On
22nd September 1831, the House
of Commons passed the Reform
Bill. However, the Tories still
dominated the House of Lords,
and after a long debate the bill was defeated. When people heard the
news, riots took place in several British towns. In London,
the houses owned by the Duke of Wellington
and bishops who had voted against the bill in the Lords were attacked.
With London the scene of huge and stormy
demonstrations, Earl Grey and his Whig
government tried again to introduce a Reform Act. Finally, on 13th
April 1832, the Reform Act was passed by
a small majority in the House
of Lords.
(1)
Mary Frampton was the daughter of a prosperous landowner in Dorset.
She recorded her thoughts on the Reform Riots in her journal on 5th
November, 1831.
The riots at Bristol were quieted and a sufficient force fixed there,
two troops of the 3rd Dragoons returned to their headquarters at Dorchester.
This morning intelligence was received that a mob from Poole were
intending to attack Lord Eldon's place at Encombe, and also Corfe
Castle. Mr Bond's troop of Yeomanry were in consequence called out,
and stationed on and about the bridge at Wareham, thus effectively
guarding the only approach from Poole.
(2)
Bishop of Exeter, letter to the Duke of
Wellington (5th November, 1831)
The most inflammatory bills have been freely circulated, calling on
the populace to "arm themselves and imitate the heroic acts of
the Bristol men". There are strong indications of an expectation,
if not an actual plan, of insurrection against property among the
lowest orders. This detestable Reform Bill has raised the hopes of
the utmost. At Plymouth and the neighbouring towns, the spirit is
tremendously bad. The shopkeepers are almost all Dissenters, and such
is the rage on the question of Reform at Plymouth, that I have received
from several quarters the most earnest requests that I will not come
to concentrate a church, as I had engaged to do. They assure me that
my own person, and the security of the public peace, would be in the
greatest danger.
(3)
Letters from the Duke of Wellington to Mrs Arbuthnot (April/May, 1831)
(28th April) I learn from John that
the mob attacked my House and broke about thirty windows. He fired
two blunderbusses in the air from the top of the house, and they went
off.
(29th April) I think that my servant
John saved my house, or the lives of many of the mob - possibly both
- by firing as he did. They certainly intended to destroy the house,
and did not care one pin for the poor Duchess being dead in the house.
(1st May) Matters appear to be going
as badly as possible. It may be relied upon that we shall have a revolution.
I have never doubted the inclination and disposition of the lower
orders of the people. I told you years ago that they are rotten to
the core. They are not bloodthirsty, but they are desirous of plunder.
They will plunder, annihilate all property in the country. The majority
of them will starve; and we shall witness scenes such as have never
yet occurred in any part of the world.
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