"Yesterday evening, about seven o'clock, a very considerable mob assembled about Charing Cross, and, under the pretence of delivering a man from the Crimping House, they attacked the house, which is up a little court near Northumberland House, and threw all the furniture out of the windows. Charing Cross was covered with feathers. The mob became so numerous, and disorderly, that it was found necessary to call in the assistance of the Horse Guards: and the Riot Act was twice read by a Magistrate. The street was much thronged, and the tumult continued, when this Paper went to press: although there had been no other act of serious mischief. No one can detest the business of Crimping more than we do: but we have strong reasons to believe that this is very frequently made a stalking horse with the factious, to provoke a riot."—(Times, July 12, 1795.)
"A Mob collected themselves again, last night, at Charing Cross, when, after making every one pull off their hats, as they passed, they proceeded to Mr. Pitt's, in Downing St., and broke several windows in his house; but, the Guards being immediately called out, and appearing in sight, very soon dispersed them.
"The Mob, afterwards, went over Westminster Bridge, and paraded to St. George's-fields, where they attacked the Royal George Public-house, near the Obelisk, and threw all the furniture of it into the road, and there burnt it. They gutted another Recruiting house, in Lambeth-Road, and, afterwards, made a bonfire of the furniture. This was mistaken by many, to be houses on fire. There were some of the Mob who kept watch on the outside of the houses, to give notice of the arrival of the military, who did not come till after the furniture of these two houses were consumed. The Mob compelled the inhabitants of the houses in the neighbourhood, to put up lights.
"The Riot at Charing Cross, on Sunday night, was begun by a very few persons who wished for mischief, and called out the words, Crimps, and Kidnappers! The damage was done almost instantaneously, and the villains escaped, leaving a numerous assembly of people, who were only drawn together by an idle curiosity, on the Surrey-road, near the Circus. Yesterday morning, however, about seven o'clock, it was assailed by a mob, and, notwithstanding it was well defended, and that the door was plated with iron, it was forced, and the prisoners rescued. Last night the mob again assembled about half past eight o'clock, near the Obelisk, in St. George's fields, where they gutted another Recruiting Office, and threw the furniture into the road, of which they made a bonfire. At first, the mob consisted only of about one hundred men, but the flames soon attracted great numbers. About nine, the Horse Guards arrived, and soon dispersed the crowd. We wish they had come sooner, as it is extremely injudicious to the public interest, that such indecent sights should be repeated. It was very well known that a Mob meant to assemble, and, of course, the Military should have been at hand, to meet it. Several persons were much hurt, in not being able to disperse soon enough, which ought to be a warning not to mingle in such a crowd. The Duchess of Gloucester, who was at the Circus, with her daughter, was escorted home by a party of horse."—(Times, July 14, 1795.)
"The Riots continued on Monday evening in St. George's Fields, until the Military arrived to disperse the mob. Several persons were taken into custody, and lodged in the watch-house."—(Times, July 15, 1795.)
Modern Mode of Beating up for Volunteers.
The way in which the patronage in the Army was managed, was a crying shame—children in their cradles had Cornetcies presented to them, and their promotion went on several steps before they left school. We hear of the natural consequence, in the following extract from the Times, 4th Jan. 1794:—
"We are extremely sorry that our public duty should call upon us to make any unpleasant remarks on the officers of our Army abroad, but repeated letters from the Continent, received by all descriptions of persons, agree in saying that there is a great want of Subordination among our troops. We shall not enter into particulars on this subject, as our only object is, that this observation should meet the eye of the Commander-in-Chief, and other General Officers, and that they should take the matter into their serious consideration. The evil is certainly increased by having so many young men introduced into the Army, and placing them over the heads of veteran Soldiers."
"The scandalous abuses which have been so often, and so justly, complained of, as detrimental to the public service, of children being taken from school, and appointed Officers, cannot be too soon remedied, though it will be a Herculean task to cleanse the Augean stable. In mentioning the following circumstance, we have certainly no kind of ill-will towards the party concerned; but it is a fact, that a child, not fourteen years of age, is now under orders for embarkation at Plymouth, who has been taken from school, to join his regiment at St. Domingo, as Captain!!! It is impossible for any man, who has the interest of his country at heart, to hear of such abuses without commenting on them with the utmost severity. The fault is not with Government, but is attached to the custom which prevails in officering the army; a custom which cannot be too soon corrected."—(Times, Feb. 10, 1795.)