Michaelmas Term 1819: The Twelve Judges of England uphold Adam Wagstaff's conviction

At some point during Michaelmas Term of 1819, the Twelve Judges of England considered the case of Rex vs Wagstaff, heard at Nottingham Summer Assizes in July 1819. At that time, Judgment had been reserved for their consideration:

In Michaelmas term, 1819, THE JUDGES met, and considered this case. They held the conviction right. THE JUDGES thought a letter dropped near the prosecutor with intent that it might reach him, was a sending of it to him. They also thought, that although the prosecutor saw the prisoner, yet as the prisoner did not suppose he knew him, and meant that he should not, it was no answer to the charge; and although the letter when read, contained expressions that might make the prosecutor suspect the prisoner, yet as these expressions were not so explicit as to show the prisoner did not mean to conceal himself, the case did fall within the principle laid down in Hening's case, 2 east, P.C. 1116. (a)

From then on, this was known as 'Wagstaff's Case'.

Adam Wagstaff would receive his sentence at the next Nottingham Assizes, in 1820.

30th July 1819: The trial of Adam Wagstaff at Nottingham Summer Assizes for sending a threatening letter in the name of 'Genrall Ludd'

On Friday 30th July 1819, a 27 year old framework-knitter, Adam Wagstaff, stood trial at Nottingham Summer Assizes, accused of sending a threatening letter in the name of 'Genrall Ludd' to Richard Dennis of Greasley, Nottinghamshire, earlier that year in March. The trial is possibly the last time that offences connected with Luddism were tried in Court.

The Nottingham Review of 6th August 1819 covered the trial:

ADAM WAGSTAFF, aged 27, was placed at the bar, on a charge of having, on the 12th of March, feloniously wrote and sent a letter to Richard Dennis, signed with a fictitious name, threatening to kill and murder him, and burn his property.—To prove the charge, Mr. Denman called Richard Dennis, who stated himself to be a farmer and framework-knitter at Kimberley. Prisoner, who is a framework-knitter, lived near to him, and had worked in a frame of Dennis’s. A man of the name of George Tidy worked with him in March. It appeared from what we could collect, that Tidy had laid an information against the prisoner, under the games laws, and Wagstaff wanted Dennis to turn Tidy away; this he would not do, because he belonged to the parish, and prisoner told him he was as great a rogue as Tidy, and it should be as much as seven times out of his way. On Sunday the 14th of March, in the evening, as witness was coming into his own yard at the bottom gate, prisoner was coming to the other gate, and he saw prisoner drop a letter out of his hand upon the steps in the yard, then he ran away, witness also ran, and saw him go in at his own door, so that he was sure it was the prisoner. It was a little turned seven o’clock, darkish, but light enough for him to see him. He went into his house a good deal fluttered, and told his wife to go and see after the cows.—Cross-examined by Mr. Adams—was always sure that it was Wagstaff; he might see witness; prisoner was dressed in a light coat; what he dropped seemed to be a letter. Question—You know what Luddism means, to break frames or do any other mischief? Answer—Yes, I do; I shall carry the marks of it to my grave. Hannah Dennis, the wife of the last witness, said he came in all of a flutter and sent her to look at the cows; she took the lantern with her. As she passed the garden side, she saw a letter on the ground; upon the steps just under the gate; she read in the hovel, and then took it in, and gave it to her husband. On her cross examination she said, she kept the letter by her till three weeks ago, because Mr. Rolleston, the magistrate, was not at home, but she told the constable immediately, and yet Wagstaff did not run away. She believed it was Wagstaff’s writing, but she never saw him write any but the following words to a petition when they had their frames broken seven years ago:—“Adam Wagstaff, who heard the dreadful shrieks and horrid cries, but dare not come out.”—Francis Saxton, the deputy constable of Greasley, said that on the 15th March, having been informed of the letter, he saw Wagstaff at the Barley-mow, in Nottingham, and told him there was a serious charge against him of dropping a Ludd’s letter, upon the premises of Dennis; and he answered, “why if they don’t mind their own business about me, I shall Ludd them all.” The letter was then read, as follows:— 

“Richad Denniss 

“If you keep that Rouge in you house Ned shall viset you and we shall be acpt too give you A little could led and you cattle too if you dont get shoot ove him very soon and Need will set you all on Fire And you Promess Need will send them too Hell and Hall ove you too and you sheep Ned will ham string And if you don thay will send me word in the course ove of day 

March the 12 I GENRALL LUD.” 

