23rd February 1818: Leicester Framework-knitters meet to petition parliament about their distress

The Nottingham Review of Friday 6th March 1818 carried the following article about framework-knitters in Leicester:

A numerous meeting of the framework-knitters of the town and county of Leicester, was held on Monday se'nnight, at the Fleur-de-lis Inn, Belgrave-gate, persuant to public advertisment, for the purpose of petitioning the Legislature, on the subject of their truly distressing situation, and praying relief: when a number of resolutions and a petition founded thereon, were unanimously adopted.

20th February 1818: The Nottingham Review writes on the plight of Leicester framework-knitters

The Nottingham Review of Friday 20th February posted the following article about plight of framework-knitters in Leicester being championed in the holiest places:

We learn from undoubted authority, that the framework-knitters of Leicester, to the disgrace of their employers, are now reduced in their prices even lower than last year.—This odious sin of oppression was never more ably exposed than on Sunday week, in the afternoon, by the Rev. Robert Hall, of Leicester, at his own meeting-house, from Ecclesiastes iv.1. “So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.”—In commencing his sermon, the preacher said, “he did not wish to be personal, but he must ease his conscience, of a duty he ought to have done aforetime;” and we are assured, more independent, sharp, and cutting reproof, rarely comes from the pulpit; and whilst advocating the cause and the miserable state of the starving workman, his eloquent shafts were barbed with more than ordinary severity against the master manufacturers, numbers of whom were present, and we have no doubt but the thunder of this animated address will long reverberate in the ears of many who heard it.

The article was immediately followed up below with the following:

On Sunday last, at Leicester, the same Minister preached his annual sermons for the cause of Baptist Missions. The collection amounted to 47l.

11th October 1817: A correspondent to the Nottingham Review blames Parish Officers for the poverty of Framework-knitters

At a time (says a correspondent of the Nottingham Review,) when the public mind is much exercised, on account of the lamentable, and much to be regretted dispute between the Hosiers and their workmen, any means that can be devised to remove the evil, in my opinion ought to be immediately put into practice, therefore I will, by your permission state, that as it is admitted almost by every one who has directed his attention to the subject, that overseers of parishes telling their parishioners, the framework-knitters, that if they could not obtain work at the best prices, to get it at any price rather than come away without, and that they would make up the deficiency, has been a great evil to the trade―I say this has already been proved an evil, and that to an alarming extent, which the parishes little thought of. Therefore in my opinion, (and it is also the opinion of several well informed gentlemen) the parishes should each have a meeting, and resolve not to relive any Framework-knitter, who is in health and strength, and in full work, and if he is so reduced in the price of his labour, that he cannot maintain his family at his business, he ought to leave it, and got to house-row work, or any other work that he can get to do; for it is a shame that men should work fourteen or sixteen hours a day, and after that be obliged to go to the Overseer for relief, as it is now quite common for them to receive from two to seven shilling per week, and in many instances more; and can but just live at that. While this system is pursued, there never will be any peace and comfort amongst the men, for some unfeeling masters, when they find that their poor workmen are relieved by the Parishes, say, “it does not matter to you, what your price is, when the deficiency is made up to you,” so they take off another penny or two—pence per pair, and the workman goes to the Overseer to receive what the Hosier has paid him short of his wages. The fact is, that we now have a new race of paupers* sprung up, for the workman does not receive so much for the quantity of labour, from the hosier and overseer both put together as he formerly did. I saw this week in Nottingham a poor framework-knitter, with some of his work that he had made before the frames were stopped and real good stockings they were, and he declared that he had been making them for 5s. 6d. per dozen, and the same article I am sure was 17s. per dozen in 1814! and a few hosiers to my knowledge have not paid less than 11s. for the same, thus they have been paying 5s. 6d. and he is making other articles nearly as cheap. I must beg pardon of you for taking up so much room of your valuable paper, hoping it will have a good effect, and beg to subscribe myself to your constant reader.

