[Late] June 1812: Public notice posted in Wigan

No watch & ward or soldiers, &c and constables can put a stopt to us - but the prices of bread and meal must fall or the regent — The general will watch the shops


Wigan Saturday

19th June 1812: Luddites raid the house of John Armitage of Rastrick for weapons

On Friday evening the 19th June 1812, Luddites conducted a raid for arms at the house of John Armitage in Rastrick. Armitage was away, but a servant was present, who told the Luddites that Armitage had surrended his weapons to the military.

The Luddites afterwards went to the home of Armitage's gamekeeper a mile away and took away a gun.

19th June 1812: The prisoner, Humphrey Yarwood, confesses to the Stockport Solicitor, John Lloyd

On Friday 19th June 1812, two days after his arrest, the Secretary of the Manchester Secret Committee, Humphrey Yarwood, was making confessions to the notorious Stockport Solicitor, John Lloyd.

On this day, Lloyd made notes about the content of their 'conversations' since his arrest. In the preamble, Lloyd paints Yarwood as having represented himself as originally having a concern for the working conditions and pay of his fellow weavers and how they had been organised (which was itself illegal activity), before moving on to describe his encounters with others who had different designs - chiefly John Buckley Booth.

In Lloyd's notes, Yarwood goes on to describe how the Manchester Secret Committee was formed, and the introduction of illegal oaths into this circle, and how the meetings of the Committee progressed, until the final dissolution of this insurrectionary tendency in early May, only a month ago, in a quarrel about subscriptions.

However, Lloyd was not yet satisfied that Yarwood was being open enough and this was not the last information he would 'extract' from him over the coming days.

19th June 1812: Judge Dallas asks the Home Secretary's advice on the respited prisoners at Chester Castle

My Lord

I feel that I am going quite out of my province — but a Letter from the Constable of the Castle of Chester, expressed some anxiety, as to what is to be done with the three Convicts who were respited for ten days from the 15th should he not hear further – Your Lordship will excuse an excess of caution in my mentioning the circumstance

I have [etc]
Robt Dallas

Bedford Square
June 19th 1812

Will your Lordship have the goodness to direct the receipt of this note to be acknowledged by a line directed to me here?

Sidmouth replied the next day:

Whitehall 20 June 1812

My dear Sir,

Many thanks to you for your intimation — a further Respite for ten days of the three Convicts at Chester was sent by last night Post, and I have ordered that a duplicate Respite should be sent by that of tonight.—Let me beg the favour of you to make a Communication to this Effect to the Constable of the Castle of Chester.

I am
&c
Sidmouth

Robert Dallas Esqr
Bedford Square

19th June 1812: General Maitland updates the Home Secretary with his analysis of the situation in the North

Private

Manchester
19th June
1812

My dear Lord

You will see by the letter, I have sent to day, the feeling I entertain, relative to the present State of the Country.

I have not deemed it necessary to send up, the various informations, and proceedings, upon which, that Judgement is formed. Many of them, must be already, before your Lordship, but I have very little doubt, it is nearly the correct State of the case.

I at one time, certainly conceived, it might have, a more extended, and general organization, but I am at present, inclined to think, it proceeds, from Local Heads, and has no settled Objects in View, further than, to be prepared, that any Mischief that may occur.

I have seen, some letters from Town, stating, the feelings, of the disaffected there, and mentioning, that they looked, to the rising of those here. It is again stated, to those here, that they are to look for, a rising in London, from which I infer, that the true state, is very much, that in both Places, there may be, a few disaffected, but that they are endeavouring at both, to strengthen, their Party, by the Idea, of an existence, of an Organization at each, which is by no means, the case at either.

The number of Arms seized, in this immediate Neighbourhood, in one Division, near Stockport, amounts to 17 Guns, 1 Pistol, and 8 Swords, similar circumstances, have happened, along with the whole of the Border, and as far as information goes, there is generally about 100 concerned, but only 10, or 12, make their appearance.

There is a total impossibility, to get the Magistrates to act, in some Quarters, and I am now trying, if we can find, one, or two, active Young Men of Property, who will undertake, if put in the Commission to act.

