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ed a young boy, taking him for the son of Mr Donaldfon, who, as already obferved, was particularly the butt of their malice; and would probably have killed him, had not they discovered their miftake. In confequence of this, the magiftrates apprehended two of the ringleaders of the mob; upon which a threat ening letter was fent to the Provoft, and delivered by a woman; who was com mitted to prifon till fhe fhould discover from whom she got the letter.

affuring them, that he would become bound that all the grain should be fent into Perth, either to-morrow or next day; they, however, broke to pieces three cellar-doors that were locked; and both parties having by this time joined together, they held a confultation, whether or not they fhould burn the barnyard, and carry off the horses; and which they were with difficulty prevented from putting in execution by the prudent conduct of the juftice of peace. They then fet off in great triumph for Perth, carrying along with them the keys of the castle and barns; and having knocked up the sheriff-fubftitute, informed him, that they had been at Elcho, where there were thousands of bolls of grain, and infitted he should immediately repair to the place, and drive it in to Perth, for which purpose they delivered the keys of the castle to him. The fheriff, for his own fafety, complied; and having come to Elcho with carts, found there was not 200 bolls in it, half of which was wheat, and the other half barley, which was immediately forwarded to Perth. Mr Donaldfon, however, before that time, had sent off about forty bolls, in confequence of the juftice of peace's promise to the mob.

The mob rofe again on Friday, Jan. 1. [xxxiv. 692.1, in order to fet at liberty their companions, as the threatening letter had not that effect; beat off a party ** of the military, and obliged the Provoft to give them up. The fame evening beBathed with victory, in having gaindo material a point, they went to the houfe of John Burt, which they broke into, and again made a search for Mr 5. Donaldson; but he not being in town, they went out in a body, to the number of about 400, to his houfe at Elcho, at the diflance of five miles from Perth. Mr Donaldíon, the day before, fearing his danger, had applied to the fheriff, and got a party of ten military for his protection; but this party thinking their number too fmall, and having only three rounds of fhot, thought proper to re- That fame night the mob intended to treat, on hearing the dreadful noise the have paid a vifit to Mr Blair of Balthaymob made. They came in two different ock, and asked the justice if boats could bodies; one attacked Mr Donaldfon's be got to carry them over the water; houfe, the doors and windows of which but he having anfwered, that unless they they broke open with fmiths hammers, could fwim, he knew of no other me. which they had brought with them for thod of conveyance for them, they laid the purpofe. They then broke to pieces that scheme afide for another night's othe furniture in the house, no part of perations. The juftice, hearing the to which efcaped their fury, but was all threatenings which were made against e demolished, except three chairs and a Mr Blair, thought it proper to inform table, and carried off a great deal of him of the danger he was in, and accorcloaths, fhirts, &c. and every thing else dingly next day went over, and gave that was portable. Mr Donaldfon and him that neceffary and friendly informahis whole family were obliged to fly for tion; upon which Mr Blair, for his own felf-prefervation, the mob having threat- fafety, fent in the keys of his granaries, thed to put them all to death if they in which there was very little corn or he could catch them. The other part of the meal, to the fheriff, and begged of him 1; mob attacked the caftle, who fet about that it might be made known through breaking the doors; but the juftice of the town, that whatever grain or meal peace, who was present to command the he had, fhould be fent to town on military, on their retreating, having the Monday after. But, notwithstandmixed with the mob, perfuaded them ing, the mob that fame night went to not to break the doors, as he had the the houfe of Balthayock, with a piper kys, and would let them in; which, playing before them, and demanded enhaving done accordingly, they infifted trance; when, Mr Blair being abfent, pon deftroying the whole grain in it, a- the fervants, by means of fome drink mounting to about 200 bolls; but the and fair words, informing them at the juftice got them diffuaded from it, upon fame time, that all the grain was fent to