(INDORSED.) 

“Richard Denniss 

I GENRALL LUDD.” 

Mr. Adams took several legal objections. The principal one was that he carried, and did not send the letter, and it was the sending which was contemplated by the Act. The indictment also said sent “to him,” which was not made out in evidence. In Hammond’s case it was decided that carrying or delivering was not sending. He also contended, that of Wagstaff was known at the time, or intended to be known, the case was not within the Act on which the indictment was framed. The Judge directed that the case should go to the Jury. A great number of very respectable witnesses were called to his character. The Jury consulted about ten minutes, and brought in their verdict of guilty. The points argued by Mr. Adams being reserved for future consideration, sentence was deferred. 

The Chief Justice put the following question to the Jury for their determination—Whether they were of opinion, that at the time Wagstaff carried the letter, he intended that Dennis should know him, or thought he did know him? The Jury answered—He did not intend to be known, and thought he was not known.

12th March 1819: Threatening letter from Genrall Lud to Richard Dennis

Richad Denniss

If you keep that Rouge in you house Ned shall viset you and we shall be acpt too give you A little could led and you cattle too if you dont get shoot ove him very soon and Need will set you all on Fire And you Promess Need will send them too Hell and Hall ove you too and you sheep Ned will ham string And if you don thay will send me word in the course ove of day

March the 12 I GENRALL LUD

(INDORSED.)

Richard Denniss

I GENRALL LUDD.

2nd April 1817: Threatening letter sent to Derby Town Clerk

Mr E Ward
Town Clerk
Derby
Private

Stir not from Derby till the 22 April or else your life will suffer for your rashness as the Luddites will lay wait for you—but after the 22 the last die will be cast and either the Luddites or the military will have the Command—despise not this advice but keep the letter secret.

April 2.

20th November 1816: The owner of the Stamford Mercury forwards a threatening letter he received to the Home Secretary

Stamford, Nov. 20, 1816.

My Lord

I should not have deemed it necessary or desirous to have troubled your Lordship with the accompanying Letter, addressed to me from the Committee of Incendiaries at Nottingham, had the consideration of its contents been merely personal to myself;—but, understanding from Mr. Mansfield, banker, of Leicester, who accidentally called upon me yesterday, that the character of the writing is the same as that of a letter written to him some time ago from the same quarter, (and for the writing of which letter he prosecuted a man of Nottingham at the assizes at Leicester, but unfortunately not to conviction,) I send it to your Lordship, with a view of assisting any enquiry which in your public situation you might be instituting into the practices of the wretched men who denominate themselves Luddites.

I am, my Lord,
with sincere respect,
Your Lordships very humble servant,

Richard Newcomb, Junr

[To] Lord Viscount Sidmouth.

11th November 1816: 'The Secretary' of the 'Black Committee' of Luddites writes to the Editor of the Stamford Mercury

Head Quarters Nottingham Nov 11—1816

You have in several of your latest mercurys laid before the public several diabolical accounts of the luddites & their proceedings, by saying they had changed their proceedings from Frame to House Breaking, that plunder—was their only object that no man or even his habitation was safe within their reach—that we were the terror of the Surrounding Country &c &c &c—I have the satisfaction (my means of your mercury) to inform the public by order of the Black Committee of the independent Luddites of the Nottinghamshire Division that the public by means of your infernal mercury have been led to form a very wrong idea of these men—& the whole of your explanation is entirely false. When our forces in arms where employed in frame breaking the object was not the destroying of those frames in particular, but the giving of employment to men who was willing to work & their obnoxious machines prevented them from securing employment. & by so doing released a number of distressed Wives & starving families from the bitter pains of famine & hunger which surrounded them. When they were ordered to pursue house breaking as you are pleased to term it it is well known by experience that we only practised it upon the property of those who were able to spare it we never distressed any familys by it but we have by so doing frequently given relief to the distressed.

for instance our late glorious fire at Belvoir was attended with our former Success from there it is well known we procured several hundreds in Value of Costly furniture &c made to serve the trade and ambition of a single family but the value of them is now used to provide subsistence for those who have no other means of keeping in the land of the starving

