oreventransportation，ratherthanseehiswifeandchildrencryforbread。
JohnSarney，theother，wasfifty-sixyearsoldandhadawifeandsixchildren：
hekeptasmallbeer-shopandhischaracterwasirreproachable。Petitions
onbehalfofthetwomenweresignedextensively，andthesentencewascommuted
totransportationforlife。TheAylesburysentencesseemlenientincomparison
withthosegivenatSalisburyandWinchester，buttheydidnotseemlenient
tothepeopleinthedistrict。’Pencannotdescribe，’wroteaTimescorrespondent，’theheart-rendingsceneofdespair，miseryandwant，prevailing
atFlackwell-Heath，theresidenceofthefamiliesofthemajorpartofthe
misguidedmennowincarceratedatAylesbury。’Thesamecorrespondenttells
ofabenevolentQuaker，whohadbecomerichasamakerofpaper，helping
thesefamiliesbystealth。
TheworkoftheSpecialCommissionswasnowover。Melbournehadexplained
inParliamentthattheyhadbeensetup’toexpoundthelaw’andtobring
hometotheignorantthegravityoftheircrimesagainstsocialorder。In
spiteofthedailyimpositionofferociouspunishmentsonpoachersandthieves，
thepoorapparentlydidnotknowinwhatlettersofbloodthecodeagainst
riotinganddiscontentwascomposed。Thesethreeweekshadbroughtalurid
enlightenmentintotheirdarkhomes。Intheriots，aswehaveseen，theonly
manwhohadbeenkilledwasarioter，killedaccordingtothereportsof
thetimebyayeomanrysoldier，accordingtolocaltraditionbyafarmer，
andforthatoffencehehadbeenrefusedChristianburial。Ontheotherside，
notasinglepersonhadbeenkilledorseriouslywounded。Fortheseriots，
apartfromthecasesofarson，forwhichsixmenorboyswerehung，aristocratic
justiceexactedthreelives，andthetransportationoffourhundredandfifty-seven
menandboys，(32*)inadditiontotheimprisonmentofaboutfourhundred
athome。Theshadowofthisvengeancestilldarkensthemindsofoldmen
andwomeninthevillagesofWiltshire，andeightyyearshavebeentooshort
atimetoblotoutitstrainofdesolatingmemories。(33*)Nobodywhodoes
notrealisewhatMr。Hudsonhasdescribedwithhisintimatetouch，theeffect
ontheimaginationandthecharacterof’alifeofsimpleunchangingaction
andofhabitsthatarelikeinstincts，ofhardlabourinsunandrainand
windfromdaytoday，’caneverunderstandwhatthebreakingofalltheties
oflifeandhomeandmemorymeanttotheexilesandtothosefromwhosecompanionship
theywerethentornforever。
Wehavesaidthatonefeatureoftherisingwasthefiringofstacksand
ricksandbarns。Thispracticewaswidespread，andfiresbrokeoutevenin
countieswheretheorganisedrisingmadelittleprogress。Associationsfor
thedetectionofincendiarieswereformedatanearlystage，andimmense
rewardswereoffered。Yetnotasinglecaseofarsonwastriedbeforethe
SpecialCommissions，andthelabourerskepttheirsecretwell。Manyofthe
governingclassintheearlydayspersuadedthemselvesthatthelabourers
hadnosecrettokeep，andthatthefireswereduetoanyoneexceptthe
labourers，andtoanycauseexceptdistress。Perhapsthewishwasfather
tothethought，forastheTimesobserved，personsresponsiblefor
grindingthefacesoftheirlabourerspreferredtothinktheoutragesthe
workofstrangers。Sometimesitwassmugglers，sufferingfromthedepression
intheirtrade：sometimesitwasforeigners：sometimesitwasmysterious
gentlemeningigs，drivingfuriouslyaboutthecountry，ledbyCaptainSwing，
scatteringfireballsanddevastation。Thesewerethefashionabletheories
intheHouseofLords，althoughRichmondremindedhisbrotherpeersthat
therehadbeenafloodofpetitionsrepresentingthesufferingsofthelabourers
fromtheverybeginningoftheyear，andthattheHouseofLordshadnot
thoughtitnecessarytogivethemtheslightestattention。LordCamdenascribed
theoutragestotheFrenchspirit，andarguedthatthecountrywasenjoying
’whatwasundeniablyagenialautumn。’TheDukeofWellingtontookthesame
view，denyingthatthetroubleswereduetodistress：themostinfluential
causeofdisturbanceswastheexample，’andIwillunhesitatinglysaythe
badandthemischievousexample，affordedbytheneighbouringStates。’Eldon
remarkedthatmanyoftheprisonerstakenintheriotswereforeigners，a
pointonwhichMelbourneundeceivedhim。Thespeakerswhoregardedthedisturbances
