fromdifferentvillageswereindictedforassaultandrobbery。Thefeatures
　　variedlittle，andthespectatorsbegantofindtheproceedingsmonotonous。
　　MostoftheagriculturalpopulationofHampshirehadmadeitselfliableto
　　thedeathpenalty，iftheauthoritiescaredtodrawthenoose。Thethree
　　hundredwhoactuallyappearedinCourtwerelikethemenonwhomthetower
　　ofSiloamfell。
　　Acasetowhichtheprosecutionattachedspecialimportancearoseout
　　ofanaffairatthehouseofMr。EyreCoote。Amoboffortypersons，some
　　ofwhomhadironbars，presentedthemselvesbeforeMr。Coote’sdoorattwo
　　o’clockinthemorning。TwobandsofmenhadalreadyvisitedMr。Cootethat
　　evening，andhehadgiventhembeer：thisthirdbandwasapartyofstragglers。
　　Mr。Cootestationedhistenservantsintheportico，andwhenthemobarrived
　　heaskedthem，’Whatdoyouwant，mylads？’’Money，’wastheanswer。’Money，’
　　saidMr。Coote，’youshan’thave。’OneofthebandseemedtoMr。Cooteabout
　　tostrikehim。Mr。Cooteseizedhim，nineofthemobwereknockeddownand
　　taken，andtherestfled。Sixofthemenwereprosecutedforfeloniously
　　demandingmoney。BaronVaughanremarkedthatoutrageslikethismadeone
　　wonderwhetheronewasinacivilisedcountry，andheproceededtoraise
　　itsmoraltonebysentencingalltheprisonerstotransportationforlife，
　　exceptone，HenryEldridge，whowasreservedforexecution。Hehadbeenalready
　　capitallyconvictedofcomplicityintheFordingbridgeriots，andthisattempt
　　to’enterthesanctuaryofMr。EyreCoote’shome’followinguponthatcrime，
　　renderedhimasuitable’sacrificetobemadeonthealtaroftheoffended
　　justice’ofhiscountry。
　　Inmanyoftheso-calledrobberiespunishedbytheSpecialCommissions
　　thesumstakenweretrifling。GeorgeSteel，agedeighteen，wassentenced
　　totransportationforlifeforobtainingashilling，whenhewasinliquor，
　　fromJaneNeale：WilliamSutton，anotherboyofeighteen，wasfoundguilty
　　oftaking4d。inadrunkenfrolic：Sutton，whowasacarterboyreceiving
　　1s。6d。aweekandhisfood，wasgivenanexcellentcharacterbyhismaster，
　　whodeclaredthathehadneverhadabetterservant。Thejuryrecommended
　　himtomercy，andthejudgesrespondedbysentencinghimtodeathandbanishing
　　himforlife。GeorgeClerk，agedtwenty，andE。C。Nutbean，agedeighteen，
　　paidthesamepricefor3d。downandthepromiseofbeerattheGreyhound。
　　Suchcaseswerenotexceptional，asanyonewhoturnstothereportsofthe
　　trialswillsee。
　　Theevidenceonwhichprisonerswereconvictedwasoftenofthemostshadowy
　　kind。Eightyoungagriculturallabourers，ofagesvaryingfromeighteento
　　twenty-five，werefoundguiltyofriotouslyassemblingintheparishofSt。
　　LawrenceWoottenandfeloniouslystealing£；2fromWilliamLutelySclater
　　ofTangierPark。’Wewanttogetalittlesatisfactionfromyou’wasthe
　　phrasetheyused。Twodayslateranotherman，namedWilliamFarmer，wascharged
　　withthesameoffence。Mr。SclaterthoughtthatFarmerwaslikethemanin
　　themobwhoblewatrumpetorhorn，butcouldnotsweartohisidentity。
　　Otherwitnessessworethathewaswiththemobelsewhere，andsaid，’Money
　　wawantandmoneywawillhae。’Onthisevidencehewasfoundguilty，and
　　thoughMr。JusticeAldersonannouncedthathefeltwarrantedinrecommending
