SCOTLAND.
The populace of' Glasgow, half starved from want of employment, and incited by mob orators, have broken into open riot, and committed great excesses against property. There has been pressing distress among the people for some time; and the Magistrates were organizing a system of vo- luntary relief, by soup-kitchens and other means, which would have come into play on Monday last. Meanwhile, the people held meetings on the Green, to canvass their own destitution: speeches of a very exciting nature were delivered; and they were instigated to distinguish themselves in he- roic rivalry of their Republican brethren in France; but no immediate vie- lances ensued.
On Monday, a large number of destitute expectants had assembled at the City Hall, to receive soup-tickets; announced for public distribution. By some accident these tickets were not forthcoming, and the hungry peo- ple were disappointed of their food. The occasion was seized with instant effect by the leaders of disorder to produce an emeute. The crowd was put in motion towards the bakers' shops: on these a general onset was made, and the stocks were seized. In some cases resistance was offered; on which the mob retaliated with wanton destruction; and that shortly became the raw. The shop-fronts were dashed to fragments. The ex- citement rose higher, and successful attacks were made on the arm 'stores of the gunsmiths: weapons being thus obtained, the Police were overawed, mid the Whole town was abandoned to the hands of a reckless multitude; among whom numbers of women were conspicuous for their ferocious ges- tures and deeds. Every store or vehicle containing meat, meal, or other provision, was seized, the contents divided and borne off. There were all sorts of cries raised—from the brief monosyllable " Bread, bread!" scream- ed with harsh repetition, to the ludicrous bravado of" Vive la Republique!" The shops of the silversmiths were ransacked, the -windows torn down and goods stolen or destroyed. Messrs. Findlay and Fields, in Buchanan Street, have lost 3,000/. worth of valuables; in the whole the loss is esti- mated at 15,0001. or 20,0001.
The constituted authorities of Glasgow acted with energy and effect so soon as the first surprise had passed. They swore in 5,000 special tion- stables, called out the military, and read the Riot Act: before long they completely worsted the mob, and drove them from the main streets. The leaders took to the wynds, not to make more stubborn fight, but for con- cealment. The general mass of the people offered no resistance to the troops, but followed them with cheers and hurrahs. About 150 rioters were taken, and a very large quantity of arms retaken. Messages were sent off to Stirling and other places for additional troops. Those on the spot were stationed at the intersections of the streets, and aided the Police in curbing all tendency to fresh disturbance; so that late in the evening there was every prospect that order had been permanently restored.
On Tuesday, however, it was rumoured that large numbers of miners and railway navigators had come over from Airdrie to renew the conflict; and that bodies of famishing weavers and others were flocking from Ha- milton, Johnston, and Paisley. The meetings on the Green were renewed in the morning, and the numbers attending them were swelled by these accessions to a multitude of 80,000 persons. At noon, the civic authori- ties assembled in the Exchange, and stated publicly that they expected a general attack on the city. They announced, that the military had been reinforced, and now amounted to 1,500 men. They took measures for the general closing of shops, and to make a large increase of the force of special constables, in order that the East quarter of the city might be strongly garrisoned. Meanwhile, crowds from the Green were already on the way to different points of attack. One body, number- ing many thousands, moved in the direction of John Street, Bridgeton— the seat of large factories, and the quarter of the weavers and operatives— with the object of forcing the workers to join the riots. A small body of armed Pensioners kept in their front, and held them somewhat in check; but were quite unable to attempt their dispersion. In Main Street this force was assailed with stones and heavy missiles. The Pensioners were ordered to fire over the people's heads; which was done twice, but without effect. The attack becoming very determined and too close, the men were ordered to fire point-blank: they did so, and seven persons fell. The crowd instantly Bled. It was found that two of the persons shot bad bee.n
idled, and that two more received wounds which threaten to be mortal. This is the only instance, however, in which serious collision occurred.
The measures of prevention were so general and effective, that every demonstration elsewhere was put down in its beginning. More than to 000 special constables had been stationed in masses coUperative with the military and police forces. The general body of the operatives were dis- inclined to join in actual disturbance. Indeed, one of the unfortunate men shot, was at the time exerting himself to restore order.
It is believed that the whole affair has been a conspiracy of robbers, who took advantage of the excitement to accomplish extensive plunder. An eye-witness declares that the mob paused at a large silversmith's shop in Buchanan Street, but did not attack. The next was a hardware shop, from which weapons were taken. The third was a jeweller's, whose win- dow presented a valuable and readily transportable booty. The front was demolished in a trice and the whole property carried off.
All this convinced me," says the eye-witness, "that the affair was neither more nor less than a most audacious robbery, committed by common thieves under the colour of a political row. Now and then a fellow would quietly drop his gun and sneak off, having got something valuable; and when they attacked a cart of meal, they merely tumbled the sacks into the street, and allowed the contents to be carried off by a crowd of ragged women and boys—common beggars. The moment the soldiers appeared the rascals ran like quicksilver." The destruction as well as the robbery has been immense: five hundred lamps were broken, thirty shops forced, and more or less destroyed, and the house-windows of whole streets demolished. The estimate is very large; but different accounts value the damage at totals varying from 30,0001. to 50,0001. Upwards of 100 prisoners have been made, and handed over to the Sheriff for prosecution.
It is ascertained that a respectable female was killed in the Coweaddens on Monday afternoon. The body lies, not yet identified, in an upper room of the Police in Albion Street.
The tumults ia Glasgow have had their counterparts in milder form at Edinburgh. Late in the evening of Tuesday, bands of rioters started from Prince's Street and from the Grassmarket; after extended and mischievous peregrinations, they arrived at the High Street, and did much damage to the lamps, windows, and shop-fronts. Other detachments visited George Square, and the neighbourhood of Regent Terrace in the New Town- By about ten, the Magistrates had met and resolved to swear in special con- stables, call out the Veterans in the Castle, and send to Piershili Barracks for Dragoons. These measures were carried out with success. The Riot Act was read; and before midnight, the forces set in motion had cleared the streets, and stationed themselves on every commanding point; the cavalry being of much avail from its rapid evolutions. By half-past twelve, order was sufficiently restored for the special constables to be dis- banded, and at one o'clock the Veterans and Dragoons withdrew. On Wednesday, there was a reassembling of large crowds, but no tumults arose; and some heavy showers of rain coming on, the streets soon assumed their usual appearance.
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