ELECTIONS IN SCOTLAND towng ofmi Dumbarton The person V1 30 900 mitsiv dod to desupus savo elected was, it appears, Lord M. W GREAT as the anxiety of the people GRAHAM, a son of the Dake of Mon 11 .1 of England has been on the subject of TROSE The e second article gives an ace the elections; enthusiastic as the people count of the violences at the close of have been, and, d, in some cases, violent the selection for the county of Ayr, st as they have been, they have in all these the town' of "Ayr, where, it appears, 3 respects, and especially in the latters Colonel BLAIR was elected. I will been greatly surpassed by the people insert these articles, without giving any of Scotland. This is a very important of the speeches, but without any further matter to us in England, who, generally abridgment, but, begging the reader to speaking, know very little of the treat- observe, that I insert them for the parment which the tax-paying part of the pose of conveying information to my people of Scotland have had to endure, readers, and for the purpose of com Scotland has poured out upon us bands menting on the articles, and that I do of greedy place and pension hunters; not join in any one sentiment of the crowds of the basest sycophants that writers, and that I particularly dissent ever soiled the earth that God has given from every abusive word, such quanti us, phalanxes of pestilent feelosophers ties of which sort of words are here that have endeavoured to make it ap heaped upon this oppressed, this long pear that the working people were very borne-down and insulted people of well off, and that, where they were not, Scotland. the fault was wholly that of themselves, 16 busmisingoɔ of and not at all of the Government. How Cover #jb 16vanshuu sw aidT yslere many schemes have these cold-blooded DUMBARTONSHIRE ELECTION. vði ruffians hatched for checking the popu- FROM the behaviour of the rabble within lation of the people, checking the the hall, it was perfectly apparent that, joined breeding of the people, for compelling ciates without, and who were anxiously wait as they would be by hundreds of their asso them to live in a beggarly manner, for ing for the breaking up of the Court to carry getting them out of the country, for their intentions into effect, the friends of the grinding their faces, and making them successful candidate had nothing to expect slaves! But while I have, for pretty the street. Accordingly, when Mr. Colquhoun but abuse and personal violence ou reaching nearly thirty years, been detecting, ex made his appearance, he was carried from the posing, and lashing these bands of hall door to an open cabriolet, which was ruffians, who have been the choicest of in waiting, without horses, and drawn in all the tools of the boroughmongers, I triumph through the streets by his noisy attendants; while, on his Lordship's friends have never, upon any one occasion, coming out, they were jostled, driven about, omitted to speak well of the industrious, and pelted with stones in the most furious the sober, the sensible, and the trust- manner. This was particularly the case so Buchauan, of Auchinworthy tradesmen, farmers, and people stoned a of Scotland. I am not disposed to the street, and who, but for the providential a considerable way up speak differently of them now, though interference of some respectable strangers, the reader will find, in the following would have been levelled to the ground by a two articles, which I take from the brawny carpenter, who paraded the stre Morning Chronicle, the appellations of during the day with a large board, containing the words, "Long live the King without ruffian, savage, vagabond, and every Boroughmongers, and which blow other term expressive of reproach, aimed at reproach, aimed at the respected gentlemen, Seei heaped upon of the people f that long- the way in which they were likely to be treat ed by the crowd, Lord W. Graham, and shout oppressed country. The Chronicle takes one of the articles from the Glasgow while Admiral Fleming, Mr. John Douglas twenty of his friends, remained in the ball, Courier, and the other of the articles and several other gentlemen, meritoriousy from the Glasgow Herald. The first exerted themselves in attempting, by all their ir power to prevail on the re gives an account of the effect of the in-guments in forming rigters to disperse. Their welldignation of the people at the close of t meant exertions, however, proved abortive. the election in Dumbartonshire, at the The cry of the mob was, Throw out Land anadto olid esittelɔ sit nahap balesano3 259 far as regarded 515 Graham to us, that we may tear him to pieces, forcibly entered this and the adjoining and then we'll go homes" i Detained thus houses, in quest of their victim. One or two prisoners against their will for upwards of menoactually enteredithe room where he lay; three