... Liability Act of 1862, led in May 1866 to the failure of one of the greatest financial houses in London, Overend and Gurney. This involved the collapse of many other enterprises and the consequent growth of unemployment was accompanied by a rise in fuel prises, owing to a bad harvest in the autumn and an outbreak of rinderpest among the cattle by the previous year. Subsequently, it was hardly surprising that a number of mass demonstrations were held in London shortly after the appointment of the Conservative Government, when the failure of Russell's reform bill had greatly heightened the excitement. The most serious episode took place in July 1866. The National Reform League under Edmond Beales proposed to hold a large meeting in Hyde Park, Known as the Hyde Park Riots, and although the new Home secretary Spencer Walpole prohibited this, the League still went ahead with the arrangements. ...

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