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

THE BRITISH PRESS

' ALARMING INTELLIGENCE FROM THE
MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS.
It is with regret we are compelled to pursue our narrative of the
lawless proceedings of the unemployed, and,we are shocked to add,
nearly starving operatives, in sonic of the Northern Manufacturing
Districts ; and it is our painful duty to communicate that these
riots, so far from having subsided when our last accounts arrived,
were more widely spreading, attended by the most reckless devas.
tation of power-looms at the manufactorits, and the usual eon.
cornitant of such scenes, the ruin and bloodshed of the rioters, the
wanton destruction of the property of others, and the terrible ag-
gravation of the previously existing misery. Our latest accounts
tram Blackburn are up to the 27th instant, and from them we
learn, that on the previous day the power.looma in the extensive
manufactory of Mr. Turner, at Helm:shore, were destroyed ; that
171) loom' were also demolished at Rawtenstall, and some more at
Oddleatone, and at Mr. Hacking's, Edenfield, where we are in-
formed some military resistance was ineffectually offered, and seven
or eight persons killed; amongst the number, one woman and
a soldier. During these outrages some prisoners were taken,
but many of them were afterwards rescued. One of our private
letters from Blackburn states the following intelligence :
" Further accounts have arrived, of • melancholy nature. The
populace are up in Bury, and • sanguinary affray has taken place
between the military them, the result of which has been the loss
of the lives of eight persons, including two soldiers. However, as
usual, victory crowned their exertions. I don't speak of the last
affitir as true, but every moment tends to confirm the report.—
Wherever the people present themselves btfore the soldiers, they
cry with one voice, ' we are not come to fight you, but to be
friends; we are hungered to death almost, and we would rather
die than live in the manner we have done for the last few months.'
Such, Sir, arc their feelings, and who can soothe their minds?—
The following Proclamation has just been put into my hands,
and which will speak more than I can
Whereas information has been received that great multitudes
of persons have beef) unlawfully assembled, for the purpose of at-
tacking factories and destroying machinery therein : Notice is
hereby given, that a military force is now collecting in the neigh.
bourhood of Preston, and will be prepared to act without delay, in
defence of the persons and property of hit Majesty's subjects.—
By order of the Magistrates, April 25, 1826.—Preston.'
" Business is all at a stand; two of the largest factories in this
town have been shut up this week. What the consequences will
be, time only can tell.'
Thirteen prisoners were apprehended at Mr. Turner's ; they were
taken to Mr, Neil's, the New Inn, at Haslingden, when they un-
derwent an examination before a Magistrate. Whilst, however,
the examination was proceeding, the mob assembled in front of the
house, and sent a volley of stones, by which all the windows were
broken, and the frames forced out ; the prisoners then jumped out
of the windows, and were taken away in triumph by the mob.
Our private letters front Colne state, that on Tuesday and Wed-
nesday small and inadequate divisions of the military were in con-
stant contact with large bodies of the rioters near the manufactories
within the circuit of five miles round Blackburn. The following
are extracts .

