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　　oreventransportation，ratherthanseehiswifeandchildrencryforbread。

　　JohnSarney，theother，wasfifty-sixyearsoldandhadawifeandsixchildren：

　　hekeptasmallbeer-shopandhischaracterwasirreproachable。Petitions

　　onbehalfofthetwomenweresignedextensively，andthesentencewascommuted

　　totransportationforlife。TheAylesburysentencesseemlenientincomparison

　　withthosegivenatSalisburyandWinchester，buttheydidnotseemlenient

　　tothepeopleinthedistrict。’Pencannotdescribe，’wroteaTimescorrespondent，’theheart-rendingsceneofdespair，miseryandwant，prevailing

　　atFlackwell-Heath，theresidenceofthefamiliesofthemajorpartofthe

　　misguidedmennowincarceratedatAylesbury。’Thesamecorrespondenttells

　　ofabenevolentQuaker，whohadbecomerichasamakerofpaper，helping

　　thesefamiliesbystealth。

　　TheworkoftheSpecialCommissionswasnowover。Melbournehadexplained

　　inParliamentthattheyhadbeensetup’toexpoundthelaw’andtobring

　　hometotheignorantthegravityoftheircrimesagainstsocialorder。In

　　spiteofthedailyimpositionofferociouspunishmentsonpoachersandthieves，

　　thepoorapparentlydidnotknowinwhatlettersofbloodthecodeagainst

　　riotinganddiscontentwascomposed。Thesethreeweekshadbroughtalurid

　　enlightenmentintotheirdarkhomes。Intheriots，aswehaveseen，theonly

　　manwhohadbeenkilledwasarioter，killedaccordingtothereportsof

　　thetimebyayeomanrysoldier，accordingtolocaltraditionbyafarmer，

　　andforthatoffencehehadbeenrefusedChristianburial。Ontheotherside，

　　notasinglepersonhadbeenkilledorseriouslywounded。Fortheseriots，

　　apartfromthecasesofarson，forwhichsixmenorboyswerehung，aristocratic

　　justiceexactedthreelives，andthetransportationoffourhundredandfifty-seven

　　menandboys，32*inadditiontotheimprisonmentofaboutfourhundred

　　athome。Theshadowofthisvengeancestilldarkensthemindsofoldmen

　　andwomeninthevillagesofWiltshire，andeightyyearshavebeentooshort

　　atimetoblotoutitstrainofdesolatingmemories。33*Nobodywhodoes

　　notrealisewhatMr。Hudsonhasdescribedwithhisintimatetouch，theeffect

　　ontheimaginationandthecharacterof’alifeofsimpleunchangingaction

　　andofhabitsthatarelikeinstincts，ofhardlabourinsunandrainand

　　windfromdaytoday，’caneverunderstandwhatthebreakingofalltheties

　　oflifeandhomeandmemorymeanttotheexilesandtothosefromwhosecompanionship

　　theywerethentornforever。

　　Wehavesaidthatonefeatureoftherisingwasthefiringofstacksand

　　ricksandbarns。Thispracticewaswidespread，andfiresbrokeoutevenin

　　countieswheretheorganisedrisingmadelittleprogress。Associationsfor

　　thedetectionofincendiarieswereformedatanearlystage，andimmense

　　rewardswereoffered。Yetnotasinglecaseofarsonwastriedbeforethe

　　SpecialCommissions，andthelabourerskepttheirsecretwell。Manyofthe

　　governingclassintheearlydayspersuadedthemselvesthatthelabourers

　　hadnosecrettokeep，andthatthefireswereduetoanyoneexceptthe

　　labourers，andtoanycauseexceptdistress。Perhapsthewishwasfather

　　tothethought，forastheTimesobserved，personsresponsiblefor

　　grindingthefacesoftheirlabourerspreferredtothinktheoutragesthe

　　workofstrangers。Sometimesitwassmugglers，sufferingfromthedepression

　　intheirtrade：sometimesitwasforeigners：sometimesitwasmysterious

