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

CHORLEY.

Shortly after noon on Thursday, a large mob made their appears
arty at one of the factories belonging to Messrs. George and Robert
If it ton, of Chileley, where there were nearly a hundred steamslooms.
The mincing!' were not at home. hut the overlocker having had a few
minutes' notice of the approach of the rioters, locked up the mill.—
When they made their appearance he mounted an elevated situa-
tion, and addressed them, stating that his employers were gradually
stopping the looms, as the work in them was finished, and did not
Intend again to employ them ; he therefore hoped they would go
away, and do no mischief. A considerable proportion scented ilk-
pawd to set an this advice but several rough fellows immediately
maid. if the looms were not to be worked again, they might as well
Welk them at any rate. The word was then given, and Instantly
obeyed. to force the doors ; at the same time a number of the mob
bald the overionker th.• they had come to break the looms, and
bias they would do ; hut thvy would take gond care that no other
part of the machinery should be injured, nor so much as a window
broken—and this was strictly adhered to. Howl :er, they set to
a: the looms, as many of them as the room would hold, with large
11(.44:e-stakes, and where thee wrath not .10, they tore oft
the beams, and prired the other pare of the loom to pieces
with them. Some had large knives, with which they tut up
the tarn and cloth on the looms, making, in short, a complete
acme of devastation. One fellow was beginning to tear down a
gas pipe. The overlooker got hold of him, and said. •' Don't spoil
that gasspipe—that is no loom, you are doing mischief enough
without that." The man looked up very deliberately, and said,
well, then, I won't." Colonel Silvester, the Magistrate, attended
as soon as possible, and read the Rint Act, amidst volleys of stories
dying in all directions, by which several people belonging to the
mill were very much hurt. It was at one time proposed to fasten
the doors of the mill, and attempt thus to secure those who were in
it, but this idea the apprehension of their proceeding to destroy the
other machinery caused to be abandoned. Two troops of dragoons
which had been sent for by express, left Blackburn about half,.
past three Wclark, and performed the distance to Thorley, eleven
mks, an less than thres quarters of an hour; but the rioters had

gone off about twenty minutes before their arrival. In consequence,
one troop immediately returned to Blackburn. The number by
whom Messrs. Htltmt's looms were destroyed, wu nut very great,
but it was afterwards ascertained that a large body, amounting. It
Is said. to some thousands- were lying in reserve, at places called
Harper's.lane and Botany Bay. at no great distance.
There were, butt eventag, reports that the mob had again made
their appearance in ('hurley, and destroyed the few bonnie they had
before left in the place, but we are unable to trace them to any au-
thentic source.
ADDING !IA :11.
We regret to see It stated in the Wakefield paper of yesterday,
that the systern„of outrage has extended to Yorkshire; and that
the looms in the factory of Mr. Jeremiah Hondall, at Addinghani,
were broken on Thursday ; but the statement is not accom.
panted by any particulars winch enable us to judge of its au-
thenticity.