We did therefore by this act taken it from whence it was only ornament & plac’d it where it is essensial use—when it has saved families from utter Want & destruction otherwise they would have shewn the most bitter signs of distress. Husbands ready to follow they Walk’d the streets in vain to seek employment, when he return’d his wife & starving family weeping & hanging around him ready to breath their last for want of necessary support. What can be more distressing to see this heart [illegible] display of slavery daily not only in one house but through a populous country brought to the State of Slavery by carrying out protracting & long & unjust War,

O Slavery thou friend of hells recess—
Profuse of Woes & pregnant with distress
Eternal horrors in thy presence reign
and meagre famine leads thy dolefull train
to each cursed load subjection add more weight
& pain is doubled by the peoples fate—
One nature spryhtly face spreadst a gloom
& to the grave dost every pleasure doom—

What man of heart could see this & not to lead his hand to reduce the mighty Lords who overrule our liberty & relieve the necessitious

If a man of [illegible] will look unto these calamities with an eye of Compassion surely he will speak as the [lines] of our committee does by saying plunder is not our object, the common necessarys of life is what we present aim at. What we may hereafter attempt time is the only thing that can explain perhaps if [armed] with success as our services deserve we may release the key of our immense load of taxation an unprecedented National Debt a Corrupt & Despotic Government a multiplied train of Undeserved Sinecures & unmerited pensions abolish all useless berths within the army navy Civil & Government Departments & that once throw off the Military Yoke under which we are present groan caused by the [cost] of Alliance with our Deceitful [Gold] found for us

Insidious Bane that makes destruction Smooth
the foe to virtue liberty & truth
whose arts the fate of Monarchies decide
Who gildst deceit the darling Child of Pride
How oft allured by thy persuasive charms
have Earths contending powers appeared in [arms]
What nations brib’d have ours thy powerful reign
For the what millions play’d the Stormy main
Travel’d from Pole to Pole with careless [will]
& felt their blood alternate freeze & Boil

thus I have given to the public a short description of Our Plan
experience in a short time will tell you more—&c

I remain for Lud & Co

The Secretary of The Committee

*I advise you to insert these lines or your life will only pay the refusal—
remember Belvoir

*It may appear an hard task for you to insert these lines in your next weeks columns but by so doing you will greatly oblige or by the refusal you will raise the [indignated] & attract the revenge of the injured friend of liberty

23rd June 1816: Threatening letter sent to a farmer at Worlington, Suffolk

A Caushen for Worlington farmer that youse the threshen Meshien for whe are determined to seet fier to every one that comes to worlington and if the required part are not made away with we will fier the Bilding whare whare it is in

12th June 1816: Threatening letter to Needham Bray & Co from 'Edward Ludd', Hinckley, Leicestershire

To
Needham and Bray & Co

I learn you hare about to Bate your hands of their Prizes this week and by that you hare guilty of death—and you may both—repare for that change as you will not be suffred to live much longer if you purceed, sooner turn off.—

From me
Edward
Ludd

Hinckley June 12th.—

23rd May 1816: Threatening letter sent to the Prince Regent, "If this is Peace, we must earnestly wish for War"

May it please your Royal Highness

Without something is done to the Benifit of the Working People & the Public at large, and that soon your Life will not only be in the most imminent Danger but the Lives of several others, who enjoy themselves now, by oppressing the poorer sort of People, there are many thousands, in this metropolis almost starving and not being able to get any employ, and those that have, in (consequence of their Wages) being lowered, and all sorts of Provision being Rose, to an extravagant degree. If this is Peace, we must earnestly wish for War, not but very soon we shall have something worse, then a Civil War in our own Country. take warning by this & take care of yourself.—

I have this to tell you (by the express wish you were with the 3000 Associates) that you may guard yourself as much as you Please but the Blow will come when you least expect it.—

May 23 1816.—

To his
Royal Highness the Prince Regent
Carlton House
Pall Mall

19th May 1816: "...we mean to circulate your blood with the leave of God", Ashill, Norfolk

On the morning of Sunday 19th May 1816, the servants of Reverend Bartholomew Edwards of Ashill, Norfolk found an anonymous letter at the entrance gate to his property:

To the Gentleman of the Parish of our Ashill, Norfolk This is to inform you that you have by this time brought us under the heaviest burden & into the hardest Yoke we ever knowed; it is too hard for us to bear; you have oftentimes blinded us saying the fault was all in the Place-men of Parliament; but now you have opened our eyes, we know they have a great power, but they have nothing to do with the regulation of this parish. 

