DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0261
LIFE OF LORD GEORGE GORDON.
229
Commons. They obliged almost all the members to put
blue cockades in their hats and call out, “No Popery 1”
Some they compelled to take oaths to vote for the repeal
of the obnoxious act, and others they insulted in the
most violent and indecent manner. They took possession
of all the avenues from the entrance to the very door of
the House of Commons, which they twice attempted to
force open; and in a similar attempt on the House of
Lords, they were equally unsuccessful.
In the House of Commons the attention of the mem-
bers was occupied during the greatest part of the day by
debates concerning the mob. When some degree of
order was obtained, Lord George introduced his business
by informing the house that he had before him a petition
signed by nearly one hundred and twenty thousand of his
Majesty’s Protestant subjects, praying for the repeal of
the act in favour of the Roman Catholics, and severally
moved to have it brought up and taken into immediate
consideration. Both these motions were seconded by
Aiderman Bull, and during the debate on the subject,
Lord George went several times to the top of the gallery
stairs, whence he harangued the people, and informed
them what success their petition was likely to meet with.
He first told them that it was proposed to take it into
consideration on the following Tuesday in a committee of
the house, but that he did not like delays, as the parlia-
ment might by that time be prorogued. He came once
more and said he saw little reason to hope for redress
from the decision of parliament; that they should meet
again, that they ought not to despair, but to put their
trust in providence. He came a third time, and said :
“ Gentlemen, the alarm has gone forth for many miles
round the city. You have got a very good prince, who
as soon as he shall hear that the alarm has seized such a
number
229
Commons. They obliged almost all the members to put
blue cockades in their hats and call out, “No Popery 1”
Some they compelled to take oaths to vote for the repeal
of the obnoxious act, and others they insulted in the
most violent and indecent manner. They took possession
of all the avenues from the entrance to the very door of
the House of Commons, which they twice attempted to
force open; and in a similar attempt on the House of
Lords, they were equally unsuccessful.
In the House of Commons the attention of the mem-
bers was occupied during the greatest part of the day by
debates concerning the mob. When some degree of
order was obtained, Lord George introduced his business
by informing the house that he had before him a petition
signed by nearly one hundred and twenty thousand of his
Majesty’s Protestant subjects, praying for the repeal of
the act in favour of the Roman Catholics, and severally
moved to have it brought up and taken into immediate
consideration. Both these motions were seconded by
Aiderman Bull, and during the debate on the subject,
Lord George went several times to the top of the gallery
stairs, whence he harangued the people, and informed
them what success their petition was likely to meet with.
He first told them that it was proposed to take it into
consideration on the following Tuesday in a committee of
the house, but that he did not like delays, as the parlia-
ment might by that time be prorogued. He came once
more and said he saw little reason to hope for redress
from the decision of parliament; that they should meet
again, that they ought not to despair, but to put their
trust in providence. He came a third time, and said :
“ Gentlemen, the alarm has gone forth for many miles
round the city. You have got a very good prince, who
as soon as he shall hear that the alarm has seized such a
number