There is a Question, upon that Subject relative to myself. I believe the name of all the Privy Counsellors, is in every Commission of the Peace, in every County. I am perfectly aware, how unfitting, generally, it would be, to mix the Character, of a Magistrate, with that of a Military Man, but I have doubts, whether in the event, of any emergency occurring, it might not be well, to possess the Power of Acting, by taking out the Decliners.

This is a Private Question, but I know Your Lordship too well, to think you will take it amiss, to be asked, the favor of your private Opinion on the occasion.

The suspending the Acts of Council has already had, a considerable effect here, but tomorrow, is the great Day, when any change will shew itself, as more business, is done in that Day, than any other—

I am [etc]
T.Maitland
Rt Honble
Lord Viscount Sidmouth
&c &c &c

19th June 1812: General Maitland's full assessment of the situation in the Northern District

Manchester
19th June 1812

My Lord.

I conceive it may be satisfactory, to His Majesty's Government, to be put in possession of the result of all the Information, I have been able to collect, and of the Opinion I entertain of the present Situation of the Country, and of the changes that have taken place since I was originally appointed to the Command of the Disturbed Districts.

On my first coming down, the whole of the Country presented, on the one hand, a degree of very great Panic, on the part, of the Loyal, and the Well affected, when on the other hand, it exhibited and unceasing degree of Activity, and constant movement among such of the lower Orders, as seemed to be, in any degree, Disaffected.

The general appearance of Panic has certainly in some degree subsided, though I am sorry to say, it still prevails, to a more considerable extent, than I conceive the nature of the Situation demands, or the general Character of our Countrymen warrants.

On the part of the Lower Orders, that general Species of constant Activity, which have heretofore appeared, has considerably subsided. But there has in certain Quarters, an increased degree of Exertion made its appearance, applicable to apparent Ends.

The sole Object at present, apparently in View, where these Appearances exist, is the acquisition of Arms, and it is carried on all along the Borders of this County, Yorkshire, Cheshire, with a perseverance, which, though I hold it to be in no degree alarming, is still highly worthy of the most serious consideration, and completely indicative, not only, of the thorough concert, of the Parties concerned, but also of the ultimate Views, they must necessarily be supposed to entertain.

In the consideration of this Subject, it is of the greatest Importance, to form as precise and accurate a Judgement, as possible, who these Parties are, and where this novel Spirit originates: whether it exists merely among the Parties, that shew themselves, or; whether, it is connected with any deeper Organization, and extends itself to more numerous Bodies: whether it is confined in its Objects, to what we now see, or; whether these Objects, may not be connected with such as hitherto have not made their Appearance.—

Your Lordship may easily believe that I have paid the deepest attention to every point that could enable me to form a Judgement, upon this head, and whether I consider the uniform tenor of information, when I look at all the Proceedings, that have taken place at the trials of Chester, and Lancaster, or whether I advert to every thing we know, that has passed, at the various seizures of Arms and Meetings in the Country: I have no hesitation, indistinctly stating to Your Lordship, my deep, and thorough Conviction, that at present, the whole of these Revolutionary Movements are limited, to the very lowest Orders of the People, generally to the Places, where they shew themselves, and that no concert exists, nor no Plan is laid, further than is manifested, in the open Acts of Violence that are daily committed.

Were I to give a distinct Opinion, in regard to their Heads, I feel certainly inclined, most decidedly to say, that though some of them may possess, considerable Talent, they are still of the lowest Orders. Men of desperate Fortunes who have taken advantage, of the pressure of the Moment, to work upon the inferior Classes, through the medium of the Associations, in this Place, which have long existed, and which unfortunately give too great facility, to the Evil disposed, to work upon the Ignorant and Distressed, to objects totally foreign, from the general feeling of Englishman, and I believe, the actual feeling, of by far the greatest part, even of the Manufacturing community.

