1st May 1816: The Rev WR Hay expresses concerns about discontent in Manchester to the Home Secretary

New Bailey Court House, Manchester. 1 May 1816

My Lord,

It becomes my duty, in obedience to the directions the Magistrates who met this morning in Quarter Sessions to state your Lordship that on Monday Information was received by the Boroughreeve and Constables of Manchester that from conversations which had been overheard, & other circumstances, there was reason to believe that it was not improbable that some disturbance might shew itself in this neighbourhood. It appears that the Weavers, & some other branches of the Manufacturers are for the most part out of employ; and those who are so, talk boldly, and in conversations which have been overheard, they seem to lay great stress on the small number of men in the barracks, which they represent to be only one hundred. I cannot help saying that on coming into Manchester I particularly remarked that parties were assembled in groupes, in the same manner as I have observed in former times of disturbance, in each of which some one seemed to be talking to the crowd around him. The Boroughreeve & Constables early on Tuesday informed me of what they had heard, and I lost no time in communicating with Mr. Evans the Magistrate here, in their company I instantly, as was then settled, wrote in Mr. Evans's name and my own to General Barlow, who we understand to command at Liverpool, informing him generally of the circumstances, & requesting to know, in case of necessity, what force could be brought to bear on this neighbourhood.

The opening of the Sessions I laid the subject before the Magistrates in sessions, where it was of course resolved that these particulars should be laid before your Lordship – It so happened that Major Brice who has the command at Liverpool was today in Manchester. In the name of the Court I communicated with him and with Col Holmes of the 3d (or Princes) Regiment of Dragoon Guards, part of which Regiment is now in the Barracks here. We learn from them that the forces of Cavalry in Manchester Barracks is Rank & file 151 – horses 95 – in Liverpool 261; horses 227 – The infantry under Major Brice does not amount to 500. These particulars I am also directed to lay before your Lordship. How far discontent may spread, and whether it will assume a more serious shape, we cannot judge. But I am desired to state, that in the opinion of the Magistrates, should any commotion take place in this manufacturing district, the force at present here would be found inadequate to the public service.

The Sessions here, from the weight of business, are likely to continue far into next week. Any communication, with which your Lordship may honour the Magistrates will probably arrive during our sitting. At any rate Mr. Evans will be authorized, should the Sessions have finished, to open any letter from your Lordship on the subject.

I have [etc]
William Robert Hay.

To The Rt Honble Lord Viscount Sidmouth
One of H.M’s principal Secretaries of State &c &c

22nd September 1812: Illegal Oaths Handbill posted in Manchester

31st August 1812: Handbill offering Pardon of Illegal Oaths posted in Manchester area

7th July 1812: Colonel Fletcher & his spy, John Stones, observe the 'Manchester 38' in Gaol

In his account of the arrest and trial of the 'Manchester 38', John Knight recounts a chilling episode that took place at the New Bailey prison in Salford on either Tuesday the 7th or Wednesday 8th July 1812:

On the 7th or 8th July, Higgins, the gaoler, accompanied by a magistrate of Bolton, named Ralph Fletcher, and a notorious character, of the name of Stones, came into each yard, and ordered in every yard the prisoners belonging to the thirty-eight, to separate themselves from the other, and then viewed our persons minutely, for a considerable time, with earnest attention.

This was no doubt aimed at fixing any of the '38' that John Stones had come across during his infiltration of the underground workers' organisations during the last few months.

3rd July 1812: John Lloyd arrests a Luddite in Yorkshire on the information of his spies

In the afternoon of Wednesday, 1st July 1812, a spy called Thomas Whitehead sent by the Solicitor, John Lloyd, into Yorkshire travelled back to his master at Stockport and informed him that he and his fellow spy, Joseph Taylor, had made contact with a Luddite in Holmfirth.

Lloyd wasted no time in taking a deposition, and then went to Manchester to get a warrant from the Magistrate William Robert Hay before heading into Yorkshire with General Maitland's Aide-de-Camp. They raised troops at Marsden, and after finding the alleged Luddite, a Corporal in the Upper Agbrigg Local Militia called Joseph Barrowclough, they arrested him in the early hours of the morning of Friday 3rd July, bringing him back into Lancashire for questioning at the New Bailey prison in Salford.

The Leeds Mercury and the Lancaster Gazette, both of the 11th July, printed Barrowclough's name. The Gazette  also carried an article from the Sheffield Mercury of the 4th July which, although many of the facts were wrong, suggested that someone was leaking information to the Press at a vry early stage:

On the 3d instant a Luddite of the name of Barrowclough, charged with the atrocious crime of twisting-in, was brought from the edge of Yorkshire to the New Bailey prison, Manchester, in a post-chaise, escorted by a party of dragoons.

