We learn from Reading, that, in consequence of the sudden
dis. charge of a number of workmen, it became necessary to swear in two hundred special constables, and even' to call in the Life Guards, to pre- vent mischief. No rioting, however, had actually taken place at the date of our information.—Morning Chronicle, Friday.
Plantation fires have become very general in the neighbourhood of Sunninghill, Bagshot, and Oakingham ; in the early part of last week, five were witnessed in one day; and since then the plantations on the estate of Mr. Forbes have been twice set on fire ; and on Monday another occurred at Bagshot. At the latter end of the week, a letter was dropped at Sunninghill, addressed to the great landholders, repre- senting that it would be useless to keep watch, as the party had de- termined to destroy all the plantations and underwood on the estates in that neighbourhood.—Reading Mercury.
A serious affray occurred on Tuesday week, near Preston, between a party of Irishmen employed on the North Union Railway, and some English weavers. The quarrel originated in the refusal of a shopkeeper to continue credit to two Irishmen. The latter suspected a fellow workman of having persuaded the shopkeeper to refuse to trust them ; and inaletreated an old man, who, they believed, had con- cealed the workman. They vowed vengeance against all Englishmen, and injured several. A general affray was the consequence. Some hundreds were assembled on both sides, and a regular battle took place. Swords and guns were used ; many were wounded, and one person was • killed. The fight was stopped by a detachment of soldiers.
A most destructive fire broke out early on Thursday morning, on the farming premises of Mr. Easton, near the town of Epsom : it raged for nearly two hours, and consumed the whole of the farming stock. Some idea may be formed as to the extent of the conflagration, from its reflection being distinctly observed at Kennington. The fire is sup- posed to have been wilful.
The neighbourhood of Melton Mowbray has lately been the scene of several atrocious outrages. In one night, between thirty and forty lambs were killed in a field belonging to a farmer, and cattle have been continually mutilated.
In the return from Epsom Races on Wednesday, an accident oc- curred near Tooting, in consequence of the driver of a britschka at- tempting to pass some carriages on the wrong side of the way. The britschka came in contact with a carriage and four, which preceded it ; and unfortunately the postilion of the leading horses had his leg broken.
Another accident occurred on the Vauxhall Road. A barouche with four horses was corning towards London at a tremendous pace ; one of the postilions, being drunk, fell from his horse, and the barouche went over his body. He was taken to St. George's Hospital in great agony.
Previous page
