"An extraordinary circumstance lately happened to a sheriff's officer, in the neighbourhood of Covent Garden. Hot with juniper berry, not the Tuscan Grape, he had an idea of beating the Carmagnols; and in consequence, going to a recruiting party in Bow Street, said he would enlist. The Captain of the party gave him a shilling, in the usual phrase of His Majesty's name:—he said he must have more:—a guinea was given him in His Majesty's name, to serve so and so; he took it, and departed. The matter thus rested for five or six days, when he came back to return the money, which he said he had taken in a frolic. The money was refused. He said he would be revenged, and, having a writ some days after, against one of the enlisted recruits, he went to the rendezvous house to execute it, where the Captain took him up as a deserter, and sent him to the Savoy Prison, from whence he has been released by a Habeas Corpus, contrary, as military men say, to the law by which the military are governed. This will occasion a most curious contest."—(Times, June 30, 1794.)
"Something like a legal mutiny has, it seems, already arisen in the long robed Corps of Volunteers. By a clause in their engrossed agreement, every Member neglecting to attend the regular drill, is bound to pay a fine of three shillings and four-pence, towards purchasing parchment to new head their drums. Against this penalty being levied, some of the absentees have demurred, on the plea that the instrument is not valid in law, from its not being drawn on a six shilling stamp."—(Times, July 17, 1794.)
"A melancholy accident happened yesterday, about one o'clock, at the Recruiting Office, Angel Court, Charing Cross. A sergeant having kidnapped a man, for the better securing him, had confined him in a back-garret at the top of the house, after he had cut off his hair, to disfigure him, and, tying his hands behind him, and locking the door, left him by himself. By some means, the man got his hands loosened, and chose rather to risk his life by jumping from the window, than suffer himself to be any longer in their clutches; accordingly, he attempted to pitch upon a leaded roof, which was about half way to the bottom, but, unfortunately, jumping short, he fell back, and his head falling against the wall, his skull was fractured in such a shocking manner, that he died in about an hour afterwards. The populace were so much enraged at this shocking enormity, which we are sorry to believe is too often repeated, that they almost demolished the Recruiting Office. The mob had increased to so great a degree at ten o'clock last night, that it was found necessary to call out a party of the Horse Guards, for the protection of the neighbourhood."—(Times, Aug. 16, 1794.)
Kidnapping, or a disgrace to Old England.
This was a serious riot. The mob at that time was peculiarly excitable, and had a great deal more of its own way than it has now. So a spark only was wanted to make a flame. This was found in a rumoured case of kidnapping for the army; impressing for the navy could be understood, because it had obtained from time immemorial, that when the king wanted men to man his war vessels, he took seamen, or fishermen, but this was something new, and must be put down, otherwise no man was safe. The truth was not scrupulously adhered to, and the print shops, ever eager to make money by pandering to the passions of the hour, published exaggerated, and heartrending pictures, of the way in which the army was recruited, and, altogether, a very pretty riot was got up.
"On Saturday morning, early, a mob again collected before Angel Court, Charing Cross, and attacked the house from whence the unfortunate young man had thrown himself into the street. The populace proceeded to gut the house, throwing the furniture out of the windows. The street was covered with feathers from the beds which were torn to pieces: they were proceeding to demolish an adjoining house, when the military were called in, and several officer's detachments, both of horse, and foot, again paraded the streets at Charing Cross. The mob having assembled again yesterday morning, and becoming very riotous, a troop of Horse Guards was very properly ordered out, and two or three of the principal rioters about the King's Arms Public House, taken into custody.
"It is some satisfaction that we have heard the Coroner's report on the investigation of this unpleasant business. A most respectable jury sat five hours, on Saturday night, to consider of the verdict: and, after the most minute testimony of several witnesses, it was proved that the young man, whose name was Howe, and lived at Wandsworth, was a Lunatic, and had been several times confined by his friends. He had himself offered to enlist; no blame whatever attaches in this instance, to the people of the house. We trust that this impartial enquiry will satisfy the minds of every one, and that there will be no more mobs."—(Times, Aug. 18, 1794.)
"In consequence of a mob again assembling at Charing Cross, yesterday evening, the Horse Guards were again called out, and paraded the streets till midnight."—(Times, Aug. 19, 1794.)
"THE RIOTS IN LONDON.