You do as you like, you rob the poor of their Commons right, plough the grass up that God send to grow, a poor man may not feed a Cow, Pig, Horse, nor Ass; lay muck & stones on the Road to prevent the grass growing. If a poor man is out of work & wants a day or two's work you will give him ‘6 per week, & then a little man that does not employ a labourer at all, must help to pay for your work doing, which will bring them chargeable to the parish. There is 5 or 6 of you have gotten all the whole of the Land in this parish in your own hands & you would wish to be rich & starve all the other part of the poor of the parish: If any poor man wanted any thing, there you will call a Town meeting about it, to hear which could continue to hiss him the most, which have caused us to have a County Meeting, to see if we cannot gain some Redress— 

Gentleman, these few lines are to inform you that God Almighty have brought our blood to a proper circulation, that have been in a very bad state a long time, & now without an alteration of the foresaid, we mean to circulate your blood with the leave of God. And we do not intend to give you but a very short time to consider about it, as we have gotten one or two of the head, on our side. There was 2 cows & an ass feeding on the road last Saturday & there was 2 farmers went to the keepers & said they would pound them, if they did not drive them away; one of them candidly sent home, got a plough & horses & ploughed the grass up that [growed] on the road

We deem the miller to be full as big a rogue as you farmers, for if the wheat raise 1 per Coomb, He will then raise 2d per Stone. So we shall drive the whole [before us] & knock down the mill, set fire to all [beggarly] [obscured] houses & stacks as we go along, we shall begin in the Night. 

And the first man that refuse to join the Combination shall suffer death in a moment, or the first person that is catched saying any thing against the same, shall suffer death. We have had private ambushers round us for some time, and by this time you will find it is coming to a point— 

Take notice that this is a private letter wrote at this time, but we fear it will be too public for your profits; so we wish to prepare yourselves ready for action; for we intend to have things as we like; you have had a good long turn. We have counted up that we have gotten about 60 of us to 1 of you; therefore should you govern, so many to 1? No: we will fight for it & if you gain the day, so be it. 

Swines, Fokelee Moocher [Blonin]

25th April 1816: Threatening letter left at Bildeston church

Gentlemen

I could wish you to be very carefully about you buisness for endeed things are getting to a very bad pass now for there is a great number of us thinking about making a bussel amongst you Gentlemen

an so I Remain to
R Xmple
are 3 parishes join
I our warning
729 men

25th March 1815: Sunderland Magistrates update the Home Secretary about the recent riots

My Lord

The Magistrates of this Town & district apprised your Lordship on the 21st Instant of the Riot, which had taken place on the preceding Evening. The Revd Mr. Boundling and I were sent for on the following day, and have joined the other magistrates but the spirit of insubordination has not so far subsided as yet, as to admit with safety the setting about the reconstruction of the Staith Machinery and wooden bridge which crosses a deep ravine adjacent to the River, a most serious, and daily loss to Nesham & Co whose Colliery is thus cut off from the River, whilst the contingent [expenses] at the Engines, & pits continues. It seems proper that your Lordship should be informed that this Colliery has been brought down to near the mouth of the river by a rail way for which great way leaves are paid by the Co. and that Ships receive the whole or a considerable part of their cargoes from spouts, without the intervention of Keels or Casters (i.e.) Coal heavers.—There are several on the Tyne, which have existed some years: but this from its vicinity to [Sunderland] and the apprehension that other Coal-owners would adopt the same machinery has occasioned great jealousy on the part of the Keelmen & Casters; & unless they are subdued in this first instance, the Evil will proceed probably to the Tyne; & may be carried from the combustible nature of the Staiths, spouts &c to an alarming length.—Your Lordship should be informed that, besides the mischief to the Staiths &c on Monday, Mr. Robinson and this Son, and Mr Biss a brother in Law, & Partner, having attempted personally to interfere, were beaten, & wounded with bricks & other missiles, and that threatening letters have been sent, of which copies are enclosed; by which the Rioters have endeavoured to intimidate the [company] from restoring their works, & the magistrates from doing their duty.—Messrs Nehsam, & Robinson as Partners, & Dr. Gray, as Lessors of way leave are interested, & therefore, particularly marked by the Rioters.—We have hopes that the Keelmen may go to work to day: altho’ they still shelter their ringleaders, against some of whom we have issued warrants: but we find great difficulty in procuring informations, as the majority of those concerned in the Trade are afraid of rendering themselves conspicuous; and some of them, as rivals in the Trade, do not perhaps see the evil, which has befallen Nesham & Co in its proper light.—If your Lordship should think it proper to offer recommend it to Government to offer a reward on the subject of the threatening letters; or for discovery of the ringleaders it might add to the weight of the offer of Reward from the [company] and [Gentlemen] in this Town, who have offered each 100 [Guineas] for discovery of the ringleaders on conviction—

