56 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1812. 



Sunday, to inspect the works, was 

 not less tlian 800. 



SheffidcU 14..— At 12 o'clock to- 

 day, about4-0or 50poor men (who 

 are employed in preparing a 

 piece of land for a new burying- 

 ground) came marching in wood- 

 en clogs into the potatoe market, 

 where their numbers being much 

 increased, they began to throw the 

 potatoes in every direction, break- 

 ing the windows all round the 

 market-place, and driving the farm- 

 ers and others from the market. 

 They then proceeded to break open 

 the potatoe-cellars, which were 

 soon emptied of their contents. 

 One part of the mob made up 

 High-street to Mr. Woollin's flour- 

 warehouse, where they broke a 

 i^vi squares of glass, but did no 

 other damage. The greater part 

 of the people then rushed to the 

 local mihtia store-room, burst it 

 open, and took from 6 to 800 stand 

 of arms, which they broke in pieces. 

 The military now arrived, and pre- 

 served the remainder. The volun- 

 teer cavalry were called together, 

 and the local militia drum's beat to 

 arms under a very strong guard. 

 Many thousands of people are col- 

 lected. The head-quarters are at 

 the Tontine, with a number of can- 

 non planted before the house. The 

 soldiers have taken several of the 

 ring-leaders into custody ; the 

 shops are all shut in ; the Riot act 

 has been read three times, but all 

 to no purpose. 



Two post-chaises with rioters are 

 gone for York Castle, guarded by 

 cavalry and two field-pieces. Ar- 

 tillerymen have just passed, to 

 guard the ammunition. 



Extract of a letter from Mrs. 

 Goodair at Stockport, to her hus- 

 band in town : — 



*' Bulkeley Arms, Stockport , 

 Jpril Utk, 1812. 

 " We had been for some days 

 under great apprehension of the 

 mob. This morning, about nine 

 o'clock, the people began to assem- 

 ble in considerable numbers. They 

 halted at our large gates (at Edge- 

 ley), and remained there for nearly 

 an hour, caUing to us at intervals 

 to open our windows, and throwing 

 stones in order to compel us to 

 comply with their wishes. Finding 

 neither of any avail, they proceed- 

 ed towards this town, their num- 

 bers increasing as they proceeded 

 along. Instead of entering by the 

 usual road, they visited several 

 houses and fijctories, where they 

 broke all before them. They then 

 returned to Edgeley, in number 

 about 3,000. On perceiving them 

 from our cottace comin<i down the 

 road, I assembled the children and 

 nurse in the parlour, and fastened 

 the windows and doors ; the garden- 

 er presently rushed into the room, 

 and conjured us to fly that moment, 

 if we wished to save our lives. It 

 was with difficulty I could speak, 

 but each snatching up a child, we 

 escaped at the great gate just in time 

 to avoid the rabble. We proceeded 

 to Mr.Sykes's, but before we reach- 

 ed our destination we saw our 

 cottage enveloped in flames. Every 

 thing, I have since learnt, was con- 

 sumed by the fire, and nothing 

 left but the shell. The mob 

 next proceeded to the factory, 

 where they broke the windows, 

 destroyed the looms, and cut 

 all the work which was in pro- 

 gress ; and having finished this 

 mischief, they repeated the three 

 cheers which they gave on seeing 

 the flames first burst from our 

 dwelling. Their cry was, • Now 



for 



