RIOTS, ETC.
The general distress felt at this period arose from the expensive war in which England had been so long-engaged. As the year, advanced, the calamities of an inclement season and a deficient harvest were added to a general stagnation of trade and commerce. The consequence of all this was a sudden rise in the price of the necessaries of life, which was combined with a reduction of wages and want of employment among the poor. Distress engendered discontent; and, unfortunately, there were mischievous characters abroad, who availed themselves of the irritated feelings of the people to stir them up to sedition. Serious tumults took place in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, and various other parts of the kingdom; and in the Isle of Ely an organized insurrection broke out which was not suppressed without great difficulty. Some of the rioters were taken, and twenty-four were found guilty, of whom five suffered the extremity of the law. The metropolis had continued tranquil until nearly the close of the year, but at length the distress felt goaded the multitude on to seditious acts. Two meetings were convened in Spa-fields by some of the mob-orators, to petition the regent for a reform of abuses; and a vast concourse of rabble attended which on the second occasion led to a serious riot. Mr. Henry Hunt figured as the principal demagogue; but though his language was seditious and inflammatory, he had the prudence to withdraw before the consequences of his harangue were manifested. Like Gash-ford, however, he had stirred up mischief, though he retired before it was committed. A band of his more desperate associates, who had attended him with a tri-coloured flag, and other symbols of a revolutionary nature, endeavoured to lead the mob into the city. Some few followed their standard; and on their march they broke into the shop of a gunsmith, on Snowhill to obtain arms, and a young man, named Watson, there shot a gentleman who offered some resistance. Seizing all the arms they could find in that and other shops, they proceeded to the Royal Exchange, when the lord mayor and aldermen, after vainly exhorting them to disperse, boldly secured some of the most forward, and shut the gates against the remainder. The mob fired, but without effect, over the gates on the magistrates; but a strong body of troops having been quickly marched into the city, the rioters were finally overpowered, and compelled to disperse. Some examples were made of the ringleaders; but the greatest criminal, Watson, effected his escape to America. The vigilance of government was by these events excited; and, after experience of this danger, every popular meeting in the vicinity of the metropolis was watched by large bodies of the military and special constables.