1768.
September.

To the Right Honourable the Lord High Chancellor of
Great Britain.

The Representation of his Majesty's Justices of
the Peace for the County of Middlesex in their General
Session assembled at Hicks Hall on Thursday the
8th. of September 1768 .

Sheweth

That in or about the beginning of the Month of
February last, certain disputes having arisen between the
Coalheavers employed in the unloading of Coals in the River
Thames and their Master, on account of Wages, the said
Coalheavers, upon the refusal of the Masters, exorbitant and
what the Trade would not bear, unanimously determined
to desist from their Labour; whereby a total Stop was put
to the Business of unloading Coals in the Port of London

That in order to compel the Masters of Ships and others
their Employers to comply with their demands, the said Coal,
-heavers to the number of 800 and upwards chiefly Irishmen,
did on or about the 20th. day of the same February, assemble
in a riotous and tumultuous maner at Wapping, Shadwell
and other places in the County of Middlesex and commit
divers outrages on the Persons and dwellings of many of the
Inhabitants then and there resident.

That the said Rioters continued such their unlawful
assemblies and outrages for several weeks, thereby spreading
Terror and Consternation through the whole Eastern quarter
of the said County, and on or about the 20th. day of April last,
invested the House of one Green situate in or near Wapping,
with intent as they the said Rioters declared, to murder him.

That in order to accomplish such their unlawful and
wicked intent the said Rioters fired into the said Green's House,
and drove him to the unhappy necessity of defending himself Etc
his House with fire Arms, in the use whereof many of his Majesty's
Subjects were Plain.