collected this was not post-day, and all is altered here since.  The threats I despised were but too well grounded, for, to our utter amazement and consternation, the new Roman Catholic chapel in this town was set on fire at about nine o’clock.  It is now burning with a fury that is dreadful, and the house of the priest belonging to it is in flames also.  The poor persecuted man himself has I believe escaped with life, though pelted, followed, and very ill used.  Mrs. Thrale and I have been walking about with the footmen several times.  The whole town is still and orderly.  The rioters do their work with great composure, and though there are knots of people in every corner, all execrating the authors of such outrages, nobody dares oppose them.  An attempt indeed was made, but it was ill-conducted, faintly followed, and soon put an end to by a secret fear of exciting vengeance.

Alas! to what have we all lived!—­the poor invalids here will probably lose all chance of life, from terror.  Mr. Hay, our apothecary, has been attending the removal of two, who were confined to their beds in the street where the chapel is burning.  The Catholics throughout the place are all threatened with destruction, and we met several porters, between ten and eleven at night, privately removing goods, walking on tiptoe, and scarcely breathing.

I firmly believe, by the deliberate villany with which this riot is conducted, that it wil! go on in the same desperate way as in town, and only be stopped by the same desperate means.  Our plan for going to Bristol is at an end.  We are told it would be madness, as there are seven Romish chapels in it; but we are determined upon removing somewhere to-morrow; for why should we, who can go, stay to witness such horrid scenes?

Satarday Afternoon, June 10-I was most cruelly disappointed in not having one word to-day.  I am half crazy with doubt and disturbance in not hearing.  Everybody here is terrified to death.  We have intelligence that Mr. Thrale’s house in town is filled with soldiers, and threatened by the mob with destruction. 
    Perhaps he may himself be a marked man for their fury.  We
are going directly from Bath, and intend to stop only at villages.  To-night we shall stop at Warminster, not daring to go to Devizes.  This place is now well guarded, but still we dare not await the event of to-night; all the catholics in the town have privately escaped.

I know not now when I shall hear from you.  I am in agony 197

for news.  Our head-quarters will be Brighthelmstone, where I do most humbly and fervently entreat you to write—­do, dearest sir, write, if but one word—­if but only you name yourself!  Nothing but your own hand can now tranquillize me.  The reports about London here quite distract me.  If it were possible to send ine a line by the diligence to Brighton, how grateful I should be for such an indulgence!

Hastydeparture FRom bath.