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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 men actually entered the 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 ther 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 torn to 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 tore 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 between 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 into 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 the very inoment 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 bad 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 a room, where he found a temporary conceal- military unnecessary to basesgo ment in a bed-place, under a load of clothes and some blankets. To the mean time the mub surrounded the house and the adjoining tenements Swearing that they would find him out, and sacrifice him to the cause of Reform some clambered up the roof and Tooked throng 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 Colgy houn to allay the popular excitement, without the aid of the military force, were unceasing. The Riot Act, we understand, was real. The cavalry were twice within a quarter of a mile of the borough, but, by good management they were not needed.

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ELECTIONS IN SCOTLAND.

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cult to moitqpozɔ 911 atra jodu deiland, loudho edt ni sneb glɔtego JEDAYRSHIRE ELECTION.DITSALA ruffians on the destruction of Colonel Blair, that they assembled at many places along the This finished the business ; but on some of coast, where it was thought most probable Colonel Blair's voters attempting to get out he would attempt a landing. On the return at the hack door, 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 knocked in, and another poor fellow with the menaces pointed out that their only refuge front of his helmet, much indented, and the was 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 forebeid. 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 indurance; 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, pro After 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 he had the horses' heads turned in the is very popular,), 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 althat 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 busy in the assault. At last, however, ing a stone, was chased up the steps of the they got off unmolested, with an official genCounty Buildings by the soldier he had in- tleman in front. In these affrays we have sulted, who fortunately refrained from doing just heard of one young man who received a more than giving him two or three hearty cut on the cheek, and another on the arm, strokes. A party of the dragoons were then When the military had retired, the mob took formed into a circle, for the purpose of re- advantage of the opportunity to smash every ceiving Colonel Blair and several of his friends, pane of glass in Major Neill's house, in Welin order to convey then on board the Largs lington square. This gentleman had voted 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, and 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 multo picces and themselves murdered. The titude who had assembled on an emi-house of Major Montgomerie, in the square nence, where they were well supplied with also, shared a like fate about the same time; these missiles, and from which, although not one whole pane of glass escaped, and the dislodged by the cavalry more than once, 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 voters who could. with showers of stones, and all the individuals be conveniently come at. Nearly 'at tins' were more or less injured. Colonel Blair was period, half past nine at night, the prisoners 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 was most shamefully pelted, until he got the attempt to escape; and it was said that roz cable cut on board, no one daring to unloose less than sixteen of them had $oveed the rope on shore for fear of the mob. They in getting as far as the outer door, then got to sea; but so determined were the fore they were discovered.

This was,

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The

2

28TH MAY, 1831.

to the house of Mr. Murdoch, the Fiscal, which is situated about half a mile from town The work of destruction was not long in being Comnieniced the garden gate was torn from its hinges, the shrubbery rooted up, a large garden seat broken to pieces and scattered on fie road, and all the windows demolished. Au attempt was then made on the house of the Sheriff; but the cavalry being prepare to receive the marauders, they deemed it

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however, fortunately done in the critical | English, who, with the exception of the munene and they were gamall secured. Americans, are, I believe, the most gene mols, about eleven o'clock, proceeded the people on this side of the gut of GibScotch raltar. But besides this, the s have been much more severely, oppressed and cruelly insulted than the tradesEnglish ever have been. I have often related that two journeymen men of Edinburgh wrote to me at the had made time, when PEEL'S BILL it legal to demand gold in exchange prudent in this instance to retire. The mob for a Bank-note, to inform me that they then returned to town, and in "passing down Sandgate they broke the windows had, accordingly, made the demand; of Mr. Gibson, accountant in the Bauk of that they were refused gold in payment Scotland, one of Colonel Blair's voters. It 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 not hear that any renewal of hostilities was afraid to demand redress of any de expected. The mob who were engaged in scription. This is quite enough to sa these disgraceful proceedings were the most tisfy any reasonable man that the treatsanguinary we have ever had the misfortunement of the people of Scotland has been When Mr. JONES, infinitely worse than that of the slaves of the West Indies. 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.

to witness.

We neglected to mention that Mr. T.F. Kennedy, of Danure, was chaired in the fore con; and that the disturbers in front of the County Hall were repeatedly addressed, and advised to be orderly by Provost Kennedy, Mr. T. F. Kennedy, of Dunure, the late Provost Fullarton, and that Mr. James Oswald, of Shieldall, was indefatigable, as usual, in his exertions to preserve the peace, and to shield his political opponents from danger.

