28th April 1817: Letter from Wakefield

Wakefield Monday 28 April 1817

Honoured Sir

I Beg to lay before you further particulars of my [persuit] which I conceive providence Ordained so far

I left Birmingham on fryday night for derby where Mitchels mission calld him next there we found the advocate of the Patriots as they are calld a Mr. Shaw. at the Talbott Inn who says they are all ready only waiting the Signall we then went forward By the mail to Chesterfield in going thro the town the mail coach was [illegible] but thank god no limbs broke I was much hurt in the Back my hatt knocked to atoms we then proceeded to Sheffield when I was introduced to some of the Committee there who was in the Same tone as the former already but still continuing with every preparation we then went forward to this place on Saturday Eve to late to see any one Yesterday Sunday morng we proceeded to meet the delegates Seven miles off on the Halifax road when we found something required them to shift to Huddersfield where we got just as they Broke up here I found they had organized themselves into Committees in different districts of men they suposed was not in the least suspected or likely to be so from which Each Sends a delegate to meet in some Central point to prevent written communications they meet once or twice a fortnight as they may adjourn and a General meeting is now fixd upon for next monday 5 May near this place but the exact spot is not fixd many hours before hand a few of them are now here deliberating and much confidence is placed in me by them suposing I am appointed from London in the same pursuit they seem to flatter themselves with very great hopes of Success and confidence in their leaders by next monday I shall be in possession of the Greatest importance the particulars of all I shall hasten with to London and hope to be able to be the means of Breaking all the main links that Exist at present their plan seems very formidable Mitchel Seems to be a traveling agent from whom I shall be able to obtain every thing requisite and tho. I Consider him to be the deepest in the plot none can render the State more Essential Service than him under the present circumstances he as well as the rest Conceives I am sent by the London patriots and support in the Expences by them and at present I think it prudent not to undeceive them for much is yet to be learned from him

I must give a Brief account of his next rout first to leeds Manchester and its Environs thro several parts of lancashire and Cheshire which I shall follow up as close as my means will allow me which at present are most Exhausted Shall be in liverpool on fryday and then take a Circuous rout Back to this place by monday next

I hope you will be kind Enough to give me suport and Providence I hope directs my way to preserve the State from the desperate An order sent to liverpool by the return of post to the post office will find me or to the Stafford Arms at this place Every nerve of mine has been at work since I left London and I conceive Obtained matters of the greatest Importance. I have not heard of pendrill Since I left Birmingham at the Ssame time wish much for your further instructions and belive me no trust shall be misplaced by Honrd Sir/

Your faithfull Servt
WJ Richards

for your Information I give you a few names of the Committees introduced to—

Jos Jones}
Wilkes—}
Edmunds}
Jenks—}
Whitworth.} Birmingham

Shaw—}
forbes—} derby

Rogers—}
Warburton}
Manners—} Sheffield

Scholes—}
Smalley—}
Walker—}
Dickenson—}
Williams—}
Lawson—} wakefield & neighbrood

being but little alone you ill Excuse writing in haste and I am confident my time is not thrown away at present

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This letter can be found at HO 40/10. The underlining of passages may have been carried out by someone other than Oliver.