26th September 1815: Nottingham Council pays tribute to the late George Coldham

The memorial to George Coldham, in St Mary's Church, Nottingham (image by Andrew R Abbott, cc licence)

The Leeds Mercury of 14th October 1815 reported on a meeting of the Common Council of the City of Nottingham, which had taken place on Tuesday 26th September 1815, and which paid tribute to the late George Coldham, who had died in an accident in Brighton 8 days before:

Mr. Henry Enfield, (son of the Rev. Dr. Enfield, late of Norwich), has been unanimously elected town clerk of Nottingham, in the room of his late partner, Mr. George Coldham. As an honourable tribute to the memory of the deceased, the Mayor and Common Council assembled on the 26th ult. and unanimously resolved, "publicly" to express their high sense of the probity, ability, and signal advantage to that corporation, with which for the last twenty-four years he had executed the several functions of his office, and their warmest commendation of his meritorious exertions in the preservation of the peace of that populous town during the late threatening period: "likewise," "that his portrait be placed in the Council Chamber, and a tablet to his memory erected in the church of St. Mary in that town:" and "that every member of the hall be requested to appear at the ensuing sessions, and all the Common Hall days for the next three months, in mourning, as a tribute of respect for Mr. Coldham's memory."

18th September 1815: George Coldham dies in an accident in Brighton

George Coldham by William Artaud (c.1810)

On Monday 18th September 1815, George Coldham, the Town Clerk of Nottingham and the Luddites principal enemy in the Midlands, was killed in an accident in Brighton. The Stamford Mercury of 22nd December carried the report of his death, which is below: 

DEATH of Mr. COLDHAM, Town Clerk of Nottingham. 

A fatal accident, very similar to that which has deprived the county of Lincoln of a most estimable character, occurred on Monday last, at Brighton, to Mr. George Coldham, an eminent solicitor and Town Clerk of Nottingham. A coroner's inquest sat on the body, at the Castle Tavern in Brighton on Tuesday. It appeared that the deceased left that Tavern on Monday morning, in a gig, for Worthing, accompanied by Thos. Buckley, Esq. of Park-street, Grosvenor-square, and followed in another gig by a Mr. Lumley and his daughter. The parties visited the Devil's Dyke together, and dined at Worthing. In returning to Brighton, the horse which was driven by Mr. Coldham became restive, and dashed off with the chaise, on the summit of the Church-hill, owing, it was apprehended by Mr. Buckley, to the pressure of the chaise upon the animal in the descent, from the want of a breeching to the harness. The horse became totally unmanageable, and brought the vehicle in contact with a post on one side of the road, the shock of which precipitated both gentlemen to the ground. Mr Coldham never spoke afterwards, but was taken from the church in a chair, in a senseless state, to the Castle Tavern, where he soon after expired, in consequence of a rupture of a blood-vessel on the brain. Mr. Buckley was also borne from the place of the accident to the Castle; but his principal injuries were about the knees and ancles. The Jury were exceedingly minute in their enquiries, but could not find that any particular blame attached to the stable-keeper, or his servants, the ommission of the breeching to the harness being allowed to be common, and Mr. Coldham was aware of its absence when he hired the gig, which he had often used before, with the same horse, to the latter of which, from his former quiet behaviour, he was smuch attached.—The Jury gave a verdict of accidental death, with a deodand against the carriage and horse of twenty shillings only. The deceased was unmarried and about 50 years of age.

8th July 1815: George Coldham is concerned he will be assassinated by John Dann

Nottingham 8 July 1815—

Dear Sir,

I feel myself very much Indebted to you for I consider it is most probably at your Instance that the addition of Cavalry lately marched into the Town has arrived here. I have not sent you the two last Reports but they are upon the whole upon the main subject of our Anxiety of a more encouraging nature. They state substantially that the hopes of these Scoundrels, who meditate a Revolution were dependant upon the Success of Bonaparte & that the conviction they now possess of his complete & entire Defeat has lead them to consider all chance of affecting a Revolution here as hopeless. If however the general Danger is subsiding the Individual Peril is not passed away, but for the moment perhaps is greater than ever — Dann meditates unquestionably the Murder of myself & speaks with considerable coolness of arming himself with a four barrelled Pistol in order not to [miss] his aim & of disguising himself so as to prevent his being known. But as he speaks of effecting his purpose as I entered or returned in an Evening to my own House I shall certainly just for the present be upon my Guard & I have besides taken other measures of precaution. I know very well however that this State of Enmity is not likely to last long & I hope it will after a short Interval subside. Be that as it may you may Depend as long as Danger exists here, in Defiance of any personal Hazard the Magistrates as well as myself shall Do our Duty to his Majesty's Government but I wish that Government at the same time at least on my part to consider that upon all manner & material points my political Sentiments remain unchanged & that I shall ever act up to them according to the Extent of what I conceive to be right. I congratulate you most sincerely upon the possession of Paris which is decisive of a Termination of the War favourable to the best wishes & Interests of the Country. I am much obliged to you for the Gazette you are so good as to send me.

Your’s very truly in haste
Geo Coldham

[To: J. Beckett Esqr.]

1st July 1815: George Coldham expresses concerns about the security of arms depots

Nottingham 1st July 1815.

Private.

Dear Sir,

I was yesterday at Newark & I was upon the Spot & had half an Hour to spare I set about examining the State of the Arms here. I found that in consequence of a Letter from you the Arms of the Regimt of local Militia remaining in Newark had been shipped stripped of their Locks & Bayonets which had been removed without great precaution & Secrecy to a very different place from the other parts of the Muskets. But I actually saw with my Eyes & therefore can not be mistaken that the Arms of the Regimt of the regular Nottinghamshire Militia deposited there were placed in the rooms above the Council room at the Town Hall had their Bayonets & Locks with the muskets & were in no State of Security from Attack having no Guard upon them. I therefore really think that you had best give Directions to this effect by a Letter to the Commanding Officer of the Regiment at Newark where I believe there is an Adjutant & Staff belonging to the Regiment. I am sorry to be troublesome but I am sure you will be glad to learn this & act upon it and it is certainly just possible the precautions may prevent much mischief

I am Dear Sir
Your’s very truly
Geo. Coldham

[To] J. Beckett Esqr

27th June 1815: George Coldham's informer sends his second report of the day about Nottinghamshire Luddites

27th June 1815.