inthesouthofEnglandastheoverflowoftheParisRevolutionhadnopositive
evidencetoproduce，buttheyhadapieceofnegativeevidencewhichthey
thoughtconclusive。Forifthelabourersknewwhoweretheincendiaries，
theywouldsurelyhavegiveninformation。Insomecasesarewardof£；1000
withafreepardonforallexcepttheactualauthorwaswaitingtobeclaimed，
’andyetnotoneofthemiserablebeingshaveavailedthemselvesoftheprospect
ofbecomingrich。’
SomeelevencasesofarsonweretriedattheAssizesinEssex，Kent，Sussex，
andSurrey：alltheprisonerswereagriculturallabourersandmostofthem
wereboys。Eightwereconvicted，oftenonverydefectiveevidence，andsix
wereexecuted。Oneoftheeight，ThomasGoodman，aboyofeighteen，saved
hislifebydeclaringinprisonthattheideahadbeenputintohishead
byalectureofCobbett’s。TwobrothersofthenameofPakeman，nineteen
andtwentyyearsold，wereconvictedontheevidenceofBishop，anotherlad
ofeighteen，whohadpromptedthemtosetfiretoabarn，andlaterturned
king’sevidence’afteragentlemaninthegaolhadtoldhimofthebigreward。’
Thisfireseemstohavebeenapieceofbravado，asnodoubtmanyothers
were，forBishopremarked，asthethreeweresittingunderahedgeafter
lightingthebarn，’whosayswecan’thaveafiretoo，aswellasthemat
Blean？’Thetwoboys，whohadneverbeentaughttoreadorwrite，scandalised
thepublicbydisplayingapainfulindifferencetotheministrationsofthe
chaplain，anddyingwithoutreceivingthesacrament。(34*)Ahalf-wittedboy
offourteen，RichardPennells，wastriedatLewesforsettingfiretohis
master’shaystackforapromiseofsixpencefromamanwhowasnotdiscovered。
Hismaster，whoprosecuted，remarkedthathewas’dullofapprehension，but
notsomuchasnottoknowrightfromwrong。’Theboy，whohadnocounsel，
offerednodefence，andstoodsobbinginthedock。Thejuryfoundhimguilty，
witharecommendationtomercyonaccountofhisyouthandimperfectunderstanding。
Sentenceofdeathwasrecorded，buthewastoldthathislifewouldbespared。
ThesesameLewesAssizes，conductedbyMr。JusticeTaunton，affordeda
strikingexampleofthecomparativetreatmentofdifferentcrimes。Thomas
Brown，aladofseventeen，waschargedwithwritingthefollowingletter
toLordSheffield，’Please，myLord，Idontwisetohurtyou。Thisisthe
casealtheworldover。Ifyoudontgetridofyourforeignstewardandfarmer
andbailiffinafewdaystime——lessthanamonth——wewillburnhimup，
andyoualongwithhim。Mywritingisbad，butmyfiringisgoodmyLord。’
LordSheffieldgaveevidenceastothereceiptoftheletter：theprisoner，
whohadnocounsel，wasaskedbythejudgeifhewouldliketoputanyquestions，
andheonlyrepliedthathehopedthathislordshipwouldforgivehim。The
judgeansweredthathislordshiphadnotthepower，andsentencedBrownto
transportationforlife。(35*)LateroninthesameAssizes，CaptainWinter，
amanofsixty，captainofacoastingvessel，wastriedforthemurderof
hiswife，whohadbeenkilledinamostbrutalmanner。Hehadbeenhacking
andwoundingherforfourhoursatnight，andshewaslastseenaliveat
halfpasttwointhemorning，nakedandbeggingformercy。Herbodywascovered
withwounds。Theman’sdefencewasthathecamehomedrunk，thathefound
hiswifedrunk，andthathehadnoknowledgeofwhatfollowed。Tothegeneral
surpriseCaptainWinterescapedwithaverdictofmanslaughter。’Theprisoner，’
wrotetheTimescorrespondent，’isindebtedforhislifetothevery
mercifulwayinwhichMr。JusticeTauntonappearedtoviewthecase，and
thehintwhichhethrewouttothejury，thatthepartiesmighthavehad
aquarrel，inwhichcaseherdeathbytheprisonerwouldamounttomanslaughter
only。’
Whenthedisturbancesbegan，thedukeofWellingtonwasPrimeMinister，
andSirRobertPeelHomeSecretary。ButinNovember1830Wellington，who
hadmadealastefforttorallytheoldTories，sulkingoverhissurrender
onCatholicEmancipation，bysomesuddenthunderagainstReform，hadbeen
beatenontheCivilListandresigned。Reformwasinevitable，andwithReform
theWhigs。Thus，towardsthecloseoftheyearoftheRevolutionthatdrove
CharlesXfromFrance，LordGreybecamePrimeMinister，tocarrythemeasure
whichasCharlesGrey，lieutenantofCharlesFox，hehadproposedinthe
HouseofCommonsin1793，afewmonthsafterLouisXVIhadlosthishead
