poor。Itwouldbeimpertinentinmetosayanythingtoyouastoyourtreatment
　　oflabourersorservants。ThatmanmustknowlittleofthegentryofEngland，
　　whetherconnectedwiththetownorcountry，whorepresentsthemastyrants
　　tothepoor，asnotsympathisingintheirdistress，andasnotanxiousto
　　relievetheirburdensandtopromotetheirwelfareandhappiness。’5*In
　　openingtheSpecialCommissionatWinchesterBaronVaughan6*alludedto
　　thetheorythatthetumultshadarisenfromdistressandadmittedthatit
　　mightbepartlytrue，but，hecontinued，’everymanpossessedofthefeelings
　　commontoournaturemustdeeplylamentit，andendeavourtoalleviateit
　　asyougentlemennodoubthavedoneandwillcontinuetodo，byeverymeans
　　whichProvidencehasputwithinhispower。’Ifindividualswereaggrieved
　　byprivationsandinjuries，theymustapplytotheLegislature，whichalone
　　couldaffordthemrelief，’butitcanneverbetoleratedinanycountrywhich
　　professestoacknowledgetheobligationsofmunicipallaw，thatanymanor
　　bodyofmenshouldbepermittedtositinjudgmentupontheirownwrongs，
　　ortoarrogatetothemselvesthepowerofredressingthem。Tosufferitwould
　　betorelapseintothebarbarismofsavagelifeandtodissolvethevery
　　elementsbywhichsocietyisheldtogether。’7*TheopinionsoftheBench
　　onthesectionsoftheAct7and8GeorgeIV。c。30underwhichmencould
　　behungforassemblingriotouslyandbreakingmachinerywereclearlyexpressed
　　byMr。JusticeParke8*afterwardsLordWensleydaleatSalisbury：’If
　　thatlawceasestobeadministeredwithduefirmness，andmenlooktoit
　　invainforthesecurityoftheirrights，ourwealthandpowerwillsoon
　　beatanend，andourcapitalandindustrywouldbetransferredtosomemore
　　peacefulcountry’whoselawsaremorerespectedorbetterenforced。’9*
　　ByanothersectionofthatActsevenyearswasfixedasthemaximumpenalty
　　forbreakingathreshingmachine。Mr。JusticeAlderson10*chafedunder
　　thisrestriction，andhetoldtwomen，CaseandMorgan，whowerefoundguilty
　　attheSalisburySpecialCommissionofgoingintoaneighbouringparishand
　　breakingathreshingmachine，thathadtheLegislatureforeseensuchcrimes
　　astheirs，itwouldhaveenabledthecourttogivethemaseverersentence。11*
　　Mr。JusticePark12*wasequallysternanduncompromisingindefending
　　thepropertyofthefollowersofthecarpenterofNazarethagainsttheunreasoning
　　miseryofthehour。SummingupinacaseatAylesbury，inwhichoneofthe
　　chargeswasthatofattemptingtoprocureareductionoftithes，heremarked
　　withwarmth：’Itwashighlyinsolentinsuchmentorequiteofgentlemen，
　　whohadbyanexpensiveeducationqualifiedthemselvestodischargethesacred
　　dutiesofaMinisteroftheGospel，todescendfromthatstationandreduce
　　themselvestothesituationofcommonlabourers。’13*
　　Fewjudgescouldresistthetemptationtointroduceintotheircharges
　　ahomilyontheeconomicbenefitsofmachinery。Mr。JusticeParkwasanexception，
　　forheobservedatAylesburythatthequestionoftheadvantagesofmachinery
　　wasoutsidetheprovinceofthejudges，’andmuchmischiefoftenresulted
　　frompersonssteppingoutoftheirlineofduty。’14*Mr。JusticeAlderson
　　tookadifferentview，andtheverynextdayhewasexpoundingthetruths
　　ofpoliticaleconomyatDorchester，startingwithwhathetermedthe’beautiful
　　andsimpleillustration’oftheprintingpress。15*Theillustrationmust