A steam-boat, the Countess of Glasgow, had arrived at Ardrossan from Ayr, about half an hour before the Largs, and given notice of the approach of Mr. Blair, when a crowd collected, and give him an uncour teous reception, as far as hisses and groans could go, and they threw stones at him and his party, who took refuge in the inn, when driving out of town in an open carriage.

Mr. Lade, of Port-Glasgow, one of the voters, died in the steam-boat betwixt Ayr

and Ardrossan.

A gentleman who came up in the Largs

steam-boat describes the dinner scene as one of the most striking he ever witnessed. One of the voters was lying a corpse in an adjoin ing apartment, while most of those who sat at table had their heads bound up with bloody haudkerchiefs. He says Colonel Blair was severely cut on the back part of his head and leg, His hat bore the marks of many blows.

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 not of assault, and in many cases of actual It is false these men were Tabble: these men were not blood-killing, is not the provocation to be thirsty wretches these these men were taken into view? It is unlawful for a swelling with indignation, and, if you man to strike a monster that has falsely will, with revenge. The Scotch are imputed to him all sorts of crimes. more passionate, more violent, than the Strictly speaking, he ought to seek re

dress from the law? But ba trial for end to by men who would vote for the assault, the provocation is always taken Bilt: here were men elected who he into view if there he provocation and clared that they would not vote for the a blow, which without provocation, Bar and was it to b to be expected that sends the offender to jail is let off with the people, who were so deeply inte a reprimand, the provocation being in rested in putting an end to the usurpa tolerable. Jagnoms seeds it foiv tion, would not show their resentment And does not this apply to commu against these men? Was it to be ex nities of men, as well as to individuals? pected that they should stand quietly And might not the people at Dumbar by and see the old farce performed, and ton, when assaulting the son of the Duxe not show their indignation in a manner of MONTROSE, have recollected that the so marked as to produce effect upon father, in 1817, spoke of the imprisoned their adversaries? 92 38 grids 903180 reformers as men merely abstracted When once people enraged, and for a time from society;" and may not violence begins, who is to prescribe all the people of Scotland now fecollect bounds to that violence? One passionate the transportation of their countrymen, word or act creates another still more their excellent countrymen, their able, passionate; and, at last, men do that their virtuous, their brave countrymen, which they never they never contemplated PALMER, MOIR, GERALD, and MAR thought possible in their cooler 10151 GAROT aye, their transportation durments. The killing of the King's ing the domination of Pirt for stremuously advocating that very Reform of Parliament which he himself had advo cated before he was in power, and which is now, after the country has beeh beggared for the want of it, advocated by the King and his Ministers May not the people all Scotland still recollect this "The Scotch are not a fickle race; they are not a thoughtless, senseless, giddy race of beings, who forget, in a moment, the good or the evil that they have received. Why are they not to remember, and why are their children not to remember, that Mr. MARGAROT, when the judges were pass ingd

Guards at Paris, in the year 1789, arose purely from the insolence of a soldier having knocked down an old man in the street so that these violences are not to be ascribed to the character of the people of Scotland, but to their long oppressions, and to the irritating sights and circumstances of the moment. For one reason, however, I a by no means sorry that these violences have ta taken place in Scotland. sorry to hear that any bodily injury has been done to any body, and by no means justify any such acts; but my readers must recollect how often I have had to contend with Dr. BLACK upon the subsentence upon him, told them that ject of the relative behaviour of the the day would come when they would English and the Scotch. When the Spe have to answer to an enraged people for cial Commissions were going on, the the injustice which they were then in- Doctor contended that the riots in flicting? The whole of those victims are land did not proceed from the ill-treatdead; but the Scotch people are not ment of the people, but from their. dead, and memory still has a seat in of education. I contended that they arose their minds.dw to airs siqosq sa not from want of education. I contended Upon this occasion what did they be that they ar arose from a want of a suffi hold? They beheld that very thing ciency of food and raiment. Look at still carried on which had been con- the Scotch, said the Doctor; they com demned by the King and his Ministers, mit no brutal violences; and it is be The Ministers had told them, by the cause they are educated. I should like mouth of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, that this to have seen the Doctor when he was mode of electing Members was a scan inser inserting in his paper the above two dalous usurpation. The King had dis-articles. But what does he say now solved the Parliament in order that this Why, that the difference in the conduct villanous usurpation might be put of the people of the two countries arises