town, 16,000, Blackburn parish, 39,899, town, 14,000; Manchester parish, 136,370, town, 106,988. The population in the cotton manufacturing districts increased in the twenty years preceding 1811 "not more than two-thirds, while the material worked up increased to four and a half times the quantity, showing a great increase in the power of working up the material." This increased power of production proceeded from the improvements taking place in machinery, which, besides enabling one person to produce upwards of 200 times as much yarn as he could fifty years before, rendered the yarn better and stronger than was previously made. With the extension of the manufacture, an excess of production ensued, the selling prices declined, and hence wages were injuriously affected. The abundance of paper money in 18l1 - 1812 enabled speculators to create for a time an artificial scarcity, which carried up the prices of grain to the great height they attained in the latter year. Riots became extremely prevalent in various places in April in that year, and on the 20th of the month, a large crowd of riotous individuals compelled the provision dealers in Oldham to sell flour at 3s., and meal at 2s. per peck. On the same day a mob of several thousand persons, many of whom had gone from Oldham, attacked the cotton mill of Messrs. Daniel Burton and Sons, at Middleton, with the object of destroying power looms, these being regarded, although then very few in number, as a serious injury to the hand-loom weavers. The parties in charge of the mill firing on the mob, two young men from Oldham, Daniel Knott and Joseph Jackson, with two others, were killed, The following day the rioters re-assembled at Middleton, but were dispersed by the military, and while this was being effected, a third individual from Oldham, John Johnson, was shot, whilst several others also from this locality were wounded.

In Oldham measures were speedily taken to preserve the peace, a large number of special constables were

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