J. H.

N.B. To average the hands, they would not make above a dozen per week, which would be 5s. 6d. at first hand, then if it was a journeyman there would be his expenses, which in winter would be 4s. per week, leaving him only 1s. 6d. to subsist upon; but candour obliges me to acknowledge that this is the worst work I have heard of.

*I allude to those who are paying the lowest of prices, and have run down the poor workman on all occasions.

11th October 1817: The Nottinghamshire Framework-knitters strike is reported to end in failure

On Saturday 11th October 1817, the Leicester Chronicle republished a story from a recent Nottingham Review, that the Framework-knitters strike had ended in relative failure:

Last week a great number of framework-knitters in the country, who had struck for an advance of wages, returned to their employment without gaining the object for which they had turned out. This obliged the hands in the town to follow their example, and on Monday, they went again to their frames, as we are given to understand, without obtaining either an advance or regulation as it regards the hose, but there is some trifling increase in the price given for the making of caps and drawers. Notwithstanding this is the case, we believe a hope is entertained, that though an advance was refused on a turn out of the workmen, something will speedily be conceded to private and respectful application.―Nottingham Review.

[11th] September 1817: Henry Enfield writes to the Home Office about striking Frameworkknitters in Nottinghamshire

Nottingham 10r. September 1817.

My Lord

The Magistrates wish me to make a Communication to Your Lordship of the present State of this Town & its neighbourhood.

During the last three days there have been a general Strike, or Turn-out, of the Frameworkknitters for an Advance of Wages―& vast numbers of them have Come into Nottingham from the adjacent Villages & Townships―It is reported that they have in some instances in the County used violence, & in very many instances Threats, to bring out those Frameworkknitters who were reluctant to join them―and, that there are two Committees sitting in Nottingham who are the directors of the present measures & supply the men with money for their immediate support. At present no Violence or actual Branch of the public peace has been Committed―the men walk about in Considerable numbers, & make their frequent Applications to the Hosiers―but the magistrates cannot expect this tranquil demeanour to be of long duration if the object which in view that continue ungained―& they have therefore taken, & will be constantly prepared with means to the utmost of their power for putting down any Commotion―

With respect to the question between the Frameworkknitters & their masters, the magistrates have not any power to interpose―& as Individuals they do not conceive that they have any right to become parties―Their duty is, as they conceive, to watch the public Peace & to preserve it―being ready, nevertheless, at all times to receive Complaints, & to enforce the Laws relating to Combinations &c.―It may happen that each [succeeding] Day will make the men more & more discontented, & the Committees more personal & threatening―this may become so overt as to call for the Interference of the magistracy without a complaint―but should this not occur, the magistrates are of opinion that they should not officially take any active step―They will be happy to receive from Lordship’s Sentiments upon this Subject―

Mr. Aldr. Morley has received the enclosed Letter from Mr. Parker of this Town, a manufacturer of first respectability―The magistrates cannot so satisfactorily dispose of the Letters as by transmitting it in the Dispatch for the Consideration of Your Lordship―

I have [etc]

H Enfield

Town Clerk

P.S. Sep. 11.

I beg to enclose your Lordship a Handbill―This handbill was carried about by the collectors of the Subscriptions to the Frameworkknitters Cause, & a Copy left with the Subscriber―Their collections were (& I believe are) by House-row―

H.E.

[To] The Right Honble Lord Sidmouth
Secretary of State &c &c &c

2nd September 1817: Nottingham Framework-knitters Handbill about low pay

TO THE

Philanthopic and Feeling

PUBLIC,

OF

NOTTINGHAM,

And its Vicinity,

The distressed Part of the Framework-Knitters,

UNDER THE DENOMINATION OF PANTALOONS, DRAWERS, CAPS,

GLOVES, SANDALS, SHIRTS, FLEECE-WORK, &c.

GENTLEMEN,―We have to regret after having repeatedly applied for Redress from our different Employers, there are Three of the Manufacturers in the above Branches, are in a peculiar manner obstinate in not coming forward to alleviate the Sufferings of their distressed Workmen.

