inverted, dicotyledonous; embryo straight, corresponding with the axis of fleshy albumen; radicle superior. The Selaginaceae, so named after the genus Selago, are low shrubs, rarely herbs, having alternate or fasciculated leaves, simple and without stipules; their flowers are complete and generally irregular, either disposed in a corymb or a spike; calyx persistent, tubular, or spathose; corolla with four or five divisions, imbricated in æstivation; the anthers are unilocular; the ovary is composed of two uniovulate cells; ovules pendent, reflexed. Most of the Selaginaceae inhabit the Cape of Good Hope. This family does not possess marked properties, nevertheless many species are odorous. The Hebenstreitia dentata, cultivated in our gardens, is a shrub about two feet high, with pinnatifid leaves in the lower, dentated leaves in the upper part of the plant. The flowers have a tubular corolla, one single lip, marked with a roseate purple spot; the flowers are inodorous in the morning, but strong and disagreeable at mid-day, whilst in the evening they exhale a delicious perfume. The Selago spuria has small oblong leaves and light-blue flowers. The stem of the Selago Gillii is flower-bearing and branched, having its flowers, which are of a pale rose-colour, disposed in the form of a loose spikelet. A repre sentation of this plant is appended in Fig. 197. The Globu laria form 2 genus of the natural order Selagiпасев. They are shrubs, or under shrubs, or perennial herbs; their flowers are alternate, simple, entire, devoid of stipules; flowers complete, irregular, united into a capitulum upon a convex receptacle, covered with hair, and surrounded with an involucrum ; anthers are first bilocular, and in the young flower become unilocular by the the SECTION LIII.-UTRICULARIE Characteristics: Calyx free; corolla hypogynous, monopetalous, irregular; stamens two, inserted upon the tube of the corolla; fruit capsular; placenta parietal, free; seeds numerous, exalbuminous; radicle straight; all aquatic herbs. The Utricularia derive their name from their principal genns Utricularia, which is so called from the presence of abundant aërial vesicles distributed over the surface of their subaqueous leaves. These utriculi are rounded in shape and furnished with a kind of movable aperture. Whilst the plant is young these little bladders are filled with mucus a little heavier than water, which, acting as a weight, cause the plant to descend to the bottom of the water. As the period of flowering arrives, the utriculi secrete a gas which fills them, makes them specifically lighter, and thus, by lessening the spe cific gravity of the leaves, causes them to rise to the water's surface. No sooner has the period of flowering terminated, than the vesicles begin once more to secrete the heavy mucous fluid, and the leaves again sinking, the plant arrives at its original situation, and deposits its seeds in the subaqueous mud, there to remain until they germinate and produce young plants. (Fig. 199, 200, 201.) This family is distributed over the entire world, although chiefly found 194. MIMOSA-LEAVED JACARANDA (JACARANDA MIMOSIFOLIA). 195. PROBOSCIS-LIKE MARTYNIA (MARTYNIA confluence of The Globularia are inhabitants of Southern Europe. The bitter leaves of certain species are employed in medicine. The Globularia Alypum (Fig. 198) was formerly denominated Frutex terribilis, in consequence of the belief that it was violently drastic. Its leaves are the "wild senna" of Germany, and are frequently used to adulterate the genuine senna. in tropical regions of the old continents. SECT. LIV. PLANTAGI NACEE, OR Characteristics: Calyx free; corolla hypogynous, monopetalous; stamens inserted upon the corolla or upon the re ceptacle alternate with the petals; ovary one or two celled, uni- or multi-ovulate; fruit one or many seeded; seed dicotyledonous; em. bryo straight or but slightly curved in the axis of a fleshy albumen; ra dicle inferior. The plan tains are peren nials, general. ly herbaceous; leaves sometimes radical, sometimes cauline, simple, without stipules; flowers complete, sometimes monoecious, arranged sometimes in the form of a spike, sometimes solitary, or almost solitary; calyx monosepalous, persistent, with four divisions, the divisions almost equal with each other; corolla tubular or urceolate, its limb four partite, regular or almost regular, persistent; imbricated in aestivation; stamens four in number. The ovary is composed of a single carpel, but apparently two or four-celled; ovule simple, erect, reflexed. 199. SPRIG OF UTRICULARIA. 200. LEAF OF UTRICULARIA 197, GILL'S SELAGO (SELAGO GILLII). 198. WILD SENNA (GLOBULARIA ALYPUM). and other species, were formerly remedies of great repute in the treatment of intermittent fever, but they have now fallen into disuse. The stag-horned plantain (Plantago Coronopus) was formerly employed by the ancients as a remedy for hydrophobia, but it is only now used in certain parts of Europe as a salad. SECTION LV.