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blazing； including those of Sir John Fielding and two other
justices； and four in Holborn—one of the greatest thoroughfares in
London—which were all burning at the same time； and burned
until they went out of themselves； for the people cut the engine
hose； and would not suffer the firemen to play upon the flames。 At
one house near Moorfields； they found in one of the rooms some
canary birds in cages； and these they cast into the fire alive。 The
poor little creatures screamed； it was said； like infants； when they
were flung upon the blaze； and one man was so touched that he
tried in vain to save them； which roused the indignation of the
crowd； and nearly cost him his life。
At this same house； one of the fellows who went through the
rooms； breaking the furniture and helping to destroy the building；
found a child’s doll—a poor toy—which he exhibited at the
window to the mob below； as the image of some unholy saint
which the late occupants had worshipped。 While he was doing
this； another man with an equally tender conscience （they had
both been foremost in throwing down the canary birds for roasting
alive）； took his seat on the parapet of the house； and harangued
the crowd from a pamphlet circulated by the Association； relative
to the true principles of Christianity！ Meanwhile the Lord Mayor；
with his hands in his pockets； looked on as an idle man might look
at any other show； and seemed mightily satisfied to have got a
good place。
Such were the accounts brought to the old vintner by his
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servants as he sat at the side of Mr Haredale’s bed； having been
unable even to doze； after the first part of the night； too much
disturbed by his own fears； by the cries of the mob； the light of the
fires； and the firing of the soldiers。 Such； with the addition of the
release of all the prisoners in the New Jail at Clerkenwell； and as
many robberies of passengers in the streets； as the crowd had
leisure to indulge in； were the scenes of which Mr Haredale was
happily unconscious； and which were all enacted before midnight。
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Chapter 67
hen darkness broke away and morning began to dawn；
Wthe town wore a strange aspect indeed。
Sleep had hardly been thought of all night。 The
general alarm was so apparent in the faces of the inhabitants； and
its expression was so aggravated by want of rest （few persons； with
any property to lose； having dared go to bed since Monday）； that a
stranger coming into the streets would have supposed some
mortal pest or plague to have been raging。 In place of the usual
cheerfulness and animation of morning； everything was dead and
silent。 The shops remained closed； offices and warehouses were
shut； the coach and chair stands were deserted； no carts or
waggons rumbled through the slowly waking streets； the early
cries were all hushed； a universal gloom prevailed。 Great numbers
of people were out； even at daybreak； but they flitted to and fro as
though they shrank from the sound of their own footsteps； the
public ways were haunted rather than frequented； and round the
smoking ruins people stood apart from one another and in silence；
not venturing to condemn the rioters； or to be supposed to do so；
even in whispers。
At the Lord President’s in Piccadilly； at Lambeth Palace； at the
Lord Chancellor’s in Great Ormond Street； in the Royal Exchange；
the Bank； the Guildhall； the Inns of Court； the Courts of Law； and
every chamber fronting the streets near Westminster Hall and the
Houses of Parliament； parties of soldiers were posted before
daylight。 A body of Horse Guards paraded Palace Yard； an
encampment was formed in the Park； where fifteen hundred men
and five battalions of Militia were under arms； the Tower was
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fortified； the drawbridges were raised； the cannon loaded and
pointed； and two regiments of artillery busied in strengthening the
fortress and preparing it for defence。 A numerous detachment of
soldiers were stationed to keep guard at the New River Head；
which the people had threatened to attack； and where； it was said；
they meant to cut off the main…pipes； so that there might be no
water for the extinction of the flames。 In the Poultry； and on
Cornhill； and at several other leading points； iron chains were
drawn across the street； parties of soldiers were distributed in
some of the old city churches while it was yet dark； and in several
private houses （among them； Lord Rockingham’s in Grosvenor
Square）； which were blockaded as though to sustain a siege； and
had guns pointed from the windows。 When the sun rose； it shone
into handsome apartments filled with armed men； the furniture
hastily heaped away in corners； and made of little or no account；
in the terror of the time—on arms glittering in city chambers；
among desks and stools； and dusty books—into little smoky
churchyards in odd lanes and by…ways； with soldiers lying down
among the tombs； or lounging under the shade of the one old tree；
and their pile of muskets sparkling in the light—on solitary
sentries pacing up and down in courtyards； silent now； but
yesterday resounding with the din and hum of business—
everywhere on guard…rooms； garrisons； and threatening
preparations。
As the day crept on； still more unusual sights were witnessed in
the streets。 The gates of the King’s Bench and Fleet Prisons being
opened