I was at Seymour’s last night with Burton, Badder, John Slater Hill, John Mann & Holmes.—The journey to London was considered. They wanted me to go to London by myself.—Hill told me privately that Holmes had been heard to say it would be a casualty going there and they therefore did not think he was hearty in the cause and have not full confidence in him.—I objected going alone & alledged as a reason that one person only would not be so much noticed as 2 or more and that the person from Leicester might not be ready to go.—They have collected they said betn 30 & 40 [shillings] & put the same into John Mann's hands.—The Needlemn in Woolpack Lane I think his name is Stevens was to have furnished instructions to whom to go to in London & he came there but did not come into the Room amongst us on acct of there being some words about Homes whom they suspect – Burton and Hill have been to Sampson Walker as proposed & told him about the London Journey & that I was to go — He told them there was a Snake amongst them for the [Corporation] had got a List of 20 of their names & that some of these Names were at London before now — Hill urged my going — I told them Nottingham would be only a handful & that they would not act if they had not many more Towns to join them.—The London Journey is given up and I am going into Yorkshire, to Wakefield, Sheffield, Halifax and some other places were mentioned & I am to meet them again tomorrow night to have final instructions & be furnished with money .. Bigs the Tinman in Greyhound Yard is the man that went there before but they have a very bad conceit of him & say he would tell if taken on Suspicion.—They say he is frightened & tells them he dreams and talks in his sleep about what is going on — They are to go to him to day to get some information from him.—Hill & Slater said there was a Petition going on in the Town.—They wanted me to go to Sampson Walker to find out whose names the Corporation have got,—They talked about where the Arms are deposited but none of them could tell where they are — Slater said the way to find that out would be to seize some of the head Devils, they named [Aldermen] Swann & Mr Coldham the Town Clerk & put them in fear by threatening their lives if they would not tell whether arms are — As to Coldham they said they should not save him if he did tell for he was a Governmnt Spye & had £400 a yr — A great deal more like language was used, they said this [Corporation] was worse than Government — Slater told me privately he had been agaitwards with Dann to arnold & Dann had told him he had been taking a view yesterday of Mr Coldham’s house & that he means to lay wait for him — Dann is not to go to Leicester — He remains working at Gilberts Sandy Lane — They are to attempt to seize the arms of the militia stationed in Nottm.

27th June 1815: George Coldham's informer writes of a meeting with Gravenor Henson & talk of revolution in Nottingham

27th June 1815.

I was with Sampson Walker yesterday morning about the [Corporation] having a list of the Ludd's names. He began to chastise me as soon as he saw me & advised me to have nothing to do with it. I told him I had nothing to do to do with it, & the Connection I had with these men was only just formed & they could not have my name. He said Lomax the Grocer told him the Corporation had had the names a month since & that there was no doubt they had gone up to Government & they might suspend the Habeas Corpus Act & put anyone into Prison without shewing why.―He told me by all means to drop the Connection as Revolution was not to be brought about by the means they proposed & he had told Burton to call again, but he should have nothing to do with it.—When I left Walker about 9 oClock I went to Stevens the Needlemaker in King Street, Woolpack Lane.―He began to talk to me about a Revolution & Gravenor Henson came in — Gravenor began to talk about getting money & he asked me if old Newton of Bullwell had not got a good bit of Gold.—I told him I understood he had but I did not know where it was.—He said ‘Oh damn that, we’ll soon find it when we get there, I asked him how we were to find it. He said ‘Oh damn that we would soon make him tell, by putting him in bodily fear by getting some hot water & pouring on his legs, hanging him up, or giving him a good hiding or some such way.—We talked about the Revolution. He said he could raise 25,000 men in 2 hours.—As for such fellows as Dr. Wylde & all those black gowned [Gentleman] he would send them to New South Wales where many a brave fellow had been sent — He said there were three men in Nottm. shd. die & nothing should save them.―I asked him who they were — He said one was Coldham the Town Clerk,—Stevens of Mansfield & Beecher of Southwell. These he said should have no mercy.—We had a deal of talk about a Revolution―Burton came & heard part of this Conversation.—He talked of the same method as before proposed by Slater of finding where the arms are by getting hold of some of the heads of the Town & making them tell where they are. — Remained with till about noon — Was with Burton, John Mann, Badder, Holmes, and John Slater to night at the Leather Bottle.—They called me out into the Street & told me they thought it would be better to lay aside the Yorkshire Journey a few days — The reasons they assigned were — their suspicion of John Greaves who was Secretary to the Committee of the late Petitioning.—They said he has a Cousin at Coldham's Office & he has been in the habit of going there sometimes. They did not say that he had told of anything that he had discovered anything on there but that Mr. Coldham had once said to him he had too much of Sir Francis Burdett in him, & they said that Mr. Coldham would not have said so to him unless he had been saying something to Mr. Coldham — Holmes swore if he found out, that any man was hunting his blood he would hunt his.—They agreed that John Greaves is to be told it had all dropped on account of this news & then they should get rid of him.―They agreed we were to meet next Sunday or Monday and if I had anything to communicate I might come to John Mann at the Leather Bottle & he would let them know, & I told them they might find me at Hollingworth's.

