8th September 1817: A Nottingham Hosier has fears about FWK Union activity

Nottingham Septem 8th 1817

Sir

The very unpleasant circumstance, under which I have lately placd in the conducting my manufactory being solely the result of the unfounded although public representation made by certain parties calling themselves committees of Frameworkknitters―which said publications have, and are intended to have the effect of rendering the workman dissatisfied in every transaction with his employer I feel myself entitled to request your attention to this subject as one which threatens a much more serious wit than that of incommoding the individual―

Presuming that you are well acquainted that the nature of our manufactory is that of considerable permanence in the engagement between master & workman―you will be able to judge how very painful the situation of the employer in being incessantly calld upon to refuse gratifications which the workman is most industriously informd is really his due―

The Magistrate I am well aware is entitled to answer me, that his concern is only with acts which constitute a breach of the Peace―but when I have [stated] the publications to which I request your attentions―I can scarcely permit myself to doubt that you will be satisfied they have a manifest tendency to provoke a renewal of those disorders which have disgraced the whole range of the manufactory & occasioned the destruction of private property and of Life

Doubtless the intentions of many of those parties who so loudly anticipate the enlargement of our commerce, are innocent but it is time that even they should in some way be apprised that every instance where they raise expectations they are morally bound to fulfil them and are not entitled to throw the burthen upon that other party in commercial transactions, whose sacred interests their precipitate exultation has occasioned them to overlook―This remark would be misplaced were it merely sentimental―but its foundation is in fact of notorious publicity―the expected advancement of the wages of Labor―without adverting to any distinctions, being the almost daily theme of many public prints―the avow’d object of the conduct of several public bodies & public men (see advert from Ilkeston in the Nottm Review of 15 Augt last)―Conduct which renders them in my mind parties to a conspiracy for advancing wages and whose alliance & prompting forbids the thought of prosecuting the prominent, but the excited & perhaps misled conspirator

The first publication is dated July 11 & purports to be an intimation that the demand for goods had so encreased at Leicester that, with the exception of two or three houses, an advance of prices had been agreed to―the information had been previously, or was at some time, aroused in the Leicester and Nottingham papers apparently as News by the editor―but more probably by the parties themselves―Now, Sir my information is, that the application of the workman for an advance was suggested to them―nay even urgd upon them by the conduct of the answers of the Parish or Parishes of Leicester―& the FWKrs undertook their committees―(which it was hopd had become dormant at least, if not extinct) that Prices should have a correspondent Rise in Nottingham throughout the County―a point in which upon their failing, the Leciester and Hinckley houses finding themselves imposd upon recalled their advance

The application made to Nottingham is dated July 21st―imprudently alledging the advance at Leicester to be occasiond by extraordinary demand―& asserting the same demand to exist in Notts

The next publication―(is annexed as a supplement &) is dated July 25 in which the Committee announce their failure in terms which evince the bitterness of their disappointment & a determination to communicate resentful feelings to the body of the FWKrs―

Another publication dated 13th August is in the form of a letter to the Hosiers who manufacture Silk Gloves, couched in terms to excite no slight resentment towards the masters who do not comply―asserting a demand for their article which my own concern in this branch enabled me to know did not exist―or but partially as some demand always will―

The advertisements in the Nottm Review of 15th Augt―standing alone might leave it doubtful whether the FWKrs excite the vestry―or the vestry excite the FWKrs

Again under date 21st Augt, and after the Leicester houses recalled their advance―the Cotton workmen of Notts are required to exert themselves to secure the objects of the Committee

All these efforts failing―a Bill of advanced Rates of the Committees own forming―was delivered on the 29 Augt―with the usual breadth of assertion as to the consent of the masters except a few, who are hereby stigmatisd as oppressive & unjust

An advertisement in the Nottm Papers of Septem 6―shows clearly that these men have been generally repulsd by their employers―against whom they hope the getting of the harvest―the countenance of the Nobility Gentry Clergy & Overseers throughout the County―will support them in a general strike for advance of Wages & enable them to enforce their Bill of Rates

These circumstances exhibit such compleat evidence that the organisation of these Committees, from which individuals & the country at large have sufferd such serious injury & alarm―& in which principles destructive of all harmony between master & workman are inculcated―exist in full activity―that I cannot but persuade myself you will concur with me in opinion that the powers of the magistracy would be well employd in destroying such mischievous combinations

Whether the trade do or do not adopt the Bill of Rates thus impudently tendered―& violently enforcd―the reluctance of the employers has been sufficiently evinced―& for the committees to succeed in this mode can only tend to encrease their personal audacity & their mischievous influence over an extended population―

Other offensive matters, which have not appeared in print, are through the vigilance of your police, perhaps, better known to you than to me―I shall therefore leave them to such weight as you may judge them worthy of―& I am Sire your most obedt Servt

John Parker

[To: L Morley Esqr]

3rd March 1817: John Beckett advises Jeffrey Lockett on how to apprehend the Luddite 'Little Sam'

Whitehall 3 March 1817.