The Sheffield Mercury of Saturday last furnishes us with the following information; probably the man in the preceding paragraph is the person alluded to:

“At a late hour last night we received highly important and very gratifying intelligence to every friend of peace and good order. It says that two Bow-street Officers have been in the neighbourhood of Huddersfield for nearly three weeks past, and that they had been Twisted-in, or in other words had taken the oath of the Luddites. By this means they have learned the proceedings and ways of those infatuated persons, and have obtained the knowledge of the depot where their arms were concealed. Warrants were yesterday (Friday) issued the apprehension of fifty of the ringleaders, and in the course of the day great number of them were taken into custody. The actual murderer of Mr. Horsfall was discovered in a house about eight miles from Huddersfield, and is committed to Lancaster Castle* to be tried for the said barbarous deed. He was seized yesterday morning about two o'clock, within the county of Lancaster. The Queen’s Bays were on duty during the whole of Thursday night and yesterday morning; and the Scotch Greys have arrived from Manchester to assist in this business. LET THE GUILTY FEAR AND TREMBLE.”

*This is not correct—Edit

Over the next few days, under the questioning of Lloyd and Hay, Barrowclough would go on to relate much of Luddite activities in Yorkshire.

11th February 1812: Stockport solicitor John Lloyd writes from the New Bailey prison, Salford

Manchester

11 Feb.y 1812

My Lord

As much may be said about one part of the Country connecting itself with the principles of the Nottingham rioters or Luddites, which there was every reason to expect when your Lordship was down in the Country – I think it my duty, as I have a few minutes time here to give your Lordship a sort of prelude to what may (or may not) happen —

Anonymous Letters have been sent to the Magist Mr Prescott threatening to destroy the Machinery employed in weaving by steam rotary motion and a paper signed by a number of Weavers in the nature of a Requisition has been handed to the Rector; by which it appears they desire to meet the Manufacturers

— Information has been given that subscriptions have been solicited in this part of the Country for the Nottingham Rioters — Mr Prescott wishing to consult the parties interested fixed to meet them at my office at 8 o'clock this Evening — but finding myself here at 9 o'clock in the Evening without the least nourishment since Breakfast owing to the circumstances. I will mention I found it would be impossible to get home time enough to act in any way at that meeting – especially as I had to return further to attend the Justices at 9 o'clock in the Morning –

Mr. Marsland's extensive factory on Oxford road has been attempted to be fired but was timely discovered & preserved. Suspicion fell upon certain persons & they have been taken into custody and are now at the New Bayley here & the whole of my day since 9 o'clock this Morning has been occupied in the investigation & I have not the smallest doubt but the magistrates will be induced by what I have & can lay before them to commit some of the parties to Lancaster to take their trials at the Assizes — I have very strong proof of its being wilfully set on fire – & I dare in my conscience fix on the very person that did it & that person is now in custody – and I have had him under Examination this day —

A very serious fire took place in the Town on Sunday in a extensive warehouse in High St belonging to Haigh Marshall & Tideswell & this was threatened in March last by letter signed C.P. Clonmell which I have this day seen in the Police office — It is consequently supposed to have been wilfully set on fire. There were goods to the amount of 100,000l in the Warehouse but only a part were consumed the insurers therefore (being 30,000l) will cover the loss to the owners.

The first act of irregularity or rather of hostility on the part of the weavers in our Town I will take advantage of, if I am permitted, & proceed decisively against them for I am persuaded by reflection and experience that it will not answer to the Country the Governmt or themselves to use a temporizing policy — Perhaps I may not approve the measures that will be adopted this night & I am well away from taking a part but I beg your Lordship will not notice this expression for I may not be so capable of Judging properly as others —

I have taken a national & political view & find that the more we advance our country in arts & improve our manufacturing the better able are we to cope with the common Enemy – whom we can meet in the Market (as well as in the field) with fair competition and keep the Market by the excellency of our Improvements. And shell a set of obscene Individuals who possess no interest or feeling for their Country’s honor dare to dictate to a Government or to the proprietor of a Manufactory of this sort what they shall do or what Machinery they shall use?

But your Lordship I am sure will forgive me if I conclude rather abruptly with a promise to renew the subject when there is something fresh to communicate — for the time for the post office is arrived –

I am my Lord

Your Lordship's very

obedient & very

humble servant

J Lloyd

[to] Lord Viscount Bulkeley &c. &c.