The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-01 00:00:00

MANCHESTER..

We are sorry that the disturbances which have during the pre.
sent week agitated Blackburn, and other part, of the county, have
extended to this town. in the beginning of the week there were
some slight disturbances between the bar de of Mr. James Kennedy,
of Great Ancriata.street, anti other spinners, in consequence of the
former having gone into work at 11 reduction of wages, which was
not approves by the general body • but this was an isolated
affair, and produced no general disturbance. We have not,
however, escaped them. On Thursday morning, groups of men
and boys began to collect in the neighbourhood of St. George's-
mad, Great Newton.street. &c &c. and formed themselves into a
body, in a field near St. George'lnroad• where, about ten o'clock,
they held a sort of meeting. They were addressed by a person
mounted on the shoulders of another man, the burthen of whose
speech chiefly wow that they were peaceable, and disposed to peace,
but they wanted bread. After a short time they adjourned to six
o'clock in the evening. In the meantime groups of dismderly
persons were perambulating the neighbourhood, and from their
language and bearing it has confidently expected that mischief
would be done at night. At th_ time of their adjourned meeting
there were collected together about 3,000 people., chiefly boys,
shouting and making a most tumultuous noise. They were ad.
dressed by Mr. Prentice, of the Al aurkrter Gazette, who re.
monstrsted with them on the impolicy of their proceedings ; recom.
mended patience to them, and said that there was a very general
and anxious desire throughout the town to alleviate their die.
tress, as far as was possible, and that another subscription would
be immediately entered into. Ilia observations, however, were
heard with a great deal of impatience. Jonathan Ilodgins, the
journeyman spinner who has on several occasions evinced so touch
good sense, also addressed them, and recommended that another
petition should be sent up to Parliament, praying an instant
revision of the Corn Laws. If that was not attended to, they
might go so farm, to remonstrate ; but their present proceedings were
totally unsuited to obtain their ends. Ile wen frequently inter-
rupted by cries of " We're petitioned long enough,' &c ; and one
person called out, " Will you let me eat at your table till the ap-
*wee comes ?" A cry of the constables having reached the ground.
however, caused the mob to decamp in all directions; one loony of
$0 or 100 took the direction of Great Ancoats-street, and pro-
ceeded, their numters increasing as they went along, towards
Pollard-street. The mill of Mr. Kennedy having ceased work.
leg, they passed it without much notice, hut stopped at the r•i..
of Messrs. Joseph Clarke and Sons, in Pollar.i.stree• and ,t
of Messrs. T. and M. Ilarbottle, which are near A:eh other;
the former contain,' power-looms for weaving fustian., and
against these hostility seemed to be directed, but the latter
does not and never did. They broke a number of windows in
it, but on being told there were no power-looms there, they passed
on to the mill of Metiers. Copley, Barrow, and Co., which we be- •
here was unoccupied; they however broke some of the windows,
and then went on through New Islington, still increasing in num.
lora, to the mill of Mr. Ilugh !haver, in Jersey-street, which
contains a considerable number of power-looms, but which (the
proprietor nut having had any apprehension that an attack would
be made upon it, was quite to an unprotected state. The mob
immediately began to demolish the windows of the counting-house,
and of the lower, stories of the factory, through which pieces of
burning cotton were thrown. The counting-house and die first
story were immediately set in flames, which had communicated to
the room where the grey goods were kept before the arrival of the
engines. About the same time a large party of special constables
and some of the military arrived, and cleared the ground in front of,,
the mill. The engines having a plentiful supply of water—the
factory standing upon the banks of the Rochdale Canal, and moat
part of it being fire-proof—the flames were soon got under, and by
ten o'clock were totally extinguished. It is understood that the
damage done at Mr. Beaver's will be from three to tour thousand
pounds; as. in addition to the injury done to the buildings and
' machinery, nearly two thousand pieces of cloth were destroyed.
The fire was chiefly confined to the warehouse Dart, and did not
extend above the lower story of the factory. This story contained
power-looms, which, however, not having been set at work, sus.
tamed little Injury. A reward of 2001. has been offered for the con-
viction of any of the incendiaries.
After committing the destructive art. the rioters proceeded to the
fac.ory of Mr. Duck, in Oak-street, which is let off to different
tenants. This mill formerly contained power-looms, but has not
done so for some months past. llere the rioters contented them.
selves with breaking most of the windows, without doing further
injury. The neighbouring mill of Messrs. John Greenwood and
Co. also anstained some damage in this way. They then proceeded
along Swan-street, doing a great deal of wanton mischief by the
road (such as breaking the chamber windows or houses) to the mill
of Mr. Motterehead, to Miller's-lane. This they niistook for the
power-loom factory of Blown,. Clugg, Norris, and Co., but which
stands back front the Street enclosed in a yard. Under this sup.
position they proceeded to break the windows, and threatened fur.
thee destruction. A division of the 60th Rifle Corps were however
sent for, and admitted inside the mill. They fired a few rounds of
blank cartridge over the beads of the mob, which had the effect of
entirely dispersing them, after they had done an inconsiderable
damage to the windows of another mull, belonging to Messrs.
Clop, Norris, and Cu., In Long !Wingate.
1 estenley morning groups of idle and dieorderly persons, chiefly i
boys, had assembled in various parts in the neighbourhood of St.
Georges-road and Ancoat's-lane, who (judging by their language)
seemed to regret that the mischief committed the night before h.d
not been more extensive. About twelve o'clock it-was strongly re.
ported that the mob were mustering in great force near the factory
belonging to Messrs. J. Clarke and Sons, in Pollard-street, An.
coat's-street, where there are a number of power-looms, used for
the manufacture of fustian'', and that the military had been firing
ma the people. This statement, however, we are happy tow, was
entirely without foundation. Some people had assembled.-but their
nuattirr was not great, and they ventured on no acts of violence, nor
were they tired on by the military. It war then reported that an
attack would he made on this mill in the CLAIM of the night. Ac-
tive preparations, however, had been made for its defence ; and at
a late hour :.:sterday the proprieturs were in hopes that Mere would
be no attempt made on their premiees ; and quite satisfied that if
there should, that they had ample meat's of repelling it. In
Swari.sfreet. Ancoats-lane. and Great Newnan-street, about noon,
and also in Ardwirk and Chothon-row, thete were several parties of
rough fellows, who called at the shop* and public and private houses,
levying contributions, in money or provisions. Their object, how I
ever, seemed chiefly to be the former; and persons were generally
intineed, from an apprehension lest violence might be committed, to
comply with their demands. In one instance they had .he audacity
to stops ewe-coach, and demand, and obtain,money from the
passengers. It was currently reported that they ad stripped several
provision shops in the neighbourhood of the New Cress and Ati coats.
lane, and also at Sank Top; but these statements, we are happy
to say, were incorrect. The contribution syst• m, however, was ex.
tended to the townships of Ardwirk and Cliorlion.mw., though, we
believe, with notch less suceems,than in the places where it was first
adopted; and by a little firmness or, the part of the people, and by
the precaution, which was pretty generally adopted, of closing the
dooms and al:Wows of Shops, It was at length put a atop to. The
bustle and excitement of the period, however, was taken advantage
of by the professed thieves who swarm in the neighbourhood of St.
St. George's Road; add for some hours in the afternoon not a de-
cvntly dressed person could make his appearautie in the neighbour-
hood without being attacked. The number and boldness of the rob-
beries committed were sorb as, in open dajligt4t, and in the centre of
a large town, we never beard of before. Mast of the actual tbs.
surname during Frith,. up to the hour at which we are writing
(seven o'clock in the evening), may. we believe, be fairly stated to
have been the wink of professed thieves. We have heard the cir.
cuinatances of a very large n•inther of robberies, and the names of the
persons robbed. but it would occupy too much space, and answer
no important end, ro recount the particulars. 'We may observe, how•
ever, that even people in gigs, and on horseback. were stopped,
slid their property forcibly taken from them. Gate aid watches
were snatched away, great coats seized. and pockets emptied, in al-
I most innumerable instances. From the persona who hail been super.
intending the distribution of provisions at the different depots ytioce.
day, we learn that the poor whom they saw there all seemed to evince
the heat spirit, and to view with exttemc disapprobation and regret
the riotous and destructive proceedings which lied taken place in
other parts of the manufacturing districts,—and, partially, in this
town. From what we saw, and alto from what we have heard, of
the persons who were so impudently demanding money in different
parts of the town and neighbourhood, we are convinced that, gene.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