If I am correct, in my View, of the Subject, if he be true, that the general Population of the Country, is sound, in its Principles, and true to its Allegiance. If the heads of those, who are now Guilty of daily Acts of enormity, are to be found in the lower classes, of the People themselves, and if it be also clear, that neither all the Activity, of the Magistrates, (which is certainly not generally so great as might be wished,) together with the Aid of the Military, can neither stop or effectually put down, these Rebellious Symptoms, that now exist; the Question naturally arises, whether in prudence some strong Measure, ought not to be adopted by His Majesty's Government, with a View to put an End, to a State of things, which though it may not be as yet dangerous, in itself has in its Constitution and Objects, every Seed of danger mischief; and is even at present, a source of general Alarm, and of constant uneasiness.—

I can have no doubt, whatever may be, the ultimate result, of the late Measure, of His Majesty’s Government, in suspending, the Orders in Council, that its immediate Effect, by stimulating, the Expextation, of the Manufactured Commodities, on hand, and consequently opening the Door, to the increased employment, of our Manufacturers, will be most salutary. And this, should we be fortunate enough in addition, to have the benefit, of a full Harvest, will I apprehend go far, indeed least to stop, the propagation, of the Mischief, further than it may, present have gone. But I own, I have many doubts, whether it will, have the effect, of bringing back, those who are already implicated in these transactions, and who are engaged, in these Revolutionary designs.

My opinion in truth is, looking on the one hand, at the State, of the Magistracy, and on the other, at the length, to which the thing has gone, that nothing short, of a Legislative Measure, upon the Subject, will be adequate, to restore the Country, in a short time, to a state of Internal tranquility, and Security.

I am well aware, of all the delicacy and difficulty, connected with the Subject, but I am confident, there is no person, who has had, the same occasion I have, to consider, the whole of this Question, on the Spot, in a general and impartial, point of View, looking at it, in all its Points and Bearings, that would not, agree with me, that some such Measure, is indispensably necessary.

The mildest, that appears to me, at all adequate, to meet the Evil, would possibly be, to renew, under increased restrictions, and Act, which took place, last War, and which I believe too, has taken place, in former Wars, enabling, the Magistracy, to force, into the Army or Navy, for a limited period, Persons of bad Character.

In making this suggestion, I, at the same time think, every restriction, ought to be laid on, to limit, the Exercise of such Power, within the narrowest, possible Bounds. For the Remedy I hold, such power would administer, certainly, would not, in my mind arise, so much from the Exertion, as from the general knowledge, possessed by the Disaffected, such power, actually, was lodged in the hands, of the Magistrates. And I am convinced, that if a very few, of the Heads, were seized, and sent away, under such an Act, the whole thing, would very soon, be totally got the better of.

My Opinion, on this Subject, is strengthened, by the View, I have already stated, of who, and what, at their Heads, and though I certainly, feel most disinclined, to recommend, any Measure, of harshness, still with the feelings, I entertain of the State, of the Country, I would neither act, honorably by Your Lordship, or His Majesty's Government, were I to withhold, the sentiments I have now expressed.

Some such Measure, does seem to me, to be necessary, and though, I have no doubt, the Suspension of the Orders, which has already, though only known this morning, had considerable effect here, will hinder, the propagation, of the Evil, still, I really think, some thing, must be done, to arrest, the course of those, who are already so deeply implicated.

I have [etc]

T.Maitland
L Genl

[To Lord Sidmouth]

18th June 1812: The convict Thomas Holden informs his wife of his departure for the Prison Hulks

Lancaster Castle
June 18th 1812
6 O Clock at Night


I am very sorry to Inform you that I am going of to Morrow morning . . . I am Surprised that you have not sent mee any Money For I am Now going of without any at all.

18th June 1812: The Manchester Magistrate, William Hay, writes to Home Office with a ticket for a Luddite meeting

On Thursday 18th June, the Magistrate the Reverend William Robert Hay wrote to the Home Office with his latest news from Manchester. He informed the government that 6 women had been committed to Lancaster Castle for rioting at Barton-upon-Irwell on 20th April, and also that information from the examination of the Manchester 38 had been sent to Government.

Hay enclosed the report from the informer RW, about meetings in Stockport. Finally, he enclosed a ticket from a Luddite meeting, which can be seen above. He did not offer an explanation for where this came from, or how he had obtained it, so we do not know if it relates to the activity of the informer RW or some other source.

