Saturday 31 Oct 1818 (p. 2, col. 5 – p. 3, col. 1) Sunday Schools.—In order to secure a better attendance at Sunday Schools, and a want of decent clothing being frequently offered by parents as an excuse, a few Ladies of this City have formed themselves into a Society, whose object is to procure old clothes and make them up for poor children. We hear, that each person who contributes either money or clothes, is privileged to recommend children to the notice of the Committee. It is remarkable that a great many persons in this city and neighbourhood, have, within the past ten days, ruptured blood-vessels, and several of the cases have proved fatal. Committed to Carlisle Gaol, on Thursday, Charles WALKER, and Archibald KELLETT, for stealing three horses, the property of Mr. John NOBLE of Penrith. ===================== RIOT AT WHITEHAVEN. Early on Monday morning last, there was a very serious riot at Whitehaven. A considerable quantity of Potatoes had been shipped on board of two vessels; these were attacked by a great number of Colliers, their wives, &c., and a large quantity of potatoes were carried off. On Monday evening, a Gentleman arrived in Carlisle, express, for a detachment of Cavalry, which set off about half past nine at night, and reached Whitehaven a quarter after seven the following morning, having performed a journey of 42 miles in that time, without halting. The following letter from a most respectable source will afford the reader all requisite particulars:— Whitehaven, Thursday Afternoon. "We have had a dreadful riot here: indeed, the inhabitants of this town never witnessed such a formidable one: the following is its 'eventful history.' "Two vessels had been loaded with potatoes, designed for another district, in which that valuable root is neither so plentiful nor so cheap as it fortunately is in Cumberland. But this shipment was looked upon with that jealousy which has been always found to actuate those in the lower walks of life, in regard to articles of subsistence. A kind of plot was organized among the Colliers and others, to seize these potatoes, previous to Sunday evening, when two men went round and warned every one of their comrades in these words—'No work to-morrow,'—at the same time informing them that they were to muster in the morning at two o'clock, and attack the vessels. "They were true to the appointment, and as nearly as can be calculated, helped themselves to about sixty tons. It was eight o'clock before the Magistrates were informed of the business, when they instantly repaired to the scene of action, and Mr. STEEL very boldly went on board one of the vessels himself, to the great dismay of the plunderers. He says, the yell which they set up in the hold, when they saw him looking down upon them, was the most horrid he ever heard. Two men were seized there, but almost immediately rescued, the constables, &c. being assailed with a volley of stones, which, however, did no material injury. Some of the men, it is reported, were armed with pistols; however this may be, it is beyond a doubt, that many had weapons not unlike bayonets, concealed under their coats. "The riot soon wore a most alarming appearance. The colliers on learning that two of their comrades had been seized and put into the Octagon (a building recently erected in the Market-place, for the temporary confinement of nocturnal offenders), went home, armed themselves with their bludgeons, and returned in great force, determined to release the captives, or demolish the building. At this moment, the Staff of the Royal Cumberland Militia arrived from the different posts at which they had previously been stationed, and forming rank entire in front of the building, loaded with ball cartridge; and with a number of Special Constables, who had been sworn in on the occasion, waited for the threatened attack with great firmness. "The rioters halted on seeing the Militia-men loading their musquets, and a parley was entered into with them, but to no good effect, their terms being altogether inadmissible. They therefore resumed their menaces, and told the Gentlemen who went over to expostulate with them (whom they treated with great civility) that they would stand the first fire and immediately close in upon the men before they could possibly reload. If they had made this desperate kind of assault, it is more than probable that much blood would have been spilt, as the Militia would not have been allowed to fire otherwise than in sections. Despite of their menaces, however, which somewhat slackened, the Magistrates marched their prisoners up to the Public Office, followed by the mob, and finding that they had not been stealing potatoes, but only shouting and encouraging others, which was merely a misdemeanor, they were liberated upon bail, and the rioters dispersed. Four other delinquents, however, who had been stealing potatoes, viz. Joseph NULTY, Robert WEIR, Jane NICHOLSON, and Margaret WILSON, were subsequently apprehended and sent off to Carlisle Gaol *. But the greatest offenders are as yet untaken, and I fear have escaped altogether: a reward is offered for the apprehension of one named CONOLLY, who has absconded. Could the two men who warned the others be laid hold of, it would be a more effectual step than any other that could be taken to prevent a recurrence of such an outrage, as their punishment, of course, would be exemplary. Although they must be very well known, no one will acknowledge to have seen them when they called; a degree of ignorance, which their own future safety forces them all to affect; and very few will be found to condemn their prudence, although substantial justice suffers by it. "The women, as usual, bore their full share in these operations. As a proof how very cool some of them were, take the following:—One woman on filling her sack in the hold, found herself unable to lift it out, and she very jocosely asked the Captain to assist her, with which requisition, however, he had not sufficient gallantry to comply. Another woman, very large in the family way, being also unable to get out with her load, had a tackle fastened round her waist, and was hoisted by the boys up to the yard-arm, and kept suspended there for some time, to the no small amusement of the spectators. "A detachment of horse arrived here from Carlisle, on Tuesday morning, after a rapid march, but peace and order had been previously restored without bloodshed. One cannot reflect without horror, how nearly we were involved in a carnage of the worst description. I am told that the Magistrates have made a requisition to the Lord Lieutenant for a troop of horse to be stationed here, and that his Lordship approves of the measures adopted. "The Shippers of the Potatoes will, of course, bring their action against the Captain and owners of the vessel that was robbed, and they, I apprehend, will come upon the Ward, but whether successfully or not, I shall not undertake to prophecy." To this letter we may add, that there is not the least scarcity of Potatoes about Whitehaven to extenuate the outrage: on the contrary, they are remarkably plentiful, and are sold at the moderate price (as things go) of 3½d per hoop. * Where they have been safely lodged. ===================== Three men were much burnt, last week, in a colliery belonging to J. D. B. DYKES, Esq., near Gilcrux, by the explosion of firedamp. The accident happened in an old working, where the men had occasion to go for some props. A man, named WOLFE, has been committed to Durham gaol by the magistrates of Sunderland, on suspicion of being concerned in murdering the servant maid and setting fire to the house of Miss SMITH, (now, Lady PEAT) at Herrington, some years ago. Thomas WYBERGH, Esq. has qualified as a Magistrate for the County of Westmorland. At Kendal Burgh Sessions, Benj. FERGUSON, Wm. ARKWRIGHT and John WADE, were indicted for an affray and an assault upon Mr. TATHAM, Solicitor, when upon duty as one of the patrole. WADE traversed the indictment to the next Sessions: FERGUSON and ARKWRIGHT took their trials, and were found guilty. The Court sentenced them to one calendar month's imprisonment in the House of Correction, and to a small fine.—Wm. GASKARTH was found guilty of a larceny, in stealing wool from a carrier's waggon in Kendal, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Thomas Walling SALISBURY, Esq. is elected Mayor of Lancaster.