One, of the name of Mr. J_______, of Castle-gate, when solicited and informed his Workmen could no longer Work at the present reduced Price, positively asserted he would not give the Advance. Mr. P_______, Stoney-street, asserted the same.

Gentlemen,―It is a Fact, the two above-mentioned Manufacturers are giving no more to their Hands, then other Master-Stocking-makers give to their Journeymen, and this is the chief Cause of their going to the Market and under-selling the respectable Houses: Mr. M____, Fletcher-gate, is the other Obstacle, but appears more favourable.

We have long strove to Support our Families, under the most trying and perilous Circumstances, independent of Parochial Relief; but, alas! in vain. But we now look forward with the pleasing ray of the hope, that the Day of Relief is at hand.

It is with gratitude we have to announce to the Public, that our other Employers have come forward with a Determination, that does them honor both as Men and Gentlemen, not only to take part of the Burthen which we have borne with Patience and Fortitude, but to restore us as near to our former State of Comfort and Independence as the Trade will admit.

We wish to impress our Cause on your Minds; it is such as will enable us, and our Children after us, to live by our Labour; but, if lost, we must remain a poor and helpless distressed People. An humble Independency, by honest Industry, is all we crave, and none but unreasonable Men will dispute our Right.

It is evident that the irregular Manner in which the Trade has been carried on with the depression of Wages, have been considered as the primary Source of the Evils complained of by the Public, in paying the enormous Poor-Rates, which has been caused by the Reduction of Wages.

Could the Price requested be obtained, it would then enable us to Support our Families without the Assistance of Parochial Relief.

It is humiliating and painful to us to call upon a generous Public for their aid, without which, we cannot be extricated from our forlorn and distressed Situation, only by their kind Assistance.

Most of the Manufacturers are giving the Prices which we now crave FROM OUR OWN EMPLOYERS. The Price we now ask is what we received in the Year 1815; and in the year 1811, we received Four Shillings in the Pound more than what we are now soliciting.

Signed, in behalf of the above Branches,

JAMES BROWN.

WILLIAM LEE.

THOMAS HUSKINSON.

Nottingham, September 2, 1817.

Printed by Sutton and Son, Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham.

30th March 1817: Hoveringham Framework-knitters appeal to Hosiers to raise their wages

AN ADDRESS

Of the FRAMEWORK-KNITTERS in HOVERINGHAM,

AND ITS VICINITY.

TO THE GENTLEMAN HOSIERS.

GENTLEMEN—To your humane Feelings we address ourselves, because the little ray of Hope we had left is somewhat revived, on hearing of a Demand for our Labour: we say our Hopes are revived, because you, Gentlemen, have often cheered us by promising an Advancement of Wages when there came a Demand. Then what shall we say, Gentlemen, to excite your Compassion; shall we picture the particular Circumstances of our Family Distresses, which you will find, buy a strict Investigation, to be without a Parallel! No! a Reflection on our present Miseries, would not only hurt your humanity, but give us increased sorrow. Gentleman, we beg leave to submit to your Consideration an average Statement of our scanty Earnings. You know, Gentlemen, we cannot average at the most more than Nine Shillings per Week, at the first Hand, and when the Deductions are taken off, such as Frame Rent, &c. there cannot remain more than Six Shillings and Sixpence, and when House Rent, Coals, Candles, &c. there cannot remain more than Two Shillings; and if we average the married Man's Family at Two Children, there remains only Sixpence per Head, for a Man, his Wife, and Two Children for the Week!

We feel no pleasure, Gentlemen, in drawing up such a Statement, only we remember with what pleasure you came forward on former Occasions, and advanced our Wages, when our Wants were not half so pressing, as they are at the present time. Gentlemen, we rely upon your goodness, and humbly hope you will lift us up (at least) one Step towards the Comforts of Life.

On the behalf of the Trade, and our Fellow (suffering) Workmen, we are, Gentlemen, sincerely and respectfully, your obedient and humble Servants,

JOSEPH HALLAM,
THOMAS KITCHIN,
WILLIAM FOSTER,
THOMAS DODD,
THOMAS PARKINS,
WILLIAM HALLEWAY,
THOMAS MARTIN.

