trustthisiswhatweshallnotbeunderthepainfulnecessityofdemanding。’
　　WhiletheVestrydeliberatedthelabourersremainedquietlyintheyard
　　ofthepoorhouse。Oneofthem，aveteranfromthePeninsularWarwhohad
　　lostalimb，contrastedhissituationon9d。adaywiththatoftheDuke
　　ofWellingtonwhose’skinwaswhole’andwhosepensionwas£；60，000a
　　year。Aftertheyhadwaitedsometime，theywereinformedthattheirdemands
　　weregranted，andtheydispersedtotheirhomeswithhuzzasandtearsof
　　joy，andasasignofthenewandauspiciouseratheybrokeuptheparish
　　grindstone，amemoryoftheevilpast。9*
　　AnimportantfeatureoftheproceedingsinKentandSussexwasthesympathy
　　ofotherclasseswiththedemandsofthelabourers。Thesuccessofthemovement
　　inKentandSussex，andespeciallyoftherisingthatbeganatBrede，was
　　duepartly，nodoubt，tothefactthatsmugglingwasstillacommonpractice
　　inthosecounties，andthattheagriculturallabourersthusfoundtheirnatural
　　leadersamongmenwhohadlearntaudacity，resourcefulness，andahabitof
　　commonactioninthatschoolofdanger。Butthemovementcouldnothavemade
　　suchheadwaywithoutanyseriousattempttosuppressitiftheotherclasses
　　hadbeenhostile。Therewasageneralsensethattherisingsweredueto
　　theneglectoftheGovernment。Mr。Hodges，oneoftheMembersforKent，declared
　　intheSouseofCommonson10thDecemberthatifthedukeofWellingtonhad
　　attendedtoapetitionreceivedfromtheentireGrandJuryofKentthere
　　wouldhavebeennodisturbances。10*
　　ThesamespiritisdisplayedinaletterwrittenbyamagistrateatBattle，
　　namedCollingwood。’Ihaveseenthreeorfourofourparochialinsurrections，
　　andbeenwiththePeopleforhoursaloneanddiscussingtheirmatterswith
　　themwhichtheydowithatemperandrespectfulbehaviourandanintelligence
　　whichmustinteresteveryoneintheirfavor。ThepoorintheParishesin
　　theSouthofEngland，andinSussexandKentgreatly，havebeengroundto
　　thedustinmanyinstancesbythePoorLaws。Insteadofhappypeasantsthey
　　aremademiserableandsourtemperedpaupers。EveryParishhasitsownpeculiar
　　system，directedmorestrictly，andexecutedwithmoreorlessseverityor
　　harshness。AprincipaltradesmaninSalehurstSussexinonepartofwhich，
　　Robertsbridge，wehadourrowtheothernight，saidtomethesewords“
　　Youattendedourmeetingtheotherdayandvotedwithmeagainstthetwo
　　principalRatepayersinthisparish，twoMillers，payingthepeopleintwo
　　gallonsofbadflourinsteadofmoney。Youheardhowsaucytheyweretotheir
　　betters，canyouwonderiftheyaremoreviolenttotheirinferiors？They
　　nevercallamanTom，Dicketc。butyoud——drascaletc。，ateveryword，
　　andforcethemtotaketheirflour。Shouldyouwonderthattheyaredissatisfied？
　　“ThesewordsheusedtomeaweekbeforeourRobertsbridgeRow。Each
　　oftheseParochialRowsdiffersincharacterasthemanwhomtheyselect
　　asleaderdiffersinimpudenceorcourageoraudacityorwhateveryoumay
　　callit。Iftheyareopposedatthemoment，theirresistanceshowsitself
　　inmoreorlessviolentoutrages；personallyIwitnessedbutone，thatof
　　RobertsbridgeputtingMr。Johnsonintothecart，andthatwashalfanaccident。
　　Iwasastrangertothem，wentamongthemandwastoldbyhundredsafter
　　thatmostunjustifiableassaultthatIwassafeamongthemasinmybed，