Dr Sir

The only safe mode of proceeding in this Case, and the least dilatory in this. Send an Officer from Leicester to London with a Warrant of Apprehension—let him apply at the War Office for Sam’s discharge from Porchester Castle—let him proceed with both to the County of Hants, and then get the Warrant backed—let him go to Porchester Castle—exhibit the War office Order for Sam’s discharge, & take him into Custody under the Justice’s Warrant, & go back with him to Leicester

Yrs faithfully

J. Beckett

[To: Jeffrey Lockett]

26th February 1817: Henry Enfield expresses concern about the proposal to move the Nottinghamshire Assizes to Newark

Nottingham 26th February 1817.

Sir

The Magistrates of Nottingham at a full Meeting held this morning, have received with great regret the Communication made to me officially by Mr. Lowndes, that the ensuing Assizes for the County of Nottingham are to be held at Newark.—

If this extraordinary step be taken, in consequence of an alarm excited by what passed, or by what was said to be in meditation at the last County Assizes, it will be likely to cast an Imputation upon the Civil Authorities, and may tend to prejudice them in the public mind.

The Mayor and Aldermen do not know whether the Magistrates of the County intend to make an application upon the subject His Majesty's Government.—but under the first Impulse and in the Confidence that they shall not be misconstrued, they desire me to proffer their personal Services, and the whole of their Civil Force, to secure, in co-operation with the County strength, the preservation of the peace throughout the Assizes—of the certain power of maintaining Tranquillity and good order, proper pre-arrangements having been adopted, no fair doubt can be entertained.—

The Care of the peace whilst the Assizes were holding in the County Hall has been exclusively with the County Police—Perhaps real advantage would accrue, if the County and the Town Magistrates were to unite their forces for this purpose, upon a concerted plan previously to each Assizes.—

I am,
Sir,
your most obedt hble Servant.

[H Enfield Town Clerk]

[To] W. Sherbrooke Esq
&c

3rd November 1816: General Fane rejects William Sherbrooke's request for troops for Nottinghamshire

Litchfield 3d Novr 1816—

Sir

Maj Humphrey, commanding the 73d Regt at Nottingham, has laid before me a requisition signed by you, for a Corporal and six Soldiers to Garrison the Poor House at Radford, from sun set in the Evening of each day, untill the following morning; in consequence of some apprehensions which are entertained for its safety: and he has stated to me the manner in which he has complied with the requisition—

I feel it my duty to state to you and the Magistrates of Nottinghamshire who directed this requisition to be made, that the so employing his Majesty’s Troops does not at all accord with any of my ideas of what is right; or with what I conceive to be the intentions of the Secretary of State for the Home Department—

I hold that it is my duty as a Military Officer to support the Civil Authorities with all the means entrusted to my disposal; and they will even find me promptly ready to do so: but I feel it equally incumbent upon me to resist the employment of Military Power as a Substitution for the Civil: which I consider to be done in the instance before us.—The ground upon which I form this conclusion is that "the civil Authorities of Nottinghamshire cannot but be able to produce a force which shall be equal in efficacy to a Corporal and six Soldiers"—

This forms one strong reason of objection to the measure which has been adopted; but I have a second, equally strong, "in the situation in which it places the Soldiers so employed"

I would ask the Magistrates, supposing this garrison was to be attacked, What are the Soldiers to do? Are they to fire in their defence? If they were to do so, and to kill a man, would they not be guilty of Murder? And if they are not to fire, what could seven Men do against a Mob coming to attack this Poor House?—Is this then a situation to which such a Party of Soldiers ought to be reduced?

My feeling is, that both the Laws and Constitution of our Country, and the wishes of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, forbid the Military being so employed; being employed at all excepting under the eye of a Magistrate, Unless the Civil Powers shall have found that they are no longer equal to executing the Law themselves—

These being my notions of what is right, I have to request the favour of you to submit what I have said to the Magistrates concerned—

I shall not, however, remove the Garrison from the Poor House at Radford until I have the honour to hear from you—

I am, Sir,
Your most obt Servt
H. Fane
Majr General

---

This letter can be found at HO 42/155.

1st July 1816: John Heathcoat writes to the Mayor of Tiverton, fearing a Luddite attack there

Tiverton 1st July 1816

To J Govett Esqre

Sir

A Messenger has just arrived from my Partner, Mr Boden now at Loughborough with the unpleasant information that all our valuable machinery at that place was destroyed on Friday night last by a large party of Luddites, as is supposed from Nottingham, amounting to upwards of an Hundred, with their faces blackened and otherwise disguised – One man who attempted resistance was shot by them and left for dead but hopes are entertained of his recovery—the remainder of our workmen who were placed there for the protection of the property, were compelled to lay themselves down with their faces to the floor and not permitted to rise till the mischief was completed under threats of instant death — by this atrocious proceeding, several hundred people are thrown out of employment and we are deprived of property of immense value the machines being a new invention for making Buckingham Lace, and for which I obtained a patent in the year 1809—and have been occupied ever since in constructing and putting up the same—I have great apprehension of an immediate attack at this place also – in fact I believe the real cause of this mischief being done is principally, if not wholly, owing to the offence given by our removing here and I have been informed upon undoubted authority that the Nottingham lace makers have sworn my entire destruction

