Old times : $b A picture of social life at the end of the eighteenth centuryAshton, John
History
Old times : $b A picture of social life at the end of the eighteenth century
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- Social life and customs
"The Riot at Charing Cross, on Sunday night, was begun by a very
few persons who wished for mischief, and called out the words,
Crimps, and Kidnappers! The damage was done almost
instantaneously, and the villains escaped, leaving a numerous
assembly of people, who were only drawn together by an idle
curiosity, on the Surrey-road, near the Circus. Yesterday
morning, however, about seven o'clock, it was assailed by a mob,
and, notwithstanding it was well defended, and that the door was
plated with iron, it was forced, and the prisoners rescued. Last
night the mob again assembled about half past eight o'clock, near
the Obelisk, in St. George's fields, where they gutted another
Recruiting Office, and threw the furniture into the road, of
which they made a bonfire. At first, the mob consisted only of
about one hundred men, but the flames soon attracted great
numbers. About nine, the Horse Guards arrived, and soon dispersed
the crowd. We wish they had come sooner, as it is extremely
injudicious to the public interest, that such indecent sights
should be repeated. It was very well known that a Mob meant to
assemble, and, of course, the Military should have been at hand,
to meet it. Several persons were much hurt, in not being able to
disperse soon enough, which ought to be a warning not to mingle
in such a crowd. The Duchess of Gloucester, who was at the
Circus, with her daughter, was escorted home by a party of
horse."--(_Times, July 14, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The Riots continued on Monday evening in St. George's Fields,
until the Military arrived to disperse the mob. Several persons
were taken into custody, and lodged in the
watch-house."--(_Times, July 15, 1795._)
[Illustration: Modern Mode of Beating up for Volunteers.]
The way in which the patronage in the Army was managed, was a crying
shame--children in their cradles had Cornetcies presented to them, and
their promotion went on several steps before they left school. We hear
of the natural consequence, in the following extract from the _Times,
4th Jan. 1794_:--
"We are extremely sorry that our public duty should call upon us
to make any unpleasant remarks on the officers of our Army
abroad, but repeated letters from the Continent, received by all
descriptions of persons, agree in saying that there is a great
want of Subordination among our troops. We shall not enter into
particulars on this subject, as our only object is, that this
observation should meet the eye of the Commander-in-Chief, and
other General Officers, and that they should take the matter into
their serious consideration. The evil is certainly increased by
having so many young men introduced into the Army, and placing
them over the heads of veteran Soldiers."
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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