344 THR 11IOTS IN 1780. 



On the same night, a terrible scene of another kind, took place not 

 far distant. Upon Blackfriars Bridge were toll-houses, as there are 

 upon other bridges at present, for the toll-gatherers to reside in : 

 in the morning the mob had destroyed these, and, for reasons best 

 known to themselves, threatened to return in the evening, and do 

 further mischief. The government had now assumed activity, and 

 caused a strong body of troops, both horse and foot, to be stationed 

 in Chatham Square, on one side of the bridge, and by the Albion 

 Mills, on the other. These orders were given simultaneously, and 

 executed when they were not expected by the people, who not only 

 filled the bridge, but the streets leading to it, to a distance on both 

 sides. As the horse-soldiers, on both sides, mounted and rode at a 

 quick pace, to take possession, the crowd retreated before them, on 

 each side the bridge, till they could not be crowded closer together, 

 which, to them, had the most serious consequences. 



I had heard the King's Bench was to be destroyed that day, and, 

 being quite at leisure, determined to be a spectator. With this view, 

 and my way being over the bridge, I attempted to go that way ; but 

 the soldiers stationed there, would not allow me to set a foot within 

 the Square, and I was forced to proceed over London Bridge. Vexa 

 tion now prompted me to see what was doing on Blackfriars Bridge : 

 I made my way there, but found I could not be admitted there, 

 more than I was on the London side, and submitted to the disap- 

 pointment, fortunate to me, since to it I owe the power I have, of 

 writing this account of a transaction at which I was present, though 

 I write it from the description of one who was an actor in the 

 scene. 



The Horse-guards in those days, were very different from what the 

 corps so called, is at present ; like the mousquetaires under the old 

 government in France, the officers were of rank superior to many 

 other officers of other corps in the army; the privates were very 

 superior to common soldiers ; they were men of property, mostly in 

 business, and all of them purchasing their employment for the regu- 

 lated price of 400/., and selling it for the same sum whenever they 

 chose to quit the service. Their duty was to be guards to his Majesty 

 and household, and so regulated that each man was on duty four days, 

 and their turn did not come again till after twenty-eight days had 

 elapsed. These circumstances made the horse-guards of that time, 

 very different from what they are at present. I was well acquainted 

 with one of these men, who was on duty that day upon Blackfriar's- 

 bridge, and described to me the scene in which he was engaged. 



The bridge, and the street leading to it on each side, were crowded 

 with the insurgents, the soldiers taking possession of it, moved at the 

 same time on each side, driving the mob before them, till the bridge 

 was as much crowded as it could be, and none were suffered to pass 

 the guards, or go on to, or off from the bridge ; being confined in 

 this manner, they became riotous, and insulted the soldiers with foul 

 language, and throwing stones or dirt when they were to be got ; the 

 men bore this with patience and good humour. The mob broke into 

 the house nearest the water, on the west side of Chatham-square, 

 broke the windows, tumbled the moveable furniture into the street or 