quarters of an hour, Lord M. W. Gra- but, fortunately, never thought of turning up ham, and the gentlemen along with him, the clothes in the bed place. After a long several of them Vice-Lieutenants of the scrutiny, the mob began to suspect that his County, required the Sheriff to call in the aid Lordship had made his escape by some of the of the military to escort them to their Inns. many outlets, or through the back premises, A signal was accordingly made from the and partially dispersed themselves over the Court-hall to the castle, and this being an- town, to preclude the possibility of his foiling swered by the castle Hoisting its flag and dis their vengeance, while some of his relentless charging a gun, the troop of cavalry stationed persecutors kept waiting outside of the susat Bowling, were immediately put in motion, pected house, amusing themselves by tossing The report of the field-piece created some to and fro an effigy, which we suppose was sensation among the crowd, and we heard meant to represent his Lordship, and which numbers of them calculating the space that was torn to it shreds and patches in a very would elapse before the cavalry could enter short time, regardless of all the efforts of the town for, of the arrangements made to several of the gentlemen on the popular side preserve the peace, the leaders of the mob to quell the tumult. Mr. Jolly at length seemed to be in perfect possession. In the mustered a party of friends, under whose front, and all round the Court house, the care, surrounded by about a dozen trusty mob, though somewhat diminished in num- ship-wrights, who had pledged their word to bers, still kept its position. At this moment support him, Lord William placed himself Admiral Fleming, Sir James Colquhoun, but on reaching the street the scene that en and a number of other gentlemen in Mr. sued transcends all description. The crowd Colquhoun's interest, returned to the County immediately closed on the patriotic party, Buildings, and earnestly implored the Sheriff pelted them with sticks, and jostled them so to countermand or stay the approach of the tremendously, that they were compelled to take cavalry. This, we understand, was done, and refuge in the Bank, on ascending the flight of the troop was halted about half a mile from steps to reach which, his Lordship was struck the town. In the mean time, Sir James Col- by a stone. Luckily Mr. J. Dixon, who had quhoun, Admiral Fleming, &c., pledged rendered himself conspicuous in quelling the themselves to escort Lord William and his disturbance, secured the miscreant who threw friends in captivity safely to the quay, where it, and took down his name. Some of the a steam-boat was lying to receive them, The rabble we believe, even forced themselves in attempt was accordingly made, and the whole after his Lordship, and while making towards of the party made their way, though followed a small boat, by an avenue which leads from with the howlings and groans of the rabble, to the bank, which was lying ready to set out the place of embarkation, some in carriages, and with him, he was pursued by the ruffians, some a foot, with the exception of his Lordship, who overtook and nearly torey the coat from against whom the concentrated vengeance of his hack. He, however, latterly escaped into the mob was directed. Having placed him- the boat, which immediately put off for the self hetween Sheriff Campbell and Sir James Sovereign steamer, which, with his more forColquhoun, no sooner was he recognised by tunate friends on board, was lying out in the the mob, than, regardless of the safety of the offing near the castle. Indeed their anxiety gentlemen under whose protection he was, and incertitude, as to his Lordship's fate, had the rioters showered stones at him from all by this time reached to such a height, that a directions, while passing along, to such a number of them had landed at the castle, and, degree that, when opposite the church, as Magistrates, called out the infantry to as He was obliged to run to a close, a stone sist them in endeavouring to rescue his Lordand a bludgeon, each of them enough, had ship from the hands of the mob. While the they taken full effect, to kill him, whirling troops were about to march, Admiral Fle past his head, at they very moment he got ming again made his appearance, and, as we under shelter one only, however, struck understood, begged that the soldiers might him, and stunned him very much; while not stir till it was ascertained the precise part others hit Sir James Colquhoun and the gen- of the town where Lord William Graham had tlemen near him. On entering the close, a a second time found shelter. During this man cried, Follow me, I'll protect you." parley the barge, with his Lordship, came in He then got into a house, and was shown into sight, and rendered the interference of the Toom, where