Sunday, 9 April 2017

9th April 1817: The Nottingham MP, John Smith, informs the Home Secretary of a meeting with Gravenor Henson

Blendon Hall near Dartford
April 9 1817.—

An application has been made to me by a large number of my Constituents to present a Petition to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent through the hands of your Lordship to extend Mercy to the Luddites convicted at Leicester. I have refused to be the Organ of any such application but the individual who has brought up the Petition to London, & who is supposed to be one of the Leaders in the Luddite Conspiracy has stated some circumstances to me for your Lordship’s information to which though I can readily anticipate your Lordships answer I think I may incur a responsibility by keeping from your knowledge, & that of his Majesties Government. This must be my apology for soliciting an audience of your Lordship for a very few minutes tomorrow morning, & for also requesting in case you should be pleased to grant it to make known the hour that your Lordship will receive me by a hope addressed to me at my House in New Street Spring Gardens.—

I have the honor to be
My Lord
Your most obed Servt

John Smith.

This letter can be found at HO 42/163.

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