Dann is 5 f. 6 or 7 inches high.. has redish hair and wiskers largish palish complexion.―thin face rather long – a tooth out in front, think on the top jaw – is franfreckled – generally wears blue Framework Pantaloons, walks upright & quick off the Ground - has a fullish eye, color, blue.―Teeth rather yellow – longish nose aquiline or roman, mostly wears a Jacket, a kind of Fustian without laps, – looks cleanish mostly. —

When Gravenor Henson was talking about the means to be used to effect a Revolution he said the first thing to be done was to set fire to Lombard Street where all the Banks were & then when the Mail brought that intelligence it, must be the signal to begin every where else. The next thing London must be shoved out & we could go to thro the Country in 9 days.―He mentioned many Towns where there were arms & the People were ripe & what Towns would be of Service — He mentioned so many I cant remember them.—He spoke of many in Yorkshire & Lancashire & a Barracks where there were only 500 Soldiers and many arms. This place must be attacked & the Arms seized & it would strike a dread upon the Country.—He said a great deal that I cannot repeat about the means to be adopted & the measures to be pursued by the Revolutionists.

26th June 1815: George Coldham reports on plans to send his informer to London

Nottingham June 1815

Private

Dear Sir,

I inclose you a Copy of our last Report by which you will perceive the Statement made by our Informant of the Situation of Leicester. I did not I confess think these Men quite so dangerous as I was Disposed to imagine that but I still conceive their power of doing harm rendered expedient to know as much of them as we can. The Secret Committee have therefore Determined to let our Informant go to London if the Luddites can raise him a Companion & so much Money as to clear him of the Suspicion of being too forward If they can furnish the two Men £6 he will pretend to have got Subscriptions as far as £2 & will go [illegible] care to raise in the meantime some small Subscriptions where it will be reported to them. I have conferred with the Magistrates & if he goes they have Determined to send me Clerk Francis Wright with whom our Informant communicates here with an Introduction to you so that if it really appears that there is any channel of communication in London which it can be important for Government to know you & Lord Sidmouth will be put in possession of it. The Expenses attending this measure I have taken upon myself to be responsible for the Secret do not think it belongs to them & the Magistrates are aware that it may form a questionable Article in the County Rate Accounts & I hope you will think it is an Expense which Government will under the circumstances consider them bound to provide for. Nothing good or important may arise out of it or it may lead to useful Information but if the opportunity occurs I shall not think I Do my Duty without making the experiment. As by probability our Informant’s going may be Delayed somewhat longer I have shall be glad to hear from you on this subject by return of Post if you differ from me in Opinion. We hope we are in a [fair] [Train] of finding as the Person who wrote the private Letter to me respecting the Arms & that more Information may result from it. I think nothing at all of their means of any serious permanent mischief but I believe a few of them are mad & desperate enough for anything. At present they are very slow to believe in the Defeat of Bonaparte. I cannot close this Letter without congratulating Lord Sidmouth & yourself most sincerely & heartily upon the late glorious Victory which has placed Lord Wellington & this Country upon the very Pinnacle of Military Glory I devoutly hope that it may be immediately lead to consequences important & decisive of the best Interests of Britain & of Europe.

I am Dear Sir,
Your’s very truly
Geo. Coldham

[To] J. Beckett Esqr.

PS. Our Informant [returns] to communicate with us to morrow Afternoon where you shall hear if he can be safely permitted to go to London

21st June 1815: George Coldham abandons plans to raid Gravenor Henson's home

Private.

Dear Sir

I feel myself very much indebted to Lord Sidmouth and yourself the attention you have been so good to shew by your last letter, and after the result of your consultation, I believe we shall abandon all ideas of searching Henson's House as the Policy of the measure depends upon its success and its illegality is certain.—

Hitherto we have taken our precautions privately by outward watches set upon the house of the Adjutant of the Local Militia, and as there has been a double watch one Military and one civil, and the Guard at the Guard Room belonging to the Cambridge has been encreased, I think we could answer for their security under any common circumstances of attack. If under such circumstances you should deem it wiser to remain in this state of preparation taking still further cautionary measures when we approach nearer the threatened period until that time has elapsed pray be so good as to say so.—But it would certainly be more pleasant to know at once that the arms are secure and to be relieved from all unpleasant responsibility respecting them—

I am, Dear Sir
Your’s faithfully

Geo. Coldham

Nottingham

21st June 1815

[To: John Beckett]

19th June 1815: John Beckett cautions George Coldham about raiding the home of Gravenor Henson

Copy
Private

Whitehall
June 19, 1815.

Dear Sir,

I received yours of [the] 17[th] by this mornings Post together with the Enclosure which I return according to your desire.—

— As far as one can judge from the Paper itself Lord Sidmouth, to whom I have shewn it and your letter – is of opinion with me that the Communication is much to be a friendly one.—You seem however to have taken all the Precautions possible respecting the Arms of the militias that are alluded to and having done so, I hope no very vicious mischief is to be apprehended — Your future operations will depend probably upon what takes place at Leicester of which you will I take for granted be accurately informed.

Upon the material question in your Letter, viz. as to searching Houses—I have as you desired held a Consultation — and it is clearly Opinion here that unless you can lay before a magistrate such Information of a Treasonable nature as will indeed induce him to grant a Search Warrant — it would be unwise to take such a Step — whether your Information will enable you to go that length of course the Secret Committee will be the best judges―

I shall be glad to hear from you if any thing material takes place in the Course of this week or the next.—I own however that I think your precautionary Steps will shew that you are prepared — and that therefore nothing will happen nothing will happen of consequence.—

I am &c

J Beckett

[To] Geo: Coldham Esqr

17th June 1815: George Coldham informs the Home Office of his plan to raid Gravenor Henson's house

