24th March 1812: Massive petitions against the Orders in Council are sent to London from the Leeds area

On Tuesday evening the 24th March, three massive petitions left Leeds for London. Each of them was signed by 16,000 to 17,000 people and they were addressed to the Prince Regent and the Houses of Commons and Lords. The petitions called for the rescinding of the Orders in Council.

The day before, Earl Fitzwilliam had spoken on the subject in the House of Lords, as recorded by Hansard:

He [Fitzwilliam] said he should have several petitions to present from manufacturers and other commercial persons, complaining of the injurious and destructive consequences resulting to their interests from the Orders in Council: and that, when these petitions should be before the House, he should feel it incumbent on him, to come forward with a motion for the repeal of so injurious a system.

---

As recorded in the Leeds Mercury of 28th March 1812.