-PLUMBAGINACEAE, OR LEADWORTS. Characteristics: Calyx free; corolla hypogynous, monopetalous, or polypetalous; stamens inserted upon the receptacle of the monopetalous species, and upon the petals of those which are polypetalous; ovary unilocular, styles five; ovule solitary, pendent; gated, contorted, or imbricated in aestivation. The five stamens are opposite to the petals; ovary with five carpels, joined by their edges into one single cell; ovule reflexed, pendent from a funiculus, or slender thread, springing from the lower part of the cell; style divided into five stigmas; fruit sometimes dividing into five valves at its summit, sometimes opening at its base. A representation of the Statice imbricata, a native of Teneriffe, is given in Fig. 203. The little plant called thrift, frequently used as an edging instead of box, is a member of this natural order. READING AND ELOCUTION.-XXV. EXERCISES ON EXPRESSIVE TONE (concluded). THE following is an extract from a debate for young speakers, and forms a useful exercise in elocution : XIX. CHARACTER OF JULIUS CESAR. FIRST SPEAKER.-" Was Cæsar a great man ?"-What revolution has taken place in the first appointed government of the universe-what new and opposite principle has begun to direct the operations of nature-what refutation of their long-established precepts has deprived reason of her sceptre, and virtue of her throne, that a character which forms the noblest theme that ever merit gave to fame, should now become a question for debate ? No painter of human excellence, if he would draw the features of that hero's character, need study a favourable light or striking attitude. In every posture it has majesty; and the lineaments of its beauty are prominent in every point of view. It is a generally-received opinion, that uncommon circumstances make uncommon men: Cæsar was an uncommon man in common circumstances. The colossal mind commands your admiration, no less in the pirate's captive, than in the victor at Pharsalia, Who but the first of his race could have made vassals of his savage masters, mocked them into reverence of a superior nature and threatened, with security, the power that held him at its mercy? Of all the striking incidents of Cæsar's life, had history preserved for us but this single one, it would have been sufficient to make us fancy all the rest-at least, we should have said, "Such a man was born to conquest, and to empire!" To expatiate on Caesar's powers of oratory, would only be to add one poor eulogium to the testimony of the first historians. Cicero himself grants him the palm of almost pre-eminent merit; and seems at a loss for words to express his admiration of him. His voice was musical, his delivery energetic, his language chaste and rich, appropriate and peculiar. And it is well presumed that, had he studied the art of public speaking with as much industry as he studied the art of war, he would have been the first of orators. Quintilian says, he would have been the only man capable of combating Cicero; but granting them to have been equal in ability, what equal contest could the timid Cicero-whose nerves fail him, and whose tongue falters when the forum glitters with arms-what equal contest could he have held with the man whose vigour chastised the Belga, and annihilated the Nervii, that maintained their ground till they were hewn to pieces on the spot ? His abilities as a master of composition were undoubtedly of the first order. How admirable is the structure of his Commentaries! What perspicuity and animation are there in the details! You fancy yourself upon the field of action! You follow the development of his plans with the liveliest curiosity! You look on with unwearied attention, as he fortifies his camp or invests his enemy, or crosses the impetuous torrent! You behold his legions, as they move forward from different points to the line of battle! You hear the shout of the onset, and the crash of the encounter; and, breathless with suspense, mark every fluctuation of the awful tide of war! As a politician, how consummate was his address!-how grand his projections!-how happy the execution of his measures! He governs his province with such equity and wisdom, as add a milder but a fairer lustre to his glory, and by their fame prepare the Roman people for his happy yoke. Upon the very eve of his rupture with Pompey, he sends back, on demand, the borrowed legions; covering with rewards the soldiers that may no longer serve him, and whose weapons on the morrow may be turned against his breast-presenting here a noble example of his respect of right, and of that magnanimity which maintains that gratitude should not cease, though benefits are discontinued. When he reigns sole master of the Roman world, how temperate is his triumph!-how scrupulous his respect for the very forms of the laws! He discountenances the profligacy of the patricians, and endeavours to preserve the virtue of the state by laying wholesome restraints upon luxury. He encourages the arts and sciences, patronises genius and talent, respects religion and justice, and puts in practice every means that can contribute to the welfare, the happiness, and the stability of the empire. It is unnecessary to recount the military exploits of Caesar. Why should I compel your attention to follow him, for the hundredth time, through hostile myriads, yielding at every encounter to the force of his invincible arms? As a captain, he was the first of warriors; nor were his valour and skill more admirable than his abstinence and watchfulness, his disregard of ease and his endurance of labour, his moderation and his mercy. Perhaps, indeed, this last quality forms the most dominant feature in his character; and proves, by