Dear Sir

I inclose you a Note I received this morning by the Nottingm Penny Post regarding which on my account I shall be glad to have your and Lord Sidmouth’s Judgement.―It is most clear that it is the letter of one who by some means or other is acquainted with the leading Agitators here, as the list given in the letter is such an one, as, with very little exception I might have given to you or Lord Sidmouth if you had asked me for such an Account.―The Statement about myself and Mr. Ashwell does not alarm so much as it would if the threats had been disconnected with the grand Plot of of seizing the arms &c.―It appears to me we must receive all such communications with doubt, and use them not without at the same time recollecting that altho’ they may be false they may also by possibility be true.―It may be written, as it appears to be with an intention honestly to save us from the danger to which the Writer apprehends we are exposed or it may be composed by one of these men to alarm and harass us, but the names I can hardly conceive they would think we know and the disclosure of them is scarcely reconcileable to any Statement which is not designed to be friendly unless indeed it be meant as a trap to judge whether I am active in opposing this nefarious conspiracy, and then I could imagine it to be the work of Gravenor Henson, who I think might write it with a view to incite us to take measures which might lead them to know who were the most active against them by observing whether the hints were followed.―In this Case they would take care that nothing should be found and nothing would arise out of the precaution we might adopt for the Security of their arms.—Be this as it may I have taken measures to secure the arms which I take to be the arms of the Notts Supplementary Militia which were before threatened and which we ordered to be rendered ineffective, I shall have a Guard fixed upon these arms tomorrow, and I have given Colonel Maitland a caution respecting the arms of the Cambridge Militia, and shall give the Commanding Officer at the Barracks the same precaution tomorrow morning respecting the Arms at the Barracks altho’ I do not regard them as being in the least danger.―

In the mean time I have taken care to direct the special attention of our Informant to the subject and have stationed a Constable here and have sent a Confidential Constable to Leicester to observe the Characters who may appear to proceed from hence to Leicester between this on Monday evening.—

The Organization alluded to in this Communication is perfectly and precisely what we have ever understood to be that of the Luddites here.—

I have consulted the Secret Committee and Magistrates hereupon and have taken the measures already adopted with their concurrence—Pray let me hear from you or Lord Sidmouth herein, and have the goodness to return turn the inclosed

I am, Dear Sir,
Yours very truly

Geo Coldham

Nottm 17 June
1815

P.S. Pray let me have your Opinion what it would be wise to do regarding the Searching Henson's House for Papers We can wait your reply because it is to be presumed if he is the Leader & Consultations are held at Leicester on Monday [illegible] not be in possession of the Results of the Mission to Leicester untill Tuesday & between then & Saturday seems the point of time at which we must Search if we Do it at all―It must then be Done upon an Information if one of our Police Constables that he has been informed & [believes] that Papers are there lodged which would Disclose Circumstances dangerous to the State—but on this subject we wish the best Advice & Opinion you can procure us—& shall not hesitate to act upon it.

[To: John Beckett]

3rd June 1815: George Coldham updates the Home Office about recent reports from informers

Dear Sir

Since writing to you on the 24th May, I have received three Reports from my Informant, the first dated the 31st May in which there is no material matter, unless that, by that Report it appears that the Confederates are very anxious about Samuel Towle’s liberation.—They said they should not have troubled themselves about him, but Samuel Towle, had been entrusted.—That Report also contained an account of three Frames having been broken at Hucknal, upon which the Secret Committee directed me to make enquiries about it and his Report of second of June stated all the circumstances connected with the breaking of the Frames.—It appeared that they were broken in consequence of a private quarrell, but not materially injured and that in consequence of the general situation and Character of the Inhabitants of that Village there would be great difficulty in getting the persons injured by the Framebreakers to bring any charge against them.—

I inclose you the third Report because I am anxious that you should be fully acquainted with whatever hath reference to any circumstance in the least degree connected with the remotest prospect of public Connection or any arrangement or connection for the purpose.—I took the liberty of hinting to you the propriety of your endeavouring, in such as you may deem most adviseable to enquire whether there is any Correspondence between these persons and any persons with similar views in Yorkshire.—These Reports however bear evident marks that the hopes of these Gentlemen to be enabled to treat us with the happy event of a Revolution, are very much lowered and seem to imply that they have in reality no Yorkshire Connections but such as are founded upon their own Representations for the purpose of keeping up the hopes of the Gang here, and their sanguine anticipations, for it appears that Gravenor Henson could find no Committee in Yorkshire and could accomplish nothing by his mission there.—The Secret Committee here however are so anxious to probe this matter to the bottom that they would send their Informant into Yorkshire, if any of the Confederates here would volunteer to go with him, and if he could be so far apparently supported here as to take from the Suspicion of being forward so as to endanger his Credit or raise suspicions against him that he must be supplied with money from other quarters.—I learnt from a man in the Gaol that they had written Peter Green that they had an intention to take some of the arms from the Soldiers on Saturday and altho’ I could not believe the reality of such a scheme being in Agitation I felt myself compelled to give Notice of it to the Commanding Officer of the Cambridgeshire Militia who promised to take some precautions in as private manner as he could.—

I have received a letter from Colonel Gould thanking me for my Communication on the part of the Magistrates respecting Saml Towle and promising that he would take care he should not be set at liberty to return to Nottingham.—

I am [etc]
Geo Coldham

Nottingham
3d June 1815

[To: Home Office]

30th May 1816: George Coldham outlines the case against the alleged Luddite, Peter Green

My Lord

The Mayor and Aldermen of this Town have directed me to transmit to your Lordship the accompanying Copies of Informations against Peter Green now in the Town Gaol under the circumstances therein stated.—

The Magistrates are in possession of Information upon which they can confidently rely, which they cannot give in evidence against him, without destroying the Source from which the obtain the same, that fully and satisfactorily shows him to have been long and most actively engaged with many other men, in this Town and Neighbourhood in the practice of Framebreaking and Robbing Hen Roots and Orchards to a very considerable extent, and that he was when taken into custody, as far as he could be rendered useful concerned in organizing a plan for open rebellion.—

Under these circumstances the Magistrates considered it their duty as Conservators of the public peace to have this man apprehended for being concerned with others unknown to the Magistrates in exciting the populace to acts of tumult, order the specious pretexts as stated in the Copies of Informations but with an ulterior view to open rebellion should circumstances transpire to favor in their opinion such an attempt.

