yet not concerned in the petition, were assaulted;* many of their glasses were broken, and many of their persons torn out of the carriages. Lord Boston was thrown down and almost trampled to death; and the two Secretaries of State, the Master of the Ordnance, and Lord Willoughby were stripped of their bags or wigs, and the three first came into the House with their hair all dishevelled. The chariots of Sir George Savile and Charles Turner, two leading advocates for the late toleration, though in Opposition, were demolished; and the Duke of Richmond and Burke were denounced to the mob as proper objects for sacrifice.† Lord Mahon laboured to pacify the tempest, and, towards eight and nine, prevailed on so many to disperse, that the Lords rose and departed in quiet; but every avenue to the other House was besieged and blockaded, and for four hours they kept their doors locked, though some of the warmest members proposed to sally out, sword in hand, and cut their way. Lord North and that House behaved with great firmness, and would not submit to give any other satisfaction to the rioters, than to consent to take the Popish laws into consideration on the following Tuesday; and calling the justices of the peace, empowered them to call out the whole force of the county to quell the riot.

The magistrates soon brought the horse and foot guards, and the pious ragamuffins soon fled, so little enthusiasm fortunately had inspired them; at least all their religion consisted in outrage and plunder; for the Duke of Northumberland, General Grant, Mr. Mackinsy, and others had their pockets picked of their watches and snuff-boxes. Happily, not a single life was lost.

This tumult, which was over between nine and ten at night, had

"It is hardly possible," wrote one who was present, "to conceive a more grotesque appearance than the House exhibited. Some of their lordships, with their hair about their shoulders; others smutted with dirt; most of them as pale as the Ghost in Hamlet, and all of them standing up, in their several places, and speaking at the same time." Lord Mansfield came in with his wig dishevelled; the Archbishop of York had his long sleeves torn off and flung in his face; the Bishop of Lincoln's carriage was destroyed, and himself taken, in a fainting fit, into a house; the Duke of Northumberland was robbed of his watch and purse; and Lord Sandwich narrowly escaped destruction."-ED.

Mr. Burke, in his way to the House, on the 6th, was surrounded by some of the most respectable of the petitioners, who expostulated with him on his conduct, in abetting Sir George Savile's motion for the Roman Catholic Bill: he said, he certainly had seconded it, and thought himself justified in so doing; he understood he was a marked man, and therefore he had walked out singly amongst them, conscious of having done nothing that deserved their censure, having always been the advocate of the people. Mr. Burke's residence in the Broad Sanctuary was more than once threatened; and he himself reviled as a Jesuit in disguise, nicknamed Neddy St. Omer's, and caricatured as a monk stirring up the fires of Smithfield. He thus notices the above adventure, in a letter written shortly after to a friend in Ireland: My wife being safely lodged, I spent part of the next day in the street amidst this wild assembly, into whose hands I delivered myself, informing them who I was. Some of them were malignant and fanatical, but I think the far greater part of those whom I saw were rather dissolute and unruly than very ill-disposed. I even found friends and well-wishers amongst the blue-cockades."-ED

scarce ceased before it broke out in two other quarters. Old Haslang's chapel was broken open and plundered; and as he is a Prince of Smugglers as well as Bavarian Minister, great quantities of run tea and contraband goods were found in his house. This one cannot lament; and still less, as the old wretch has for these forty years usurped a hired house, and though the proprietor for many years has offered to remit his arrears of rent, he will neither quit the house nor pay for it.

Monsieur Cordon, the Sardinian Minister, suffered still more. The mob forced his chapel, stole two silver lamps, demolished every thing else, threw the benches into the street, set them on fire, carried the brands into the chapel, and set fire to that; and, when the engines came, would not suffer them to play till the guards arrived, and saved the house and probably all that part of the town. Poor Madame Cordon was confined by illness. My cousin, Thomas Walpole, who lives in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, went to her rescue, and dragged her, for she could scarce stand with terror and weakness, to his own house.

I doubt this narrative will not reapproach you and Mr. Windham. I have received yours of the 20th of last month.

