674 Celebration of the French Revolution. timents of my fellow citizens; yet, as affiliated to one of thofe philanthropic focieties devoted to the deftruction of defpotifm, I cannot refrain my voice under the allure ment of the fuccefs of French Liberty, in a fociety which appears deftined to become the first tie of the union of two people fo well adapted for mutual correfpondence, "How flattering it is to me Gentlemen, to affure you, without fear of contradiction, that the French are proud of your fuffrages, and of the generous defence you have oppofed to the confpirers against the popular cause. "While the French, under the public with, were proceeding in their courageous and admired labours towards forming a fyftem which embraces the caufe of mankind, their rights, and the relations of their future happiness, you have extracted from political philofophy, aided by a century's experience, a column of rays drawn from the fame focus in fupport of the rights of men; and you have engaged yourfelves in refuting thofe premature and abfurd reflections of preju dice trembling at the challenge of reason, as if at this inftant France fhould find among the antient Britons her beft fupporters, after having among them ftudied the firft effays of civil liberty, and obferved the first models of its defenders. "Permit me, Gentlemen, as a Frenchman, born a Breton, to anticipate the affurances of the friendship of all the Societies of the French Conftitution; and even more, the admiration of every Frenchman, fenfible of your generous and patriotic homage. "I appeared among you last year, under the auspices of a virtuous man, one of the forerunners of that fovereign reason, now feated, in the room of tyranny, on the throne of civil equality. But, Gentlemen, Dr. Price, whofe excellent morals were expanded thro' the two worlds, is no more among us, except in a remembrance, which will be tranfmitted to future generations, for the immortality of his name. If I repeat here the name of one of our patrons, and one of the fathers of civil and religious tolerance, it is because the name of Price is infeparable from the idea of peace and univerfal liberty; for he has left their rules in his profound and celebrated writings, and their feeds in his focial and private virtues. May the regret, of which we, as well as all the fincere friends of mankind, are all fenfible, and with which I am perfonally affected, become additional means of our pursuing the wifh he expreffed last year amidst all your fuffrages ! "And may I, Gentlemen, after having lived fome time under the laws of England, find one day the happy occasion of enhancing, if it is poffible, the esteem of my fellow citizens for a nation fo diftinguished by its industry, its purity of manners, and its love of liberty! "I feel myself honoured in having found [July, a fociety in England, which, participating in the triumph of the French people, and admiring that fyftem of the rights of men, has given me an opportunity of renewing here, as among brothers, my homage to the new conftitution of France, without diminishing the respect I peculiarly profefs for that of England." The above fpeech, it must be confessed, contains many Gallicifms; but its compoá tion may on the whole be admired, when we confider the difadvantages under which the author laboured as a Frenchman. Mr. Rous then ftated, that though it was his wifh, fuch was his love of the caufe they were applauding, to fit till midnight; yet he thought, that, as the intentions of the fociety had been fo grofsly misreprefented in the daily prints, the best answer they could give to fuch accufations would be, after hav ing enjoyed a temperate repaft, and cordially rejoiced over the deftruction of defpotifm in France, to retire early and quietly to their homes. The company approved, and immediately acquicfced in that motion, retiring chearfully and peaceably. But although this meeting in London was happily attended by no worfe confequences than a few windows being broken, yet humanity fhudders at relating the dreadful calamities which followed the commemoration of this day in the extenfive and opulent town of Birmingham; where a dreadful riot broke forth, like a thunder-ftorm in a fun-thining day, from a quarter leaft expected, which fpread an alarm not only in that town, but in the whole country for many miles round; and Church and King! was the cry of the rioters, tho' neither had been thought in any danger for nearly half a century before. Six copies of a feditious hand-bill had been left early in the week, by fome perfon unknown, in a public-houfe; which, having been very generally copied, caufed no fmall fermentation in the minds of the people. A reward of rco guineas was offered by the magiftrates for discovering the author, prin. ter, or publisher, of this paper. The following advertisement was alfo cir culated: "BIRMINGHAM COMMEMORATION OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. "Several hand-bills having been circulated in the town, which can only be intended to create diftruft concerning the intention of the meeting, to disturb its harmony, and inflame the minds of the people; the gentlemen who propofed it think it neceifary to declare their entire difapprobation of all fuch hand-bills, and their ignorance of the authors.