The nature of the Information in the possession of the Magistrates shews most distinctly that these deluded men have it in contemplation and entertain Sanguine expectations that they shall succeed, under the existing circumstances of the times, if they can but collect together in a considerable body in overturning the existing Government of the Country; and although the Magistrates do not seriously apprehend the present power of these men to accomplish their intentions (destitute as they must be of adequate means for such a purpose), yet they cannot dismiss from their minds the consideration that, unless measures be adopted by the Civil power to check and keep under this spirit of insubordination, there is a great number in this Neighbourhood and some of the other populous parts of the Country are ready to join in seconding these extravagant and mischievous views and projects.—

The Magistrates have been using their utmost diligence to obtain such further Information against this man as could be available in bringing him to Justice for some of the many offences he has been guilty of but they have not been able to procure any such till this day.—A man named Richard Chappell, in the same prison (for embezzling money received by him on his  master’s account) communicate confidentially to the Presiding Magistrates at the Guildhall, That Peter Green has told him since he's been in the Gaol, that when the Rioting first begun at Arnold, where many Frames were broken, he, Peter Green, and two of 3 others broke into a House at Arnold there where an Old man and woman lived and there broke 2 Frames, and that a night or two after he and some others broke another Frame at the same House, and that he was at Bulwell when the man was killed there breaking Frames and that he has been at the breaking of a great number of Frames—

Under these circumstances the Magistrates do not conceive themselves authorized to dispose of this man without receiving the directions of your Lordship, and they desire me to request that your Lordship will be pleased to send me instructions what you would wish to be done herein.—

I am [etc]
Geo Coldham

Nottingham
30th May 1815

[To: Lord Sidmouth]

10th May 1815: George Coldham summarises the report of an informer for the Home Office

Private and Confidential

Dear Sir,

I promised to Write to you soon when I had last the pleasure of seeing you and I determined to wait the next Report of our Informant and to set about acquiring Information as to the Steps taking in the County to prepare a Military Force in Case of Emergency, but I am sorry to be forced to state to you that I very much fear we are upon the Eve of some particular movement.―I am not, I hope, credulous, but I will state to you what Information I have received and I must say, that from two or three other quarters and by my own Eyesight the probability of its being true is rather confirmed that contradicted.—Our informant by a Report delivered this morning says that there were many persons who had seen the curious Proclamation, I read you, and approved of it.—On Sunday night at one of the private and confidential Meetings of the Sett, he was told by one of these Luddites "that there was something else agate that not above one or two in this Town knew of, and it would be plopped out all at once (meaning the Disclosure would be unexpectedly made) – He states that he was with another of these men yesterday (his name he states and residence) and went with him to his Garden, in Sneinton Field and shewed him the Sutton Proclamation. He said he rejoiced very much and was very glad something was going on somewhere else as the Corporation of Nottingham were the damnest set of Rascals in the Country and there was that dammed bull neck Coldham if he got a bit of Information he was off up to the Government with it.—He said he should like to take the lives of some of them—He said what they did was the fear of losing their places,—He stated, when speaking about the Proclamation, there would be something happen in a few weeks they were little aware of as the Soldiers would be then out of the Country—He asserted there had been some men over from Leicester last week and there they were quite ready to join the rest―He said he had seen a man from Birmingham, who told him they were ready there – He said there was somebody, in this Town who knew better than he did what was going on but he did not say who he was — This man is much acquainted with Gravenor Henson, and he thinks it is he is alluded to as knowing better than he did what was going on from his manner of talking – He said they know their friends and they would be all ready to act when called upon".—In stating to you that the substance of this Statement is confirmed by corroborating Accounts and in some degree by my own observation.—I have remarked since my return a more than ordinary knotting and gathering together in small parties of the Common People at night such as always attends and precedes any considerable popular movement.—From three different quarters it has been reported to me from respectable sources of Information that conversations have been overheard which evidently have allusion to some popular commotion.—In opposition to this expectation it is right and proper and consistent with the fact to reflect, that all people whose minds are inflamed, are in the constant habit of overrating their strength and force and the extent of the support which they imagine themselves to possess.—The numbers that will talk and give support by words bear no proportion to the diminished numbers of those who will proceed to Action and these latter must be again increased or diminished in a degree scarcely conceivable by the apparent difficulty or ease of the proposed enterprize.—

From these reflections I been induced to look at our situation as one of no danger or difficulty if we are properly supported not to be trifled with without incurring extreme danger – I believe we are yet safe as we have at present very decent force of Dragoons and a reasonable proportion of Infantry, but Lord Sidmouth taught me to expect we should ere long be compelled to depend upon calling in the County Troops of Yeomanry to our aid.—On this Account I determined to apply myself to learn what steps have been taken on this subject by the County Magistrates, I have accordingly applied to one of these Gentlemen and I learn from him in a manner that leaves not the least doubt of the fact (and I beg of you to state it to Lord Sidmouth for his information confidentially from me relying that neither Lord Sidmouth or yourself will quote me or make me responsible for the accuracy of my intelligence) that the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire or the Lord Lieutenant had already applied to one or two of these Corps stating that their Services would probably be wanted in the County without having had the pleasure of receiving any assurance that they would be forthcoming for that purpose if requested.—My Informant further stated to me that on a former occasion one or more of these Yeomanry Corps had been called out and that they had presented an Account of their expences to the County Magistrates which had amounted to £100 or £200 I doubt whether not £300 consisting of the Tavern Expences of Officers and privates at what these Gentlemen considered a very extravagant Rate.—That the consequence had been that these expences had been refused to be paid and it was believed they would be again refused to be paid by the Magistrates of the County of Nottingham both as they thought the extent of the charges on this account enormous and as the Magistrates considered it illegal altogether to pay a Military Force out of the County Rate Funds.—If indeed the King’s Troops were employed they should not regard giving them any compliment or remuneration for extra Services or refreshment or Provisions & prefer doing so to incurring the risk of encountering the extravagant demands of the Yeomanry – Let me not be mingled in any way in these questions, I have nothing to do with them but wait their results, which may leave us in absolute distress if not attended to.—We have no force but the Cambridge Militia which has been too long here & any Infantry want Barracks here to be effective for otherwise they are mixed up with the Mob, and cannot be kept in a state of regularity and discipline.—I strongly suspect that the People know well the disposition of these people and regard them as persons totally indisposed to be opposed to them.—The officers are well disposed & the Commanding Officer a personal Friend of mine but without Barracks they are unable to maintain Discipline and the constant state of Association with the Town’s People has had a very pernicious effect upon the spirit of the men if attempted to be brought into Action against the People. I would therefore strongly urge upon his Majesty's Government to judge whether it would not be expedient to provide us with Infantry Barracks here to some extent, but if they should do it I beg it may be done from their own Judgement on the subject arising out of the peculiar circumstances of the Town and Neighbourhood. In addition to the presence of a force, in Infantry which is still less essential than a force in Cavalry I beg to suggest to you whether it might not be practicable to make this a Depot of Cavalry by which there would be a constant force or the appearance of a regular force in Cavalry here available for the public Service.—