the consequences of its excess, that virtue itself requires restraint, and has its proper bounds, which it ought not to exceed-for Cæsar's moderation was his ruin! That Caesar had a heart susceptible of friendship, and alive to the finest touches of humanity, is unquestionable. Why does he attempt so often to avert the storm of civil war? Why does he pause so long upon the brink of the Rubicon ? Why does he weep when he beholds the head of his unfortunate rival? Why does he delight in pardoning his enemies-even those very men that had deserted him? It seems as if he lived the lover of mankind, and fell-as the lari expresses it-vanquished, not so much by the weapons as by the ingratitude of his murderers. If a combination of the most splendid talents for war with the most sacred love of peace-of the most illustrious public virtue with the most endearing private worth-of the most unyielding courage with the most accessible moderation, may constitute a great man, that title must be Cæsar's! SECOND SPEAKER.-No change has taken place in the first appointed government of the universe; the operations of nature acknowledge now the same principle that they did in the beginning; Reason still holds her sceptre, Virtue still fills her throne; and the epithet of great does not belong to Cæsar! I would lay it down, as an unquestionable position, that the worth of talents is to be estimated only by the use we make of them. If we employ them in the cause of virtue, their value is great; if we employ them in the cause of vice, they are less than worthless-they are pernicious and vile. Now let us examine Cæsar's talents by this principle, and we shall find, that neither as an orator nor as a politician-neither as a warrior nor as a friend-was Casar a great man! If I were asked, "What was the first, the second, and the last principle of the virtuous mind ?" I should reply, "It was the love of country." It was the love of parent, brother, friend!-the love of MAN!--the love of honour, virtue, and religion!-the love of every good and virtuous deed! I say, then, if I were asked, "What was the first, the second, and the last principle of the virtuous mind ?** I should reply, "It was the love of country!” Without it man is the basest of his kind!-a selfish, cunning, narrow speculator!-4 trader in the dearest interests of his species!-reckless of every tie of nature, sentiment, affection! What was Cæsar's oratory ?-How far did it prove him to be actuated by the love of country? It justified for political interest the invader of his honour!-sheltered the incendiary!-abetted treason!-flattered the people into their own undoing!-assailed the liberties of his country, and bawled into silence every virtuous patriot that struggled to uphold them! He would have been a greater orator than Cicero! I question the assertion-I deny that it is correct!-He would have been a greater orator than Cicero ! Well let it pass-he might have been a greater orator, but he never could have been so great a man. Which way soever he directed his talents, the same inordinate ambition would have led to the same results; and had he devoted himself to the study of oratory, his tongue had produced the same effects as his sword, and equally desolated the human kingdom. But Cæsar is to be admired as a politician! I do not pretend to define the speaker's idea of a politician; but I shall attempt to put you in possession of mine. By a politician, I understand a man who studies the laws of prudence and of justice as they are applicable to the wise and happy government of a people, and the reciprocal obligations of states. Now, how far was Cæsar to be admired as a politician ? He makes war upon the innocent Spaniards, that his military talents may not suffer from inaction. This was a ready way to preserve the peace of his province, and to secure its loyalty and affection! That he may be recorded as the first Roman that had ever crossed the Rhine in a hostile manner, he invades the unoffending Germans, lays waste their territories with fire, and plunders and sacks their country. Here was a noble policy!--that planted in the minds of a brave and formidable people the fatal seeds of that revenge and hatred which finally assisted in accomplishing the destruction of the Roman empire! In short, Cæsar's views were not of that enlarged nature which could entitle him to the name of a great politician; for he studied not the happiness and interest of a community, but merely his own advancement, which he accomplished-by violating the laws and destroying the liberties of his country. That Caesar was a great conqueror, I do not care to dispute. His admirers are welcome to all the advantages that result from such a position. I will not subtract one victim from the hosts that perished for his fame; or abate, by a single groan, the sufferings of his van quished enemies. But I will avow it to be my opinion, that the character of a great conqueror does not necessarily constitute that of a great man; nor can the recital of Cæsar's victories produce any other impression upon my mind than what proceeds from the contemplation of those convulsions of the earth, which in a moment inundate with ruin the plains of fertility and the abodes of peace; or, at one shock, convert whole cities into the graves of their living population! But Caesar's munificence, his clemency, his moderation, and his affectionate nature, constitute him a great man! What was his mu nificence, his clemency, or his moderation?