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　　Although，aswehavesaid，theGovernment，oritsrepresentatives，grew

　　rathermorelenienttowardstheendoftheproceedingsatSalisbury，itwas

　　evidentlythoughtessentialtoproducesomecrimedeservingactualdeath。

　　TheculpritinthiscasewasPeterWithers，ayoungmanoftwenty-three，

　　marriedandwithfivechildren。Hischaractertillthetimeoftheriots

　　wasexemplary。Hewascommittedonachargeofriot，andbriefedalawyer

　　todefendhimforthismisdemeanour。Justbeforethetrialcameonthecharge

　　waschanged，apparentlybytheAttorney-General，tothecapitalchargeof

　　assaultingOliverCalleyCodringtonwithahammer。Hiscounselwasofcourse

　　unpreparedtodefendhimonthischarge，and，asheexplainedafterwards，

　　’itwasonlybythehumanekindnessoftheAttorney-Generalwhoallowedhim

　　tolookathisbriefthathewasawareofallthefactstobeallegedagainst

　　hisclient。’Withershimselfseemedequallyunprepared；whenaskedforhis

　　defencehesaidthathewouldleaveittohiscounsel，asofcoursehehad

　　arrangedtodowhenthechargewasoneofmisdemeanouronly。

　　TheincidentoccurredinanaffrayatRockleynearMarlborough。Mr。Baskerville，

　　J。P。，rodeupwithsomespecialconstablestoamoboffortyorfiftymen，

　　Withersamongstthem，andbadethemgohome。Theyrefused，declaringthat

　　theydidnotcareadamnforthemagistrates。Mr。BaskervilleorderedMr。

　　Codrington，whowasaspecialconstable，toarrestWithers。Ageneralm&ecirc；l&eacute；e

　　ensued，blowsweregivenandreceived，andCodringtonwashitbyahammer

　　thrownbyWithers。Withers’ownversionoftheaffairwasthatCodrington

　　attackedhimwithoutprovocationinaferociousmannerwithahuntingwhip，

　　loadedwithironattheend。Baskervillealsostruckhim。Heaimedhishammer

　　atCodringtonanditmissed。Codrington’shorsethencrushedhimagainst

　　thewall，andhethrewhishammerasecondtimewithbetteraim。Therewas

　　nothingintheevidenceoftheprosecutiontodiscreditthisversion，and

　　bothBaskervilleandCodringtonadmittedthattheymighthavestruckhim。

　　Codrington’sinjurieswereapparentlymoreseriousthanBinghamBaring’s；

　　itwasstatedthathehadbeenconfinedtobedfortwoorthreedays，and

　　tothehousefromTuesdaytoSaturday，andthathehadascarofoneand

　　ahalfinchesontherightsideofhisnose。Nosurgeon，however，appeared

　　asawitness，andthehammerWaSnotproducedincourt。Witherswasfound

　　guiltyandreserved，togetherwithLush，forexecution。

　　ThespecialcorrespondentoftheTimeswhohadbeenpresentat

　　WinchestermadeaninterestingcomparisonbetweentheHampshireandtheWiltshire

　　labourersontrial8thJanuary1831。TheWiltshirelabourershedescribed

　　asmoreathleticinappearanceandmorehardyinmanner。’Theprisonershere

　　turntothewitnessesagainstthemwithaboldandconfidentair：cross-examine

　　them，andcontradicttheiranswers，withaconfidenceandawantofcommon

　　courtesy，intermsofwhichcomparativelyfewinstancesoccurredintheneighbouring

　　county。’Inthisbehaviourthecorrespondentdetectedthesignsofavery

　　lowstateofmoralintelligence。

　　Whenthetimecameforthelastsceneincourttherewasnotraceofthe

　　bolddemeanourwhichhadimpressedtheTimescorrespondentduring

　　theconductofthetrials。ForthepeopleofWiltshire，likethepeopleof

　　Hampshire，werestunnedbythecrashandruinofthiscatastrophicvengeance。

　　Thetwomensentencedtodeathwerereprieved，butonehundredandfifty-four

　　menandboysweresentencedtotransportation，thirty-threeofthemforlife，

　　therestforsevenorfourteenyears，withnoprospectofeverreturning

　　totheirhomes。AndAldersonandhisbrotherjudgesinsopunishingthis

　　wildflingoffolly，orhope，ordespair，werenotpassingsentenceonly

　　onthemenandboysbeforethem：theywerepronouncingadoomnotlessterrible

　　onwivesandmothersandchildrenandbabesinarmsineveryvillageonthe

　　WiltshireDowns。Onemanbeggedtobeallowedtotakehischild，eightmonths

　　old，intoexile，foritsmotherhaddiedinchildbirth，anditwouldbeleft

　　withoutkithorkin。Hewastoldbythejudgethatheshouldhaveremembered

　　thisearlier。Thesentenceoffinalseparationonallthesefamiliesand

　　homeswasreceivedwithafrenzyofconsternationandgrief，andthejudges

　　themselveswereaffectedbythespectacleofthesebrokencreaturesinthe

　　dockandroundthecourt，abandonedtotheuncheckedparoxysmsofdespair。30*

　　’Suchatotalprostrationofthementalfacultiesbyfear，’wrotetheTimescorrespondent，’andsuchaterribleexhibitionofanguishanddespair，I

　　neverbeforewitnessedinaCourtofJustice。’’Immediatelyontheconclusion

　　ofthissentenceanumberofwomen，whowereseatedincourtbehindtheprisoners，

　　setupadreadfulshriekoflamentation。Someofthemrushedforwardtoshake

　　handswiththeprisoners，andmorethanonevoicewasheardtoexclaim，“Farewell，

　　Ishallneverseeyoumore。”’

