CHRONICLE. 



59 



mob, and induced tliem, it is said, 

 to elect a body of delegates to hold 

 " a second congress." They spoke 

 of sending deputations to other 

 manufacturing districts ; and in 

 the mean time, until the strength 

 of their friends could be ascertained, 

 they counselled iheir auditors to 

 avoid contests with the military, 

 and to confine themselvesto noctur- 

 nal depredations. It is stated, that 

 at this meeting, which they deno- 

 minated iheir *' Tirst Congress," 

 they determined upon an immediate 

 attack of the manufactory of 

 Messrs. Bury and Co. but were 

 prevented in consequence of its 

 being guarded by soldiers. 



20. Manchester. — The works of 

 Messrs. Daniel Burton and sons, at 

 Middleton, where machinery is 

 used in great perfection in printing 

 calicoes, were attacked on Satur- 

 day by a numerous mob, who 

 commenced their operations by the 

 firing of musketry into the factory. 

 Messrs. Burton being apprised of 

 their intentions, had prepared for 

 defence, and at the first volley five 

 of the misguided rioters unhappily 

 fell : several were wounded. This 

 resolute conduct had the desired 

 effect, and the rioters were dis- 

 persed without further mischief. 



To-day largemobs having assem- 

 bled at New Cross and at Knot- 

 mill ; they entered the shops and 

 houses, taking meal, flour, and 

 potatoes, with every other article 

 that fell in their way. There is 

 also a mob assembled at Middleton, 

 and in every other direction. The 

 town is now in confusion, not 

 knowing where it will end. At 

 Bolton, and some miles round, the 

 inhabitants are in great alarm. 



At Eccles all the shops are shut 



up ; the passengers and coachman 

 of the Liverpool coach were stoned 

 in passing through. There are two 

 of the coaches tilled with soldiers 

 and ammunition, sent off to Mid- 

 dleton, there not being a sufficient 

 numberof military to dispel the mob. 

 21. A shocking outrage was com- 

 mitted near Baliypatrick. While 

 the family of a farmer there, named 

 Patrick Keefe, were asleep, their 

 dwelling-house was set on fire, 

 and the first communication of the 

 dreadful event was by the falling 

 in of the particles of the burning 

 timber. Keefe had, some time 

 back, gotten iron gratings to his 

 windows, and a strong lock to his 

 door. Awakened by the cry of 

 " Fire" from his wife, they both 

 jumped up, and, in their agitation, 

 lost the few moments that might 

 have saved some of the family in 

 an ineffectual search for the key. 

 Missing this, Keefe recollected a 

 window through which he might 

 pass, and made for it, the burning 

 timbers still falling in upon thsm; 

 while he was making this effort, 

 his wife ran to bring some of their 

 children from an inner room, but 

 out of which neithe^ she nor they 

 came alive. Of a family of nine 

 persons, either in youth or middle 

 life, within a few minutes, but 

 one was left to relate this ^orrid 

 story. Keefe was removed to the 

 House of Industry, dreadfully 

 burned. The coroner's inquest 

 found, that eight persons came by 

 their death by the house in which 

 they were being maliciously set on 

 fire by some person or persons un- 

 known. The high sheriff, on 

 going to the House of Industry, 

 found Keefe covered with ulcers, 

 unattended ; and no threat, nor 



entreaty, 