I therefore request you will take such steps as you may think best adapted to prevent or defeat any attempts to destroy our Manufactory in Tiverton—

I am
Sir
your mo Obed Servt

John Heathcoat

29th June 1816: The under-sheriff writes to the High Sheriff of Nottingham about the 'Loughborough Job'

Nottingham 29 June 1816

Dear Sir

I am sorry to inform you that the organized system and practice of Luddism appears still to be in full force in this Town & Neighbourhood—Last night a considerable body attacked a valuable Lace Manufactory at Loughborough where they shot the watchman through the neck and having previously stationed regular guards at all every neighbouring house and avenue proceeded to destroy all the valuable patent frames to the amount of some thousand pounds—After this they called over their men & marched off—It is pretty well ascertained that this Band came from N & return to Nottingham but at present altho’ the Town Magistrates are on the alert there is no prospect of any being discovered & laid hold of—They were armed with fire arms & to some of their Guns bayonets were attached—There are serious apprehensions that some general movement may be expected as it is not a mere quarrel of masters & workmen but the evil seems to extend very wide and it is thought that the removal of the Troops at the approaching Election is looked forward to as a proper time—We have had a communication with the Commanding Officer at the Barracks—It is I think by no means improbable that she may be called upon to act in your Capacity of the principal officer of the County and it would be by no means improper for you before you leave Town to have a Communication with the Secretary of State for the Home Department and with the Lord Lieutenant—You can form no idea of the dreadful spirit which is at work amidst the lower Classes generally of all descriptions and which I am persuaded the utmost vigilance & strongest measures alone can prevent bursting forth with most mischievous energy—Small Bodies of men have been collecting money from house to house in the neighbouring villages under pretence of applying for support to the Framework knitters in an application made by them to Parliament against a particular sort of work their petition against which having been received by the House of Commons is made an Argument—These men the Villagers dare not refuse & much money has been so collected; how to be employed remains to be seen – but this is a repetition of what passed previously to the former commencement of Luddism—

I have had communication with the Town Clerk & know that every thing bad is expected and that the presence of a strong body of Troops is absolutely necessary and scarcely sufficient to prevent an explosion—Excuse my thus troubling you and believe me to remain Dr Sir

Yours obliged hble Servt
Robert Leeson
partner to the under Sheriff

P.S. Mr Jameson the Under Sheriff was not here when your Letter yesterday arrived—It is expected I believe by the County that the Sheriff shd. preside at the Nomination—

[To] Sir R.H.Bromley Bart.

29th June 1816: The Mayor of Leicester informs the Clerk of the Peace about the 'Loughborough Job'

Leics June 29

My dear Sir

I think it advisable to send to you a parcel by to day's Coach hoping you may receive it in Time tomorrow to represent to the Secty of State a transaction which took place last night at Loughboro’ and which has caused a considerable sensation in this place

About 1 oClo this morning a party of frame Breakers broke into Heathcoats’ Lace Manufactory at Leicester after shooting & dangerously wounding the Watchman who guarded it, & compelling a party of night Workmen whom they found in the Mill occupied in their business, to lay flat on their faces, threatening to shoot them if they stirred, while some of the party destroyed Lace & Demolished Frames to the extent of many thousand pounds. In less than ½ an hour the whole party having completed their michievous intention, dispersed

300 men are immediately thrown out of work by it – and the System with which the outrage appears to have been conducted was not the least alarming part of it—There are many Groupes about the Streets talking of the affair & I shall not feel surprised if some disposition to outrage is manifested this Evg, especially as I understand there is a kind of rumour spread about that the men condemned at Ely are not to be hanged, for the reason as the report says that Govt. dare not do it.

The falsehood of this only adds to my suspicion that Dark report is set about by some who mean it to have Effect—

Now under these circumstances I cannot help thinking a small party of [Dragoons] might prevent mischief which a large force afterwards sd have difficulty in Stopping—If you are of the same opinion you will see Mr Serjt [Vaughan] or some of the members & use your own discretion.—I shd not like them to come by forced marches – because I do not suggest the idea from alarm, but merely a precaution

I have not time to add more but remain

Yrs very Sincerely
Mr Mansfield

[To Thomas Burbridge]

20th May 1816: Distressed Stockport weavers appeal to the magistrate Rev Charles Prescot

To the Revd Charles Prescot

Revnd Sir

Actuated by the sentiments of Gratitude for the generous concern you have ever manifested towards the Interest of the laboring Class of this Town and neighbourhood, we venture on the behalf and at the urgent request of the weavers of Stockport to lay a list of the present Prices of a few Reeds now given by the Manufacturers, in order that Your worship may be a competent Judge of their deplorable State and improbability to pay the common demands of Rents, Ley or Taxes

List of the present Prices           List of the prices 1814 for the same fabric

100 Reed 6/4 Cambric 24 Yds – 10 [shillings]                   1.8.0
100 Reed 9/8 Gingham  – 8 [shillings]                   .19.0
90 Reed 9/8 Gingham          – 5 [shillings]           .16.0
72 Reed 4/4 Gingham          – 3 [shillings]           .12.0
72 Reed 4/4 Gingham          – 3 [shillings]           .12.0
60 Reed 6/4 [illegible]          – 7 [shillings] 6 [pence]   .16.0

