PKIESTLEY 53 



sworn in ; but these were of little avail against the large 

 numbers of the disturbers of the peace. The spirit of 

 rebellion continued to spread, much to the terror and 

 distress of the whole town. While the work of destruction 

 was going on, cries such as " Long live the King and the 

 Constitution in Church and State," "Down with all abettors 

 of the French Revolution," could be continually heard. 

 The devastation went on until Sunday afternoon, when 

 information was received that troops were approaching 

 Birmingham. About ten o'clock three troops of the 15th 

 Regiment of Dragoons from Nottingham, attended by 

 magistrates, entered the town and halted at the Swan Inn. 

 The arrival of the military reassured the inhabitants and 

 eventually restored order. 



In the meantime Priestley, on leaving his home at Fair 

 Hill, only went to neighbouring houses a little distance, 

 but hearing that the rioters were advancing, went to 

 Heath Forge, five miles from Dudley. Here he considered 

 he was safe, but news reached him that he was pursued ; 

 in consequence he proceeded to Kidderminster; here, 

 again, he proved to be too near his enemies, so 

 Worcester was his next halting-place, and from thence 

 he proceeded to London, which he reached on 18th 

 July 1791. 



To the man of science the destruction of his library 

 was the greatest grief. The manuscripts which he most 

 deplored were the following : 