" Manchester, Wednesday.
" This town has been in a state of considerable alarm for the
whole of to-day, in consequence of the riotous proceedings in
other manufacturing parts of the county, and reports that
the insurgents intended to continue their destructive career
to Manchester, by way of Stayley-bridge. The apprehen-
sions
excited by such rumours we►e not a little heightened by the
departure this afternoon of between three and four hundred troops
for Blackburn, in order to assist in stopping the plunitcr and soar.
lice of property perpetrating in that and other towns. It is said
that all the power.looms in Blackburn and Darwen have been
already demolished, and that all the provision shops and warehouses
have been broken open, and robbed of the eatables they contained.
Three of the multitude have been shot and several wounded by the
military, in their endea►ours to save the pmpeny of the manu-
facturers from being entirely laid waste. 'lhe mob are reported
to amount to twenty thousand men, armed with pikes and fire.
arms, and vowing the destruction of all the power.looms
Lancashire.
" Manchester (same date).
" There is dreadful work at Blackburn, Clithero. Hanlingden,
&c. Report says, at least 20,000 or 30.000. in different detach.
menu, are going about, and that their object is to destroy all powers
looms. They have destroyed a power loom at Rottendale, and are
proceeding towards Rochdale. The military have nearly all left.
Manchester for different places. Unless we get a large force imme-
diately, I fear the result will be dreadful. The hiob are armed
with pikes, axes, and hammers. I understand an application
has jhst been made from Preston for troops. The sth (the Princess
Charlotte of Wales') regiment of Dragoon Guards has been or.
dered to march from York for Leeds. Three troops of the 10th
(the Prince of Wales' Own) Royal regiment (Hussars) have been
ordered to march from Nottingham for Manchester. Two troops
of the Ist (the King's) regiment of Dragoon Guards have been
ordered from Leeds to Blackburn. On Tuesday morning
a troop of the King', Dragoon Guards, stationed In our barracks,
left Leeds for the neighbourhood of Blackburn, to assist In sup-
pressing the riots there; ■nd at one o'clock in the afternoon of
that day another troop of the same regiment proceeded to the
disturbed parts of Lancashire, for the like purpose. About seven
o'clock yesterday evening a third troop left our barracks, and
took the shortest route to Addinghsm, in consequence, we under.
stand, of an express received from Otley. It is said, on good
authority, that the rioters in Lancashire have bound themselves
by a dreadful oath to eradicate power.loonis in the whole of that
county. Two pieces of cannon were sent from Manchester to Bury
on Thursday last."

" Colne, April 26.
"On Monday morning about 40.000 or MEM poor weavers as-
setribled at Ilenlield Moor, and from thence proceeded to Ac-
crington, and destroyed a considerable number of powev.looms
there, and in different villages around, u well as at Blackburn and
its neighbourhood ; and from thence to Clithero, where they are in
contact with the military power. I suppose the number of de-
stroyed looms must be from 400 to 600 pairs. Yesterday a
waggon proceeding through this place, lailan with power looms,
for Messrs. Gamete and Horsfall, of Addingham, was stopped by
the mob, who broke the whole of them to pieces. Fro' this you
may form some idea pf our situation : nothing can be anticipated
but bloodshed. The poor here are actually starving."
" Blackburn, April 26.
" The mob entered the town on Monday afternoon, with their
pikes, pistols, guns, and large sticks. exposed. We felt rather
alarmed. They proceeded through the streets to B. Eccles'
factory, and demolished all the power-looms. They are now at
Clithero, and all our soldiers are called there."
The tbllowing is a short summary of the news received in London
up to a late hour on Saturday evening
Fact st Bis RT.—The accounts are up to eight o'clock on Thurs-
day evening; ail the power-looms in the neighbourhood wore de-
stroyed. . _

CIIORLE Y.--11elton's factory entirely destroyed.
ST OC LPOlLT.—Howard's factory partially dest•oyed.
Among the variety of intelligence vent us from Manchester,
dated late on Thursday evening, we select the following letters:—
" Manchester, April 27.
" A very large assemblage of people took place at St. George's
Fields to-day, and they formed a proceuion,with loaves of bread in
a coffin, carried on men's shoulders. Thus far they have been
orderly here but, from the conduct of mobs in the neighbourhood
of Bury, Clithero, and Blackburn, against power-loom factories,
all having similar establishments in other plac..s feel themselves
exposed to outrage, and fear it. About 10,000 congregated this
forenoon, and it is probable we may not get over the night without
disturbances here."

Another letter, same date:—" As I am closing my letter, I see
what I have no doubt are two factories blazing.
The accounts from the districts from Rochdale to Hyde, con-
taining the most dense population and the most extensive facto-
ries. are looked for with the deepest interest: if the rioters proceed
in that direction, the greatness of the English manufactories may
be destroyed in a few hours.
[From the third edition of the Blackburn
Mail Office, Thursday Afternoon.
Finding that a misapprehension has arisen from our account of
the proceedings at Orimahaw Park, on Monday afternoon, in con-
sequence of our having used somewhat too strong an expression,
viz. that the soldiers were overpowered by the mob, which is rot
correct in 'the full sense of that word, we are anxious to set the
public right upon the subject. Our meaning was, not that the
soldiers were beat off, but (as the fact really was) that the mob,
being so numerous, effected an entrance into the factory at three or
four places at once, which it was utterly impossible, from the na-
ture of the ground, for the soldiers to prevent.
We have received accounts of the proceedings of the mob, or
rather various parties of the mob, at other places, viz. Long Holme,
near Rawtenstall, Erlentield, Chadderton. and I3acup, at each of
which the power-looms in the factories there were destroyed. At
Bacup, we understand, there were four factories which shared this
fate ; and it thus appears that in the course of yesterday no less
than eight factories were entered by the mob, and the power-looms
in them completely destroyed. We are sorry to add, that at the
attack on the Chadderton factory,eleven of the mob (ten men and a
woman) were shot dead, and that one of the dragoon.; stationed
there, together with his horse, and also one of a party of riflemen,
were likewise killed.