Your wordship will here observe a tremendous reduction in the earnings of the industrious weaver. What may be the Cause of such Reduction is to the working body of the trade altogether insolvable. But at the same time it is conceived not to be impracticable but something might be done to ameliorate their distress, thro’ the medium and interference of the Magistrates of the manufacturing districts, praying that his Majesty's ministers would be pleased to put a Stop to the Exportation of Cotton Yarn and fix a Minimum for the price of labor. This is the only Suggestion we can lay down to relieve us upon a permanent Basis and as the Magistrate and principal Inhabitants of Bolton desire that this should be put in practice, we humbly humbly implore that your worship will take the same into your serious Consideration at this Period when Provisions are on the advance.

Now to shew you what the weavers can earn the 100 Reed 6/4 Cambric is considered to be a sufficient quantity of labour for 8 days. Then the Journeyman has 3d to pay out of every shilling he earns for winding, Loom-Room &c which will reduce his earnings to Eleven-pence farthing per day—This will be but a small Sum for a Man that has a family of 3 or 4 Children to subsist on - therefore necessity will compel him to seek for parochial relief which will fall very heavy on the Land-Owners and principal Inhabitants.

Convinced of the practicality with which you have attended to their former applications they have to beg you to accept their grateful thanks for past favors with the Assuance of their highest Esteem

We remain your worship’s most
obedient & humble Servants
Joseph Sherwin
Simon Lilley

Signed on behalf of
the Cotton-Weavers
of Stockport May
20th 1816.—

13th May 1816: An informer reports a meeting of framework-knitters in Leicester

13th May 1816

I had been at the Prince Blucher ever since before two o'Clock. There was a man from Leicester and another from Derby. I bought of the Leicester man the copy of "Resolutions of Meeting of the Frameworkknitters at Leicester of 15th April last – a man named Smith of Mansfield was first chosen Chairman between 2 and 3. There was a numerous Meeting 100 or more. The Chairman, called Silence and the Derby man stated that they had solicited the Hosiers of Derby and they had agreed to sign a Petition to Government to put a stop to the cut-up work – He said he had been at Leicester and the Employers and the employed there had petitioned, and it was thought it would not avail much unless the Trade at Derby and Nottingham would do the same and that this Meeting was called to get that done. There were 5 men chosen as a Committee to consult what was to be done. They withdrew into another room and were away about an hour, they then returned and stated that 5 or 6 able men should be chosen to go to the Hosiers tomorrow and next day, and solicit them to do as they had done at Leicester & Derby—and if they did not come to, another meeting was to be called to consult how to proceed. It appeared to be the general opinion of the Meeting that the Nottingham Hosiers would not comply, as they had done at Leicester and Derby, and that the Mayor and Magistrates would not allow them to meet publicly. There was a Meeting at Arnold at Jonathan Stirtevants as I was told yesterday by Robert Mitchell, commonly called Scotch Bob; and he said they were nearly fast at Arnold – as many had nothing to do, and those that had work were so badly paid for it they could not live; and that they had tried in vain to get an honest living by labour, and they must now be under the necessity of breaking the laws of their Country – he said they would kill their own meat – some Frames, & Somebodies carcases beside would be broke. Some said at the Meeting to day that if Government did not redress their grievances violent means must be had recourse to – & they pointed out Mansfield and Sutton where most of the obnoxious work was made.—

5th May 1816: Anonymous letter warns of plots to 'destroy Manchester' and 'all its wealthy inhabitants'

Manchester 5th May 18 16

Mr James Ackers

Dear Sir

On the 23rd April 1812 I informed you by letter of the most horible conspiracy that was going on in Manchester and other places wch was a certain fact, And if the Soldiers had not reach the Town in time at that very period, their intention was to destroy it, and likewise all its wealthy Inhabitants in order to enrich themselves, Sir I have some suspicion that they are going on the same way at present,

For Gods sake – yourself and the Town’s safety, Send for two regiments at least as soon as possible for there is no other way to keep these wicked wretches quiet,

please to destroy this letter as soon as coppied and let not one person see it because the greatest secrecy is required

kind Sir I remain your most obt and
Hble Servt
A Friend

1st March 1816: Adjutant James Warr sends a report about Bolton Friendly Societies

Bolton 1st March 1816

Dear Sir

Agreeable to your request I have made Enquiries contained in your last respecting Friendly Societies—I find at the time that Delegates, where sent to London with a Petition, from the Weavers to get a fixed Minimum of Wages according to sorts & quantities of cloth [worked]. An affiliation was  made by them, through the committee at Bolton to the different Friendly Societies for a Sum of Money, to be advanced to them, out of their [respective] Funds—In consequence of which their was General Meetings called of a Number of the Societies for that purpose—and several clubbs agreed, to lend them money, on point notes being given for the same, by such of the members as would come forward & who where thought to be Eligible to which several of the Members agreed to on condition, they might be allowed to sollicit Subscriptions, [illegible] the Members the ensuing Quarter day, for the repayment of the same but they delegates not succeeding in their affiliation, to Parliament—when they began to make their Collections from they Members it came far short of their expectations and they had trouble to make the Deficiency out of their own Pockets—They where other Societies that advanced five Pounds each, out of their respective Funds, without any notes being required—but it has been a bone of contention ever since, with those that where opposed to it who declare their shall never any more money to go out again but for the Purposes it was put in for viz to Relive the Sick & Bury the dead

