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gallery of pictures； the rarest collection of manuscripts ever
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possessed by any one private person in the world； and worse than
all； because nothing could replace this loss； the great Law Library；
on almost every page of which were notes in the Judge’s own
hand； of inestimable value；—being the results of the study and
experience of his whole life。 That while they were howling and
exulting round the fire； a troop of soldiers； with a magistrate
among them； came up； and being too late （for the mischief was by
that time done）； began to disperse the crowd。 That the Riot Act
being read； and the crowd still resisting； the soldiers received
orders to fire； and levelling their muskets shot dead at the first
discharge six men and a woman； and wounded many persons； and
loading again directly； fired another volley； but over the people’s
heads it was supposed； as none were seen to fall。 That thereupon；
and daunted by the shrieks and tumult； the crowd began to
disperse； and the soldiers went away； leaving the killed and
wounded on the ground： which they had no sooner done than the
rioters came back again； and taking up the dead bodies； and the
wounded people； formed into a rude procession； having the bodies
in the front。 That in this order they paraded off with a horrible
merriment； fixing weapons in the dead men’s hands to make them
look as if alive； and preceded by a fellow ringing Lord Mansfield’s
dinner…bell with all his might。
The scouts reported further； that this party meeting with some
others who had been at similar work elsewhere； they all united
into one； and drafting off a few men with the killed and wounded；
marched away to Lord Mansfield’s country seat at Caen Wood；
between Hampstead and Highgate； bent upon destroying that
house likewise； and lighting up a great fire there； which from that
height should be seen all over London。 But in this； they were
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disappointed； for a party of horse having arrived before them； they
retreated faster than they went； and came straight back to town。
There being now a great many parties in the streets； each went
to work according to its humour； and a dozen houses were quickly
blazing； including those of Sir John Fielding and two other
justices； and four in Holborn—one of the greatest thoroughfares in
London—which were all burning at the same time； and burned
until they went out of themselves； for the people cut the engine
hose； and would not suffer the firemen to play upon the flames。 At
one house near Moorfields； they found in one of the rooms some
canary birds in cages； and these they cast into the fire alive。 The
poor little creatures screamed； it was said； like infants； when they
were flung upon the blaze； and one man was so touched that he
tried in vain to save them； which roused the indignation of the
crowd； and nearly cost him his life。
At this same house； one of the fellows who went through the
rooms； breaking the furniture and helping to destroy the building；
found a child’s doll—a poor toy—which he exhibited at the
window to the mob below； as the image of some unholy saint
which the late occupants had worshipped。 While he was doing
this； another man with an equally tender conscience （they had
both been foremost in throwing down the canary birds for roasting
alive）； took his seat on the parapet of the house； and harangued
the crowd from a pamphlet circulated by the Association； relative
to the true principles of Christianity！ Meanwhile the Lord Mayor；
with his hands in his pockets； looked on as an idle man might look
at any other show； and seemed mightily satisfied to have got a
good place。
Such were the accounts brought to the old vintner by his
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servants as he sat at the side of Mr Haredale’s bed； having been
unable even to doze； after the first part of the night； too much
disturbed by his own fears； by the cries of the mob； the light of the
fires； and the firing of the soldiers。 Such； with the addition of the
release of all the prisoners in the New Jail at Clerkenwell； and as
many robberies of passengers in the streets； as the crowd had
leisure to indulge in； were the scenes of which Mr Haredale was
happily unconscious； and which were all enacted before midnight。
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Chapter 67
hen darkness broke away and morning began to dawn；
Wthe town wore a strange aspect indeed。
Sleep had hardly been thought of all night。 The
general alarm was so apparent in the faces of the inhabitants； and
its expression was so aggravated by want of rest （few persons； with
any property to lose； having dared go to bed since Monday）； that a
stranger coming into the streets would have supposed some
mortal pest or plague to have been raging。 In place of the usual
cheerfulness and animation of morning； everything was dead and
silent。 The shops remained closed； offices and warehouses were
shut； the coach and chair stands were deserted； no carts or
waggons rumbled through the slowly waking streets； the early
cries were all hushed； a universal gloom prevailed。 Great numbers
of people were out； even at daybreak； but they flitted to and fro as
though they shrank from the sound of their own footsteps； the
public ways were haunted rather than frequented； and round the
smoking ruins people stood apart from one another and in silence；
not venturing to condemn the rioters； or to be supposed to do so；
even in whispers。
At the Lord President’s in Piccadilly； at Lambeth Palace； at the
Lord Chancellor’s in Great Ormond Street； in the Royal Exchange；
the Bank； the Guildhall； the Inns of Court； the Courts of Law； and
every chamber fronting the streets near Westminster Hall and the
Houses of Parliament； parties of soldiers were posted before
daylight。 A body of Horse Guards paraded Palace Yard； an
encampment was formed in the Park； where fifteen hundred men
and five battalions of Militia were under arms； the Tower was
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fortified； the drawbridges were raised； the cannon loaded and
pointed； and two regiments of artillery busied in strengthening the
fortress and preparing it for defence。 A numerous detachment of
soldiers were stationed to keep guard at the New River Head；
which the people had threatened to attack； and where； it was said；
they meant to cut off the main…pipes； so that there might be no
water for the extinction of the flames。 In the Poultry； and on
Cornhill； and at several other leading points； iron chains were
drawn across the street； parties of soldiers were distributed in
some of the old city churches while it was yet dark； and in several
private houses （among them； Lord Rockingham’s in Grosvenor
Square）； which were blockaded as though to sustain a siege； and
had guns pointed from the windows。 When the sun rose； it