18th September 1817: A Leicester Hosier writes to the Home Office about strikes in the trade

Leicest. 18th Sept 1817

My Lord

I hope your Lordship will pardon the liberty I am taking in presuming to address you, but feeling as I do the importance of the system which is at present pursuing in this neighbourhood, and and being fully convinced that if it is allwd to grow to maturity it will require all the strength of the law to allay it, I cannot resists what I conceive to be my duty―making your Lordship acquainted with the proceedings without wasting more of your Lordship’s valuable time I would state to you that about 2 months ago there was an attempt made here to raise the price of labour, and meetings were calld for the formation of that object, and it was finally determin’d to raise the price of making Stockings very considerably, in some instances 50 [illegible] in addition to this there was a rule prescribed by which every article was to be regulated, and no workmen was to make any goods but what was specified in this Statement of course several of the principal Houses objected to this regulation, having to make goods for every climate in the known world, they were obligd to change & alter their good according to the customs & wants of the markets they were intended for, this rais’d a violent Opposition, and our Warehouses were besitt with Stockingmakers for 2 or 3 weeks, at length the magistrates issued a Hand Bill which had the effects of bringing the men a little to their senses, but meetings of Committees were held weekly for the purpose of enforcing the original object, a Central Committee was found and district committees in every Street of the town which communicated with the Central Committee, a regular register was obtaind of every Stocking frame, and who employed it, and if any kind of work was attempted to be made which the Stockingmakers thought improper, a meeting was instantly calld and handbills circulated to prevent such work being made, in this Stage of the Business we thought it right again to request the interference of the Magistrates, and we causd the Chairman & good part of the Central Committee to be brought before them when they were told their conduct was illegal and must be discontinued. They are now pursuing their object in a different way, and are extending all over the Country, a man of the name of Snow, has been sent to Nottingham, to promote the same object, and after a great deal of discussion between the masters & men, they have this week―Struck. The same man has been to Belper, Derby, Sheepshead, Hathern, Loughbro, Shilton & Hinckley for the same purpose, and even as far as Tewksbury in Gloucestershire, your Lordship will naturally enquire how the men are maintain’d without work; there is a subscription amongst the hands in work, and the men unemployed are allowd a certain sum weekly provided they will not [word obscured] agreeable to the prescribed rule, your Lordship will  immediately see the effect of these proceedings it will of necessity be the means of very much cramping the trade and allowing no scope for genius, for if no goods are to be made, but by a given rule, if those goods suit a warm climate, they must necessarily be very improper for a cold one, it is making the hands completely masters of their employers, and if every regulation is attempted to be made, they do not approve, by means of this system, the persons hands are all stoppd, I would be sorry taking any charge against our Magistracy for having fostered & encouraged this kind of conduct, but really such is their predilection for the Stockingers (and the men are all aware of this) that it is next to impossible to maintain any kind of subordination, I hope the late terrible examples has had the effect of subduing the spirit of Luddism, but indeed my Lord we shall have something full as bad―if this organized system is not effectually stopd, I have therefore thought it right the submit to your Lordship this plain statement of facts, in order that you may if you think it necessary direct some steps to be taken which may counteract the effect, I shall be happy to give your Lordship any information in my power, and hoping you will pardon this liberty

I am―My Lord

Your Lordship’s most hble Servant

Jno Rawson

[To Lord Sidmouth]

8th September 1817: A Nottingham Hosier has fears about FWK Union activity

Nottingham Septem 8th 1817

Sir

The very unpleasant circumstance, under which I have lately placd in the conducting my manufactory being solely the result of the unfounded although public representation made by certain parties calling themselves committees of Frameworkknitters―which said publications have, and are intended to have the effect of rendering the workman dissatisfied in every transaction with his employer I feel myself entitled to request your attention to this subject as one which threatens a much more serious wit than that of incommoding the individual―

Presuming that you are well acquainted that the nature of our manufactory is that of considerable permanence in the engagement between master & workman―you will be able to judge how very painful the situation of the employer in being incessantly calld upon to refuse gratifications which the workman is most industriously informd is really his due―

The Magistrate I am well aware is entitled to answer me, that his concern is only with acts which constitute a breach of the Peace―but when I have [stated] the publications to which I request your attentions―I can scarcely permit myself to doubt that you will be satisfied they have a manifest tendency to provoke a renewal of those disorders which have disgraced the whole range of the manufactory & occasioned the destruction of private property and of Life

Doubtless the intentions of many of those parties who so loudly anticipate the enlargement of our commerce, are innocent but it is time that even they should in some way be apprised that every instance where they raise expectations they are morally bound to fulfil them and are not entitled to throw the burthen upon that other party in commercial transactions, whose sacred interests their precipitate exultation has occasioned them to overlook―This remark would be misplaced were it merely sentimental―but its foundation is in fact of notorious publicity―the expected advancement of the wages of Labor―without adverting to any distinctions, being the almost daily theme of many public prints―the avow’d object of the conduct of several public bodies & public men (see advert from Ilkeston in the Nottm Review of 15 Augt last)―Conduct which renders them in my mind parties to a conspiracy for advancing wages and whose alliance & prompting forbids the thought of prosecuting the prominent, but the excited & perhaps misled conspirator

The first publication is dated July 11 & purports to be an intimation that the demand for goods had so encreased at Leicester that, with the exception of two or three houses, an advance of prices had been agreed to―the information had been previously, or was at some time, aroused in the Leicester and Nottingham papers apparently as News by the editor―but more probably by the parties themselves―Now, Sir my information is, that the application of the workman for an advance was suggested to them―nay even urgd upon them by the conduct of the answers of the Parish or Parishes of Leicester―& the FWKrs undertook their committees―(which it was hopd had become dormant at least, if not extinct) that Prices should have a correspondent Rise in Nottingham throughout the County―a point in which upon their failing, the Leciester and Hinckley houses finding themselves imposd upon recalled their advance