In the year 1808 at the General turn out of the Weavers, a number of Families where brought into distress by having their Shuttles &c took from them their was General Meetings of several Societies again called, to consider of the propriety of assisting such of their Members, who were in distress—when it was agreed to [allow] out of their respective Funds, ten Shillings to such Member that would apply for the same they repaying it back in Six or 12 Months with Interest—the Principle fact of such Money so advanced, has been paid back when such Members hath not repaid the same, it is deducted from their Burial Money—I cannot learn of any Society failing to Relieve their Sick or becoming Bankrupt in consequence of any Sums advanced to the Weavers delegates—as the Largest Sum advanced by any Society was ten Pounds I learn there has been 2 or 3 Sick clubbs broke up—but it was owing to not having a sufficient number of Paying Members joining their Societies—and being principly composed of old Persons their Funds got reduced so low—that they agreed to divide what little Money they have left—

I believe the Money received in Friendly Societies in Bolton has been invariably applied to the paying of their Sick and Burying their dead except in the before mentioned cases—And I understand that those who where advocates for the advance of such Money is convinced of the impropriety of letting any Money go out of their Funds for any purpose whatever but for what it was subscribed for—

I am
Dear Sir
you're very obedt Servant
J Warr

To Col Fletcher

30th June 1815: The Mayor of Leicester receives an anonymous letter from 'A Loyalist'

[Received 30th June 1815]

Copy

Sir,

It is not impossible that you may know what I am about to communicate; or if not you may deem the information unimportant in either case I am persuaded you cannot be offended by the liberty I take of addressing you, while I shall satisfy my conscience by laying before you a few facts which have recently come to my knowledge—

I lately fell a company with a person of whose principles I had some previous knowledge, though I have every reason to believe he was wholly ignorant of mine — I would here, Sir, remark that in order to be more completely acquainted with him I disguised my own politics sentiments & assumed the appearance of "a true brother" viz. one disaffected to Government. By this means with little difficulty I became the confidant of my companion & received from him what it is my present business to state to you — Our first conversation was respecting the meeting lately held in the [Pasture] the ostensible object of which was "Reform in Parliament" — This I was assured was only a covering of the real design — that similar meetings had been would be convened in many places — that the business was conducted by Strangers & that the real design of them was (to use the same ends) "to see who was who"―That which the apparent business of the meeting was going on — a party of the best of them (i.e. the foremost) were employed in close conversation alone — I was then plainly told that the end in view was to ascertain the sentiments of the people, to appoint persons to carry on the business amongst themselves as well as to keep up a communication with several others places (amongst which Manchester, Liverpool, &c &c were mentioned) — a signal or watchword was appointed — correspondence, on the subject is forbid as likely to lead to detection — when these arrangements are fully made an effort is to be made to subvert the Constitution — an early day was expected to be named — it being desirable to carry their plans into execution while the army is absent (the day [illegible] ― derived it was considered not unfavourable that it was received so early lest the embarkation of the Troops about to proceed to Holland should be stopped)—

A simultaneous movement is to take place. the centre of which is London — They have no apprehension from the Local Militia they being for the most part considered friendly to the cause — It will be unnecessary to enter into the detail of what is to follow if success crown the first effort — I will only firstly state that it is in their plan immediately to proceed to the House of Commons — dissolve it & chuse one of their own making — to dethrone the present family & place — there Sir Francis Burdett, who by the bye is already known among them by the name of Oliver Cromwell—

These things will perhaps rather excite a smile than any consternation — I confess I am not concerned as to the result if any attempt should be made — My only reason for troubling you is, that if you are not already — you may be apprized of what I sincerely believe is in agitation — As no evil can result from your knowledge of them & may be a prevention of disturbance I have put down the above as I heard it unconnectedly & incoherently & incorrectly it is written I doubt not, but you will excuse this & if you think it of any importance you will of course be upon the watch tower. I can assure you the person before mentioned was not sparing of invective against yourself & brother Magistrates for employing Constables upon a late occasion — Every thing indicates at a set of the most despicable unprincipled wretches are endeavouring to promote disaffection ‘till it terminates in a revolution & as this appears the moment for them to make their appeal to the public when trade is bad, manufacturers are out of employ, the army abroad &c it certainly will be but the part of prudence to endeavour to suppress in the germ what perhaps it will be more difficult to destroy when grown into a more complete system

Your’s
A Loyalist.

28th June 1815: The Town Clerk of Leicester receives an informer's letter from Nottingham

Nottingham
28th June 1815.