　　andIneverthoughtotherwise。Oneortwodesperatecharacters，andsuch
　　thereare，mayatanymomentmakethecontestofParishAdifferfromthat
　　ofParishB，buttheirspirit，asfarasregardsloyaltyandloveforthe
　　KingandLaws，is，Ibelieve，onmyconscience，sound。Ifeelconvincedthat
　　allthecavalryintheworld，ifsentintoSussex，andallthespiritedacts
　　ofSirGodfreyWebster，who，however，isinvaluableherewillnot？stop
　　thisspiritfromrunningthroughHampshire，Wiltshire，Somersetshire，where
　　Mr。Hobhouse，yourpredecessor，toldmetheotherdaythattheyhavegot
　　thewagesforsinglemendownto6s。perweekonwhichtheycannotlive
　　throughmanyothercounties。InaweekyouwillhaveDemandsforcavalry
　　fromHampshireunderthesamefeelingofalarmasIandallhereentertained：
　　thenextweekfromWiltshire，Dorsetshire，andallthecountiesinwhich
　　thepoorRateshavebeenraisedforthepaymentofthepooruptoEssexand
　　theveryneighbourhoodofLondon，whereMr。Geo。Palmer，amagistrate，told
　　melatelythatthepoorsinglemanisgotdownto6s。Ishallbeoverto-morrow
　　probablyatBenendenwheretheyareresolvednottoleteitherMr。Hodges’s
　　taxes，thetithesortheKing’staxesbepaid。SoIhear，andsoIdaresay
　　twoorthreecarterboysmayhavesaid。Ishallgoto-morrowandifIsee
　　occasionwillarrestsomeman，andbreakhisheadwithmystaff。Butdoyou
　　supposethatthatthoughashowofvigorisnotwithoutavailwillprevent
　　Somersetshiremenfromcryingout，whenthetrainhasgottothem，wewill
　　notliveon6s。perweek，forlivingitisnot，butalongstarving，and
　　wewillhavetithesandtaxes，andIknownotwhatelsedoneawaywith。The
　　onlywaytostopthemistorunbeforetheevil。LettheHampshireMagistrates
　　andVestriesraisethewagesbeforetheRowgetstotheirCounty，andyou
　　willstopthethingfromspreading，otherwiseyouwillnot，Iamsatisfied。
　　Insayingallthis，IknowthatIdifferwithmanyableandexcellentMagistrates，
　　andmyopinionmaybewrong，butIstateittoyou。’
　　Itisnotsurprisingthatmagistratesholdingtheseopinionsactedrather
　　lessvigorouslythanthecentralGovernmentwished，andthatLordCamden’s
　　appealstothemnottolettheirpoliticalfeelingsand’fancifulCrotchets’11*
　　interferewiththeiractivitywereunsuccessful。Butevenhadallthemagistrates
　　beenunitedandeagertocrushtherisingstheycouldnotactwithoutsupport
　　fromclassesthatwerereluctanttogiveit。Thefirstthoughtofthebig
　　landedproprietorswastoreestablishtheyeomanry，buttheyfoundanunexpected
　　obstacleinthetemperofthefarmers。TheHighSheriff，afterconsultation
　　withtheHomeSecretary，convenedameetingforthispurposeatCanterbury
　　on1stNovember，butproceedingstookanunexpectedturn，thefarmersrecommending
　　asapreferablealternativethatpublicsalariesshouldbereduced，andthe
　　meetingadjournedwithoutresult。Thereweresimilarsurprisesatothermeetings
　　summonedwiththisobject，andlandlordswhoexpectedtofindthefarmers
　　rallyingtotheirsupportweremetwithawkwardresolutionscallingforreductions
　　inrentandtithes。TheKentHeraldwentsofarastosaythatonly
　　thedependentsofgreatlandownerswilljointheyeomanry，’thismostunpopular
　　corps。’Themagistratesfounditequallydifficulttoenlistspecialconstables，
　　thefarmersandtradesmendefinitelyrefusingtoactinthiscapacityat