The application made to Nottingham is dated July 21st―imprudently alledging the advance at Leicester to be occasiond by extraordinary demand―& asserting the same demand to exist in Notts

The next publication―(is annexed as a supplement &) is dated July 25 in which the Committee announce their failure in terms which evince the bitterness of their disappointment & a determination to communicate resentful feelings to the body of the FWKrs―

Another publication dated 13th August is in the form of a letter to the Hosiers who manufacture Silk Gloves, couched in terms to excite no slight resentment towards the masters who do not comply―asserting a demand for their article which my own concern in this branch enabled me to know did not exist―or but partially as some demand always will―

The advertisements in the Nottm Review of 15th Augt―standing alone might leave it doubtful whether the FWKrs excite the vestry―or the vestry excite the FWKrs

Again under date 21st Augt, and after the Leicester houses recalled their advance―the Cotton workmen of Notts are required to exert themselves to secure the objects of the Committee

All these efforts failing―a Bill of advanced Rates of the Committees own forming―was delivered on the 29 Augt―with the usual breadth of assertion as to the consent of the masters except a few, who are hereby stigmatisd as oppressive & unjust

An advertisement in the Nottm Papers of Septem 6―shows clearly that these men have been generally repulsd by their employers―against whom they hope the getting of the harvest―the countenance of the Nobility Gentry Clergy & Overseers throughout the County―will support them in a general strike for advance of Wages & enable them to enforce their Bill of Rates

These circumstances exhibit such compleat evidence that the organisation of these Committees, from which individuals & the country at large have sufferd such serious injury & alarm―& in which principles destructive of all harmony between master & workman are inculcated―exist in full activity―that I cannot but persuade myself you will concur with me in opinion that the powers of the magistracy would be well employd in destroying such mischievous combinations

Whether the trade do or do not adopt the Bill of Rates thus impudently tendered―& violently enforcd―the reluctance of the employers has been sufficiently evinced―& for the committees to succeed in this mode can only tend to encrease their personal audacity & their mischievous influence over an extended population―

Other offensive matters, which have not appeared in print, are through the vigilance of your police, perhaps, better known to you than to me―I shall therefore leave them to such weight as you may judge them worthy of―& I am Sire your most obedt Servt

John Parker

[To: L Morley Esqr]

13th August 1817: Charles Mundy informs the Home Secretary of the whereabouts of John Hill & Christopher Blackburn

Burton August 13th
Near Lougborough

My Lord

I have the Honour to inform your Lordship that John Blackburn came to me a few days since to inform me that John Hill, one of those concerned with him in the outrage at Lougborough, was concealed in a House at Nottingham. I wrote to Mr. Lockett to know if he had rec.d any directions from your Lordship respecting those men against whom Bills were found by the Grand Jury at the last Lent Assizes at Leicester but who had not been apprehended  if this member John Hill is one.―as there will be no possibility of convicting any of them without the testimony of John Blackburn or William Burton I beg the favour of being instructed by your Lordship what steps to take concerning John Hill.―As I have received no answer from Mr. Lockett I presume he is from home.―John Blackburn also informed me that his Brother Christopher is working at the embankments in the Fens of Lincolnshire, the usual resort of those who are driven from this part of the Kingdom.―Would your Lordship think it advisable to endeavour to allure him to return & give Evidence against Frank Ward now in custody under your Lordships warrant on suspicion of treasonable practices? but against whom I apprehend we have no case whatever for a jury.―Savage & Joshua Mitchell both told me before their execution that the Loughborough Job was arranged between Frank Ward & Christopher Blackburn, if Ward could be convicted as an accessory before that Outrage it would be a most effectual blow against the revival of Ludding. How far Christopher Blackburns evidence might go or how far it might be possible to [confirm] him of course I can form no idea till without seeing him.―I am sorry to say things are not in a good footing between the workmen & the Hoziers.―there is plenty of work but the prices in general given are so low that no workmen can maintain a family. This has given rise to a sort of warfare between the parish Officers & the Hoziers. the former having proclaimed their intention of supporting the men without work whose masters will not give an advanced price. some of the Hoziers have adopted the advanced price, & I am assured by several very respectable Hoziers that it is no more than the trade can well afford to give. but many of the Hoziers, & those the most opulent & of the most extensive business still give the low price. they have also enlarged the size of the pieces making a yard of work to consist of forty two Inches instead of thirty six. but when the piece is sold to the shopkeeper the yard is only thirty six Inches. I fear those desperate may without close watching lead to dangerous combinations again on the part of the workmen who at present are very quiet

I have the Honour to remain
My Lord your Lordships most Obedient
Very Humble Servant
C. G. Mundy

6th February 1815: George Coldham seeks a trial by Secret Committee for James Towle

Dear Sir,

You knew the arrangement which has made respecting the Prosecutions against Towle a Prisoner confined in the County Gaol that it would be conducted by the Secret Committee here & that in Consideration of it a Sum commensurate to the Expence should be remitted me on that Account etc the time is now approaching to render it expedient that I should prepare for the Assizes I wish to know if you have any wish that the Counsel ordinarily retained for the Crown should have Briefs herein or that I should manage it without any relation to that Circumstance as the Secret Committee may Direct me.

