LXXVII. 5.

The Riots in 1780*.

THE following account of this singular event we transcribe from the Annual Register of that year. "While these matters," say the writers of that valuable historical work, " were agitated with so "much warmth, in and out of parliament, and "with so many extraordinary turns of fortune, an "affair totally separate, was, at the same time, "carried on, for a long time, with little notice; "but which, in due season, broke out with so much fury and violence, as entirely to bear down all designs, either for reforming or for strengthening government; and at once overwhelmed, and "bore away before it, both majority and minority, " with an irresistible torrent of popular fanaticism "and phrenzy.

"have examined and seriously considered on, coram Deo, "imploring also his light and assistance; and I am fully con"vinced, that it contains nothing, but what may be taken with "a safe conscience, both by priests and people. The same are the sentiments of my m " (bishop James) "Talbot, and our brother," (bishop) "Walton, and of the generality of our clergy, both secular and regular; a great many of whom have taken the oath in our courts of West"minster. I remain, honoured dear sir, ever yours in our Lord, "Richard Challoner.

* Mention of the riots in Scotland will be made in the second supplementary chapter to this work.

"as the event, of this shameful and unhappy affair; "and that lord George Gordon, who had been

early placed at the head of the Scotch associa"tion for the support of the protestant religion,

was likewise appointed president to an associa❝tion in London, formed in imitation or emula"tion of the former. The public summons in the newspapers, by which he assembled fifty or sixty "thousand men, in St. George's-fields, under an "idea of defending the religion of the country

against imaginary danger, by accompanying the "presentment, and enforcing the matter of a peti"tion to parliament, demanding the repeal of the "late law which afforded some relaxation of the penal statutes against popery,-are likewise fresh "in every body's memory.

"The extraordinary conduct of that noble person in the house of commons, during the present "session, and the frequent interruptions which he gave to the business of parliament, as well by "the unaccountable manner in which he continually brought in and treated matters relative to religion, and the danger of popery, as the caprice with which he divided the house, upon questions, wherein he stood nearly, or entirely alone, were passed over, along with other singu"larities in his dress and manner, rather as sub

66

jects of pleasantry, than of serious notice or "reprehension. Even when he involved matters "of state with those of religion, in a strange kind "of language, boasting that he was at the head of a hundred and twenty thousand able men in

"Scotland, who would quickly remedy their own

grievances, if they were not otherwise redressed; "and little less than holding out destruction to "the crown and government, unless full security was given to the associations in both countries, against those imminent dangers, with which they "were immediately threatened by popery. Such

things, and others, if possible, still more extra"ordinary, were only treated merely as objects of "laughter. It is, however, possible that this care"lessness, or complacence, of the house, was at length carried too far.

66

"Besides the advertisements and resolutions, "the inflammatory harangue of the president, at "the preceding meeting of the protestant associa"tion, was published in the newspapers, and was "full of matter, which might well have excited the "most instant attention and alarm. In that piece, "the president informs his enthusiastic adherents, (6 among other extraordinary matter, that, for his

part, he would run all hazards with the people; "and, if the people were too lukewarm to run all

hazards with him, when their conscience and "their country called them forth, they might get "another president; for he would tell them can"didly, that he was not a lukewarm man himself; "and if they meant to spend their time in mock "debate and idle opposition, they might get an

other leader. He afterwards declared, that if " he was attended by less than twenty thousand, on the appointed day, he would not present their "petition; and he gave orders, under the appear

1

ance of a motion, for the manner in which they "should be marshalled in St. George's-fields; "appointing that they should be formed in four "bodies; three of them regulated by the respec"tive boundaries of the great divisions of the metropolis; and the fourth composed entirely of his own particular countrymen. To prevent mis"takes, the whole were to be distinguished by blue "cockades. If this were not sufficient to arouse "the attention of government, lord George Gordon gave notice to the house of commons, on the Tuesday, that the petition would be presented "on the following Friday, and that the whole body "of protestant associators were to assemble in "St. George's-fields, in order to accompany their petition to the house.

66

3

"These notices ought to have given a more "serious alarm, than they seem to have done, to

government. The opposition afterwards charged "them with little less than a meditated encou

ragement to this fanatic tumult, in order to dis"countenance the associations which had more "serious objects in view, and to render odious and " contemptible all popular interposition in affairs "of state. They reminded them of their activity " in giving orders to hold the military in readiness, "on a peaceable meeting in Westminster-hall, and "their utter neglect of the declared and denounced "violence of this sort of people.

"The alarming cry against popery, with the "continual invective and abuse which they disse"minated through newspapers, pamphlets, and

66

sermons, by degrees drew over to a meeting, "originally small and obscure, a number of well"meaning people, from the various classes of "testants, who seriously apprehended their reli

pro

gion to be in danger. These, however deficient they were in point of consideration, being, for "the far greater part, poor and ignorant people, many of whom could not write their names, they "became formidable with respect to numbers. It

is, however, to be at all times remembered, that "the conduct of these associators was not more "execrated, than the intolerant principle, to which

they owed their union and action, was con"demned by the sound and eminent divines, both "of the established church and of the dissenters.

"On the 2d of June, the grand division of asso"ciators being drawn off, by different routes, from "the rendezvous of St. George's-fields, filled the

66

ways, through which they marched in ranks, "with a multitude which excited wonder and "alarm. Having arrived at the place of their destination, and filled up all the streets and avenues to both houses, they began the exercise of "the new authority, derived from their numbers, only by compelling the members, as they came down, to cry out, no popery;' to wear blue "cockades; and some, as it is said, to take an "oath to contribute all in their power to the repeal of the new law, or, as they called it, the popery act. But, upon the appearance of the archbishop of York, and other of the prelates and "court lords, their rage and violence were in

(

66