CHAPTER II.

SPREAD OF THE MOVEMENT.

"Civil dissension is a viperous worm

That knaws the bowels of the Commonwealth."
SHAKESPEARE.

The 11th of March, 1811, is a notable day in the history of Nottinghamshire. On that day commenced a series of riots which, extending over a period of five years, are perhaps unequalled for the skill and secrecy with which they were managed, and the amount of wanton mischief they inflicted. Trade had been for some time in a very unsatisfactory condition, and as a natural result wages had been considerably reduced. As it was evident to the authorities that mischief was brewing, it was decided to employ a large number of the distressed workpeople in sweeping the streets. But this did not prevent the catastrophe, for on the 11th of March they struck work, and flocking to the market-place, were there joined by a large number from the adjoining country, and being harangued by several fiery orators, they suddenly resolved to revenge themselves on the masters who had reduced their wages. The local authorities, who had been uneasy at the aspect of affairs for some time, summoned the military to their aid at once, and the turbulent population was overawed and prevented from rioting in the town; when darkness set in, however, the mob proceeded to the neighbouring village of Arnold, and destroyed upwards of sixty frames. During the succeeding three weeks above two hundred more stocking frames were broken up by bands who seemed to divide and attack many different points at the same time. These bands it was afterwards discovered were united in a society and were bound by an oath not to divulge anything connected with its secret operations. The names they assumed were Ludds," "Ludders,' and 'Luddites," and they are said to have derived them from a youth named Ludlam, a reckless character, who, when his father, a frame-work knitter, told him one day to

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'square his needles," squarred them effectually by taking up his hammer and beating them into a heap. Whether this youth

actually directed the operations of the desperate bands that prowled nightly is not positively known, as the secrets of the society were wonderfully well kept, but it is not at all improbable, as the proceedings were evidently planned beforehand, and it was also plain that the various bodies acted in concert. They were all disguised when engaged in the work of destruction, and were armed, some in a very primitive fashion, with clubs, sticks, &c., and others with swords, guns, and pistols. A number also wielded huge hatchets and blacksmith's hammers, for the purpose of making a way into the places where the frames were kept and breaking them quickly to pieces, while their armed companions kept watch at the door. On the work of the night being successfully accomplished, the party divided and again reunited at a distance, when the leader called over his men, who answered, not to names but numbers, and every one then removed his disguise and went home. The success which at the outset almost invariably attended the movements of the Luddites caused them to be much talked about. They seemed almost ubiquitous, and as the authorities could gain little or no information respecting them, many of the more daring of the working men ventured to join them, and for a long time they carried on their destructive attacks with impunity. The frames, however, as we have already stated, were not the sole cause of the disturbances; in most cases discontent being heightened or caused by the dearness of provisions, especially flour. In consequence of the resistance afterwards made to the outrages of the rioters, in the course of which one of them was killed, they became still more exasperated and violent, till the magistrates thought it necessary to require the assistance of a considerable armed force, which was promptly assembled, consisting at first of local militia and volunteer yeomanry chiefly, to whom were afterwards added about four hundred special constables. The rioters were then dispersed and the disturbances for a time suppressed.

Before the end of November, 1811, however, the outrages were renewed; they became more serious, were more systematically conducted, and at length the disturbances extended to several villages, where the rioters destroyed the frames, and began at the same time to collect or exact contributions for their subsistence, which caused their numbers to increase rapidly, many joining them being on the brink of starvation. Early in December the outrages were in some degree extended into Derbyshire and Leicestershire, where many frames were broken. A considerable force of cavalry and infantry was then sent to Nottingham, and the commanding officer of the district was ordered to repair thither. In January, 1812, two of the most experienced police magistrates were also despatched to Nottingham, for the purpose of assisting the local authorities to restore tranquility.

The systematic combination, however, with which the outrages

were conducted, the terror which they inspired, and the disposition of many of the working classes to favour rather than oppose them, made it very difficult to discover the offenders, to apprehend them if discovered, or to obtain evidence to convict those who were apprehended of the crimes with which they were charged. Some, however, were afterwards proceeded against at the Nottingham Spring Assizes, and seven persons were convicted of different offences and sentenced to transportation. In the meantime, acts were passed for establishing police in the disturbed districts to patrol the streets.

The discontent which had thus first appeared about Nottingham and had in some degree extended into Derbyshire and Leicestershire, had, also been communicated to other parts of the country. Subscriptions for persons arrested poured in, and anonymous threatening letters became more and more common. At Stockport, shortly after, attempts were made to set on fire two different manufactories, and the spirit of disorder rapidly spread through the neighbourhood. Inflammatory placards, inviting the people to a general rising, were disseminated; illegal oaths were administered, riots were produced in various places, houses were plundered by persons in disguise, and a report was industriously circulated that a general rising would take place on the 1st of May, or early in that month.

The spirit of riot and disturbance manifested itself violently to Eccles, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Middleton. At the latter place the manufactory of Mr. Burton was attacked, and although the rioters were then repulsed and five of their number killed by the military force assembled to protect the works, a second attack was made two days afterwards, and Mr. Burton's house was burnt before military assistance could be brought to the spot. When troops arrived they were fired upon by the rioters, and before the latter could be dispersed several of them were killed and wounded.