rally speaking, they were not inhabitants of Manchester. or its im-
mediate vicinity, and that they were not stimulated by the pressure
of want.
The system of audacious robbery to which we have before advert.
ed, was continued, so that It was entirely unsafe for a well-dressed
person to be teen in that part of' the town, until towards evening,
when the greets began to be considerably more crowded by persons
who had been attracted to the spot by curiosity. after their day.'s
work was over. At length, about six o'clock, the civil power, in
considerable force, charged upon that part of the crowd where the
most mischief appeared to be going on, and for the moment din-
' permed them. They were assailed, however. by volleys of stones,
and some of them rather severely injured, and it became quite mini-
fest that they were not In strength available to clear the streets. In
consequence, several of the magistrates, amongst whom were
Menai*. Norris, Briefly. and Foster, proceeded about seven o'cli,2k
towards Great A ncoats-ntreet, where in half an hour anerwards
the Riot Act was read by Mr. Briefly, and a large placard, mat-
ing that it had been read, exhibited. The cavalry then scoured the
streets, and the police made prisoners of those, to the number of 24,
whom they met with, and hail reason to think had been concerned
in the robberies that had taken place. After this the crowds did
not attempt to re-assemble, but up to a late hour, indeed until past
midnight, every thing remained perfectly tranquil. As a measure
of precaution, however, piquetsof the Queen's Bays were ordered
to patrol the streets during the night.
A company of the Rocket Brigade reached this town yesterday
forenoon, and the Cheshire yeomarry, 200 strong, arrived about
half-pant two in the afternoon. The former, we are sorry to say,
were severely pelted with stones in the neighbourhood of the New
Cross. The police went up to that place about the same time, for
the purpose of attempting to take into custody Rome of the fellows
who were levying contributions, but having no military with him,
Mr. Lavender, who had only six assistants, found it impossible to
interfere.