Your Lordship will perceive that we concur with the opinion contained in the letter of the 21st respecting the military force.—

Any Communication with which your Lordship may honour the Magistrates may be addressed to their Chairman here.

We have [etc]

R. Burdon
R: H: Brandling
Robt Gray
J Hampson
John Davison
G Stephenson
James Jackson

Sunderland 25th March
1815

[To] The
Lord Visct
Sidmouth
&c &c

P.S. Dr Gray requests that in any publication of the Threatening letter the names may not be published, the effect of which would be to connect them permanently with the object of Jealousy

R. Burdon

Burdon also enclosed copies of threatening letters received, as follows:

It is to be a expected the interested Part of the people in Sunderland Will have more Respect to there own personal safety [illegible] that of there property than [we] very violent measures to oppose The oppressed part of the People Which have been driven into Riot by Oppression But should you think fit to mark out A few individuals the rest will arise to there rescue your Own Safety [Cries] Alone

For Silence

[To] Mr Robinson

Sir

I think proper to inform you of the Ringleders intention that is if the Hors is cald on to thro them with a Chene Cable and take their Harnes from them and then Reve the Chene thro the Dors of and Winders of the Tones Hal and pul it down the Ringleders is Thos Boys Houlden Wardle Waywayman and Daron the pitman Jhon Davison

To tell my name will be death

Mr Robinson
Justis of Pece
Sunderland

23rd March 1815: Threatening letter from 'a Keelman' at Sunderland

1815

March 23

Revd Sir

We the Kellmen humbly Request that you will speak in our Behalf as we are all from one Common Parent and the poor you have always with you and to all apearnce if the waggonways come down our Famleys and the Town at large will be starved—

We therefore inform you that if the men are Liberated and a Stope are put to aney more ways comming down to Sunderland we will go peacebly to work if not the most resolute have sworn they will shute George Robinson and all those we are concerned in if and also that if Dr. Grey promises them to carrey the way a Cross the Gill the will do the same to to him likewise, we hope there for you will represent this to thos Gentlemen

yours a Keelman

NB. We trust you will keep your self from arme

12th March 1815: Anonymous threatening letter sent to Sir Joseph Radcliffe

Sir Joseph Ratclitf

March the 12

1815

Ludding is going to Start here again there has been A meetting of croppers at my house but I heard What the Were on and I would not have them in my House The Way the are for Doing is to asemble in Private Houses and to Start out at a Certain Hour Ludders this time Will Die to a man the Determined to have Blood for Blood the Swear that the Will Shoot thee first old Bellsybub the Call thee and then Shoot the Rest of the Devils after Tom Atkinson Joe Atkinson Bradly mill Cartwright Frank Vickerman Taylor Hill Joe Hirst Marsh and every other Devil that loves Machinerry the Swear the both Shoot and Burn

But to Prevent all Disturbances order the Cavaldry or horse Soldiers to Padrole the Streets and order all lights to Be put out Before tin a Clock other ways thee have no Peace Depend upon much Blood Shed If Proper Steps be not observed James Rourk or Jemy the Gabler is their Principle man He Calls Himself Genral Lud Sir Joseph Ratcliff If thee Do not Send this James Rourk out of this Country the Will be Destruction and Blood Shed He Swears he Will Shoot thee Sir Joseph this James Rourk has been a Delegate to Leeds and all over the Country he lives Marthas Walkers / ould upperhead Row near Joshua Lockets Samuel Brook Croper Deighton near Mr Whitakers those ar Principal men of the Ludders do but Send those off all the others Will be quite

