21st May 1816: Benjamin Barker tells the Home Secretary he has prevented a riot at Rockland, Norfolk

Parsonage Caston
near Watton May 21 1816

My Lord

As I was stepping into my carriage this morning to go a journey I was informed is a great number of persons were collecting riotously in the neighbouring parish of Rockland, on which I immediately mounted my horse and have been six hours amongst them using my best endeavours to prevent any breach of the peace and I am happy to say that I have hitherto succeeded, tho’ a very bad spirit manifested itself in some few persons, which was the more dangerous as on examination I found many cases of very severe distress – I am not a magistrate, and there not being one in the hundred in which I reside, I have no opportunity of consulting with one without a greater delay in this information reaching your Lordship and may be safe

I have [etc]
Benjn Barker.

There is a great ferment in this whole neighbourhood and some mischief has been already done

To the Right Honble
The Secretary of State
for the Home Department