I am Dear Sir Yours very faithfully
George Coldham

Nottingm 6th Febry 1815

[To John Beckett]

26th August 1814: Burglary & attempted burglary at the premises of two Leicester Hosiers

Late in the evening of Friday 26th August 1814, burglars targeted the premises of two Hosiers in Leicester.

The warehouse of F. Burgess in Loseby Lane was entered via an upper window using a ladder taken from a Mr. Ellis of Mortin's Yard. The burglars appeared to be familiar with the warehouse, as they targeted a desk which contained a pocket book containing a cheque for £200, leaving similar desks undisturbed. Other valuable items were also left behind. Two dozen hose were also taken. These items were found (minus the cheque) abandoned the following morning in St. Martin's Churchyard. The borrowed ladder was left standing against the building, the burglars exiting the warehouse via the front door.

There was also an attempted burglary at the warehouse of another Hosier in Leicester the same night, but a guard dog barking awoke people nearby, and the attempt was abandoned.

21st June 1814: George Coldham updates the Home Office on strike action taken against Hosiers

Private & Confidential

Nottingham June 21st 1814

Dear Sir,

Ever since about the 26th of April the Effects of the Combination have been directed against the House of I & George Ray of this place who are Manufacturers of plain Silk Goods to a very great Extent but Manufacturers whom the Combination have thought most particularly assailable by them because they are not correspondent to the extent of their Business Proprietors of Frames but manufacture their Goods from what I hear called independent Frames. Such Persons are therefore at all times more dependent than the Owners of Frames upon the Master & Journeymen [Framework knitters]. The Blow which has been struck by the Combination upon this House is a very heavy one for it has reached to deprive them of the work of between 2 & 300 Hands. Messrs Ray were fully aware of the nature of their Situation & Mr John Ray the Partner here to whom the management of the Business of the Manufactory is almost exclusively confided was very much disposed to give the advanced Price demanded by the Combination with a view to prevent the temporary derangement of their Business. It was however very important to the Secret Committee & the Great Body of the Trade not only ultimately to frustrate the plans of the Combination but to prevent if possible [thus] succeeding in them as connected with the House of Messrs Ray. With this view I have been in constant communication & Treaty with Mr John Ray from the 24th of May to the present moment. There was considerable difficulties in the way of this arrangement. The Bulk of the Hosiers possess very considerable property in Frames & thro’ them contrive to acquire the entire Controul over their Workmen—perhaps the most effectual manner in which the Combination could coerce them was their former manner of carrying on War by destroying their Frames. Mr Ray however was not acceptable to this mode of attack, but that he was still more assailable by the System upon which they acted against him. They applied to the Workmen employed by him & they engaged these to leave off working to him unless he should advance their wages & to induce them to do this they undertook to pay their weekly wages for being idle or to employ them in preferring the Business of the Combination. Messrs Ray were not at all insensible to the Extent of the Value of their Opposition to the demands of the Workmen, to the rest of the Trade & indeed it is but Justice to them to admit that the consciousness of the in peculiar Situation with their Workmen had placed them in a very unpleasant predicament in this respect for Messrs Ray had proceeded in consequence of an Engagement as I believe with their Workmen to [date], the very advance which the Combination demanded & which the great Body of the Trade had referred to grant to the Frameworknitters. Mr John Ray therefore required of the secret Committee & the rest of the Trade that they should state these facts to the Publick in the manner more calculated to vindicate Messrs Ray & show the peculiar Ingratitude of the Attack of the Combinations as directed against those who had been the best Friends of the Workmen. This however the Secret Committee positively refused doing because they felt that it endangered the transferring the whole [Policy] of the refusal from Messrs Ray upon the rest of the Trade because it seemed in some degree to countenance the propriety of the advance demanded & because they were of opinion that they were other parts of the Conduct of Messrs Ray's Conduct to their Workmen which would admit of the Trade identifying themselves with the defence of their general Conduct to their workmen. In the difficulty which these clashing Opinions produced the Secret Committee appealed to a still larger Body of the Trade than themselves—& communicated from them to him a full & complete Vindication of the Conduct which the Secret Committee proposed to adopt. I had given up the whole arrangement for lost when on 16th of June I was fortunate enough with the Concurrence of the Secret Committee to come to an entire understanding with Mr John Ray effected I have little doubt in consequence of the sincere & zealous Cooperation received from the Committee in London. This agreement produced the printed Address from the Secret Committee which I inclose & it has also produced an Order from Mr Ray to his Warehouseman to give Evidence against some of the leading Master Frameworknitters with a view to the reaching thro’ them some of the most open reprehensible of the Workmen engaged in this Conspiracy not without since Hopes thro’ them of reaching some of the principal Actors in the Combination. This has only been done yesterday but I shall proceed without loss of time to try our legal Strength upon the Evidence by an Appeal to the Magistrates. In the mean time the support of the Combination by the great Body of the Trade seems evidently upon the decay for this Week there have been forced by their necessities to make their Collections in the Town & Country by 8 or 10 of the Hands who have used Threats to induce the Frameworknitters to keep up their usual Contributions. We had prepared a Hand Bill to set this matter a rest but upon a perfect knowledge of the manner in which the Pulse of the People beats the Secret Committee have adjourned the commencement of this Attack upon this part of the System of the Confederacy until Friday next I hope to obtain the Cooperation of the Magistrs to the same points & it will appear at the very same time when the Combination will also be attacked thro’ the medium of the Conviction of some of their Abetters either for neglecting their work or for being otherwise engaged in the Combination. In the mean time the Secret Committee are extremely impatient that they have learn’d no tidings of a Communication made by them very early indeed after their appointment to the Committee in London with a view to its being transmitted to Lord Sidmouth which communication contained some Hints of what they were of Opinion would be the best means of giving general legislative Relief from the dreadful Effects of such extensive Combination as the present. They would also be happy to hear from you as to the probable Period at which they might expect the disbanding of the Nottm Leicester & Derbyshire Regiments of Militia.

