by the combined armies: six hundred and thirty stand of arms were sent from the Tower for the Manchester Volunteers. The success of Lord Howe off Ushant was announced at the Kersal Moor races, and assembled thousands received the intelligence with loud cheers: in the evening it was communicated to the audience at the theatre by Mr. Ward, in the character of the Busy Body In August £500 were given by Lord Stamford for additional bounties to landsmen and seamen entering the navy; and on the twenty-first of the same month the Royal Manchester Volunteers were inspected by Major General Musgrave. Colours were presented to the regiment in St. Ann's Square, after which it marched to Liverpool to embark for Ireland: it subsequently became the 104th. regiment. In October a subscription was obtained for raising a Fencible Corps for the county of Lancaster. The Loyal Associations in Manchester and Salford formed themselves into a corps for the home defence. The war, however, was not universally popular: in 1795 a petition was sent from the town praying for peace. In November of that year the National Committee appointed to inquire into the high price of corn announced that the importation of foreign grain was desirable, and that to encourage it a liberal bounty should be offered. They also stated, that though the harvest generally was abundant, there was a deficiency in the wheat crop, and therefore the mixture of other grain with it was desirable. Handsome premiums were given to farmers bringing the largest quantity of provisions to this market. In addition to the sufferings from want, an epidemic fever was raging, and it was proposed, therefore, to erect fever wards. In February, 1796, the Boroughreeve, Clergy and others publicly pledged themselves, in a series of resolutions, to reduce their use of wheat-flour at least one-third. Commercial distress pressed so heavily upon the people, that though they were relieved as far as possible by subscriptions and other means, their privations drove them to occasional acts of violence, which required corresponding precautions by the authorities. On the 31st. July an order was issued that all public-houses be closed by seven in the evening, and all private persons appearing in the streets after nine o'clock were compelled to give an account of themselves. On the 29th., several gentlemen being employed in examining the weights in the potato-market, a disagreement arose between the spectators and the market-dealers. A tumult ensued; the people began to break the windows, and the light troops were called in. The soldiers, after riding quietly but ineffectually amongst the people, were ordered to gallop through the midst of them, and they were thus dispersed. They assembled again in the morning at New Cross and in Newton Lane. Several loads of meal were seized and thrown away. On the arrival of the military and magistrates the rioters returned home without doing any further mischief. On the 10th. November an address was presented from the delegates of all the Loyal Associations in Manchester and Salford, congratulating the King on his escape from the blow of a ruffian who attempted his life on his way from the House of Peers. At this time, by general agreement, pies and puddings ceased to appear on the family table, in order to lessen the consumption of flour. Such soldiers as could be spared from military duty were commanded to assist the farmers in thrashing out corn. At the close of the year a most respectable meeting was held "to take measures for preserving liberty and property from republicans and levellers." Patrols were formed in the town shortly afterwards. Early in 1797 the first regiment of Royal Lancashire Volunteers received the thanks of his Majesty, conveyed through Lord Cornwallis, for their patriotic services in Ireland. In March, it is stated that the first and second battalions of Manchester and Salford Volunteer Infantry were drawn out for the first time. This, therefore, must have been an additional new corps. In April, the Lancashire and Cheshire Volunteers, the former commanded by the Earl of Wilton, offered to serve in any part of Europe. Shortly afterwards £25,953 13 0 were raised in the towns of Manchester and Salford and the neighbourhood, for the support of Government. In November there was a disposition to riot, owing to the high prices of corn and flour. Subscriptions to purchase articles of food, and retail them to the poor at a low rate, were liberally made. CHAPTER IV. The termination of the peace of Amiens rendered it necessary, early in the summer of 1803, to make preparations to repel the invasion threatened by Napoleon Bonaparte. In Manchester meetings were immediately called, arrangements for forming military bodies made, and subscriptions entered into with zeal and liberality. A general meeting of the Lieutenancy of the county (Lord Derby in the chair) was held at Wigan, in obedience to the King's command, to assist in carrying into effect the "law to enable his Majesty more effectually to provide for the defence and security of the town during the present war." Schedules were sent to the various officers in the towns throughout the county, desiring them to make, without delay, returns of the inhabitants, cattle and stock within their jurisdiction; the clergy and gentlemen were requested to give their assistance in furnishing the returns, and the county was divided into eight parts, each portion being superintended by a Lieutenant. Manchester constituted the sixth division, and was placed under the charge of John Leaf, Esq. A meeting was immediately convened to consider the best means of assisting in the defence of the Country, and it was agreed to accept the offers of James Ackers and John Leigh Phillips, Esqrs. to re-establish the Volunteer Corps, and also to support the proposal of Joseph Hanson, Esq., for the formation of a Volunteer Rifle Corps to furnish their own accoutrements, serve without pay, and march to any part of Great Britain. A subscription was raised to defray the various expenses, and a Committee appointed to superintend the appropriation of the fund. The following is copied from F Subdivisions or Districts. the returns made by the Deputy Lieutenants of the available force in this county, the moveable property and stock: Oxen. Young cattle and colts. Sheep and goats. Total number of men between 15 and 60. Incapacitated. No. of men willing to serve on horseback. No. of persons willing to serve & provide firelocks. No. of swords, pistols and pitchforks. No. of the persons to be provided with arms at the general assembly. No. of pioneers and labourers with felling-axes, pick-axes, spades,shovels, mattocks and saws. No. of guides and overseers for the removal of waggons, live and dead stock. No, who will supply wag. gons, drivers and conductors with four horses. Ditto, with three horses. No. of carts without tilts, three horses. Ditto, with two horses. No of carts with tilts, Ovens to supply on emer- Total tonnage. No. of mills. Additional return for Manchester, 40 vessels of 30 tons each. Live stock. Horses. Average amount of dead stock. Flour or Articles of local produce.] 1057 2035 2140 29 3394 524 1702 1131 6 1575 2247 257 390 1993 127644 615 3196 27 120 1737 490 740 8758 629 387 3529 2667 92 16323 1116 3795 799 1408 1000 .. 4348 76 824 other Meal. |