The Lancashire riots were on Thursday the subject of remark
in both Houses of Parliament. In the Lords, Lord Shaftesbury ex- pressed an opinion, not as yet fully supported by evidence, that the riotings were the work of the idle, the vagabond, and the worth- less,—whom, however, it must be noticed, the workmen, acting as special constables, could easily control. In the House of Com- mons no such defence was offered, but the Home Secretary stated that he had issued instructions for the maintenance of order, but had recommended the utmost discretion in the em- ployment of the military. He read also telegrams from the Chief Constable of Lancashire promising discretion, and informing him that considerable bodies of police were arriving in Preston, the present seat of danger, from all directions. The Chief Con- stable seemed most apprehensive for Darwen, from whence the military have been withdrawn, by order of the Magistrates.
