Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 1: From the twelfth to the eighteenth centuryGriffiths, Arthur
History
Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 1: From the twelfth to the eighteenth century
Griffiths, Arthur
Criminals -- Great Britain; Newgate (Prison : London, England); Prisons -- England; Punishment -- Great Britain
A fresh and more serious riot soon occurred in the streets, on the
occasion of the thanksgiving on the anniversary of Preston fight.
Several visitors came to the rebels with rue and thyme in their hats
and bosoms in contempt of the day; but the new keepers made bold
to strip them of their badges and strew the floors with them, "as
more worthy to be trodden underfoot than be worn by way of insult on
that glorious day." About midnight brickbats were thrown from the
neighbouring houses upon the soldiers on guard; and the guard in
retaliation fired up at the places whence came the attack. Mr. Carleton
Smith whose turn it was to sit up, feared some attempt was being
made to break the gaol, and "leaping out to know the occasion of the
firing, searched several of the houses; in doing which he was like to
have been shot by a ball which came up to the room where he was." But
the attachment of the rebels to their cause was not to be checked. It
broke out again on the 10th June, the anniversary of the Pretender's
birth. "Captain Booth, whose window looked into Phœnix Court, was so
insolent as to put out a great bunch of white roses at his window," and
several visitors of both sexes came wearing the same rebellious badges.
But again the keepers pulled them out and threw them on the floor.
In all these disturbances Captain Silk was a ringleader. He is
continually ready to make a noise. Now he swears revenge upon the
keeper for not allowing supper to be carried in to him and his
"conrogues" after 10 P. M.; now he incites other prisoners to
riot. "They are for the most part very drunk and rude, so that it was
with great difficulty that they were got to their rooms by one o'clock
in the morning." Next day Captain Silk continues his insolence. He
threatens Mr. Smith for refusing to pass in visitors after regulated
hours. Again he and his companions are drunk and insolent, and cannot
be got to their rooms till the same late hour. A night or two later
they crowded about the doors when they were opened, cursing and
assaulting the person who rang the night-bell. Captain Silk, as before,
encouraged them, and to provoke them further, when the bell sounded
cried out, "Get up, ye slaves, and go."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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