6th March 1815: Threatening letter sent to the Prince Regent about the Corn Bill

To Inform your Royal Highness that you are well beloved by the Nation as the Divel Loves Holywatter They wishes you all manner of Bad Luck Since you Sign the Corn Bill They wish that you May Never have The use of that hand to Sign any More Bills and wish you May Never Enjoy a Days Health as Long as you Live for you are an Enemy to the Poor and we all wish to be the Bellingham as Soon as Possible and wish Mr Bonaparte had you in this Claws and Castlereagh Likewise and that Damd Robertson and Several more I Can mention I wish you all a good Bellingham and that Verry Soon Sooner the Better its all Ready see you as Soon as tis Convenient I wish the first Bit of Bread May Choak you and to Inform your Royal Highness That it is the Nations wish that you may be Damd and we Shall be Hangd for we May as well be Hangd as to Starve for want of Bread for hear is No Trade for the Poor and when the Bread Rises what are we to do Then as we Can harly Live Now, I Should die Happy if I have But My Revenge [on?] you first from one of your Well Wishers, I Conclude

[Illegible] March 6th 1815

[To his Royal Highness the Prince Regent]

22nd October 1814: The Town Clerk of Derby forwards a threatening letter to the Home Secretary

Derby 22d October 1814

My Lord!

I am directed by the Mayor and Magistrates of the Borough of Derby to transmit for your Lordship’s inspection, the inclosed Copy of a letter – the original of which (under the Derby post mark), was received by Mr. Beer the officer commanding at the Depot yesterday evening about six o'clock.—I am also to state – that although the Magistrates know not the exact degree of importance which ought to be attached to this notice – yet considering the recent occurrences of Nottingham – the slender guard at the depot (a Serjeant and Seven men) – and that the Arms &c of the Derby regiment of Local Militia – are in another, and not more secure, part of this Town – they feel it their duty not only to exert their own vigilance in order to guard against the unpleasant consequences, but also to make this communication to your Lordship.

I have [etc]
E Ward
Town Clerk of Derby

To
the Rt Honble
The Secy at State

17th October 1814: Threatening letter from 'Ned Lud' at Basford to William Beer at Derby

Mr  We want som Bol
Cartig an Sum Harms, You
May expect us very soon

Ned Lud

Basford
Oct 17 – 1814

Directed thus

Mr Bare
Depot
Derby

27th April 1814: The Mayor of Leicester informs the Home Office that threatening letters are being sent to Hosiers

Leicester April 27th: 1814.

My Lord,

I have the honor to enclose for your Lordship’s information a copy of a Hand Bill issued yesterday. The Gentleman to whom the letter is addressed is one of the principal Hosiers in this Town, & the meeting to which it alludes was a meeting of the Hosiers convened the purpose of considering the necessity & practicability of raising the Stockingmaker’s prices. Mr. James Rawson was not present at the meeting, but some of his relations of the name of Rawson were there & spoke against the necessity of any advance. Myself & the other Magistrates here feel a great anxiety to put down this spirit on its first appearance, & we have therefore, thought fit to join in offering a Reward. I give your Lordship this information that the Government may also take cognizance of it, if your Lordship should agree with us in the paramount importance of endeavouring to crush this spirit of mischief in the bud.—This is the first manifestation of it in this Town, but I am sorry to add that some serious disturbances have taken place at Hinckley upon the same subject, & I understand that the Hosiers there have in consequence yielded to some of the men's demands.

I have [etc]

Willm Walker Mayor

[To] Lord Viscount Sidmouth
&c &c &c

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.

21st April 1814: Threatening letter sent to a Tewkesbury Hosier, James Kingsbury

For JAMES KINGBURY, Senear.

April 21, 1814.

SIR,

As you have made your self so troublesome, as to solicit the hosiers to take the advance of one shilling per doz. of the hose, I think it will be an act not inconsistent to Reason and Justice, if the Stockingers be rather troublesome to you since you have behaved in the manner you have―and take notice from the date hereof, that if you do not advance the work in seven days; you may depend upon receiving the contents of a pistol.

From what we have said you may reply on as true. So help we God to perform what we have promised.