BUCKS.—HIGH WYCOMBE, Monday. Threats had been held out last week
of destruction to the mill of Messrs. Lane, which were unfortu- nately not attended to. On Saturday and Sunday, measures had been concerted for the paper-makers to meet as early as fire o'clock on the morning of Monday ; accordingly, at that time, a great number were congregated together by sound of horn, on Flackwell Heath, about four miles from Wycombe, armed with sledge-hammers, crow-bars, and pick_ axes. They proceeded through Woburn and Loudwater, towards the paper-mill of Messrs. Lane, between High and West Wycombe, the first paper-manufacturers on the stream. The rioters arrived at Messrs. Lane's about nine o'clock, and attempted to force the entrance ; but the door resisted their efforts for near half an hour. A shot was fired from the mill, with intent to intimidate the rioters ; but it only increased their fury. A second gun was discharged, and the whole of the contents I Aged in the upper part of the arm of an elderly man named William Bryant, a paper-maker, of Flackwell Heath. The mob now broke the windows of the factory, and were about to force an entrance, when they were saluted with near four gallons of vitriol, by which many of them were burnt very severely. An entrance at length being obtained, in less than fifteen minutes the machine was wholly destroyed. The person who threw the vitriol was ducked by the rioters, and narrowly escaped with his life. From Mr. Lane's mill, they proceeded through the town, levy- ing contributions on the shopkeepers until they arrived at the papers mill of Mr. Allnut, whose machine speedily followed the fate of Mr. Lanes'. They then made the best of their way to the milt of Mr. Hayes who stood at the entrance ready to receive them. Mr. Hayes assured the rioters that he had ordered his machine to be taken down ; that it should be worked no more until some arrangement had taken place be- tween the masters and the men ; that he employed fifty-three hands, who, if his property were destroyed, must be thrown out of employment. This did not, however, satisfy the rioters, and the work of demolition com- menced. The rioters then crossed to the farm of Mr. Lansdale, who had a thrashino-°-machine which was shortly broken into pieces. They then proceeded to Mr. Plaistow's paper-mill, at Loudwater, which they completely destroyed. They next entered Hedge Mill, the property of Kr. Spicer, and destroyed the machine. Information having been re- ceived that his Majesty's stag-hounds were in the vicinity, a person was sent off to solicit the assistance of the gentlemen of the hunt • when se- veral of them promptly appeared, and after some short consultation they determined to make head against the mob. Several shots were fired ; one man was wounded in the breast, two were taken away apparently lifeless, and about nine of the rioters were taken prisoners. At this time six grenadiers of the Foot Guards arrived in post-chaises and escorted the prisoners into Wycombe, where they were placed in safe custody. One of the rioters taken is a leader, who laboured hard in the week of destruction : he is a total stranger at Wycombe or the neigh- - eurttood. The damage done is estimated at about 12,0001.
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