-the automaton of his ambition! It knew no aspiration from the Deity. It was a this from the hands of the mechanician!-an ingenious mockery of nature' Its action seemed spontaneous-its look argued a soul-bat all the virtue lay in the finger of the operator. He could possess no real munificence, moderation, or clemency, who ever expected his gifts to be doubled by return-who never abstained, but with a view to excess; nor spared, but for the indulgence of rapacity.-Knowles. The following tract on the mission and duty of the man of learning affords a fitting conclusion to our Lessons in "Reading and Elocution: ". XX. THE SCHOLAR'S MISSION. The wants of our time and country, the constitution of our modera society, our whole position-personal and relative-forbid a life of mere scholarship or literary pursuits to the great majority of those who go out from our colleges. However it may have been in other times, and other lands, here and now, but few of our educated men are privileged "From the loopholes of retreat To look upon the world, to hear the sound Of the great Babel, and not feel its stir." Society has work for us, and we must forth to do it. Full early and hastily we must gird on the manly gown, gather up the loose leaves and scanty fragments of our youthful lore, and go out among men, to act with them and for them. It is a practical age; and our Wisdom, such as it is, "must strive and cry, and utter her voice in the streets, standing in the places of the paths, crying in the chief place of concourse, at the entry of the city, and the coming in at the doors." This state of things, though not suited to the tastes and qualities of all, is not, on the whole, to be regretted by educated men as such. It is not in literary production only, or chiefly, that educated mind finds fit expression, and fulfils its mission in honour and beneficence In the great theatre of the world's affairs, there is a worthy and a sufficient sphere. Society needs the well-trained, enlarged, and cultivated intellect of the scholar in its midst!-needs it, and welcomes it, and gives it a place, or, by its own capacity, it will take a place of honour, influence, and power. The youthful scholar has no occasion to deplore the fate that is soon to tear him from his studies, and cast him into the swelling tide of life and action. None of his disciplinary and enriching culture will be lost, or useless, even there. Every hour of study, every truth he has reached, and the toilsome process by which he reached it; the heightened grace or vigour of thought or speech he has acquired-all shall tell fully, nobly, if he will give heed to the conditions. And one condition, the prime one, is, that he be a true man, and recognise the obligation of a man, and go forth with heart and will, and every gift and acquirement dedicated, lovingly and resolutely, to the true and the right. These are the terms; and apart from these there is no success, no influence to be had which an ingenuous mind can desire, or which a sound and far-seeing mind would dare to seek. Indeed, it is not an easy thing, nay, it is not a possible thing, to obtain a substantial success, and an abiding influence, except on these terms. A factitious popularity, a transient notoriety, or, in the case of shining talents, the doom of a damning fame, may fall to bad men. But an honoured name, enduring influence, a sun brightening on through its circuit, more and more, even to its serene setting-this boon of a true success goes never to intellectual qualities alone. It gravitates slowly but surely to weight of character, to intellectual ability rooted in principle.-George Putnam. HISTORIC SKETCHES. XXV. THE GORDON RIOTS. which he had been educated. Queen Mary, in 1553, repealed William and Mary (1688-1702) assented to a law granting In 1779, the year before the words at the beginning of this article were spoken, an Act was passed relieving the Protestant "My Lord George, do you really mean to bring your rascally dissenters from almost all their disabilities, those created by the adherents into the House of Commons? If you do, the first Test Act and Corporation Act excepted. But the people thus man of them that enters, I will plunge my sword, not into his enfranchised could not bear that a slight concession made the body, but into yours." Strong language, certainly, especially year before to Romanists, and allowing them to meet for worship for the House of Commons, and yet never was speech spoken under certain restrictions, should remain unrepealed. It was not more earnestly or significantly than this, and the unusual enough that the Romanist should be shut out from every post character of it passed without rebuke from the Speaker. The of every kind in the public service, that he should be precluded person addressed was Lord George Gordon, the man who from getting a living by instructing in any branch of knowledge, addressed him was his own kinsman, Colonel Murray; the date and that he should be unable to practise at the bar; the lately of the speech was Friday, the 2nd June, 1780, and the occasion persecuted felt they could not enjoy their freedom if their on which it was delivered will be set forth in the following fellow-sufferers by the law were also relieved, though only sketch of what are known as the 66 'No Popery" Riots. To in part.