A gentleman who came by the mail from Manchester last night,
also informed us that the lanes between here anti Bolton were lite-
rally tilled with people, who were apparently coming across the
country from the neighbourhood where the above riots were cam-
ndtted. and that the yeomanry cavalry were mustered.
We have just received information that similar proceedings to
the above hove been begun at Ashton-under-Line and ()Idham.
At the former piece we learn that an attack hat been made on one
of the factories there, and that in the attempt 3 lives were lust.
ar.F.Payr Tit a Eg, P.M.—An express has just arrived from
Chorley, with the intelligence that a considerable party were ap-
proaching the town. The troop of Dragoons who came from Leeds
were immediately unisteeed, and have just usual, sword in hand,
at full speed, for Chorley.
HALF•PAST Slx,..?..x.—We stop the press to announce that
the soldiers are just returned, the mob havir.g, previous to their
arrival in Chewier, destroyed all the looms, amounting to about lA.
The three men, who were said in our second edition to be then
under examination at the Sessions Room, were fully c immitted to
Lancaster Castle. and conveyed there last night. The six men who
were first apprehended were brought froea Preston this morning,
and again examined at the Sessions Room, when two of them were
fully committed to Lancaster Cutle. The others were remanded.
This morning another man was apprehended, at Darwen, and
brought here soon afterwards, who, it appears, was one of the party
that entered the factory at Cbadderton. He has not yet been
examined.
At a public meeting at the Sessions Room, this morning, on the

subject of enlarging the workhouse (of which we shall give a full
report next week), the Rev. Vicar, who was in the Chair. stated,
that he had this morning received another donation of 50/. fmm
151. B. Lister, Esq. of Lowth, in Lincolnshire, for the relief of the
paw. Upon this the thanks of the meeting were voted to that gen-
tleman, and similar votes were severally passed to his Grace the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Chester, Sirs. Fisher,
end Jonathan Peel, Esq. of Accrington, the last of whom lies pre-
sented the very handnottie donation of 1011/. for the same charitable
object.
EXTRACT or A LETTER raost MANCHESTER, DATED

