ct; but mine host of the tavern represented that he
had prepared the viands, and that they might feast without danger if
they did not sit too long at the table, and so the company, to the
number of eighty or ninety, met at the appointed time. One Keir, a man
well known for his attainments in several branches of science, and a
member of the Established Church, was in the chair; but the party had
scarcely assembled, before the tavern was surrounded by a tumultous
crowd, who shouted long and loudly, "Church and King!" "Church and
King!" Strange rumours soon got abroad of the doings within the tavern.
It was said that mine host had set three figures upon the table: one
a medallion of the king encircled with glory; another an emblematical
figure of British liberty; and a third an emblematical figure of Gallic
slavery breaking its chains. It was likewise said, that the patriots
within doors had cut off the king's head and placed it on the table!
Finally it was reported that the very first toast of the assembly was,
"Destruction to the present government, and the king's head upon a
charger." This was too much for the feelings of the loyal people of
Birmingham to endure. No sooner had this toast been made known, than
loyalty "swift as lightning shot through their minds, and a kind of
electrical patriotism animated them to instant vengeance." Before the
second course was well on the table, they rushed into the tavern, broke
windows and glasses, and compelled the carousers to take refuge in
flight. So writes one authority; but another more authentic states,
that it was some hours after, when most of the company had departed,
that the mob broke in, and that the peculiar object of their search was
Dr. Priestley, from whose wig they wanted to knock out the powder. Dr.
Priestley had long been offensive to the townspeople of Birmingham for
his bold advocacy of the principles of the French revolution; and now
that their passions were excited, when they could not discover him at
the tavern, and after they had smashed all the windows, they resolved
to seek him elsewhere--at his dwelling-house on Fair Hill. Had they
proceeded direct to his residence, they might have tried their skill in
knocking the powder out of his wig, and, had they done nothing further,
they would not have committed much mischief, inasmuch as the doctor
could soon have had it re-powdered. A hint had been given them, however,
that they had done sufficient mischief at the