Although，aswehavesaid，theGovernment，oritsrepresentatives，grew
　　rathermorelenienttowardstheendoftheproceedingsatSalisbury，itwas
　　evidentlythoughtessentialtoproducesomecrimedeservingactualdeath。
　　TheculpritinthiscasewasPeterWithers，ayoungmanoftwenty-three，
　　marriedandwithfivechildren。Hischaractertillthetimeoftheriots
　　wasexemplary。Hewascommittedonachargeofriot，andbriefedalawyer
　　todefendhimforthismisdemeanour。Justbeforethetrialcameonthecharge
　　waschanged，apparentlybytheAttorney-General，tothecapitalchargeof
　　assaultingOliverCalleyCodringtonwithahammer。Hiscounselwasofcourse
　　unpreparedtodefendhimonthischarge，and，asheexplainedafterwards，
　　’itwasonlybythehumanekindnessoftheAttorney-Generalwhoallowedhim
　　tolookathisbriefthathewasawareofallthefactstobeallegedagainst
　　hisclient。’Withershimselfseemedequallyunprepared；whenaskedforhis
　　defencehesaidthathewouldleaveittohiscounsel，asofcoursehehad
　　arrangedtodowhenthechargewasoneofmisdemeanouronly。
　　TheincidentoccurredinanaffrayatRockleynearMarlborough。Mr。Baskerville，
　　J。P。，rodeupwithsomespecialconstablestoamoboffortyorfiftymen，
　　Withersamongstthem，andbadethemgohome。Theyrefused，declaringthat
　　theydidnotcareadamnforthemagistrates。Mr。BaskervilleorderedMr。
　　Codrington，whowasaspecialconstable，toarrestWithers。Ageneralmê；lé；e
　　ensued，blowsweregivenandreceived，andCodringtonwashitbyahammer
　　thrownbyWithers。Withers’ownversionoftheaffairwasthatCodrington
　　attackedhimwithoutprovocationinaferociousmannerwithahuntingwhip，
　　loadedwithironattheend。Baskervillealsostruckhim。Heaimedhishammer
　　atCodringtonanditmissed。Codrington’shorsethencrushedhimagainst
　　thewall，andhethrewhishammerasecondtimewithbetteraim。Therewas
　　nothingintheevidenceoftheprosecutiontodiscreditthisversion，and
　　bothBaskervilleandCodringtonadmittedthattheymighthavestruckhim。
　　Codrington’sinjurieswereapparentlymoreseriousthanBinghamBaring’s；
　　itwasstatedthathehadbeenconfinedtobedfortwoorthreedays，and
　　tothehousefromTuesdaytoSaturday，andthathehadascarofoneand
　　ahalfinchesontherightsideofhisnose。Nosurgeon，however，appeared
　　asawitness，andthehammerWaSnotproducedincourt。Witherswasfound
　　guiltyandreserved，togetherwithLush，forexecution。
　　ThespecialcorrespondentoftheTimeswhohadbeenpresentat
　　WinchestermadeaninterestingcomparisonbetweentheHampshireandtheWiltshire
　　labourersontrial8thJanuary1831。TheWiltshirelabourershedescribed
　　asmoreathleticinappearanceandmorehardyinmanner。’Theprisonershere
　　turntothewitnessesagainstthemwithaboldandconfidentair：cross-examine
　　them，andcontradicttheiranswers，withaconfidenceandawantofcommon
　　courtesy，intermsofwhichcomparativelyfewinstancesoccurredintheneighbouring
　　county。’Inthisbehaviourthecorrespondentdetectedthesignsofavery
　　lowstateofmoralintelligence。
　　Whenthetimecameforthelastsceneincourttherewasnotraceofthe
　　bolddemeanourwhichhadimpressedtheTimescorrespondentduring
　　theconductofthetrials。ForthepeopleofWiltshire，likethepeopleof
　　Hampshire，werestunnedbythecrashandruinofthiscatastrophicvengeance。
　　Thetwomensentencedtodeathwerereprieved，butonehundredandfifty-four
　　menandboysweresentencedtotransportation，thirty-threeofthemforlife，
　　therestforsevenorfourteenyears，withnoprospectofeverreturning
　　totheirhomes。AndAldersonandhisbrotherjudgesinsopunishingthis
　　wildflingoffolly，orhope，ordespair，werenotpassingsentenceonly
　　onthemenandboysbeforethem：theywerepronouncingadoomnotlessterrible
　　onwivesandmothersandchildrenandbabesinarmsineveryvillageonthe
　　WiltshireDowns。Onemanbeggedtobeallowedtotakehischild，eightmonths
　　old，intoexile，foritsmotherhaddiedinchildbirth，anditwouldbeleft
　　withoutkithorkin。Hewastoldbythejudgethatheshouldhaveremembered
　　thisearlier。Thesentenceoffinalseparationonallthesefamiliesand
　　homeswasreceivedwithafrenzyofconsternationandgrief，andthejudges
　　themselveswereaffectedbythespectacleofthesebrokencreaturesinthe