　　gentlemeningigs，drivingfuriouslyaboutthecountry，ledbyCaptainSwing，

　　scatteringfireballsanddevastation。Thesewerethefashionabletheories

　　intheHouseofLords，althoughRichmondremindedhisbrotherpeersthat

　　therehadbeenafloodofpetitionsrepresentingthesufferingsofthelabourers

　　fromtheverybeginningoftheyear，andthattheHouseofLordshadnot

　　thoughtitnecessarytogivethemtheslightestattention。LordCamdenascribed

　　theoutragestotheFrenchspirit，andarguedthatthecountrywasenjoying

　　’whatwasundeniablyagenialautumn。’TheDukeofWellingtontookthesame

　　view，denyingthatthetroubleswereduetodistress：themostinfluential

　　causeofdisturbanceswastheexample，’andIwillunhesitatinglysaythe

　　badandthemischievousexample，affordedbytheneighbouringStates。’Eldon

　　remarkedthatmanyoftheprisonerstakenintheriotswereforeigners，a

　　pointonwhichMelbourneundeceivedhim。Thespeakerswhoregardedthedisturbances

　　inthesouthofEnglandastheoverflowoftheParisRevolutionhadnopositive

　　evidencetoproduce，buttheyhadapieceofnegativeevidencewhichthey

　　thoughtconclusive。Forifthelabourersknewwhoweretheincendiaries，

　　theywouldsurelyhavegiveninformation。Insomecasesarewardof&#163；1000

　　withafreepardonforallexcepttheactualauthorwaswaitingtobeclaimed，

　　’andyetnotoneofthemiserablebeingshaveavailedthemselvesoftheprospect

　　ofbecomingrich。’

　　SomeelevencasesofarsonweretriedattheAssizesinEssex，Kent，Sussex，

　　andSurrey：alltheprisonerswereagriculturallabourersandmostofthem

　　wereboys。Eightwereconvicted，oftenonverydefectiveevidence，andsix

　　wereexecuted。Oneoftheeight，ThomasGoodman，aboyofeighteen，saved

　　hislifebydeclaringinprisonthattheideahadbeenputintohishead

　　byalectureofCobbett’s。TwobrothersofthenameofPakeman，nineteen

　　andtwentyyearsold，wereconvictedontheevidenceofBishop，anotherlad

　　ofeighteen，whohadpromptedthemtosetfiretoabarn，andlaterturned

　　king’sevidence’afteragentlemaninthegaolhadtoldhimofthebigreward。’

　　Thisfireseemstohavebeenapieceofbravado，asnodoubtmanyothers

　　were，forBishopremarked，asthethreeweresittingunderahedgeafter

　　lightingthebarn，’whosayswecan’thaveafiretoo，aswellasthemat

　　Blean？’Thetwoboys，whohadneverbeentaughttoreadorwrite，scandalised

　　thepublicbydisplayingapainfulindifferencetotheministrationsofthe

　　chaplain，anddyingwithoutreceivingthesacrament。34*Ahalf-wittedboy

　　offourteen，RichardPennells，wastriedatLewesforsettingfiretohis

　　master’shaystackforapromiseofsixpencefromamanwhowasnotdiscovered。

　　Hismaster，whoprosecuted，remarkedthathewas’dullofapprehension，but

　　notsomuchasnottoknowrightfromwrong。’Theboy，whohadnocounsel，

　　offerednodefence，andstoodsobbinginthedock。Thejuryfoundhimguilty，

　　witharecommendationtomercyonaccountofhisyouthandimperfectunderstanding。

　　Sentenceofdeathwasrecorded，buthewastoldthathislifewouldbespared。

　　ThesesameLewesAssizes，conductedbyMr。JusticeTaunton，affordeda

　　strikingexampleofthecomparativetreatmentofdifferentcrimes。Thomas

　　Brown，aladofseventeen，waschargedwithwritingthefollowingletter

　　toLordSheffield，’Please，myLord，Idontwisetohurtyou。Thisisthe

　　casealtheworldover。Ifyoudontgetridofyourforeignstewardandfarmer

　　andbailiffinafewdaystime——lessthanamonth——wewillburnhimup，

　　andyoualongwithhim。Mywritingisbad，butmyfiringisgoodmyLord。’

