Star.
London, England, 1812-04-16 00:00:00

RIOTS.

We are concerned to state, that the public van.
quillity of the country has again been disturbed in
various quarters. Feeling minds must regret the
cause, while they lament the excesses committed by
the ignorant—excesses which must ultimately not
only increase the price of provisions, but prevent their
'regular supply, and thus augment the miseries of the
I middling and labouring classes. Let us hope that
the better informed among these (tor many of them
are well informed) will exert themselves to repress
that spirit of insubordination among their fellow-
workmen which is calculated only to spread misery
and desolation through the happiest country in Eu-
roye. In every other State on the Continent, scar-
city is experienced at the present moment ; but in no
country are similar exertions made to relieie the suf-
ferers. Insubordination and riot, in a moment of ge.
neral calamity, is neither more nor less than rebellion
against HEAVEN.—The following letters contain the
particulars of these tumults :

" CHESTER, APRIL 14.

" With grief I inform gnu, that in this county we
are threatened with scenes of riot and disorder, occa-
sioned by the distress experienced among the lower
orders from want of employment and the high price
of provisions. Two attempts have lately been made
in Stockport—one in Spencer and Co.'s in Hillgate ;
it is a weaving factory of vast extent, where the work
is wholly done by children. Part of a window was
taken out, and several torches were put in. ) The
flames were beginning to make their appearance,
when a woman happened to discover them and gave
the alarm. In Stockport threatening letters have
been sent to different people, signed Ned Ludd. On
Saturday night, the 4th instant, a ball was fired at
the proprietor of a factory, where the looms are
worked by power, while sitting in his own house; and
the same night another factory of the same descrip-
tion was assailed with stones, by which the windows
were broken."

" STOCKPORT, APRIL 14.

" We are extremely concerned to state, that the
discontents of the weavers in and about Stockport,
broke out in acts of alarming violence on Tuesday
last. The immediate cause is said to be the extreme
apathy of the masters to the cry for an advance of
wages ; for when a meeting of Manufacturers was
called for this purpose, only three or four indivi-
viduals attended, and these were in possession of
factories where the weaving was performed by Ma-
chinery, or what is there called, " Power Lfionis,"
consequently interested in the rise of manual la-
bour. Letters received this morning, state, that
the dwelling-house of Peter Marsted, E,q. has
been attacked, and the whole of the furniture de-
stroyed. The house of Mr. Goodair, and also the
factory had been attacked, the furniture burnt, and
the power-looms destroyed. The houses and facto.
ries of Messrs. Hindley and Bradshaw, Mr. W. Rat.
cliff, Messrs. Bently, and Co. had suffered conside-
rably, and as it is well known that several private
meetings of the weavers had taken place, and that the
request for the assistance of the military from Man-
chester had been refused, Colonel CLAY giving for
answer—that he could not; consistently with his duty
in protecting Manchester, afford them any. The ut-
most consternation prevails throughout this populous
district."
" LEEDS, APRIL is.

41 On the night of Saturday last we had warm-
work in this neighbourhood. The Cropper:, (other-
wise the Luddite:) assembled to the number of from
ISO to 200 men, with an intent to destroy Cart-
wright's cropping machines at Rawfold, not far from
this town, and proceeded to break open the doors,
but without effect, as they, as well as the windows,
were extremely well secured with iron bars, and every
precaution taken to frustrate their attempts. Cart-
wright is a resolute man, and having reason to be-
lieve that his property would be attacked some night
when he least expected it, took the resolution of sleep-
ing in the mill every night, with a little garrison
consisting of six men. At the time the attack was
made, two of his chosen band refused to fight, and
the contest commenced with an inequality of force of
five men against 150. Firing was kept up on both
sides for a considerable time, and as it will appear
not without effect. Cartwright and his party fired
14.0 times from the windows; some of the Luddites
were killed, and several wounded. I have seen two
of these deluded men dead, who have fallen a sacri-
fice to their temerity. Another is reported to have
since died of his wounds; and how many more are
wounded, remains to be known. Cartwright and his
men were so well protected behind the walls, that
they escaped unhur: ; but they frequently exposed
t4emselves, and fought bravely. Mr. Cartwright and
his guard keep on duty every night, lest the attack
should be renclred."

" SHEFFIELD, APRIL 14.

4, I am sorry to Infiniti you, that the spirit of riot
and disorder has spread to this populous neighbour.
hood. Secret, discontents and complaints on the sub-
ject of the high price of provisions and the want if
employment, have been long gathering, and the storm
has at length burst. This forenoon a numerous as-
semblage of theimpulace men, women and children,
took place in the principal streets of the Town. The
leaders of the mob held a few minutes consultation
(for they seemed to act, on some previously concerted
plan), and the whole body then proceeded, with vio-
lent exclamations, to the Town Magazine, which they
immediately forced open, and carried off or destroyed,
in a few seconds, the whole of the arms and ammu-
nition, &c. on which they could lay their hands. No
attempt whatever was made by any of the mob to
win themselves, which is a circumstance for which
we have, pmbably, much reason to be thankful.
" No time was lost on the parts of the Magistracy
to quell the tumults. After, every possible exertion
was made to soot!' the populace by means of expostu-
lation and entreaty, and the people seeming determi•
ntd not to disrer e, the military quartered i the town
were called out, and they now remain under arms,
expecting every moment to be ordered to charge
through the streets.
" All is such bustle and confusion around me that
I scarcely know what I am doing, but I shall keep
my letter open to the last moment ; I am not with- I

out Ipprehensions that the windows of the room where
lam sitting will be demolished op firedetito. •
" &ETHIC OPCLOCE.—Dragoons ate gall ping into,
the town from all quarters, and forming in the mar-
ket place.
66 HALP•PAST EIGHT o'ctoot.—The uproar from
the arrival of soldiers, horse and foot, still continues.
Cannon planted, loaded, in front of the window. A
dreadful night expected, but a more dreadful Satur-
day, that being market-day. The house is so busr
that I cannot get pen or ink—have written thereinto
in pencil."

" TRURO, CORNWALL, APRIL 13.
a We have lately been thrown into some confu-
sion by the ascent of several thousand miners from
their subterraneuus abode, impelled by the calls of
hunger to a temporary breach of order. It was truly
a distressing sight to see so many poor fellows loudly
demanding bread, and declaring that they had not
sufficient sustenance to enable them to carry on their
laborious employ. A regiment of Militia (the Bre.
con) marched towards Redruth, but the voice of the
Magistrates, aided by the general expression of the
public sent;ment, had been found sufficient to pre.
vent disorders. In the mean time the utmost exer-
tions are making to obtain supplies of corn and pota.
toes from other counties, and economy is now the
order of the day in Cornwall. The Attornies in
body have published their determination to discon-
tinue the use of pies, custards, puddings, &c. in their
families ; and, in fact, every thing is doing in Corn-
wall that can be done to husband the stock in hand.
Of one thing you may be sure, nothing is to be ap-
prehended from our Miners on the•score of disaffec-
tion : they are rough, hardy, untaught—but nothing
except the last calls of starvation will drive them w
even a temporary insubordination."