extorting money from several persons, which was unavoidably assented to, and there was now every appearance of the most serious consequences; even threats were thrown out of setting fire to the noble cathedral. The Littleport banditti, however, separated themselves, and returned to their own town, after liberating two of their confederates from prison, where they had been committed by the Ely magistrates. At length the riots were terminated, by the very spirited and active exertions of Sir Henry Bate Dudley, baronet, the Rev. Mr. Law, and the Rev. Mr. Metcalfe, the then acting magistrates, aided by a very respectable number of the gentlemen and inhabitants of Ely, and the Royston troop of volunteer cavalry, who, with a small detachment of the first royal dragoons sent from Bury, proceeded in a body to Littleport; a severe struggle now ensued between them and the rioters, who had secreted themselves in different houses, armed with guns, with which they fired many shots at the military and civil power; one of the soldiers was severely wounded, whereupon the military received orders "to fire," and the man who had wounded the soldier was instantly shot dead, and another fell. When this took place, the rioters were completely disconcerted, and fled in every direction, but by the activity of the military and civil power, no less than seventy-three of them were immediately taken prisoners. Among them were several persons of some property and apparent respectability in life. Fifty guns and nine or ten long fowling pieces were taken from the rioters. Special assizes were appointed to be held at Ely in the beginning of June following, when Mr. Justice Abbott and Mr. Justice Burrough were associated with Edward Christian, esq. the chief justice of the isle in the com

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mission, more than seventy prisoners having been committed for trial. The assizes lasted from the Monday until the following Saturday, when

24 were condemned, of whom five were left for execution and the sentence of the others mitigated.

6 acquitted.

10 were discharged by proclamation.

36 were allowed to be set at liberty on producing bail for their good behaviour.

76 Total.

After this the district was restored to perfect tranquillity.

1817 The whole kingdom was involved in one general scene of sorrow, by the death of the princess Charlotte of Wales, the presumptive heir to the crown of these realms, and of her royal infant, on the 6th November. One common sentiment of regret occupied the minds of all, on hearing the distressing intelligence, as though each had been told of the death of one of his own family. Thus two generations of the royal house of Brunswick were at once shrouded in the tomb, and the succession left contracted and indistinct. On the day of the interment of her royal highness and the infant, (19th November) divine service was performed in the church of Wisbech, and a sermon preached on the occasion by the Rev. William Hardwicke, the lecturer. The pulpit and reading desk were hung with black cloth, which continued for three months, and the shops in the town were all closed for the day. A general mourning was ordered for six weeks.

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1818 In November of the following year, died queen Charlotte,

The

the august consort of his majesty George III.
burst of national feeling and veneration, which was
manifested by all at the death of "our beloved princess,"
did not in that degree display itself on this occasion.
The funeral of her late majesty took place at Windsor
on the 2d December following. The shops in Wisbech
were partially shut; there was no sermon at the church;
the pulpit and reading desk were hung with black cloth,
which continued six Sundays. General mourning was
ordered for six weeks.

1820 Our aged and excellent sovereign George III. expired at Windsor castle, at thirty-five minutes past eight o'clock on Saturday evening, 29th January: he was in the sixtieth year of his reign, which had extended to the unprecedented length of fifty-nine years, three months, and nine days. His majesty George IV. was immediately proclaimed. His late majesty's funeral took place on the 16th February, and was observed here with every mark of becoming solemnity. The shops of tradesmen were all shut. Service, with a sermon, was performed at the church, and the pulpit and reading desk covered with black cloth.

Proclamation of George IV.

On Wednesday the 9th February, the accession of his majesty George IV. was publicly proclaimed at Wisbech. The day was ushered in with ringing of bells. At one o'clock the gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood met at the sessions-house, and from thence proceeded on the South Brink to receive the deputy sheriff, in the following order of procession:

Two Trumpeters on Horseback.
Chief Constable on Horseback, supported by
Petty Constables on Foot.

The Lieutenant-Colonel of the Local Militia, in Uniform, on Horseback.

Officers of his Regiment on Foot, with
Standards flying.
Military Band.

Sheriffs' Officers and Corporation Beadles on Foot. Vicar of Wisbech, and Clergymen of the Town and Neighbourhood in order on Foot, in their Robes. The Magistrates and Deputy Lieutenants of the Town and Neighbourhood.

The Capital Burgesses of the Corporation. Officers of the Navy resident in the Town and Neighbourhood on Horseback.

Gentlemen of the Town and Neighbourhood on Horseback. Constables on Foot to line the whole.

The procession first stopped at the sessions-house, where wine and cakes were distributed. The proclamation was then read by the deputy sheriff in court, and afterwards, from the steps of the building, to the assembled populace. The procession next moved forward to the market-place, where the proclamation was again read, and after the cheering of the multitude had ceased, "God save the King" was sung by about one hundred and fifty children of the national school; the procession then moved to the town-hall, the old market, the north brink, and returned to the Rose and Crown inn, where proclamation was made for the last time, when this part of the interesting ceremony concluded. The novelty

of the occasion, and the fineness of the weather, attracted an immense number of spectators, and it was

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calculated there could not be less than 14,000. The enjoyment of the day was heightened by the poor being made partakers of its festivities. Hot dinners were given to the inmates of the workhouse, to the children of the charity schools, and the prisoners in the gaol; and donations of upwards of seven hundred bushels of coals, and twelve hundred loaves of bread, provided by a public subscription of the inhabitants, were distributed among the poor families of the town. Several barrels of ale were also given to the populace. At half past four upwards of fifty gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner; Robert Hardwicke esq. town-bailiff, was in the chair, supported by lieutenant-colonel Watson as his vice-president, and William Rayner and H. J. Nicholls esqrs. as side-presidents. The evening was passed with the greatest conviviality, and the company separated, highly gratified with the transactions of a day so appropriate to the dignity and importance of the event, and with the order and decorum which so universally prevailed.

Coronation of George IV.

1821 On the day of the coronation of his present majesty, George IV. which was appointed for the 19th of July, a general disposition prevailed amongst the inhabitants to express their feeling of loyalty. It was determined to provide a public dinner in the market place for such inhabitants as might think proper to partake thereof, the details of which it is hoped will not be considered too tedious. A subscription was entered into by the gentlemen and ladies of the town, to provide bread, beef, mutton, plum puddings, beer, &c. together with a band of music; also field sports to be exhibited. Stewards