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Perth,

Perth, got them prevailed upon to go off without doing any harm. They then went off to the houfe of William Lau der farmer in Glencarfe, about a mile farther; but he having obferved the fame conduct with Mr Blair's fervants, likewife efcaped unhurt. After this, on their way home, they called at the houfe of Robert Hood, farmer at Mountblair; where they plundered his houfe, and carried off every thing that was portable; and the poor man having made fome refiftance, they beat him feverely. Having finished this night's operations, they concerted a plan for deftroying feveral other gentlemen and farmers houfes the fueceeding night; for which purpofe they were to have been joined by a body of about eighty from Abernethy and New burgh, who actually had croffed the water of Earn, and were within a mile of Perth on that errand, when they heard of a troop of dragoons having arrived there, which intimidated them fo much, that they ftopt fhort, and immediately returned. Thefe gentry being difappointed fo far, thought they could not go home without doing fome exccution; and therefore called at the farm of Balgonie, belonging to Mr Donaldfon, whofe fervants they obliged to fend all the bear and fome oat-meal which he had there for his fervants ufe, to Abernethy, and there fell it at a penny the peck below the market-price; then went to the houfe of Alexander Stedman at Carpow, and obliged him to fend his barley to Newburgh, the price of which they regulated in the fame manner. Next night the fame rioters went to the houfe of William Arnot, farmer at Coonichie, in Fifeshire, whom they threatened to mur. der, and made a strict fearch for; but not finding him, they deftroyed every thing in his houfe, and carried off any thing they thought valuable. His fon very narrowly escaped their fury, having taken a ford, which they did not chufe to risk, after they had pursued him more than a mile. They then went to the houfe of Mr Boyd farmer in Balmedie fide, and fearched for Mr Boyd; but he having had fome previous notice of their intentions, got out of the way; and Mrs Boyd, by giving them fome liquor, and promifing, that her husband would ne-, ver fell any of his grain for the future to be shipped, got them away without doing any mischief. They then went, on their way home, to the house of John

Brown, a farmer at a mile's diftance, w likewife was from home, and whofe wi got them peaceably difperfed in the fam manner with the former's.

Having come on in a regular pro greffion with the mobbing at Perth, New burgh, and Abernethy, I muft now g back, in point of time, in order to giv fome account of those which happene at Cupar, Fife, and places adjacent. The first rifing at this place was Thurfday, Dec. 24. where a number men and women, to the amount of 400 aflembled in the forenoon; and under ftanding that William Arnot, who dea in grain, and who is mentioned above was coming to town, they went out, an attacked him with ftones, &c.; bu fome farmers being with him, gave hi all the affiftance in their power, and wit much difficulty got him into the town where he was concealed and protected b the better fort of people, notwithstand ing the threats of the mob.

On Friday, Jan. 1. part of the Cupa mob met in the evening; and on hear ing that Mr Donaldfon was to ship a car go of barley at Balmerino, determine to prevent it; and accordingly fet ou for that purpose, forcing all the lowe fort of people, in the little towns the had to pafs through, to join them, an even cutting out the webs of fome wea vers out of the looms, because they re fufed. When they came to Balmerino however, they were happily disappoint ed; for Mr Donaldfon having been pre viously informed of their intentions, die not fhip the grain. Part of the mot threatened to destroy Mr Stark at Bal merino, thinking him a friend of M Donaldfon; but the majority being of o pinion that he was a good man, he efca ped untouched.

The 7th, a great mob, to the number of 900 or 1000, affembled at Cupar up on the found of a horn; plundered feve ral houfes of potatoes and meal; then went to the houfe of Alexander Ander fon, farmer at Seggie, about four miles diftant, fearched for him, threatening to kill him if they found him; but he ha ving got out of the way, they broke.eve ry thing in his houfe, carrying off theft things which beft fuited their purpose.

