Carlisle Patriot, 12 Nov 1825 - Local News (1)

[petra.mi...@doctors.org.uk]

Saturday 12 Nov 1825   (p. 2, col. 5-6 and p. 3, col. 1 + 6)

 

A rather serious riot arising out of the tithing system, has taken place in the Isle of Man. The extract from the Isle of Man paper, annexed, refers to the origin of the commotion; the paragraph from the Cumberland Pacquet relates to subsequent events:—

 

DOUGLAS, NOV. 3.—On Friday last, a most unpleasant affray took place, in the parish of Kirk Christ Rushen, in consequence of some misunderstanding respecting tithes. The carts of the Proctor were rendered useless by sawing off the shafts, and the spirit which inflated the infuriate mob, marked that parish as being peculiarly rebellious and refractory. The agent for the Lord Bishop's Proctor, Mr. LAMBIE, very narrowly escaped with his life. And, as if the fury of the implacable savages were not to be satisfied with the sacrifice of the agent, they proceeded to molest the habitation which afforded him temporary shelter, by breaking the windows, doors, &c. of the Misses CHRISTIAN, at Port-le-Murray. Such are the consequences which are inevitable to a disposition to insubordination; a spirit which we regret to see manifest itself so widely over this little Island; and, as if a few demagogues of property in the parishes were not sufficient to influence and irritate the passions of the poor and the illiterate, the periodical press has of late betrayed a degree of licentiousness, alarming to any well regulated government. If the military be from necessity called out, the thinking part of the community will not fail to "put the saddle on the right horse;" and the query is natural: Who fomented all this?

 

Since writing the above, we are sorry to hear, that the spirit of insurrection had not abated yesterday morning. What it will end in, it is not difficult to predict, so far as the insurgents are concerned;—but every good subject must lament the prevalence of such a disposition; and that the ignorant should be so miserably duped by their unprincipled ringleaders.

 

Proclamation.—Whereas a number of persons did, on the evening of Friday the 28th of October, instant, assemble themselves in a riotous manner, in the Parish of Kirk Christ Rushen, and did then and there commit various outrages against the public peace, and cause serious injuries to be done to the persons and properties of certain of his Majesty's liege subjects:—And whereas several of the persons supposed to have been engaged in the said riot, are now imprisoned in Castle Rushen, to abide a trial for such their offences,—The Lieut.-Governor, therefore, deeply impressed with a sense of the disgrace and calamity which a repetition of such daring and lawless conduct may bring on this Island, hereby orders the captains of parishes, high-bailiffs, coroners, constables, and other officers to use their utmost endeavours to preserve the peace; and he strictly enjoins the inhabitants to demean themselves as become peaceable subjects, and by rendering due observance of the laws, show themselves deserving of that favour and protection which his Majesty's Government is very ready to extend to a loyal people.—Given at Castle Rushen, the 31st Oct., 1825.—C. SMELT, Lieut.-Governor.—Isle of Man Advt.

 

RIOTS IN THE ISLE OF MAN.—A boat arrived here yesterday evening about eight o'clock, express from Douglas, which place she left that morning, with letters on board addressed to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which were immediately delivered at the post-office, accompanied by the following note:—

 

"The Collector of the Customs, Douglas, Isle of Man, begs leave to inclose four letters to the Postmaster of Whitehaven, with a request that as they are Government letters of considerable importance, the Postmaster will cause them to be forwarded by the earliest opportunity.—Isle of Man, 5th Nov. 1825."

 

As the London mail would not leave Whitehaven before two o'clock this afternoon, it was deemed expedient, from the apparent urgency of the case, to forward the letters without loss of time, and a messenger was accordingly dispatched instanter. We have made inquiry of the boat's crew respecting the nature of the disturbance in the Island, and have obtained the following particulars:—For some time, part of the agricultural population in different parts of the Island, have manifested a decided hostility to comply with all legal customs which in any degree affected their own interest. The present disturbance originated we understand in consequence of some individuals, who had resisted the potatoe tithe-gatherers of the Lord Bishop of that diocese, having been committed to Castle Rushen. On Wednesday nearly the whole population of the parishes of Kirkchrist Rushen, Kirkarbury, and Kirkpatrick, amounting to near one thousand men, having armed themselves with scythes and other similar dangerous implements, proceeded in a body to Castle Rushen, where their refractory companions were confined, whom they immediately liberated, the garrison not daring to interfere in consequence of their great disparity in point of numerical strength, and the dangerous and formidable manner in which their opponents were armed. After this point had been gained without resistance, they set fire to several corn-stacks belonging to the Bishop, which contained the whole of the tithe-grain collected in the above parishes. The next scene of destruction was at Kirk Malew, where the residence of Mr. John COLLISTER, the late coroner (an office somewhat similar to that of our constable) was entirely demolished. Finally, they proceeded to the brewery of Mr. Edward GAWNE, at Port St. Mary, where the owner, for the preservation of his property, was obliged to comply with their demand, and supply the whole rabble with ale so long as they thought fit to drink. Property to a great extent has been entirely destroyed, and several persons have been seriously injured. A man named LAMMY, clerk to Mr. M'CRONE, the Bishop's Proctor, had one of his ears cut off with a scythe! His Lordship (the Bishop) deeming it prudent for his own safety, has left his palace in Kirkmichael, and is at present in Douglas. The disturbance it seems was chiefly confined to the parishes we have mentioned.—Cumberland Pacquet, Nov. 7.

 

 

[to be continued]