Dear Sir,

You well know by what a set of Scoundrels we are surrounded in this place — I mean the Ludites — their present plan is to overturn the Government by a revolution. There is an organized society for this purpose — and I am sorry to say that in the number of manufacturing Towns the same intention prevails — Leicester is in the number — I therefore think it prudent — well knowing your loyal & good intentions to give you such information as has come to my knowledge in order that you may put the Magistrates on their guard & thereby frustrate the intentions of these miscreants. The Nottingham Arms in Belgrave Gate is their principal place of rendezvous — Johnson, a retail Hosier, son of the Landlady is a first rate mover in this business but is a wary, cautious fellow — Brown, a Painter in the same Street, is also a principal – There are several societies in Leicester & the members are all sworn — It was the intention of them to send a Deputy to London. For this purpose & to make other arrangements a meeting was to be held at Mrs Johnson’s on the 26th inst.

I do not presume to offer any advice on this occasion — no doubt the thing will appear ridiculous to many that a few insignificant individuals should think of adopting so mighty a plan as that of bringing about a revolution — However I leave the matter to your consideration — & I must particularly request that you will on no account communicate my name – You have no idea that a murderous set of Villains are to be found in this neighbourhood I again request you will tear my name from the paper—

I am,
Your’s very sincerely

I feel myself under the necessity of cautioning you still further — namely, not on any account to let it be known from whence you receive this information — I mean is coming from this place, lest the party from whom I derive my information may be suspected — Probably you will not think, it adviseable to consult with more than two or three of your Magistrates — If Mr. H. Wood should be one of them I have no objection to give him my confidence —

One part of the plan is to seize the Militia arms now in depot at Leicester—

[To] Burbidge Esqr.
Town Clerk,
Leicester

6th August 1814: The Procurator Fiscal of Dumfries sends an intercepted letter to the Mayor of Nottingham

Dumfries 6 August 1814

Sir

A Correspondence having lately been discovered to have commenced here, betwixt the Journeymen Stocking makers and their Brothers in Nottingham, for the purpose of forming an Association of the Trade to be connected with and dependent upon the General Society of Nottingham, the Master of the Trade became alarmed and made application to the Magistrates of this Town, who upon a Complaint from me as Procurator Fiscal of the Burgh, granted a Warrant for apprehending and bringing before them the persons complained upon for Examination. There were accordingly five Journeymen brought forward, who stated that although they had had some correspondence with the Nottingham Journeymen, they had entered into no resolutions in consequence thereof, nor formed themselves into any Society. They at the same time produced a letter from an S Simpson as Secy of one of the Committees in Nottingham strongly urging them immediately to form themselves into an Association, connected with the principal Society there; they also produced some printed regulations and 60 what Simpson in the letter called Deplomas

The Magistrates as well as the Masters here who are anxious to prevent as much as lies in their power, the diffusion of principles so injurious to the Trade and so subversive of the Peace of the Country have desired me to hand you a Copy of Simpson's letter which is prefixed; I enclose at the same time one of the Deplomas for your Information

I am [etc]
Thomas Fraser

[To] the Mayor of Nottingham

6th March 1813: The Reverend Becher pleads on behalf of absconded Luddites

Southwell March 6
1813

My Lord Duke

I have the honor of stating to your Grace, that several Inhabitants of your county, knowing that some of them were advertised in the Hue & Cry & that others had been charged before the Magistrates with the offense of Frame Breaking, did abscond previously to the Lent Assize in the year 1812; and have since remained in concealment.

Many of these Men, as I have been informed, are desirous of returning to their occupations & their abodes; but I prevented by the tenor of his Majestys late pardon which does not extend to persons charged with offences. – I therefore beg leave to submit their case for the consideration of your Grace; since Magistrates are not competent to prescribe conditions without the sanction of some higher authority than their own.

I have [etc]
J. T. Becher

To
His Grace
the Duke of Newcastle
&c. &c. &c.

23rd January 1813: General Maitland issues a circular to West Riding Magistrates about the withdrawal of troops

York, 23d January, 1813.

CIRCULAR TO THE MAGISTRATES OF THE WEST RIDING,

GENTLEMEN,

As it is my intention to make an immediate change in the distribution of that part of the force under my orders, employed in the West Riding, and, as it is probable a further change may eventually take place, considerably diminishing the amount of that force, I feel it a duty incumbent upon me, to make you aware of the nature of the immediate change, that you may adopt such local measures, should you deem any necessary, as to you may appear fitting for the security if your division. Hitherto the troops have been detached all over the country, as circumstances, and the information I received, rendered it necessary: they were kept in a great state of activity, and constantly on the alert, with a view to the general tranquillity of the country.

The experience, however, of the last two months having plainly indicated that the temper of the country was considerably changed, and that he deluded men who have been guilty of the atrocities that had occurred, had either repented of their illegal courses, or had been intimidated to forbearance from future outrage; and having now before us, the heavy but necessary and salutary example of the late executions in this place, for which the happiest effects must justly be expected to rise, it is deemed adviseable that the feeling of the country should have a full and fair trial, by withdrawing all the numerous detachments, by the ceasing of all military activity, and by allowing the general temper to manifest itself in the most free and unfettered manner. All the detachments are, therefore, forthwith, with very few exceptions, to be called in; nor shall I give way, without the strongest reasons, to any applications that may be made, either for their continuance in part or in whole.