intheRevolutionwhichhadmaddenedandterrifiedtheEnglisharistocracy。
Fortunehadbeensparinginherfavourstothiscold，proud，honourableand
courageousman。Shehadshuthimoutfrompowerfortwenty-threeyears，waiting
tomakehimPrimeMinisteruntilhewasvergingonseventy，andallthedash
andardourofyouthhadbeenchilledbydisappointmentanddelay。Butshe
hadreservedherextremeofmalicetotheend，foritwasherchiefunkindness
thathavingwaitedsolongshedidnotwaitalittlelonger。Grey，whohad
beenforty-fouryearsinpubliclife，andforty-threeinopposition，took
officeatthemomentthattherisingpassedintoSampshireandWiltshire，
andthushisfirstactasPrimeMinisterwastosummonhiscolleaguesto
aCabinetmeetingtodiscuss，nottheirplansforParliamentaryReform，but
themeasurestobetakeninthisalarmingemergency。Afteralifetimeof
nobleprotestagainstwar，intolerance，andrepression，hefoundhimself
inthetoilsandsnaresoftheconsequencesofapolicyinwhichwar，intolerance，
andrepressionhadbeenconstantandconspicuousfeatures。Andthoseconsequences
wereespeciallytobedreadedbysuchamanatsuchatime。
GreybecamePrimeMinistertocarryReform，andReformwasstillenveloped
tomanymindsinthewildfanciesandterrorsofaJacobinpast。Tothose
whoknew，consciousastheywereoftheirownmodestpurposesandlimited
aim，thattheiraccessiontopowerbodedtomanyviolence，confusion，and
thebreakingupoftheoldwaysandlifeoftheState，itwasmaddeningthat
theseundiscerningpeasantsshouldchoosethismomentofallothersfornoise
andriot。ThestruggleforReformwascertaintoleadtostrife，anditwas
hardthatbeforetheyentereduponitEnglandshouldalreadybeintumult
fromothercauses。Moreover，GreyhadtoreckonwithWilliamIV。Solong
ashecouldremember，theCourthadbeentherefugeofallthatwasbase
inEnglishpolitics，anditwasaquestionwhetherLiberalideashadsuffered
morefromthenarrowanddarkenedmindofGeorgeIIIorthemeanandincorrigible
perfidyofGeorgeIV。Incomparisonwithhisfather，thenewkinghadthe
wisdomofaBenthamoranAdamSmith；incomparisonwithhisbrother，he
hadthegenerousandloyalheartofaPhilipSidneyoraFalkland。Butseen
inanylessflatteringmirror，hewasaveryordinarymortal，andGreyhad
knownthisjolly，drinking，sailorprincetoolongandtoowelltotrust
eitherhisintellectorhischaracter，undertoofierceortoocontinuous
astrain。Theseriotstriedhimseverely。NosoonerwasWilliamonhisthrone
thanthelabourerscameoutoftheirdens，lookinglikethosesansculottes
whoseshadowswereneverfarfromtheimaginationoftheEnglishupperclasses。
Theking’ssupportofReformwasnoviolententhusiasm，andtheslightest
threatofdisordermightdisturbtheuneasyequilibriumofhislikesand
fears。Inthelongrunitdependedonthewillofthisgenialmediocrity-so
strangelyhadProvidencemixedcapriceanddesigninthisworldofpolitics——
whetherornotReformshouldbecarried，andcarriedwithoutbloodshed。
Throughoutthesemonthsthen，theking，alwaysatMelbourne’selbow，trying
totemptandpushtheGovernmentintomoredrasticmeasures，wasaveryformidable
enemytothecauseofmoderationandofjustice。
Theseinfluenceswerestrong，andtherewaslittletocounteractthem。
FortherewasnobodyintheworldwhichGreyandMelbournealikeinhabited
whocouldenterintothemindsofthelabourers。Thisisreadilyseen，if
weglanceattwomenwhowereregardedasextremeRadicalsintheHouseof
Commons，HobhouseandBurdett。Eachofthesemenhadservedthecauseof
ReforminprisonaswellasinParliament，andeachwithratherridiculous
associations；Hobhouse’simprisonmentbeingconnectedwiththeballadinspired
bythemaliciousanddisloyalwitofhisfriendandhero，Byron，andBurdett’s
withtheludicroussceneofhisarrest，withhisboyspellingoutMagnaCharta
onhisknee。ItisdifficultforthosewhohavereadHobhouse’sdiariesto
divinewhatplayofreasonandfeelingevermadehimaRadical，butaRadical
hewas，anindefatigablecriticoftheoldré；gime，andinparticular
ofsuchabusesasflogginginthearmy。Burdettwasaleaderinthesame
causes。Tothesemen，iftoany，theconductofthelabourersmighthave
seemedtocallforsympathyratherthanforviolence。ButifweturntoHobhouse’s
