The Priestley Riots, 1791, and the Lunar Society.

Halesowen, UK:: Birmingham and Midland Institute, (1994)., 1994. 8vo. 66 pp. Wrappers. Bookplate of DG [Denis Gibbs, Oxford]. Very good. ISBN 0951442449 Limited edition of 500 copies. "The Priestley Riots (also known as the Birmingham Riots of 1791) took place from 14 July to 17 July 1791 in Birmingham, England; the rioters' main targets were religious dissenters, most notably the politically and theologically controversial Joseph Priestley. The riots started with an attack on the Royal Hotel, Birmingham—the site of a banquet organised in sympathy with the French Revolution. Then, beginning with Priestley's church and home, the rioters attacked or burned four Dissenting chapels, twenty-seven houses, and several businesses. Many of them became intoxicated by liquor that they found while looting, or with which they were bribed to stop burning homes. A small core could not be bribed, however, and remained sober. The rioters burned not only the homes and chapels of Dissenters, but also the homes of people they associated with Dissenters, such as members of the scientific Lunar Society." [Wikip.]