You will be indignant that such a mad dog as Lord George should not be knocked on the head. Colonel Murray did tell him in the House, that, if any lives were lost, his lordship should join the number.† -Nor yet is he so lunatic as to deserve pity. Besides being very debauched, he has more knavery than mission. What will be decided on him, I do not know; every man that heard him can convict him of the worst kind of sedition: but it is dangerous to constitute a rascal a martyr. I trust we have not much holy fury left; I am persuaded that there was far more dissoluteness than enthusiasm in the mob: yet the episode is very disagreeable. I came from town yesterday to avoid the birthday. We have a report here that the Papists last night burnt a Presbyterian meeting-house, but I credit nothing now on the first report. It was said to be intended on Saturday, and the guards patrolled the streets at night; but it is very likely that Saint George Gordon spread the insinuation himself.

My letter cannot set out before to-morrow; therefore I will postpone the conclusion. In the mean time I must scold you very seriously for the cameo you have sent me by Mr. Morrice. This house

* Count Haslang, Minister from the Elector of Bavaria: he had been here from the year 1740. [He died in May 1783, at the age of eighty-three, after an embassy of forty-four years.-ED.]

† Lord George went out several times and harangued the people, pointing out such members as were opposing the petition, particularly Mr. Burke. An eye-witness states, that General Conway and several other members expostulated with him very warmly on the mischiefs that might arise from such conduct, and that Colonel Gordon, a near relation, went up to him and accosted him in the following words, "My Lord George, do you intend to bring your rascally adherents into the House? If you do, the first man of them that enters, I will plunge my sword-not into his, but into your body."-ED.

is full of your presents and of my blushes. I love any one of them as an earnest of your friendship; but I hate so many. You force upon me an air most contrary to my disposition. I cannot thank you for your kindness; I entreated you to send me nothing more. You leave me no alternative but to seem interested or ungrateful. I can only check your generosity by being brutal. If I had a grain of power, I would affront you and call your presents bribes. I never gave you any thing but a coffee-pot. If I could buy a diamond as big as the Caligula, and a less would not be so valuable, I would send it you. In one word, I will not accept the cameo, unless you give me a promise under your hand that it shall be the last present you send me. I cannot stir about this house without your gifts staring me in the face. Do you think I have no conscience? I am sorry Mr. Morrice is no better, and wonder at his return. What can in

vite him to this country? Home never was so homely.

6th.

It is not true that a meeting-house has been burnt. I believe a Popish chapel in the city has been attacked: and they talk here of some disturbance yesterday, which is probable; for, when grace, robbery, and mischief make an alliance, they do not like to give over :—but ten miles from the spot are a thousand from truth. My letter must go to town before night, or would be too late for the post. If you do not hear from me again immediately, you will be sure that this bourrasque has subsided.

Thursday 8th.

I am exceedingly vexed. I sent this letter to Berkeley Square on Tuesday, but by the present confusions my servant did not receive it in time. I came myself yesterday, I found a horrible scene. Lord Mansfield's house was just burnt down, and at night there were shocking disorders. London and Southwark were on fire in six places; but the regular troops quelled the sedition by daybreak, and every thing now is quiet. A camp of ten thousand men is formed in Hyde Park, and regiments of horse and foot arrive every hour.

Friday morn. 9th. All has been quiet to-night. I am going to Strawberry for a little rest. Your nephew told me last night that he sends you constant journals just now.

LETTER CCCXXXI.

Strawberry Hill, June 14, 1780. THE Pope needs not be alarmed: the rioters thought much more of plundering those of their own communion, than his holiness's flock. To demolish law and prisons was their next great object; and to release prisoners, the only gospel-work they performed. What was the view of the arch-incendiary I do not know, nor what seditious

plans were engrafted on or incorporated with his Calvanistic refor mation; but it is certain that the number of the perpetrators of all the mischief was very inconsiderable, and two-thirds apprentices and women. Two fortunate circumstances are amazing; that a large portion of the town was not burnt, and that not a single person of any name is killed. The damage, on the contrary, is estimated at a million. I do not send you particulars, for your nephew told me you should have a journal of them from him.

The spectacle-for I was there on the blackest night, the Wednesday, was tremendous and shocking. The monster that conjured up this tempest is now manacled in the Tower.-But what a nation is Scotland; in every reign engendering traitors to the State, and false and pernicious to the Kings that favour it the most! National prejudices, I know, are very vulgar; but, if there are national characteristics, can one but dislike the soils and climates that concur to produce them?.

