reform of the representation of the people in the House of Commons. The village of Royton became remarkable as the residence of a large number of the early radical reformers, and accordingly it was determined to hold a public meeting there, of the friends of reform, on the 21st of April, 1794, for the purpose of petitioning the King for a reform in the House of Commons. The proceedings had no sooner commenced than a considerable crowd of the other party, chiefly from Oldham and the neighbourhood, wantonly attacked the parties composing the meeting, and ultimately, by their brutal conduct, broke up the assembly in an abrupt manner. This feat of the anti-reform party was distinguished by the name of "the Royton Races." A vast fund of thought arises from the reflection as to the great changes which have been wrought in the public mind since the period alluded to. The number of advocates and supporters of a reform of the House of Commons gradually augmented, till the great body of the people demanded such a change, and a comprehensive measure became so obviously necessary, that in the year 1832 (thirty-eight years subsequent to the meeting at Royton) the government of the day succeeded in effecting a considerable alteration in the constitution of the popular branch of the legislature.

The depression in trade continuing, subscriptions were entered into, in thc early part of 1795, for the purpose of relieving the poor; and on the 11th of February a large quantity of loaves were distributed to the most necessitous in the township. The utmost efforts of the benevolent, as well as those in authority, failed to prevent the commission of acts of violence, for, on the 28th of July, as a cart belonging to Mr. Richard Broome, bread baker, of Oldham, was on its way to Delph, in Saddlewortb, with a load of bread, it was surrounded, when near that place, by a crowd of women, who took the loaves from the conveyance, sold them to the bystanders at the rate of 2d. per pound, and when the

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