The National Register.
London, England, 1820-11-27 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

RIOT AT MAIDOTONE.--In consequence of a meet•
ing convened at the Town Hall, to take into consi-
deration the propriety of a general illumination, it
was resolved that an illumination should take place
on Monday, by such of the inhabitants as should
think proper to do 60. At an early hour in the
evening the illumination commenced, and many
transparencies and devices were exhibited, but a
considerable number of the inhabitants did nut put
up a candle. All remained tolerably quiet till about
eight o'clock, when an attempt was made to light
up a bonfire in the High Town. Mr. Johnson, the
constable, and his assistants, agreeably to their
orders, resisted the attempt, when they were very ill
used, and entirely beaten off. The bonfire was
made, and about eigl.t o'clock as attack took place
on three houses, via. The MaUlsione Journal office,
Mr. Prence's (clemiat), and Mr. Crisp, (butcher).
A strong resistance was here mule by the civil
power, but in vain. An alarming riot ensued. The
windows of many other persons were broken. The
most outrageous threats were uttered, and repeated
representations were made to the Mayor, who was
meted at the Star Inn. At last, finding that the
lives, as well as property, cf the peaceable inha-
bitants were at stake, the Mayor, with great reluct-
ance, sent to Sir J:Brown, at the Cavalry Depot.
The Colonel, with a promptitude that does him the
greatest credit, sent out a mounted detachment,
which was soon after followed by some dismounted
Cavalry, and by their exertions the town was rescued
from a dreadiul scene of devastation. and.terror. The
soldiers were received by the mob with the most
opprobrious epithets, hissed, hooted, and pelted; but
they bore the insults with admirable patience. About
20 minutes to ten o'clock the Mayor read the Riot
Act. Several men were taken into custody, and
committed.—Two o'Clock, Tuesday Morning. A
mob in front of the Star threatens to release some of
the prisoners. Some of the cavalry still on duty.—.
Four orlock. The mob just dispersed, and the
town quiet.—Maidstone Gazelle.
Roane R 'fut.—About five o'clock on Saturday evening,
before the watch was set, Col. Slade, of Walcot-place,
Kennington, whilst ringing at his own door-bell, was
surrounded by three thieves, who pushed hint about,
and contrived to snatch his watch from his fob. The
Colonel knutediately gave an alarm; hut the villains,
being leeward sty the darkness, escaped across the fields, ,
at the back of the garden. At a late hour on Saturday
night, or early on Sunday morning, whilst there was a
very heavy fog, a ladder was placed against the
,first.floor
window of Mrs. Parkins's house, No. 17, Nursery-road,
Lock's-fields, Waltvonh, the fastenings filed away, and
the house robbed ul linen to the value of between WI.
and 301. The properly chiefly belonged to families in
the Borough, for whoin Mrs. Parkins washed, and .vas
mostly market I'. S. 'l'. P. and Bellamy; it consisted
principally of shirts, t tlile.cloths, and neckerchiefs.— '
About the same hour, a house in Flititstrect, adjoining,
was broken into by similar means (it is supposed by the
saute gang) and robbed of a bagful of books and a quan-
tity of plate; but the former were found the next morn-
ing in an adjoining field. On each of those occasions
the watchman passed near the spot, but the fog was so
impenetrable that he could not discover the ladder
at the other side of die street. Between ten and
eleven o'clock on the saute night, as Mr. Edward 041 e,
carpenter, residiti6 in 15, Gravel-lane, was walking
through Toolerttreet, on his way home, at the corner
of the Maze, a number of youths with links followed
him some distance, begging halfpence; bui he had
hardly got rid of them before he was knocked down by
an unseen hand ; he was then pressed to the eanh, and
held in that position till his pockets rifled of his week's
wages, which he had just before received, and also his
watch. He could not set the faces of those who robbed
hint; but he suspects they were part of the persons who
so annoyed him with their torc:.es. The premises of
Mr. Willis, in the Mint, Southwark, were entered
Sunday morning, and plundered of a great quantity of
linen, a watch, and even some of the tiousehold furni-
ture. Friday night, or early on Saturday morning, the
kitchen of the Westminster School was entered by
thieves, who stole every thing 'portable, and escaped
undetected. Some thieves broke into the larder of the
Earl ulOtislow, at Clandon, iu Surrey. on Monday
night. and plundered it of a great quantity of provisions
of all kinds.

Several persons were on Tuesday charged, at Bow-
street, with having assumed the staff and character
of constables, in order to rob with greater ease and
security.
Signor " Non mi Ricordo," Rastelli, and Nladaine
Dumont, were hung and burnt in effigy at North Creak,
Fakenham, and Wells, on the recent rejoicing At the
former place, the wonhy Rev. Arciideaenn
gave away six chaldrotss of coals and a bane! and a halt
of ale, and Mr. Dewing gave a barrel of ale, among the
poor; moot y wa, also sui.scribed by Mr. Reeve, Mr.
Blyth, Wright. and others, and distributed anione
list populace as a remembrance. Bonfires ..I;°, and
ringing ui hells, enlivened the scene.
inhabi•ants of Holt, in addition in their ilinei-
mitioos, proposed a subscription to supply their
neighbours with ale, but in eonstviciice of the Um.,
expressed by some linrldn, Icst riot shuidd be producer!
by SO diiing, the COI 1111 l ittee laudably clialirted their in-
tention, without relaxing in their exertion. to ofilittri
subscriptions, Jill .11butlitneu tile atu.tiint iu money on
the next (I.ty among we poor families of that town.
it was a saying at Milan, during the sittings of
what is termed the Commission, " If you want to
make your fortune, get passports fur England."