he found a temporary conceal- military unnecessary to basesgo ment in a bed-place, under a load of clothes and Some blankets. In the mean time the ob zurrounded the house and the adjoining tenements Sweating that they would find him out, and sacrifice him to the cause of Reform some clambered up the roof and Tooked through a skylight window into the very room where his Lordship, by this time, was concealed under the clothes, while others While this scene was enacting the efforts of Admiral Fleming and Mr. Sheriff Colgyhoun to allay the popular excitement, without the aid of the military force, were unceasing. The Riot Act, we understand, was reail The cavalry were twice within a quarter of a mile of the borough, but, by good management they were not needed. d JAYRSHIRE ELECTION BISA 517 73vewad Blair ruffians on the destruction of Colonel 1 This finished the business ; but on some of coast, where it was thought most probable that they assembled at many places along the Colonel Blair's voters attempting to get out he would attempt a landing. On the return at the hack duor, it was discovered that the of the party of soldiers from this service, we Court-house was, completely surrounded by a observed the helmet of a serjeant fairly most determined mob, whose threats and knacked in, and another poor fellow with the menaces pointed out that their only refuge front of his helmet much indented, and the wash to remain where they were. Against whole of his breast, as well as the peck of his Colonel Blair the most dreadful execrations horse covered with blood, which appeared to were showered; aud on some of his voters proceed from his forebead. There only now showing themselves at a window of the Court remained the Lord Justice Clerk, his son, and house, a volley of stones was thrown, which other two gentlemen in durance; and a carriage broke the window, and gave some indication with four horses having been procured, the to those within of the temper of the crowd. party drove off on the Cumnock road, proAfter remaining nearly two hours, closely tected by ten or twelve dragoons. The coachconfined, in the vain expectation that the man outwitted the mob very nearly here at mob would disperse, the Provost of Ayr (who first be had the horses' heads turned in the is very popolar,), and Mr. Oswald, of Shield direction of the crowd, but quickly wheeled hall, volunteered to take one of the opposite and went by that side of the square opposite party each through the crowd without danger, to where they were ready to receive him; and but we are sorry to say that stones were he had thus only one side of the square rail thrown at both parties. At length, to such a to go along, while the crowd had two to catch height did the people get with the throwing him in front. This was, however, led by a of stones, and as business urgently demanded fellow, with an apron full of stones; but al that some of the gentlemen should get home, though his Lordship was followed a good way a white flag was hoisted on the top of the on the road, no injury was sustained, although Court-house, as a signal for the dragoons to stones were thrown. When the soldiers had advance, and, all parties being agreed on the returned from this convoy, they were filed off perfect necessity of the measure, the Riot Act in four divisions to receive billets for the nights was read. The military were not long in Three of these parties had retired homemaking their appearance, but the multitude wards, bat on the fourth turning their backs showed no disposition whotever to retire; on the crowd to do so, a volley of stones was many stones were thrown, and a violent and showered after them, on which they faced dangerous uproar ensued. Some of the riot about, and charged round the square after ers received slaps with the broad sides of the some miscreants whom they had observed swords, and one fellow, who had been throw-most basy in the assault. At last, however, ing a stone, was chased up the steps of the County Buildings by the soldier he had insulted, who fortunately refrained from doing more than giving him two or three hearty strokes. A party of the dragoons were then formed into a circle, for the purpose of rethe mob took ceiving Colonel Blair and several of his friends, pane of glass in Major Neill's house, in Welin order to convey them on board the Largs lington square. This gentleman had voted to smash every steamer, which was lying at the quay to re- for Colonel Blair, which the ruffians thought ceive them. The scene that occurred after a sufficient excuse to act thus, at a time, too, the cavalcade got near the vessel, was dread- when his terrified family, principally females, ful, and most wonderful it is that no one were within, aud who expected every moment, was killed on the spot. The stones were that the shutters would have been knocked thrown in