THE LORD GEORGE GORDON RIOTS. 1780.

LORD MAHON.

On Friday, the 2nd of June, and at ten o'clock in the morning, St. George's fields were thronged with blue cockades.* They were computed at 50,000 ư 60,000, and by some persons even at 100,000 men. The love of frolic and 4 staring had certainly brought many new accessions to their ranks. Appearing in the midst and welcomed by their enthusiastic cheers, lord George Gordon in the first place indulged them with another of his silly speeches. Next they were marshalled in separate bands, the main body marching over London Bridge an through Temple Bar to the houses of parliament. In this procession they walked six abreast; and in their van was carried their great petition, containing, it was said, no less than 120,000 signatures or marks. London at that period was fr from yet possessing the sturdy and disciplined police, which now on any chance of riot, or even of mere crowd and pressure, lines our streets and squares. There wer· only the parish beadles, and the so-called watchmen of the night, for the most part feeble old men, frequently knocked down by the revellers, and scoffed at by the playwrights, of the age. In the face of that mighty array so long previously announce, which lord George Gordon was leading to Whitehall, not one measure of precaution had been taken by the government. They had neither sworn in any special e stables, nor stationed any soldiers. It must be owned, however, that the reproache on that score came with no good grace from the lips of the Opposition chiefs, wh had so lately poured forth their loudest clamours when, in the apprehension of P tumult at the Westminster meeting, a body of troops had been kept ready. Findi no obstruction to their progress, the blue cockades advanced to Palace Yard, an took possession of the open space some time before the two houses met, as they did later in the afternoon; then, with only a few door-keepers and messenge between them and some of the principal objects of their fury, they were not long is learning the dangerous secret of their strength. The lords had been summoned f that day to hear a motion from the duke of Richmond in favour of annual parli ments and unrestricted suffrage. Lord Chancellor Thurlow was ill and at Tbridge, and the earl of Mansfield had undertaken to preside in his place. But as chanced, lord Mansfield was then most unpopular with the protestant associaters, having not long since charged a jury to acquit a Roman catholic priest, who wa brought before him charged with the crime of celebrating mass. Thus, no soort did his carriage appear, than it was assailed, and its windows broken, while th venerable judge, the object of the fiercest execrations as a "notorious papist," made hi way into the house with great difficulty, and, on entering, could not conceal his to robe and his dishevelled wig. He took his seat on the woolsack pale and quiverin The archbishop of York's lawn sleeves were torn off and flung in his face. T bishop of Lincoln, disliked as a brother of lord Thurlow, fared still worse; hi carriage was demolished, while the prelate, half fainting, sought refuge in adjacent house, from which, on recovering himself, he made his escape in anoth dress (some said in a woman's) along the leads. Lord Hillsborough and lo Townshend, who came together, and the other secretary of state, lord Stormont, roughly handled, and could scarcely make their way through the people. Fr lord president Bathurst they pulled his wig, telling him in contumelious terms that he was "the pope," and also "an old woman": thus, says Horace Walpole, splittis; into two their notion of pope Joan! The duke of Northumberland having w him in his coach a gentleman in black, a cry arose among the multitude that the

*The badge of the so-called protestants.

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person thus attired must be a jesuit, and the duke's confessor; a conclusion, it may fairly be owned, not at all more unreasonable than many others they had formed. On the strength of this their discriminating judgment, his grace was forced from his carriage and robbed of his watch and purse.

Still, however, as the peers by degrees came in, the business of the house in regular course proceeded. Prayers were read, some formal bills were advanced a stage, and the duke of Richmond then began to state his reasons for thinking that, under present circumstances, political powers might safely be entrusted to the lowest orders of the people. His grace was still speaking when lord Montfort burst into the house, and broke through his harangue. Lord Montfort said that he felt bound to acquaint their lordships of the perilous situation in which, at that moment, stood one of their own members; he meant lord Boston, whom the mob had dragged out of his coach and were cruelly maltreating. "At this instant," says an eye witness, "it is hardly possible to conceive a more grotesque appearance than the house exhibited; some of their lordships with their hair about their shoulders; others smutted with dirt; most of them as pale as the ghost in Hamlet, and all of them standing up in their several places, and speaking at the same instant; one lord proposing to send for the guards, another for the justices or civil magistrates, many crying out Adjourn! adjourn!' while the skies resounded with the huzzas, shoutings, or hootings and hissings in Palace Yard. This scene of unprecedented alarm

continued for about half an hour."