* understand the subject fully, however, it will be necessary to glance back at a state of things more than two centuries before. Soon after the death of Henry VIII., in 1547, the policy or impolicy, the religious zeal or the intolerant spirit-which you will-of the English Government, deemed it necessary that those who lately had been subject to systematic persecution for their religious opinions should change places with their persecutors. Laws of the most stringent kind were passed by the Protestant king, Edward VI., against Papists, as the professors of the Roman Catholic faith were then commonly called, and by them it was made an offence punishable with heavy fine and imprisonment, and in certain cases capitally, for a man to hold the faith in A number of organisations, calling themselves Protestant Associations, had been formed in England and Scotland for the purpose of obtaining the removal of disabilities from Protestant dissenters. They chose Lord George Gordon for their chief. and had they searched the whole country over they could not have found a representative more thoroughly unsuited to guido Roman Catholics to sit in Parliament, or to vote at elections, nor was it It was not till 1829 that the Catholic Emancipation Act allowed till the present reign that a full measure of freedom was meted out to the professors of all religions, including the Jewish religion, and that the law both in principle and practice ceased to persecute. them to their legitimate aspirations, though it must be confessed there was no fitter incarnation of their weaknesses and their folly. They were indignant at the slight concession given to their fellow-Christians, and they resolved, if possible, to procure the repeal of it, and if that was not to be, then they would do whatever their too ready hands might find to do. At the suggestions of Lord George, petitions were got up and numerously signed, begging the Legislature to deliver the land from the guilt of allowing certain of the inhabitants to pray together! Every means were taken to make the petition from the Protestants of London a "monster petition." Advertisements were issued, speeches were made to inflame the public mind, and per. sonal entreaties were not wanting to induce the people to add their names. Towards the end of May, 1780, a crowded meeting was held in Coachmakers' Hall, where Lord George spoke at length, addressing the people in a highly inflammatory harangue. He promised to present their petition to the House of Commons, of which he was a member, if they would attend him with not less than 20,000 persons, on the 2nd June. Resolutions were passed pledging the Association to meet with as many friends as they could muster on that day in St. George's Fields; and in order the better to distinguish those of the "true Protestant" party, it was agreed that the petitioners and their friends should wear blue cockades in their hats. On Friday, the 2nd of June, Lord George Gordon met his followers, some 60,000 strong, in St. George's Fields, and after addressing them in a foolish speech, full of intolerant and strife-stirring words, marched them, six abreast, over London Bridge, up Fleet Street and the Strand to Palace Yard, of which they took riotous possession. The Houses had not yet met when the processionists arrived; there were not any police to keep order, and the troops had not any instructions. Very soon the disposition of the assemblage was apparent. Thousands had only availed themselves of the Protestants' petition to indulge their natural instincts to commit robbery and violence, and as soon as the members of either House of Parliament began to arrive, these persons commenced to be natural. Earl Mansfield, one of the most upright and able Chief Justices England ever had, had agreed to preside over the House of Lords instead of Lord Chancellor Thurlow, who was ill at Tunbridge. As soon as his carriage came into Palace Yard it was attacked, the windows were broken, the body was much damaged, and the venerable old man with difficulty escaped into the House, with torn robes and disordered wig. The Archbishop of York was subjected to like violence, and the Bishop of Lincoln, whose carriage was literally demolished, was taken fainting into a house, whence he escaped in disguise over the leads. The Duke of Northumberland was pulled out of his carriage and robbed of purse and watch; the Lord President of the Council and other peers were also so roughly handled that they could hardly get into Westminster Hall. The Lords continued to arrive, and business commenced; but little progress had been made when Lord Montfort rushed in to say that Lord Boston was in the hands of the mob, and in imminent danger of his life. One who was present says:-"At this instant it is hardly possible to conceive a more grotesque appearance than the House exhibited. Some of their lordships with their hair about their shoulders; others smutted with dirt; most of them as pale as the ghost in 'Hamlet;' and all of them standing up in their several places, and speaking at the same instant. One lord proposing to send for the Guards, another for the justices or civil magis trates, many crying out, Adjourn, adjourn!' while the skies resounded with the huzzas, shoutings, or hootings in Palace Yard." Lord Boston escaped from the crowd just as the House of Lords were proposing to go out and rescue him; but it being impossible to go on with business, the House adjourned at eight o'clock, and its members managed to get away unper ceived by side ways and passages. Some 200 members of the House of Commons assembled, but the noise of the Protestant rioters almost drowned their voices in debate. Lord George Gordon presented the monster petition, and moved that the House should consider it in committee forthwith. An amendment was moved that it should not be considered till the 6th instant (four days on), but the sense of the House could not be taken, because the rioters had possession of the lobbies, whence they kept up a cry of "No Popery!" 