Saturday 12 April 2014

12th April 1814: George Sculthorpe sends the FWK Union Constitution to the Home Secretary

Nottingham 12th April 1814

My Lord

The inclosed Articles and general Regulations belonging to an Association appearing to be formed in this Kingdom, have been laid before the Magistrates Assembled at a Special Sessions held at the Shire Hall in Nottingham on the 9th instant; And I am directed to state to your Lordship that in the Opinion of the Magistrates, the Peace and tranquillity of not only this but all the other Manufacturing Towns in the Kingdom is much endangered by the formation of a Society of this description, and which is rendered highly alarming from the large Sums of Money likely to be raised in the Nottingham District alone Amounting Probably to 150£ weekly.

I am also desired to state to your Lordship that in the Night of Sunday the 3d instant Seven Stocking frames were destroyed in the Neighbourhood of Nottingham by a number of disguised Persons none of whom have yet been discovered; And that many of the Principal manufacturers in this Neighbourhood are under much alarm on the subject.

The magistrates do not perceive that any existing Law affords a Remedy against this Association.

I have [etc]
Geo. Sculthorpe
Clerk to the County Justices

[To] The Right Honble
The Secretary of State
Home Department.

This letter can be found at HO 42/138. A copy of the printed booklet of regulations entitled "Articles and General Regulations of a Society for Obtaining Parliamentary Relief and the Encouragement of Mechanics in the Improvement of Mechanism" dated 1813 follows Sculthorpe's letter.

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