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PART VIII

THE NINETEENTH CENTURY

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

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