-Senfible themfelves of the advantages of a free government, they rejoice in the extenfion of liberty to their neighbours, at the fame time avowing, in the most explicit manner, their firm attachment to the Constitution of their own country, as vested in the three eftates of King, King, Lords, and Commons ;-furely, no free-born Englioman can refrain from exulting in this addition to the general mass of human happiness. It is the cause of bumanity, it is the caufe of the people. Birmingham, July 13, 1791." On Thursday the 14th, upwards of 90 gentlemen met at the Hotel, to commemorate the French Revolution. A few hours before they met, it was propofed (fee p.599) to circulate what follows: 66 INTENDED COMMEMORATION OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. "The friends of the intended feftivity finding that their views and intentions, in confequence of being misconceived by some, and mifreprefented by others, have created an alarm in the minds of the majority of the town, and, it is thought, endangered its tranquillity, inform their neighbours, that they value the peace of the town far beyond the gratification of a feftival, and therefore, have determined to give up their intentions of dining at the Hotel upon this occafion; and they very gladly improve this renewed opportunity of declaring, that they are to this hour entirely ignorant of the author, printer, or publisher, of the inflammatory hand-bill circulated on Monday." The meeting was, however, held; and in the afternoon, a confiderable number of perfons gathered round the Hotel, hiffing, groaning, and hallooing, at the gentlemen as they affembled; and, fubfequent to their departure (which happened two hours after), every window in the front was completely demolished, notwithstanding, the perfonal appearance and interference of the magistrates; the mob infisting on the doors being opened, that they might go into the room and fee who were left; and it was only by allowing five or fix at a time to go in and fatisfy themselves that nobody was there. The mob next attacked the New Meetinghouse (Dr. Priestley's); and, after trying in vain to tear up the feats, &c. they fet it on fire, and nothing remains that could be confumed. The Old Meeting-houfe was completely emptied of pulpit, pews, &c. which were burnt in the adjoining burying-ground, and afterwards the building was levelled nearly with the ground; it being confidered dangerous, from its fituation, to fet it on fire. Dr. Priestley's houfe at Fair-hill (a mile and a half from hence) from which the Doctor had escaped but half an hour before, next met a fimilar fate, with the whole of his valuable library, and more valuable collection of apparatus for philofophical experiments. Here one of the rioters was killed by the falling of a cornice-stone. On Friday morning this infatuated mob continued their depredations, for there was no armed force in the town, and the civil power was not fufficient to reprefs them. Armed with bludgeons, &c. and vociferat ing "Church and King!" they spread terror wherever they appeared. A number of gentlemen met them early in the morning, and perfuaded them to draw off from the houses they had threatened into the Bull-ring, and prevailed on many to defift, and even join them against the rest; a fresh set of whom, about noon, attacked and demolished the elegant manfion of Mr. John Ryland (late Mr. Balkerville's), at Eafy-hill, where many of the rioters, who were drunk, perished in the cellars, either by the flames, fuffocation, or by the falling-in of the roof. Six poor wretches, terribly bruised, were got out alive, and are now in the hospital; and ten dead bodies have fince been dug out of the ruins; but a man, who had remained immured in one of the vaults from the preceding Friday, worked his way out on Monday with little injury. This afternoon the magistrates, anxious to preferve the town from further outrages until military aid co ld be procured, attended, and fwore-in, fome hundreds as additional constables, who, with mop-ftaves in their hands, marched up to Mr. Ryland's to difperfe the mob, who at firft gave way, but rallying, after a stout conflict, in which many were feverely wounded, the poffè comitatus were obliged to retire without effecting any useful purpose, the mob being rather inflamed by this partial refiftance. Bordefley-hall, the country refidence of John Taylor, efq. an eminent banker, built by his father, after the greatest part of its fplendid furniture had been demolished or carried away, was fet on fire, together with the