moment before at the mercy of a lawless and unprincipled rabble. Their rights, their liberties, the conftitution of England, objects of still greater confequence, dearer even than life and property, were now at the difpofal of the Court. In fuch colours, however, did the unusual objects which every where met their eyes paint things to their imaginations. They faw foldiers, without the least ceremony, ftop whoever they pleased, and no one durft refift: they were fenfible of the neceffity and propriety of fuch measures, yet fighed at that neceffity, and trembled for their freedom. Those virtuous citizens, who held their country and their laws fuperior to every thing, who reflected on and rejoiced at the bleffings of liberty, and groaned at the appearance only of despotism, had their terrors greatly increased at a report, which every where prevailed, that Martial Law was proclaimed. The following was the occafion of the report. LONDON. By the KING. A PROCLAMATION. GEORGE R. "WHEREAS a great number of diforderly perfons have affembled themfelves together in a riotous and tumultuous manner, and have been guilty of many acts of treafon and rebellion, having 4 having made an affault on the goal of Newgate, fet loofe the prisoners confined therein, and fet fire to and destroyed the faid prison: and whereas houses are now pulling down in feveral parts. of our cities of London and Westminster, and liberties thereof, and fires kindled for confuming the materials and furniture of the fame, whereby it is become abfolutely neceffary to use the moft effectual means to quiet fuch difturbances, to preferve the lives and properties of individuals, and to restore the peace of the country: we therefore, taking the fame into our most serious confideration, have thought fit, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, to iffue this our royal proclamation, hereby ftrictly charging and exhorting all our loving fubjects to preferve the peace, and to keep themfelves, their fervants and apprentices, quietly within their refpective dwellings, to the end that all well difpofed perfons avoid thofe mifchiefs which the continuance of fuch riotous proceedings may bring upon the guilty. And as it is neceffary, from the circumft.nces before-mentioned, to employ the military force, with which we are by law intrusted, for the immediate fuppreffion of fuch rebellious and traitorous attempts, now making against the peace and dignity of our crown, and the fafety, of the lives and properties of our subjects, we have therefore iffued the most direct and effectual orders to all our officers, by an immediate exertion of their utmost may utmost force to reprefs the fame, of which all perJons are to take notice. Given at our Court at St. James's, the Convinced as they were that it was unavoidable, there was not a word in the latter part of the above Proclamation that did not carry à wound to the heart of every thinking and virtuous Englishman. Martial Law was not, it is true, immediately and rigorously enforced, they did not hang delinquents in the streets without form or procefs, but they had difcretionary powers to bayonet or fhoot. No abuse of these affumed and delegated powers had been exhibited; but the poffibility of abuse, the being but an hour under the controul of a Military Force, was humiliating, derogatory, and alarming. (L) While an exact ftate of the fears of all good patriots is related, it is but justice to give Government praise for the proper ufe they made of the power they were thus obliged to ufurp. No part of their conduct reflects greater honour on Though even this was reported, a man was faid to be hanging upon a lamp iron in Cheapfide, on Thursday in the afternoon, and fix mcre, the fame account added, were to fuffer the following morning at Whitehall. G them them than the publication of the following hand-bill, if it were done by their direction, which was generally understood. Numerous copies of them were given away on Thursday, and the whole tenor of it fufficiently juftifies what has been afferted, and what moft affuredly. was feverely felt, and feriously thought upon, viz. that the Constitution was endangered. "Whereas fome ill-defigning and malicious perfons have published, for the purpose of dif quieting the minds of his Majefty's faithful fubjects, That it is intended to try the prifoners, now in custody, by martial law; Notice is given, by authority, that no fuch purpofe or intention has ever been in the contemplation of government; but that the faid prifoners will be tried by the due course of law, as expeditiously as may be." This account of the public attention to their rights is neceffarily a part of the Narrative; and is, befides, due to thofe who, in times of tumult and diforder like thefe fpoken of, had fortitude and virtue enough not to be fo embarraffed as to forget that which conftitutes the greatest beffing upon earth. It affords this inftructive leffon likewife: that it is the duty of good citizens, who have a real, and not merely a verbal love for their country and freedom, to think seriously of establishing that kind of police which fhall 4 enable enable them to defend themselves, without the aid of powers which may, fometime, be turned to their destruction. Another very proper hand-bill was circulated, and which it is probable was done by the Proteftant Affociation. The following is a copy. "IT is earnestly requested of all peaceable and well-difpofed perfons, (as well Protestants affociated as others) that they will abstain from wearing BLUE COCKADES, as thefe enfigns are now affumed by a fet of mifcreants, whofe purpose it is to burn this city, and plunder its inhabitants; and who wifh, by diftributing. amongst better-disposed perfons, and prevailing on them to wear these marks and diftinctions, to fcreen themfelves from the deteftation and punishment due to their enormous crimes. "And it is farther recommended to all tradefmen and masters of families, not to employ or retain in their fervice any perfons who diftinguish themselves by wearing blue cockades." It is now time to relate another part of the business, which has claimed the attention of fome politicians who pretend to fee farther into latent causes than the bulk of the people. |