　　’Thewholeproceedingsofthisdayincourtwereofthemostafflicting

　　anddistressingnature。Butthelacerationofthefeelingsdidnotendwith

　　theproceedingsincourt。Thecarfortheremovaloftheprisonerswasat

　　thebackentrancetothecourt-houseandwassurroundedbyacrowdofmothers，

　　wives，sistersandchildren，anxiouslywaitingforaglanceoftheircondemned

　　relatives。Theweepingandwailingofthedifferentparties，astheypressed

　　thehandsoftheconvictsastheysteppedintothecar，wastrulyheartrending。

　　Weneversawsodistressingaspectaclebefore，andtrustthattherestored

　　tranquillityofthecountrywillpreventusfromeverseeinganythinglike

　　itagain。’

　　Thehistorianmayregretthatthesemendonotpassoutbeforehimin

　　acoldandsplendiddefiance。Theirblindblowhadbeenstruckandithad

　　beenanswered；theyhaddreamtthattheirlotmightbemadelessintolerable，

　　andthegoverningclasshadcrushedthatdaringfancyforeverwithbanishment

　　andthebreakingoftheirhomes；itonlyremainedforthemtoaccepttheir

　　fatewithalookofstoneupontheirfacesandacurseoffireintheirhearts。

　　SohadMuirandPalmerandmanyapoliticalprisoner，victimsofthetyrannies

　　ofPittandDundas，ofCastlereaghandSidmouth，gonetotheirbarbarous

　　doom。SohadtheLantenacsandtheGauvainsalikegonetotheguillotine。

　　Historylikestomatchsuchcalmandunshakenbearingagainstthedistempered

　　justiceofpower。Heresheischeatedofherspectacle。Outwardlyitmight

　　seemaworsefateformenofeducationtobeflungtothehulkswiththe

　　coarsestoffelons：formenwhoseliveshadbeencomfortabletobethrust

　　intothedirtanddisorderofprisons。Butpoliticalprisonersaremartyrs，

　　andmartyrsarenotthestuffforpity。Howeverbittertheirsufferings，

　　theydonotsufferalone：theyaresustainedbyaHerculeancomradeshipof

　　hopesandofideas。ThedarkestcageislightedbyarayfromParadiseto

　　menorwomenwhobelievethatthenightoftheirsufferingswillbringa

　　dawnlesscoldandsombretomankindthanthecoldandsombredawnofyesterday。

　　Butwhatideasbefriendedtheploughboyortheshepherdtornfromhisrude

　　home？Whatvisionhadheofanoblerfutureforhumanity？Towhatdawndid

　　heleavehiswifeorhismother，hischild，hishome，hisfriends，orhis

　　trampledrace？Whatrobeofdreamandhopeandfancywasthrownoverhis

　　exileortheirhunger，hispoignanthourofseparation，ortheirceaseless

　　acheofpovertyandcold’tocomfortthehumanwant。

　　Fromthebosomofmagicalskies’？

　　ThethreejudgeswhohadrestoredrespectforlawandorderinWiltshire

　　andHampshirenextproceededtoDorchester，whereaSpecialCommissionto

　　trytheDorsetshirerioterswas。Therisinghadbeenlessseriousinopened

　　on11thJanuaryDorsetthaninthetwoothercounties，andtherewereonly

　　somefiftyprisonersawaitingtrialonchargesofmachine-breaking，extorting

　　moneyandriot。TheGovernmenttooknopartintheprosecutions；for，as

　　itwasexplainedinalettertoDenman，’thestateofthingsisquitealtered；

　　greateffecthasbeenproduced：thelawhasbeenclearlyexplained，andprosecutions

　　goonwithouttheleastdifficulty。’31*BaronVaughanandMr。JusticeParke

　　hadgiventhechargesatWinchesterandSalisbury：itwasnowtheturnof

　　Mr。JusticeAlderson，andinhisopeningsurveyofthesocialconditions

　　ofthetimehecoveredawidefield。Totheusualdissertationontheeconomics

　　ofmachineryheaddedaspecialhomilyonthedutiesincumbentonthegentry，

　　whowerebiddentodiscourageanddiscountenance，andifnecessarytoprosecute，

　　thedangerouspublicationsthatweredoingsuchharminruraldistricts。

　　Buttheirdutiesdidnotendhere，andtheywereurgedtogohomeandto

　　educatetheirpoorerneighboursandtoimprovetheirconditions。Theimprovement

　　tobeaimedat，however，wasnotmaterialbutmoral。’Poverty，’saidMr。

　　JusticeAlderson，’isindeed，Ifear，inseparablefromthestateofthehuman

　　race，butpovertyitselfandthemiseryattendantonit，wouldnodoubtbe

　　greatlymitigatedifaspiritofprudenceweremoregenerallydiffusedamong

　　thepeople，andiftheyunderstoodmorefullyandpractisedbettertheir

　　civil，moralandreligiousduties。’

