9th October 1812: John Lloyd tells the Home Office he is holding John Hinchliffe in Cheshire and is concerned about a convicts plea for clemency

Congleton
9th October 1812

Sir

I came to this place from the Cheshire quarter Sessions, held at Knutsford, partly to see John Hinchliffe, whom I placed here in retirement under the Inspection of Mr. Watson, a county Magistrate, who is my relation; and, consequently, to be trusted with such a business; for I conceive Hinchliffe yet to be danger shod he be found by the friends of Schofield or any of the Yorkshire Luddites; & I shall be very glad if I have not been going too far in removing him & giving him protection—It is what I understood from the Law Officers to be recommended upon a former occasion, It has not however been absolutely instructed in this particular instance – but adopted on my own discretion—

When at Home on Monday the 5th, a man of the name of John Cooper was brought in by the military; apprehended by them at New Mills in Derbyshire for heading some of the violent & desperate mobs in April last at Tintwistle, in Cheshire, & the neighbourhd where machinery was broken—As he was particularly identified as such Leader, and as he had returned to near to the scene of action, it was right to have him committed the Offences & he was sent to Chester & the witness bound over to appear at the Assizes to prosecute & give Evidence—

My Clerk, disengaged from the Sessions, will now make copies of the Examinations to transmit to you.

Thomas Whitaker late of Brinksway near Stockport transported for administering an unlawful oath to J. Parnell & now on board Retribution Hulk at Woolwich had written a long Letter to his Wife full of contrition and repentance—& with very proper feelings reprobates the Characters of those he has formerly been connected with—The object of the Letter is to get some persons of respectability to interpose on his behalf with Government, which he thinks wou’d be disposed to listen to a petition in his favor – for that he has communicated the utmost of his knowledge do it. Will you do me the honor to place so much confidence in me as to give me the Information whether there is such an inclination – I can assure you there is a very happy change in the dispositions of the people in & about Stockport.

I have [etc]
J Lloyd

[To] J. H. Addington Esq
Undersecy &c &c

Lloyd needn't have worried - Whittaker was eventually transported to Australia.

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This letter can be found at HO 42/128.