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CHAPTER XXX

EMANCIPATION

209. The "No-Popery" Riots

Wraxall

The movement to relieve the Catholics of some of the disabilities from which they suffered provoked violent opposition at first. Lord George Gordon, a fanatic nobleman, headed an agitation which, had it been more ably led, might have worked lasting harm to England. As it was, the rioters for a time were masters of London, and their excesses alone prevented them from inaugurating a revolution, instead of a mere revolt. They were finally overcome and dispersed, and Lord George, the instigator of the outrages committed, consigned to prison. He soon after professed the Jewish faith. He died in prison.

I was personally present at many of the most tremendous effects of the popular fury, on the memorable 7th of June, the night on which it attained its highest point. About nine o'clock on that evening, accompanied by three other gentlemen, who, as well as myself, were alarmed by the accounts brought in every moment, of the outrages committed; and of the still greater acts of violence meditated, as soon as darkness should favour and facilitate their further progress; we set out from Portland-place, in order to view the scene. Having got into a hackney-coach, we drove to Bloomsburysquare; attracted to that spot by rumour generally spread, that lord Mansfield's residence, situated at the north-east corner, was either already burnt, or destined to destruction. Hart street, and Great Russell street, presented, each, to the view as we passed, large fires composed of furniture taken from the houses of magistrates, or other obnoxious individuals. Quitting the coach, we crossed the square and had scarcely got under the wall of Bedford House, when we heard the door of lord Mansfield's house burst open with violence. In a few minutes, all the contents of the apartments being precipitated from the windows, were piled up, and wrapped in flames. A file of foot-soldiers arriving, drew up near the blazing pile; but, without either attempt

ing to quench the fire, or to impede the mob, who were indeed far too numerous to admit of their being dispersed, or even intimidated, by a small detachment of infantry. The populace remained masters; while we, after surveying the spectacle for a short time, moved on into Holborn, where Mr. Langdale's dwelling house and warehouse afforded a more appalling picture of devastation. They were altogether enveloped in smoke and flame. In front had assembled an immense multitude of both sexes, many of whom were females, and not a few held infants in their arms. All appeared to be, like ourselves, attracted as spectators solely by curiosity, without taking any part in the acts of violence. The kennel of the street ran down with spirituous liquors, and numbers of the populace were already intoxicated with the beverage. So little disposition, however, did they manifest to riot, or pillage, that it would have been difficult to conceive who were the authors and perpetrators of such enormous mischief, if we had not distinctly seen at the windows of the house, men, who while the floors and rooms were on fire, calmly tore down the furniture, and threw it into the street, or tossed it into the flames. They experienced no kind of opposition, during a considerable time that we remained at the place; but a party of the horse guards arriving, the terrified crowd instantly began to disperse; and we, anxious to gratify our further curiosity, continued our progress on foot, along Holborn, towards Fleet Market..

I would in vain attempt adequately to describe the spectacle which presented itself, when we reached the declivity of the hill, close to St. Andrew's Church. The other house and magazines of Mr. Langdale, who, as a Catholic, had been selected for the blind vengeance of the mob; situated in the hollow, near the north end of Fleet Market, threw up into the air a pinnacle of flame resembling a volcano. Such was the beautiful and brilliant effect of the allumination, that St. Andrew's church appeared to be almost scorched by the heat of so prodigious a body of fire; and the figures on the clock were as distinctly perceptible as at noon-day. It resembled indeed a tower, rather than a private building, in a state of conflagation; and would have inspired the beholder with a sentiment of admiration allied to pleasure, if it had been possible to separate the object from its causes and its consequences. The wind did not however augment its rage on this occasion; for the night was serene, and the sky unclouded, except when it became obscured by the volumes of

smoke, which, from time to time produced a temporary darkness. The mob, which completely blocked up the whole street in every part, and in all directions, prevented our approaching within fifty or sixty yards of the building, but the populace, though still principally composed of persons allured by curiosity, yet evidently began here to assume a more disorderly and ferocious character. Troops, either horse or foot, we still saw none; nor, in the midst of this combination of tumult, terror and violence, had the ordinary police ceased to continue its functions.

While we stood by the wall of St. Andrew's churchyard, a watchman, with a lanthorn in his hand, passed us, calling the hour, as if in time of profound tranquillity.

Finding it altogether impracticable to force our way any further down Holborn Hill, and hearing that the Fleet Prison had been set on fire; we penetrated through a number of narrow lanes, behind St. Andrew's church, and presently found ourselves in the middle of Fleet Market. Here, the same destruction raged, but in a different stage of progress. Mr Langdale's houses were already at the height of their demolition: the Fleet Prison on the contrary was only beginning to blaze, and the sparks of flaming particles that filled the air, fell so thick upon us on every side, as to render unsafe its immediate vicinity, meanwhile we began to hear the platoons discharged on the other side of the river, towards St. George's Fields; and were informed, that a considerable number of rioters had been killed on Blackfriars Bridge, which was occupied by the troops. On approaching it, we beheld the King's Bench Prison completely wrapt in flames. It exhibited a sublime sight, and we might be said there to stand in a central point, from which London offered on every side, before, as well as behind us, the picture of a city sacked and abandoned to a ferocious enemy. The shouts of the populace, the cries of women, the crackling of the fires, the blaze reflected in the stream of the Thames, and the irregular firing which was kept up both in St. George's Fields, as well as towards the quarter of the mansion-house, and the bank; - all these sounds, or images combined, left scarcely any thing for the imagination to supply; presenting to the view every recollection, which the classic descriptions in Virgil, or in Tacitus, have impressed on the mind in youth, but which I so little expected to see exemplified in the capital of Great Britain.

(Historical Memoirs of my own Time, by Sir N. W. Wraxall, Phila., 1837 Part II, 134 ff.)

210. Speech of King George on Catholic Emancipation

Annual Register

For more than a century Catholics had been subjected to many disabilities. They were not only excluded from holding civil office, but every relation of life was affected. The repressive legislation harassed the Catholics in the possession of their property, the education of their children, and the exercise of their religion. Such an attitude toward Catholic citizens resulted in agitation looking toward emancipation, a number of Protestants joining in the movement. The final conflict with intolerance was begun in 1778, with Sir George Saville's measure for the relief of Roman Catholics. It was carried on by Pitt, Grenville, Grattan, Canning, and other leaders, until in 1829 came the last struggle, which was to end in Catholic emancipation. The necessity of such a measure had been accentuated by the condition of Ireland. The King's Address, given below, was the first step in the movement of the session. It was a surprise and disaster to the intolerant party. It aroused the bitterest invective; but the majority, Protestants as well as Catholics, welcomed the promise of support which it bore, and which alone their cause had lacked for success.

My Lords and Gentlemen:

The state of Ireland has been the object of His Majesty's continued solicitude.

His Majesty laments that in that part of the United Kingdom an Association should still exist, which is dangerous to the public peace, and inconsistent with the spirit of the Constitution; which keeps alive discord and ill-will amongst His Majesty's subjects; and which must, if permitted to continue, effectually obstruct every effort permanently to improve the condition of Ireland.

His Majesty confidently relies on the wisdom and on the support of his parliament; and His Majesty feels assured that you will commit to him such powers that may enable His Majesty to maintain his just authority.

His Majesty recommends that, when his essential object shall have been accomplished, you should take into your deliberate consideration the whole condition of Ireland, and that you should review the laws which impose civil disabilities on His Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects.

You will consider whether the removal of these disabilities can be effected consistently with the full and permanent security of our establishments in church and state, with the maintenance of the reformed religion established by law, and of the rights and privileges of the bishops and of the

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