The Sun.
London, England, 1812-09-16 00:00:00

NOTTINGHAM, SEPT. 12.

It is with sensations of the most painful nature
we have to notice, the spirit of, riot and disorder
which-has prevailed in. this town during the pre-
mit week, occasioned by the high price of flour.
-It having been ascertained that a considerable re-
duction took place in the price of wheat in our
market on- Saturday last, (but w ich, ,it . appears,
did not exceed from 10 to 15 shillings.-per quarter
on corn that was in a fit state to-grind), the peo-
plelnaturally conceived, that as the bakers and
dealers in flour had profited by the rise in ,every
instance, on their stock in band, they ought, on
a principle of-fair dealing, to concede the advan--
tage of a fall in the prices of corn in the market to
the public. They were, therefore, persuaded, That
flour would be sold on- the lNJonday following at
a proportionably reduced rate ; but as the dealers
had bought in their stock at the highest possible
price, they could not, without sustaining a. very
material loss, lower it to the. price-so confidently
expected, aid so anxiously desired, and. in conse-
cpience, a-strong ferment wis created in the pub-
lic mind, which led to the commission of much
Mischief.

On Monday morning, parties of women and
Children, acting upon the example recently put
-
sued at Leeds and Sheffield, visited the ,different
Sour dealers and bakers' shops, bearing a penny
loaf on the end of a stick, and ringing a bell, and
peremptorily requiring then n to lower the:Fice of
bread and flour. The different groupes were soon
joined by great numbers, wbo proceeded in thisi
manner to all the shops in the, town. Some of
the bakers' and dealers readily assented to their
request ; others agreed to. it on condition that
the rest in the trade did the same ; some positive-
ly refused ; and one baker, we are told, actually
laid an advance of two ,pence per stone on the
prices of the preceding weelc Such as. complied
with the wishes of the multitude, were cheered;
and those who refused to listen to the ,dictates of
the mob, had their windows broken. In this
manner, the tumult' continued during the whole
of Monday and. Tuesday.—The Magistrates 'acted
with ,'the greatest lenity, and .forbearance, and
thOugh.they found it" necessary to read the Riot
Act, they relied more on the pers`uasive means,
than the use of force, to induce the mob to:dis-
perse. This, however, tended only. to make the
mob more daring and insolent ; and it at length
became necessary to call in the aid of military
small parties of which were stationed in some of
the bakel•s' houses for the protection of their pro-
perty: •
Hitherto the proceedings
.Were principally, con-
fined to the. women ; but on' Tne.,,day evening a
large mob collected in Hockley, who insultedthe
Magistrates, and threw stones it the hussars, who
were at length ordered to clear the streets, and
several pistols having been fired by way of inti-
midation, the whole speedily dispersed, without
further mischief. The town has 'since remained
perfeetly tranquil.
.The Magistrates have taken the most effectual
measures for the protection. of farMers and others
bringing supplies to market.
Several, parties of rioters visited the mills in.
this neighbourhood, and some of the farm-houses,
where they were relieved with money. Guards
are now stationed at several mills.. ~'