The Sun.
London, England, 1827-06-18 00:00:00

RIOTS AT NORWICH.

(From the Norwich Mercury.)
At the hour we were about to put our paper to
press last week, the city was disturbed by scenes
not only most disgraceful, but of the most brutal and
cowardly nature. These tumults arose from the late
riots which took place at Ashwelthorpe, where a
large body of weavers had assembled and destroyed
the work and looms of two masters, 'Messrs. White-
hand and Goodram, who were known to have given
out work at lower prices than those lately agreed
upon by the masters in this city. Twenty-one per-
sons were apprehended the day after, and admitted to
bail by the Magistrates, to appear, on Friday se'n-
night, at the county gaol in this city, for final exami-
nation. On Friday, as appointed, the accused sur-
rendered themselves at the gaol, and some of the
witnesses were examined. Three or four of the
latter, however, who came walking quietly from their
homes, were assailed with the most fiendish violence
on'itheir entrance into the city. One:man was met by
a body of men upon Orferd-hill, near Messrs. Tomp-
son'e Bank, and was so dreadfully beaten as to he
obliged to be conveyed to the hospital. A gentle-
man in the bank rushed out to his assistance, but was
instantly struck down. Another man was assailed
near Crook's-place, his clothes torn off his back, he
was pumped upon, very much beaten, and otherwise
maltreated. A third suffered similar ill usage in St.
Stephen's-street. Mr. Johnson, the surgeon, hap-
pening to ride up at theitime the mob were beating
the man near Crook's-place, remonstrated with them,
but to no effect; they only seemed inclined to turn
their fury upon him, upon which he immediately
rode to the Mayor, and gave information of what
was going on. The rioters proceeded to the
length of stripping every thing off two of the
witnesses, except their trowsers, and in this
state drove them for some distance on the road
towards their residences. A large body of persons,
in the course of the afternoon, assembled on the
Castle Meadow, and it was thought necessary by the
Magistrates to call in the aid of a body of Lancers,
for the protection of the witnesses who had been
able to give their testimony. The final examination
was, therefore, postponed to Tuesday last, and the
accused dismissed upon giving good security for
their appearance. As the witnesses left the Castle,
with the Lancers, both were severely pelted by the
mob, but no further damage ensued. On Tuesday
morning, by ten o'clock, the weavers had assembled
upon the hill to the number, perhaps, of three or
four hundred, and the defendants were in waiting
to surrender themselves at the time appointed for
the examination. The witnesses, it had been ar-
ranged, were to leave Ashwelthorpe, under the pro-
tection of the Hon. Capt. Irby and assistants, so as
to arrive at llarford-bridges in sufficient time to be
at the gaol by eleven o'clock. To this place a party
of the Lancers were sent to escort them into the
city. However, eleven, twelve, one o'clock came,
and no witnesses made their appearance. During
this time the numbers upon the lower part of the
hill were gradually increasing, and every now and
then, when the cry was raised that the witnesses
and Lancers were approaching, a dense mass of
people assembled instaneously before the opening
against the Golden Ball, where they.were expected
to enter. About half-past one Alderman Francis
rode, at a brisk rate, across the lower part of the
hill, and in a very short time a body of about forty
Lancers were seen in the distance moving along the
Thorp road, apparently in the direction of Carrow-
bridge. While these circumstances were taking
place in the city, we are given to understand that
the delay of the witnesses was occasioned by
their refusing to proceed, until a body of Lancers
were sent for to escort them the entire dis-
tance. The chief constable, therefore, rode forward,
and the troops at Harford-bridges accompanied them
back, who, on their return, were met by a larger
body, with Alderman Francis at their head. About
half-past two the whole entered the city, and were
proceeding to the opening by the Golden Ball, when
they found that a large waggon had been drawn
across the entrance, which was thus blocked up. The
troops were immediately received by a thick shower
of stones, and finding, therefore, that they could not
effect an entrance, the hackney coaches with the
witnesses were ordered upon Scoles Green, within
a hundred yards of the hill, and the troops were im-
mediately disposed so as to guard every outlet until
the decision of the Magistrates could be obtained.--
Alderman Francis, with the commanding officer and
a guard, rode to the Hall, where they met Aldermen
Robberds and Yallop, who summoned a large body of
respectable inhabitants as special constables ; and at
five o'clock, Sheriff Bennett, with Alderman Fran-
cis, and a body of constables, proceeded to the hill,
where the Riot Act was read by the worthy Alder-
man, who several times cautioned the persons as-
sembled to disperse. As the party returned they
were assailed, particularly the Alderman, with a
shower of stones, which struck him with some force,
but happily without much injury. During the whole
of this time (nearly three hours) the numbers conti-
nued rapidly to increase, aid particularly during the
whole of the last hour. At six o'clock (being the
termination of the hour allowed by law, in cases of
riot, for the departure of the people after the Riot
Act was read), Mr. Sheriff Bennett, with his posse
comitatus, moved towards the blockaded entrance
amid a shower of stones; at the same instant, about
forty of the Lancers moved from their position along
the Golden Ball-lane alone, and then down Saint
John's Thnberhill-street, to the opening from Or-
ford Hill, upon the Castle Ditches, from whence
they immediately charged up to the Castle gate,
and as quickly dispersed themselves over every part
of that large area. In an inconceivably short time
the whole was cleared, but not without several sabre
cuts being inflicted on the heads of sonic of the
mob. One fellow, who had thrown several stones at
the Lancers, and was about to hurl another, was
shot through the right arm by a non-commissioned
officer, when one of his superiors riding up'said, " I
hope you have not killed the man ?' " No, Sir,"
was the reply of the Waterloo veteran, have
only wing'd him—he'll throw no more to-night."
Another man, we believe, was wounded in the leg
by a pistol shot, as he was running away, having
been marked throwing stones at the Lancers, and
a few received slight lance wounds. The waggons
were then immediately moved away by the con-
stables, and the avenues guarded to prevent the in-
gress of the rioters. The coaches, escorted by Lan-
cers, then drove at a full gallop up to the Castle,
where the witnesses alightedat last in perfect safety.
About forty of the Lancers then moved off, leaving
eleven to keep the mob from assembling. This
party every quarter of an hour suddenly dispersed
the people over various parts of the hill, who as
(%Np.iiitchkollyitree;epeptienag any
red immediately on their backs being
turned, thus constantly keeping alive the excitation
good purpose ; as, none of the
outlets to the hill being guarded, the mob, after
having been driven from one direction, could with
facility return by another. Between eight and nine,
the Staff of the West Norfolk Militia marched up
to the hill, and, took their station before the Castle
door, with muskets loaded and bayonets fixed.
About helf-past nine or near ten o'clock, Mr. Alder-
man Francis left the bill, and was followed in consi-
direrritaihttleednfteimelbinegs;
r s by the mob, evidently under greatly
but he reached his house at Carl-
ton without further molestation. Two of the Lan-
cers were thrown by the slipping of their horses;
one of them received rather a severe flesh wound in
his leg by the accident. Very few of them escaped
without bruises from stones, and the pistol of one
whilst loading, went off upon the half-cock, and the
ball lodged near his elbow joint, but was directly
extracted by,Mr. F. Mills, who was summoned to
his assistance.