　　Maidstone，atCranbrook，atTonbridge，andatTonbridgeWells，12*aswell
　　asinthesmallervillages。ThechairmanoftheBattlemagistrateswrote
　　totheHomeOfficetosaythatheintendedtoreducehisrentsinthehope
　　thatthefarmerswouldthenconsenttoserve。
　　EventheCoastBlockadeServicewasnotconsideredtrustworthy。’Itis
　　thelastforce，’wroteonemagistrate，’Ishouldresortto，onaccountof
　　thefeelingwhichexistsbetweenthemandthepeoplehereabouts。’13*In
　　theabsenceoflocalhelp，themagistrateshadtorelyonmilitaryaidto
　　quellamob，ortoexecuteawarrant。Demandsfortroopsfromdifferentquarters
　　wereincessant，andsometimesquerulous。’Ifyoucannotsendamilitaryforce，’
　　wroteoneindignantcountrygentlemanfromHeathfieldon14thNovember，’for
　　God’ssake，sayso，withoutdelay，inorderthatwemayremoveourfamilies
　　toaplaceofsafetyfromadistrictwhichwantofsupportrendersustotally
　　unablelongertodefend。’14*TroopsweredespatchedtoCranbrook，butwhen
　　theBattlemagistratessentthitherforhelptheyweretoldtotheirgreat
　　annoyancethatnosoldierscouldbespared。TheGovernmentindeedfoundit
　　impossibletosupplyenoughtroops。’MydearLordLiverpool，’wroteSirRobert
　　Peelon15thNovember，’sinceIlastsawyouIhavemadearrangementsfor
　　sendingeverydisposablecavalrysoldierintoKentandtheeastpartofSussex。
　　GeneralDalbiacwilltakethecommand。HewillbeatBattelto-daytoconfer
　　withtheMagistracyandtoattempttoestablishsomeeffectualplanofoperations
　　againsttherioters。’
　　The7thDragoonGuardsatCanterburyweretoprovideforEastKent；the
　　2ndDragoonGuardsatMaidstoneweretoprovideforMid-kent；andthe5th
　　DragoonGuardsatTunbridgeWellsforthewholeofEastSussex。SirRobert
　　Peelmeanwhilethoughtthatthemagistratesshouldthemselvesplayamore
　　activepart，andhecontinuallyexpressedthehopethattheywould’meet
　　andconcertsomeeffectualmodeofresistingtheillegaldemands。’15*He
　　deprecatedstronglytheactionofcertainmagistratesinyieldingtothe
　　mobs。Mr。Collingwood，whohasbeenmentionedalready，receivedasevere
　　reproofforhisbehaviouratGoudhurst，wherehehadadoptedaconciliatory
　　policyandletofftheriotersontheirownrecognisances。’Wedidnotthink
　　thecaseaverystrongone，’hewroteon18thNovember，’orseeanyvery
　　urgentnecessityfortheapprehensionofEaves，norafterCaptainKing’s
　　statementthathehadnotfeltablow，couldweconsidertheassaultofa
　　magistrateproved。Thewholeparishunanimouslybeggedthemoff，andsaid
　　thattheirbeingdischargedontheirownrecognisanceswouldprobablycontribute
　　tothepeaceoftheparish。’
　　Thesameweakness，orsympathy，wasdisplayedbymagistratesinthewestern
　　partofSussex，wheretherisingspreadafterthemiddleofNovember。In
　　theArundeldistrictthemagistratesanticipateddisturbancesbyholding
　　ameetingoftheinhabitantstofixthescaleofwages。Thewagesagreed
　　onwere’2s。adaywetanddryand1s。6d。aweekforeverychildabove
　　2under4，’duringthewinter：fromLadydaytoMichaelmas14s。aweek，
　　wetanddry，withthesameallowanceforchildren。Ascalewasalsodrawn
　　upforladsandyoungmen。Themobsweredemanding14s。aweekalltheyear
　　round，buttheyseemtohaveacquiescedintheArundelscale，andtohave