　　dockandroundthecourt，abandonedtotheuncheckedparoxysmsofdespair。30*
　　’Suchatotalprostrationofthementalfacultiesbyfear，’wrotetheTimescorrespondent，’andsuchaterribleexhibitionofanguishanddespair，I
　　neverbeforewitnessedinaCourtofJustice。’’Immediatelyontheconclusion
　　ofthissentenceanumberofwomen，whowereseatedincourtbehindtheprisoners，
　　setupadreadfulshriekoflamentation。Someofthemrushedforwardtoshake
　　handswiththeprisoners，andmorethanonevoicewasheardtoexclaim，“Farewell，
　　Ishallneverseeyoumore。”’
　　’Thewholeproceedingsofthisdayincourtwereofthemostafflicting
　　anddistressingnature。Butthelacerationofthefeelingsdidnotendwith
　　theproceedingsincourt。Thecarfortheremovaloftheprisonerswasat
　　thebackentrancetothecourt-houseandwassurroundedbyacrowdofmothers，
　　wives，sistersandchildren，anxiouslywaitingforaglanceoftheircondemned
　　relatives。Theweepingandwailingofthedifferentparties，astheypressed
　　thehandsoftheconvictsastheysteppedintothecar，wastrulyheartrending。
　　Weneversawsodistressingaspectaclebefore，andtrustthattherestored
　　tranquillityofthecountrywillpreventusfromeverseeinganythinglike
　　itagain。’
　　Thehistorianmayregretthatthesemendonotpassoutbeforehimin
　　acoldandsplendiddefiance。Theirblindblowhadbeenstruckandithad
　　beenanswered；theyhaddreamtthattheirlotmightbemadelessintolerable，
　　andthegoverningclasshadcrushedthatdaringfancyforeverwithbanishment
　　andthebreakingoftheirhomes；itonlyremainedforthemtoaccepttheir
　　fatewithalookofstoneupontheirfacesandacurseoffireintheirhearts。
　　SohadMuirandPalmerandmanyapoliticalprisoner，victimsofthetyrannies
　　ofPittandDundas，ofCastlereaghandSidmouth，gonetotheirbarbarous
　　doom。SohadtheLantenacsandtheGauvainsalikegonetotheguillotine。
　　Historylikestomatchsuchcalmandunshakenbearingagainstthedistempered
　　justiceofpower。Heresheischeatedofherspectacle。Outwardlyitmight
　　seemaworsefateformenofeducationtobeflungtothehulkswiththe
　　coarsestoffelons：formenwhoseliveshadbeencomfortabletobethrust
　　intothedirtanddisorderofprisons。Butpoliticalprisonersaremartyrs，
　　andmartyrsarenotthestuffforpity。Howeverbittertheirsufferings，
　　theydonotsufferalone：theyaresustainedbyaHerculeancomradeshipof
　　hopesandofideas。ThedarkestcageislightedbyarayfromParadiseto
　　menorwomenwhobelievethatthenightoftheirsufferingswillbringa
　　dawnlesscoldandsombretomankindthanthecoldandsombredawnofyesterday。
　　Butwhatideasbefriendedtheploughboyortheshepherdtornfromhisrude
　　home？Whatvisionhadheofanoblerfutureforhumanity？Towhatdawndid
　　heleavehiswifeorhismother，hischild，hishome，hisfriends，orhis
　　trampledrace？Whatrobeofdreamandhopeandfancywasthrownoverhis
　　exileortheirhunger，hispoignanthourofseparation，ortheirceaseless
　　acheofpovertyandcold’tocomfortthehumanwant。
　　Fromthebosomofmagicalskies’？
　　ThethreejudgeswhohadrestoredrespectforlawandorderinWiltshire
　　andHampshirenextproceededtoDorchester，whereaSpecialCommissionto
　　trytheDorsetshirerioterswas。Therisinghadbeenlessseriousinopened
　　on11thJanuaryDorsetthaninthetwoothercounties，andtherewereonly
　　somefiftyprisonersawaitingtrialonchargesofmachine-breaking，extorting
　　moneyandriot。TheGovernmenttooknopartintheprosecutions；for，as
　　itwasexplainedinalettertoDenman，’thestateofthingsisquitealtered；
　　greateffecthasbeenproduced：thelawhasbeenclearlyexplained，andprosecutions
　　goonwithouttheleastdifficulty。’31*BaronVaughanandMr。JusticeParke
　　hadgiventhechargesatWinchesterandSalisbury：itwasnowtheturnof
　　Mr。JusticeAlderson，andinhisopeningsurveyofthesocialconditions
　　ofthetimehecoveredawidefield。Totheusualdissertationontheeconomics
　　ofmachineryheaddedaspecialhomilyonthedutiesincumbentonthegentry，
　　whowerebiddentodiscourageanddiscountenance，andifnecessarytoprosecute，
　　thedangerouspublicationsthatweredoingsuchharminruraldistricts。
　　Buttheirdutiesdidnotendhere，andtheywereurgedtogohomeandto
