登陆注册
4606900000239

第239章

By this Friday night--for it was on Friday in the riot week, that Emma and Dolly were rescued, by the timely aid of Joe and Edward Chester--the disturbances were entirely quelled, and peace and order were restored to the affrighted city. True, after what had happened, it was impossible for any man to say how long this better state of things might last, or how suddenly new outrages, exceeding even those so lately witnessed, might burst forth and fill its streets with ruin and bloodshed; for this reason, those who had fled from the recent tumults still kept at a distance, and many families, hitherto unable to procure the means of flight, now availed themselves of the calm, and withdrew into the country. The shops, too, from Tyburn to Whitechapel, were still shut; and very little business was transacted in any of the places of great commercial resort. But, notwithstanding, and in spite of the melancholy forebodings of that numerous class of society who see with the greatest clearness into the darkest perspectives, the town remained profoundly quiet. The strong military force disposed in every advantageous quarter, and stationed at every commanding point, held the scattered fragments of the mob in check; the search after rioters was prosecuted with unrelenting vigour; and if there were any among them so desperate and reckless as to be inclined, after the terrible scenes they had beheld, to venture forth again, they were so daunted by these resolute measures, that they quickly shrunk into their hiding-places, and had no thought but for their safety.

In a word, the crowd was utterly routed. Upwards of two hundred had been shot dead in the streets. Two hundred and fifty more were lying, badly wounded, in the hospitals; of whom seventy or eighty died within a short time afterwards. A hundred were already in custody, and more were taken every hour. How many perished in the conflagrations, or by their own excesses, is unknown; but that numbers found a terrible grave in the hot ashes of the flames they had kindled, or crept into vaults and cellars to drink in secret or to nurse their sores, and never saw the light again, is certain.

When the embers of the fires had been black and cold for many weeks, the labourers' spades proved this, beyond a doubt.

Seventy-two private houses and four strong jails were destroyed in the four great days of these riots. The total loss of property, as estimated by the sufferers, was one hundred and fifty-five thousand pounds; at the lowest and least partial estimate of disinterested persons, it exceeded one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds.

For this immense loss, compensation was soon afterwards made out of the public purse, in pursuance of a vote of the House of Commons;

the sum being levied on the various wards in the city, on the county, and the borough of Southwark. Both Lord Mansfield and Lord Saville, however, who had been great sufferers, refused to accept of any compensation whatever.

The House of Commons, sitting on Tuesday with locked and guarded doors, had passed a resolution to the effect that, as soon as the tumults subsided, it would immediately proceed to consider the petitions presented from many of his Majesty's Protestant subjects, and would take the same into its serious consideration. While this question was under debate, Mr Herbert, one of the members present, indignantly rose and called upon the House to observe that Lord George Gordon was then sitting under the gallery with the blue cockade, the signal of rebellion, in his hat. He was not only obliged, by those who sat near, to take it out; but offering to go into the street to pacify the mob with the somewhat indefinite assurance that the House was prepared to give them 'the satisfaction they sought,' was actually held down in his seat by the combined force of several members. In short, the disorder and violence which reigned triumphant out of doors, penetrated into the senate, and there, as elsewhere, terror and alarm prevailed, and ordinary forms were for the time forgotten.

On the Thursday, both Houses had adjourned until the following Monday se'nnight, declaring it impossible to pursue their deliberations with the necessary gravity and freedom, while they were surrounded by armed troops. And now that the rioters were dispersed, the citizens were beset with a new fear; for, finding the public thoroughfares and all their usual places of resort filled with soldiers entrusted with the free use of fire and sword, they began to lend a greedy ear to the rumours which were afloat of martial law being declared, and to dismal stories of prisoners having been seen hanging on lamp-posts in Cheapside and Fleet Street. These terrors being promptly dispelled by a Proclamation declaring that all the rioters in custody would be tried by a special commission in due course of law, a fresh alarm was engendered by its being whispered abroad that French money had been found on some of the rioters, and that the disturbances had been fomented by foreign powers who sought to compass the overthrow and ruin of England. This report, which was strengthened by the diffusion of anonymous handbills, but which, if it had any foundation at all, probably owed its origin to the circumstance of some few coins which were not English money having been swept into the pockets of the insurgents with other miscellaneous booty, and afterwards discovered on the prisoners or the dead bodies,--caused a great sensation; and men's minds being in that excited state when they are most apt to catch at any shadow of apprehension, was bruited about with much industry.

同类推荐
  • 伯亭大师传记总帙

    伯亭大师传记总帙

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Hidden Masterpiece

    The Hidden Masterpiece

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 刻中丞肖岩刘公遗稿

    刻中丞肖岩刘公遗稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明伦汇编人事典手部

    明伦汇编人事典手部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Candide

    Candide

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 豪门邪少的冷妻(大结局)

    豪门邪少的冷妻(大结局)

    她没有友情,也不相信爱情,人生一片平淡,唯一的目标只有报仇,为了达到目的,她可以舍弃所有,接受附带条件的婚姻,在这个令人羡慕的富庶豪门中,与魔鬼一样的老公斗智斗勇,然而她发现这只是一个巨大的陷阱,等着她跳进去,从此深陷……司徒碧瑶:因为母亲是被别人包养的小老婆,所以她愤恨,厌恶,然而,就算是这样的母亲也终于离她而去了,于是她开始了疯狂的报复计划,却不知不觉走入别人设下的陷阱。凌灏瑾:凌家的大少爷,也是凌氏集团的年轻董事,多金、英俊、邪恶,他的身上有着一个天大的秘密,为了这个秘密,他选择了与她成为伙伴。凌灏白:凌家的二少爷,她的同学,也是她的初恋,为了自己的目的,她舍弃了他,致使他成为她道路上最大的一块绊脚石。
  • 幸白鹿观应制