　　LordSheffieldgaveevidenceastothereceiptoftheletter：theprisoner，

　　whohadnocounsel，wasaskedbythejudgeifhewouldliketoputanyquestions，

　　andheonlyrepliedthathehopedthathislordshipwouldforgivehim。The

　　judgeansweredthathislordshiphadnotthepower，andsentencedBrownto

　　transportationforlife。35*LateroninthesameAssizes，CaptainWinter，

　　amanofsixty，captainofacoastingvessel，wastriedforthemurderof

　　hiswife，whohadbeenkilledinamostbrutalmanner。Hehadbeenhacking

　　andwoundingherforfourhoursatnight，andshewaslastseenaliveat

　　halfpasttwointhemorning，nakedandbeggingformercy。Herbodywascovered

　　withwounds。Theman’sdefencewasthathecamehomedrunk，thathefound

　　hiswifedrunk，andthathehadnoknowledgeofwhatfollowed。Tothegeneral

　　surpriseCaptainWinterescapedwithaverdictofmanslaughter。’Theprisoner，’

　　wrotetheTimescorrespondent，’isindebtedforhislifetothevery

　　mercifulwayinwhichMr。JusticeTauntonappearedtoviewthecase，and

　　thehintwhichhethrewouttothejury，thatthepartiesmighthavehad

　　aquarrel，inwhichcaseherdeathbytheprisonerwouldamounttomanslaughter

　　only。’

