52 BIOGKAPHIES OF SCIENTIFIC MEN 



Priestley's New and Old Meeting Houses were burnt 

 to the ground. News of this was conveyed to Priestley 

 at Fair Hill, who thought it so improbable that he should 

 be molested that he hardly credited the story. He was 

 at last prevailed upon to leave the house, but having 

 no apprehension with regard to his property, neither 

 collected any of his manuscripts nor took anything with 

 him. Detachments of the rioters now proceeded to 

 Priestley's residence ; they attacked the building with 

 great violence, destroying pictures, furniture, etc., includ- 

 ing a valuable library. It was hoped the laboratory would 

 escape the attention of the crowd, as it was situated at 

 some distance from the house, but this was not so ; it was 

 broken into, much valuable apparatus being ruined, and 

 the building destroyed. 



On the following morning various parties of the rebels 

 entered the town and paraded the streets armed with 

 bludgeons, vociferating " Church and King," words which 

 the peaceful inhabitants chalked on the doors and shutters 

 of their houses to aid security. The Earl of Aylesford, 

 who had done his best to quell the disturbance, went to 

 the ruins of Priestley's house and addressed the mob. He 

 brought them into the town and tried to persuade them to 

 disperse, but both his efforts and those of the magistrates 

 were useless to stop the revolt. 



During the day several residences were attacked and 

 burnt, and in consequence additional constables were 