If, in the opinion of the magistrates, any protection is necessary in any part of their division, it is expected they will find that protection, by calling forth such local force as they have now had ample time to organize, and which, under the present circumstances, appears to be fully adequate to the purpose of local protection.

Should the same spirit happily continue to prevail, and no further symptoms of dissatisfaction shew themselves, a diminution of the large force employed by His Majesty in the West-Riding, will materially take place within a short time; which leads me, still further, to be anxious to make this statement to you, that you may keep in view, the necessity of preserving in those measures for local protection, to which you must eventually look for safety and security.

I trust it is unnecessary for me to add, that should our just and well grounded expectations of the restoration of tranquillity, unfortunately not be realized, you will find, on my part, the same wish and anxiety to give every military aid, which has been my uniform study since I honor to command in this part of the country.

T. MAITLAND,
Lieut.-General.

31st December 1812: An informer, 'A friend to peace', sends an anonymous letter to the magistrate, Joseph Radcliffe

On the last day of 1812, an anonymous writer penned a letter containing information about Luddites in the Huddersfield area to the West Riding magistrate Joseph Radcliffe. Signed only as 'A friend to peace', the letter was well-written and offered information about names that would not be unfamiliar to Radcliffe or any of the authorities hunting Luddites.

The letter started out by stating that Luddites were recruiting large numbers of people to act as witnesses and to give false evidence at the forthcoming Special Commission so as to 'Contradict the real truth'. In particular, it singled out James Brook, a Lockwood cropper on trial for being involved in the attack on Rawfolds Mill, and said a witness would say Brook was with them that night.

The writer said that Brook's brother, John, was one of the 'most ... desperate characters amongst the Luddites': that he had joined with George Mellor's cousin, Joseph, to shoot at the windows of George Armitage; that he had been involved in almost every incident of frame-breaking in the West Riding except two of the initial attacks on Hirst and Balderstone. The writer stated that John Brook had even acted further afield in the attacks at Gildersome and Southowram, as well as participating in an arms raid. The informer also accused Brook of being the second man that was involved in the shooting of John Hinchliffe.

The informer went on to name 'principal schemers and planners' amongst the Luddites. Three of them were master cloth-dressers from Salford in the West Riding: William Hargreaves, Joseph Beaumont and George Richardson. Beaumont and Hargreaves had also been named as 'principal people' by Francis Vickerman when he was interviewed by John Lloyd in October. The writer also named Thomas Ellis, the woolstapler that George Mellor had written to from York Castle, and Mellor's step-father and employer, John Wood as key men. The writer also said that John Brook  had been involved in an arms raid with a man called Luke Bradley of Armitage Fold. Vickerman had similarly named Wood & Bradley as 'leading' men.

However, the writer was concerned to put boundaries around the extent of their future involvement in providing information: they plainly stated that they did not want to become a witness for the prosecution, and since the information had been obtained 'second hand' they could not stand as such anyway. The writer's stated motivation for providing information perhaps indicated that they were a person familiar with Luddism, even if at one remove - they described 'the late atrocious attempt on Joseph Mellor at Dungeon Bottom' as a key factor, even though they had just named him as a Luddite involved in direct action.

The writer ended their letter with a tentative postscript: "if circumstances require you may perhaps hear from me again".

11th November 1812: Whitehaven magistrates report huge foods riots in the Town

Whitehaven 11 of Novr 1812

My Lord,

We are extremely sorry to have occasion so soon to trouble your Lordship respecting the Mutinous disposition of the lower order of the People of this Place… Yesterday, early in the Morning, several Hundreds assembled in the Market Place, and proceeded to one of the Quays, where Potatoes were Shipping, and pushed some Carts into the Harbour, also took possession of Carts laden with Flour going for the use of the Inhabitants of the new Town,

With great difficulty we got the Flour restored to the Owner; The Mob also sallied forth in different directions in the neighbourhood, and did considerable mischief to those who had Shipped Potatoes, particularly to several of your Lordship’s Farmers by demolishing Windows, throwing large Stones &c, one of the Servants received a dangerous Wound in his Head; Milligan the Farmer at the Black Cock, as stated the particulars to Mr Bowness, who we understand will inform your Lordship the Particulars, and to whose Letter, we beg leave to refer your Lordship.—

We prevailed on the Farmers to bring in large Quantities of Potatoes for the use of the Inhabitants this Morning, and we hoped the Town, wou’d have been perfectly quiet, but towards noon, the Mob assembled at the Bulwark, and broke into the Vessel that the Potatoes had been Shipped on board, taking a great Quantity away without paying for them, and we are apprehensive will deter the Farmers from bringing the usual supply to the Market day Tomorrow.—We therefore entreat your Lordships attention, to obtain us an immediate Aid, as without a Military Force it will be impossible to prevent the most alarming consequences to the Town and neighbourhood, and in the mean time a Stop is put to all Exportation to the great prejudice of the whole Country—

We take leave also to call your Lordships attention to the Anonymous Letter enclosed for the Secty of State, and to mention we have obtained two Letters of apparently a corresponding hand writing, by which, we hope to be able to trace the writer and will trouble your Lordship to return the original one to us, if it is of no farther service, the result of which information, we shall take the earliest opportunity of transmitting your Lordship — We are

My Lord
your Lordships
Most Obdt. Servts

[Illegible] Kimbley
Miles Ponsonby
Jas. Steel
Robt Wilkinson

[To] Earl Lonsdale
K.G.& H.

