The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-04 00:00:00

FOOD RIOTS IN SCOTLAND.

GRANTOWN, STRATHSPEY.— This peaceable village
presented on the evenings of Wednesday and Thursday
last a scene of tumult and disturbance of a very unusual
nature. Fur some time back great quantities of grain
and meal were carried away from the district to Lecha-
ber and elsewhere, and food was considerably raised in
price, particularly meal. Latterly, the Grantown meal
dealers refuse to sell small portions to the villagers, as it
was more convenient for them to dispose of their stock
wholsale. Oa the days mentioned, or the preceding
day, several Lochaber dealers, carters, Sec., having made
their appearance, and it having been rumoured that they
had threatened, if they did not get meal (for which they
were willing to give a high price), they would, as in
days of yore, take the same by force ; this bravado,
added to the fact that the meal dealers had refused to
a •commodate the poor and tradesmen with small quan-
tities, so incensed the populace, that a meeting of the
inhabitants was convened by tuck of drum, to consider
what steps should be taken. About seven o'clock P.M.,
several hundreds congregated on the village square,
from whence they proceeded to the lodging-
place of the Lochaber men, and carried off the carts,
eight in number, to the square. They then called again
on the parties, for the purpose of getting them to agree
to go home without meal, but could not see or gain
access to them ; and, we regret to state that, in conse-
quence of this, the carts were unwheeled and tossed
about—one of the wheels being found next day in the
river Spey, about a mile's distance from the town. The
populace having ascertained that the Lochaber men were
determ'ned to carry off loads with them, though not to
such an extent as they contemplated at first, congregated
on Thursday night about the same hour, for the purpose
of driving them away without meal. The district officer
of police and a special constable having taken a prisoner,
the mob rescued him, and a scufflo ensued, in the course
of which both the officials were struck to the effusion
of their blood. Sheriff Colquhoun and Mr. Mackay,
Procurator Fiscal, proceeded to Grantown, to take a
precognition of the case. Mr. Macbean, superintendent
of police, with one or two constables, also went
thither. In the course of the examination on Monday,
seven apprehensions took place; but when the prisoners
were about to be driven off to Inverness, a mob deforced
the authorities and rescued their townsmen. A messen-
ger was instantly despatched, who arrived in Inverness
at two o'clock on Tuesday morning, and immediately
again set out on his return, with an additional officer,
and from 40 to 50 batons. In the meantime, 60 special
constables were sworn in at Grantown, who were to as-
semble at ten o'clock yesterday (Tuesday) forenoon, and
apprehend the rioters, as well as preserve the peace.—
Inverness Courier.
ELGIN, JAN. 29.—The present enormously high prices
of provisions, chiefly meal, with a riotous disposition in
several districts of the counties of Aberdeen and Banff,
have been marked by several symptoms in this country.
The extensive exportation of oats and oatmeal has crea-
ted considerable excitement in the minds of the working
classes regarding the quantity of meal for consumpt.
Immediately on receiving information of it, Mr. Sheriff
Cameron issued circulars for a meeting of the corn mer-
chants and principal farmers to be held in the Court
House to day (Friday), it having been suggested, that if
as assurance could be given on the authority of the corn
growers of the county not selling more of their
present oat crop for exportation, and only for home
consumption, whereby the working classes could be as-
sured that a sufficient quantity of oats would be retained
in the county for their support till next harvest, it
would go far to allay their present alarm. This was
regarded by the community as a judicious proceeding,
and apprehensions of scarcity seemed to be removed,
but the outcry still continued against the high price.
On Tuesday evening, the younger portion of the town
paraded the streets, and afterwards did some damage to
the residence of a gentleman extensively concerned in the
grain trade. Disaffection also prevailing amongst the
people at the shipping ports of Burghead and Gar-
mouth,
the cxportatien of meal having been prevented, ;
a warning proclamation by the Sheriff and Magis-
trates was issued on Wednesday morning in the dis-
turbed districts, and stating, that measures were taking
for a sufficient supply of corn for food for the inhabit-
ants. In order, also, to remove from the minds of the
fitherruen of Burghead the apprehension of scarcity and
of high prices, the principal inhabitants, at the beginning
of the week. gave assurance of plenty. This had the effect
of temporarily lull ng the dissatisfaction of the people ;
but this state of matters did mot long continue. On
Tuesday, the Ceres, Captain Mason, being freighted
with a cargo of meal for Leith, a number of women and
children congregated at the harbcur, and succeeded in
re-landing the commodity. In the scuttle two bolls were
destroyed and carried away, the remainder were lodged
in the storehouse. On Tuesday, Sheriff Cameron, the
Procurator Fiscal, and Mr. hay of the police, with
some difficulty succeeded in shipping a quantity of meal.
Ott Wednesday the proprietor of Burghead visited the
port, and got the inhabitants to assist in getting the
vessels about to sail ready for sea, and the greatest
order prevailed till the arrival of a large party of fisher-
men from Hopeinan, who roused many of the women in
Burghead, who took a quantity of meal from one vessel,
and lodged it in a granary, and prevented another from 1
receiving grain. The Sheriff of the county, and about 70
special constables, subsequently endeavoured to suppress
the tumult, but without effect. We are assured, on good
authority, that not one man belonging to Burghead took
any active part in the riot of Wednesday, although there
is no doubt they sympathised with those who did so.
On Thursday all was quiet at Burghead. Similar dis-
turbances have taken place at Fochabers, Garmouth, and
other towns on the coast. A large body of special con-
stables were sworn in here on Wednesday morning;
and yesterday a detachment of military arrived from
Fort George, and are now stationed in the town.
Hitherto the destruction of property in this town and
neighbourhood has been trifling, but great excitement
prevails.
Losstemotern.—A public meeting of the inhabitants
of Lossiemouth, Stottield, and Branderburgh, was held
in the secession Church, Elgin, on Tuesday last.
From six hundred to seven hundred were present, Mr.
Robert Brander, shipping agent, was called to the chair.
After some preliminary discussion, the following reso-
lution was proposed and unanimously agreed to:—
" That Messrs. William Scott, A. Sutter, James Stewart,
and John Henderson, be appointed as a deputation from
this meeting, to meet a committee of the trades of Elgin,
with the view of getting a joint committee to call on
Messrs. John Allan, Alexander Cay, and James Hoyes,
for the purpose of urging upon them to refrain from the
exportation of oats and oatmeal, from this county, until
the exigencies of the county as to this description of
food are provided for." The meeting having thereafter
communicated to Mr. W. Stephen the above resolution,
requested him to state whether he was prepared to act
on it ; and Mr. Stephen having cordially concurred in
its suggestion, a vote of thanks was tendered fur thus
agreeing to the request of the meeting.
LOSSIEMOUTH, JAN. 28.—A correspondent writes us,
of this date—" The object of the meeting on Tuesday
not being generelly known, very little attention was paid
to it ; and to-day, when a number of carts arrived with
oats, they were surrounded by %omen and boys ; but
instead of sending them out of the town, as was Of