    幸白鹿观应制

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 破茧成蝶:冷峻王爷别想逃

    破茧成蝶:冷峻王爷别想逃

    她是一国公主,忍辱复生嫁给这个不曾蒙面的男人。她不懂爱,不懂情,只想见见她们的孩子,可是为什么?连这点小小的愿望都不能实现。最后,她不再奢望,带着久违的笑容走进那年与他相遇的河畔,一点点,一点点,她毫不吃力的看着他,她决定。这一世,她选择放手,下一世,她不要再见到他,哪怕爱得死去活来。可是!连天都不能成全她吗?一切重新来过。她沉沦数日,看清数日,直到再次遇到他,再次对上那双冷酷无情却依稀渐现温柔的眼眸,她还是心软了。于是,她决定!这一世,她要追他,然后弥补上一世,她失去的一切。
  • 生死博弈(连载四)

    生死博弈(连载四)

    查验邮戳辨析冤案梁国文到了省人民医院急救中心的重症抢救监护室,只见王永丰戴着氧气面罩上了呼吸机,左右两只手臂上打着吊针,一边输血,一边输药物,身上还连接着心脑电监护器,脑部放置着冰袋,仍然处在深度昏迷之中。一位医师告诉梁国文:“病人由于撞击导致颅骨凹陷,颅内血肿,肋骨骨折,折断的肋骨又刺破了肺部,导致大出血和血气胸,送来时心脏已经停止跳动,呼吸也没有了,现在生命体象不是很稳定,心脏随时有可能停止跳动,还没有脱离生命危险。我们准备在其生命体象比较稳定以后再对其进行开颅和开胸手术。
  • 使徒:迷失者的续命游戏

    使徒:迷失者的续命游戏

    小桥老树、寒川子、夏商力荐!畅销书作家冰河继《狗日的战争》《警察难做》后最新犯罪悬疑小说。四流演员李可阴差阳错代替了因车祸而受伤昏迷的孪生哥哥李进重返东南亚,去执行在毒枭吴右身边卧底的任务。这突如其来的任务,既没有剧本、台词、预演,也不知道底细,不仅要面对毒枭老板、搭档和手下,还要面对与李进朝夕相处的未婚妻——吴右的女儿安娜。一个庞大的毒枭江湖慢慢展现在李可面前,更可怕的是,孪生哥哥似乎早已变节,且与各路毒枭和黑化警察各有交易。李可从此陷入危机四伏、步步杀机的旋涡中,每走一步都是在为自己惊险续命。在这群身份迷失者的续命游戏中,最终他能否找回使命?
  • 世界军事百科之海战武器

    世界军事百科之海战武器

    军事是一个国家和民族强大和稳定的象征,在国家生活中具有举足轻重的作用。国家兴亡,匹夫有责,全面而系统地掌握军事知识,是我们每一个人光荣的责任和义务,也是我们进行国防教育的主要内容。
  • 田园五兄妹

    田园五兄妹

    现代白领丽人,穿成男尊女卑时期的古代农家受气女,面临非人的折磨,衣食无着的困境,濒临猪仔一样的下场,小小的身躯,悲惨的命运,一个极卑微的身份。怎样才能化险为夷,摆脱被人鱼肉的命运,挽救自己的人生,自立自强,发家致富。女主性格坚毅,智慧璀璨,勤劳简朴,步步为营,和各路的牛鬼蛇神周旋,维护自己的财富,坚守巩固自己的劳动成果。
  • 我叫刘跃进(典藏版)

    我叫刘跃进(典藏版)

    刘跃进是北京某建筑工地的民工,上街时他的包被人抢了,里面装着他全部财产。找包的过程中,他又捡到一个包,这个包里藏着天大的秘密,牵涉到上流社会的几条人命。于是几拨找这个包的人马,又开始找刘跃进……刘跃进像一只无辜的羊,意外地闯入了狼群,他自认倒霉却不悲观。问题在于,世界上所有的狼,都披着羊皮,和蔼可亲;而世界上所有的羊又在装大尾巴狼,装腔作势。
  • 解密(入选企鹅经典)

    解密(入选企鹅经典)

    人世间大多的秘密都藏在梦里,就像无法掌控自己的命运,活着却如同没有名字的存在。《解密》是一个天才与另一个天才之间的博弈,是将心灵粉碎再重铸。一个身世多舛的数学天才容金珍,一个类似数学家约翰纳什般的天才人物,因为非凡的才华被招募至国家秘密单位701,破解一部极其困难的敌国密码“紫密”。在巨大的期待和精神危机之下,总是醉心于同疯子下棋、恍若身在梦境的容金珍,是否能够破解“紫密”,成为国家的英雄?在巨大的国家机器中,个人命运沉沉浮浮。若干年后,每个人都只剩下一个关于他们的传说,而谁也无法预测命运的轨迹……
  • 水土一方

    水土一方

    爷爷的爷爷的爷爷说:从前的从前的从前,世上原本就无人烟。狼奔豕突,虎豹结伴,野兽横行,豺狼当道。一日,女娲巡天,忽觉本该五彩斑斓的美好世界,却无一主宰。尽收眼底的是弱肉强食,茹毛饮血,暴殄天物,尸骨遍野。所望之处,弥漫着无所不在的血腥之气。如此乾坤,不寒而栗。不由心生一念,用泥捏人,并由其来主宰世界,定会姹紫嫣红、光彩夺目。于是,女娲信手拈来水土,背着天神,给了人与动物截然不同的四肢和躯体,又点化了大脑和心灵,使其有思想,会思维。从此,世界上便有了人,人与水土生死攸关的联系也由此而形成。