PART IX.

BURNING OF THE PRISONS.-SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

Soon after one o'clock the mob had very much increased about the Mansion-house, particularly on the Charlotte-street side; and their attacks were renewed with a violence that indicated a fixed determination to accomplish their deep-laid plan of outrage and incendiarism. The windows of the banquetting-room were soon dashed in pieces, as the prelude to more extensive destruction.

In the course of the morning, the constables had apprehended a boy, who it appeared had been active in throwing stones; but on the charge being investigated by the Magistrates, they were not satisfied that the evidence was sufficiently clear against the boy, and they accordingly discharged him; but, as it afterwards appeared, he did not quit the Mansion-house, though at perfect liberty to do so. The mob, however, seized upon the circumstanee as a color to their proceedings, and there was a general cry of “rescue, rescue," ""down with the house," &c. Upon this, a gentleman of the Society of Friends told the mob, if they would move off, the boy should be released, and he went into the Mansion-house.*

*During this occurrence a message was sent to the Magistrates from the officer commanding the 3rd dragoons, then in the Square, requesting to speak with them. One of them accordingly went to him, when the officer told him that the mob wanted a prisoner, who must be given up, or the force which he had would not be able to

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On communicating the fact to the mob, that the boy had been released, they exulted greatly, considering that the Magistrates had yielded through fear; and very soon after a cry was raised, "now then, we will have the prisoners out of Bridewell." During this the 3rd dragoons and the mob were on the best terms. Wine was carried about in great quantities from the Mayor's cellar; and soon after another body came down, and instantly the cry was "Bridewell."

It was about half-past one o'clock a party of them proceeded to Bridewell; on their way thither they halted and broke open a smith's shop, in Nelson-street, where they procured hammers, crow-bars, &c.,* and with these formidable weapons they attacked the Bridewell. Mr. Evans, the keeper, had, on their approach, taken the precaution to shut the gates, and endeavoured, with the assistance of the turnkey and other persons, to resist the pressure against the gate on the Nelson-street side, which however gave way, and the whole space was instantly filled with persons. Mr. Evans and the turnkey were driven into the house-side of the Bridewell.+ The mob first lifted the large gates off the hinges, and threw them into the adjoining river Froome, that they might not be closed upon them while engaged in further operations. They then began with their bars to open an old window,

keep the mob in check, and that the constables had done wrong in causing excitement, by uselessly taking persons into custody. The Magistrate informed him that the prisoner had long since been discharged.

A quantity of bricks, accumulated for the purpose of new fronting a house in Bridewell-lane, fell a prize to the mob; about 1,500 were taken for purposes of violence.

The prison and the keeper's dwelling-house occupied opposite sides of a court, through which there was a thoroughfare by day; at night the gates were closed.

when Mr. Evans made his appearance with a blunderbuss, and gave notice he would fire at the first person that moved a stone. Thus they were kept at bay for about a quarter of an hour. The keeper by this time learned that the 14th dragoons had been sent out of the city, and seeing no hopes of assistance, he enquired of the mob what they wanted; they replied, "release the men that were committed last night, and we will be off." The key was handed down, and the prisoners were liberated. The keeper, his wife, and children, and some other persons who were in the house, escaped over the roof; and in a few minutes after the mob had obtained possession, the buildings were set on fire.

Soon after the attack upon Bridewell, a large party proceeded to the new Gaol, a very strong stone building, erected only a few years ago at a great expence. In their way they attacked the workshops of Messrs. Acraman. The following is given as a specimen of their obedience to the orders of their leaders. After the door of the warehouse was forced, a respectably-dressed man, short and rather stout, in a suit of brown, and a doublefrilled shirt, with three pearl buttons, came up, and taking off his gloves ordered all but three men out of the warehouse. These he sent for two dozen sledge hammers, as many crow bars and iron wedges, and then directed the door to be secured. But on consideration he said, we shall want some spanners to take off the nuts; get three pair, but mind I shall expect all these tools to be returned !"

The governor of the Gaol, having received information of the attack, had gone to the Mansion-house, and was referred to the Guildhall. Here two Alder

men, Mr. Hilhouse and Mr. Savage, having collected about sixty citizens and constables, went with the governor to the Goal. They found at the time of their arrival an immense multitude, not less, probably, than fifteen thousand persons about the Goal, and in front of the portal or entrance. The streets were filled with respectably dressed persons, but none of them joined the Magistrates. This small party, with the two Aldermen, were instantly furiously attacked with a volley of stones and other missiles, and forced to retire one gentleman was knocked by a brick-bat on the side of the head, and whilst down was struck with a pump-handle; he was taken home insensible. The force of the mob was every moment fearfully encreasing, a dense mass had collected, and on the other side of the river, wherever the eye could range, thousands were in motion.

Though the mob were in force at the Bridewell and Gaol at the same time, there was such evident concert in their operations, that the same system was pursued at each place, and many of the most violent among them were proved to have been active in both the attacks.*

Messengers had in the mean time been sent to, and had found Col. Brereton, and told him that the Magistrates were gone to the Goal, and requested the troops to join them there. The mob first began their attack on the small door, which leads to the turnkey's room, but they could make no impression; they then attacked the large gates with sledge-hammers and iron bars-after some time there was a call for wedges, which were

*William Clarke and Patrick Kearney were afterwards convicted of assisting in the demolition of the Bridewell and Gaol.