We have had in this city a very considerable riot, in which about one
hundred people have been probably killed. It was the most unprovoked,
and is therefore, justly, the most unpitied catastrophe of that kind
I ever knew. Nor did the wretches know what they wanted, except to do
mischief. It seems to have had no particular connection with the great
national question now in agitation. The want of bread is very seriously
dreaded through the whole kingdom. Between twenty and thirty ship-loads
of wheat and flour has already arrived from the United States, and there
will be about the same quantity of rice sent from Charleston to this
country directly, of which about half has arrived. I presume that,
between wheat and rice, one hundred ship-loads may be counted on in the
whole from us. Paris consumes about a ship-load a day, (say two hundred
and fifty tons.) The total supply of the West Indies, for this year,
rests with us, and there is almost a famine in Canada and Nova Scotia.
The States General were opened the day before yesterday. Viewing it as
an opera, it was imposing; as a scene of business, the King's speech was
exactly what it should have been, and very well delivered; not a word
of the Chancellor's was heard by any body, so that, as yet, I have never
heard a single guess at what it was about.
Pages:
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993