18th June 1812: Doubts about Thomas Allsop's guilt from a Post Office spy

Gratian Hart was sent to the Midlands by the General Post Office to  watch over the mail and try to detect communications between Luddites. Here, he gives his opinion of the handwriting of the threatening letter to Henry Wood of Ann Wood & Co & that of Thomas Allsop who had been arrested on suspicion of writing it.

Leicester June 18. 1812

Dear Sir.

I beg to return my best thanks, for the leave of Absence granted me. Should circumstances permit I hope to take Town in my Route Home.

I sent to You a Printed incendiary paper some little time since: I now enclose a fac Simile of the Original letter; with the utmost Satisfaction I inform You, the Author was committed to Jail last night, and this day is fully committed for Trial: I fear there will be some difficulty in proving the Hand Writing so as to fully conflict the Mans cunning and versatility of writing raising many Obstacles: I cannot for my part trace the Similarity between the Threatening letter and the Writing of some Papers I have seen belonging to them, that others do: however evidence is strong, and I hope it will silence the Leicester Chronicle which has most impudently advocated the cause of this their Brother in Creed.

The Man acted as Secretary to the Stocking Makers Committee who are acting on behalf of the Whole Body to form regulations between themselves and the Masters of Hosiery — the Capability for Mischief his correspondence evinces is very great, and the good consequences of his committal great: the better part of the Frame Workers began to suspect this Man of other Views than those of the Committee, and actually voted his discharge from the Chair, when the Arm of the Law was over them.

More good News: the Villains who have been burning the Stacks of Corn in the Neighbourhood of Loughboro, are brought in and committed: we begin to hope a better days.

I am [etc]
Gratian Hart

Francis Fraling Esq
&c &c &c

18th June 1812: Six women committed to Lancaster Castle for rioting at Barton in April

On Thursday 18th June, the Manchester Magistrates committed 6 women for taking part in rioting at the mill of Messrs Gilbert, Marsdens & Co at Barton-upon-Irwell on 20th April 1812. Their names were: Mary Clair, Mary Barlow, Betty Birch, Sarah Parkinson, Mary Lunn & Elizabeth Benion.

17th June 1812: Thomas Large writes to Thomas Latham about the framework-knitters Bill

1812 June 17

Sir

I have just now Red a Letter from Mr. Roper Dated Mansfield, He says they are there, complaining of the Searchers—Its a most wonderfull thing that when theres a probability of getting the Bill there should be so much objection started perticularly on the Part of the workmen 

But my Dear fellow, I tell you a Secret, I will be Damned!!! if your Trade is incorperated this year, I am sorry, you, and I, Left London when we did, or that when we had Left it,—we did not Return sooner, I am sure if we had staid in Town, our bill would have been in the House a week ago, thats all!! they've been trying the old trick, of having it in this Session, and you know What!! I was Resolved not to stand it, and if the Trade could not be incorperated, what could be done was the Question, The whole Committee of the House [of] commons said—the best way would be, to have a prohibitory bill of Single press—2 course Hole Cut up goods single cotton above No 9—peace work, to be made by the Rack, and Stockings by Schedules,—and we are only know thinking Who is to be the Judges!!! Some think the Justices, and one person says 4 of the parties 2 of each theres a precedent for this, and I like [it] the best I am confident, a bill of this sort would have been obtained before now if we had have stuck to it—Keep this Still—I expect the bill, to go into the House on Friday night, oh! that we had staid in Town it would have been through the House by this. Don't be alarmed, at this alteration for I assure you. Its just what we [obscured] up for, at first, John Smith has again hinted his wish to subscribe, after I told the whole committee of my Lord Birons handsome subscription Lord I have a good heart on it yet and can only say again. Dam my Judgement for staying so Long at Nottm. when we knew them so well, Henson has not yet come, the turn [things] have taken Ren[dered ?] his journey unnecessary to Ireland, I visit them every Day—I opened the scene of Mr Sison and Co yesterday—I told a pretty story to Dan Coke, He says He never talked with him above 10 minutes on the subject—he came up to Town to get Mr Coke to ask for him to go the Bay, with his wife, which he Refused—so you see how it is, I told you it was so

I have heard a prettv tale about Sison—Lord what a character the London Committee give him, they have wrote to Henson of Basford about him I have heard My Lord Castlereaghs opinion about our bill, he says Something must be done Imediately

Good by till tomorrow
I shall write again
Yours Thos Large.