　　thatheshouldnotlosehislife，’yet，itwashisduty，’hecontinued，’to
　　statethatheshouldforthisviolentanddisgracefuloutragebesentout
　　ofthecountry，andseparatedforlifefromthosefriendsandconnections
　　whichweredeartohimhere：thatheshouldhavetoemploytherestofhis
　　daysinlabour，atthewillandfortheprofitofanother，toshowthepeople
　　oftheclasstowhichtheprisonerbelongedthattheycannotwithimpunity
　　lendtheiraidtosuchoutragesagainstthepeaceandsecurityofperson
　　andproperty。’
　　Wehaveseenthatatthetimeoftheriotsitwasfreelystatedthatthe
　　farmersincitedthelabourerstomakedisturbances。Huntwentsofarasto
　　sayintheHouseofCommonsthatinnineteencasesoutoftwentythefarmers
　　encouragedthelabourerstobreakthethreshingmachines。Thecountyauthorities
　　evidentlythoughtitunwisetoprosecutethefarmers，althoughitwasproved
　　inevidencethattherewereseveralfarmerspresentatthedestructionof
　　theHeadleyWorkhouse，andatthedemonstrationatMr。Cobbold’shouse。Occasionally
　　afarmer，intestifyingtoaprisoner’scharacter，wouldadmitthathehad
　　beeninamobhimself。Insuchcasesthejudgeadministeredrebukes，but
　　theprosecutiontooknoaction。Therewas，however，oneexception。Asmall
　　farmer，JohnBoys，oftheparishofOwslebury，hadthrownhimselfheartily
　　intothelabourers’cause。Anumberofsmallfarmersmetanddecidedthat
　　thelabourers’wagesoughttoberaised。Boysagreedtotakeapaperround
　　forsignature。Thepaperranasfollows：’Wetheundersignedarewilling
　　togive2s。perdayforable-bodiedmarriedmen，and9s。perweekforsingle
　　men，onconsiderationofourrentsandtithesbeingabatedinproportion。’
　　Insimilarcases，asarule，thefarmersleftittothelabourerstocollect
　　signatures，andBoys，byundertakingtheworkhimself，madehimselfamarked
　　man。HehadbeeninamobwhichextortedmoneyfromLordNorthesk’ssteward
　　atOwslebury，andforthishewasindictedforfelony。Butthejury，tothe
　　chagrinoftheprosecution，acquittedhim。Whatfollowedisbestdescribed
　　inthereportofSergeantWilde’sspeechintheHouseofCommons21stJuly
　　1831。’Boycewastriedandacquitted：butheMr。Wildebeingunableto
　　accountfortheacquittal，consideringtheevidencetohavebeenclearagainst
　　him，andfeelingthatalthoughthejuryweremostrespectablemen，theymight
　　possiblyentertainsomesympathyforhiminconsequenceofhissituation
　　inlife，thoughtithisdutytosendacommunicationtotheAttorney-General，
　　statingthatBoycewasdeeplyresponsiblefortheactswhichhadtakenplace：
　　thathethoughtheshouldnotbeallowedtoescape，andrecommendingthat
　　hebetriedbeforeadifferentjuryintheotherCourt。TheAttorney-General
　　senttohimMr。WildetocomeintotheotherCourt，andtheresultwas
　　thatBoycewasthentriedandconvicted。’IntheothermorecomplaisantCourt，
　　FarmerBoysandJamesFussell，describedasagenteelyoungmanofabout
　　twenty，livingwithhismother，werefoundguiltyofheadingariotousmob
　　forreducingrentsandtithesandsentencedtosevenyears’transportation。24*
　　Thiswasnottheonlycaseinwhichthesympathiesofthejurycreated
　　adifficulty。TheHomeOfficePaperscontainaletterfromDr。Quarrier，
　　aHampshiremagistrate，whohadbeenparticularlyvigorousinsuppressing
