Sunday 24 June 2012

24th June 1812: John Lloyd informs the Home Office about the alleged instigator of the Manchester Exchange Hall riot

Copy,

Stockport 24 June 1812

Sir

By last mail I sent you the Copy of a statement we have induced Yarwood to give in his own hand writing.—I now send you copies of Memorandums which I made prior to that, after a conversation I had with him, & as there are some facts therein (particularly the meeting at the Bridgewater Arms, & the Delegate Buslem, being a Local Militia Serjeant, I thought it right that you should be in possession of all; because with respect to the meeting held at the Bridgewater Arms, it was brought about by a disaffected Character of the name of Ottiwell Wood a wealthy man in Manchester, whose conduct have the effect of raising the first disturbance at Manchester where the Exchange Windows &c were broken, he having got the paper (“Now or Never”) printed to stir up the people to opposition. These were sent to be distributed at Stockport, and you will recollect I reported to you I had the Distributor taken into custody & bound over to the Assizes, taking from him many Quires of the Hand Bills, at which time I sent you one of the papers & another accompanies this.

It appears Woods name appears in the Books seized by Nadin at the Prince Regent’s Arms, where the 38 were found Assembled, & he has been questioned by the Justices & others greatly to his discomfiture.

Mr Watson consulted with Mr. Hay who referred him to counsel (Mr Evans of Manchester in the absence of Mr Cross, whom we had at Chester) & he advised Mr. Watson to commit John Brown the Publican of the Prince Regents, & altho’ not a strong Case, he has done so to Lancaster Castle.—

Yarwood at present is sent for Confinement to a House of Correction at Middlewich in this County, where we can if further and necessary have access to him.

I have the honor to be
Yr very obt.
Humble Servt.
J. Lloyd

P.S. No report Yorkshire at present.—

This letter can be found at HO 40/1/2.

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