How things will here turn out, no man can tell
Tho—I am still in hopes, they'll turn out well
Adieu—

[Addressed to:] Thos Lathom . . . Nottingham.

17th June 1812: Stockport Solicitor John Lloyd reports the arrest of 'the Secretary' Humphrey Yarwood to the Home Office

Stockport 17th June
1812

Sir

As you have not had any account from me subsequently to the Chester Commission – (owing to there being little to communicate & myself too much indisposed to attend to business) it may be necessary I shod now acquaint you that the Secretary Yarwood, against whom Whitehead & Taylor made oath before the Secry Ryder, as well as Jno Browne the Landlord of the Prince Regent’s Arms Ancoats Lane Manchester have been apprehended by my directions, the former for adming unlawful Oaths the other for being privy to it – & we have them now at Stockport.

The state of the Country is by no means settled; bodies of 100 people & upwards go out in the night to Houses in the country & seize the fire Arms &c & take them away & not a single person can be got to identify an Individual so concerned.

I have the honor to be
Your very obedient
humble Servant

JS Lloyd

P.S. I hope you will be able to pursue a suspension of the Hab. Corpus act

[To] John Beckett Esq
&c &c

17th June 1812: General Maitland expresses concerns about the prosecution of the Manchester 38

Manchester
17th June
1812

My dear Lord.

Since I addressed, you yesterday, I have grounds, for thinking, the Men, taken up here lately, will not, be liable, to severe Punishment, unless the fact, of their administering, Illegal Oaths, can be brought home, which at present, I own is extremely doubtful.

I am endeavouring, to try, to get some of them, to inform, and am not, without hopes, this may be accomplished, with the Aid, of some Money, and a little management.

The collecting of Arms, and Nocturnal Meetings, has gone, very great lengths indeed, and generally speaking, their mode of acting, shows much greater caution, and organization, than could be wished, their Signals, are extremely well established, and have hitherto, defeated every attempt, to get hold of them.

The Reports, of their intentions, are various, but notwithstanding, the repetition of these Meetings, I certainly do not believe, either in the extent, of their Numbers, or in their organization, for any End, further, than the stealing of Arms.

I am going, as I mentioned yesterday, to meet the Magistrates, of Stockport, when your Lordship, shall hear, further from me, and you may rely upon it, there shall, be no want, of execution on my part, to get at the bottom, of the whole, of this unpleasant Business, which I am confident much exaggerated but still not to be slept on.

I am [etc]
T Maitland
Right Honble
Lord Viscount
Sidmouth
&c &c &c

17th June 1812: Francis Wood writes to Earl Fitzwilliam with fresh concerns about Luddite arms raids

Hemsworth nr Pontefract
June 17th 1812

My Lord,

I have the Honor to acknowledge your Letter of the 15th inst: communicating to me the Answer which Lord Sidmouth, after consulting his Colleagues, is pleased to give to the Resolutions of the Meeting of the Deputy Lieutenants & Magistrates of the Westriding held on ye 11th inst:—This Answer I will state to another Meeting which I have convened for the 22d inst: & will then take the Liberty of laying before the Secretary of State the Sentiments of the Magistrates & their further Reports on the daily increasing dangers of the manufacturing Districts on the Neighbourhood of Wakefield—In the meanwhile, deeply impressed with the Conviction that the Rt. Honble Secretary is by no means aware of the full Extent of the Outrages committed in the Country, particularly in the Wapentakes of Agbrigg & Morley, of the total Insecurity of the Persons & Property of the well-affected Inhabitants therein, & of the rapid & extending Organization & drilling of the rebellious, I beg Leave to mention some of the Circumstances whereon the Resolutions of the 11th inst: were grounded & some few Occurrences which have taken Place in the short Period of the following 3 days.