There were also scenes of great violence at Stockport. The house of Mr. Goodwin was set on fire, and his steam looms were destroyed. Crowds of men training for military exercise were continually being surprised on the heaths and moors. Disturbances also took place in Manchester, but here the cause assigned was solely the high price of provisions. The people of that city were alarmed by the sudden appearance in their streets of thousands of half-starved looking men from the surrounding places, but on a large military force being paraded, the suspicious looking persons gradually disappeared. Nocturnal meetings were, however, frequent, and arms were seized continually. The manner in which the disaffected carried on their proceedings demonstrated in an extraordinary degree concert, secresy, and organisation. Their signals were well contrived, and attempts to lay hold of offenders were generally defeated.

The same spirit of disaffection appeared at Bolton-le-Moors. A meeting of delegates was held there, at which was decided that a

manufactory at West Haughton should be destroyed, but finding their purpose was known to the authorities, it was apparently abandoned, until the watch being relaxed they accomplished their object. It was known the attack would be made and intelligence was sent to the authorities, but the military force sent to the spot arrived too late; the rioters had dispersed, and the soldiers therefore returned to their quarters. The mob taking advantage of their absence, returned and assailed another manufactory, set it on fire, and again dispersed before the force could be brought back. Disturbances also broke out in Carlisle and in Yorkshire. At Huddersfield and in the neighbourhood disturbances took place early in February, 1812, the shearing machines being destroyed in large numbers. We were conversing the other day with the son of an old cropper who still resides at Crossland Moor, in the house where he was born seventy-three years ago, and he told us that he had often heard his father relate how his fellow workmen at Nab Croft, which is just at hand, boasted how many machines Enoch "-as the large hammer was called by them-had destroyed during the night. It was customary, he said, for powerful men to cut through the doors with hatchets, and on an entrance being gained, the machines were broken up in an incredible short space of time. Great quantities of fire-arms were seized in the neighbourhood by men with blackened faces, and midnight drills were common. great number of machines belonging to Mr. Vickerman were destroyed in March, and soon after, the destruction of Bradley Mills was threatened and afterwards attempted, but the guard on the spot defeated the attempt.

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The authorities at Leeds had been much alarmed by information that attacks were intended to be made on places in the town and neighbourhood, which induced the magistrates to desire a strong military force and to appoint a great number of the respectable inhabitants special constables, by which the peace of the town was in a great measure preserved. Early, however, in the morning of March 24th, 1812, the mills of Messrs. Thompson, of Rawden were attacked by a large body of armed men, who proceeded with great regularity and caution, first seizing the watchman at the mill and placing guards at every adjacent cottage, threatening death to anyone who should attempt to give an alarm, and then forcibly entering the mill, they completely destroyed the machinery. On the very night following, nothwithstanding the precautions adopted, the buildings belonging to the Messrs. Dickenson, in Leeds, were forcibly entered and the whole of the goods there, consisting chiefly of cloths, were cut to pieces. Many other firms in Leeds were threatened with similar treatment. The proceedings at this place are represented to have had for their object the destruction of all goods prepared otherwise than by manual labour. At Horbury, near Wakefield, valuable mills were 9th of April, by an armed body, consisting of 300 machinery and considerable property was destroyed.

attacked on the men, and the The men who

committed the outrage were seen on the road between Horbury and Wakefield, marching in regular sections, preceded by a mounted party with drawn swords, and followed by the same number of men as a rear guard. They were stated in the official return presented to parliament to belong to Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Gildersome, Morley, and other places. The magistrates were unable to give protection by putting the Watch and Ward Act into execution, and the working classes, or 'the lower orders," as they are called in the report, are represented as being generally either abettors, or participators in, the outrages committed, or as being so intimidated that they dared not interfere.

At Sheffield the storehouse of arms of the local militia was surprised, and some of the arms were broken and others taken away by the mob. Depredations continued almost nightly, and it was stated in the report that in the districts between Huddersfield and Birstal the arms of all the peaceable inhabitants had been swept away by bands of armed men. Respecting the offenders no information could be gained, and it is said that amongst one hundred depositions taken by the magistrates of the facts of robberies committed, the thief was only pointed out in one case.

During the latter part of the period we have named, that is, at the commencement of 1812, the district watered by the Calder was especially unsettled, and the patrols passing between Huddersfield and Leeds found the people in the ill-affected villages up at midnight and heard the firing of small arms at short distances from them, through the whole night, which they found proceeded from parties at drill.

Of the brutality of mobs, the history of every land affords melancholy proofs. A Spanish autode-fe-a Parisian executionthe British punishment of the pillory—an Irish rising-and a Scotch riot-exceed the barbarities of ancient days or of savage life. But there are differences in mobs. A metropolitan riot is generally more mortal but less brutal than a provincial one. In capitals persons seem to have a definite purpose, and they only take means to effect that purpose. In provincial riots a general disposition to violence and brutality, tending rather to general aggression than to any pecular object, can be perceived.

The Luddite mobs were, to some extent, made up of men who did not suffer from the introduction of machinery-men who, being uneducated and brutal, had a love for brutality and excess, who found it more pleasant to seize by violence than gain by industry, and who finally proceeded to perpetrate the most dreadful crimes. Considering what material the local Luddite mobs were composed of, we are naturally surprised to find there was less of brutal excess exhibited in Yorkshire than in any county. We cannot enter into detail respecting the outrages in the adjoining counties which we have named generally in this chapter, or we might adduce cases in the Lancashire risings involving a much greater degree of ferocity than any exhibited in this county.