The Sun. — 1840-08-13 (London, England)

COLNE.  (From the Manchester Guardian ) We are exceedinaly rorry to learn, that serious disturbanc_s occurred, during the List week, at Colne, arising principally out of the opposition of the lower orders to the constabulrry police. This feeling broke out with such violence in April last, as to make it necessary to increase that force for a time, from the number of about ten or twelve, to some fifty, supported for several clays by a military force. This had the effect of suppressing for a while the lawless preceedings of the populace, and was hoped that the police were steadily gaining ground in the estimation even of those who had been violently opposed to them ; but it appears, that, about three weeks since, this opposition was revived with increased violence, and was shown more openly andboldly from day to day, till at last the rabble proceeded, at nights, to the breaking of windows, and making some murderous attacks upon the officers by large volleys of stones, in some cases from the house-tops. The first party attacked was Mr. Bolton, a solicitor, of Colne, whose public conduct, -on several points, had rendered 11;m especially obnoxious to the rabble. His official and private efforts against the Chartists, his advoacy of the New Poor-late, and his efforts in the establishment of the new police, were sufficient to mark him cut as the first object of their vengeance ; and, accordingly, on Tuesday evening they begat by demolishing about 14 of his windows, and making a dreadful attack with stones upon the police, many of whom were severely hurt. Partial disturbances again took place on Wednesday evening, and on Thursday night, about ten o'clock, the town was entered by a mob of 200 men, under the command of a leader, armed with pistols, pikes, bludgeons, and stones, who for halt an hour had complete and uncontrolled possession of the main street, where they broke about 200 windows, and committed some very severe personal injuries. Commands to fire and re-charge were distinctly heard, and have been deposed to. A military force was sent for to the barracks at Burnley ; but the rabble had made their attack so rapidly, and dispersed so instantly after it, tlit, when the military arrived, the town was perfectly quiet. Next day a public meeting was advertised to concert measures for the protection of life and property ; but, when the hour of meeting arrived, the Chartists and the rabble had taken possession of the room, and the Magistrates and respectable inhabitants were obliged to assemble at the King's Head Inn, whers, among other measures for preventing a repetition of tha scenes of the preceding night, it was resolved that a deputation, with one of the ,Magistrates, should proceed to Burnley for military assistance. Detachments of cavalry and infantry were instantly despatched, and, by their presence in the town till Sunday morning, secured the peace of the place, and for the present all is again quiet. We understand there is much complaint that the troops should be so soon withdrawn, and the Magistrates quite partake in that regret ; but they were informed, that the orders to officers in command on such occasions were such as to require the troops to return to barracks. This seems strange, if it be so ; and probably some further inquiry will be made into it. In the opinion of our informant, there is not a town in England so completely under the dominion of mob law, as this unfortunate town of Colne ; and the general opinion of the respectable inhabitants is, that, in such a reign of terror, the remedy must at last be a permanent military force in barracks.