Hoveringham, 30th March, 1817.

20th February 1817: A leading Leicester framework-knitter writes to the Home Secretary

Leicester Feby 20th 1817

My Lord

We have inclosed for the serious consideration of your Lordships & the cabinet Ministers No.1 a copy of the resolutions of the Framework Knitters passed at their late meeting & No.2 subsequent resolutions of ye Hosiers. You will find in them a statement of matters of Fact, & things as they really are in this Town & Neighbourhood. The Framework Knitters in consequence of the reduction of their Wages are reduced to the lowest state of misery & wretchedness, & if the present system of giving low Wages is persisted in, the whole of the common people will soon become paupers. One cause of this state of things is the combination Act, which is unjust in its principles, & impolitic in its application. If this Act had never been enforced mechanics would in a great measure been enabled to resist their employers in reducing their wages & consequently the country would have been in comparatively flourishing circumstances; All ranks of People in this Town see & feel evil of ye present system of giving low Wages, and we can assure your Lordship from a personal interview we have had with the Mayor, that he, and the other Magistrates of this Town are anxious that our Wages should be advanced, the present system will eat the Vitals of the Country, & your Lordship will find that a nation of Paupers will ultimately produce an empty exchequer and a National Bankruptcy.—It is not the want of employment of which we complain but the lowness of our Wages, the hands out of Work being comparatively few. You have legislated to keep up the price of Corn, & it is but just that you should legislate to keep up the price of labour & your Lordship will ever find in time of Peace that the Price of one is dependent on the price of the other; If the Mechanics and artizans were well paid for their Labour they would not hoard up their Money, It would find its way into the shops of the Tradesmen the Pockets of the Farmer & into his Majesty’s exchequer, If a low price is given for Labour the price of the necessaries of Life must come down in proportion in defiance of all attempts that are made to keep them up & we would ask your Lordship how a low price of Corn, a low price of labour can exist with a heavy taxation? Your Lordship will see in the Resolutions of the Hosiers, that they tell us they are forced to reduce our Wages, to come into the market upon equal terms with Parishes that manufacture goods, and those Hosiers who receive the premium from Parishes for employing their Poor; We would call your Lordships attention particularly to this subject, Parishes manufacture goods, send them to Market & sell them under prime cost & the loss sustaind is made up from the poor rates, to meet this competition, the Hosiers are obliged to reduce the wages of their Workmen? Your Lordship from this Statement we trust will see the necessity of some alteration in the Poor Laws, We would humbly suggest to your Lordship that if the Poor Rates throughout the Country were collected & put into one public fund & the whole of the poor paid from that fund there would be no inducement for parishes to manufacture or give premiums to manufacturers for employing their Poor & forcing them to work for low Wages as is the case at present, We have to beg pardon for intruding ourselves upon your notice, but the importance of the subject & the high station which your Lordship holds in his Majesty's Government we hope will be deemed by your Lordship a sufficient apology

Signed on the behalf of the deputation appointed to wait upon the Hosiers

Willm Jackson Secy

To Lord Viscount Sidmouth
Secretary for Home Department

24th December 1816: An extraordinary letter is sent to the Home Secretary from an Overseer of the Poor in Derbyshire

Melbourne near Derby Decr 24
1816

My Lord

Permit me to lay before you a statement of the deplorable situation to which this ruined Parish is now reduced, I state no more than plain facts—There are upwards of 2000 Inhabitants 600 of whom have been employed in the Hosiery manufacture the whole of whom are now totally destitute of employment

The master manufacturers having mostly become Bankrupt; the few others have been compelled to relinquish Trade from want of means to carry it on