It was stated on the 11th that in the whole Neighbourhood of Huddersfield & Birstall the Arms of the peaceable Inhabitants had been swept away within the last Month by Bands of armed Robbers – that the Watch & Ward Act could not, except in two Places in the District, possibly be carried into Effect, the disaffected outnumbering by every Degree the peaceable Inhabitants; that the well-disposed could not & would not join in any armed or civil association but lay entirely at the Mercy of a Banditti with Arms in their Hands; that, except the very Spots which were occupied by Soldiers, the Country was virtually in Possession of a lawless.—On the Friday subsequent to our Meeting og the 11th, a partial Robbery of Arms took Place near Netherton, on the 12th strong Patroles of the 15th Hussars were sent out both on the North & South Banks of the Calder—they report that in the ill-affected Villages they found the People up at Midnight, that they heard the firing of small Arms at short Distances from them throughout the whole Night to a very great Extent & had no Doubt but that it proceeded from Parties at Drills—& this Part of the Report is entirely confirmed by the Farmers & Men of Property throughout the Country.

Under all the foregoing Circumstances I beg to state my entire Conviction that the Arms & Ammunition now collected by the Depredators will first be employed in enforcing their alarming System of Terror & Robbery, [next] in ye Assassination of the Magistracy & others whom they may chuze to mark out for Destruction, & lastly, will end, as the same Course of Outrage ended in Ireland, in open Rebellion against the Government of the Country.—The similarity of our present State to that of Ireland strikes everyone who witnessed the [transactions] of 1797 & 1798 in that Country, & in this close Similarity we are unfortunately distinguished from the more open, riotous & unorganized Proceedings in Lancashire & in Cheshire.—We fear greatly that there will be a further Resemblance in the Circumstance of the Magistrates speedily feeling themselves unable to render any Service to their Country, & on that account declining to act as they did in Ireland, or to expose themselves to Danger without a Prospect of any commensurate Advantage from their Exertions.

I must beg Leave to repeat that the Magistrates are still totally unable to gain any legal Information as to the Persons of the Depredations, & that under the existing Laws, all the Efforts they have made to detect or surprzse these Midnight Robbers have tended only to harass the military & to give Confidence to the disaffected who well know to what Extent they are safe under the Law of the Land, & whose Meetings & Drills are rendered unapproachable by their intelligent numerous & active Sentinels.

I intreat in Conclusion that Lord Sidmouth will be obliging enough to enquire of Major General Stevenson now quartered at Wakefield what he sees Reasons to think of the Country, or to make any other such Enquiries has he thinks fit from Residents in the agitated Districts—

I remain [etc]
Francis L Wood Vice Lieut

To the Rt. Honble
Earl Fitzwilliam &c &c

17th June 1812: General Maitland sends his instructions for the Wiltshire spies to Lord Sidmouth

Private

Manchester
17th June 1812

My Dear Lord

As it will be of great consequence, the Persons sent here out of Wiltshire, should know, how to communicate with me, when they may have any thing of importance to explain, or to state.

The following is the channel through which such Communications must be made. The Person wishing so to communicate must address his letter to Mr Benjamin Harris, Post Office, Manchester, and must proceed himself to Buxton. On his arrival at Buxton he must leave a letter at the Great Hotel under the same direction, adding “to remain till called for”.

The substance of the first letter must be simply

M__________ requests to see Mr Harris as soon as possible

The second

M__________ is to be found at such a House in Buxton, naming the house, and the Person must wait till sent for, which will be without delay.

It will be necessary I should have the names of the men sent, and that opposite to their names, should be placed the letter by which they are to be known

M__________ John &c &c
N__________ James &c &c

and so on. But beginning with M, as I hope the other previous letters will be filled up. This will be requisite, as his real name, is the one by which he must go at Buxton.

The Places to which these men should be sent, are at least, Two to Huddersfield, One to Halifax, One to Bradford, One to Saddleworth, on the borders of Lancashire, and Two to Leeds, but none of the men where Two are sent to the same Place should be known to each other.

The General object of their Instructions ought to be, to get sworn in, and to become Active and Efficient Members, of these Committees, to conceive merely being sworn in is nothing, but to endeavour, to come to a thorough knowledge of what is at the bottom of all this, who are their real Leaders, what their ultimate object, and not to hazard any discovery of themselves, by communicating with me, or any where too frequently, unless the information they have, is of real importance.

I presume some channel, will be fixed, in Wiltshire, for their communicating occasionally upon general Subjects, how they go on &c &c.