　　haveseemedsingularlyintimateandconvincingtothelabourersinthedock
　　whohadneverbeentaughttheirletters。
　　Suchwasthetemperofthejudges。Whoandwhatweretheprisonersbefore
　　them？Afterthesuppressionoftheriots，themagistratescouldpickout
　　culpritsattheirleisure，andwhenariothadinvolvedthewholeofthe
　　villagethetemptationtogetridbythismethodofpersonswhoforonereason
　　oranotherwereobnoxioustotheauthoritieswasirresistible。Hunt，speaking
　　intheHouseofCommons，16*quotedthecaseofHindon；sevenmenhadbeen
　　apprehendedforriotingandtheywereallpoachers。Manyoftheprisoners
　　hadalreadyspentamonthinanovercrowdedprison；almostallofthemwere
　　poormen；themajoritycouldnotreadorwrite。17*Fewcouldaffordcounsel，
　　anditmustberememberedthatcounselcouldnotaddressthecourtonbehalf
　　ofprisonerswhowerebeingtriedforbreakingmachines，orforbelonging
　　toamobthataskedformoneyordestroyedproperty。Bytherulesofthe
　　gaol，theprisonersatSalisburywerenotallowedtoseetheirattorneyexcept
　　inthepresenceofthegaolerorhisservant。Thelabourers’ignoranceof
　　thelawwascompleteandinevitable。ManyofthemthoughtthattheKingor
　　theGovernmentorthemagistrateshadgivenordersthatmachineswereto
　　bebroken。Mostofthemsupposedthatifapersonfromwhomtheydemanded
　　moneythrewitdownorgaveitwithouttheapplicationofphysicalforce，
　　therewasnoquestionofrobbery。Wehaveanillustrationofthisillusion
　　inatrialatWinchesterwhenIsaacHill，junior，whowaschargedwithbreaking
　　athreshingmachinenearMicheldever，forwhichthemaximumpenaltywasseven
　　years，pleadedinhisdefencethathehadnotbrokenthemachineandthat
　　allthathedid’wastoasktheprosecutorcivillyforthemoney，whichthe
　　mobtookfromhim，andtheprosecutorgaveittohim，andthathethanked
　　himverykindlyforit，’18*anadmissionwhichmadehimliabletoadeath
　　penalty。AprisoneratSalisbury，whenhewasaskedwhathehadtosayin
　　hisdefencetothejury，replied：’Now，myLord，I’segotnothingtosay
　　to’em，Idoantknaowanyon’em。’19*Theprisonerswereatthisfurther
　　disadvantagethatallthewitnesseswhomtheycouldcallastotheirshare
　　intheconductofamobhadthemselvesbeeninthemob，andwerethusliable
　　toprosecution。ThuswhenJamesLushwhowasafterwardsselectedforexecution
　　andJamesToomerappealedtoamannamedLane，whohadjustbeenacquitted
　　onapreviouscharge，togiveevidencethattheyhadnotstruckMr。Pinniger
　　inascuffle，Mr。JusticeAldersoncautionedLanethatifheacknowledged
　　thathehadbeeninthemobhewouldbecommitted。Lanechosethesaferpart
　　ofsilence。20*Inanothercaseawitnesshadthecouragetoincriminate
　　himself。WhenthebrothersSimmswerebeingtriedforextortingmoneyfrom
　　ParsonEaston’swife，acasewhichwehavealreadydescribed，HenryBunce，
　　calledasawitnessforthedefence，voluntarilydeclared，inspiteofa
　　cautionfromthejudgeAlderson，thathehadbeenpresenthimselfandthat
　　WilliamSimmsdidnotusetheexpression’bloodormoney。’Hewasatonce
　　orderedintocustody。’Theprisonerimmediatelysprungoverthebarinto
　　thedockwithhisformercomrades，seeminglyunaffectedbythedecisionof
　　thelearnedjudge。’21*
　　Perhapsthedarkestsideofthebusinesswasthetemptationheldoutto
　　prisonersawaitingtrialtobetraytheircomrades。Immunityoralighter
　　sentencewasfreelyofferedtothosewhowouldgiveevidence。Stokes，who
