History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

252
MRS WEBSTER OF PENNS
sentiments and the uprightness of your intentions ; and
that they will long
retain their gratitude and respect for a character which so forcibly delineates
the man of honour, the Christian and the good citizen.
" I am gratified by the present opportunity of begging you to accept my
fervent wishes for the prolongation of your valuable life, and for the still
further extension of your sphere of usefulness and enjoyment, and of assuring
you that I remain with very high respect, Rev. Sir, your sincere and obedient.
"William Russell."
Considering the severity of the law at that date, 1 the Dissenters had cause
to complain of the sentences passed by the magistrates—the Rev. Dr Spencer
(Rector of St. Philip's), Mr Carless, Captain Carver, and the Rev. Charles Curtis.
Only fifteen were committed to the Assizes, and when they were tried at
Warwick great efforts were made to save them. One of the judges, Lord
Chief Baron Eyre, observed that never in his life had he seen so much rancour
and ill blood. In the end three were executed ; but of the claims preferred for
property destroyed during the riot only .£26,961 were allowed.
Several of the burnt houses were left in ruins for many years, and residents,
like Lady Carhampton (who was taken to Canwell by Sir Robert Lawley),
neither owners of property nor attached to Birmingham by profession or
business, quitted the place altogether, and it was many years before it recovered
its prosperity. The terrible distress of 1 800-1 was an indirect consequence of
the riots.
There is another undated letter to Edward Johnstone from Parr about this
time. Madame Belloc observes that Parr had been a tutor very early to boys
who were statesmen before he was middle-aged, and that he continued to
influence them. " Mr Mackintosh (Sir James) came hither on Thursday and he
will be glad to see the town and avail himself of your hospitality. If you will
meet him in your chaise at Hockley House I will attend him on horseback and
we will dine together, and he can go on with you to Birmingham. I never saw
so philosophical a mind at his time of life mingled with so much delicacy of
spirit and strength in elocution. ... In truth, my good friend, the Dissenters
have such narrow views ... so visionary and inexperienced, yet so rash,
that society has no confidence in their policy. Pitt will oppress them, insult
them, yet retain them for his shifting purposes. Had they possessed your
firmness, temper and penetration what is bad would not have happened nor
could. Yours sincerely and respectfully. S.P."
One of Edward's friends was Mrs Webster 2 of Penns, a very pretty country
house six miles and a half out of Birmingham. Her husband met with an
accident, which caused his death, in 1788, when hunting with the Warwickshire
hounds in Chelmsley Wood, accompanied by the Rector of Solihull, who had
1 For attending a political meeting in Edinburgh a West Indian proprietor was sentenced
in 1794 by a Scottish jury to fourteen years banishment to Botany Bay. He died very soon
after landing from the hardships of the voyage.
2 Her father was Mr Parkes, the banker at Warwick. She was great-aunt to Madame
Parkes- Belloc.