I am [etc]
Geo Coldham

[To] John Beckett Esqr

16th June 1814: George Coldham issues handbill backing Hosiers hit by strike action

Nottingham, 16th June, 1814.

IT having been unanimously determined at a large and respectable Meeting of Hosiers, held in London, on the 21st day of April last, convened to take into consideration the propriety of a proposal then made for advancing the price of manufacturing Plain Silk Hose, that such advance should be resisted by the Trade at large; and that in consequence of the recent renewal of the practice of breaking frames, a Society should be formed for the purpose of prosecuting Framebreakers and other purposes connected therewith: and such determination having been sanctioned by the approbation of a subsequent very numerous and highly respectable Meeting of the Hosiers and Lace Manufacturers resident in this Town, held in Nottingham, on the 18th day of May last for the same purposes; at which last Meeting a Committee, Secretary, and Solicitor, were appointed for the conduct and management of the general business of the Society then instituted. And it appearing to that Committee, that in consequence of the adherence of the House of G. and I. Ray to the general determination of the Trade not to give the advance price, that the Plain Silk Workmen of that House since the 26th day of April last,—and that subsequently part of the Plain Silk Hands of Beardmores and Parker, have combined together and ceased to work, with a view to compel those Houses to give the advance. The Committee appointed by the Meeting held in Nottingham on the 18th day of May last, being fully aware that the Houses of Messrs G. and I. Ray, the Beardmores and Parker, have suffered inconvenience—been rendered unpopular and much harassed by the combination, in consequence of acting in conformity with the unanimous opinion of the Meetings of the persons engaged in the Manufactory; have felt it their duty to declare that it is still the full purpose and resolution of the Trade in general, in conjunction with the aforesaid Houses, to resist the advance of price—to decline every appearance of a compromise or settlement thereof—and to pursue all legal means to break up a combination so fatal to the true interests of Hosiers and Framework-knitters.—

The Committee for themselves and the great body of the Plain Silk Hose Manufacturers feel bound to refuse employment to any Workman who shall appear to have struck for an advance of wages, and who are otherwise engaged in this illegal combination; and to give every assistance and support to the Houses of G. and I. Ray, and Beardmores and Parker, by every accommodation in their power with respect to the conduct of their Trade, so long as they shall be the object of attack by the present combination.

By Order of the Committee,

GEO. COLDHAM, Secretary.

7th June 1814: George Coldham updates the Home Secretary on the Hosiers' Secret Committee

My Lord

Nottingham 7th June 1814.—

Soon after the appointment of the Secret Committee by a very numerous Meeting of the Hosiers and Lace Manufacturers of this Town I had the honour of communicating for your Lordships Information the manner in which that appointment was made and my opinion of the Gentleman who constituted it. I then represented that the state of the Manufacture here called for some controuling and energetic Representatives of the whole body of the Manufacturers whose safety and whose success would depend upon the concealment of their personal Identity.—I certainly flattered myself that your Lordship’s good Opinion of me would give some weight to the Opinion which I had taken the liberty to express respecting these Gentlemen, but I was aware that much more weight was attached to the manner of their Appointment which however it might be purposely enveloped in mistery carried upon the face of it strong and imperious title to Confidence because it was impossible that any but persons of the most unquestionable integrity and ability could be so appointed or venture to accept and act upon such an Appointment.—I can not notwithstanding say, that I was satisfied with the extent of the Information I was impowered to give to your Lordship on the subject of this Committee and I made the communication in a certain degree confidentially to Mr. Beckett with the express purpose of inviting the expression of his private opinion to me upon the subject if it should appear to him incomplete.—I have however received no hint from him on this subject as I should always gladly do if he will at any time do me the favour of addressing himself to me confidentially.—I have now no hesitation to state to your Lordship that it was not in my power then to give that complete information of the members of the Committee which I could have wished as being most respectful to you because one of the Secret Committee Mr. Matthew Needham was out of Town when he was appointed and he did not return till Friday last and had not determined finally upon accepting the appointment until Sunday, and I am sure your Lordship will perceive that I could not make the names of these Gentleman known without their express permission so to do.—I therefore could not know but that the whole Constitution of the Committee might be disarranged until Mr Needham's acceptance of the Office.—I have now the authority of the Secret Committee to state to your Lordship for your own Government, with an express understanding that this communication is made in the confidence that it will not be communicated to any one except Mr. Beckett or the persons about your Lordship to whom it may be necessary that it should be known that the originally appointed Secret Committee consist of Thomas Carpenter Smith of Nottingham, Matthew Needham of Lenton Esquire and Joseph Churchill of Nottingham and that they have agreeable to a power vested in them appointed John Parker Junr. and Mr. James Hooley who are not known to the Constituents of the Secret Committee here to be members of it and by these Gentlemen all the business of this Committee assisted by myself has been conducted.—

I have [etc]
Geo Coldham

[To Lord Sidmouth]

24th May 1814: The Reverend JT Becher writes to the Home Secretary with his views about the Framework-knitters Union

Southwell
24th May 1814

Dear Sir,

In conformity with our arrangements I have abstained from trespassing upon your attention until I found myself enabled to state some of the circumstances materially connected with the offences prevailing in the County of Nottingham.—