I myself for one have employed upwards of 200 men but through loss of property have been compelled to decline—The Poor Rates are upwards of 20 Shillings in the pound, and are daily increasing—last week The Overseers were obliged to seize the effects of no less than 40 Houskeepers for arrears of the poor rate, these 40 families of course are becoming claimants, the Workhouse cannot contain the people who apply for admittance—it has been enlarged considerably and still much too small, in fact, unless some means of relief be speedily adopted the whole parish will be reduced to a general state of Pauperism and Beggary—the few Farmers who are left are totally unable to bear up any longer—and must relinquish the cultivation of the soil, The Overseers are totally at a loss how to proceed—we ask advice? we claim assistance and it is from a motive of humanity alone I write to your Lordship, for, to see the distresses of my poor starving Workmen, of the poor in general is sufficient to rend a Heart of stone, the people are quiet, they are Loyall, but surely there is a point of suffering beyond which, it is not in human nature to endure as far as regards myself it is not material whether we have relief or not, I have still the means left of abandoning the Country; which I must shortly do if relief is not given. I have been in the habit of Travelling through most parts of the Kingdom and I can assure your Lordship this is pretty generally the case in the Manufacturing Districts—

His Majesty's Ministers delude themselves in supposing the evil only temporary, it is increasing and will increase unless the master manufacturers can replace their lost property, in short whether you believe it or not Bankruptcy and Beggary is like a Deluge rapidly overspreading the whole Land—

By shutting your eyes and ears against the Cries of all suffering people, you dont get rid of the evil, it is not by stifling stifling complaint, that a remedy is applied! although the bad Harvest has aggravated the evil it would have been little better had that not being the case—Something sufficient must be done soon too.

If I might be permitted a remedy, it would be to enable the poor to cultivate the soil, by giving them permanent employ and compelling Land owners to Allot a small portion of Land to each Cottage, where this is the case poor rates are trifling, but where they are driven by Rapacious Land holders & owners from the cultivation of the Soil to engage in manufactures, there the evil is pressing—if a heavy Tax were laid on all occupiers of Land above 100 Acres it would do much towards a remedy, one Family perhaps occupies 500 or 1000 Acres, this if divided would support 20 Families in comfort

Trade is overdone from it nothing can be expected—

I am
my Lord your Obdt Servt
An Overseer

21st October 1816: Handbill posted in Nottingham 'we will have Bread or Blood by God'

Brother Townsmen. A set of Justases as robed us for years by bating plain Hose from 1s.6d to 9 and Silk Gloves from 1.2. to 6d. They are now going to call out Watch and Ward to protect their vilony and oppresion but death to them that proposes it Brother sufferers I hope you will atend the Hall that we may not shoot wrong for we will have Bread or Blood by God.

16th August 1816: 'An appalling picture of distress' in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire

The Nottingham Review of 16th August 1816 published the following sobering passage about the distresses being experienced amongst framework-knitters in Sutton-in-Ashfield:

A Correspondent in a large village in this neighbourhood, has sent us the following appalling picture of distress; and we are sorry to say, we have every reason to believe, from the account given by an inhabitant of the place, who called upon us this week, that so far from the facts being too highly coloured, on an investigation they would be found to exceed the representation here given: we are told that one farmer in the parish is now paying 15s. per day, as a poor rate; and we know for a certainty, that for a smart house, the rental of which is 3l. 10s. a year, the tenant is paying between two and three shillings a week to the same rate. That such a state of things cannot long continue, must be evident to every reflecting mind:—"The situation of Sutton-in-Ashfield is truly miserable. There are no less than fourteen Sick Clubs or Institutions for the relief of each other in cases of inability to follow their occupations, containing above twelve hundred members, who have stopped paying and receiving during the present distress, for the want of employ, which renders it impossible for the greatest part of them to pay their contributions, and consequently must have been excluded, is such an expedient had not been resorted to. Many are in the practice of procuring fire fuel by going two or three miles to the coal pits with wheelbarrows, and some join in numbers at a cart or a waggon and divide them when they have drawn them home. Out of the number of almost two thousand frames, not one hundred have full employ; and those who have hitherto paid poor rates, are called upon to an extent of distress which is unparalleled."

