28th October 1816: A Nottingham magistrate fears the Luddites set Belvoir Castle alight

Leamington Octr 28th 1816

Sir

I have inclosed you a Paragraph out of the Norwich paper which I have every reason to believe is perfectly correct in its statement: there is no doubt of such a Committee existing & also that the Corporation of the Town Nottingham are very well acquainted with the Individuals composing it—they set the Civil power completely at Defiance, and give directions to ill disposed Persons acting under them, to commit depredations, that are not only disgraceful to the Town, but County of Nottingham—under these circumstances as a Magistrate for the County, I have taken the liberty of Informing you of what is going forward & of requesting you will be so good as to acquaint in what manner Government would wish the magistrates to act against these persons, as something ought to be done & that without loss of time or there will be, I fear, very serious disturbances. This Post has just brought me a letter out of Nottinghamshire saying that part of Belvoir Castle was burnt last Saturday night & it is thought, was set on Fire by some wretches who have [threatened] his Grace of Rutland Lt Brownlow & several other Gentlemen & my House in the Vale of Belvoir, Wiverton was also [illegible]—would not long remain standing; the County magistrates have put in Force the Watch & Ward act & will I am certain, do every thing in their power to prevent the repetition of the disgraceful acts that have been committed, & may be & providing Government – will interfere so as to put a stop to this Committee, all will go on quietly

I am at this moment remaining at Leamington for my health, but I shall return into Notts early in the Following week & any Directions that you will send me, shall be immediately put into execution–

I have [etc]
John Chaworth

12th August 1814: George Coldham tells the Home Office that the resumption of frame-breaking shows the FWK Union is weak

Leamington 12th August 1814

Dear Sir,

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your two Letters of the 6th & 9th of August last both of which were sent to me here the first of which I have transmitted for the Consideration of the Magistrates of Nottingham & the last of which I shall lose not a moment in sending to them. I hope that the Magistrates will be enabled to keep the Peace with the force Lord Sidmouth has been enabled to send for the Protection of the Town & Neighbourhood of Nottingham & I am sure they will feel themselves very much indebted to his Lordship for his kind Attention to their wishes. Even if the Practice of Framebreaking should be resumed if the Officers of the Regiment of Cavalry should be willing to permit the Men to act on Foot which I should think the Magistrates would then deem essential to the effectual assistance of the civil power—I should hope they would succeed in the protection of the Property of the Manufacturers of the Town.

I have been at this place since Monday last for the benefit of my Health & shall stay here most probably about a Week or ten Days longer. In the mean time a communication established with one of my confidential Clerks & the Informants of the Secret Committee of the Operations of the Framebreakers & my Partner Mr Enfield will effectually supply my place in Case my Counsel or Assistance should be wanted either by the Magistrates or the Secret Committee. I have the pleasure to assure you that I regard the resumption of the Practice of Framebreaking as a strong & decisive Evidence of the Disorganization of the System of Combination as applied for the purpose of accomplishing an Increase of wages. I consider that this has been effected by the joint aid of a depressed Trade, of an increasing supply of Labourers in the Manufacturory from the Discharge of the Militia Regiments of the Manufacturing Sistricts, & of the Confusion & Dismay occasioned by the Seizure of the Books & Papers of the Committee of the Combinations. I have also the Satisfaction to inform you that I regard the Sources of Information in the Possession of the Magistrates & the Secret Committee as likely to afford them the most constant & early Intelligence of our project which may be set on Fort for breaking Frames in the Town of Nottingham or the immediate Neighbourhood of it in pursuance of our general System of acting & I am sure that both the Magistrates & the Secret Committee will act with the greatest Zeal & promptitude upon our Information which they may entertain

I am Dear Sir
Your’s most obediently
Geo Coldham

P.S. If you should write again on publick Business please to Direct to me at Nottingham if I am not returned Mr Enfield will open the Letters as he shd have Done the last

[To: Home Office]