It was proposed by lord Townshend that the peers should go forth as a body, and attempt the rescue of lord Boston. This proposal was still debating rather too slowly for its object, when lord Boston himself came in, with his hair dishevelled, and his clothes covered with hair powder. He had been exposed to especial danger, through a wholly unfounded suggestion from some persons in the crowd, that he was a Roman catholic; upon which the multitude, with loud imprecations, had threatened to cut the sign of the cross upon his forehead. But he had the skill to engage some of the ringleaders in a controversy on the question whether the pope be antichrist ; and while they were eagerly discussing that favourite point, he contrived to slip through them. After such alarms, however, the peers did not resume the original debate. They summoned to the bar two of the Middlesex magistrates, who declared that they had received no orders from the government, and that, with all their exertions since the beginning of the tumult, they had only been able to collect six constables. Finally, at eight o'clock, the House adjourned till the morrow; and the peers, favoured by the dusk, returned home on foot, or in hackney carriages, with no further insult or obstruction.

On

The members of the commons, as less conspicuous in their equipages than the peers, were not so much molested in passing to their House. But when once assembled, their danger was far greater, since the infuriated multitude, finding no resistance, burst into and kept possession of the lobby. Here they raised loud shouts of "No popery! no popery!" and "Repeal! repeal!" Meanwhile, lord George Gordon, seconded by alderman Bull, was presenting their great protestant petition, and moving that the house should consider it in committee forthwith. the other side, it was proposed that this committee should be deferred until Tuesday, he 6th. When, however, upon this point a division was demanded, it was found mpracticable. Neither the ayes nor the noes could go forth, thronged as was the obby with strangers, and unable as the sergeant-at-arms declared himself to clear it. During the debates, lord George endeavoured to keep up the spirit of his friends, by showing himself at the top of the gallery stairs, and making several harangues o the noisy concourse in the lobby. He exhorted them by all means to persevere, nd told them from time to time the names of the members who were speaking

against them. "There is Mr. Burke," he said, "the member for Bristol;" and soon afterwards, "Do you know that lord North calls you a mob?" Thus their fury increasing, the House at intervals resounded with their cries of "No popery!" and their violent knocks at the door. General Conway and lord Frederick Campbell, that same evening at supper, said there was a moment when they thought they must have opened the doors, and fought their way out sword in hand.

Lord North, however, at this crisis showed great firmness, animating the resolution of the house by his unperturbed demeanour, but sending privately and in all haste for a party of the guards. Other members made it a personal matter with Lord George. Colonel Holroyd told him that he had hitherto ascribed his conduct to insanity, but now saw that there was more of malice than of madness in it; and that if he again attempted to address the rioters, he (colonel Holroyd) would immediately move for his commitment to Newgate. Colonel Murray, one of lord George's kinsmen, used still bolder language-"My lord George, do you really mean t bring your rascally adherents into the house of commons ? If you do, the first man of them that enters, I will plunge my sword, not into his body, but in yours!"

Lord George appears to have been daunted. Certainly, at least, he was silenced Indeed, in one part of the evening, he quietly went up to the eating-room, when he threw himself into a chair and fell asleep, or nearly so, while listening to some excellent admonitions from Mr. Bowen, the chaplain of the house.

Failing the incitements of lord George, the crowd within the lobby drew les fierce. Out of doors, moreover, great exertions were making to allay the stor Lord Mahon, who was known to many of the people as a recent candidate for Westminster, harangued them from the balcony of a coffee-house, and is said t have done good service to the cause of law and order.* In this manner time w gained until towards nine o'clock, when an active Middlesex justice, Mr. Addington, appeared with a party of horse-guards. Mr. Addington told the people in the streets that he meant them no harm, and that the soldiers should retire if they would quietly disperse, which many hundreds of them did accordingly, first giving the magistrate three cheers.