showers, principally by a titude who had assembled on a multo picces and themselves murdered. The nence, where they were well supplied with also, shared a like fate about the same time; an emi-house of Major Montgomerie, in the square these missiles, and from which, although not one whole pane of glass escaped, and the dislodged by the cavalry more than ouce, with sashes were also smashed. Seeing there was mutual wounds, they as often returned to the no prospect of the mob behaving any better, combat. The moment the cavalry got the the cavalry were again' called out, as it was gentlemen on board the steam-boat they left evident a similar visitation was intended for them, when the deck was completely swept every one of Colonel Blair's vo with showers of stones, and all the individuals be conveniently come voters who could were more or less injured. Colonel Blair was period, half past nine at night, the prisoners Nearly at tins wounded severely in the leg and head. The in the jail, seeing the havoc and confusion whole of the party, and every one on deck, ran that was going on around them, and suspectbelow, save the poor fellow at the helm, who ing that they were forgotten, made a desperate most shamefully pelted, until he got the attempt to escape; and it was said that mo cable cut on board, no one daring to unloose less than sixteen of them had succeeded the rope on shore for fear of the mob. They in getting as far as the outer dog then got to sea; but so determined were the fore they were discovered. they got off unmolested, with an official gen- at. F 518 28TH MAY, 1831.. however, fortunately done in the critical English, who, with the exception of the munene and they were again all secured Americans, are, I believe, the most genThe mob, about eleven o'dibek; proceeded to the house of Mer Murdoch, the Fiseal the people on this side of the gut of Gibwhich is situated about half a mile from towo raltar. But, besides this, the Scotch The work of destruction was not long in being have been much more severely opCommenced the garden gate was torn from pressed and cruelly insulted than the its hinges, the shrubbery rooted up, a large garden seat broken to pieces and scattered on English ever have been. I have often the road, and all the windows demolished. related that two journeymen tradesAn attempt was then made on the house of men of Edinburgh wrote to me at the the Sheriff, but the cavalry being prepared time when PEEL'S BILL had made to receive the marauders, they deemed it it legal to demand gold in exchange prudent in this instance to retire. The mob then returned to town, and in passing for a Bank-note, to inform me that they down Sandgate they broke the windows had, accordingly, made the demand of Mr. Gibson, accountant in the Bank of that they were refused gold in payment Scotland, one of Colonel Blair's voters.lt for the notes, and that, thereupon, have being by this time nearly twelve o'clock, and the vagabonds worn out with the exertions of ing persevered, with obstinacy, in their the day, and no one at hand on whose person demand, the Bankers sent for police or property they could wreak their vengeance, officers, who took them to prison; for they at length dispersed. All was quiet on which, they told me, that they were even Thursday morning at six o'clock, and we did afraid to demand redress of any de not hear that any renewal of hostilities was expected. The mob who were engaged in scription. This is quite enough to sathese disgraceful proceedings were the most tisfy any reasonable man that the treatsanguinary we have ever had the misfortune to witness, and god qorament of the people of Scotland has been infinitely worse than that of the slaves of the West Indies. When Mr. JONES, of Bristol, was refused payment in the same way, the Bristol banker dared not talk of punishing him; there was somebody to take his part there was an attorney ready to arrest the bankers: he had redress, and that redress served as an example for the whole country on this side the Tweed. Nay, even before a Committee of the House of Com mons, it was stated, that to demand gold in exchange for paper, in Scotland, was what no man would dare to do. In such a state of things, to talk of law and of justice is nonsense, and this is the state in which the industrious part of the people of Scotland have lived. for the last forty years. Scenes such as are described in these articles from the Glasgow papers are, in themselves, to be reprobated. No man that has any regard either for the happiness or the honour of the country, can attempt an abstract justification of violences like these; but as in all cases of assault, and in many cases of actual killing, is not the provocation to be taken into view: It is unlawful for a man to strike a monster that has falsely imputed to him all sorts of crimes. Strictly speaking, he ought to seek re |