The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-08 00:00:00

FOOD DISTURBANCES IN THE

NORTH.
(From the Inverness Courier.)
Within the last fortnight, we are sorry to say that the
usually peaceable districts of the north have, at least in
the towns and villages, been disturbed by riots and ex-
citements of a very disagreeable nature. Speculation in
the south has increased the price of grain to a very
grievous extent, and that increase, with the fact of daily
shipments being made, has very generally alarmed the
least informed classes on the shores of the whole
northern counties, In Banff, Moray, and Ross, there
have been riotous demonstrations to induce dealers
to keep the corn at home. While we regret that
such a spirit should be manifested, we are afraid
that the blame does not always rest with the crowd.
In Macduff, for instance, it is complained that, before
the rioting—and when the extensive shipments and
rising prices had elarmed the people lest all the grain
in Banffshire should be carried off—a portion of the in-
habitants offered money or security for a certain quan-
tity of meal to supply themselves, and were refused. In
Evanton (Ross-shire) also, meal in such quantities as
working men could afford to buy was not to be bad. The
demand, in short, for large quantities was so great, that
the retail market was not cared for. We are glad, how-
ever, to understand that the dealers themselves are now
anxious to keep at least the oat crop in the districts. In
Caithness, we mentioned some time ago, that the mer-
chants were refusing orders; and one of them, Mr. D.
Mackay, Thurso, has, we are informed, refused to enter
into contracts for no less than 15,000 quarters, supply-
ing only some ten or eleven hundred quarters for meal
and seed to Lewis and Skye, these districts being, when
the shipments were made, in a destitute conditiun. At
a meeting of the principal merchants and proprietors
of Morayshire, held at Elgin on Friday last, the
dealers pledged themselves that sufficient grain for
the wants of the community wculd be retained in
the county. A similar feeling, we believe, is general.
The great question is, what is the amount of food in the
country? It is confidently stated that there never was a
time when there need be less fear of famine. In the
shipping ports of the south, granaries are choked full.
In Morayshire, Sir John Macpherson Grant, in a letter
to the Elgin meeting, states that there is abundance for
the local wants and to spare for the destitute. Of oats
the quality was unusually good, and the crop in many
instances a third more than in ordinary years. Sir John
says, that he, for one, had given orders that none of his
grain should be sold out to any person for the southern
markets. Another letter, from an extensive dealer, to
the same meeting, stated that three-fourths of the oats.
two-thirds of the wheat, and a large quantity of the bar-
ley, were still in the farmers' hands. Other proprietors,
we know, have acted as Sir John M. Grant has done;
and if a little fellow-feeding is shown by the merchants
in the villages, in retailing such quantities as the people
can afford to buy, there will be no disturbance. Riot
has been prevented in Nairn, Forres, and other places,
the authorities having kindly taken steps to insure meal
being sold out at a reasonable rate—the difference be-
tween such a rate and the market prices being paid by
subscription. High prices are no doubt to be expected
this season; but speculation has unduly increased the
rates, and we expect that lower prices will soon prevail.
INVERNESS.—On Monday the disposition to riot mani-
fested itself here. For some time back, we learn that a
difficulty of obtaining meal in small quantities was felt,
the retailers, especially in the Merkinch, finding it out of
their power to purchase or sell with profit, from the
greatly increased price. The principalidealers, however,
had stocks on hand, and sold meal to all who came at
17d. per peck—a rise of a penny having taken place a
few days ago. The magistrates, further, had on Satur-
day arranged with the dealers that they should sell meal
in the smallest quantities to all who wished. The diffi-
culty, however, of getting timely supplies, and the
prospect held out by the sellers that prices would soon
be higher, excited the poorer population of the town;
and as the Morayshire, a Leith trader, was lying in
the harbour to take in grain, they determined to prevent
the shipment, under the impression that such a manifes-
tation would induce the merchants to lower the price of
meal. About eight o'clock in the morning the dis-
turbance commenced, and five carts with grain, from
Bunchrew, were turned at the harbour. From that
time to mid-day, the mob keeping watch, various
attempts to ship were frustrated ; and about one o'clock
on attack was made upon the house of a meal-dealer, and
the windows broken. The mob consisted solely of boys,
but a number of women were eager in encouraging them.
From Kessock-street the party proceeded round the
town, visiting the various dealers, and throwing stones
at their windows—attacking also the stores of those small
retailers who only sold out as they bought in, and some
of whom had not a boll on hand. While assaulting a
store at the shore, the sheriff and the magistrates came
down unaccompanied, and the mob retreated to the other
side of the water. About five o'clock, five carts, with
grain, were turned on the new bridge,- and in an hour
afterwards, the driver of a cart having, at Clachnaharry,
demurred to obeying the mob, they threw out the barley
sacks, unyoked the horse, brought the vehicle to the
new bridge, and there pitched it into the river.