A party of the foot-guards was also drawn up in the Court of Requests, and the lobby was now cleared; thus, at length, enabling the house of commons to divide. Only eight members were found willing to support lord George in his ignominio proposal for immediate deliberation, at the bidding and in the presence of the mo Against that proposal 194 votes, including tellers, were recorded; and the ho was then adjourned until the Tuesday following. With the adjournment of bet houses, and the dispersion of the crowd in Palace Yard, it was imagined that the difficulties of the day had closed. The magistrates returned home, and sent awa” the soldiers. Unhappily, several parties of the rioters were intent on further m chief. Repairing to the two Roman catholic chapels of the Sardinian and Bavaria ministers, in Lincoln's Inn fields and in Warwick street-chapels which existe by the faith of treaties, and were not at all connected with the Acts of 1778-the set them in flames. Engines were sent for, but the mob prevented them fr playing, while the benches from the Sardinian chapel, being flung into the street. afforded the materials for a bonfire, as a token of public exultation.

"

At length t

* "Lord Mahon counteracted the incendiary, and chiefly contributed by his barangues t conjure down the tempest (H. Walpole to Mahon), June 4, 1780. One of lord Mabon qualifications for addressing a large crowd with effect is satirically glanced at in the Rolliad: "Mahon outroaring torrents in their force,

Banks the precise, and fluent Wilberforce."

soldiers came-too late to prevent the havoc, in time only to seize and secure thirteen of the rioters.

Next morning the town was, to all appearance, perfectly tranquil. The house of lords met in the forenoon; and on the motion of earl Bathurst, agreed to an address for prosecuting the authors and abettors of the recent outrages. The angry taunts that followed between the government and opposition members may be readily conceived, and need not be detailed. But it is well worthy of note with how much of political foresight and sagacity lord Shelburne suggested the idea of a new police. "Let their lordships," he said, "at least those that are in administration, recollect what the police of France is; let them examine its good, and not be blind to its evil. They would find its construction excellent, its use and direction abominable. Let them embrace the one, and shun the other."

Notwithstanding the general and confident belief that the disturbances were over, they recommenced, in a slight degree, that very evening in Moorfields. On the next afternoon, that is, on Sunday, the 4th, they became far more serious in the same quarter. Unhappily, Kennett, the lord mayor, was, as Wilkes afterwards complained, a man wholly wanting in energy and firmness. The first outrages within his jurisdiction being unchecked and almost unnoticed, tended to give rise to many Again assembling in large bodies, the mob attacked both the chapels and the dwelling-houses of the Roman catholics in and about Moorfields. The houses they stripped of furniture, and the chapels of the altars, pulpits, pews, and benches, all which served to make bonfires in the streets.

more.

On the ensuing afternoon, that is, on Monday, the 5th of June, a drawing-room had been appointed at St. James's in celebration of the king's birthday. Previous to the drawing-room a privy council was held, at which the riots were discussed. But as yet they were deemed of so slight importance, that no one measure was taken with regard to them, beyond a proclamation offering a reward of £500 for a discovery of the persons concerned in setting fire to the Sardinian and Bavarian chapels. Even lord Mansfield, who had not only seen but felt the fury of the mob, fell into the same error of under-rating it. When in the course of this day Mr. Strahan, the printer, who had also been insulted, called upon his lordship to express his fears from the licentiousness of the public, the chief justice, as we are told, treated it as a very slight irregularity.

