Wednesday 22 April 2015

22nd April 1815: Handbills announcing public meeting 'upon the Forest' posted in Nottingham

To the Inhabitants of Nottingham And its Vicinity:—

Gentleman and Brother Townsmen It is with the heart felt greef that we behold the Distress of our fellow workmen and our we anticipate that which will soon overtake them if something Determined and efective is not enter’d upon but let us remember that Desperate means will not answer our purpose therefore let us proseid peacable and united and resist all Demands that shall be made upon us by Government till they have restor’d to us a free trade all over Europe taken of the Duty which is upon Silk and Cotten and quite put away all Restrictions which is upon the Importation of Grain and Flower for as similar threats as been held out by Westminster, Sheffield and other places let us be the first to put them into Execution for we are well Convinced that the Inhabitants of this Town feels the effects of the above as much as any machine in this Country and a meeting will be held upon the Forest on Monday next at 5 oclock to form Resolutions accordingly―

This is a from a copy of the Handbill, sent by the Mayor of Nottingham to the Town Clerk, George Coldham. It can be found at HO 42/144.

In a deposition to local justices of the peace a Nottingham Constable, Benjamin Hall, stated he had observed this notice being pasted onto a wall at James's Yard near Burton Leys by 6 or 7 men between 9.00 and 10.00 p.m. on Saturday 22nd April 1815. After they had left, he removed the handbill and took it to the Mayor the following morning. The same day, he also observed that another similar paper had been posted and partially removed in the same area.

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