80 
21.—All the military and naval 
forces stationed at North and 
South Shields having been assem- 
bled under the command of Major- 
general Rial and captain Toker, 
and the military, both infantry 
and cavalry, being posted on the 
north side, a disposition was made 
to send to sea as many vessels 
with coals as could be manned ; 
and on the part of the refractory 
seamen there also appeared an 
intention to resist the proceedings 
of the king’s forces. The seamen 
collected to the number of seve- 
ral thousands ; but none appeared 
in arms. The mayor of New- 
castle, and the magistrates on the 
spot, as well as those from the 
neighbouring sea-ports, held con- 
sultations with the military and 
naval commanders, with a view, 
that if force should prove neces- 
sary, it might be used with as 
little bloodshed as possible. A 
body of marines first took posses- 
sion of the bridge of boats, which 
formed the passage for the sailors 
between the North and South side 
of the river; and the latter being 
thus deprived of the means of 
escape, the cavalry on the north 
side made more of a demonstra- 
tion, than of a real charge against 
them. This was sufficient, how- 
ever, to drive them to the river 
side, and place them entirely at 
the mercy of the soldiers, and ac- 
cordingly they sought their safety 
in dispersion and flight. The 
commanders of the forces antici- 
pating such an event, had ordered 
a particular look out to be kept 
for’ the Committee, who were 
known by their dress. The great- 
est part of them seized a boat, 
and attempted their escape by 
water, but were made prisoners 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1815, 
in their flight. The king’s hen 
now affording a rallying point for 
those sailors who had been re- 
tained by the Committee against 
their will, several of them re- 
signed themselves up, and offered 
to proceed instantly to sea with 
any vessels that might be ready. 
With these men and the appren- 
tices in the harbour, capt. Toker 
was enabled, we understand, to 
send to sea from 20 to 25 colliers. 
Soon after the rioters had been 
put to flight, the Prince Regent’s 
proclamation arrived, and little 
doubt was entertained at Shields, 
but that the seamen, with one 
accord, would give up a cause so 
unworthy of a British sailor. 
Extract of a letter, dated South 
Shields, the 24th instant :—* Im- 
mediately after my last letter went 
to post, an order came for half of 
the detachment to disembark, to 
protect the seamen, who wished 
to go on board their ships, from 
the fury of the rioters. We were 
joined by a troop of the 5th dra- 
goon guards, about 300 of the 
Westminster, and the same num- 
ber of the Durham militia. The 
boats of the different ships were 
employed, manned and armed, to 
seize and stave all the boats upon 
the beach and along the shore 
(about 400 in number ), and which 
prevented the rioters from board- 
ing the merchant-ships, as they 
went out of harbour. In the 
mean time, our detachment, of 
about 178 rank and file, lined the 
beach of South Shields, which, 
together, prevented the mob from 
approaching. We began at half- 
past 12 o'clock, and by seven in 
the evening, without any confu- 
sion, about 56 vessels were clear 
off. Many of the ringleaders have 
