Star.
London, England, 1826-05-04 00:00:00

tl at Gentleman's bleach-works at Norwich. Indeed
tt.e proprietors of large works are pretty generally
putting their premises in a state of defence. Ashton's
factory at Hyde has been strongly fortified, and
port-ho!es have been made through the walls for
the purpose of discharging musketry. The people
in the village, who are principally workmen of
Mr. Asloon, are generally arming themselves with
pikes. This factory contains five or six hundred power.
looms, and they actually manufacture a piece of cotton
every minute throughout the day. Sidebotham's fac-
tory, at tie same place, is also placed In a state of
defence. At Ashton-under-Lyne the power loom fac-
tories are tit- fended by -several pieces of ordnance. The
factory belonging to Clarke and Son, at Holt Town,
near Manchester, is fortified by recentlperected walls,
which have loop-holes for the discharge of musketry.
The factories adjoining Clarkes' factory have bills posted
on the walls, with these we,rds." Ple power loons ken."
This morning I passed through the streets here, prin-
cipally inhabited by the weavers. It is really a most
pitiable and heart-rending sight to behold the state of
extreme wretchedness to which the poor creatures are
reduced. -They-have actually the appearance of ghostst
or the anatrmies of men, rather than of men themselves.
And no wonder; a good weaver 414011 employ, and
there are tens of thousands that are not half emp!oyed,
cannot get more than the price of one full meal a-day
for himself alone. He must have a flinty heart indeed,
that can look at their pale and emaciated faces, and
bear their simple tales of woe, without pity. " We've
bad no bread for.two days," said one of them to nie.
44 My children are crying for food. I cannot go near
them. They will drive me to bitter madness. What
are the bayonets of soldiers to a man starved and dis-
tracted as lam r There is now no political feeling
among the lower classes, but there is a much more dan-
gerous feeling, a feeling of utter desperation.
A great deal has been done, and is doing in the way
of subscription for the relief of the people in Manchester.
But the misfortune is, that many of the shopkeepers
are almost as badly ff as the weavers themselves. The
conduct 01 the Rev. Mr. Johnson, Curate of St. George's
Church, is spoken of by all with the greatest appro-
bation. This Reverend Gentleman is employed from
morning till night in visiting the houses of the poor, to
whom he gives according to their wants, and without
regard to their politits or religion.
I have just beard that an attack was made urxi Mr. William
Wood's factory at Wigan, last night, but that the rioters were dis-
persed by the military without effecting any mischief beyond break-
ing a few windows.
The foreman of Mr. nonfat, the builder, is in custody, on a
charge of setting fire to his master's premises.
The 'Manchester Theatre is ordered to be closed every night this
week, except Friday, when a Play is to be performed for the benefit
of the poor.
.About three o'tlock yesterday, an alarm was brought
to Oldham that another assemblage of persons had
taken place upon Tandle Hill ; and that they had again
moved towards the factory at Shaw. The Oldham
Yeomanry immediately turned out, and marched to
Shaw; but, on their arrival there, they learned that the
rioters had passed Sh ew, and proceeded towards Gr, en-
sues Moor, where, together with many other persons,
they had assembled round the factor y of Messrs. Collinge
and Lancaihire, but did not venture to make any attack
. upon it; knowing, probably, that the proprietors had
armed their workpeople.
On the arrival of the Yeomanry, the Rev. John Holme, who
nerompanied them, read the Riut Act, and the inch gradually dis-
persed, Without baying done any mischief.
J believe that all the mills containing power looms, la the neigh-
bonsisood of Oldham, ate DOW put in a state a defence.
Six o'CLoCK.—There was an assemblage of people in
St. George's Fields this afternoon. Two men made
speeches with which the people seemed by no means to
agree. One of them said, tb2t. if the people were all
like him, be would either get a living, or die and not
need it. The meeting adjourned till seven o'clock this
evening. The Cheshire cavalry were dismissed this
afternoon, and they have all returned to their homes.
The special constables have been all ordered out.
Two power looms were broken last night, about ten o'clock,
at Barrowford, :leer Coin.. The looms were the property of Mr.
Grinuhaw. This is the first instance in which any anent has
been made to destroy looms In the night.
Manenarposa, TUSIDAT gesana, tia ea.=
Two or three looms *ere broken last night at Messrs.
Grimshaw and Bracewell's, of Barrowford, near Colne ;

sod at Bradford yesterday, the seat of the celebrated

turn-out, there was a procession of work people, and
some symptoms of excitation were observable. No"rint,
• however, took place, and as ere now an addition to the
military force of the district has arrived, I hope there
will be none.

This morning it was stated, that manuscript notices
for a meeting in St. George's fit Ids, in this town, to be
held at halt-past three this afternoon, had made their
appearance, and accordingly the police were on the
alert. The whole affair, however, was as insignificant
and fiat as possible. Scarcely two hundred people
attended, and of these the larger part appeared to be
mere spettatOrs. Two persons addressed them, and
one talked a little sedition, but it did not take well, and
was altogether beneath notice. Five dragoons came in
sight, on which the larger portion of the assembly took
to their heels; one fellow called out " Stone them,' on
which a Gentleman seized his arm, and asked what
he meant by calling on them to stone the soldiers.
He ingeniously replied, it was not the soldiers, but
the men who were running away from the meeting
that he wished to be stoned. There is to-day a de-
cidedly better feeling, as regards business, both in goods
and yarns. The number of buyers in the market is
great, and a general feeling prevails that there is no
probability of any further decline in prices.
Managed, TOMMY NAIINT. MAT g.
I have just spoken with a Gentleman in the neighbourhood of
Wigan, who states that a desperate attack was made last night by
a vast amenablago of persons an Wood'ilactory, at that place, which
contains nearly ISO power looms. The mob broke the windows,
and proceeded to further violence, but were finally beaten off about
toss o'clock.—ln the neighbourhood of Burnley several riots took
pines in the coarse of yesterday and last night ; and four power
looms weft destroyed at Barrowford, two at Grimahaw's mills,
aid the others at the factory of Mr. Bolton. 'II I
Last Vrlday and Saturday the streets were crowded with people
ailing charity, who really stood in need of it; the pickpockets took
the advantage oldie taste, and stepped people, and robbed them of
every thing. had. Sunday and yesterday we were perfectly
quiet. me weavers are destroying the power looms in the neigh-
bourhood. /keen were killed last week, and four more have since
died of their wounds. The town is fast filling with military. These
disturbances km arisen entirely from want of food, not from any
ratical (*slimy. -
The accession of force already here appears sufficient for our gm-
tection ; and more troops are daily arriving to remove the fears of
the most timid. In short, every possible exertion has been made
by Govenunent to afford protection to this very important district.
„ The Military have conducted thenuselvs• with a temper and for-
mer:me which Wisps the highest credit en iheuesehree• They
have often been shamefully ?eked and abused, and have endured
insult with exemplary forbearance, having the means of wreaking
an instant and terrible revenge.
• limbs TIC SLACKS/SW MAIL 01 71ISTSIgalf-
A Coroners Inquest so* upon the boffins of wiz of chef mons who
"ere en Fridef, Saturday, and again yesterday. 'Mr. ler.