I shall suspend the prosecution of this letter, for the papers say our ports are still shut. They will soon be re-opened, I trust; for tranquillity is restored in the capital, and in the country has not been disturbed but for one moment at Bath, though near a fortnight is elapsed since the first tumult.

Berkeley Square, Friday, 16th.

I shall change my mind, and send away this fragment to-night; as, though short, it will contain two pieces of intelligence that will give you joy, and I doubt you want some cordials.

Yesterday arrived an account of the surrender of Charlestown to Sir Henry Clinton: like the jaundice, I turn every thing to the colour of my mind, and cry," Will it advance peace?" It certainly will have good effect here, and discourage mutineers.-I have not time to dilate more.

The King and his royal brothers are reconciled. This is my second good article.-But the best of all is, that we are perfectly tranquil; and ten days having passed since the black Wednesday, and no accounts having come of the least disturbance, except a momentary one at Bath, it is fairly to be presumed that the whole nation is shocked at the late savage tumults.

Here the scandal taken is so universal, or shame or fear, that not a single person has been or sent to inquire after the arch-incendiary. Wilkes has very sensibly ridden home on Lord George, and distinguished himself by zeal and spirit.†

One strange circumstance in the late delirium was the mixture of

Prince William Henry Duke of Gloucester, and Prince Henry Duke of Cumberland..

Dr. Johnson, in a letter to Mrs. Thrale of the 10th, says, "The rioters attempted the Bank. Jack Wilkes headed the party that drove them away. Jack declares, that if he be trusted with power, he will not leave a rioter alive. We frighten one another with reports that seventy thousand Scots are about to come hither with the Dukes of Gordon and Argyll, and eat us, and hang us, or drown us; but we are all at quiet."-ED.

VOL. II.-14

rage and consideration in the mob. In most of the fires they threw furniture into the street, did not burn it in the houses; nay, made several small bonfires, lest a large one should spread to buildings. They would not suffer engines to play on the devoted edifices; yet, the moment the objects were consumed, played the engines on contiguous houses on each side! It is all unaccountable, and I can yet send you no consistent narrative. Much appears to have been sudden fury, and in many places the act of few. In other lights it looks like plan and deep premeditation. Whether it will ever be unravelled, I know not; or whether, like the history of darker ages, falsehood will become history, and then distant periods conjecture that we have transmitted very blundered relations: but, when I know so little of what has passed before my own eyes, I shall not guess how posterity will form their opinions. Adieu! I have not time to say more.

LETTER CCCXXXII.

Berkeley Square, July 6, 1780.

IF I did not think that you have a satisfaction in hearing from me, and were not unwilling to grow remiss after a perseverance of forty years, I should be disposed to devolve on your nephew the function of sending you intelligence. In good truth, I am ashamed of the of fice. We make a ridiculous figure in every light: there is no dignity or consistence any where. The Government, the Parliament, the parties, or rather the factions or rather the fractions, do and undo, cross over and figure in, and seem to have neither plan nor object.

The incoherencies of the last six months could only be described by a person accustomed to draw out dances for the stage. In December the tide ran into petitions and associations: the House of Commons voted the danger of prerogative, unvoted it again, were for satisfying the petitioners, and then did not give them a crumb of bread: then we were alarmed with Popery, and the town was set on fire: next, we were to revise toleration,-that was changed for new precautions against increase of Papists: then our Lords the Bishops were for tolerating Popery because it was decreasing: then the Chancellor declared he had always disliked the indulgence; but, in contradiction to the favourers of it, would himself favour their educating their children: and then-ay, then,-the new bill of regulations was thrown out, no body knows why or wherefore.* If you can make head or tail of all this, you are wiser than I!

*When Sir George Savile's bill for securing the Protestant religion from any encroachments of Popery, by restraining Papist from teaching the children of Protestants, was brought up from the Commons, the Lords in general, including the right reverend bench, appeared much on the side of toleration; but several of the peers considering it as a great indignity to Parliament to pass a bill which carried all the appearance of being forced upon them by outrage and threat, upon its being