seven o’clock in the evening
This suggested such dreadful images to the people 's minds , and was indeed an act so fraught with new and unimaginable horrors in the contemplation , that it beset them more than any loss or cruelty of which they could foresee the worst , and drove many sane men nearly mad themselves . So the day passed on : the prisoners moving their goods ; people running to and fro in the streets , carrying away their property ; groups standing in silence round the ruins ; all business suspended ; and the soldiers disposed as has been already mentioned , remaining quite inactive . So the day passed on , and dreaded night drew near again . At last , at seven o'clock in the evening , the Privy Council issued a solemn proclamation that it was now necessary to employ the military , and that the officers had most direct and effectual orders , by an immediate exertion of their utmost force , to repress the disturbances ; and warning all good subjects of the King to keep themselves , their servants , and apprentices , within doors that night . There was then delivered out to every soldier on duty , thirty-six rounds of powder and ball ; the drums beat ; and the whole force was under arms at sunset . The City authorities , stimulated by these vigorous measures , held a Common Council ; passed a vote thanking the military associations who had tendered their aid to the civil authorities ; accepted it ; and placed them under the direction of the two sheriffs . At the Queen 's palace , a double guard , the yeomen on duty , the groom-porters , and all other attendants , were stationed in the passages and on the staircases at seven o'clock , with strict instructions to be watchful on their posts all night ; and all the doors were locked .