342 THE RIOTS IN 1780. 



carriages broken. Guards, both horse and foot, were stationed for 

 their protection, but the mob becoming uprorious, it was found ne- 

 cessary to read the riot act. Justice Hyde was sent for to do this, 

 and as there was something ludicrous as well as serious in this pro- 

 ceeding, I shall describe what I saw of it. 



Hyde, a mean tradesman, in his usual dress, with the Act of Par- 

 liament, held open with both hands, was seated on one of the light 

 horseman's horses, the bridle held by one of the soldiers on each side, 

 to make him keep pace with themselves, and a strong detachment of 

 the corps, with drawn swords, were pressing, in double quick time to 

 force their way through the immense crowd, to arrive at the scene of 

 action ; the crowd yielding with difficulty to the pressure, and closing 

 upon their haunches when they were passed. They arrived in Palace 

 Yard, the Riot Act was read, and the soldiers disturbed the crowd 

 by driving them from one place to another, though most unwilling 

 to disperse ; a large mob continually closing up towards the entrance 

 of the House of Commons, expressing insolent reflections upon those 

 members who were hostile to their cause Lord George frequently 

 left the house, and from a window or balcony, repeated to the mob 

 without, what he said was said in the house by the hostile'members ; 

 he repeated this so often that at last Colonel Gordon, a member of 

 the same family, seized him by the collar, drew his own sword, and 

 vehemently threatened to run him through the body if he did not 

 return into the house, and remain there quiet till it adjourned; this 

 put an end to the disgraceful scene in that quarter. As the evening 

 closed in, the number of the mob diminished, and with difficulty I, 

 accompanied by a friend, made our way to the entrance of the house, 

 where several groups were encouraging each other, by gross reflec- 

 tions on the Catholics and those who favoured their cause. We heard 

 one group repeating to each other, now we will go to Lincoln s-Inn 

 Fields, and moved away in that direction. My companion and I 

 followed, intending to see whatever was done there. At the entrance 

 to the Chapel in Duke Street, about an hundred persons were 

 assembled, not the decently dressed persons who had followed Gordon 

 in the procession, but butchers' boys, bricklayers' labourers, and 

 other persons of a similar description, who are known to be inmates of 

 St. Giles's and others, the worst part of the town. These had collected 

 a quantity of stones, bricklayers' rubbish, and similar materials, with 

 which they attempted to break the great window of the Chapel, but 

 the strong wire screen which covered it, opposed so much resistance 

 that they seemed to have little chance of success. They seemed re- 

 solved to persevere, and my friend and self being equally resolved to 

 see the event, we placed ourselves against the rails enclosing the 

 centre of the square, whence we could see all that passed without 

 mixing in the crowd. 



The useless battering of the window continued; the mob, and 

 the uproar increased. Wallace, at that time, attorney, or solicitor- 

 general, living in Newcastle House, adjoining to Queen Street, 

 came and stood by my companion and me, quietly contemplating 

 the scene. At last, one of the mob obtained an iron crow, with 

 which the door was soon broke open : the mob rushed into the 