16th May 1816: Bureaucrats in Hinckley, Leicestershire, write to the Home Secretary about destitute & unemployed framework-knitters

My Lord,

Impelled solely by Sense of Duty, we beg leave to state to your lordship the alarming situation of the Inhabitants of the Town of Hinckley, from the unprecedented, depressed condition of the Trade & Manufactures – We believe that almost One Half the Frame-Work-Knitters & other Mechanics are, at this time, out of their usual Employ—; & that, very shortly, the other Half will be in the same dreadful Situation — The Manufacturers have already exhausted their Capital, & nearly their Credit, in the Stock of goods, they have now on hand; & for which they can find no market.—

During the last Month, we have employed, on account of the Parish, many [Nearly 200—]of the very poorest of the People; who, had we not resorted to this expedient, must have been taken into the Workhouse. And the Number applying every day for Work, or Support, from the Parish, is constantly increasing — But our Means of assisting them are wholly inadequate — The Landholders & the Occupiers of Houses cannot be able, much longer, to meet the heavy & unparalleled demands, which will be made upon them. But, my Lord, this is but a Small Part of the Evils which threaten us — For a great Proportion of those Families, who have hitherto contributed to our Parochial Payments; being thrown out of Employment, must, instead of aiding, become a burden upon the Parish—

We feel a Pleasure in informing your lordship, that the Conduct of the Lower Orders of the People of this Place, has been peaceable & exemplary — But it is an alarming & appalling Circumstance, that we cannot walk the Streets without Seeing Numbers of Vigorous & Active young Men, (many of whom have been lately discharge from their Country’s Service), who are totally destitute of Work, without the means of Support. The frightful Consequences of which we need not point out to your Lordship —

Having honestly stated to your lordship the present & probable future Situation of this Town, we leave it your superior wisdom, to furnish us with such advice, & direction, as the awful crisis may seem to you to demand.

We have the Honour to be My Lord, your Lordship’s most very Obedient, & Humble Servants.—

John Blakeley   Visitor—

James Payne
Samuel Goode   Guardians—

John Ward
Wm. Haddon   Churchwardens—

Joseph Bassford
Wm Metham   Overseers of the Poor—

Hinckley May – 16 - — 1816 —

To The Right Honble Viscount Sidmouth, His Majesty’s Secretary of the Home Department &c &c &c —

13th May 1816: An informer reports a meeting of framework-knitters in Leicester

13th May 1816

I had been at the Prince Blucher ever since before two o'Clock. There was a man from Leicester and another from Derby. I bought of the Leicester man the copy of "Resolutions of Meeting of the Frameworkknitters at Leicester of 15th April last – a man named Smith of Mansfield was first chosen Chairman between 2 and 3. There was a numerous Meeting 100 or more. The Chairman, called Silence and the Derby man stated that they had solicited the Hosiers of Derby and they had agreed to sign a Petition to Government to put a stop to the cut-up work – He said he had been at Leicester and the Employers and the employed there had petitioned, and it was thought it would not avail much unless the Trade at Derby and Nottingham would do the same and that this Meeting was called to get that done. There were 5 men chosen as a Committee to consult what was to be done. They withdrew into another room and were away about an hour, they then returned and stated that 5 or 6 able men should be chosen to go to the Hosiers tomorrow and next day, and solicit them to do as they had done at Leicester & Derby—and if they did not come to, another meeting was to be called to consult how to proceed. It appeared to be the general opinion of the Meeting that the Nottingham Hosiers would not comply, as they had done at Leicester and Derby, and that the Mayor and Magistrates would not allow them to meet publicly. There was a Meeting at Arnold at Jonathan Stirtevants as I was told yesterday by Robert Mitchell, commonly called Scotch Bob; and he said they were nearly fast at Arnold – as many had nothing to do, and those that had work were so badly paid for it they could not live; and that they had tried in vain to get an honest living by labour, and they must now be under the necessity of breaking the laws of their Country – he said they would kill their own meat – some Frames, & Somebodies carcases beside would be broke. Some said at the Meeting to day that if Government did not redress their grievances violent means must be had recourse to – & they pointed out Mansfield and Sutton where most of the obnoxious work was made.—