'Repeal, Repeal!" Lord George constantly went out to encourage the people to persevere, bade them keep up the demonstration, and compel the House to listen to them at once. The uproar was tremendous. Within the House there was wisdom and dignity, and some anger. One member was for sending Lord George Gordon instantly to Newgate, others were for refusing to consider anything in connection with the petition while the House was under intimidation, and Colonel Murray, when the rioters were actually knocking at the door of the House, addressed to his kinsman the words which appear at the head of this paper. Lord North, however, the Prime Minister, sat serenely in his place, and by his conduct succeeded in infusing a spirit of confidence into the wavering members. Privately he sent for a detachment of the Guards, and these coming about nine o'clock in the evening, the rioters dispersed, the House divided, and rejecting Lord George's motion, adjourned till June the 6th. With the exception of the burning of the chapels of the Bavarian and Sardinian ministers, which were utterly destroyed, no great damage was done by the rioters in London that night. The magistrates thought the disturbances were over, but on Sunday, June the 4th, the Roman Catholic chapels in Moorfields, and the houses belonging to Romanists in that district, were attacked and gutted. Next day the like fate befel the chapels and houses of the obnoxious religionists in other quarters; and the rioters growing bold at the non-interference of authority, resolved to attack the house of Sir George Savile, who originated the slight measure of toleration which had been granted to the Catholics. Savile House-in Leicester Fields. now Leicester Square was accordingly besieged, carried by storm, and destroyed with all that was in it. On June the 6th the House of Commons met under the protection of a body of soldiers, and Lord George Gordon appeared with a blue cockade, the sign of the rioters, in his hat. Colonel Herbert drew the attention of the House to the cockade, and recommended Lord George to remove it, adding that if he did not, he (Colonel Herbert) would step across the House and remove it for him, upon which Lord George put the obnoxious sign into his pocket. While the debate was going on, a mob attacked the official residence of the Prime Minister in Downing Street, but made off at the appearance of some soldiers. During the afternoon a vast multitude assembled before Newgate, and demanded the release of their friends who had been committed a few days before. The demand being refused by the governor, an attack was made on the gaol; fire and levers, pickaxes and crowbars were freely applied, and in the course of a few hours the prison, which had lately been rebuilt at great cost, was a smoking ruin, portions of the stone walls alone being left. The liberated prisoners increased the number and the audacity of the mob, who proceeded to break open the prison at Clerkenwell, and to liberate the prisoners there; and the houses of several obnoxious persons were destroyed in open day. Towards night, however, the mob, drunk with success and with liquor also, grew bolder. At midnight they congregated in front of Lord Mansfield's house, in Bloomsbury Square, and burned it with its contents, including a library of inestimable value, and a priceless collection of materials for history. Lord and Lady Mansfield escaped by a side entrance. From six-and-thirty different places the fire and smoke went up, promoted by the efforts of incendiaries; but for magnitude. perhaps, the worst fire was that which finally caused the Government to act decisively against the offenders-the fire at the distillery in Holborn. The distillery at the time belonged to Mr. Langdale, a Roman Catholic, and this fact, coupled with the attraction caused by the stores of spirit, was sufficient to draw the attention of the rioters. The place was sacked and then fired. Hundreds of drunken wretches perished in the flames, the gin ran down the gutters in a blaze, and the flames from the burning premises lighted the sky over all London. There were no police. The officers in command of troops were afraid to fire upon the people, doubts having been raised whether by so doing, even at the bidding of a magistrate, they did not render themselves liable to prosecution for murder. But the danger increased. The king, in council, had the question of military interference debated, and upon the AttorneyGeneral giving it as his opinion that under the circumstances which then existed the soldiers might legally be called upon to |