I am [etc]
T Maitland

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

17th June 1812: Food riot at Horbury, West Yorkshire

On Wednesday 17th June 1812, Benjamin Byrom, a hawker of potatoes & onions had set up his cart at Horbury on market day. At some point during the day, a crowd gathered and set about upsetting the cart, tipping the contents into the street. Some of the crowd took produce away, and at least one woman was subsequently arrested.

17th June 1812: Leicester Framework-knitters leader, Thomas Allsop, is arrested for writing a threatening letter

On Wednesday 17th June 1812, Thomas Allsop, the Secretary of the Leicester Committee of Framework-knitters was arrested, charged with writing a threatening letter to Henry Wood signed 'N. Ludd': the insinuations contained in the handbill put out by the  Leicester Hosiery firm Ann Wood & Co had worked. He would be tried at the forthcoming Leicester Summer Assizes.

17th June 1812: The Manchester Magistrates send information about the Manchester 38 to the Home Office

[Copy]

Gent.

I am sorry to have occasion to transmit to you Informations &c against 38 Men who were assembled at a meeting on Thursday night the 11th Inst at a Public House a sign of the Prince Regents Arms in Ancoats Lane kept by one Brown = Nadin having Private Information of this Meeting, went with Military Assistance to the Place—surrounded the House and apprehended every Man at the Meeting—The Prisoners on their Examination which took place on Saturday last endeavoured to Shelter themselves under the pretence of being assembled for the purpose of preparing an address to the Prince Regent and a Petition to the House of Commons for Peace and some Papers to this effect were found in the Room—but I have no doubt this was a mere pretext, if there be any Truth in our Information the meeting was not for this but for the purpose of aiding and assisting in a most wicked conspiracy tending to overturn the Constitution and Government of this Country, you will see the Plot pretty fully explained by Samuel Fleming in this Information now sent to you, he gave Nadin notice of this meeting and was employed to attend the Meeting to be twisted in, which he accomplished and gave Information to the Magistrates—I trust he will be so far confirmed that by his Testimony these wicked Men will be brought to Justice—I do not know how the Witness is to be protected ‘till the Assizes, his Life no doubt is in danger and has been threatened, he has been obliged to fly from his House, and he, his Wife and three Children are now under our Protection. He and his House and little property are guarded by the Military—You will have the goodness to give us your directions how this Man and his Family shall be disposed of that we may have the benefit of his Testimony at the Assizes, and that he may be protected from Violence notwithstanding the great Vigilance and attention paid by the Magistrates to preserve the Peace, I am sorry to say things bear a very serious aspect in this, and the neighbouring Counties. Please to favour me with an Answer,

I am for self & Partners*

(JB)

(Signed) Nathanial Milne

Manchester
June 17th. 1812.

16th June 1812: The informer 'RW' attends a secret nocturnal meeting near Stockport

The second part of the information from an informer 'RW' relayed to the Home Office by the Manchester Magistrate William Hay concerned a secret meeting that took place in the vicinity of Stockport on the evening of Wednesday 16th June 1812. This is the report sent by a third party, RW's employer:

This morning my informant tells me that a person called upon him last night a little before dusk & said he was going to attend the meeting in the Country; my Informant asked if he would take him with him, was answered “come along,” they proceeded to a place behind Mr. Philip’s at the Bank to a lane end on the right hand going to Didsbury a little short of Mr Walker's house – a little up this lane they met with persons appointed to direct them to a field, in going to which they passed several cross lanes. arriving at the field they met an assemblage of from fifty to one hundred men, in the midst of which a man of genteel appearance (a stranger in the Neighbourhood) of brown complexion, blue coat, from 30 to 40 years of age, under the middle stature came forward & addressed the meeting which was composed of two or three men delegated from each different Townships or village in the Neighbourhood.