4th May 1816: A meeting of nearly 1000 framework-knitters is dispersed by Cavalry in Derby

The Leicester Chronicle of Saturday 4th May 1816 carried a story about a meeting of framework-knitters in Derby that had occurred at some point over the last week (the local newspaper, the Derby Mercury, had chosen to not give any report whatsoever about the meeting):

Last week, nearly one thousand Framework knitters assembled in a field near Derby, to consult upon the propriety of petitioning the Legislature on the distressed state of their trade; but before they had time to come to any determination on the subject, they were assailed by two troops of cavalry, and compelled to separate immediately; in consequence of this singular proceeding a deputation waited upon the Mayor and explained the object of the meeting, upon which he expressed himself perfectly satisfied, and regretted that the Military had been called in on the occasion; another meeting was then agreed upon, and the Mayor offered the use of the Town hall for that purpose.

May 1816: Overseers of the Poor in Hinckley express concerns about unemployment amongst Framework-knitters to the government

[May 1816]

My Lord,

In consequence of the present indifferent and alarming state of the Stocking Manufactory there are many loose hands discharg’d by their employers which the parishes find it very difficult to employ.—As their appears no prospect of any immediate improvement in the trade, we think it is our duty as Magistrates to enquire of your Lordship whether there would be any disposition on the part of Government to advance some money to find employment for the poor ‘till a favorable change takes place. The Rates in the Town of Hinckley and the Neighbourhood are getting very high and will be collect’d with difficulty.—Should your Lordship be of opinion that any Assistance can be render’d in the way suggest’d or in any other manner, we shall be happy to cooperate with his Majesty's Government, and to do all in our power to alleviate those evils which seem rather to increase than diminish—

We are, your Lordship’s
Obedient humble Servants

G: Mittam
J. Blythe

From Hinckley

[To] The Right Honble
Lord Sidmouth–

15th April 1816: Resolutions of Leicester Framework-knitters meeting

DISTRESS OF TRADE.

At a Meeting of the FRAME-WORK KNITTERS of the Town and County of LEICESTER, held at the Bowling Green, Leicester, on Monday, April 15, 1816.

JOHN WOOD, in the Chair.

The following Resolutions were unanimously agreed to:—

1st. That this Meeting has heard, with the greatest surprise and astonishment, the report made from the Throne at the commencement of the present Session of Parliament, namely, "that Trade and Commerce were in a flourishing state."

2nd. That we as Framework Knitters, feel, that the return of Peace has failed in producing those effects which has been so often held out as a consequence of preserving in the late protracted war, namely, "Commercial prosperity."

3rd. That the Manufacturer and Framework Knitter never experienced such a want of trade, during the last thirty years, as is felt at the present moment, when the former is obliged to discharge his workmen, who are reluctantly compelled to seek parochial relief to prevent them from starving.

4th. That nothing can be more distressing to an honest industrious man, than to know that he cannot, by his trade, procure that sustenance for his family which nature requires.

5th. That we consider ourselves no longer worthy of the British name, if we remain any longer silent on this important occasion.

6th. That it is the opinion of this Meeting, that if a spurious article which has been manufactured for many years past into piece-work, and then cut into hose, half hose, caps, mits, gloves, sleeves, sandals, and socks, be suffered to continue, it will ultimately prove destructive of the remaining part of our Trade.

7th. That a Petition, containing the substance of the foregoing Resolutions, be presented to the Honourable the House of the Commons, praying the Honourable House to take into its most serious consideration the distressed state of our Manufactory.

8th. That a Subscription be immediately entered into, for the purpose of carrying the same into effect.

9th. That Samuel Smith and Thomas Babington, Esqrs. the Members for this Borough, be requested to present the same.

10th. That the Members of both Town and County be solicited to support the same.

11th. That the foregoing Resolutions be inserted into the Leicester Papers.

26th April 1815: Suicide of a framework-knitter, William Wakefield of Old Radford

On Wednesday 26th April, an unemployed framework-knitter called William Wakefield from Old Radford committed suicide by taking poison. He left a wife and 3 children.

