Star.
London, England, 1826-05-11 00:00:00

FROM THE BATH AND CHELTENHAM GAZETTE.

We deeply regret to state, that on Saturday last the
neighbouring town of Trowbridge was the scene of
much confusion and outrage, the origin of which appears
to have been as follows:

Some hucksters had been suspected of either fore-
stalling or monopolizing potatoes, the price of which
commodity advanced considerably in the market on
that day beyond that of the previous week, and these
circumstances were considered by the lawless as ample
reasons for making a general attack upon the gardeners
indiscriminately. This they accordingly did ; and the
work of plunder and destruction was so effectually
performed, that by eleven o'clock not a single vegetable
of any description was to. be seen in the market, and at
that hour every shop was closed. The country butchers,
fearing a similar attack on•them, moved off their meat,
and by twelve only the town butchers' standings were'
left. At that time the market place was filled with a
rabble of the lowest description, w ho having nothing to
do, and nothing to lose, were ready for any mischi f.
The Magistrates (who are for the most part manufac-
turers) assembled at the Woolpacks Inn at three o'clock,
and drew up an address to their misguided work-people.
About nine o'clock, however, a dreadful outrage
commenced ; t!'e mob attempting to break into the
shop of Thontas Marsh, a baker, in the Market-place.
Foiled in this art mpt, they then drew off to the Courts
in a large body, and began pelting the const risks, who
rushed in a body upon one or two individuals that haJ
rendered themselves obnoxious, one of them they 6.lc-
ceeded in apprehending, arid committed him to the
guard-house: although, in going thither, they were
nearly overpowered by the mob, many of whom had
large sticks and :tons,. This outrage was succeeded
by frequent skirmishes with the mob, who were evi-
dently beat on every species of mischief; and one of
their first attempts was to liberate the prisoner. Mr.
Waldron, the Magistrate, as isted by s rine of the most
respectable inhabitants, stationed himself at the door of
the prison, and told the lawless crowd that he was de-
er ruin: d to remain at his post ; but an increase of force
from the besiegers rendered a retreat necessary, in
a bleb several of the const.b:es received broken heads
and severe contusions. The rabble then proceeded to
unroof the prison, and to liberate the prisoner; and in
this they Islay succeeded.
Further attempts to restore tranquillity appearing to
be in vain, the greater part of the constables thought it
proper to endeavour to protect their own personal pro-
perty ; a measure which the sequ:l proves was hiAhly
necessary ; for about half-past P 2 the mob began parad-
ing in High-street, breaking the windows of the inhabi-
tants, although very many of them could not be con-
sidered as having rendered themselves obnoxious.
An express had been sent to .Uevir s for the Yeomanry
Cavalry, who arrived about one o'clock on Sunday ;
and between five and s . o'clock the constables,guarded
by the military, proceeded to apprehend some indivi-
duals who had been marked oat as particularly active
in the riot on the previous evening; two of whom were
immediately sent off in a chaise to Salisbury, for trial
at the easuiug Assizes ; and two more are in custody.

MELKSHAM, MAY a.
I have heard news from Trowbridge, up to eight
o'clock this evening; and although no outrage had
been committed (to-day) up to that hour, the assem-
blage of people was still very alarming, the presence of
the military alone pre►enti ng theirs from proceeding to
extremities. The Melksham troop of Wilts Yeomanry
was joined here yesterday by the Chippenham troop,
and they both left this about three o'clock in the after-
noon, for the scene of disturbance. The Devizes and
Warminster troops had previously arrived there. Last
night, about seven o'clock, the troops were called from
their quartets to quell the rioters when s,z or seven
were apprehended, and sent to Salisbury under an
escort; ami,ngst them was one man from Milksham,
who had left this after the departure of the two troops I
It is consolatory, however, to know that in this quarter,
as well as in the North, no political question agitates
the disturbers of the public peace ; and it is also worthy
of notice, that one of the ringleaders in the Trowbridge
disturbance has been up to this very period m the
weekly receipt of 255. for his labour.