OBSERVATIONS ON BAKEWELL. 1 65 



and Iiad a joyous day. In the evening Mr. Bossley the Chairman 

 was called out. On his return he announced the coming of the 

 Roxburgh Fencibles by the Quarter Master. On the next day 

 they came and were quartered in the town and neighbourhood 

 for some months and behaved themselves exceedingly well. It 

 may be asked "why did the Fencibles come? " In 1796 being 

 the ballotting year for the Militia and the Inhabitants of the 

 neighbouring villages being persuaded by some unhappy dis- 

 contented .... that the militia of Derby either raised 

 more men or paid more money than other counties assembled 

 and agreed to go to Bakewell in a body previous to the Magistrates 

 meeting on the business and let them know their intention of 

 coming in a mob to oppose their business as such. One market 

 day whilst the Farmers etc were dining at the White Horse, the 

 waiter Sally Stevenson came running in exclaiming " The mob is 

 coming, the mob." Upon which it was th' proper that no one 

 should notice them. They came to the Inn about 40 in number, 

 rawboned men with clubs, clot-spades, miners spades, etc, and 

 marching up to the Town Hall made a speech signifying their 

 intention of coming on the day the magistrates met to oppose the 

 business. They then went to the Inn and asked to lend them a 

 frying pan which Mrs. Smith did. They then drank each a gill 

 of ale for which they paid and marching down the town went 

 away, no one of the town joining them in any way but heartily 

 laughing at them. On the day the magistrates met, there came a 

 large mob from Castleton, Longstone, Eyam, Basslow etc. and 

 took all the papers from the officers being lists of the men liable 

 to serve in the militia and went into the room where they were 

 sat and examined Dr. Denman's pocket. Then they made a fire 

 before the Inn and burnt the papers. The gendemen of the 

 town waited on the magistrates nnd offered every assistance 

 wishing to be made special constables but their offers were 

 rejected. The magistrates then apjjhed for the cavalry of the 

 county to attend on the next meeting which they did and though 

 a large mob again assembled they were dispersed. Six prisoners 

 were taken and confined all night and were escorted by the 



