9th July 1816: The Mayor of Leicester writes again of more Colliers reaching Leicester

Leicester July 9. 1816

Sir

Since writing to you yesterday we have had another visit from some Colliers—36 of them drawing an empty waggon made their appearance this morning bringing with them a certificate from some Gentleman of [Uppingham] of their having sold them wage Coals there, of their having [illegible] & being prevailed with to return to their homes at Bilston—The Town Clerk ordered the Body of them to proceed thro’ the Town without delay, & 4 of them remained as a [Deputation] to ask relief of the Magistrates at the [Exchange] this morning They prevented themselves presented themselves about an hour since they pretended to be in distress, to be on their return, & asked relief—We told them that under these circumstances they [should] have the Customary Relief afforded to Vagrants but no more, and that after receiving this if they begged or continued in the Town we [should] immediately apprehend them—We remonstrated with them on the impropriety of their conduct & told them that if they really were out of work, they had a right to require Relief from their Parish & would certainly receive it, & we recommended their immediate return with which they promised compliance & they have left the place. Had they been obstinate our apprehension of them would probably have created some interruption to the peace of the Town and we [should] have felt much more confidence in our ability to perform our duty had if a Troop of Dragoons had been at hand to assist us—Indeed from the unsettled state of the lower orders, & from other reasons I stated yesterday, I should not think myself justified if I did not recommend such assistance if it can be conveniently afforded

I beg to apologise for the haste of this letter, but I am now sitting with my Brother Magistrates, and numerous applications are making to us for relief—

I have [etc]
Jno Mansfield

[To] John Beckett Esq
&c &c &c

8th July 1816: The Mayor or Leicester alerts the Home Office that Colliers are levying contributions locally

Leicester July 8th 1816

Sir

I received here this morning & I hasten to communicate to you the following Events which took place here last Wednesday morning—about 10 oClock on that day the Magistrates received information that a party of 45 drawing a load of Coals were about to pass thro’ the Town on their way to London—the Magistrates immediately sent to them to insist on their not begging in the Town or committing any other illegal act, or they shd be immediately taken up & sent to Prison—This threat had its’ effect, and they passed straight thro’ the Town, quietly & without delay—& when they had quitted the place the magistrates sent them one [shilling] each—Soon afterwards news came that another party was approaching on the same errand—on which a messenger was sent to meet them with similar instructions, and to tell them that no money should be given to them—But this party took a direction to Melton & never came near the Place—and as these proceedings [now] passing before the Stoppage of the Colliers in the neighbourhood of London was known, I help they are for the present at least at an end—On the evening of the day on which the Colliers went thro’ the Town there was a large mob collected & a trifling disturbance, but the meeting was dispersed on the Magistrates taking into Custody the Person who appeared to be the Instigator of it, I find written Notices have been posted in several parts of the Town this morning to invite a meeting of the Stockingers of the Place & its neighbourhood for the purpose of presenting a remembrance to the Magistrates on the state of Trade—Measures are taken to prevent mischief, & I have no fear about it—There is a circumstance which perhaps may deserve your attention, which is that three of the Luddites, (one of them are very notorious fellow) are now Prisoners in the Town Gaol on suspicion of being concerned in the late outrage at Loughboro’

As we are without Troops it is possible an attempt might be made to liberate them—but as far as zeal & attention of the civil Power aided by a Troop of yeomanry can be effectual in preventing mischief I will venture to say it may be depended upon—

I still however am desirous to know if any other kind of procession should be [formed] under pretence of going on in a Body to present Petitions to the Prince Regent, and if it is wished the Magistrates should stop them, in what way they can legally do it—

I have [etc]
W Mansfield
Mayor

[To] John Beckett Esq
&c &c &c

[Home Office note: ‘appoint Sir N Conant’]

29th January 1816: Tipton Colliers win concessions after holding mass assemblies

On Monday 29th January 1816, and following riots in nearby Dudley three days earlier, the mere assembly of Colliers in Tipton led to concessions. The Derby Mercury of 1st February 1816 carried a report:

The neighbourhood of Tipton was on Monday morning alarmed by the collecting together several hundreds of Colliers. About two o'clock the military quartered in Wolverhampton were sent for, and a troop of the 9th Light Dragoons, and a detachment of Berkshire Militia, accompanied by the Rev. A. B. Haden, immediately proceeded to the spot, where they were met by the Rev. D. Lewis, another Magistrate, with a military force from Birmingham. The Colliers have not committed any acts of violence, and they all not only professed, but evinced a disposition to act in the most orderly manner, by dispersing, after being reasoned with and desired to do so. The motive for their collecting, they said, was to resist a further drop of sixpence per day in their wages, by their chaster masters. A satisfactory arrangement was made with them, and they have returned to their employment.

26th January 1816: Colliers riot in Dudley, West Midlands

On Friday 26th January 1816, major disturbances took place in the town of Dudley, in the West Midlands. The Derby Mercury of 1st February 1816 carried a report:

We regret to add, that the vicinity of Dudley has also, during the last week, been disturbed by illegal and riotous assemblages of colliers, who have in several instances proceeded to acts of atrocious and unprovoked violence.—It appears from an advertisement in Aris’s Birmingham Gazette, that an assault of the most outrageous nature was on Friday made, by a party of these misguided men, upon the person of a respectable gentleman in the neighbourhood of that town. We are happy to find that a liberal reward has been offered for the apprehension of the offenders, and we trust they will be speedily given up to justice. A large party of colliers, armed with sticks and bludgeons, passed through Dudley on Friday evening, on their way towards Tipton. They halted opposite the town hall, where having given several shouts of defiance, accompanied by signs of resistance should they be interrupted, they proceeded forward. Military aid reached on the following morning (Saturday) from Coventry; and we hope, under the able guidance of the magistracy, they will effectually intimidate them from further acts of excess.

The Lancaster Gazette of 10th February 1816 went into more detail about the 'outrageous assault' on the 'respectable gentleman':

A few days since a mob of colliers assembled in the vicinity of Dudley, and seizing a Mr. Parker, put a rope round his neck, and threatened to hang him, unless he acceded to their demands. 

The Leeds Mercury of the same date related the same incident, albeit with slightly differing detail:

...a party attacked Mr. Zephaniah Parkes, near Holly Hall, put a rope round his neck and threatened to hang him, unless he acceded to their illegal demands