Transcribed from the 16 September 1828 edition of The Newry Commercial Telegraph newspaper, by permission of The British Library: Riot at Greenock. On Wednesday evening, the 10th inst., about seven o'clock, as the Hibernia steamer was preparing to sail from Greenock for Belfast, full of passengers, principally of that description called "Irish harvesters," on their return home from their periodical toils in the sister country, a party of idle blackguards on the Greenock Quay commenced an unprovoked attack upon them; first, by abusive language, calling them "Paddies," &c. and afterwards by throwing stones and other missiles, by which all were endangered, and many got severely hurt. The Hibernians finding themselves thus exposed, without being able to defend themselves, for want of missiles on board, about a score of the boldest sallied forth out on the Quay, flourishing their shillelahs, and soon cleared the coast, hurraing, as victors, on returning to the vessel. This brought forth an increased crowd of towns-people, who, with the former combatants, also hurraing, returned to the vessel, and renewed the assaults with stones, brickbats, pieces of coal, or whatever they could collect; and the most alarming disposition now manifested itself on both sides for renewing the fight, and stones, &c. flew in every direction; the people on deck throwing back whatever they received, as fast as they could be collected. In this state of things, the Captain of the Hibernia, standing frequently in an exposed and dangerous situation on the paddle box, assisted by some of the cabin passengers, exerted himself to the utmost, endeavouring to make peace, but to no purpose, as the enfuriated mob would not be quiet; and the exasperated harvesters seemed worked up to a pitch of madness, and determined not to be restrained. They took the straw covering off their reaping hooks, and prepared for another and more dreadful sally, which would, in all probability, have soon ended in blood and slaughter, but for the praise-worthy conduct of Captain Williams, and a few spirited Gentlemen, who placed themselves in the gang-way, or point of passage, and opposed every further attempt at egress from the vessel, unless by cutting through and maltreating those whom they could not consider but as their friends. "All the ladies, and the greater part of the gentlemen, who, at the first outset, were spectators on the quarter-deck, found it necessary to retire to the cabin, and shut the doors; and occasionally many of the harvesters sheltered themselves under the bulwarks, the swinging side boats, or wherever they could creep to avoid the stones, &c., some of which, judging from their size, could not weigh less than from 10 to 15 pounds; and one of these, as big as a man's head, was hurled into one of those boats which usually swing over the deck, and which afforded some shelter, no doubt with the view of breaking through its bottom, and injuring those who lay or stood beneath. Some of the passengers got severely cut in the face, and otherwise seriously bruised; and it is fortunate, and a very great wonder, that this alarming affray did not conclude with more fatal results, considering the nature and inflamed passions of the parties--darkness coming on, and the tardy arrival, or want of exertion in the Police, which, for the credit of that useful description of force, on such occasions, is to be hoped arose from ignorance of what was going on in that part of the town. It is also to be hoped that such measures will be adopted for the preservation of passengers, embarking at the Port of Greenock, as will prevent such disgraceful occurrences in the future.--B.N.L. [Belfast News-Letter] ==================