this deponent and her family, calling them heretic bitches, saying, they were damned and all their souls were in hell; that then, without any provocation, he took up a great stone, and threw it at this deponent, which struck her on the head with such force, that it deprived her of her senses for some time. Ann Wright, of Cork, deposes, That on or about the 12th of June, as this deponent was in her own house, Butler and his mob came before her door, calling her and her family heretic bitches, and swearing, He would make her house hotter than hell fire;' that he threw dirt and stones at them, hit her in the face, dashed all the goods about, which she had in her window, and she really believes, would have dashed out her brains, had she not quitted her shop, and fled for her life. 8. Margaret Griffin, of Cork, deposes, That on the 24th of June, as this deponent was about her business, Butler and his mob came up, took hold on her, tore her clothes, struck her several times, and cut her mouth: that after she broke from him, he and his mob pursued her to her house, and would have broken in, had not some neighbours interposed: that he had beat and abused her several times before, and one of those times to suck a degree, that she was all in a gore of blood, and continued spitting blood, for several days after. Jacob Connor, clothier, of Cork, deposes, That on the 24th of June, as he was employed in his lawful business, Butler and his mob came up, and without any manner of provocation fell upon him; that they beat him till they caused such an effusion of blood, as could not be stopped for a considerable time; and that he verily believes, had not a gentleman interposed, they would have killed him on the spot. 9. Ann Hughes, of Cork, deposes, That on the 29th of June, she asked Nicholas Butler, why he broke open her house on the 21st? That hereon he called her many abusive names, (being attended with his usual mob) dragged her up and down, tore her clothes in pieces, and with his sword stabbed and cut her in both her arms. Daniel Filts, blacksmith, of Cork, deposes, That on the 29th of June, Butler and a riotous mob came before his door, calling him many abusive names, drew his hanger and threatened to stab him that he and his mob the next day assaulted the house of this deponent with drawn swords: and that he is persuaded, had not one who came by, prevented, they would have taken away his life. 10. Mary Fuller of Cork, deposes, that on the 30th of June, Butler, at the head of his mob, came between nine and ten at night to the deponent's shop, with a naked sword in his hand: that he swore he would cleave the deponent's scull, and immediately made a full stroke at her head; whereupon she was obliged to flee for her life, leaving her shop and goods to the mob, many of which they hacked and hewed with their swords, to her no small loss and damage. Henry Dunkle, joiner, of Cork, deposes, That on the 30th of June, as he was standing at the widow Fuller's shop-window, he saw Butler, accompanied with a large mob, who stopped before her shop: that after he had grossly abused her, he made a full stroke with his hanger at her head; which must have eleft her in two, had not this deponent received the guard of the hanger on his shoulder: that presently after, the said Butler seized upon this deponent: that he seized him by the collar with one hand, and with the other held the hanger over his head, calling him all manner of names, and tearing his shirt and clothes; and that had it not been for the timely assistance of some neighbours, he verily believes he should have been torn in pieces. Margaret Trimnell, of Cork, deposes, That on the 30th of June, John Austin and Nicholas Butler, with a numerous mob, came to her shop: that after calling her many names, Austin struck her with his club on the right arm, so that it has been black ever since from the shoulder to the elbow: that Butler came next, and with a great stick struck her a violent blow across the back: that many of them then drew their swords, which they carried under their coats, and cut and hacked her goods, part of which they threw out into the street, while others of them threw dirt and stones into the shop, to the considerable damage of her goods and loss of this deponent. 11. It was not for those who had any regard either to their persons or goods, to oppose Mr. Butler after this. So the poor people patiently suffered whatever he and his mob were pleased to inflict upon them, till the assizes drew on, at which they doubted not to find a sufficient, though late relief. Accordingly, twenty-eight depositions were taken, (from the foul copies of some of which the preceding account is mostly transcribed,) and laid before the Grand Jury, August 19. But they did not find any one of these bills. Instead of this, they made that memo, rable presentment, which is worthy to be preserved in the annals of Ireland, to all succeeding generations. "We find and present Charles Wesley, to be a person of ill fame, a vagabond, a common disturber of his majesty's peace, and we pray he may be transported." We find and present James Williams, &c. 12. Mr. Butler and his mob were now in higher spirits than ever. They scoured the streets day and night; frequently hollowing as they went along, "Five pounds for a Swaddler's head:" their chief declaring to them all. "He had full liberty now, to do whatever he would, even to murder, if he pleased, as Mr. Swain, of North Abbey, and others, are ready to testify." 13. The sessions held at Cork, on the 5th of October following produced another memorable presentment. "We find and present John Horton, to be a person of ill fame, a vagabond, and a common disturber of his majesty's peace; and we pray that he may be transported." But complaint being made of this above, as wholly illegal, it van ished into air. 14. Some time after, Mr. Butler removed to Dublin, and began to sing his ballads there. But having little success, he returned to Cork, and in January began to scour the streets again, pursuing all of this way, with a large mob at his heels, armed with swords, staves, and pistols. Complaint was made of this, to William Holmes, Esq., the present mayor of Cork. But there was no removal of the thing complained of: the riots were not suppressed. Nay, they not only continued, but increased. 