half their usual prices, the remainder of the cost being defrayed by subscriptions. In February, 1800, a large crowd made an attack upon two cart loads of flour, the property of Mr. Robert Cooper, of Boyton, when passing near Earnshaw green, opposite Hargreaves, in Oldham. The rioters sold theflour forthwith at 2s. 6d. per peck, not allowing any individual to purchase more than two pecks at a time, and, at the termination of the affair, handed the money received to Mr. Cooper's carters. A report being current that a riotous assemblage of the people would take place on the 19th of May, in consequence of the high prices of food, two magistrates of the district, Sir Watts Horton and the Rev. W.R. Hay, attended by the Oldham Horse and Foot Associations, and some light horse from Manchester, assembled here in order to prevent outrage, but fortunately no riotous movement occurred, with the exception of a few stones thrown by women and boys.

Notwithstanding the pressure of the times, the earnings of the working population were sufficient to enable them to indulge in an unusual amount of enjoyment during the annual rush-bearing in August, 1800. There were no fewer than six of those singularly rustic spectacles named rushcarts; and an extremely brutal contest took place between two of the festive parties, from Chadderton and Haggate, the former taking refuge in the Red Lion public house; the latter in their indignation demolished the doors and windows of the inn. For this offence, six of the rioters suffered six months' imprisonment in Lancaster Castle.

Several changes took place both in the extent and proprietary of the cotton manufactories from 1796 to 1800. One of the earliest mills worked by steam power, subsequent to Lees hall higher mill, was Mount pleasant mill, and in the early part of the present century five of the principal manufactories, in addition to the two named above, were worked by steam power. Mr. James

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