I now proceed to give an account of the rifings at Dundee, and places adjacent. On the night of Jan. 5. the mub pillaged the houfe of a poor man in the neighbourhood of Dundee, who was

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no dealer in victual, and carried away, on to the houfe of Mylnefield, where was a part of the mob ftill remaining; of which, after a very feeble refiftance, he took a good many prifoners, and difperfed the reft. This gentleman's fpirited behaviour in the fervice he has now done the public, by effectually breaking the mob, can be equalled only by the humanity and tenderness shown to the poor mifguided people, of which it mofly confifted, in firft getting the farmers to lay afide fire-arms, the ufe of which would have been very fatal; and after breaking the mob, in preventing, as much as one man could, the fury of the Carfe fervants, male and female, from breaking out on the poor creatures of prifoners, and the rest of the routed and difperfed rioters. - Upon an exprefs coming from Mylnefield, informing that the mob was put to flight, the magiftrate who commanded the guard, marched them, to the number of 130 effective men, to the Weft port, in order to prevent them fo entering the town again in a body: but none appeared, except a few ftragglers, who were taken into cuftody, and examined, and afterwards difiniffed, as they appeared only to have gone there from an idle and ill timed curiosity.

not only the whole meal he had for amily-ufe, but fheets, blankets, cloaths, and every piece of furniture that would carry. On this, it was found neceffary, that the inhabitants of the town fhould arm in defence of their property, until the arrival of the military. And accordingly, on Wednesday afternoon, a guard of the merchants and corporations, properly armed, mounted at the councilchamber, and patrolled the ftreets of the town and fuburbs the whole night; by which means the mob was prevented from affembling, and all was quiet, that and the fubfequent night. But on Friday, a croud of people gathered toge ther in the market-place, and by fome attempts to carry away meal that was brought there for fale, and to feize a an that was obnoxious to them, and who took fhelter in the tolbooth, gave fufficient reafon to apprehend they would meet again in the evening. And fo in deed it happened: for about five o'clock after noon, a great number of men and women affembled before the tolbooth, and demanded the man who had there theltered himself from their fury in the forrnoon, fhould be delivered up to them. This not being complied with, they attempted to break the town-houfe gate; but defifted, on underftanding that the guard (which was that night doubled) was affembling. Another body of the mob had by this time broke into the church-fteeple, and rung the great bell; which brought people from all quarters to the church-yard; whence, after procuring a drem, they marched in a noify and tumanner to the houfe of Mylnefield, where they broke and demolished everything of furniture and finishing about the houfe; and then a great body retreated, loaded, many of them, with the fpoils. By this time a very great body of Carfe farmers and their fervants, armed with mufkets, cutlaffes, pitchforks, &c. had been called out by the ringing of the feveral parish-bells, and were drawn up in the neighbourhood of Mylnefield; but as it was faid the mob had many of them Gre-arms, they hefitated about approachng, till they were joined by Colonel D-, who, on hearing the bells, had moft generoufly left his own houfe, with only one fervant, to give his advice and affistance in quieting thefe diforders. He prevailed with the Carfe folks to lay afide their muskets, and led them directly

multuous

VOL. XXXV.

Before concluding I muft obferve, that the want of provifions cannot, with any degree of juftice, be pleaded as an excufe for thefe riots; as there was grain of all kinds in market every day, and the prices all this feafon as follows, viz. oat-meal from rod. halfpenny to 12 d. per peck, barley and peafe-meal from 7d. to 8d. and wheat from 18s. to 20s. per boll. It may likewife be worthy obfervation, that there is exported from Tay every year, on an average, from 24 to 30,000 bolls of wheat and barley, and plenty left behind to ferve the demands of the country; and, in place of this quantity fhipped off, there is from 30 to 36,000 bolls of oats and oat-meal imported, moftly by the fame merchants who fhip off the barley and wheat. I am, &c. COMMUNICATIVE.

Cal. Merc.

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Perth-county Refolutions.