15. From the beginning of February to the end, bis majesty': peace was preserved just as before: of which it may be proper to subjoin two or three instances, for the information of all thinking men. William Jewell, clothier, of Shandon Church-lane, deposes, That Nicholas Butler, with a riotous mob, several times assaulted this deponent's house: that particularly on the 23d of February, he came thither with a large mob, armed with clubs and other weapons: that several of the rioters entered the house, and swore, the first who resisted, they would blow their brains out: that the deponent's wife, endeavouring to stop them, was assaulted and beaten by the said Butler who then ordered his men, to break the deponent's windows, which they did with stones of a considerable weight. Mary Phillips, of St. Peter's, Church-lane, deposes, That on the 26th of February, about seven in the evening, Nicholas Butler came to her house with a large mob, and asked where her husband was. That as soon as she appeared, he first abused her in the grossest terms, and then struck her on the head, so that it stunned her; and she verily believes, had not some within thrust and fastened the door, she should have been murdered on the spot. It may suffice for the present to add one instance more. Elizabeth Gardelet, wife of Joseph Gardelet, corporal, in Col. Pawlet's regiment, Capt. Charlton's company, deposes, That on February the 28th, as she was going out of her lodgings, she was met by Butler and his mob: that Butler, without any manner of provocation, immediately fell upon her, striking her with both * A name first given to Mr. Cennick, from his first preaching on those words, “Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." his fists on the side of the head, which knocked her head against the wall; that she endeavoured to escape from him, but he pursued her, and struck her several times in the face; that she ran into the schoolyard for shelter, but he followed, and caught hold of her, saying, "You whore, you stand on consecrated ground," and threw her with such a force across the lane, that she was driven against the opposite wall that when she had recovered herself a little, she made the best of her way to her lodging; but Butler still pursued, and overtook her as she was going up the stairs: that he struck her with his fist on the stomach, which stroke knocked her down backwards; that falling with the small of her back against the edge of one of the stairs, she was not able to rise again; that her pains immediately came upon her, and about two in the morning she miscarried. 16. These, with several more depositions to the same effect, were, in April, laid before the Grand Jury. Yet they did not find any of these bills! But they found one against Daniel Sullivan, the younger, (no preacher, but a hearer of the people called Methodists) who, when Butler and his mob were discharging a shower of stones upon him, fired a pistol, without any ball, over their heads. If any man has written this story to England in a quite different manner, and fixed it on a young Methodist preacher, let him be ashamed in the presence of God and man-unless shame and he have shook hands and parted. 17. Several of the persons presented as vagabonds in autumn, ap. peared at the Lent assizes. But none appearing against them, they were discharged, with honour to themselves and shame to their persecutors who by bringing the matter to a judicial determination, plainly showed, there is law even for Methodists; and gave his majesty's judge a full occasion to declare the utter illegality of all riots, and the inexcusableness of tolerating (much more causing) them on any pretence whatsoever. 18. It was now generally believed there would be no more riots in Cork although I cannot say that was my opinion. On May the 19th, I accepted the repeated invitation of Mr. Alderman Pembrock, and came to his house. Understanding the place where the preaching usually was, would by no means contain those who desired to hear me, at eight in the morning I went to Hammond's Marsh, the congregation was large and deeply attentive. A few of the rabble gathered at a distance: but by little and little they drew near, and mixed with the congregation. So that I have seldom seen a more quiet and orderly assembly at any church in England or Ireland. 19. In the afternoon a report being spread abroad, that the mayor designed to hinder my preaching on the Marsh; I desired Mr. Skelton and Jones to wait upon him, and inquire concerning it. Mr. Skelton asked, if my preaching there would be offensive to him: adding, "If it would, Mr. W. would not do it." He replied warmly, "Sir, I will have no mobbing." Mr. S. said, "Sir, there was none this morning." He answered, "There was.. Are there not churches and meetings enough? I will have no more mobs and riots." Mr. VOL. 8.-A aa S. replied, "Sir, neither Mr. W. nor they that heard him made either mobs or riots." He answered plainly, "I will have no more preaching. And if Mr. W. attempts to preach, I am prepared for him." I did not conceive till now, that there was any real meaning in what a gentleman said some time since; who being told, "Sir, king George tolerates Methodists," replied, "Sir, you shall find, the mayor is king of Cork." 20. I began preaching in our own house soon after five, Mr. Mayor mean time was walking in the 'change, where he gave orders to the drummers of the town, and to his sergeants,-doubtless to go down and keep the peace. They came down with an innumerable mob to the house. They continued drumming, and I continued preaching till I had finished my discourse. When I came out, the mob immediately closed me in. I desired one of the sergeants to protect me from the mob; but he replied, "Sir, I have no orders to do that.” When I came into the street, they threw whatever came to hand. · I walked on strait through the midst of them, looking every man in the face, and they opened to the right and left till I came near Dant'sbridge. A large party had taken possession of this, one of whom was bawling out, Now, heigh for the Romans!" When I came up, these likewise shrunk back, and I walked through them into Mr. Jenkins's house. But many of the congregation were more roughly handled; particularly Mr. Jones, who was covered with dirt, and escaped with his life almost by a miracle. The main body of the mob then went to the house, brought out all the seats and benches, tore up the floor, the door, the frames of the windows, and whatever of wood-work remained, part of which they carried off for their own use, and the rest they burnt in the open street. 21. Monday the 21st, I rode on to Bandon. From three in the afternoon till after seven, the mob of Cork marched in grand procession, and then burnt me in effigy near Dant's-bridge. Tuesday 22. The mob and drummers were moving again between three and four in the morning. The same evening the mob came down to Hammond's Marsh, but stood at a distance from Mr. Stockdale's house, till the drums beat, and the mayor's sergeants beckoned to them, on which they drew up and began to attack. The mayor being sent for, came with a party of soldiers. Mr. Stockdale earnestly desired, that he would disperse the mob, or at least leave the soldiers there to protect them from the rioters. But he took them all away with him; on which the mob went on, and broke all the glass and most of the window-frames in pieces. 22. Wednesday 23. The mob was still patrolling the streets, abusing all that were called Methodists. And threatening to murder them, and pull down their houses if they did not leave this way. Thursday 24. They again assaulted Mr. Stockdale's house, broke down the boards he had nailed up against the windows, destroyed |