　　wasfoundguiltyatDorchesterofbreakingathreshingmachine，wassentenced
　　byMr。JusticeAldersontoayear’simprisonment，withtheexplanationthat
　　hewasnottransportedbecause’afteryouweretakenintocustody，yougave
　　veryvaluableinformationwhichtendedgreatlytofurthertheendsofjustice。’22*
　　Thesetransactions，werenotoftendraggedintothedaylight，butsomenegotiations
　　ofthischaracterweremadepublicinthetrialofMr。Deaclenextyear。
　　Mr。Deacle，awell-to-dogentlemanfarmer，wastriedattheLentAssizes
　　atWinchesterforbeingconcernedintheriots。Oneofthewitnessesagainst
　　him，namedCollins，admittedincross-examinationthathebelievedheshould
　　havebeenprosecutedhimself，ifhehadnotpromisedtogiveevidenceagainst
　　Mr。Deacle；anotherwitness，namedBarnes，acarpenter，statedincross-examination
　　thatduringthetrialsattheSpecialCommission，’hebeinginthedock，
　　andabouttobeputonhistrial，thegaolerBeckettcalledhimout，and
　　tookhimintoaroomwheretherewereWalterLong，amagistrate，andanother
　　person，whomhebelievedtobeBinghamBaring，whotoldhimthatheshould
　　notbeputuponhistrialifhewouldcomeandswearagainstDeacle。’When
　　thenextwitnesswasabouttobecross-examined，thecounselfortheprosecution
　　abruptlyabandonedthecase。23*
　　ThefirstSpecialCommissionwasopenedatWinchesterwithsuitablepomp
　　on18thDecember。Notonlytheprisonbutthewholetownwascrowded，and
　　theinhabitantsofWinchesterdeterminedtomakethebestofthewindfall。
　　ThejurymenandtheTimesspecialcorrespondentcomplainedbitterly
　　oftheabnormalcostofliving，thelattermentioningthatinadditionto
　　extraordinarychargesforbeds，5s。adaywasexactedforfiringandtallow
　　candles，bedroomfirenotincluded。Thethreejudgessentdownascommissioners
　　wereBaronVaughan，Mr。JusticeParke，andMr。JusticeAlderson。Withthem
　　wereassociatedtwoothercommissioners，Mr。SturgesBourne，ofassistant
　　overseerfame，andMr。RichardPollen。TheDukeofWellington，asLord-Lieutenant，
　　satontheBench。TheAttorney-General，Mr。SergeantWild，andothersappeared
　　toprosecutefortheCrown。TheCountytookupeverycharge，theGovernment
　　onlythemoreseriousones。
　　Therewerethreehundredprisoners，mostofthemchargedwithextorting
　　moneybythreatsorwithbreakingmachinery。Whatchancehadtheyofafair
　　trial？Theystartedwiththedisabilitiesalreadydescribed。Theywerethrown
　　bybatchesintothedock；thepitilesslawwasexplainedtothejury；extenuating
　　circumstanceswereruledoutasirrelevant。’Wedonotcomehere，’saidMr。
　　JusticeAlderson，’toinquireintogrievances。Wecomeheretodecidelaw。’
　　Butthoughevidenceaboutwagesordistresswasnotadmitted，thejudges
　　didnotscrupletogivetheirownviewsofthesocialconditionswhichhad
　　producedthesedisturbances。Perhapsthemostflagrantexamplewasprovided
　　byatrialwhichhappilywasforamisdemeanouronly。Sevenmenwereindicted
　　forconspiringtogetherandriotouslyassemblingforthepurposeofraising
　　wagesandforcompellingotherstojointhem。Thelabourersoftheparish
　　ofFawleyhadcombinedtogetherfortwoobjects，thefirsttoraisetheir
　　wages，whichstoodat9s。aweek，thesecondtogetridoftheassistant
　　overseer，whohadintroducedaparishcart，towhichhehadharnessedwomen
　　andboys，amongstothersanidiotwoman，namedJaneStevens。Thelabourers
