A huge crowd, estimated at forty thousand to sixty thousand strong, assembles on June 2, 1780, and marches on the Houses of Parliament.

Many carry flags and banners proclaiming "No Popery", and most wear blue cockades, which have become the symbol of their movement.

As they march, their numbers swell.

They attempted to force their way into the House of Commons, but without success.

Gordon, petition in hand, and wearing in his hat the blue cockade of the Protestant Association, enters the Commons and presents the petition.

Outside, the situation quickly gets out of hand and a riot erupts.

Members of the House of Lords are attacked as they arrive, and a number of carriages are vandalized and destroyed.

Despite being aware of the possibility of trouble, the authorities had failed to take steps to prevent violence breaking out.

The Prime Minister, Lord North, had forgotten to issue an order mobilizing the small number of Constables in the area.

Those that were present in the House of Commons are not strong enough to take on the angry mob.

Eventually a detachment of soldiers is summoned, and they disperse the crowd without violence.

Inside the House of Commons, the petition is overwhelmingly dismissed by a vote of 192 to 6.

Once the mob around Parliament had dispersed, it seemed to the government that the worst of the disorder was over.

However, the same night a crowd gathers and attacks the Roman Catholic Sardinian Embassy Chapel in Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Bow Street Runners and soldiers are called out and make thirteen arrests, although most of the ringleaders have managed to escape.

The same night the chapel of the Bavarian Embassy in Warwick Street, Soho, is destroyed.