　　educatetheirpoorerneighboursandtoimprovetheirconditions。Theimprovement
　　tobeaimedat，however，wasnotmaterialbutmoral。’Poverty，’saidMr。
　　JusticeAlderson，’isindeed，Ifear，inseparablefromthestateofthehuman
　　race，butpovertyitselfandthemiseryattendantonit，wouldnodoubtbe
　　greatlymitigatedifaspiritofprudenceweremoregenerallydiffusedamong
　　thepeople，andiftheyunderstoodmorefullyandpractisedbettertheir
　　civil，moralandreligiousduties。’
　　TheDorsetshirelabourershadunfortunatelyarrivedattheprecipitate
　　conclusionthataspiritofprudencewouldnottransform7s。aweekinto
　　areasonablelivelihood。Theyusednoviolencebeyondbreakingupthethreshing
　　machines。’Wedon’tintendtohurtthefarmer，’theytoldtheownerofone
　　machine，’butwearedeterminedthatthelandshallcomedown，andthetithes，
　　andwewillhavemorewages。’Whenmoneywastakenitseemstohavebeen
　　demandedandreceivedinanamicablespirit。Thesumsaskedforwereoften
　　verysmall。Sentenceofdeathwaspronouncedontwomen，JosephSheppard
　　andGeorgeLegg，fortaking2s。fromFarmerChristopherMoreyatBuckland
　　Newton。Themobaskedformoney，andthefarmerofferedthem1s。：theyreplied
　　thattheywanted1s。6d。，andthefarmergavethem2s。Sheppard’scharacter
　　wasverygood，anditcameoutthatheandtheprosecutorhadhadadispute
　　aboutmoneysomeyearsbefore。Hewastransported，butnotforlife。Legg
　　wasdeclaredbytheprosecutortohavebeen’saucyandimpudent，’andto
　　have’talkedroughandbobbish。’Hischaracter，however，wasstatedbymany
　　witnesses，includingtheclergyman，tobeexemplary。Hehadfivechildren
　　whomhesupportedwithoutparishhelpon7s。aweek：acottagewasgiven
　　himbutnofuel。BaronVaughanwassomuchimpressedbythisevidencethat
　　hedeclaredthathehadneverheardbettertestimonytocharacter，andthat
　　hewouldrecommendalessseverepenaltythantransportation。ButLeggshowed
　　alamentablewantofdiscretion，forheinterruptedthejudgewiththese
　　words：’IwouldratherthatyourLordshipwouldputtwenty-oneyears’transportation
　　uponmethanbeplacedintheconditionoftheprosecutor。Ineversaida
　　wordtohim，thatIdeclare。’BaronVaughansardonicallyremarkedthathe
　　hadnotbenefitedhimselfbythisobservation。
　　Thetendencytogivelessseverepunishment，noticedintheclosingtrials
　　atSalisbury，wasmoremarkedatDorchester。Ninemenwereletoffonrecognisances
　　andtenwerenotproceededagainst：inthecaseofsixofthesetentheprosecutor，
　　oneRobertBullen，whohadbeenrobbedof4s。and2s。6d。，refusedtocome
　　forward。Butenoughsharpsentencesweregiventokeepthelabourersinsubmission
　　forthefuture。Onemanwastransportedforlifeandelevenforsevenyears：
　　fifteenweresentencedtovarioustermsofimprisonment；sevenwereacquitted。
　　ItwasnotsurprisingthatthespecialcorrespondentoftheTimescomplained
　　thatsuchmeagreresultsscarcelyjustifiedthepompandexpenseofaSpecial
　　Commission。IntheneighbouringcountyofGloucester，wherethecountrygentlemen
　　carriedouttheworkofretributionwithouthelpfromheadquarters，seven
　　menweretransportedforfourteenyears，twentyforsevenyears，andtwenty-five
　　weresentencedtotermsofimprisonmentrangingfromsixmonthstothree
　　years。Allofthesesentenceswereforbreakingthreshingmachines。
　　ThedisturbancesinBerksandBuckshadbeenconsideredseriousenough
　　todemandaSpecialCommission，andSirJamesAlanPark，SirWilliamBolland
　　andSirJohnPattesonwerethejudgesappointed。ThefirstofthetwoBerkshire
　　CommissionsopenedatReadingon27thDecember。TheEarlofAbingdon，Lord-Lieutenant
　　oftheCounty，andMr。CharlesDundaswerethetwolocalcommissioners。Mr。
　　DundashasfiguredalreadyinthesepagesaschairmanofthemeetingatSpeenhamland。
　　Onehundredandthirty-eightprisonerswereawaitingtrialatReading：they
　　weremostofthemyoung，onlyeighteenbeingfortyorover。Therest，with
　　fewexceptions，variedfromseventeentothirty-fiveinage，andmusthave
　　livedalltheirlivesundertheSpeenhamlandsystem。
　　ItisimpossibletocomparetheaccountsoftheSpecialCommissionsin
　　BerksandBuckswiththoseinHampshireandWiltshirewithoutnoticinga
　　differenceinthetreatmentoftherioters。Therisingshadbeenalmostsimultaneous，