Riot Act. He finished it without faltering, the mob continuing
as before their work of destruction. "Men," he shouted, "I have warned
you. I am going to give the order to the troops to fire if you do not
desist. Once again I warn you--your blood be on your own heads--Fire!"

No sooner was the fatal command given than the soldiers levelled their
muskets and let fly in among the rabble. Several fell; there were
shrieks and cries and curses; but the people were too eager in their
thirst for plunder to be driven off from the work they had in hand.
Again the order was given to fire; but the humane magistrate ordered the
troops to fire over the heads of the people. Some on this began to move
off, but others continued their task of plunder and destruction. No one
thought of attacking the soldiery. It showed the class of people
composing the rioters--the very scum of the populace. This last fire of
course did not produce any effect, and the mob began to proceed to
greater extremities, and set fire both to the out-houses and stables, as
also to the mansion itself, when they had possessed themselves of
everything they thought of value. Only after repeated volleys from the
soldiery were they driven off, and not till they had completed the work
of destruction they had commenced. This did not take them long, and at
last, several of their number having fallen, a panic seized them, and
away they went helter-skelter in every direction out of the square. I
could not resist the temptation of sallying out to see what they would
next do, in spite of the warnings of my relative, who advised me to keep
in the house. I laughed at the idea of there being any danger, and said
that Tom and I would very soon be back again.

The troops stood their ground in readiness to march in any direction to
which they might be sent. Some of the mob went off towards the east,
and I went after them, hearing that they were about to attack some of
the prisons, and having a fancy to see how they would proceed about the
undertaking. Tom and I had gone about half a mile or more, when, coming
along a street which crossed that we were in, I saw a coach driving
somewhat fast. Some of the rioters saw it also, and some seizing the
horses' heads, others proceeded to open the door, crying out that the
person inside was a papist escaping from justice.

"Papist! I am no papist," cried out an old gentleman from the interior;
"let my carriage proceed on, sco