　　determinedtobreakupthecart，buttheydesistedonthepromiseofafarmer
　　thatahorseshouldbeboughtforit。LordCavanwasthelargelandowner
　　oftheparish。Hepaidhismenasarule9s。aweek，buttwoofthemreceived
　　10s。Themobcameuptohishousetodemandanincreaseofwages：LordCavan
　　wasout，quellingrioterselsewhere。LadyCavancamedowntoseethem。’Seeing
　　youaremyneighboursandarmed，’saidshe，’yet，asIamanunprotected
　　woman，Iamsureyouwilldonoharm。’Thelabourersprotestedthatthey
　　meantnoharm，andtheydidnoharm。’Iaskedthem，’saidLadyCavanafterwards，
　　inevidence，’whytheyrosethen，therewasnoapparentdistressroundEaglehurst，
　　andthewageswerethesameastheyhadbeenforseveralyears。Ihavebeen
　　inseveraloftheircottagesandneversawanyappearanceofdistress。They
　　saidtheyhadbeenoppressedlongandwouldbearitnolonger。’Onemantold
　　herthathehad9s。aweekwagesand3s。fromtheparish，hehadheardthat
　　the3s。wastobediscontinued。Withthecommon-sensecharacteristicofher
　　classLadyCavanassuredhimthathewasnotimprovinghispositionbyidling。
　　ThelabourersimpressedtheCavanmen，andwentontheirpeacefulwayround
　　theparish。Thefarmerswhogaveevidencefortheprosecutionwereallowed
　　toassertthattherewasnodistress，butwhenitcametoevidenceforthe
　　defenceastricterstandardofrelevancywasexacted。Onewitnessforthe
　　prisonerssaidofthelabourers：’Themenwereinverygreatdistress；many
　　ofthemenhadonlyafewpotatoesintheirbagwhentheycametowork。’
　　’Thelearnedjudgesobjectedtothiscourseofexaminationbeingcontinued：
　　itmighthappenthatthroughdrinkingamanmightsufferdistress。’TheAttorney-General，
　　inhisclosingspeech，assertedagainthattheprisonersdidnotseemto
　　havebeenindistress。BaronVaughan，insummingup，saidthatmenwerenot
　　toassembleandconspiretogetherforthepurposeofdeterminingwhattheir
　　wagesshouldbe。’Thatwhichatfirstmightbeinitselfalawfulact，might
　　intheeventbecomeillegal……Arespectfulstatementorrepresentation
　　oftheirgrievanceswaslegal，andtowhichnoonewouldobject，butthe
　　evidence，iftheybelievedit，showedthattheconductofthisassemblywas
　　farfrombeingrespectful。Noonecouldfeelmoreforthedistressesof
　　thepeoplethanhedid，buthewouldneverendurethatpersonsshouldby
　　physicalstrengthcompelwagestoberaised。Therewasnocountrywherecharity
　　fellinapurerstreamthaninthis。Letthemanmakehisappealinaproper
　　andrespectfulmanner，andhemightbeassuredthatappealwouldneverbe
　　heardinvain……HisLordshipspokeveryhighlyofconductofLadyCavan。
　　Shevisitedthecottagesofallthosewholivedintheneighbourhood，she
　　knewtheywerenotdistressed，andshealsofeltconfidentfromherkindness
　　tothemthattheywouldnotofferheranyviolence。’Allsevenwerefound
　　guilty；fourweresentencedtosixmonthshardlabour，andthreetothree
　　months。
　　Veryfew，however，ofthecasesatWinchesterweresimplemisdemeanours，
　　forinmostinstances，inadditiontoaskingforhigherwages，thelabourers
　　hadmadethemselvesliabletoaprosecutionforfelony，eitherbybreaking
　　athreshingmachineorbyaskingformoney。Thoseprisonerswhohadtaken
　　partintheFordingbridgeriots，orinthedestructionofmachinerynear
　　Andover，orinthedemolitionoftheHeadleyWorkhouse，weresentencedto
　　deathortotransportationforlife。Caseaftercasewastriedinwhichprisoners