　　TheDorsetshirelabourershadunfortunatelyarrivedattheprecipitate

　　conclusionthataspiritofprudencewouldnottransform7s。aweekinto

　　areasonablelivelihood。Theyusednoviolencebeyondbreakingupthethreshing

　　machines。’Wedon’tintendtohurtthefarmer，’theytoldtheownerofone

　　machine，’butwearedeterminedthatthelandshallcomedown，andthetithes，

　　andwewillhavemorewages。’Whenmoneywastakenitseemstohavebeen

　　demandedandreceivedinanamicablespirit。Thesumsaskedforwereoften

　　verysmall。Sentenceofdeathwaspronouncedontwomen，JosephSheppard

　　andGeorgeLegg，fortaking2s。fromFarmerChristopherMoreyatBuckland

　　Newton。Themobaskedformoney，andthefarmerofferedthem1s。：theyreplied

　　thattheywanted1s。6d。，andthefarmergavethem2s。Sheppard’scharacter

　　wasverygood，anditcameoutthatheandtheprosecutorhadhadadispute

　　aboutmoneysomeyearsbefore。Hewastransported，butnotforlife。Legg

　　wasdeclaredbytheprosecutortohavebeen’saucyandimpudent，’andto

　　have’talkedroughandbobbish。’Hischaracter，however，wasstatedbymany

　　witnesses，includingtheclergyman，tobeexemplary。Hehadfivechildren

　　whomhesupportedwithoutparishhelpon7s。aweek：acottagewasgiven

　　himbutnofuel。BaronVaughanwassomuchimpressedbythisevidencethat

　　hedeclaredthathehadneverheardbettertestimonytocharacter，andthat

　　hewouldrecommendalessseverepenaltythantransportation。ButLeggshowed

　　alamentablewantofdiscretion，forheinterruptedthejudgewiththese

　　words：’IwouldratherthatyourLordshipwouldputtwenty-oneyears’transportation

　　uponmethanbeplacedintheconditionoftheprosecutor。Ineversaida

　　wordtohim，thatIdeclare。’BaronVaughansardonicallyremarkedthathe

　　hadnotbenefitedhimselfbythisobservation。

　　Thetendencytogivelessseverepunishment，noticedintheclosingtrials

　　atSalisbury，wasmoremarkedatDorchester。Ninemenwereletoffonrecognisances

　　andtenwerenotproceededagainst：inthecaseofsixofthesetentheprosecutor，

　　oneRobertBullen，whohadbeenrobbedof4s。and2s。6d。，refusedtocome

　　forward。Butenoughsharpsentencesweregiventokeepthelabourersinsubmission

　　forthefuture。Onemanwastransportedforlifeandelevenforsevenyears：

　　fifteenweresentencedtovarioustermsofimprisonment；sevenwereacquitted。

　　ItwasnotsurprisingthatthespecialcorrespondentoftheTimescomplained

　　thatsuchmeagreresultsscarcelyjustifiedthepompandexpenseofaSpecial

　　Commission。IntheneighbouringcountyofGloucester，wherethecountrygentlemen

　　carriedouttheworkofretributionwithouthelpfromheadquarters，seven

　　menweretransportedforfourteenyears，twentyforsevenyears，andtwenty-five

　　weresentencedtotermsofimprisonmentrangingfromsixmonthstothree

　　years。Allofthesesentenceswereforbreakingthreshingmachines。

　　ThedisturbancesinBerksandBuckshadbeenconsideredseriousenough

　　todemandaSpecialCommission，andSirJamesAlanPark，SirWilliamBolland

　　andSirJohnPattesonwerethejudgesappointed。ThefirstofthetwoBerkshire

　　CommissionsopenedatReadingon27thDecember。TheEarlofAbingdon，Lord-Lieutenant

　　oftheCounty，andMr。CharlesDundaswerethetwolocalcommissioners。Mr。

　　DundashasfiguredalreadyinthesepagesaschairmanofthemeetingatSpeenhamland。

　　Onehundredandthirty-eightprisonerswereawaitingtrialatReading：they

　　weremostofthemyoung，onlyeighteenbeingfortyorover。Therest，with

　　fewexceptions，variedfromseventeentothirty-fiveinage，andmusthave

　　livedalltheirlivesundertheSpeenhamlandsystem。

　　ItisimpossibletocomparetheaccountsoftheSpecialCommissionsin

　　BerksandBuckswiththoseinHampshireandWiltshirewithoutnoticinga

　　differenceinthetreatmentoftherioters。Therisingshadbeenalmostsimultaneous，