This gentleman began to state their plans, which was that they were going on, & will in the collection of arms & in the formation of sufficient Bodies of men in the different Districts – when these things were completed, which he was afraid would not be much before Christmas, attempts would be made against Ministers in London, (at which place he said they had a many well organized staunch friends) at the same time attempts would be made to rob the Mail Coach, which attempts by immediately getting into the newspapers, were to be the signal for an immediate rising, as he said that in little more than twenty four hours of this account left London it would be known over the greatest part of the Kingdom, at the same time, rockets are to be sent up from different stations on the great roads for the information of the surrounding Country.—He said it would be in vain to begin the next time in the partial way they had done before, as it gave the Magistrates and Gentleman sufficient time to draw forces different parts of the kingdom—these efforts must be general & at the same time. He strongly and repeatedly urged the meeting to impress upon the minds of their Neighbours the necessity of not starting ‘till their plans were ripe, by which time there would be a sufficient quantity of Arms for every person who chose to join them.

He then went into a long detail how & by whom the people were oppressed—ministers andc avowed to oppress the people by raising the price of corn, knowing it would bring all the Landed Interest to their side, by enhancing the value of their farms, &c hence this sort of Government must be pulled down before any good could be done—He described and enlarged upon the happy state of France where they had a Government of their own choosing &c—He told the meeting they had a many friends all over the Kingdom, rich & respectable, but which neither policy nor prudence would allow to be seen or named at present, but who at a proper time will come forward & avow themselves.—

Not a word on Mills & Machinery—He concluded by repeating his former cautions & emphatically appealed to their feelings by saying “where can we enter house but the Family are starving, & where is the man that would not meet Death manfully rather than endure it any longer.”

My informant says “he never heard such as speaker in his life, & that he was as fit to stand up either in the pulpit, or at the Bar as any man in the Kingdom.—

The meeting commenced about half past eleven and continued about one hour & half, during which they had out posts to prevent surprize, afterwards the men dispersed & sauntered about until the time that the Watch & Ward were gone off before they entered towards the Town.

16th June 1812: General Maitland updates the new Home Secretary, Lord Sidmouth, about the situation in the North West

Manchester
16th June
1812

My Lord

On my Way here, I met the General Officers, of the Inland District at Derby.

Their information, relative to the State of the Country, was in general satisfactory, and in particular, the account, of the Local Militia, was in all points, exactly what we could wish.

In Nottinghamshire, the numerous Detachments, which had antecedently, been scattered, about the Country, were generally called in, and it had been attended, with no evil effect, or only apparent uneasiness, on the part of the Country Gentleman.

I am sorry however, to be obliged, to report, that the Aspect of things here, is by no means improved.

[Nocturnal Meetings, are more frequent than ever, and stealing of Arms, carried on, with great perseverance]

The Site of these Movements, is in the corner of Cheshire, touching upon Yorkshire, and Lancashire, in the Neighbourhood, and to the Eastward, of Ashton, Stockport, and Mottram. Peculiar difficulty, occurs to the Military, doing any thing, in this Quarter, from the total want, of Magistracy, and objections, are made, but all the Magistrates, to act and reside there. “To Wit” Mottram and its Neighbourhood.

At the same time, it is evidently necessary, but a stop, should be put, to these illegal proceedings, without delay. [I therefore wish to be distinctly informed, how far according to Law, the Military have right to act, against such Meetings, where some are Armed, without the interference, of a Magistrate.

If this, be decided, in favor of the Military, being able to act, I have no doubt, we shall be able, to get at them, but on the other hand, if a Magistrate, must attend, I fear we have little to expect.]

I propose however tomorrow, to call a Meeting, of the Magistracy, at Stockport, where I shall state, my readiness, to make such a disposition, as will enable us, to get at some, of these Meetings, provided, they will find, any Body, to act with us, and see, what we can make out.

I own however, from them, I expect, but little. On this important Subject, I shall have occasion, to trouble you, tomorrow.

You will have hear’d e’er now, that 38 were seized, at a Meeting, in this Place, I doubt however, whether it would not, have been much better, to have let, the thing go on, till we were more deeply, informed as to the extent of their Views. At present nothing attaches, unless they can bring home, the Administering Illegal Oaths. I understand the Parties are most of them, Men of suspicious Characters.

I have [etc]
T Maitland

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

10 OClock PM

Since writing the enclosed I have received by Express from Major Genl Dyott the accompanying letters, which sufficiently explain themselves—

I have further the honor of enclosing you the Answers I have sent both Public and Private.

TM.