THURSDAY.
" The greatest alarm pervades this town .: a number of
workmen assembled this morning in St. Georges-road—it has
been stated to the nunibrr of 5,000. but the number I think
is uncertain. They quietly separated about twelve o'clock, but it
is feared with the intention of meeting again in the evening. In
larger numbers. A person has just assured me that he saw at least
LOW at Simile. hill. Should any disturbance take place, the worst
is feared. Moat of the military are gone from hence to the parts
where the greatest mtschie has been done. Various reports arc
afloat as to the line of conduct intended to be adopted by the Ma.
gistrates; but I am not able to give you any decisive information
on this head. The following are the factories at which the whole
of the power-looms have been destroyed :_Homes and Co., Bury ;
Hutchinson and Co., ditto; Turner, Haalingden ; Akins. Chad.
demon ; Whitehead, Raddleadale ; Kay, ditto ; It'almtley,
Church ; Burys, White Ash ; Eccles, Darvien ; Eccles, Blark-
burn, Sykes, ditto; Houghton, ditto; Rauston, Ettettlield. The
number of looms destroyed is, in the whole, at least 3.000. Sonic
workmen, who have been employed half time, have been prevented
from working by others who have turned out."
In one of the letters we have seen from Blackburn, it is stated,
that such was the alarm among the proprietors of the factories,
that they would not write, in case their letters should get into the
possession of the mob, and that they should be marked : that is,
we suppose, marked out for destruction by the rioters. We trust,
however, thie feeling is not general.
Tice mill of Mr. Hugh Beaver wu attacked, and all the looms
in it destroyed. The mob attempted to set fire to the building, but
it was fire-proof, and only the books in the counting-home, and
some matters of less moment, were destroyed.
It was anticipated in Manchester and Its neighbourhood, on
Thursday, from the assemblage that took place of the workmen in
the morning, that there would be a further anti larger meeting in
the evening--so it turned out. About five o'clock vast numbers
began to assemble at New Cross, Shude-hill, and, as may he
easily imagined, created the greatest alarm, the numbers increasing
to an alarming extent ; and, as far as an opinion can be hastily
formed, before eight o'clock there could not be less than 10,0(10
assembled. About the latter hour they proceeded to the factory of
Mr. Arkwright, in NI iller's-lane, and there destroyed the whole of
the looms in the old factory—these were not power.looms ; but
an attempt was made to destroy the power-looms in an adjoining
building, which did not succeed ; this was attributed to have been
prevented by the nature of the enclosure, there being high gates
and other guards that protected the premises, and which were diffi-
cult of assault. In the town there was comparatively hut a few
military, and those consisted chiefly of the Cheshire Voluntur
Cavalry ; many even of time had been matched off to distant
places. What were there were called out, and when nor informant
left the spot, only one death had been heard of, and this was said
to have occasioned by a shot fired front a carbine nr rifle
!through an re at the factory, the hall of which pasted through
the neck of individual, who instantly fell. There were -rumours
m
that some of vs had Mien, but the fact was not accurnely wee.
tained. At a tate hour on Thursday, soldiers wereseen coming in
from the surrounding neighbourhood ; a great number of special
constables w sworn in, but notwithstanding this, on Friday,
numerous part -were to be seen parading the streets, particularly
on the Hudak d road, and visiting the various shops ; those
e
who would not give to the demandantt, without ceremony, were
deprived of their saleable+. particularly provisions. In that quarter
of the town, on Eriday afternoon, all the shops were shut up, and
op te a late hour the inhabitants were in a state of the greatest
anxiety and alarm. About six o'clock on Friday, a party of Ar.
tillery, with two field.piecett, were seen near the Midway House,
on the Stockport road, making their way to Manchester; each
piece was drawn by four horses, and their pace of travelling could
only be called a forced march. From the mischief already done at
the manufactory named, it is thought that not less than tire hundred
hands would be thrown out of employment. Such are the accounts
we have received, and, from the general complexion, from the ob.
servations of an individual on the spot, we regret to say that we
have our fears that the worst is not yet come ; such excesses are,
however, the height of folly—very madness.
The following is a letter dated Blackburn, April 27, 1112 fl :
" tif ll—Veeterelag,l brought up the news to ten o'clock, but was
so eager to give infommtion to the latest possible moment of post
time, that though I was only a few minutes after the closing of the
letter-box, I was compelled to pay lid. that it might go by the mail,
which, by the by, only leaves town at five o'clock the next morn-
log. The town has been perfectly peaceable the whole day, and
nothing but the sound of the trumpet creates any alarm ; indeed,
we are in momentary expectation of the soldiers marching either to
one place or another. .

"'About three o'clock this afternoon an express arrived here, that
the loom-breakers had assembled in great numbers in Chorley, and
were preparing to attack the power-looms in that place, and, of
course, no 'soldiers being there, about 70 of the First Dragoon
Guards went off at full gallop, sword-in-hand, to the assistance of
the power.loom masters there. However, before the soldiers
reached their destination, ninety pair were demolished, and all the
loom-breakers had dispersed.
6` The soldiers returned here again about 7 p.m., and bring ac-
counts that the work of destruction had been completed before their
arrival in Chorley. This town Is in a most frightful state; ail bu.
siness nearly at a stand. Five poor wretches are committed to our
county gall, charged with modal offences; others are being ar-
rested ; and thus nothing but * • • • starvation is the order of
the day. A system of espionage is in active operation here."
tour correspondent proceeds to repeat reports which had just
attached Blackburn, of disturbances, attended with the most
li-
ntmntable consequences, having taken place at Ashton.under-Dine,
Oldham• enadderton, and Manchester, which we sincerely hope
will not be confirmed. He concludes by saying—
On Monday, in our town, five couple presented themselves at
the alter to get the hymeneal knot tied, but such was the alarm
that no priest could be found' to tie the knot.
" Your's, respectfully,
" Half-past 9 o'clock, P.m."