　　Whenthedisturbancesbegan，thedukeofWellingtonwasPrimeMinister，

　　andSirRobertPeelHomeSecretary。ButinNovember1830Wellington，who

　　hadmadealastefforttorallytheoldTories，sulkingoverhissurrender

　　onCatholicEmancipation，bysomesuddenthunderagainstReform，hadbeen

　　beatenontheCivilListandresigned。Reformwasinevitable，andwithReform

　　theWhigs。Thus，towardsthecloseoftheyearoftheRevolutionthatdrove

　　CharlesXfromFrance，LordGreybecamePrimeMinister，tocarrythemeasure

　　whichasCharlesGrey，lieutenantofCharlesFox，hehadproposedinthe

　　HouseofCommonsin1793，afewmonthsafterLouisXVIhadlosthishead

　　intheRevolutionwhichhadmaddenedandterrifiedtheEnglisharistocracy。

　　Fortunehadbeensparinginherfavourstothiscold，proud，honourableand

　　courageousman。Shehadshuthimoutfrompowerfortwenty-threeyears，waiting

　　tomakehimPrimeMinisteruntilhewasvergingonseventy，andallthedash

　　andardourofyouthhadbeenchilledbydisappointmentanddelay。Butshe

　　hadreservedherextremeofmalicetotheend，foritwasherchiefunkindness

　　thathavingwaitedsolongshedidnotwaitalittlelonger。Grey，whohad

　　beenforty-fouryearsinpubliclife，andforty-threeinopposition，took

　　officeatthemomentthattherisingpassedintoSampshireandWiltshire，

　　andthushisfirstactasPrimeMinisterwastosummonhiscolleaguesto

　　aCabinetmeetingtodiscuss，nottheirplansforParliamentaryReform，but

　　themeasurestobetakeninthisalarmingemergency。Afteralifetimeof

　　nobleprotestagainstwar，intolerance，andrepression，hefoundhimself

　　inthetoilsandsnaresoftheconsequencesofapolicyinwhichwar，intolerance，

　　andrepressionhadbeenconstantandconspicuousfeatures。Andthoseconsequences

　　wereespeciallytobedreadedbysuchamanatsuchatime。

　　GreybecamePrimeMinistertocarryReform，andReformwasstillenveloped

　　tomanymindsinthewildfanciesandterrorsofaJacobinpast。Tothose

　　whoknew，consciousastheywereoftheirownmodestpurposesandlimited

　　aim，thattheiraccessiontopowerbodedtomanyviolence，confusion，and

　　thebreakingupoftheoldwaysandlifeoftheState，itwasmaddeningthat

　　theseundiscerningpeasantsshouldchoosethismomentofallothersfornoise

　　andriot。ThestruggleforReformwascertaintoleadtostrife，anditwas

　　hardthatbeforetheyentereduponitEnglandshouldalreadybeintumult

　　fromothercauses。Moreover，GreyhadtoreckonwithWilliamIV。Solong

　　ashecouldremember，theCourthadbeentherefugeofallthatwasbase

　　inEnglishpolitics，anditwasaquestionwhetherLiberalideashadsuffered

　　morefromthenarrowanddarkenedmindofGeorgeIIIorthemeanandincorrigible

　　perfidyofGeorgeIV。Incomparisonwithhisfather，thenewkinghadthe

　　wisdomofaBenthamoranAdamSmith；incomparisonwithhisbrother，he

　　hadthegenerousandloyalheartofaPhilipSidneyoraFalkland。Butseen

　　inanylessflatteringmirror，hewasaveryordinarymortal，andGreyhad

　　knownthisjolly，drinking，sailorprincetoolongandtoowelltotrust

　　eitherhisintellectorhischaracter，undertoofierceortoocontinuous

　　astrain。Theseriotstriedhimseverely。NosoonerwasWilliamonhisthrone

　　thanthelabourerscameoutoftheirdens，lookinglikethosesansculottes

　　whoseshadowswereneverfarfromtheimaginationoftheEnglishupperclasses。

　　Theking’ssupportofReformwasnoviolententhusiasm，andtheslightest

　　threatofdisordermightdisturbtheuneasyequilibriumofhislikesand

　　fears。Inthelongrunitdependedonthewillofthisgenialmediocrity-so

　　strangelyhadProvidencemixedcapriceanddesigninthisworldofpolitics——

　　whetherornotReformshouldbecarried，andcarriedwithoutbloodshed。

　　Throughoutthesemonthsthen，theking，alwaysatMelbourne’selbow，trying

　　totemptandpushtheGovernmentintomoredrasticmeasures，wasaveryformidable

　　enemytothecauseofmoderationandofjustice。

　　Theseinfluenceswerestrong，andtherewaslittletocounteractthem。

　　FortherewasnobodyintheworldwhichGreyandMelbournealikeinhabited

　　whocouldenterintothemindsofthelabourers。Thisisreadilyseen，if

　　weglanceattwomenwhowereregardedasextremeRadicalsintheHouseof

　　Commons，HobhouseandBurdett。Eachofthesemenhadservedthecauseof

　　ReforminprisonaswellasinParliament，andeachwithratherridiculous

　　associations；Hobhouse’simprisonmentbeingconnectedwiththeballadinspired

　　bythemaliciousanddisloyalwitofhisfriendandhero，Byron，andBurdett’s

　　withtheludicroussceneofhisarrest，withhisboyspellingoutMagnaCharta

　　onhisknee。ItisdifficultforthosewhohavereadHobhouse’sdiariesto

　　divinewhatplayofreasonandfeelingevermadehimaRadical，butaRadical

　　hewas，anindefatigablecriticoftheoldr&eacute；gime，andinparticular

　　ofsuchabusesasflogginginthearmy。Burdettwasaleaderinthesame

　　causes。Tothesemen，iftoany，theconductofthelabourersmighthave

　　seemedtocallforsympathyratherthanforviolence。ButifweturntoHobhouse’s