　　riots，statingthatSirJamesParkedischargedajuryattheSpecialCommission
　　’undertheimpressionthattheywerereluctanttoconvictthePrisonerswhich
　　wasmorestronglyimpresseduponthemindoftheJudge，byitsbeingreported
　　tohisLordshipthat“someoftheGosportJurorshadsaid，whiletravelling
　　inthestagecoachtoWinchester，thattheywouldnotconvictincaseswhere
　　theLabourershadbeendriventoexcessbyPovertyandlowWages！”It
　　wasascertainedthatsomeofthoseempannelledupontheacquittingJurywere
　　fromGosport，whichconfirmedthelearnedJudgeinthedeterminationtodischarge
　　AninterestingfeatureofthetrialsatWinchesterwasthenumberofmen
　　justabovetheconditionofagriculturallabourerswhothrewintheirlot
　　withthepoor：thevillagemechanics，thewheelwrights，carpenters，joiners，
　　smiths，andthebricklayers，shoemakers，shepherdsandsmallholderswere
　　oftenprominentinthedisturbances。Tothejudgesthisfactwasariddle。
　　Thethreshingmachineshaddonethesemennoinjury；theyhadnotknownthe
　　stingofhunger；tillthetimeoftheriotstheircharactershadbeenas
　　aruleirreproachable。Nemorepenteturpissimusfuit，andyetapparently
　　thesepersonshadsuddenly，withoutwarning，turnedintothe’wickedand
　　turbulentmen’ofthearchbishop’sprayer。Suchculpritsdeserved，inthe
　　opinionsofthebench，severerpunishmentthanthelabourers，whomtheir
　　exampleshouldhavekeptinthepathsofobedienceandpeace。26*Where
　　thelawpermitted，theyweresentencedtotransportationforlife。Oneheinous
　　offenderofthistype，Gregory，acarpenter，wasactuallyearning18s。a
　　weekintheserviceofLordWinchester。Butthemostinterestinginstances
　　weretwobrothers，JosephandRobertMason，wholivedatBullington。They
　　rentedthreeorfouracres，keptacow，andworkedfortheneighboringfarmers
　　aswell。Joseph，whowasthirty-two，hadawifeandonechild；Robert，who
　　wastwenty-four，wasunmarried。Betweenthemtheysupportedawidowedmother。
　　Theircharacterswereexemplary，andthemosteagermalicecoulddetectno
　　blotupontheirpast。Buttheiropinionsweredangerous：theyregularlytook
　　inCobbett’sRegisterandreaditaloudtotwentyorthirtyofthe
　　villagers。Further，Josephhadcarriedonfootapetitionforreformtothe
　　kingatBrightonfromahundredandseventy-seven’persons，belongingto
　　theworkingandlabouringclasses’ofWonston，BartonStaceyandBullington，
　　andwasreportedtohavegivensometroubletotheking’sporterbyanimportunate
　　demandforanaudience。Therecitalofthesefactsgaverisetomuchmerriment
　　athistrial，andwasnotconsideredirrelevantbyjudgeswhoruledoutall
　　allusionstodistress。27*Aninterestinglightisthrownonthehistory
　　ofthispetitionbyafragmentofaletter，writtenbyRobertMasontoa
　　friend，whichsomehowfellintothehandsofaCaptainThompsonofLongparish，
　　andwasforwardedbyhimtotheHomeOfficeasavaluablepieceofevidence。
　　’P。S——SinceIwrotetheaboveIhavesawandtalkedwithtwopersons
　　whosay“BullingtonBartonandSuttonhassentapetitionandwhynot
　　LongparishHursborneandWherwellsendanother。”Ithinkasmuch，to
　　besureifwehadallsignedone，onejourneyandexpensewouldhaveserved
　　butwhatisexpence？WhyIwouldengagetocarryaPetitionanddeliverit