There is a most violent Petition signing to the Prince Regent against the War which is likely very much to heighten the present Inflammation of the public mind it is lying for signature at a private house the Mayor having his by his decided conduct respecting the public Meeting forced them to abandon all claim upon the public Rooms belonging to the Corporation for this purpose.—

I have written this letter with the full knowledge and approbation of the small private circle with whom I communicate who are the Mayor, my Brother Mr. Alderman Coldham and the Secret Committee.—I do not feel alarmed for myself but I am satisfied that if we have not at our command at all times a considerable effective Military Force, we ought at least to have such a force as would assume a formidable appearance.

Lord Sidmouth, I believe, thinks I entertain too strong a leaning against the Yeomanry Corps, but I confess I have no opinion they can be made equally effective in any tolerable degree in comparison with the Regulars.—I know that all the Farmers in this immediate Neighbourhood stand in awe of the Mob for fear of their damaging and setting fire to their Corn Stacks &c, and that this Feeling as materially as Mr. Justice Baile’ys Charge operated to the acquitted of Jas Towle.

Pray let me hear from you on the subject of this letter

Your’s very truly
Geo Coldham

Nottingham
10th May 1815

PS. The Report contains some of the Statements relating to the Operations of these Gentleman relating to the Trade & a Relation of some Threats of murdering or of a Desire to murder one Individual on Account of Circumstances connected therewith.

8th May 1815: George Coldham writes of sending a spy into Yorkshire

Dear Sir

I am favored with Lord Sidmouth’s letter in reply to my letter to him on the subject of Peter Green and have directed the enquiries therein suggested to be made and shall do myself pleasure of addressing myself again to his Lordship as soon as I learn the result:—

I am honored with his Lordship’s letter of yesterday in reply to the representation made by the Magistrates in favor of Jane Ward and Frances Shannon and am not at all surprized at the opinion expressed by Lord Sidmouth as I may now venture confidentially to inform you that the Representation made was communicated by me not as an act conformable to my own Judgement for I reasoned a good deal with those from whose instructions I acted before I obeyed them — the Mayor and my brother declined giving any personal sanction to the measure from the impression made upon them as well as myself that the nature and Character of the Offence and the circumstances attending scarcely admitted hopes of any further extension of the Royal mercy.—

I now transmit you the last Report of our Informant, received yesterday by which you will perceive that these Gentlemen still entertain hopes of affecting a Revolution altho’ they are not so sanguine as they were.—If there seems a fair and reasonable prospect of our Informant proceeding into Yorkshire as a Delegate from hence without the probability of exciting Suspicion we shall take care to enable him to do so in order to be enabled to communicate to you what information he may acquire.—The person whose address at Sheffield has spoken of his known to have been here and his Character corresponds to what they describe of him, his acquaintance here being amongst the most violent and hot headed.—Hill is well known to us and is precisely the Character he is portrayed by Badder, too bad that even Treatchery to trust.—We have been putting all the most notorious of these persons upon the lists of person summonsed for Nonpayment of Poor Rates and by that means have been enabled to take a pretty observant survey of their persons and countenances, 6 or 8 of them have in this way passed in review before the confidential Magistrates, one of the Secret Committee and myself, to day at the Guildhall

Your’s very truly.―
Geo. Coldham

Nottingham
8th May 1815

[To: John Beckett]

29th April 1815: George Coldham informs the Home Office about more threats to Hosiers

Private.

Dear Sir

You will have learned before this that the mission to London is abandoned, but I am equally obliged to you for your attention to my request on the subject.—

I again inclose you the last report from our Informant.―On receipt of it I once more took measures for again putting Mr Newton of Bulwell on his guard.—For myself I fear John Dann considerably more than any sentence of the Revolutionary Junto.—

I do not exactly at present expect your attention can be paid to us, but the moment it can I am sure you will endeavour to providers with an additional Military force here in Cavalry for it is without all question that in Case of any Crisis of an unpleasant nature arising abroad which god forbid we might and should be in the temporary danger of these Scoundrels making a dash at us under the pretence of endeavouring to excite a Rebellion but in reality to obtain plunder and to gratify revenge.—

I am [etc]
Geo Coldham

Nottingham
29 April 1815

PS. I will thank you not to mark Private on the outside of your Letters. I believe it has excited occasionally Attention in the Post Office & none open your Letters but myself I will do the same as to your’s

[To] John Beckett Esqr.

27th April 1815: George Coldham names a Luddite suspected of shootings in Nottinghamshire

Private.