That delusion, however, was dispelled by the events of the same day. The blue cockades growing bolder and bolder by indulgence, mustered in high spirits, and with increased numbers. While some parties proceeded to destroy the Romanist chapels in Wapping and East Smithfield, others broke open and plundered the shops of Mr. Rainsford and Mr. Maberly, two tradesmen who had given evidence against the rioters secured on the Friday night. But the principal object of attack was the house of sir George Savile, obnoxious as the author of the first relaxation in the penal code. Savile house, which stood in Leicester fields, was accordingly carried, as it were, by storm, and given up to pillage. Some of the furniture derived from the chapels or the private dwellings was, previously to its being burned in the adjacent fields, dragged in triumph and displayed through Welbeck street before the house of lord George Gordon. That foolish young fanatic now began to shrink from the results of his own rashness. In the name of his protestant association he put forth a handbill disavowing all share in the riots; but he soon found how far easier it is to raise than to allay the storm.

By this time the alarm had spread far and wide. Burke, who had most zealously supported Savile in the good work of religious toleration, found it requisite, with his family, to take refuge beneath the roof of his friend, general Burgoyne. Throughout these troubles, and amidst all the anxious scenes of the

." and

against them. "There is Mr. Burke," he said, "the member for Bristol;" soon afterwards, "Do you know that lord North calls you a mob!" Thus their fury increasing, the House at intervals resounded with their cries of i "No popery!" and their violent knocks at the door. General Conway and lord Frederick Campbell, that same evening at supper, said there was a moment when they thought they must have opened the doors, and fought their way out sword in hand.

Lord North, however, at this crisis showed great firmness, animating the resolutic of the house by his unperturbed demeanour, but sending privately and in all haste fr a party of the guards. Other members made it a personal matter with Lord George, Colonel Holroyd told him that he had hitherto ascribed his conduct to insanity, but now saw that there was more of malice than of madness in it; and that if he again attempted to address the rioters, he (colonel Holroyd) would immediately move for his commitment to Newgate. Colonel Murray, one of lord George kinsmen, used still bolder language-"My lord George, do you really mean bring your rascally adherents into the house of commons? If you do, the firs man of them that enters, I will plunge my sword, not into his body, but int yours!"

Lord George appears to have been daunted. Certainly, at least, he was silenced Indeed, in one part of the evening, he quietly went up to the eating-room, wher he threw himself into a chair and fell asleep, or nearly so, while listening to s excellent admonitions from Mr. Bowen, the chaplain of the house.

Failing the incitements of lord George, the crowd within the lobby drew le fierce. Out of doors, moreover, great exertions were making to allay the stor Lord Mahon, who was known to many of the people as a recent candidate f Westminster, harangued them from the balcony of a coffee-house, and is said = have done good service to the cause of law and order.* In this manner time > ¦ gained until towards nine o'clock, when an active Middlesex justice, Mr. Addingt appeared with a party of horse-guards. Mr. Addington told the people in thi streets that he meant them no harm, and that the soldiers should retire if they would quietly disperse, which many hundreds of them did accordingly, first give the magistrate three cheers.

A party of the foot-guards was also drawn up in the Court of Requests, and the lobby was now cleared; thus, at length, enabling the house of commons to divid Only eight members were found willing to support lord George in his ignominion proposal for immediate deliberation, at the bidding and in the presence of the me Against that proposal 194 votes, including tellers, were recorded; and the be was then adjourned until the Tuesday following. With the adjournment of t houses, and the dispersion of the crowd in Palace Yard, it was imagined that the difficulties of the day had closed. The magistrates returned home, and sent aw the soldiers. Unhappily, several parties of the rioters were intent on further chief. Repairing to the two Roman catholic chapels of the Sardinian and Bavar ministers, in Lincoln's Inn fields and in Warwick street-chapels which exte by the faith of treaties, and were not at all connected with the Acts of 1778-th set them in flames. Engines were sent for, but the mob prevented them fre playing, while the benches from the Sardinian chapel, being flung into the stre afforded the materials for a bonfire, as a token of public exultation. At length th

"Lord Mahon counteracted the incendiary, and chiefly contributed by his harangues conjure down the tempest" (H. Walpole to Mahon), June 4, 1780. One of lord Maba qualifications for addressing a large crowd with effect is satirically glanced at in the Rolliad : "Mahon outroaring torrents in their force, Banks the precise, and fluent Wilberforce."