the house without their bags, and with their hair hanging loofe on their fhoulders. The coach of Lord Stormont was broken to pieces, himself in the hands of the mob for near half an hour: he was refcued at laft by a gentleman, who harangued the mob, and prevailed on them to defift. Lords Afhburnham and Bofton were treated with the utmost indignity, particularly Lord Bofton, who was to long in their power that it was proposed by fome of the peers to go as a body, and endeavour, by their prefence, to extricate him; but whilft they were deliberating, his lordship escaped without any material hurt. Lord Willoughby de Broke, Lord St. John, Lord Dudley, and many others, were perfonally ill treated; and Wellbore Ellis, Efq; was obliged to take refuge in the Guildhall of Weftminster (whither he was pursued) the windows of which were broke, the doors forced, and Juftice Addington, with all the conftables, expelled Mr. Ellis efcaped with the utmost hazard.

Lord George Gordon, during thefe unwarrantable proceedings, came feveral times to the top of the gallery stairs, whence he ha

rangued the people, and informed them of the bad fuccefs their petition was like to meet with, and marked out fuch members as were oppofing it, particularly Mr. Burke, the member for Bristol. He told them, at firft, that it was propofed to take it into confideration on Tuesday, in a Committee of the Houfe, but that he did not like delays, for the parliament might be prorogued by that time.

He afterwards came and faid, Gentlemen, the alarm has gone forth for many miles round the city. You have got a very good prince, who, as foon as he thall hear the alarm has feized fuch a number of men, will no doubt fend down private orders to his minifters to enforce the prayer of your petition.

General Conway, and feveral other members, expoftulated with him very warmly on the mifchiefs that might arife from fuch conduct; and Colonel Gordon, a near relation of his lordthip's, went up to him, and accofted him in the following manner : 'My Lord George, do you intend to bring your rafcally adherents into the Houfe of Commons? If you do— the first man of them that enters, I will plunge my fword not into his, but into your body.'

While his lordship was making his fecond fpeech to the mob, another of his relations, General Grant, came behind him, and endeavoured to draw him back into the House, and faid to him,

For God's fake, Lord George! do not lead these poor people into any danger.'-His lordship, however, made the general no answer, but continued his harangue

You

· You fee, faid he, in this effort to perfuade me from my duty, before your eyes, an inftance of the difficulties I have to encounter with from fuch wife men of this world as my honourable friend behind my back.'

Alderman Sawbridge and others endeavoured to perfuade the people to clear the lobby, but to no purpose. The Affiftant to the Chaplain of the Houfe of Commons likewife addreffed them, but gained nothing except curfes. Soon after this, a party of horfe and foot guards arrived. Juftice Addington was at the head of the horse, and was received with hiffes; but on his affuring the people that his difpofition towards them was peaceable, and that he would order the foldiers away, if they would give their honour to difperfe, he gained their good will. Accordingly the cavalry galloped off, and upwards of fix hundred of the petitioners, after giving the magiftrate three cheers, departed.

it taken into immediate confideration, and was again feconded by Mr. Alderman Bull.

After fome debate, the House divided, and there appeared 6 for the petition, and 192 against it. Soon after this the Houfe adjourned, and the mob having difperfed from the avenues of both Houses, the guards were ordered home.

Though order and tranquillity were re-established in this part of the town, it was far otherwife elsewhere. The mob paraded off in different divifions from Palaceyard, and fome of them went to the Romish Chapel in Duke-fireet, Lincoln's-inn-fields, others to that in Warwick-ftreet, Golden-fquare, both of which they in a great measure demolished. The military were fent for, but could not arrive time enough at either to prevent mifchief. Thirteen of the rioters were however taken, and the mob for that night difperfed.

The riots, which were fo alarmThe greatest part of the day the ing on the Friday evening, partly attention of the Houfe of Com- fubfided on Saturday; but on Sunmons had been taken up in de- day in the afternoon, the rioters bates concerning the mob. When affembled again in large bodies, they had obtained fome degree of and attacked the chapels and dwelorder, Lord George introduced ling houfes of the catholics in and his business with informing them, about Moorfields. They stript that he had before him a Petition their houfes of furniture, and their figned by near one hundred and chapels not only of the ornatwenty thousand of his majefty's ments and infignia of religion, but proteftant fubjects, praying, A tore up the altars, pulpits, pews, repeal of the act paled the laft and benches, and made fires of feffion in favour of the Roman them, leaving nothing but the bare Catholics, and moved to have the walls. faid petition brought up.

Mr. Alderman Bull feconded the motion, and leave was given accordingly.

Having brought up the petition, his Lordship then moved to have

On Monday the rioters collected again. Some paraded with the reliques of havock, which they collected in Moorfields, as far as Lord George Gordon's house in Welbeck-ftreet, and afterwards

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burnt them in the adjacent fields. Another party went to Virginialane, Wapping, and a third to Nightingale-lane, Eaft Smithfield, where they feverally deftroyed the catholic chapels, and committed other outrages. Mr. Rainsforth, tallow - chandler, of Stanhopeftreet, Clare - market, and Mr. Maberly, of Little Queen-ftreet, Lincoln's-inn-fields, who had appeared as evidences on the examination of those who had been committed, had each of them their houfes and thops ftripped, and their contents committed to the flames. Sir George Saville's house in Leicester-fields, underwent the fame fate, for preparing and bringing the bill into parliament, in favour of the catholics.