out-offices, ftables, ricks of hay, &c. and altogether exhibited a most tremendous fcene of devaftation. Every exertion to preferve this elegant feat was made by Capt. Carver, but in vain; during which his friends ranfomed the plate and valuables; on offer, ing them his purfe with 100 guineas to fave the house, he was huftled amidst the crowd, with a cry of "No bribery !" and narrowly efcaped their fury. Several farm-houtes belonging to Mr. T. in the country are alfo burnt and destroyed. In the night of Friday, the house of Mr. Hutton (the ingenious and worthy Hiftorian of Birmingham), in High-ftreet, was completely ftripped, his large flock of paper, his very valuable library of books, and all his furniture, deftroyed or carried away. Fire was feveral times brought by a woman (for women and boys were particularly active in all the depredations), but the majority of the populace, in tenderness to the town, would not fuffer it to be applied. From Mr. Hutton's town-house they proceeded to his country-house at Wafhwoodheath, about three miles from town, which, with its offices, they reduced to afhes. Saturday morning the rioters made an attack on Mr. G. Humphrey's elegant house at Spark brook, but were repulied, and one man 676 Particulars of the Riots at Birmingham. man killed; the mob, however, on a fecond attack, carried their point, and went off af ter ranfacking the houfe of all its valuable furniture, but did not burn it. Mr. William Ruffel's houfe, at Showellgreen, experienced all the violence of fire and devaftation The house of Mr. T. Hawkes, Mofeleywake-green, was stripped of its furniture, which was either broken to-pieces, or carried away. Mofeley-hall, the refidence of the Dowager Countess of Carhampton, 'but the property of John Taylor, efq., Mr. Harwood's, and Mr. Hobfon's, a Diffenting Minifter, were all on fire at once. Lady Carhampton, who is mother to the Dutchess of Cumberlaod, and blind, had notice on the preceding day to remove her effects, as their vengeance was not directed against her: the good old lady gave directions accordingly, and Sir Robert and Captain Lawley immediately attended in their noble relation, whom they accompanied in fafety to Canwell, Sir Robert's feat. The whole of Saturday business was at a ftand, and the fhops moftly clofe thut up, notwithstanding the appearance of the magiftrates, and feveral popular noblemen and gentlemen, who dispersed hand bills, figned by themselves, exhorting them to retire peaceably, and warning them of the confequences to the county, who must reimburfe the fufferers; for the reports were so vague and various of the number and the ftrength of the infurgents, and having no military, fave a few undifciplined recruits, no force could be fent out against them. In the afternoon and evening, fmall parties of three or five levied contributions of meat, liquor, and money, with the fame indifference that they would levy parish-taxes; but the night paffed without interruption in the town. On Sunday the rioters bent their courfe towards Kingswood, feven miles off, extorting money and liquors by the way. There the Diffenting meeting-houfe, and the dwellinghouse of their minifter, were reduced to afhes; as were the premifes of Mr. Cox, far mer, at Worstock, the fame day. Other farms, merely for being occupied by Diffent ers, were threatened; in particular, one at Solihull. An active magiftrate, who had knocked down one of the affailants of Mr. Hutton's houfe, had a mob of fifty, he ded by that fellow, at his country-houte next day; but, with great prefence of mind, faying, he was forry he had hurt him, mistaking his party, and by the help of liquor, he prevailed on them to depart. The reports of every hour of this day appeared calculated to excite alarm in the town, whilft depredation and extortion were committing in the furrounding villages and country-feats. Sunday night, foon after ten, three troops of the 15th light dragoons arrived amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants. The town [July, was immediately illuminated, and before morning every thing was tolerably quiet, but the rioters were ftill continuing their depredations in the country. Their vifits to Mr. Hunt's, at Lady wood, Mr. Coa's, at Five ways, and Dr. Withering's, Edgbaston-hall, were attended with great alarm, but not the injur. reported. They exhaufted the cellars at each place, and received various fums of money to prevent their proceeding to further violence, but were at the laft-mentioned place in great force at the time the troops arrived; which they no fooner had intimation of than they began to flink off in fmait parties, and the peafantry, taking courage, put the rest to flight in various directions. So rapid were the light-horfe in their route for the relief of this place, that they came here in one day from Nottingham, a diftance of 59 miles, but to the great injury of their horfes, one of which, a famous old