14th April 1817: Louis Allsopp updates the Home Office on the mood in Nottinghamshire

Nottingham
14 April 1817.

My Lord.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships letters this Afternoon.—

Your Lordship will have received a Copy of the Letter I procured respecting Henson's reception by Mr Smith, which I obtained from the man to whom it is it was addressed

Mr Mundy returned by the Mail, I expected he would have slept at my house, but he went on with Mr Rollestone, & as I must go into Warwickshire in the morning for a few days I shall not be able to see him to my return, but I will forward your Lordships letter to him tomorrow—

Henson's Apprehension has caused great alarm; no Information has been obtained thereon at the Post Office at present; Mr Hart, the Surveyor, informed me that the Letters coming into the Office here shew that there is great Consternation, at the intended Execution—

Lord Middleton made a foolish Speech at Mansfield on Wednesday at the Meeting to address The Regent, reflecting on the Conduct of the Hosiers to their Men; stating it as coming from Savage; this is given umbridge to the Hosiers, & they are to have a private meeting tomorrow; I hope the matter will drop, the business will do harm, & these sort of observations lead to encourage the Luddites—

I shall hope to see Mr Mundy very shortly after my return the latter end of the Week

I have [etc]

L Allsopp

Mr Hooley will be in London on Saturday, if your Lordship wishes to see him, will do himself the Honor of waiting upon you any day after 3 oClock he is detained at the India House in the Morning—

[To] The Right Honorable Lrd Visct. Sidmouth—

10th April 1817: Gravenor Henson writes of his meeting with John Smith MP

London Apl 10th 1817.

Sir

Me & Mr Atkinson waited on Mr John Smith pursuant to appointment, and had the mortification to learn that he had seen my Lord Sidmouth, & that his Lordship had told Mr Smith that to the Communications he had to make "he had no Answer to give" in fact Ld. S has not deigned to give any Answer to the Communication which Mr Smith has thought proper prudent to disclose, Mr Smith's manner was particularly reserved, and latterly [repelling], though polite; in the Conversation that I had with him at his Seat at Blendon Hall, he declined presenting the Petition to the Regent, as an useless & unavailing measure. Notwithstanding this, Mr Robinson is determined to carry the Petition along with me to the Home Department Office & present his letter of Recommendation to Ld. S from Lord Rancliff to obtain an Interview which will be done tomorrow.

I am Dear Sir

Yours
G. Henson

To Mr Woodhouse
Lion & Unicorn
Newcastle Street
Nottingham

9th April 1817: The Nottingham MP, John Smith, informs the Home Secretary of a meeting with Gravenor Henson

Blendon Hall near Dartford
April 9 1817.—

An application has been made to me by a large number of my Constituents to present a Petition to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent through the hands of your Lordship to extend Mercy to the Luddites convicted at Leicester. I have refused to be the Organ of any such application but the individual who has brought up the Petition to London, & who is supposed to be one of the Leaders in the Luddite Conspiracy has stated some circumstances to me for your Lordship’s information to which though I can readily anticipate your Lordships answer I think I may incur a responsibility by keeping from your knowledge, & that of his Majesties Government. This must be my apology for soliciting an audience of your Lordship for a very few minutes tomorrow morning, & for also requesting in case you should be pleased to grant it to make known the hour that your Lordship will receive me by a hope addressed to me at my House in New Street Spring Gardens.—

I have the honor to be
My Lord
Your most obed Servt

John Smith.