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ordered from Cardiff. An express from Caermarthen had met the Dragoons
at four o'clock in the morning, just after they had passed through Neath,
and were still 31 miles from their destination. They pushed on, riding
the last 15 miles in an hour and a half, two horses dying from fatigue as
they entered the town. They were met by one of the Magistrates, who led
them to the Workhouse and read the Riot Act. The rioters were summoned
to surrender; but they made an attempt to rush on the military. The
Dragoons charged, using the flat of their swords, and soon put the
rioters, outside the wall, to flight. Those within offered some
resistance; and, for a moment, the edge of the sword was turned upon
them, when they succumbed. Many escaped over the wall; but about 100
were taken prisoners, and several horses were abandoned by their riders.
The disturbance which menaced so seriously the safety of the town, was
thus happily put an end to, without any bloodshed or calamitous result.

As time advanced, the insurrection, which had at first been lightly
thought of, and for which much allowance had been made, under the belief
that the people had real grievances to complain of, assumed a more
malignant and dangerous aspect. The farmers and peasantry, who in their
impatience under the vexations of the tolls, had commenced it, soon fell
into the hands of ill-disposed and designing men, who aggravated the
excitement that prevailed, and availed themselves of the name and
disguise of "Rebecca," in order to carry out their own evil and lawless
purposes. Threatening letters were one of the means most freely resorted
to; and great numbers, under the signature of "Rebecca," were sent about
the country, conveying the most sanguinary menaces to those whose conduct
had, in any way, given offence to the dastardly writers. Certain rules
were laid down by conclaves of the disaffected, respecting the occupation
of farms; and all who presumed to contradict the edicts of this invisible
authority, were marked out, and denounced as victims to the just
vengeance of Rebecca. The more active magistrates, as well as the
tithe-owners and clergy, were made the special objects of this cowardly
system of intimidation. In some instances, the rioters proved that their
threats were not without meaning. Guns were fired into the houses of
persons who had fallen under the popular displeasure. Some had their
property fired, or otherwise injured; and a grow