horse, that had been in the regiment 18 years died the following day. Monday. Three troops of the 11th regiment of dragoons came in, and Col. De Lancey to take the command. The town in perfefecurity, but as much crowded as during the three preceding days, in viewing the military, the mob keeping at fuch a distance as to ren der all accounts of them dubious; at one time faid to be at Alcefter, the next hour at Bromsgrove, &c.; which reports, however, were refuted by the Earl of Plymouth, who kindly attended as a magiftrate of the county of Worcester, as did the Rev. Mr. Cartwright, of Dudley. Tuesday. Flying rumours of depredations near Hagley, Halefowen, &c. and in the evening certain information was received, that a party of rioters were then attacking Mr Male's, of Belle-vne; a few of the light dragoons immediately went to his affistance; but they had been previously overpowered by a body of people in that neighbourhood, and ten of them are now confined at Halesowen.' Wednesday. This morning the country, for ten, miles round, was fcoured by the light-horfe, but not one rioter to be met with, and all the manufactories are at work as if no interruption had taken place. Three troops' of the 11th light dragoons marched in this morning; and, on Wednesday the 26th, the Oxford Blues began their march from Stortford and Hertford to Birmingham. Re ports have been circulated of riotous intentions at Sheffield, but, we truft, without good authority. As we would rather with to draw a veil over the intemperance of our fellow-fubjects than to aggravate their violences, we fhall not anticipate the measures of Government, which, we understand, are intended (under the direction of the Attorney and Solicitor General) to affift the neighbouring Magif.' trates in their enquiries concerning thefe unfortunate tranfactions. H IS Majefty's Commiffioners for Managing the Stamp Duties have given notice, That the prefent duties on Bills of Exchange, Promillory Notes, &c. are to cease on the Parit day of August; and that, on the Second day of the faid month, the following new duties commence : Bill of Exchange, Draft, or Order, on Demand, for 40s. and not exceeding 51. 55,-a ftamp duty of three pence. Promittory or other Note to Bearer on Demand, re-iffuable from time to time (after payment) where firft itfued, for 40s. and not exceeding 51. 5s.—three pence. On do, if above 1. s. and not exceeding 3.1.-fix pence. On do, if above 3oi, and not exceeding sol-nine pence, On do, if above 50l. and not exceeding 1ool one filling. On do, if above fool, and not exceeding 2001.-one fhilling and fix pençe. Bill of Exchange, Draft, or Order, otherwife than on Deniand, for 40s. and not exceeding gol.-fix pence. Promillory or other Note, otherwife than to Bearer on Demand, for 40s, and not exceeding 30l-six pence. On do, if above 3ol. and not exceeding 501.-nine pence. On do, if above 50l. and not exceeding reol.-one shilling. On do, if above tool, and not exceeding 2001.-one thilling and fix pence. Promiffory or other Note to Bearer on Demand, re-iffuable (after payment) at any place, for 40s and not exceeding 51. 55.-fix pence, On d', if above 1. 5s, and not exceeding 31.-one fhilling. Bill of Exchange. Promiffory or other Note, Draft, or Order, on Demand or otherwise, if above 2001-two thillings. - Foreign Bills of Exchange, that is to fay, Bills drawn in Great Britain upon Foreign Countries, each, if not exceeding 1ool.-fix pence. On do, if above rool. and not exceeding 200l.-nine pence. On do, if above 200l-one fhilling. N. B. Every Bill of each fett of fuch Bills is chargeable with the respective duties. Drafts or Orders for the Payment of Money to Bearer on Demand, bearing date on or before the day the fame iffued, and at the place where drawn and itfued, upon a Banker refiding within ten miles of the place where fuch Dra'ts or Orders fhall be actually drawn and itfued, require no stamp. +++ All perfons having in their cuftody any paper for Bills of Exchange, Fromiffory Notes, &c. ftamped under the act 23 Geo. III. are required to fend the fame to the faid Commiffioners, at their Head Office, within thirty days after the faid 1st of Auguft, in order to their being exchanged, if rendered ufelefs, for other ftamps of equal value under this act. CIRCUIT. L. Kenyon. L. LoughboL.C.B. Eyre J. Gould. B. Hotham. J. Grofe. 