Headlines from 1811: Riots, cuts and a snake-eating cow

As four million pages of historical newspapers dating back three centuries go online, what were people preoccupied with 200 years ago in 1811?

The British Library's online collection will be the largest collection of online papers and include titles from across the UK and Ireland.

Most of those are local regional titles and a trawl through the archive from 200 years ago reveals a treasure trove of history.

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One report in the Manchester Mercury would not appear too out of place in a tabloid newspaper today - although two centuries ago the potential for eye-catching headlines had not been fully explored. The newspaper reports on a curious case of a cow in a village near Hull which died of a mystery illness.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15945306

which has lyrics which with a little updating could still stand good today

It has the memorable chorus

Honesty's all out of fashion
These are the rigs of the times, times me boys
These are the rigs of the times

http://www.afolksongaday.com/2011/09/14/the-rigs-of-the-time/

what's the saying - what goes around, comes around.