Star.
London, England, 1816-07-02 00:00:00

RIOTS IN THE COUNTRY.

On Sunday morning, between *seven and eight
o'clock, an express arrived at Bath from Frome, with
the unpleasant intelligence of a riot having taken
place in that town on Saturday evening. A number
of persons, early in the afternoon, shewed symptoms
of discontent at some additional advance in the price
of potatoes. Their number increased to between two
and three thousand by seven o'clock, and they then
proceeded to acts of violence. The Magistrates, with
the utmost promptitude, read the Riot Act, and the
Frome cavalry-having assembled to keep the peace,
were immediately assailed with volleys of st:mes,
brickbats, Ste. We lament to say, in this conflict
Colonel WICKHAM received a severe wound in his
head, which caused him to be led from the scene of
action ; seven or eight of the cavalry have been
wounded or bruised, and as many horses, one having
his eye knocked out. At four o'clock on Sunday
morning a detachment of the Inniskillen dragoons
arrived from Bruton, and shortly after some degree
of order was restored. The Bath cavalry have re-
ceived orders to hold themselves in readiness, and are
now assembled opposite the Guildhall. The rioters
first proceeded to rescue three men that were taken
into custody early in the day, but were defeated in
their purpose. They next proceeded to the factory
of Messrs. SHEPPARD, with intent to destroy the
same, but through the prompt exertions of the Ma-
gistrates and cavalry, all was saved. Great praise
is due to the meritorious exertions of the Rome ca-
valry on this occasion; and we understand the whole
of the North Somerset yeomanry are under arms to
aid the civil power, as these deluded men have
threatened to repeat their depredations on Wednesday
next.—Bar4 Paper.
The Bristol Mirror, of Saturday last, contains the '
following paragraph :—" We were perfectly correct in
stating that an express had arrived from Trowbridge
at one o'clock in the morning of yesterday se'nnight ;
in consolnence of•which a party of the 55th Regi-
ment marched immediately for that place ; but we
are glad to find that the report of two or three facto-
! ;et having been destroyed was without foundation.
The troops, however, remain at Trowbridge."
On Thursday last, during market time, this town
was in a small degree disturbed by the arrival of two
or three bodies of colliers; dragging waggon loads of
coal, and requesting relief ; they called at the Public
Office, where the Magistrates were sitting, and
chewed them their petition, which was signed by a
Magistrate of Dudley. The colliers conducted them-
selves with great propriety, and were very peaceabie
in their conduct; they proceeded through the town
on their route towards Oxford, Ecc.—Biraning. Paper.

A letter from Leicestcr, of the 30th ultimo, say's—
" At twelve o'clock last night, upwards of one hun-
dred armed men, with their faced blacked and other-
wie. disfigured, entered the lace manufactory of Mr.
HEATHCOTE, in Loughborough, and insisted that the
men (between forty and fifty) who were at work,
should immediately lay themselves on the floor with
their faces downwards, or that they would pay deaf ly
for their refusal. Being thus taken by surprise, and
intimidated at the threats of their assailants, the
workmen complied with their wishes, with the excep-
tion of one man, who making some resistance, te-
ceived the contents of a gun in his neck, but it is
supposed the wound will not prove fatal to him. The
banditti then commenced their work of demolition,
and before forty minutes had expired, fifty patent
twist lace frames, worth £lOO at least each, were
quite destroyed. Notwithstanding an active search
was set on 1, of directly after this disgraceful affair,
no clue could be discovered to lead to the detection
of the offenders; for as soon as they had effected
their object they called over the number of each man,
and retired in good order. The cause assigned for
this daring outrage is, of course, not known ; but it
is reported that Mr. H. lately reduced his workmen's
wages, and it is hence supposed that be has incurred
the displeasure of some of the lawless banditti."

Tuesday J. Sharp fell down in the street, in Leeds,
and immediately expired. He had been dragging a
cart, and it is supposed his violent exertions were the
occasion of his death.
EXECUTION Or TUE RIOTERS AT ELl.—Further Particulars.
Ely, Friday noon.—At nine o'clock this morning the Ordinary
performed his Wit religious officer in the gaol with the prisoners
under sentence of death; and about half an hour after, John
Dennis, (Norge Crow, William Beamiss the elder, Thomas forth the
younger, and Isaac Harley, were brought oat in a cart covered
with black cloth, to be conveyed to the usual place of execution.
The procession reached the fatal spot about eleven o'clock. When
the malefactors reached the platform, they knelt down severally,
and prayed fervently with the Ordinary for a considerable time ;
after this, John Dennis addressed the spectators, and declared
that they had all confessed the crimes for which they were about
to suffer; be then, with a loud voice, said, " he hoped all who
heard him would take example by their fate and particularly ex-
horted than to shun drunkenness, whoredom, and sabhatit.
breaking, which had brought them all
,to that untimely end."
The whole then prayed again for some time. when, on a signal
given, the drop fell, and they were laianched into eternity 411110 A
without a struggle. Alter hanging the usual time, the bn fie.
were put into coffins' and given to their friends for inter-
ment. Harley, before he left the gaol, discovered a woutal in h s
side, which he had received io the affair at Littiepott, and la-
melted that his having three waistcoats on prevented his death on
that day. He said, he d. .d the death he expected. Sourti cm •
teased that his case could not have been pardoned; Crow denied
ant intention of murdering. Mr. Martin, but was checked by
Dennis, mho said—" Yes, yes—he would have been murdered,
had be been found's—meaning by this that he saw the temper of
the mob, whielfbe declared he endeavoured to restrain ; and he
added, that he gave Mr. Martin warning to keep out of the. way.
Ileamies acknowledged his general guilt; but denied the words
Imputed to him by Teasley ; and at the gallows he called out," I
forgive Mr. Minsky thit he swore falsely against me." The drop
fell as he was pronouncing these words. Dennis and he were the
most awslamed ; South was the molt violent in his gesticulativas,
kw al were resigned.