The Yeomanry were called out, and came upon
the hill just as the Lancers charged, but were not
required to act. After a considerable time had
elapsed, it was determined that the witnesses should
remain in the Castle during the night, to be ready
for examination the following morning.
On Wednesday the Staff of the Militia kept guard
at the Castle gate, and about fifty persons assembled
on the hill, In the afternoon the Yeomanry escorted

the witnesses to their houses without any further
disturbance.

On Wednesday last were committed to the Castle
by the Hon. F. P. Irby, the Rev. E. Burroughes,
and John Patteson, Esq., .Benjamin Gay, Robert
Gooding, John Bailey, and John Jackson, for mali-
ciously and feloniously breaking into, and entering
by force, the shop and buildings of Thomas Good-
ram and James Whitehand, of Ashwelthorpe, and
for destroying a silk winding machine, a warping
mill, about 17 looms, &c. &c., belonging thereto, and
also cutting and damaging a considerable quantity of
yarn and silk, and several pieces of bombasins and
crapes. And, by the same Magistrates, W. Foul-
sham, J. Howes, Owen Bunn, Ishmael Poll, R.
Nelson, Charlotte Squires, James Blazey, G. Kett,
G. Tipple, D. Barnard, and R. Bly th, were severally
admitted to bail until the next Assizes, to answer to
a charge of riot and misdemeanour to be then pre-
ferred against them.