ion of
the attorney-general was taken; in consequence of which the
ser-geant-at-arms, accompanied by a number of police-officers and
a detachment of troops, proceeded to his mansion, and, after some
altercation, conveyed Sir Francis to the Tower. Before this the mob had
collected round the house of the right honourable baronet, in token of
their admiration of his patriotism, while they had broken the windows
of many of his known opponents in token of their displeasure. They
accompanied him to the Tower; and in the way they so grossly insulted
his escort, that the soldiers fired in self-defence, and two individuals
were killed, while several more were wounded. Petitions were presented
by some public bodies, particularly the electors of Westminster and
London, praying for the release of Sir Francis; but he continued
in confinement to the end of the session, when he was released.
Subsequently Sir Francis commenced actions against the speaker of the
house of commons, who issued the warrant; against the ser-geant-at-arms,
for executing it; and against Earl Moira, governor of the Tower, for
illegal imprisonment. His object was to ascertain whether an appeal lay
to a court of law against the house, acting as accuser and judge,
in proceedings that affected the liberty of the subject. The judges,
however, would not admit that any unlawful measure had been adopted
in his case, or that the warrant issued by the speaker was an illegal
instrument. The privilege, therefore, of the house was confirmed,
and its claims solemnly recognised by the courts of law. Since the
"No-popery" riots of Lord George Gordon, there had not been a commotion
in London equal to that which attended this question of privilege: in
the sight of the public at large, he was "a martyr of liberty." Gale
Jones, also, who was liberated with him at the close of the session,
shared the popular favour. The mob were waiting at the Tower-gates on
the day of his release, in order to escort him with popular applause
to his residence; and great was their disappointment when it was
discovered, that with one or two friends he had retreated from the Tower
by water. Gale Jones, however, gratified them by allowing them not only
to surround the hackney coach in which he departed from Newgate, but
also to chalk his name upon the panels. As he went along, he stopped
from time to time to harangue his admiring attendants: and one of the
leading topics of complaint which fell from the