8th November 1812: Whitehaven Magistrates ask for troops, fearing unrest in the Town

Whitehaven. Novr 8th 1812.

My Lord,

Mr. Pouley a respectable Corn dealer in this Town to whom the enclosed Letter was sent, hath consulted us what would be the best method to adopt for the discovery of the Author.

We were unanimously of opinion, that it would be most prudent to take no notice of it, trusting that the threats contained in it, are made solely with a view of deterring him and others from shipping grain, flour, and potatoes from this Port.

At the same time, we think it would be highly proper and adviseable to have twenty or thirty horse quartered here during the Winter. For the lower orders of the people have already shown a disposition to promote and encourage tumult and riot in consequence of grain and potatoes being shipped.

Should this meet with your Lordship’s approbation, we hope that you will have the goodness to make application to the Secretary of State for whatever number of Cavalry, (or Infantry,) your Lordship may think necessary.

We are [etc]

Tho Hartley
Sheriff

M Kimbley
M. Ponsonby
Jas. Steel
Robt Wilkinson
Richd Armistead —

To
the Earl of Lonsdale
&c &c &c

3rd November 1812: General Maitland gives Earl Fitzwilliam his view of the cases for the York Assizes

Wakefield
3rd November
1812

Dear Lord Fitzwilliam

I have returned from Scotland where I was forced to go about some Election business the day before yesterday, and have since been principally occupied in making myself master of the Cases that had occurred during my Absence.—

There can I think be no doubt that there is full Food for a Special Commission and that the sooner it takes place the better.

The number of Persons now committed including the Barnsley People are about 48, but I much fear there are many of these Cases it will be impossible to bring home to a Jury.

There are some however I think most fortunately of a very different nature and of these stands pre eminent the Murderers of Horsfall.

The Case against them is as strong and as well supported as any one I ever had occasion to see or read of, and if we merely succeed in bringing them to Punishment of which I have no doubt we have done the greatest good I hold that can be done to this part of the Country.

In respect to the Case of Schofield, it by no means strikes me to be so fully made out, though it is still the Case that I think ought to go to trial.

There are too, three of the Cases of the Horbury Gang where there is very strong Evidence and such if I am rightly informed as will lead to conviction, and latterly there are 16 Men taken up for Shear breaking &c against at least Six of whom where there is unquestionable Evidence.—

Against the rest generally speaking I own the Evidence appears to me, to be extremely doubtful, though in some Cases it may probably be brought home.

Through then I must perfectly agree, with Your Lordship in the propriety of bringing to early trial the Prisoners now in York Castle, it appears to me to be most important that the gravest consideration should be given by Government to the Point of what Case it will bring forward and what it will allow to drop.

We have I hold quite enough of certain Cases to answer every purpose of Public Justice. We have the Case of Horsfall, in point of Murder, We have the Case of the Horbury Gang in point of Plunder and House breaking. We have the 16 Men lately taken up, in point of Shear breaking and destroying Machinery, and lastly, we have the Barnsley Men and one or two others in point of Illegal Oaths.

With these nearly certain I cannot help thinking it would be highly impudent to press to ultimate trial many other Cases of which we ourselves are doubtful, and what I think of doing upon the whole of the Subject is to recommend to Government in the strongest manner to send down forthwith to Huddersfield, some Government Solicitor in whom they have confidence, to revise and examine minutely into the real nature of each Case and into the Character and discription of the Evidence, and having so done to decide what Cases shall be pushed and what shall be allowed to drop—

Independent of any general reasoning upon the Subject, my Opinion is very much formed from a perfect knowledge of the Parties who have been principally employed in bringing forward those Cases, and though I certainly do not mean to mention them with disrespect, still I much fear their over Zeal unless it be corrected by the calm and considerate Judgement of some disinterested Person may lead to numerous Acquittals which I think Your Lordship will agree with me is a thing extremely to be avoided.

On talking this Subject over I find it would not be possible for any one to go through all this in less than a fortnight, and I understand it will take nearly the same Period to prepare the Cases to be brought forward to ultimate trial and under this impression I apprehend the earliest possible time the Court could meet, would be in the beginning of December, to which time if I am not misinformed, the present Commission is adjourned.

Whether they ought to be tried under the old Commission or under a Special one, is a Subject upon which I can form no Opinion, and I have only to add though no Man is more thoroughly convinced than I am of the propriety and necessity of bringing the Prisoners to speedy Justice, still I would be sorry indeed to see that Measure carried into effect, till all the Cases were maturely weighed and considered in all their Points and Bearings.

From all the Accounts I have the State of the Country is daily improving, but upon this Subject I shall write more fully to Your Lordship in a day or two, and am

Dear Lord Fitzwilliam
Your’s most truly
T Maitland

[To] Earl Fitzwilliam
&c &c &c