The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-04-13 00:00:00

MESH DiSTURBANCES.

Leans, Artist 11,We regret to have to record one of the
worst CMs which has oecorrad since the commencement of that
terrible system of depredation, which has spread alarm through
this manor/taming district, both as it respects the number con-
ceraed is it, and their wanton and outrageous conduct:—Os
Thursday night, about twelve, o'clock, the extensive cloth ma-
toufactory of Mr. Jos. Forme, of liorbory, near Wakefield,
Ras surrounded by a large body ef armed men, who. rifler se-
curing all the approaches to the plea sees, proceeded to break
Into that part of the mill appropriated to the dressing of cloth,
where they completely destroyed all the shears and frames, the
former were sot merely snipped, but absolutely broke in pieces I
they them demolished all the windows, and, :If if actuated by
the most diabolical frenzy, broke into those parts of the pre-
mises, agaiost which these deprzdators do not pretend to have
any ground of complaint—the scribbling mill and weaving
shops, and materially Injured the machinery, and wantonly da-
maged a quantity of warp, ready for the loom, destroyed not
merely the &roof the window, but theframes, which u ere of cast
iron, the windosts of the dye-houses, tee con nt ni-hnuae, and eves
the dwellieg-bouses cent/pout II the workshops, shared the same
fate.At the c onnuenc.ement of these d read ful outrages a detachment
from the mein body invested the dwelling-house occupied by
Mr. Ratite's eons g they literally shifered the door id pieces,
and broke both the window and frame, and proceeded to the
lodging-rooniof the young mss, and demanded the keys of the
building under pain of instant death. They dragged two of
them out of bed, and tied thew,. gogetiter, ..making them lie naked
oporrthellson; tho other they corntelki to accentpany thhos
with tlw hell, but this • last outrage was 'site unnecessary, as
away practicable breathes lt=d been already made in the build-
ing, and a coasiderable proali44..sosade the .work -of destrue-
tion. The dwelling-eases, occupied, bptiso.boidt-keeper was
also broken into, andfasollyieiaawith gleam bnita44-
and to complete the fulesesasurc of.tlselr guilt, they afteriJ
wards set Ate to the building, but which was happily eitinguisles
ed, after their departure, helot" it communicated to the realealab
of the building, bat not before very considerubte deneagehill
sione.These lawies raeoleaviagacelimptished tbkfr objeet,imseddir4
in a nei.iithooting Aetd, when the leader celled over their main-
s -As, to which each individual answered. Haring ascertained
that their whole number was sieve, saki, 4, the work is done, all
well, disperse;"' which order war obeyed. The greater part
et these insurgeatsappear to have come from the erighbouto"
of Huddersfield, as a very great number wad met on "sip
Hour, about three o'clock yesterday morning, by a welbleilide
vow was coming to Huddersfield. Another party passed oathishal
r. tarn through iturtuiry, on the Wakefield road, Mid wine**
iced at Mr. Forrert's house, about the distaste of a nib
cram the factory, they discharged theist Ire arms, to the cleat
-farm of this gentleman, who had beta for some time indisposed.
Same of llem depredaton had their faces covered with black cloth,
others were sot at all disguised, the number on the lowest cater,.
ktioe exeeededed SOO: many*: them were provided...v.9'th fire
arms, a still greater number with hatchets, and the resl with
dabs. Mr. Forrr.a had previously received several threatening
;cuffs, in one of which was ioclosed a coarse likeness of Oen.
Loon, and which so forcibly impressed Mot with a wee of bill
dangerous situation, that he had. detetniined to relinquish that
part of the business. We understand it is this gentleman's
teation to apply to the county, for indemnity for the injury done
to his property, which is supposed to exceed 7001. it was an
ntiftirtunate circumstance that there was no milkers at a km dis-
awe tbaa eleven miles from Ilot'hurn.