The Union Society, as it is styled, does not conceal its existence; altho the printed regulations with which I supplied you are no longer to be procured.—The principal leader is stated to be Grosvenor Henson,—the man alluded to by T. Large in his letter some time since addressed to me.—Henson does not now work at his trade, but is maintained by the association at a weekly allowance of about three guineas.—In connection with him are many desperate characters, who are strongly suspected of being the Frame-breakers and the Instruments of popular vengeance upon all who, in the language of the Society, are "denounced."—The names of the ruffians are very carefully concealed; and as their number is small I entertain little expectation of detecting them until they have been emboldened by success & impunity to the perpetration of more frequent or more tumultuous outrages.—It is not imagined that this Nottingham Gang has ever been broken by the prosecutions formerly instituted;—and the terror impressed upon the minds of the Manufacturers by the existence of such a daring conspiracy has placed the Masters in a state of almost unqualified submission to the demands of the workmen who dictate their own terms.— —Every branch of the Lace & Hosiery trades is represented by a set of delegates; and these Sub-committees hold a regular communication with the grand Executive Committee.—The subordinate Committees are but little acquainted with the application of the sums contributed; or the purposes of the Society: they merely profess that they expect to procure some beneficial changes on behalf of the working Mechanics.—Mr. Nixon ascribes the demolition of his frames to the modification of the Frame-breaking Bill by substituting transportation for life instead of capital punishment at the renewal of the Act; with which alteration I was not acquainted until he mentioned it.—However, altho I regret the mitigation of punishment I cannot entirely agree with Mr. Nixon since many of the machines have been destroyed under circumstances of disguise & violence amounting to a capital Felony.—He feels convinced that the order for demolishing his frames was issued by Henson; and that the evidence which he gave against the bill for regulating the Framework knitting trade & his non compliance with the exorbitant demands of his workmen other sources of provocation.—He has now been compelled to advance the prices of labor in defence of his property tho the Nottingham Hosiers are manufacturing at from 10 to 20 percent above those at Tewkesbury, and the rate of workmanship is such as to preclude the prospect of a successful competition with the foreign markets.—

In the Silk Stocking trade all the Workmen of Mr. Ray have struck because he rejected their application for an increase of wages.—

The Framesmiths have discounted their employments for similar reasons, and are collecting money to sustain themselves.—

The Bricklayers encouraged by the success of the journeymen in the Hosiery trade are endeavouring to affect their purposes by a conspiracy of this date same description.—I enclose one of the hand bills which they are now diligently circulating.—The Title & Style of the address as well as the Printer's name, testify clearly its origin.

Such an extensive system of subordination & terror will, I conceive, be deemed incompatible with the existence of our manufactures: and apprised as we are of the industry & success with which these principles are disseminated among mechanics of every description throughout the empire the expediency of some remedy will unquestionably be acknowledged.

To devise the means of prevention constitutes the difficulty.—Specific regulations between the Masters & the workmen appear to be utterly impracticable.—Labor must find its own value in the market—but the standard ought to be established by free competition, unrestricted by combination on either side.—With this view I have strenuously urged some of the manufacturers to prefer an application to Parliament.—They speak in very grateful terms the attention dedicated by Lord Sidmouth & yourself to their case; and will, I am assured, avail themselves of your countenance.

To render the Bill palatable the Masters as well as the Men should be prohibited from combinations; and to secure efficiency the existing punishments should be considerably augmented.—

For my own part I attribute the late as was as the present outrages to those jacobinical principles with which the Inferior orders have been sedulously inoculated by our Nottingham Reformers; who have, in many instances, become the object of that secret organization & malevolent confederacy which they fostered by their pernicious examples, their licentious harangues & their seditious press for the attainment of their fractious projects.—

Thus have the evils, of which I complain, been introduced & cherished until they have become intimately incorporated with the state of society in this and other manufacturing districts. I do not apprehend that the result will produce any general tumult but I forsee that the ferment will not subside without it be coerced by the interposition of the legislature.

Circumstances seem to require that the law be armed with more extensive powers, adapted to the emergency; and that some formidable examples of punishment be exhibited whenever an opportunity presented for bringing the Offenders to Justice. [For] until these Confedericies which are the source of all our mischief be suppressed we never can hope to close the scenes which have too long disgraced this County.—

I have requested Mr. Allsopp who is now in London to wait upon you.

I enclose the only two pieces information which he has hitherto been able to procure.—The "Minutes of the annual conference." seem to be drawn up with a design of giving something like a lawful appearance the objects of the Society.

I have [etc]

John T. Becher.


To
John Beckett Esq.—

9th May 1814: Louis Allsop passes Thomas Hayne's letter to the Home Office

Nottingham
9 May 1814.
Monday Eng

My Lord.

I lose no time in transmitting to your Lordship a Copy of a Letter I received last night from Mr Hayne—Whatever may be the result of the present plan, I cannot found my opinion, who the Committee are, or are to be, or anything about them, &, at present know nothing more of, than from Mr Haynes Letter, but I am happy to be at last some disposition to remain on the behalf of the Trade. Much mischief might have been saved originally, had this disposition existed at first—The Trade here are a very disunited Set; Mr Haynes is a very respectable Man & will go on with the Business in London—knowing the Trade here, & their want of Firmness, union, & consistency, nothing should have induced me to have had any thing to do with them, did it not seem to me, that I might thereby be the means of obtaining useful Information & rendering assistance better than I otherwise could; however I shall hope to be honored with yr Lordship's opinion, to know if this plan meets yr Lordships views, & is not likely to interfere in any way therewith, as if it goes on, I shod. wish to have my attention & that of the Committee here directed by your Lordship that We may not do any mischief & be as efficient as the nature of the circumstances will admit—Your lordship may rely upon the utmost Secrecy & confidence on my part, & as no-one will know, that I have communicated with yr Lordship unless your Lordship’s Instructions warrant it—if this Society is to do any good, it must begin well, & not commit blunders at first, & I shod. feel myself much oblig’d by your Lordship’s Sentiments upon the best mode of proceeding, as soon as yr Lordship’s Confidence will admit.

