46 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1812. 



The jury found the prisoners all 

 guilty. 



A gardener at Glasgow prac- 

 tises a mode of destroying cater- 

 pillars, which he discovered by ac- 

 cident. A piece of woollen rag 

 had been blown by the wind into 

 a currant bush ; and when taken 

 out was found covered by the leaf- 

 devouring insects. He immedi- 

 ately placed pieces of woollen 

 cloth in every bush in his garden, 

 and found next day that the cater- 

 pillars had universally taken to 

 them for shelter. In this way he 

 destroys many thousands every 

 morning. 



4. On this morning, between 

 three and four o'clock, the Newry 

 Fly coach was stopped by a strong 

 band of robbers, who, without 

 any intimation, fired into the coach, 

 but without injuring any of the 

 passengers. They proceeded to 

 hand out those in the coach, on,e 

 by one, and with the most dread- 

 ful imprecations, made them deli- 

 ver up all they possessed. There 

 were two ladies, ^Irs. Hamilton 

 and daughter, whom the robbers 

 obliged to kneel down in the road, 

 declaring they would shoot them 

 instantly ; one of the gang, Iiow- 

 ever, interfered, and even declared 

 he would not allow tlieir baggage 

 to be touched. However, the 

 captain of the banditti ordered 

 every thing to be carried off. 

 Money, watches, trinkets, clothes, 

 every particle was plundered. The 

 rev. Mr. Beresfordwas in the coach, 

 and is said to have lost 200/. ; ano- 

 ther gentleman lost 600/. and it is 

 thought that tiie villains carried off 

 with them, altogether, more than 

 2,000/. in cash and property. 



Accounts from Carlisle state, 

 that on Saturday strong symptoms 



of insubordination were manifested 

 by the lower orders of the people, 

 but no serious mischief ensued. 

 On Monday, the populace, to the 

 amount of about 3,000, went to 

 Sandsfield (Port Carlisle), with an 

 intention of unshipping several car- 

 goes of corn and potatoes, that 

 were destined to go coastways; but 

 before they had accomplished their 

 purpose, they were checked by the 

 arrival of the military and several 

 magistrates. The populace ap- 

 peared perfectly satisfied with the 

 assurances of the magistrates, who 

 are said to have promised to use 

 every exertion to prevent fore- 

 stalling. All terminated quietly at 

 Sandsfield, except that some of 

 the magistrates and officers were 

 assailed in the suburbs on their re- 

 turn, b)' women and boys, with a 

 few stones. The soldiers were 

 marched up to the market-place, 

 and tbllowed by an immense con- 

 course of people: many, no doubt, 

 attracted by curiosity. Some of 

 the officers were hissed and hooted 

 at on their retiring, when they 

 suddenly wheeled, drew their 

 swords, and ran to their men, who 

 were still under arms, and ordered 

 them to clear away the populace, 

 by which many were wounded. 

 The mob, as if momentarilj' ap- 

 palled, did not farther incommode 

 them, and the officers went to 

 mess, leaving the soldiers under 

 arms. After the lapse of a few 

 minutes, the populace assembled 

 in great numbers before the mess- 

 room, broke the windows, and 

 threatened vengeance to the offi- 

 cers. On this the Riot Act was 

 read. Some rounds, it is stated, 

 were afterwards fired, by which a 

 woman was killed, and several 

 men wounded ; and most of the 



houses 



