violence which pervaded the reform riots of 1817 and the agrarian outrages of later years. The penalty for their favorite out rage was at once raised from transportation to death, and the government rigorously prosecuted the offenders. But Luddism, put down for a time, broke forth with renewed
tions gradually arose the organized agitation for parliamentary reform. Parliamentary re form had already been discussed at intervals in the large cities, but the agitation now ac quired consistency and importance. It was no longer a catch-word for the opposition, but became a household word. Spencean
LORD ELLENBOROUGH.
violence in 1816, increasing the prevalent distress which formed the excuse for its re vival, and causing the destruction of much property. The government policy had only the usual effect of temporarily checking out rages upon persons and property, whilst leav ing the source of disaffection to work with more dangerous secrecy. Out of these condi-
and Hampden Clubs were widely estab lished, the former advocating the partition of land and other visionary schemes, and the latter having for its principal tenets univer sal suffrage and annual parliaments. Prob ably most of the members of these clubs and associations honestly relied upon constitu tional methods; but there were, of course,
