About 11 o'clock, an officer, with a party of soldiers, was ordered to invest the Dolphin alehouse in Spitalfields, where a number of riotous weavers, called cutters, were assembled, to collect contributions from their brethren, towards supporting themselves in idleness, in order to distress their masters, and to oblige them to advance their wages. When the soldiers arrived, the rioters instantly took the alarm, and arming themselves with guns, pistols, and other offensive weapons, immediately began the attack upon the soldiers, who, in their own defence fired upon and killed two of them, and wounded several Others before they could be subdued. Among the soldiers, one was also killed. In the end, four of the principal rioters were taken prisoners, and a reward of 10l. and his majesty's pardon are offered to any person concerned who shall discover his accomplices.
A most remarkable circumstance is said to have attended the outrages of these cutters. Upon their breaking into the house of Mr. Cromwell in Spitalfields, his wife was so terribly frightened, that the child sucking at her breast was instantly struck blind.
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