On the 18th of January, a proclamation was issued "from our Court at Brighton," announcing the issue of a new Silver Coinage, which might be changed for old, at the Mint, between the 3rd and 17th of February: and another proclamation of the 12th of February, "from our Court at Carlton House," gave the date of the 13th of February as that of general issue, after which they were to be taken as lawful money. On this date was published a Satirical print, called "The New Coinage, or John Bull's visit to MAT of the MINT!!"[26] in which Wellesley Pole, "Master and Worker of his Majesty's Mint," is shovelling money into a sack, saying "There, Johnny! see how I have been working for you for months past; you can't say I get my money for nothing." John Bull replies, "You be a very industrious man, Master Mat, and the prettiest _Cole_[27] merchant I have dealt with for many a day." The room, and the street, seen through an open door, are crowded with men, women, and children, anxious to get the new silver. That advantage was taken of promptly changing old worn silver for bright new coin, is shown that by the 19th the large Hall of the Bank, which was given up to its issue, was nearly empty, and the old coinage had disappeared from circulation. They were counterfeited immediately, which was a natural sequence, and there were squabbles about their artistic merits, which was also natural. Regarding the latter, as there are plenty of this issue now in circulation, my readers can judge for themselves. There was the usual epigram upon it. [Footnote 26: Mat o' the Mint was a character in Gay's Beggar's Opera.] [Footnote 27: _Cole_ or _Coal_ is thieves' slang for money, and many people carry a piece of Coal in their pocket, under the belief that so long as they have _Cole_ in their pocket they will never want for money.] "THE NEW COIN. It is allow'd, throughout the town, The head upon the new Half-Crown, Is not the GEORGE we so much prize-- The Chin's not like--the Nose--the Eyes. This may be true--yet, on the whole, The fault lies chiefly _in the Pole_!" Reform was being violently agitated all over the country, and, without wishing to give this book any political character, yet as a phase of social life it must be mentioned. There were riots late in February in Somersetshire, among the Colliers, who struck against a deduction of 10 per cent. in their wages. They did not do much damage, but a dangerous spirit was abroad, and the cry of "Bread or Blood; Hunt for ever!" was ominous of mischief. They were soon put down by a troop of the 22nd Lancers, from Bristol, and the North Somerset Yeomanry, without bloodshed. On the 28th of February, the operation of the Act of _Habeas Corpus_ was suspended, and was not resumed until the 31st of January, 1818.