第43章

AtthebeginningofNovemberdisturbancesbrokeoutinSussex，andthe

movementdevelopedintoanorganiseddemandforalivingwage。Bythemiddle

ofthemonththelabourersweremastersoveralmostallthetriangleonthe

map，ofwhichMaidstoneistheapexandHytheandBrightonarethebases。

Themovement，whichwasmoresystematic，thorough，andsuccessfulinthis

partofthecountrythananywhereelse，isthusdescribedbythespecial

correspondentoftheTimes，17thNovember：’Divestedofitsobjectionable

character，asadangerousprecedent，theconductofthepeasantryhasbeen

admirable。Thereisnogroundforconcludingthattherehasbeenanyextensive

concertamongstthem。Eachparish，generallyspeaking，hasrisenperse；

inmanyplacestheirproceedingshavebeenmanagedwithastonishingcoolness

andregularity；therehasbeenlittleoftheordinaryeffervescencedisplayed

onsimilaroccasions。Thefarmershavenoticetomeetthemen：adeputation

oftwoormoreofthelatterproduceawrittenstatement，welldrawnup，

whichthefarmersarerequiredtosign；thespokesman，sometimesadissenting

orMethodistteacher，fulfilshisofficewithgreatproprietyandtemper。

Wheredisorderhasoccurred，ithasarisenfromdisliketosomeobnoxious

clergyman，ortitheman，orassistantoverseer，whohasbeentrundledout

oftheparishinawheelbarrow，ordrawnintriumphinaloadofballast

byadozenoldwomen。Thefarmersuniversallyagreedtothedemandsthey

made：thatis，theywerenotmadenoughtorefuserequestswhichtheycould

notdemonstratetobeunreasonableinthemselves，andwhichwereurgedby

threehundredorfourhundredmenafterabarnortwohadbeenfired，and

eachfarmerhadanincendiaryletteraddressedtohiminhispocket。’

Therewasanotherdevelopmentofthemovementwhichisnotnotedinthis

accountbythecorrespondentoftheTimes。Itoftenhappenedthatthefarmers

wouldagreetopaythewagesdemandedbythelabourers，butwouldaddthat

theycouldnotcontinuetopaythosewagesunlessrentsandtitheswerereduced。

Thelabourersgenerallytookthehintandturnedtheirattentiontotithes

andrents，particularlytotithes。Theirusualprocedurewastogoinabody

totherector，oftenaccompaniedbythefarmers，anddemandanabatement

oftithes，orelsetoattendthetitheauditandputsomenotunwelcomepressure

uponthefarmerstopreventthemfrompaying。

Itmustnotbesupposedthattheagitationforalivingwagewasconfined

tothetriangulardistrictnamedabove，thoughthereittookamoresystematic

shape。AmongtheHomeOfficePapersisaveryinterestingletterfromMr。

D。Bishop，aLondonpoliceofficer，writtenfromdealon11thNovember，describing

thestateofthingsinthatneighbourhood：’Ihavegonetothedifferent

PotHousesintheVillages，disguisedamongtheLabourers，ofanevening

andalltheirtalkisaboutthewages，somegive1s。8d。perdaysome2s。

somealltheysaytheywantis2s。6d。perdayandthentheysay

theyshallbecomfortable。IhaveeveryreasontobelievetheFarmerswill

givethe2s。6d。perdayafterabit。theyaregoingtohaveameeting

andIthinkitwillstopalloutrages。’

ThedisturbancesinSussexbeganwithafireon3rdNovemberatanoverseer’s

inBattle。Theexplanationsuggestedbytheauthoritieswasthatthepaupers

hadbeen’excitedbyalecturelatelygivenherepubliclybyapersonnamed

Cobbett。’NextnighttherewasanotherfireatBattle；butitwasatBrede，

avillagenearRye，thatopenhostilitiesbegan。AstherisingatBredeset

thefashionforthedistrict，itisperhapsworthwhiletodescribeitin

somedetail。(6*)

ForalongtimethepoorofBredehadsmartedundertheinsultsofMr。

Abel，theassistantoverseer，who，amongotherinnovations，hadintroduced

oneofthehatedparishcarts，andthelabourersweredeterminedtohave

areckoningwithhim。Aftersomepreliminarydiscussionsontheprevious

day，thelabourersheldameetingon5thNovember，anddeputedfourmento

negotiatewiththefarmers。Attheconferencewhichresulted，thefollowing

resolutions，drawnupbythelabourers，weresignedbybothparties：

’Nov。5，1830。AtameetingheldthisdayattheRedLion，ofthefarmers，

tomeetthepoorlabourerswhodelegateddavi

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