In eighteen hundred ten and six Old England's glory some would fix: Peace throughout Europe; Royal Marriages, New Streets, new Palaces, and Carriages. New Stars, new Ribbons, and new Crosses, A Coinage new, whate'er the loss is-- Splendid new Bridges, splendid Lights, And Columns destined for our Knights! Sounds not this well? Then who would think We stood on ruin's very brink? For, now the Picture but capsize And view it with your proper eyes. In London, flashy shops behold, And new Bazaars, but nothing sold; In every street, a carpet out, That shews my Lady on her route, To spend her poor remains in France, And teach her children how to dance. Then for the Country--Farmers breaking, Clothiers half ruin'd, Landlords quaking, A solemn gloom, no sun, no hay day Between this very hour and Lady. The Corn, too, laid, and some say rotting, The Luddites up in arms, or plotting-- The panic general, and the Stocks As flat, almost, as the New Docks-- Then a Subscription by the Great, Lest all our poor should emigrate, A boon that seems too sure a test Of apprehension for the _rest_. But last, and worst, a Ministry in doubt, Too weak to stand, too strong to be turned out." In August we had riots in Glasgow and Preston, and this in spite of the "Association for the Relief of the Manufacturing and Labouring poor." Nay, even the prisoners in Newgate caught the infection, and organized a riot of their own, which had a somewhat frivolous beginning. On the 25th of August a visitor to the prison had his watch stolen, and naturally complained of the matter to the Keeper, who ordered all the convicts and their visitors to be searched, and no more visitors allowed until the watch was found. The Convicts considered this as a breach of their privileges, and not only refused to be searched, but took possession of the Common Yard, and turned out, by force, all the officers, and turnkeys. Of course, this conduct could not be allowed, and the Convicts were ultimately driven into the upper wards--where, being armed with the iron railings of the staircase, they barricaded themselves as well as they could, and awaited results.