At PERTH, the 19th day of January, 1773. At a meeting of the Juftices of Peace, and of the Heritors of the County of Perth, convened by the Sheriff, to confider of proper measures to fecure the tranquillity of the County at this time; PRESENT, the Earl of Kinnoul, Lord Ruthven, Sir William Moncrieffe of that Ilk, Bt, John Swinton, Efq; his Majefty's Sheriff-depute; John Craigie, Efq; of Kilgrafton; David Smyth, Efq; of Methven; James Keir, Efq; of Kinmonth; Major Auguftus Barry, of Lednock; William Mercer, Efq; of Piteuchar; John Richardfon, Efq; of Springfield; George Wilfon, Efq; of Hilton; and Patrick Keir, Efq; of Kinmonth; John Swinton, Efq; his Majefty's Sheriff-depute, in the chair.

Whereas, on pretence of the fcarcity

of meal, great numbers of evildifpofed perfons have, at different times, riotously and tumultuously affembled together in feveral parts of this county, and have, in defiance of all law and good government, committed many acts of theft and violence, by which the perfons, dwellings, and property of his Majefty's liege fubjects inhabiting these parts, are become infecure, and expofed to fudden and dangerous attacks; And whereas, although it has pleafed Almighty God to vifit thefe lands with feanty crops and bad harvests fucceffively for fome years paft, and although the laft harveft in particular was, by the continuance of violent rains for feveral weeks, rendered uncommonly long and expenfive, and quantities of corn were confiderably damaged; yet the prices of grain in this and the neighbouring markets have been, and continue to be, lefs raised than in other parts of the kingdom; and proper meafures have been taken by a refpectable number of the Juftices of the Peace, freeholders in this neighbourhood, co-operating with the Town-council, for fupplying the markets of Perth with meal; And whereas fuch riots and tumults, in their confequences, tend to produce that fcarcity which the perfons fo affembled, in order to deceive the deluded multitude, pretend it is their object to prevent; as will evidently appear from the following confiderations:

1. As the country situated on and near the river Tay, though it produces a fuperfluity of wheat and barley, requires

annually a very large fupply of oat-meal for the fupport of the inhabitants; if the people in the counties from whence that fupply is ufually brought into the Tay, fhould, after the example of the rioters in this part of the country, prevent by violence the exportation of cats and meal from thence, there would not be a fufficient quantity of oat-meal in the markets bordering upon the river of Tay, to answer the neceffary demands of the inhabitants until next harvest.

2. It cannot be expected, that any merchants will venture to commiffion or lay up fuch quantities of oats or meal as will be wanted, when their granaries and ftorehoufes are expofed to plunder and rapine.

3. Thofe farmers who fo cultivate their lands by their skill, industry, and expence, as to produce the beft crops, and who

confequently, as far as in them lies, en

deavour to increase the fupply for the markets, being usually poffeffed of the largeft ftores of grain in their barns and. barn-yards, have been for that reafon, though they are really the best friends of the poor, marked out by ill-defigning men as the objects of popular refentment, to the entire difcouragement of all good cultivation and improvement, by which alone, through the bleffing of God, a plentiful crop of grain can be obtained :

All which confiderations evince the neceffity of maintaining order and good government, and fo fecuring to every man the peaceable poffeffion of his property, under the protection of law, which is the birthright of every Briton; and in the due execution of which, the lower clafs of people is most peculiarly interested, that the farmer may reap the reasonable fruits of his labour, and that the merchant may be induced to import fuch quantities of oats or oat-meal as shall be required for the supply of the markets; thefe being the most probable means, under God, of preventing scarcity, and of providing food for the poor:

And whereas, by an act of parliament paffed in the 1ft year of the reign of K. George I. intitled, An act for prevenung tumults and riotous affemblies, and for the more Speedy and effectual punishing the rioters, it is among other things enacted, "That the profecutions for repairing the damages of any dwelling-houfe, barn, ftable, or out-houfe, which shall be demolished or pulled down, in whole, or in part, within Scotland, by any perfons:

unlawfully,

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unlawfully, riotoufly, or tumultuoufly as has been concerted with the commandassembled, shall and may be recovered er of his Majesty's forces at Perth: And by fummary action, at the inftance of the in cafe it proceeds from any other place, party aggrieved, his or her heirs or exc- by ringing of the parifh-bell, as well as cutors, against the county, ftewartry, by fending notice from one place to ancity, or borough refpectively, where fuch other. diforders fhall happen;" by which provifion, the legislature manifeftly intended to excite all magiftrates in counties and boroughs, and those who fhall be lawfully called to their affiftance, to exert their utmost endeavours for effectually fuppreffing fuch riots and tumults, and for preventing the mifchievous effects of them; and from hence the wicked and evil-difpofed perfons who deftroy the boufes and properties of thofe who are the objects of their refentment, may fee that their intentions are entirely fruftrated, and that the loss occafioned by their wicked practices falls upon the county, city, or borough:

And whereas by other provifions contained in the faid act, all perfons guilty of the offences therein mentioned, incur the pains of death, and confifcation of moveables; fo that all innocent perfons, who from folly and curiofity, or at the inftigation of the evil-difpofed, mingle with riotous mobs, fubject themselves to thefe heavy pains and penalties:

Therefore, for preventing fuch evils for the future, the Meeting unanimoufly concurred with the Sheriff in the follow ing RESOLUTIONS.

1. That as, agreeably to the dictates of humanity, the care of the Noblemen and Gentlemen, at a former Meeting, on the 4th of this month, called by the Sheriff-fubftitute, was, to direct proper meafures for the fupply of the market, and to recommend the fame to the magiftrates of Perth; fo this Meeting is refolved to continue the fame care, and the fame recommendation.

2. That in case evil-difpofed perfons should still endeavour to difturb the peace of the county, by tumults and riotous affemblies, the whole Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Heritors, will, as one man, ufe their utmost endeavours to fupprefs fuch riots, and to apprehend the guilty, by raifing their tenants and fere rants, and following the mobs whereever they go.

3. That this may be done in an orderly and effectual manner, a fignal shall be made at Perth, in cafe the mob proceeds from thence, by firing a cannon once in every five minutes, for an hour at least,

4. That as foon as fuch fignals are heard, or notices given, the fame shall be further communicated by ringing the parish-bells of other parishes who perceive the fame; and the minifter and precentor of such parish, shall take care the bells be fo rung upon fuch fignals and notices, and all the Noblemen, Gentlemen, and other Heritors, with their te nants, fervants, and dependents, shall thereupon affemble at the refpective parifh-churches, mounted on horseback, fo far as they have horfes, and armed, at least, with clubs or ftout sticks; after which they are to repair to the place where fuch mobs are; or if they have no certain information thereof, they are to repair to the North Inch of Perth, where they will be joined by the Sheriff, with his Majefty's forces, as has been concerted with the commander of his Majefty's forces in Perth, and receive directions where to proceed.

5. To the end these resolutions may be communicated to the Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Heritors of the county not here prefent, the Meeting recommended to the Sheriff, to cause the fame to be printed, and copies thereof tranfmitted to the feveral minifters of the county; and to defire them, fo foon as the faid copies come to their hands, to cause the fame to be publicly read in their respective congregations on the two fubfequent Sundays, immediately after divine service in the forenoon.

6. The Meeting refolve to communicate thefe Refolutions to the Provost and Magiftrates of Perth immediately.

7. Whereas there is just reason to apprehend, that there are many unlicenfed ftills wrought in feveral parts of the coun ty, whereby a confiderable quantity of grain is unlawfully confumed; therefore the Meeting recommend it to the Juftices of Peace, to use the most effectual means for discovering and fuppreffing all private and unlicensed ftills; and the under-officers of excife are required to exert their utmoft diligence in detecting, and giving information to the Juftices of the Peace, and to the fuperior officers of the revenue, of all perfons ufing fuch ftills.

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JOHN SWINTON.

SIR,

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