Dear Sir

You will perceive by the inclosed Report, that the revolutionary Exchequer is not amply supplied as it cannot raise £6, and they have therefore been compelled to give up all Idea of communicating with their friends, in the Metropolis at present.—Our Informant will in consequence be sent into Yorkshire and go where such heavy sums need not be raised for the purpose.—The Secret Committee will supply his wants if they can understand that he can go with the probability of obtaining useful Information, and without the danger of incurring the suspicion of the Confederates by appearing too forward in a desperate business.—

The latter part of the Report relating to myself is not a very pleasant complexion, but I should entirely disregard it, did not the Character of Dann lead me to know him capable of any atrocious Act he being the man who shot Mr. Trentham of Nottm and killed Wm Kilby at New Basford.—I hope however that the current of the Intelligence from the Continent will soon put period to any possible expectation of a Revolution here.—In the mean time I will thank you to inform me whether any Cavalry are ordered to Nottingham in the room of the Green Horse as it would be much add to our Security altho’ I fear it may be impossible for Government to provide for us in the present emergency.—

I am [etc]
Geo Coldham

Nottingham
27 Apl 1815

[To] J.Beckett Esqr.

24th April 1815: George Coldham informs the Home Office that the Luddites are behind the recent public meetings in Nottingham

Nottingham 24th April 1815

Dear Sir,

You will I am sure be sorry to learn that our old Enemies the Luddites are at Work again & upon a new System. On Saturday we learnt that they were endeavouring to collect a Meeting for very illegal Purposes upon the Nottingham Forest & Placards of which I Inclose you a Copy sent me by the Mayor in a very legible Hand were stuck up in the Night on Friday, & early on Saturday Morning. A Meeting of the magistrates was In consequence of the Proceedings on Wednesday last I was directed to give directions for the Infantry Guard at the Guard Room to be Doubled after a Picquet of 12 or 15 men to hold themselves constantly in readiness to act both at the Barracks & in the Town. Yesterday the Magistrates met & called upon the whole of the Horse to be in readiness appointed a Meeting with the County Magistrates this day at 12 & ordered the Hand Bill & posting Bill of which I inclose you Copies to be posted & distributed every where in the Neighbourhood & it is this their Determination to prevent any Meeting being held which they consider themselves fully justified in doing when the [illegible] to be to Direct People to resist Government by peaceably & orderly refusing to pay the Taxes.

I will write to you by tomorrow's Post. I have heard [satisfactorily] from Sir Nathaniel Conant & I therefore presume Lord Sidmouth has been so good as to attend to my [letter] respecting Thomas Garton

Yours very truly

Geo Coldham

[To: John Beckett]

24th April 1815: George Coldham issues a Handbill restricting freedom of assembly in Nottingham

TOWN OF NOTTINGHAM.

THE MAGISTRATES of this TOWN have observed with extreme concern the disposition to Violence and Tumult which manifested itself on Wednesday evening last, and which has given fresh evidence of its continued existence, by a secret invitation to a further Assemblage of the People this Afternoon upon the Forest, with the avowed purpose, under various SPECIOUS PRETENCES of deluding the honest, the peaceable, and the well disposed, INTO A RESISTANCE TO THE CONSTITUTED AUTHORITIES OF THE COUNTRY.

Under such circumstances the Magistrates have thought it their duty to make the most effectual arrangements for the maintenance of the public tranquillity, and are fully prepared to act upon them. Previous, however, to any Appeal to the power of the Law, they are anxious to declare that it is their full purpose and resolution that no Meeting shall be held by any Person or Persons whatsoever, for the purpose stated in the written Placard posted upon the Walls of this Town, on Saturday last; and that if any such Meeting be attempted to be held on the Forest, or any other place within their Jurisdiction, they will, after this Notice, consider it as an illegal assembly, and proceed accordingly.

Whilst the magistrates, from an imperious sense of public duty, feel themselves compelled to act with Vigour and Descision, they are anxious it should be known that they are fully aware the present state of the Manufactory has occasioned and is daily occasioning scenes of the deepest Misery and Distress amongst the Labouring Artizans. In these Distresses and Privations they most sincerely sympathize, and are ready to do any thing is in their power, consistently with their duty to themselves, and to the Government and Laws under which they live, to relieve the Distresses of their Fellow-Townsmen by all the means which the Constitution has entrusted to their power. In the mean time let those Individuals, upon whom the Distresses of the Times may press hard, reflect that the inflammation of the Public mind may aggravate, but cannot alleviate their sufferings; let them consult their cooler judgment, and they must be convinced that every voice and every hand that is raised in clamour against the Farmer, the Miller, and the Flourseller, is actively employed in holding up the Price of Corn, Flour, and Bread, in the Market; and that any act of Fraud or Force carried on in violation of the Public Peace, can only tend to aggravate the very Evils it insidiously professes to alleviate.

Nottingham, Monday,
24th April, 1815.

By Order of the Magistrates,
GEO COLDHAM,
TOWN CLERK.

27th March 1815: George Coldham writes to the Home Secretary about James Towle's trial

Private and confidential.

My Lord

I have now the honor to address your Lordship on the subject of the Trial of James Towle for Burglary and Framebreaking at the last Assizes at Nottingham.―I had the pleasure of communicating to your Lordship by desire of the Committee to which I am Solicitor his original Commitment, and these Gentlemen deem it important, that the result of the investigation of the circumstances of this Case (however contrary to the expectation which they conceive they might have reasonably formed on the subject) should be officially reported to your Lordship.—The Case had assumed a consequence which originally did not belong to it, with those who were engaged in the local conspiracy from an impression having been given to the popular mind here that it was a Case dependent upon the testimony of a solitary Witness speaking under circumstances calculated to inspire doubt as to the guilt of the Prisoner because it rested solely upon the recollection of one Witness of the Prisoners Voice, whilst we trust every impartial person, it must appear to be a case of strong, various corroborating and convincing circumstantial evidence.

