The London “Crimp” Riots of 1794

J. Stevenson

doi:10.1017/S0020859000004004

The London “Crimp” Riots of 1794

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 December 2008

J. Stevenson

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Though in recent years there has been a growth of interest in the subject of riot and disorder in eighteenth century England, little attention has been paid to anti-recruiting riots. These were, however, one of the most common forms of riot and disturbance in some areas; and in this study of the London riots of 1794 I hope to illustrate some of their features, particularly in the London context.

Type: Research Article
Information: International Review of Social History , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , April 1971 , pp. 40 - 58

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020859000004004 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis 1971

References

^{page 40 note 1} There is a discussion of riots against the Militia in Western, J. R., The English Militia in the Eighteenth Century (1965), pp. 290–303.Google Scholar

^{page 40 note 2} There is an excellent account of the use of the press in Lloyd, C., The British Seaman (1968)Google Scholar, especially chapters seven and eight.

^{page 40 note 3} J. R. Western, op. cit., pp. 245–264.

^{page 41 note 1} C. Lloyd, op. cit., chapter eleven.

^{page 41 note 2} Howard, M., Studies in War and Peace (1970), p. 51.Google Scholar

^{page 41 note 3} Using newspaper sources, I have been able to discover about twenty riots or affrays in London caused by the activities of the press-gangs between 1790 and 1800.

^{page 42 note 1} There is a description of their methods in Sydney, W. Connor, The Early Days of the Nineteenth Century (1898), pp. 134–6.Google Scholar

^{page 42 note 2} Place papers, British Museum, Add. Mss 35142, ff. 8–9.

^{page 42 note 3} C. Lloyd, op. cit., p. 263.

^{page 42 note 4} The New Annual Register, 1794, pp. 264–6.

^{page 43 note 1} The Courier, 19th July, 1794.

^{page 43 note 2} The City of London Court of Lieutenancy Minute Book for July 1794, Guildhall Library, London.

^{page 43 note 3} The New Annual Register, 1794, pp. 252–3.

^{page 44 note 1} The New Annual Register, 1794, pp. 264–6.

^{page 44 note 2} London Packet, 18th August, 1794.

^{page 44 note 3} J. King (Home Office) to ? (no address), 16th August, 1794, Public Record Office, HO 42.33.

^{page 44 note 4} Kirby to Home Office, 16th August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 44 note 5} Staples to Home Office, 16th August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 45 note 1} Gentleman's Magazine, August 1794.

^{page 45 note 2} St. James's Chronicle, 29th August, 1794.

^{page 45 note 3} St. James's Chronicle, 23rd August, 1794.

^{page 45 note 4} Gentleman's Magazine, op. cit.

^{page 45 note 5} London Packet, 19th-21st August, 1794.

^{page 45 note 6} General Evening Post, 19th-21st August, 1794.

^{page 45 note 7} Lord Mayor to Duke of Portland, 21st August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 46 note 1} Lord Mayor to Duke of Portland, 21st August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 46 note 2} Old Bailey Proceedings for 1794, pp. 955–995.

^{page 46 note 3} Lord Mayor to Duke of Portland, 21st August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 46 note 4} Old Bailey Proceedings, op. cit.

^{page 47 note 1} General Evening Post, 19th-21st August, 1794.

^{page 47 note 2} General Evening Post, 23rd August, 1794.

^{page 47 note 3} London Packet, 22nd August, 1794.

^{page 47 note 4} Mr Devagnes to Home Office, 20th August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 48 note 1} P. Colquhoun to Nepean, 21st August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 48 note 2} P. Colquhoun to the Duke of Portland, 21st August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 48 note 3} King to Public Offices, 21st August, 1794, HO 43.5, and Gentleman's Magazine, op. cit.

^{page 49 note 1} St. James's Chronicle, 20th August, 1794.

^{page 49 note 2} St. James's Chronicle, 23rd August, 1794.

^{page 49 note 3} Lord Mayor to King (10.30 a.m.), 22nd August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 49 note 4} Lord Mayor to King (11.30 a.m.), 22nd August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 49 note 5} St. James's Chronicle, 23rd August, 1794.

^{page 50 note 1} No precise figures are available for the authorities.

^{page 50 note 2} P. Colquhoun to W. Wickham, 22th August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 50 note 3} Lord Mayor to King, 22nd August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 50 note 4} Lord Mayor to King, 22nd August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 50 note 5} King to Lord Mayor, 22nd August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 51 note 1} Information to King, 22nd August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 51 note 2} Lord Mayor to King (5.00 p.m.), 24th August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 51 note 3} P. Colquhoun to King, 22nd August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 51 note 4} London Chronicle, 21st-23rd August, 1794.

^{page 52 note 1} Churchill to Dundas, 19th August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 52 note 2} P. Colquhoun to W. Wickham, 22nd August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 52 note 3} J. Heather to King, 20th August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 52 note 4} St. James's Chronicle, 23rd August, 1794.

^{page 53 note 1} Inclosure of P. Colquhoun to King, 22nd August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 53 note 2} Inclosure of Churchwarden of St Lukes to King, 22nd August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 53 note 3} Old Bailey Proceedings for 1794, pp. 1326–50.

^{page 53 note 4} Ibid.

^{page 54 note 1} Inclosure in King, W. to King, J. (Home Office), 19th August, 1794, HO 42.33.Google Scholar

^{page 54 note 2} The question of literacy is discussed in Webb, R. K., The British Working Class Reader, 1790–1848Google Scholar; R. D. Altick, The English Common Reader.

^{page 54 note 3} The kidnapping rumour often accompanyies periods of social strain, see Smelser, N. J., Theory of Collective Behaviour (1967), pp. 101–130.Google Scholar

^{page 54 note 4} Allport, G. W. and Postman, L., The Psychology of Rumour (1947), p. 193Google Scholar, and recognised by Rudé, G., The Crowd in History (1964), pp. 244–5.Google Scholar

^{page 54 note 5} Lord Mayor to the Duke of Portland, 14th August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 55 note 1} Rudé, G. has pioneered the research into the moderation of crowd behaviour in riots, a precise statement of his views is in The Crowd in History, especially pp.254–7.Google Scholar

^{page 55 note 2} Lord Mayor to Col. Herries, 24th August, 1794, HO 50.339.

^{page 56 note 1} Lord Mayor to J. King, 24th August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 56 note 2} P. Colquhoun to W. Wickham, 23rd August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 57 note 1} Lord Mayor to J. King, 24th August, 1794, HO 42.33.

^{page 57 note 2} Old Bailey Proceedings for 1794, pp. 955–994; Westminster Sessions, October, 1794; Middlesex Sessions, September, 1794.

^{page 57 note 3} Preparation of the case versus the rioters, Treasury Solicitor's Papers, TS 11.4500.

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