About eight o'clock a considerable crowd assembled
at Castle-street, but on being remonstrated with
they dispersed ; at nine a second attack was made
on the wooden store at the quay. The lock was forced,
and some meal strewn on the floor. An outside stair,
loading to a loft, was also destroyed. The magistrates,
however, arrived, and put an end to the assault.
No further disturbance occurred. In the afternoon the
Town Council held a meeting, and at seven o'clock the
fire brigade, and a number of others, sworn in as con-
stables, assembled in the Town. hall. The pensioners,
also, were called together, but as no disturbance took
place, and all seemed quiet, they were dismissed about
midnight. To-day (Tuesday) no disposition to repeat
these unfortunate excesses had been shown, and all is
quiet. The committee for managing the local subscrip-
den here has opened a meal store at the Shore, which
promises to be highly useful. A soup kitchen has also
been established, and other measures of relief adopted.
GRANTOWN.—The authorities have succeeded in re-
storing peace at Grantown. Two apprehensions were
made—one for rioting and the other for deforcing the
officers. The prisoners have been sent to Inverness.
EVANTON (Boss-suinu.)-0a Thursday two or three
hundred persons assembled at Fowlis Point, from Evan-
ton and the neighbourhood, to prevent the shipment of
grain for the south. A few days previously several car-
goes of barley bad been dispatched, and a vessel was ex-
pected on the day in question, and the crowd expressed
themselves strongly to the effect that they would allow
no grain to be put into her. The expected ship not
making her appearance, a fire was kindled on the beach,
where a great number of people stayed all night. Next day
five carts of grain were met near the Waterloo, and
turned. On Saturday, the sheriff proceeded to the
Point to expostulate with the people. The vessel had
now arrived, but the result of the proceedings was, that
the vessel sailed again without any grain. No person
was injured in this outbreak ; and when the object was
accomplished the band marched back to Evauton with
flags and a piper, and quietly dispersed. The people ap-
peared to have only acted from necessity, in a manner,
because, for a length of time, they had had no meal of
their own, and at the mills they were refused, it is said;
even a handful for money.
Encarie.—ln Elgin considerable excitement prevailed
during the week on the subject of the supply of food.
On Tuesday evening the younger portion of the popula-
tion paraded the streets, and made demonstrations before
the doors of the principal grain merchants. On Wed-
nesday the sheriff and magistrates issued a notice that
measures were being taken to secure to the populalie an
abundant supply of meal. That measure, lot tunately,
had the desired effect ; though the officials deemed it
prudent to secure the services of a detachment of mili-
tary from Fort George, in case of an emergency. A
meeting of the proprietors and corn-dealers was held on
Friday forenoon, in the Court-house, at the request of
Sheriff Cameron, for the purpose of allaying apprehen-
sion by giving an assurance that there was abundance
of grain in the county. Admiral Duff took the chair ;
and we learn, by a second edition of the Elgin Courant,
that the meeting was numerously attended, and that
resolutions to the following effect were agreed to :-
Ist. That the meeting, having the best means of
knowing, were perfectly satisfied that the alarm o
scarcity as regards Morayshire is altogether groundlessf
—2(l. That the meeting were convinced that the farm-
ers and shippers have no intention of shipping more
grain than will fulfil a few small contracts, while seve-
ral extensive growers present expressed a determination
not to sell oats for exportation.-3d. That while they
could not fix the price of grain; the meeting-4th.
Would open a subscription for laying in a store or meal
to be applied to the use of the really deserving.-sth.
That the lawless conduct complained of had the effect
of preventing a ready supply of meal in a few districts,
producing the distress complained of. At the meeting a
letter was read from Sir John Macpherson Grant, of
Ballindalloch, and one from the factor to the Earl of
Moray, recommending the retention of the oat crop—
but the oat crop only—in the county, as it was amply
sufficient fur the wants of the county.
NAIRN.—On Thursday last a circular was issued, set.
ting forth that the Lord-Lieutenant, Sheriff-Substitute,
and Provost, finding that it had become almost impos-
sible for the poorer classes in this district, even when
provided with money, to get meal in cocks and a I If.
pecks, met on that day, and originated a subscription
for the establishment of " Town and County Retail
Store," for the accommodation of the people during the
next three or six months. Such an institution, it was be-
lieved, would have a salutary effect upon prices, and avert
consequences from a wide. spread, though unfounded, fear
of scarcity. A sum of 1191. was immediately subscribed,
and Mr. A. Anderson, corn-merchant, at once sold to
the committee seventy quarters of cats, stored for ship-
ment, at current prices. The meal-store was opened on
I Saturday last, and has already had the effect of prevent-