ease at some of the adjoining ports, the women quietly
accompanied the carts to the corn-factor's granary, and
after seeing the grain safely deposited there, they (the
women) locked the door and kept possession of the key;
and in place of insulting the men, Or injuring the
horses, they offered the lads a hearty dram, and ex-
pressed a wish that all the oats in the country were sent
to Lossiemouth."

FORRES, TutTIISDAY.—The moinent the authorities
cf Forres saw the military rass through the town on
their way to Figin to allay the riots, they began to bestir
themselves, and a meeting of councillors was immedi-
ately held in the council room. It was resolved that a
subscription should be instantly raised to purchase a
few hundred bolls of meal, to be disposed of at a low
figure to all needy persons, and to the families of
labourers, in order to prevent a meditated riot and
attack on some of the most niggardly meal dealers and
farmers. A subscription paper was immediately pre-
sented to the inhabitants, headed by the town of Forres
for 20/. In course of a few hours the sum subscribed
was nearly 1001. Except the inunificent collection made
by the Free Church, nothing has yet been done in
Forres for the destitute Highlanders.—Elgin Couricr.
KEITH, JAN. 25.—About nine o'clock last night, our
quiet town was thrown into a state of considerable ex-
citement by 11:0 arrival of a company of soldiers, num-
bering about 60, upon three stage coaches, on their way
from Aberdeen to Port Gordon. It is reported that on
Tuesday afternoon the meal riots at Buckle and Port
Gordon had become so serious, that Sheriff Currie sent
an express to Aberdeen for the assistance of the military
to quell these riots, which explains the reason of their
coming to this hitherto peaceful district. It is earnestly
to be hoped they will have a bootless errand on this oc•
casion, and that all will be quiet in the adjoining sea-
ports, so as to render the presence of the military unne-
cessary. The inhabitants of this district consider their

absence to be good company.
RIOT IN 6TRANItAEIL.—On Monday evening some
idle, dissolute, and unthinking persons created a dis-
turbance in Stranraer, and attempted, successfully in

soma cases, to coerce and iritimidate several of the ;lea!

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and provision dealers. At the shop of Mr. Espie they
demanded meal at two shillings and sixpence pet stone,
some
and
on being refused uttered threats and committed
violence. At the shop of Mr. James Bell they
suc-
ceeded, by threats, in getting three bulls delivered
thene. m, at their own price, two shillings and sixpence
per
StoAt the quay they stopped a cart of carrots,
some of whieh they took away ; and they also stole
several to
from a person who was carry-
ing them from the steamer, and who had
prccured the bread to be retailed at as low a rate as
possible. The to
promptly attended on being
informed of these outrages, and the rioters were, with-
out much difficulty, dispersed. Next (lay, Tuesday, a
meeting was held of the Town Council, when the magis-
trates, Mr. Caird, V.F., and councillors, expressed their
sentiments most firmly upon the subject, warnin the
of the folly of their proceedings, and of the natural effect
of them in closing the provision shops. And at this or
subsequent meetings. a large force of special constables
were sworn in and batons delivered to them; and every
preparation has been made to maintain peace and order,
and protect the lieges. It was distinctly intimated, that
if any were destitute they should come fom ward and make
it known, in an orderly
would be relieved. Several men, women, and boys, are
the charge of rioting and theft.-- now in custody, on
Galloway .4ducrtiscr.

SHEEP STEALING EXTRAORDINARY.-011 Saturday
last, three privates of the 7t3th Regiment, natives of England,
stationed at Greenlaw Barracks, were apprehended by
Con-
stable Merrylees, of the county police, and conveyed to Edin-
burgh, on a charge of stealing a sheep from a h field in the
neighbourhood, a few nights previous. They were on guard
at the time, and it appears that their object was to enjoy a
feast of Scotch mutton ; for after skinning the sheep thr7
dressed part of it, and had recently been regaling them-
selves
.on a choice bit when they were apprehended. They
have since been examined, cummitted for trial.— Glasgow
Herald.