1791. J. Ahorft. J. Buller. J. Heath. Wilfon. B. Perryn. B. Thomfon 678 Births and Marriages of confiderable Perfons. P. 494. The Baron Huguetan was defcended from a Frenchman, who, in the beginning of the prefent century, was one of the greatest bankers in Europe. During the war for the Spanith fucceffion he was frequently employed by the French Miniftry in remitting funds intended for the maintenance of the French armies, either in Spain, Italy, Germany, or Flanders. On a certain occafion, during the most difficult period of that war, the French minifter, M. de Pontchartrain, being utterly at a lofs how to provide, without delay, for a very confiderable fum of money, fent for Huguetan, defited him to raife the money upon his own credit; at the fame time producing bills of exchange for [July feized and carried off in his night-gown. The mysterious manner in which the emiffary had alighted from the chaife, together with the fight of this piece of filk stuff, perfuaded the foldier that fome lady, upon an elopement, was in the chaife. He became curious to have a peep at her; and accordingly opened the chaife-door, when, instead of that fine, gay, amorous lady he expected to fee, he beheld a man gagged and in fetters. He thut his gate, and immediately gave the alarm. The emiffary and his fervant (who was riding behind the chaife) were both feized, and foon after brought to trial. BIRTHS. 'N Bruton-treet, Berkeley -fquare, him to fign; and at length infifted upon the Fun M. Stuart, a daughter. figning of the bills in fuch a manner that Huguetan became pofitively appréhensive for his life, and, very likely, with good reafon: fo that he figned all the papers that were offered to him. As foon as he had returned to his own houfe, he immediately, and by the poft of the fame day, wrote to all thofe perions upon whom the bills were drawn, for the purpose of cautioning them against paying thofe bills, which, he said, had been obtained from him by force; and as foon as he had fent his letters, he took poft, and fled to Holland. The bills were accordingly refufed to be paid; and the French Minifter refolved to be revenged for the fevere difappointment he had experienced on that occafion. He fent an emillary to Holland, who was to endeavour to seize upon Huguetan's perfon, and bring him alive to France. The emiffary made enquiry, and found out that Huguetan bad taken fhelter in a village or fmall town in North Holland. He repaired to the place, and, by ufing fuch arts as are commonly practifed by thofe villains who accept commillions of this kind, he got acquainted with Huguetan; moreover, he prevailed upon him to lay afide his diftraft, or suspicions. At length a favour able opportunity offered for the accomplishment of the fcheme. The emiffary, affifted by a fervant he had brought along with him, found means to feize upon Huguetan. They gagged him, and laid him in fetters; and, putting him in a poft-chaife, immediately fet 26. 27. At Foxhall, near Upminster, Effex, the Lady of Jofeph Efdaile, efq. a fon. Lately, the Lady of Dr. John M'Namarą Hayes, of Golden-fquare, one of the phycians extraordinary to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, a daughter. At his Lordship's feat at Kelham, co. Not-” tingham. the Countess of Lincoln, a daugh. The Lady of Tho. Babington, efq. of Rothley-Temple, co. Leicester, a fon. July... In Harley-ftreet, the Lady of Jacob Bofanquet, efq. an E. I.director, a fon and heir. 2. At Sutton-place, Surrey, the Lady of John Webbe Weiton, efq. a fon. 3. At his Lordship's feat near Windfor, the Countess of Chesterfield, a still-born daugh. 4. At his Lordship's houfe in Stanhope-ftr. May-fair, Vifcountefs Bayham, a daughter. 9. The Lady of Geo. Grant, efq. of Piccadilly, a daughter. The Lady of J. Dew, efq. of Portlandplace, a fon and heir. At Bishop-Stortford, Herts, the Lady of E. G. Clarke, efq of the 1ft batt. of Royals, a fon. The Lady of Rev. Rich. Ward, a daughter. 16. At Walton upon Thames, Surrey, the Lady of Edw. Hayward, efq. of Goldstone, Salop, a daughter. 17. The Lady of Hen. Bankes, efq. a dau. 19. In Portman-fquare, the Lady of John-, fon Wilkinson, efq. a daughter. MARRIAGES. T St. Helena, Effex Henry Bond, out for France. They purfued their journey May efq. captain of the Royal Admiral without meeting with any impediment, travelling night and day, and avoided ftopping any where. They were already about to pafs the laft Fiemith barrier, or gate. At this gate a cuftom-house officer was ftationed. Here the emiffery was obliged to alight from the chaife, in order to answer fome questions, in the office. The degree of caution with which he both opened and fhut the door of the chaife raifed the curiofity of the foldier on duty at the gate; which curiofity became not a little increafed by the fight of a large piece of filk stuff that was coming out of the chaife, under the door, and was part of Huguetan's night-gown; for he had been I. Eaft India-man, to Mifs Mary Young, of that ifland. June 17. At Edinburgh, Sir James Foulis, bart. of Colington, to Mis Margaret Dallas. 21. At Palmerston-house, near Dublin, by fpecial licence, Tho. Smith, efq. of the Inner Temple, to the Hon. Mifs Mary Hely Hutchinfon, daughter of the late Secretary of State of Ireland, and fifter to Lord Donoghmore. 23. At York, the Rev. John Forth, M. A. chaplain to the Earl of Carlile, and fellow of Jefus College, Cambridge, to Mif. Wood, houfe, niece to the late Jas. W. efq. of York. At Finningley, Mr. R. Dunhill, fon of Jn. D. elq. |