Dublin
Sir
We the Framework knitters of the City of Dublin are happy to have it in our power to Acquaint you that Mr. Gravesnor Henson arived in this City on the 15th Instant P:M: and on the 16th made known the Object of his mision to the Master and Secy, of trade on which a general meeting of Trade was convened where He most abelly Submitted his important business, Sir, While we deplore the numberless Calamitys which has Befallen our trade in the Sister kingdom we cannot Avoid expressing our general astonishment at they people who framed the Bill that is now pending before the Committee of the House of Commons, Sir, they had no Right to incorporate Great Britain and Ireland we never Sought for this incorporation we are already a Corporate Body we do not practice any of those evils which you so loudly and Justly complain of. No Sir, we have no cut up work or fraudulent work made of any description the evil Originated with your Selves We have no Coults nor Women working with us, each Man must Serve his Regular Seven years before he will be Allowed to get Journey work, therefore Sir, we have nothing to petition for as Mr. Henson so Streanously Sought for, we have our full prices as contained in the Book of Rates delivered to Mr. Henson of which you are to get a copy from him Sir, we Request you will Write off to London [with] all possible Speed to have the word Ireland expunged from the Bill if not we must immediately have Resourse to our Representatives in the Imperial Parliament that we have nothing to do in the Business as we do not feel ourselves agrieved by our employers as you are by yours So I Remain
Yr. Humble Servt.
Richd. Gray Secy.
[To Thomas Roper, Nottingham]
This letter can be found in the Records of the Borough of Nottingham, vol.8, 1800-1835 (p.154).
This was addressed to Thomas Roper, Nottingham, who on 28th June sent it on to Henson in London, filling the blank sheet with a covering letter of his own.
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