I think that it will require great consideration before the proceedings are too much talked of; it will put the Workmen on their Guard; We ought to strike quietly & talk about it afterwards—

I am [etc],
L Allsopp

[To] Lord Sidmouth

7th May 1814: The Hosier, Thomas Hayne, writes to Louis Allsop about the Hosiers plans to defeat the Frameworkknitters

London
7th May 1814.

Mr Dr Sir

I have had occasion to see Mr Beckett on the subject of Frame breaking; he says the laws are not strong enough agt Combinations of Workmen, which I told him was the origin of the other. I have now got a Chair to their Committee & find the parties I suspected are the Men. I have called a Meeting of the Hosiers here & we have formed a Society for the protection of Frame Makers, most of the Houses have subscribed £100; Mr Gregory of [illegible] Chandler's Lane Hall Maiden Lane is appointed to be [Secretary] for the London committee; & they have named You as [Solicitor] & [Secretary] for the Nottm Committee if You approve of it.—We are going to examine all the Acts respecting Combinations of Workmen—Mr Beckett promises they will take the matter up, if we can suggest any thing that may be serviceable—Mr Hooley is a Subscriber & will solicit Subscriptions at Nottingham; We should be prepared to offer Rewards for Information &c very soon I will furnish You with the particulars, at the same time We shall be glad to have any [illegible] & Information from you; Mr Jessop of Derby is proposed to have the Derby District & someone yet to be appointed for Leicester. It is wished that the Communications shld be made to the Sec of each department to avoid [illegible], but You may give me your Sentiments on the business. The Trade here seem very unanimous on the Subject—They are laying very deep Schemes agt us, & it will require activity & Firmness on our part to resist it—We must endeavour to suppress the Committees, Gravener Henshaw is their leader, they meet 200 at a time, Ray’s hands are stopped by order of the Committee; Beardmore’s will be the next—

Yrs [etc]
Signed
Thos Hayne

To
L Allsopp—

26th April 1814: Reward notice for threatening letter to James Rawson

200 Guineas

REWARD.

MR JAMES RAWSON, Junior, of Leicester, Hosier, has received a threatening letter of which the following is a copy;

“James Rawson

We here declare that your life shall pay the forfit of your conduct, on tuseday last at the Exchange, and at the committee since your commencing Overseer of the poor. there is not a greater Villain in existence. than you. are. We, shall. set no. time but. take opertunity as it serves. you may perhaps evade it. for a time but we shall. be warey. and sure. for our resolution. is not to be shaken. A committee is appointed. and your most secret. movement. are obsrved.

A REWARD OF

ONE HUNDRED GUINEAS 

Is hereby offered to be paid, by the said JAMES RAWSON, to any Individual who will give such evidence as shall be the means of convicting the Person or Persons guilty of sending the above Threatening Letter.―And if any one will impeach his Accomplice or Accomplices, or give such secret information as shall lead ultimately to a conviction, he shall receive the like Reward, and exertions shall be made to procure the pardon of the person or persons so impeaching.

And, as a further inducement, the MAYOR and MAGISTRATES of the Borough of Leicester hereby promise an additional 

REWARD OF

ONE HUNDRED GUINEAS 

For any such information as above mentioned, to be paid by them, on conviction of the person or persons guilty of this diabolical crime. And they promise to use their utmost endeavours to procure the pardon of any one who shall impeach his accomplice or accomplices.

It may be remarked that Mr. RAWSON was not present at the Meeting to which the Letter alludes.

Leicester, April 26th, 1814.

19th April 1814: Further Leicester Hosiers meeting delays decision on wages

At a Meeting of the Hosiers held this day at the Exchange, Mr. SAMUEL COLTMAN, in the Chair, it is resolved unanimously.

1st. That although an advance of wages is highly desirable, the Manufacturers present are not sufficiently numerous to decide upon it.

2d. That a General Meeting of the Hosiers be held on Tuesday, the 21st June, at the Exchange, at three o’clock, when it is hoped that the situation of the Manufactory will be more favourable to an advance in wages than the present time.

3d. That the thanks of the Meeting be given to the Chairman.

Leicester, April 19th, 1814.

7th April 1814: Leicester Hosiers meeting takes stockingers' demands for higher wages seriously

AT a Meeting of the Hosiers convened by public advertisement this day, at the Exchange, Mr. Carr, in the chair, it was unanimously resolved.

 

1st. That the petition of the framework-knitters is entitled to the mature deliberation of the manufacturers.

 

2d. That it is highly necessary that an advance should take place in the price of labour.

 

3d. That this meeting be adjourned until Tuesday the 19th instant, when a full attendance of the manufacturers both in town and county, is particularly requested, at the Exchange, at 3 o’clock precisely.

 

4th. That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Chairman.

G. Carr,
Joseph Hames,
Smith and Brookhouse,
Harby Barber,
John Moore and Son,
James Sergeant,
J. B. Robinson,
J. and S. Coltman,
Thomas Davie,
William Rawson,
George Hurst,
Richard Mitchell,
J. Worthington & Son,
Thomas Stokes,
Richard Rawson.

Leicester, April 7, 1814.

21st March 1814: Meeting of Hosiers in Nottingham agrees to raise prices

Nottingham, March 21, 1814.