PUBLIC MEETING.

TO RAM ♦ erIISCRIPTION FOR TUC RELIEF OF Tin DM

TRESSED MANUFACTURERS IN LANCASHIRE.
In the course of Saturday, a Requisition was presented to the
Lord Mayor, to convene a Public Meeting to raise a Subscription
tor the Relief of the Poor Weavers of Blackburn, and the other
suffering Poor of the Manufacturing classes in Lancashire. His
Lotdship at once gladly assented: and, upon a consultation with
the Requisitionists, fixed upon Thursday As the most convenient
day on which to convene it. In the course of the afternoon, how.
ever, from the accounts officially received of the increased urgency
of the distress, and the desperate condition to which the poor were
reduced. his Lordship has been induced to postpone the Court of
Aldermen, which was announced for Tuesday, and has determined
to hold the Meeting for the subscription on that day. The Requisi-
tionists were some of the most respectable men in the City, and a
number of Noblemen and Gentlemen from the West End of the
town have communicated with his Lordship on the subject, and in.
thirsted their intention to make exertions proportionate to the great
urgency and increasing extent of the suffering. The alteration of
the time of meeting was determined upon by his Lordship at half.
past 10 o'clock at night, the accounts upon which the ,atep was
taken havirg been received very late in the evening.

MESSRS. IitIRSTAND ROBINSON'S

COMMISSION.

Saturday the first Meeting of the bankrupt'', Thomas Hurst,
John Hurst, and Joseph Ogle Robinson, took place to r're the
Commissioners, Messrs. Montague, Meggison, Edison; &c., at the
Court, Basinghall-street. The business of the day was chiefly
confined to receiving proofs of debts, but we believe the extent of
the proofs did not exceed 50 000/., though the liabilities of the se.
veral estates amount to 500,000/.
The following debts were proved :..-Sir Charles Ogle, Bart., of
Berkeley.square, 20.5251., on a bond, and interest.
31e.sts. T. and J. Felthem, 1.1n51.; Mr. Clay. West-Smithfield,
1.7100/.; Mr. Newcomb, banker. Fleet-atreet, a bill, 1,500/. ; Mr
%Viiitmore, banker, Lombard-street, 1,0001.; Mesta, Kay, Bro.
therm. and Son. 2,4301. ; Mr. Mullen'', Threadneedle-street
2,0101.; Mr Saunders, bookseller, 3,000/., and interest on a bond
31r.11ITCH ENS asked the Solicitor under the Commission severe
9uestions relative to the admission of Mr. Thous. Hurst into the
hem (when he had seceded from Longman and Co.'s), in January
last. In the first place he 'tailed to know if there was a deed of
partnership ?—The Solicitor replied that there was.
M. lIIITCHENA asked to know if Mr. Thomas Hunt. on join.
in.; the firm, became entitled, by the deed of paruteeship, to a
vinire in the stock ?—The Solicitor said, that by the terns of the
deed, be certainly became entitled to his share in the stock-in.
trade.

---
Mr. If urctizsts said, the rewsnn he asked wss, because, that if
he became entitled to a share In the stock, he had also become li-
able to the debts of the concern.—The Soi...itor said that 3lr.
I fitchens was mistaken, he was not liable to the debts of the part.
nership incurred prior to January.
several creditors expressed surprise at this statement.
The proofs being admitted, and the tender of the bankrupts
taken, Mr. Montague signed their protection, and the Court ad-
journed.