6th August 1814: The Procurator Fiscal of Dumfries sends an intercepted letter to the Mayor of Nottingham

Dumfries 6 August 1814

Sir

A Correspondence having lately been discovered to have commenced here, betwixt the Journeymen Stocking makers and their Brothers in Nottingham, for the purpose of forming an Association of the Trade to be connected with and dependent upon the General Society of Nottingham, the Master of the Trade became alarmed and made application to the Magistrates of this Town, who upon a Complaint from me as Procurator Fiscal of the Burgh, granted a Warrant for apprehending and bringing before them the persons complained upon for Examination. There were accordingly five Journeymen brought forward, who stated that although they had had some correspondence with the Nottingham Journeymen, they had entered into no resolutions in consequence thereof, nor formed themselves into any Society. They at the same time produced a letter from an S Simpson as Secy of one of the Committees in Nottingham strongly urging them immediately to form themselves into an Association, connected with the principal Society there; they also produced some printed regulations and 60 what Simpson in the letter called Deplomas

The Magistrates as well as the Masters here who are anxious to prevent as much as lies in their power, the diffusion of principles so injurious to the Trade and so subversive of the Peace of the Country have desired me to hand you a Copy of Simpson's letter which is prefixed; I enclose at the same time one of the Deplomas for your Information

I am [etc]
Thomas Fraser

[To] the Mayor of Nottingham

5th July 1814: The Town Clerk of Nottingham informs the Home Office about the arrest of FWK Union officers and seizure of books

Nottm 5th July 1814.

Dear Sir,

I have the pleasure to inform you that for the Honour of the Police of this Town the Magistrates Mr Alderman Ashwell & Mr Alderman Coldham by their Warrants apprehended two of the Committee in their general weekly Night of Assembling & brought away all their Books & Papers which from the hasty looking at them we have yet been enabled to give contain the Accounts from 1812 the origin of the Union Society to the present moment but of this I cannot yet speak with any Confidence—Two of the Committee Tom Judd & George Gibson have been committed to Prison & the Hearing of the Convictions adjourned to this Afternoon at 5 oClock. All was affected by about 16 of our own Constables without Breach of the Peace

Yours very truly & obediently
Geo Coldham

[To John Beckett]

16th June 1814: A member of the Framework-knitters Union writes to a contact in Scotland

Nottm June 16. 1814

Sir

Having seen the letter you have sent to your Brother Timothy expressing the Disposition of the Trade of Dumfries to join their Friends in England in uniting themselves under the Union, I feel it my Duty to give you every Information on the Subject. You will see by the Articles that the intent of the Institution is to unite every branch for the support of each other in times of Distress. The Institution has been found to be very beneficial to every branch, as we have all received a small advance on our work except the Plain Silk hands, which we are now contending for; we have had 300 hands out of employ for more than 6 weeks because the Hosiers have not the honour to give a reasonable advance. The Hosiers have formed a powerful Combination against us, but this we have not cared for, we have persevered, and resolved to persevere until we accomplish the object in view which we hope is not far distant.

The Union is well established in Nottingham Derby and their Counties, and is making very rapid progress throughout Leicestershire, London, Godalming, Tewksbury and Northamptonshire have all formed themselves, and we have long wished to form an Interest in North Britain in order that the principle may be diffused throughout the North; and we are happy to find that Dumfries is anxious to set the example, and help when you have formed yourselves you will disseminate the principle through all Scotland; for depend upon it if the Trade are united and true to their own Interest, we shall be able to make our Trade as respectable as any other in the Kingdom and no longer be designated by the application of "Stracking Stockingers". According to request I have sent for Articles and 60 Deplomas, that you may form yourselves as soon as possible. I have taken the liberty to fill one of the Deplomas up for yourself in order that your Secretary may not be at a loss on that head. The Secy must place his name opposite to the number; I hope you will excuse us not writing sooner as we are now so strong, we have scarcely time to attend anything but the Turn out.

(Signed) S. Simpson

N.B. direct for me Newton’s Head, Glasshouse Lane Nottingham