　　givennofurthertrouble。AtHorsham，thelabourersadoptedmoreviolent
　　measuresandmetwithalmostuniversalsympathy。TherewasastrongRadical
　　partyinthattown，andonemagistratedescribeditlateras’ahotBedof
　　Sedition。’Attemptsweremade，withoutsuccess，toshowthattheRadicals
　　wereatthebottomofthedisturbances。ThedistrictroundHorshamwasin
　　anagitatedstate。AmongotherswhoreceivedthreateningletterswasSir
　　TimothyShelleyofFieldPlace。Theletterwascouchedinthegeneralspirit
　　ofShelley’ssongtothemenofEngland：——
　　’MenofEngland，whereforeplough，Forthelordswholayyelow，’
　　whichhisfathermay，ormaynot，haveread。Thewriterurgedhim，’if
　　youwishtoescapetheimpendingdangerinthisworldandinthatwhichis
　　tocome，’togoroundtothemiserablebeingsfromwhomheexactedtithes，
　　’andenquireandhearfromthereownlipswhatdisstrestherein。’Likemany
　　oftheseletters，itcontainedattheendaroughpictureofaknife，with
　　’Bewareofthefateldaggar’inscribedonit。
　　InHorshamitselfthemob，composedoffromsevenhundredtoathousand
　　persons，summonedavestrymeetinginthechurch。Mr。Sanctuary，theHigh
　　SheriffforSussex，describedtheepisodeinalettertotheHomeOffice
　　onthesameday18thNovember。Thelabourers，hesaid，demanded2s。6d。
　　aday，andtheloweringofrentsandtithes：’allthesecomplaintswereattended
　　to——thoughtreasonableandcompliedwith，’andthemeetingdispersedquietly。
　　Anticipating，itmaybe，somecensure，headded，’Ishouldhavefoundit
　　quiteimpossibletohaveprevaileduponanypersontoserveasspecialconstable——
　　mostofthetradespeopleandmanyofthefarmersconsideringthedemands
　　ofthepeoplebutjustandequitable——indeedmanyofthemadvocatedthem
　　adoctorspokeaboutthetaxes——butnoonebackedhim——thatwasnotthe
　　objectofthemeeting。’AladylivingatHorshamwroteamorevividaccount
　　oftheday’swork。Shedescribedhowthemobmadeeverybodycometothechurch。
　　Mr。Simpson，thevicar，wentwithoutmoreado，butMr。Hurst，senior，owner
　　ofthegreattithes，heldouttillthemobseizedachariotfromtheKing’s
　　Armsanddraggedittohisdoor。Whilstthechariotwasbeingbroughthe
　　slippedout，andenteredthechurchwithhistwosons。Allthegentlemen
　　stoodupatthealtar，whilethefarmersencouragedthelabourersinthe
　　bodyofthechurch。’Mr。Hurstheldoutsolongthatitwasfearedblood
　　wouldbeshed，thedoorswereshuttillthedemandsweregranted，nolights
　　wereallowed，theIronrailingthatsurroundstheMonumentstornup，and
　　thesacredboundarybetweenthechancelandAltaroverleaptbeforehewould
　　yield。’Mr。HursthimselfwrotetotheHomeOfficetosaythatitwasonly
　　thepromisetoreducerentsandtithesthathadpreventedseriousriots，
　　buthemetwithlittlesympathyatheadquarters。’Icannotconcur，’wrote
　　SirRobertPeel，’intheopinionofMr。Hurstthatitwasexpedientornecessary
　　fortheVestrytoyieldtothedemandsoftheMob。IneverycasethatIhave
　　seen，inwhichthemobhasbeenfirmlyandtemperatelyresisted，theyhave
　　givenwaywithoutresortingtopersonalviolence。’Aneighbouringmagistrate，
　　whosharedSirRobertPeel’sopinionabouttheaffair，wenttoHorshama
　　dayortwolatertoswearinspecialconstables。Hefoundthatoutofsixty-three
　　’respectablehouseholders’fouronlywouldtaketheoath。Meanwhilethedifficulties