AT A MEETING OF HOSIERS, convened by public advertisement, held this day, at the Police Office.

IT WAS RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, that an advance in the prices of workmanship, in Cotton Hosiery, is absolutely necessary; a committee was appointed to carry the same into effect. The undersigned Committee appointed by this meeting, Resolved unanimously,

That the workmanship of cotton hose, of all qualities under 38 gage be advanced 2d. a pair in maids, and all larger sizes; and 3d. a pair on 38 gages and upwards; childrens’ and half hose in proportion.

This Advance to be made on the list of prices published by the Hosiers, December 13, 1811, with this exception, that 1d. a pair be taken off from narrowed one plain to bound in, that this advance shall take place on all Work made after March 26th, 1814.

Resolved, that altered and finer qualities of RIBBED HOSE, be also advanced 2d. a pair.

Resolved, that the above resolutions be inserted in the Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, and Gloucester Newspapers.

The Committee appointed by this Meeting signed for:―

Morley, Wilson & Morley
Samuel Fox and Son
Ward, Brettle and Ward
James Pritt and Co.
William Chamberlain
Pagets and Byng
Beardsmores and Parker
Oliver and Boden
Samuel Clark
N. Hurst and Co.
Turner and Ward

The undersigned Committee appointed to take into consideration the state of the Silk Trade, feels itself incompetent to decide upon the application of the Plain and Knotted Silk Framework-knitters, on account of the absence of most of the Manufacturers, who are the chief Employers of Three Needle Frames.

Samuel Fox
Joshua Beardsmore
John Byng
John Ward

26th October 1812: A Nottingham Hosier expresses conerns about threatening letters to the Home Office

Stoney Street Nottingham 26 Octr 1812

Sir

Having received enclose threatening letter I think it my duty to lay it before you on account of the peculiar circumstances of this Manufacturing Town, as well as on account of the unlawfulness of such letters, and the destructive consequences to the Stocking Manufactory in general, if the Frame-Work-Knitters thus commence in the approaching winter with impunity to the Writers who it is the opinion of other Hosiers, besides myself, whom I have consulted, will execute secretly what they threaten when the pressure of the season is felt.

My Partners will add One Hundred Pounds willingly to that sum which his Majesty's Government may think fit to offer the discovery of the Offenders, or add it to any private reward if that should be judged more effectual than public advertisement, which indeed might bring down some personal serious injury upon myself or property.

I have [etc]
Joshua Beardmore

To the Right Hon the Secretary of State

[Contemporary Home Office note written on reverse instructing clerk to reply as follows:]

JB—

Ld Sidmo: is Sorry to find from his letter and Inclosure that so mischievous a Spirit prevails in the town of Nottm—His Ld cannot with propriety offer a Reward on the part of Govt. in this [particular] Case—but he hopes that the Reward as is proposed to be offered by Mr. Beardmore & his partners may have the lead to a discovery of the Authors

16th July 1812: The second Parliamentary report into the Framework-knitters petitions is released

The SELECT COMMITTEE appointed to take into Consideration the several Petitions, which have been presented to this House, in this Session of Parliament, by the Persons employed in the FRAMEWORK-KNITTING Trade; and to examine the Matters thereof, and report the same, with their Observations thereupon, to the House; and who were empowered to report the Minutes of the Evidence taken before them; and to whom several Petitions of Persons carrying on or concerned in the Trade and Business of HOSIERS, were referred;—HAVE considered the Matters submitted to them; and have agreed upon the following REPORT:

YOUR Committee proceeded to examine the Witnesses produced by the Hosiers, and to hear the Objections to the different Clauses in the Bill now before the House, for preventing Frauds and Abuses is in the Framework-knitting Manufacture, and in the payment of Persons employed therein: They have heard evidence a considerable length from the Nottingham Hosiers, but did not think it necessary to hear evidence at the same length from the Hosiers of Leicester, as they stated to the Committee, that their testimony would be generally given to the same purport as that already taken.

Your Committee, in their former Report, stated the difficulties they had met with in procuring full and satisfactory evidence on the general state of the Framework-knitting Trade, and therefore necessarily made a Report founded almost entirely on ex-parte evidence: but they now proceed to inform the House, that from the evidence since adduced on the part of the Hosiers, they feel themselves called upon to state, that a considerable difference has taken place in their opinion as to the propriety of enacting several other provisions in the Bill.

Your Committee have been confirmed in the Opinion expressed in their former Report, that the Workmen suffer considerable inconveniences, and are liable to deductions in various ways, in the payment for their work: but They have found it very difficult to suggest measures that can meet or obviate all those abuses; being of opinion that legislative enactments alone will not have that effect; and that trade of every kind should be left as much as possible to find its own level.

Your Committee, however, on consideration of the whole Evidence, beg leave strongly to recommend the removal from the Bill of certain Clauses relative to the Hosiery business; and also to recommend the enactment of certain Regulations for the Lace Trade, which they confidently hope will tend to remove much dissatisfaction between the Masters and Workmen in that trade, and to encourage a more general use of that article, by ensuring its more serviceable and perfect quality.

Your Committee are so strongly impressed with the importance of some relief being given to the Trade at this moment, that they feel it to be their imperious duty to press it upon the immediate consideration of the House; and, notwithstanding they can see no objection to the provisions of the Bill, they consider it in some degree as a Bill experiment, and therefore recommend it to be passed only for a limited time, by inserting a clause, that unless it shall be renewed by Parliament, it shall expire early in the year 1815.