Now that the Prisoner is acquitted it may be permitted us to remark, that with these sentiments, the fear for the criminal or themselves in the part of his accomplices must have been very strong when it could prompt them to attempt in this Land of Liberty and Justice to present the appearance of this Solitary Evidence in Court, by entering his House once again by violence for the purpose of murdering him.—Yet this was actually attempted as your Lordship knows on the 14th October by a party of armed men and would have succeeded had not previous to Information enabled a Guard to be placed in the House and affected the deliverance of Thomas Garton.—Pistols were fired in the house and the intention was avowed in the face of those stationed to defend it, and the leader of this horrid band of Conspirators was killed in the very act of denouncing and endeavouring to carry into effect his murderous purpose.

The Individual killed in the execution of this daring attempt by murder to deliver James Towle from the effect of Thomas Garton's testimony, is the son of the same man (Samuel Bamford) who upon his Trial is brought to effect the same purpose by shewing that James Towle was not at the house at the time sworn to by the Prosecution.—your Lordship is aware that this is a Prosecution altho’ nominally belonging to Thomas Garton conducted by me under the direction of the Secret Committee at Nottingham and that previous to the Trial I was directed to retain Mr. Sergt. Vaughan, Mr. Reader and Mr. John Balguy as Counsel hearin.—Under these circumstances I hope your Lordship can repose implicit confidence in the skill and Judgement of these Gentleman

I can assure your Lordship is that I have to the best of my power since the Case has been submitted to their Judgement about their directions and that previous thereto neither trouble or expence has been regarded either by the Committee or myself in procuring the best testimony in our power of those circumstances which the Counsel at the Consultation were of opinion ought to suffice to substantiate the Prisoners Guilt.—

I enclose for your Lordship a statement of what occurred at the Trial as accurately as I have been enabled to report it from my own recollection the minutes of persons taking Notes and particularly the Notes of all the Counsel employed in the Prosecution, of the observations of the Judge after the evidence had been gone thro’.—

With respect to myself I have been extremely hurt at the result of the Trial and have found it difficult to form an opinion of the reason which acted upon the learned Judge as an inducement to sum up as he did altho’ it is impossible to doubt that his charge to the Jury was the occasion of the Prisoner’s acquittal.—

The Court was crowded with the Partizans of Towle and the moment the Verdict was given there was a shout of Triumph in the Hall. The Jury hesitated for nearly three quarters of an hour and had evidently much controversy with themselves during this time, the Judge was extremely agitated and looked as pale and anxious as the prisoner―When the Verdict was found there was no word of greeting of joy or of honour for the Jury, when the judge went out of Court the joyful Mob surrounded his carriage gave him a cheering shout on his getting into it followed him to his Lodgings and gave him as I understood, a loud and cheering Huzza are on his entering the house.—

I am, My Lord,
your Lordships obliged & obdt. Servant—

Nottingham
27th March 1815

[To: Lord Sidmouth]

27th March 1815: George Coldham writes to John Beckett about the trial of James Towle

Private and Confidential.

Dear Sir

Independent of my letter to Lord Sidmouth and of my formal letter to you, I think it right to inform you confidentially and with a view also to Lord Sidmouth’s further information on this subject by desire of the Secret Committee in consequence of my former personal communication with you respecting this Trial, that previous to the Trial threats had been issued out against the Witnesses for the prosecution, and that they had gone so far as to threaten to shoot Thomas Garton in Court if the Prisoner was found guilty.―I could not bring my mind to believe it was probable that these threats will be executed, but I thought it not prudent utterly to disregard them, and in consequence I applied to the County Magistrates and our Witnesseses had a road made them in and out of Court in Security from the County Hall.—I dispersed Constables in every part of the Court to report the language and demeanour of the people, and I am now sure, if our Witnesses had gone into Court by the Common avenue one half of them would have been forced out of their places by the Crowd and prevented attending one Witness was served so, and I thought as he was not of importance it was more eligible to submit, to the loss of his testimony than to hazard his reporting the state of our Case to our opponents who wanted only to know all our facts to raise up persons to negative them. Grocock was an Accomplice ready to swear anything if his own safety had not been at Stake. This Acquittal is a most lamentable circumstance as it has raised up and given existence to a Conspiracy which I firmly believe the Conviction of the Prisoner would have put an end to for the present if not for ever.—In the mean time I am desired to request his Lordship’s attention to the Situation in which the Secret Committee now stands – the Nottingham Branch of that Committee have, independent of the expences incurred by their Coadjutors in London, incurred an expence of about £600.—The expences of the present Prosecution, I see upon making up my Account in it will amount to about £160 independent of about £40 already expended in supporting Thomas Garton since the attempt to murder him, independent of the further expences he may be to them and independent of a weekly expence of £2:2:0 constantly for a single Agent besides other contingencies on the same Account to a considerable extent.—Under the circumstances the Committee have in the first instance determined to apply to the Clerk of Assize for an allowance of their expence as a common Prosecution for Felony under which they will receive some part at least of their Expence, and I shall then be desired to apply for the remainder to Sir Nathaniel Conant in consequence of what was confidentially understood between us when I was in London in December last.—In the mean time Thomas Garton's life is not safe here, he is a man of very excellent Character, can read and write, is very capable of any Employment which requires no other Talents than those of Punctuality, Integrity Order and Attention and placed as they are with referrence to him the Secret Committee have desired me to state you, but they mean to apply to Lord Sidmouth unless you see any reasons to prevent it, to obtain for him a situation as one of the Messengers or Porters at some one of the Public Offices.—He has served his Majesty either 5 or 7 Campaigns in the Militia and is a most loyal as well as a courageous and tried man in whom the most complete confidence can be placed, at present he is necessarily wholly dependent upon the Committee his business having been ruined by the Prosecution.—I should however in the mean time wish to know what would be the value of such a situation as he is a married man with one or two Children, and if he could be placed where he could maintain himself, some small Shop might enable his wife to assist rather than the dilapidate the resources for the support of her family.

I will entreat an early and will hope for a favorable answer to this request.—

I am
Dear Sir
your’s sincerely & obediently and respectfully
Geo Coldham

Nottingham
27 March 1815

[To: John Beckett]