The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane · Chapter
VIII: Unconventional Justice explained
In December 1814, Zachariah Coleman faces taunts from printing-office colleagues about Joanna Southcott's failed prophecy.
What happens
In December 1814, Zachariah Coleman faces taunts from printing-office colleagues about Joanna Southcott's failed prophecy. He is preoccupied with the Friends of the People, a radical society divided over revolutionary action. Major Maitland, Caillaud, and Zachariah advocate caution and drill, warning that the middle and working classes are hostile. The Secretary, resentful after being silenced by the Major, is secretly meeting with a government agent, Mr. Hardy, who bribes him to betray the next meeting. The Major receives an anonymous warning and cancels the meeting, but the Secretary, unaware, proceeds to the rendezvous.
Themes in this chapter
Political Reform and Revolution
The society's internal conflict over revolutionary action versus cautious reform, with Major Maitland warning of class hostility and the need for drill.
Suffering and Resilience
The narrator reflects on forgotten radicals who struggled for decades against oppression, often dying unrecognized.
Religion and Hypocrisy
Joanna Southcott's failed prophecy and the taunting of Zachariah highlight the tension between religious belief and skepticism.
Characters to notice
- Zachariah Coleman
Taunted by workmates about Joanna Southcott; preoccupied with the Friends of the People meeting; advocates caution with Major Maitland.
- Major Maitland
Leads the cautious faction in the society; warns of the need for drill and the hostility of the middle and working classes; receives an anonymous warning to cancel the meeting.
- Mr. Caillaud
Part of the cautious 'informal Cabinet' with the Major and Zachariah; not at home when the Major seeks him.
- Mr. Hardy
Government agent who meets secretly with the Secretary, bribes him with five sovereigns, and learns the meeting time to arrange arrests.
- Secretary
Resentful after being silenced by the Major; meets with Mr. Hardy and accepts a bribe to betray the meeting; later attends the meeting unaware of the cancellation.
Key passages
“In December, 1814, a steamboat was set in motion on the Limehouse Canal, the Lord Mayor and other distinguished persons being on board. In the same month Joanna Southcott died.”
In December 1814, a steamboat was launched on the Limehouse Canal with the Lord Mayor present, and Joanna Southcott died that same month.
Sets the historical context for the chapter.
“The Major in particular warned them of the necessity of drill; and plainly told them also that, not only were the middle classes all against them, but their own class was hostile.”
Major Maitland stressed the need for military training and pointed out that both the middle and working classes were opposed to their cause.
Highlights the theme of political reform and the difficulty of gaining popular support.
“These heroes are forgotten, or nearly so. Who remembers the poor creatures who met in the early mornings on the Lancashire moors or were shot by the yeomanry?”
These forgotten heroes, who gathered secretly on Lancashire moors and were killed by yeomanry, are now unremembered.
Reflects on the suffering and resilience of early radicals.