14th July 1812: Gravenor Henson informs Nottingham that the Select Committee have butchered the Framework-knitter's Bill

1812. July 14

London 

Dr Sir

It is with extreme regret, I have to inform you that the Committee of the House of Commons, have come to the decision of Reporting that the Clauses of our Bill which relate to Hosiery ought [to] be erased They have reported in Fafour of the Hosiers to their utmost satisfaction notwithstanding every effort we have made The Cause as it respects Hosiery is completely lost, We are very reluctantly I assure you preparing a Bill to extend to Lace, and the Prohibition of Payment in Goods: The Committee have in the most unfeeling manner but not without a Division decided against us, on the foolishest lying evidince that was ever given.

I am Sir Yours

G. Henson.

P.S. They may Dock, Cut up. Square, Make Single Cotton, and Cheat, Rob, Pilfer and Oppress now to their hearts content.

P.S. Write instructions by Return of Post what we are to do, respecting the Pursuing the Bill any further as it applies to Lace &c.

[Addressed to:] Mr Thos Roper . . . Nottingham.

13th July 1812: Second & final day of Hosiers submissions to the Select Committee on the Framework-knitters petitions

On Monday 13th July 1812, the Parliamentary Select Committee into the Framework-knitters Petitions heard the second and final day of evidence from four Hosiers.

Thomas Nelson, a hosier from Nottingham, spoke first. Like the other Hosiers that had previously given evidence, he attributed the decline of trade to the War and denied that 'fraudulent goods' were the issue - even that they were made and sold - but admitted that the goods his workers manufactured would be prohibited under the proposed Bill. Nelson was not above using moral blackmail to make a point - he shared that he had given notice to all of  his workers making pantaloons and breeches, lest the Bill be passed. Astoundingly, given the raging framebreaking that had taken place over the last few months, he even went as far as to state there no misunderstandings between Hosiers and framework-knitters as to prices for work completed. Finally, Nelson stated that he was against any kind regulation, even in trades like silk, in which he played no part.

John Nixon, a master Hosier from Nottingham was called next. Nixon was another Hosier who presented that his business would be destroyed by regulation - he pointed out that he had thriving markets for goods that the proposed Bill would prohibit. Nixon also disputed that 'fraudulent goods' existed, using the same reasoning as Thomas Nelson - that there was a market because they were cheap. Nixon was also not above moral blackmail, threatening that he would dismiss 40-50 workers if the Bill became law.

John Parker - who had given evidence two days before - now returned to the Committee, and answered many largely technical questions put to him by a Committee member supporting the Bill.

Lastly, John Coltman, a Leicester Hosier was called before the Commitee. The line of questioning he was subjected to was similar to those before, which exposed where the sympathies of the Committee now lay: that regulation would snuff his large and extensive business, one which relied on foreign markets, which were just now opening again. Also like the other Hosiers, Coltman all but denied the existence of cut-ups and 'fraudulent' goods. His last line of evidence spoke volumes: "...we have great difficulty to contend with in the foreign market, if such stockings as these [i.e. cut-ups] can be sold at 3s. a pair ... if we cannot meet this in a foreign market by articles equally cheap, we have no chance".

11th July 1812: The Parliamentary Select Committee for the Framework-knitters Bill is reconvened

Following lobbying & petitions from Hosiers in Nottingham and Leicester, the Parliamentary Select Committee that had sat in April to consider evidence from Framework-knitters, was reconvened in July. Over the space of 3 days, the Committee heard evidence from a number of Hosiers.

On Saturday 11th July 1812, the Select Committee heard from two Hosiers. The first was John Parker, from Nottingham. He had general objections to the principal of legislating to regulate the trade: the committee pressed him on whether or not he felt his business would be affected by the proposed regulations, and though he admitted he felt it would not be, he went on to object to any kind of  constraint on any business. Parker openly admitted that he produced work that was offensive to his skilled workers, in that he confessed that none of the work he produced fell in with the schedule in the Bill proposed by the framework-knitters. Time and time again, Parker object to the 'trouble and inconvenience' the proposed Bill would put him to, even the 'trouble' of drafting a list of prices which were already commonly agreed by him and his workmen, and the Committee did manage to extract from him that he objected to written contracts of all kinds. But the Committee chose not to reflect back to him the testimony of the framework-knitters about the miserable, grinding poverty & distress they suffered because of his practices. They also accepted his viewpoint - that he felt he could not sell items made according to the proposed regulations, and therefore he would not. In general, the Committee did well to draw evidence from Parker which illustrated that he was the sort of Hosier the framework-knitters objected most to - in a tortuous exchange, it was clear that he knew or understood little if anything about what his workmen did or the machinery they used, let alone their concerns. Unsurprisingly but also astoundingly, Parker stated he was ignorant of the changes in his workmen's wages over the past 7 years. Despite Parker's testimony that the mysterious ways of the market had meant that the trade was suffering through a lack of demand, and his fortgetfulness about the wages he paid out, he confessed that he now employed 200 workmen, as opposed to 300 three years ago.

James Hooley, another Nottingham Hosier, was also examined on the same day. He laid the blame for the lack of trade down to the War, and denied that the production of shoddy goods even existed. Hooley painted a picture of his business which should have led the Committee to ponder how representative he was of the trade - he reported a booming trade in caps to be sold on the continent, and also a thriving trade for pantaloons, all of which he said would be impossible were the trade to be regulated. Hooley openly admitted to making cut-up gloves, but said he could not fulfil the demand for them, and he attributed the lack of demand for finely-mad items as being down to the whim of fashion. He also disputed that wages had fallen, but qualified this with if enough work could be found, which he admitted could not. Summing up, the Committee managed to extract from Hooley his view that if shoddy goods sold in the marketplace, he saw no reason not to sell them.