The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-25 00:00:00

THE MILITARY CALLED OUT.

The fearful scenes of riot and confusion our corre-
spondent anticipated in giving an account of the nomina-
tion, have occurred, and bodies of the military have had to
be called in for the protection of the voters andof the peace-
ably disposed. On Wednesday after the nomination, the
large bodies of people assembled in front of the hustings
paraded the town in sections, and frequent collisions oc-
curred, resulting in brutal and long contested fights. The
same lawless system prevailed almost throughout the night,
and electors were forcibly carried off from their homes that
they might not be able to record their votes on the follow-
ing day. Information was lodged at the police office yes-
terday morning, by the wife of Duncan Milner, a Unman,
residing in Darwen-street, that during the night their house
had been broken into, when her husband was dragged from
his bed, beaten, and forced away from home. She said his
head was severely lacerated by a blow from a bludgeon
whilst endeavouring to resist the violence of his assailants,
and produced, in much distress, a handkerchief dyed with
his blood. Other voters are reported to have been simi-
larly treated, and to be missing, and the name of one of
them given was Christopher Duxbury. Milner was a
voter pledged to support the liberal candidate. Great
exasperation prevailed on both sides, and large numbers
of ruffians were brought into the borough from other
towns upon the plea of being necessary to protect the
voters. A body of 190 men were reported to have been
brought from Preston on Wednesday morning, who were
to be paid 51. per day, and to be liberally supplied with
' stimulants, with some of the worst chanters in that town
as their leaders. These men were undoubtedly hired by
the tories. There were also similar bodies of ruffians
brought from Clitheroe, Darwen, Accrington, Church, and
other towns ; whilst Blackburn itself is reported to supply
an extensive force of native ruffianism under the leadership
of a chief rejoicing in the sanguinary appellation of
B—y Dick."
Yesterday opened with renewed rioting, and the returns
of the polling booths soon showing that Mr. Fielden, the
liberal candidate, was likely to be successful, the exaspera-
tion of the other party became so great that it was
necessary to call in the military. Attempts were made te
prevent voters going to the poll, and it being currently
reported that a party of Hornbyites had taken possession
of the Whalley Banks Bridge, at the bottom of King-street,
by which electors from the populous district of Whalley
Banks would be kept from the polling booth, a large party
of the friends of Mr. Fielden went to open the communica-
tion. A dreadful collision resulted, and great numbers of
men had to be carried into the neighbouring houses with
heads bruised, and in a bleeding and almost insensible state.
The window, of the Bridge Inn, a conservative house, were
completely smashed to atoms, and the glass and liquor
casks in the bar were destroyed. Riots took place about
the same time in front of the Hornby Arms, and of
the Pump-house. In one of these oases a coach conveying
voters to poll for Mr. Fielden was stopped in King-street,
the horses' heads turned round, and the driver ordered
away. Hearing of these outrages soon after ten o'clock the
magistrates determined to send fer military aid; and a
little before eleven o'clock a company of the 4th Infantry,
under Captain Willoughby, and a squadron of the Ist
Dragoons under the command of Captain Hurst, entered
the town. The mayor, Mr. James Pilkington, M.P., Mr.
Dugdale, Mr. Hook, and Mr. D. Thwaites, the magistrates,
put themselves at the head of the military, and the riot act
was read in front of the Court-house, in King•street. The
military and magistrates then divided into two bodies, and
went through the various districts of the borough to dis-
perse the mobs. Mr. Hoole repeatedly addressed the peo-
ple in a friendly and conciliatory style, warning them that
the riot act had been read, and advising them to retire
peaceably to their homes. All the shops were closed, and
the town remained in a very excited state all day. The
streets in every part of the town were exceedingly crowded
all day, and more especially towards the centre.
The following are the returns issued from Mr. Fielden's

Fielden
Liberal.

Ifornby
Conservative.

O'clock
8.30
9. 0

9.30
10. 0
10.30
11. 0
11.30
19. 0
12.30
1. 0
1.30
2. 0
Placards appeared on the walls soon after twelve o'clock
in the following words:
"Borough of Blackburn.—The Riot Act has been read.
All well-disposed persons are called upon to disperse. Theft
who do not disperse will be apprehended and prosecuted.
By older of the Mayor and Magistrates.—Sessions House,
Thursday, March 24, 1853."
Notwithstanding this notice several riots took place. Mr.
Robert Rainsford Jackson. partner in business with Mr.
Montague Fieides, wee attacked in Penny-street soon after
one o'clock by a mob, but escaped into a house. The mili-
tary were sent for to several quarters about the same time,
but their presence was enough to restore order.

ANOTHER SNOWSTORM IN NORTH SHIELDS..--
TIRMSDAY.—We hare had another heavy fall of snow.
It hu snowed nearly all night, and it is lying thick on the
around this morning. All agricultural and out-door work
to stopped ; and a considerable fleet of ships are detained in
the Tyne by the high sea at the bar.