　　atSt。Jamesfor30shillings，andtoaplacelikeLongparishwhatisthat？
　　IfyoudosendonepraydonotletChurchpropertyescapeyournotice。There
　　istheChurchwhichcostLongparishIshouldthinknearly£；1500yearly：
　　yesandthereisanoldestablishedChaplewhichIwillbebounddoesnot
　　cost£；25annually。ForGodsake……’illegible。
　　ThefirstchargebroughtagainsttheMasonswasthatofrobbingSirThomas
　　Baring’sstewardof£；10atEastStratton。Themoneyhadbeentakenby
　　oneofthemobs；theMasonswereacquitted。Theywerenextputontheirtrial
　　togetherwithWilliamWinkworth，acobblerandafellowreaderofCobbett，
　　andtenothers，forasimilaroffence。Thistimetheywereaccusedofdemanding
　　£；2or£；5fromMr。W。DowdenofMicheldever。TheAttorney-General，
　　inopeningthecase，drewattentiontothecircumstancesoftheMasonsand
　　Winkworth，sayingthattheoffencewithwhichtheywerechargedwasofa
　　deeperdye，becausetheyweremenofsuperioreducationandintelligence。
　　Ahumaneclergyman，Mr。Cockerton，curateofStokeCharity，gaveevidence
　　totheeffectthatifthemenhadbeenmetinaconciliatorytemperinthe
　　morningtheywouldhavedispersed。JosephMasonandWilliamWinkworthwere
　　foundguilty，andsentenced，inthewordsofthejudge，to’becutofffrom
　　allcommunionwithsociety’fortherestoftheirlives。RobertMasonwas
　　stillunconvicted，buthewasnotallowedtoescape。Thenextchargeagainst
　　himwasthatofgoingwithamobwhichextortedfiveshillingsfromtheRev。
　　J。JoliffeatBartonStacey。Headmittedthathehadaccompaniedthemob，
　　partlybecausethelabourershadurgedhimtodoso，partlybecausehehoped
　　thatMr。Joliffe，beingaccustomedtopublicspeaking，wouldbeabletoPersuade
　　thelabourerstodispersebeforeanyharmwasdone。Therewasnoevidence
　　toshowthathehadanythingtodowiththedemandformoney。Hewasfound
　　guiltyandsentencedtotransportationforlife。Whenaskedwhathehadto
　　sayforhimself，hereplied，’IfthelearnedCounsel，whohassopainted
　　myconducttoyou，waspresentatthatplaceandworeasmockfrockinstead
　　ofagown，andastrawhatinsteadofawig，hewouldnowbestandingin
　　thisdockinsteadofbeingseatedwhereheis。’
　　Sixmenwerereservedforexecution，andtoldthattheymustexpectno
　　mercyonthissideofthegrave：Cooper，theleaderintheFordingbridge
　　riots；Holdaway，whohadheadedtheattackonHeadleyWorkhouse；Gilmore，
　　whohadenteredthejustices’roominAndover’inratheraviolentmanner’
　　andparleyedwiththejustices，andafterwards，inspiteoftheirremonstrances，
　　beenaringleaderinthedestructionofafoundryintheparishofUpper
　　Clatford；Eldridge，whohadtakenpartintheFordingbridgeriotandalso
　　’invadedthesanctuary’ofMr。EyreCoote’shome；JamesAunalls，aladof
　　nineteen，whohadextortedmoneyatnightwiththreatsofafire，froma
　　personwhomhebadelookoverthehills，whereafirewassubsequentlyseen，
　　andHenryCook。Cookwasaploughboyofnineteen，whocouldneitherread
　　norwrite。Formostofhislife，sincetheageoften，hehadbeenafarm
　　hand。Forsixmonthsbeforetheriotshehadbeenemployedatsawing，at
　　10s。aweek，butatthetimeoftherisinghewasoutofwork。Afterthe
　　riotshegotworkasaploughboyatabout5s。aweektillhisarrest。Like