4th December 1811: Attempts to negotiate a settlement

On Wednesday 4th December, official moves were made in Nottingham to try to begin to resolve the dispute between the manufacturers and workmen. The hosiers and lace manufacturers met at the Shire Hall, along with both the County and Town Magistrates. On their part, the manufacturers were clear that the frame-breaking had to stop before they would negotiate, although Conant & Baker state that the magistrates had suggested that they might receive separate deputations from both the workers and the manufacturers.

Handbills were subsequently printed by the Hosiers and the Magistrates, and also reproduced in the local newspapers. Reproductions are below:

AT A

NUMEROUS MEETING

OF

THE HOSIERS AND LACE MANUFACTURERS,

OF

THE TOWN OF NOTTINGHAM,

Held this Day,

IT WAS RESOLVED,

THAT when it shall be clearly manifested that the PEACE of the COUNTY and TOWN of NOTTINGHAM IS RESTORED, the Trade in general are willing in desirous to receive and consider PROPOSALS from their WORKMEN, for the Purpose of removing any Grievances which may appear to exist; and that such Proposals may be transmitted to

MR.C.D.SHILTON, Attorney, Nottingham.
Clerk to the said Meeting.

Nottingham, Dec. 4th, 1811.

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THERE has now existed in the neighbourhood of NOTTINGHAM, for a considerable Time, and most outrageous Spirit of Riot and Tumult. – – – Houses have been feloniously broken into, and a great number of Stocking Frames has been finally broken and destroyed by an armed Multitude, accompanied with Menaces to the Lives of those, who should endeavour to interfere in preventing the Mischief; various threatening Letters have been sent, Arms of being feloniously demanded and seized, Stacks have been fired, and private Property destroyed, and Contributions have been levied under the Pretence of Applications for charitable Relief, but under the real Influence of Terror; these are acts of so flagrant a nature, and leading to Insurrection and such fatal Consequences, that the Magistrates of the County and Town of NOTTINGHAM, as the legal Guardians of the public Peace, have the Duty incumbent upon them, of suppressing the Evil by the civil and military Force of the Country, and by putting the Laws in execution on the Offenders, many of whom have committed Crimes, for which the law demands on their conviction, the Forfeiture of their Lives.

The Magistrates require that the Public peace shall be kept, and that if any violation of it shall take place, to the great disgrace of the County and Town, all Persons shall exert themselves in detecting and bringing to justice the Offenders; they feel themselves also bound distinctly to state, that the Persons who are Collecting Money, under whatever pretence, for the manifest purpose of supporting a system of outrage, under the influence of terror, are guilty of Felony: And that all those who Contribute, under any such impression, are Accessories to the Offence, and guilty of a high Misdemeanour against the Public peace. Having expressed this, they call upon all Persons of every description, firmly to refuse and discountenance Contributing to purposes so wicked and illegal; and it is their firm determination to Prosecute for every contempt of this Notice.

By Order of the Magistrates for the County of Nottingham, GEO. SCULTHORPE.

By Order of the Magistrates for the Town of Nottingham, GEO. COLDHAM, Town Clerk.

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As recorded in Conant & Baker's report at HO 42/119. The notices were published in the Nottingham Review of 6th December 1811.