This day also, which was held as the anniverfary of the king's birth day, a proclamation was iffued, promifing a reward of 500l. to those who would make difcovery of the perfons concerned in demolishing and fetting fire to the Sardinian and Bavarian chapels. The perfons formerly apprehended were re-examined; and fome were difcharged; others were ordered to Newgate, and were efcorted there by a party of the guards, whom, on their return, the mob pelted.

On Tuesday all the military in town were ordered on duty at the Tower, both Houses of Parliament, St. James's, St. George's Fields, &c. during the day. Notwithstanding every precaution, Lord Sandwich was wounded in attempting to go down to the Parliament Houfe, to attend his duty, his carriage demolished, and himfelf refcued by the military with difficulty.

About fix in the evening, one party went to the houfe of uftice Hyde, near Leicester fields, which they deftroyed; another party paraded through Long Acre, down Holborn, &c. till they came to Newgate, and publicly declared they would go and releafe the confined rioters. When they arrived at the doors of the prifon, they demanded of Mr. Akerman, the keeper, to have their comrades immediately delivered up to them; and upon his perfifting to do his duty, by refufing, they began to break the windows, fome to batter the doors and entrances into the cells, with pick axes and fledge-hammers, others with ladders to climb the walls, while feveral collected fire-brands, and whatever combuftibles they could find, and flung into his dwellinghouse. What contributed to the fpreading of the flames, was the great quantity of houfhold furniture belonging to Mr. Akerman, which they threw out of the windows, piled up againft the doors, and fet fire to; the force of which presently communicated to the houfe, from the house to the chapel, and from thence through the prifon. As foon as the flames had deftroyed Mr. Akerman's houfe, which was part of Newgate, and were communicated to the wards and cells, all the prifoners, to the amount of three hundred, among whom were four under fentence of death, and ordered for execution on the Thursday following, were released.

Not fatiated with the deftruction of this great building, a party was fent among the catholics in Devonfhire-ftreet, Red Lion-fquare; another to the houfe of Juftice

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lady Mansfield made their escape through a back door, a few minutes before the rioters broke in and took poffeffion of the house.

It is impoffible to give any adequate defcription of the events of Wednesday. Notice was fent round to the public prifons of the King's Bench, Fleet, &c. by the mob, at what time they would come and burn them down. The fame kind of infernal humanity was exercised towards Mr. Langdale, a diftiller in Holborn, whose lofs is faid to amount to near 100,000l. and several other Romish individuals. In the afternoon all the fhops were fhut, and bits of blue filk, by way of flags, hung out at most houses, with the words 'No Popery,' chalked on the doors and window -fhutters, by way of deprecating the fury of the infurgents, from which no perfon thought himself secure.

Cox, in great Queen-ftreet, which was foon deftroyed; a third broke open the doors of the New Prifon, Clerkenwell, and turned out all the prifoners; a fourth deftroyed the furniture and effects, writings, &c. of Sir John Fielding; and a fifth defperate and infernal gang went the elegant houfe of Lord Mansfield, in Bloomsbury-fquare, which they, with the moft unrelenting fury, fet fire to and confused. They began by breaking down the doors and windows, and from every part of the house flung the fuperb furniture into the street, where large fires were made to deftroy it. They then proceeded to his lordship's lawlibrary, &c. and deftroyed fome thousand volumes, with many capital manufcripts, mortgages, papers, and other deeds. The rich wardrobe of wearing apparel, and fome very capital pictures, were alfo burned; and they afterwards As foon as the day was drawing forced their way into his lordship's towards a clofe, one of the most wine cellars, and plentifully be- dreadful fpectacles this country ftowed it on the populace. Α ever beheld was exhibited. Let party of guards now arrived, and thofe, who were not fpectators of a magiftrate read the riot-act, it, judge what the inhabitants and then was obliged to give felt when they beheld at the fame orders for a detachment to fire, inftant the flames afcending and when about fourteen obeyed, and rolling in clouds from the King'sfhot, feveral men and women, and Bench and Fleet Prifons, from wounded others. They were or- New Bridewell, from the tolldered to fire again, which they gates on Blackfriars Bridge, did, without effect. This did not from houfes in every, quarter of intimidate the mob; they began the town, and particularly from to pull the house down, and burn the bottom and middle of Holthe floors, planks, fpars, &c. and born, where the conflagration deftroyed the out-houses and fta- was horrible beyond defcription. bles; fo that in a short time the The houses that were first set on whole was confumed.-Lord and fire at this laft-mentioned place,

The toll-gates at Black-friars appear to have been burnt for the fake of plunder: fome lives were loft there, and one man, who was hot, ran thirty or forty yards before he dropped.

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