DREADFUL RIOTS.—DESTRUCTION OF POWER.
1.001118.
[From the. Manchater Guardioh.)
We moat deeply lament that we have this week to record a series
of outrages, more alarming In their nature, and more ruinous in
their consequences, than any which have occurred In this country
for a great number of years. But, before we proceed to describe
these frightful occurrences, it may not be amiss to revert to some
preceding transactions, which may probably assist us in tracing the
disturbances to the source.

Of the commercial embarrassments under which the country DOW
labours, or the frightful distress which those embarrassments have
inflicted on the labouring population of the country, it is not now
necessary to say a single word ; and it is perfectly well known to
ali our readers, that, of all the distressed workmen, none have la-
boured under privations more severe and insupportable than the
cotton-weavers of this county, and especially those residing at
Blackburn, Burnley, Caine, Padiham, and other places in the hun-
dred of Blackburn, where they form by much the greater part of the
population. In that neighbourhood they are chiefly employed in
the manufacture of printing calicoes; and it happens, that that
species of manufacture is the one for which power-looms have been
found to be best adapted, and in which they have consequently
been most extensively employed. The produce of the labour of
the hand-weavers hies therefore had to come to the market in com-
petition with the fabrics produced by the power-looms.
When the commerce of the country was in a flourishing state this
competition was not very sensibly felt, as there was a demand fur
all the goods which could be produced, either by the hand-weaver
or the power-loom. But when the demand for goods was reduced
to one-half of its former amount, a preference was naturally given
by buyers to the power-loom cloths, which are generally much su-
perior to those manufactured by hand ; and moat of the power-loom
manufacturers, being persons of considerable capital, were enabled
to hold their goods when the markets were in a depressed state, and
consequently to keep their work-people in full work at good wages,
when the employment of the hand-weavers was greatly curtailed,
and their wages considerably reduced.
Coder these circumstances a strong feeling of hostility towards
power-looms began to arise in the minds of the weavers, who, even
in good times, had regarded them with jealousy and apprehension.
This feeling, we fear, has been considerably encouraged by some
of their employers, who have parried every complaint of reduction
of wages and diminution of employment, by a declaration that it
was to be ascribed entirely to the power-looms, and some of them
(we are informed) have gone KO fares to tell their weavers that, un-
less the powerelooms were put down, they should be under the ne-
cessity of abandoning the trade, and their workmen would than be
left entirely without employmert. We do not mean to assert that
the persons who used such language to starving weavers intended
that it should excite them to such acts of outrage as have recently
occurred ; but it must be admitted that it was very likely to pro-
duce them ; and it has, we have no doubt, had a considerable share
in bringing them about.
For six weeks or two months past, emissaries, chiefly, we be.
lieve, from a village in the neighbourhood of Blackburn, have
b-en travelling about the country, representing to the weavers that '
all their distresses were owing to the power looms, and urging
them to rise and destroy those machines; stta.ng at the sante time
that the (government, the magistrates, and alt persons, except the
proprietors of the looms, would he exceedingly glad to see them
destroyed ; and that the military would offer no resistance, pro-
vided the people confined their operations to the destruction of
power-looms.
Under these circumstances, it wan not surprising that men, re-
duced to the last stage of poverty and destitution, were wrought
upon to commit outrages such as we shall now proceed to de-
scribe.
. _ _

The slight attack upon the premise* of Messrs. Sykes, of Ac-
crington, on ‘Vednesday week, which we briefly mentioned in r
last, appears to have been a premature and casual explosion
of the popular feeling. The persons engaged in it were chief,.
women and boys, and they did little or no mischief beyond break-
ing the windows. On Monday last, however, proceedings of afar
different character commenced, and in the forenoon of rind day a
very large assemblage of persons took place on a hill at ten(te)d,
a place where the four roads leading to Blackburn, Burnley,
Whalley, abd Haslingden Meet, and where there wu also a
similar assemblage lut week. What took piece Wee etol.ly
be judged of by the eying. After remaining some Wee