Bristol Queen Square Riots, October 1831. True causes of riot and rebellion. Petition to the King on behalf of the prisoners convicted under the late special commissions at Bristol and Nottingham.

A Petition with Teeth : Framed as a formal appeal to His Majesty the King, the pamphlet argues on behalf of prisoners convicted under the Special Commissions following the Bristol and Nottingham riots'violent episodes that erupted in response to the rejection of the Reform Bill in 1831. But this is no mere plea for clemency. The text pivots from legal petition to systemic critique, asserting that the true causes of unrest lie not in criminal intent but in social neglect: lack of education, religious instruction, and economic opportunity among the working classes. What makes the content particularly striking is its rhetorical strategy. It invokes Roman law and classical jurists to lend intellectual weight, while footnotes and appendices suggest a methodical, almost forensic approach. Yet beneath the formal tone is a clear radical pulse: a belief that rebellion is not born of malice, but of deprivation, and that the state, by ignoring these root causes, becomes complicit in the violence it condemns. As an artefact, the pamphlet sits at the intersection of legal rhetoric, social reform, and political agitation. It reflects the mood of 1832 Britain, just months after the Great Reform Act was passed, but with many reformers still unsatisfied. The document channels that tension, offering a voice not of triumph, but of unfinished revolution. It's a reminder that reform on paper does not erase the grievances that fuel unrest, and that radical print culture often served as a bridge between courtroom and street. A 16 page unbound pamphlet, prepared as single sheets, cut down from larger paper. Entirely modern, and presented as a photocopy from the extremely rare original 1832. Preserved in a modern card cover, prepared for practicality - an unassuming but serviceable presentation that favours function over finery. Size: 12 x 18.5 cms. Category: Antiquarian & Rare; Cosmo Books : 29 years on ABE, 47 years taking care of customers. A bookseller you can rely on. Softcover (Booklet - Unbound Pages).…