4th May 1817: Letter from Wakefield

Wakefield Sunday Evg May 4th—/17

Honoured Sir/

when I wrote to you last from Liverpool on the receipts of Both your letters I had Scarcely any time Prior to the post going out in consiquence of which I hope you will have the Kindness to Excuse all imperfections

M. has been very active every where Since he left London and so much so that I can scarcely get a moment to myself but when I retire to Bed his Circuit have been so very Extensive tho I adopt the most rigid Economy traveling Expincs are so very high and we have walked across the country many miles

at the meeting of last Sunday in the neighbourhood of Huddersfield I was introduced to many of the poor deluded people and among the rest one who calls himself a portrait painter a native of Hull who seems to have taken a very active part in inflameing the lines of the weak we mett him again on Tuesday last at Leeds at a large private meeting—on his way down to Hull his native place from where he was to Collect the State of the peoples mind of that place and send up a report Prior to the meeting that takes place tomorrow—as it seemed doubtfull case who he Should address too I thought it might be as well to address it to me whereby I Should be in possession of it myself—

it having just come to hand and do not consider it prudent to Expose it to any of them here I beg leave to inclose it for your perusal that you may be able to judge what steps might be prudent to watch his conduct at Hull this present time when mens minds seem so much inflamed by the political Pamphlets that is so industerously Circulated throghout the country and Strengthen much by the orratory of such men as those. I Should Observe the letter was to be destroyed as soon as the contents were made Known but as none of the party Knows of the receipt of it they will not now Know it

the interlineation in pencil is the Explanation of the meaning and the method they all adopting in corresponding with each other you will find it corresponds with pendrill letter to M. which was to introduce me first to him

M. residence with his family being a wife and Six Small Children in No. 3 Richmond row liverpool She principally maintains the Children by her own industry straw Bonnett making—P. was very much inclined to join M in his Persuits had I not prevaild on him to resist and seeing the account in the papers of thistlewood apprehention as well as the great neglect he mett with from his old assosiates in London of late he now considers them the mosst Contemptible of man Kind from his account he has been Severely persecuted by them he Entered very seriously into an Explanation and acknowledgement of all his past. conduct. which he now admits he was urged on to it by the adullation and flattery of men who he says was to cowerdly to be Seen to act themselves

I was sorry to hear such men names mentioned that have been guilty of Encouraging Such proceedings—the principles that I was introduced to at Manchester was whitworth young Knight—givens—grindrod—cannavan and two from Stockport whos names I did not learn we have not rested a day in a place Since we left London

if you and my Lord Sidmouth Should wish me to get M Secured after the meeting with any other principal after the Meeting and the result Known—with due Submission to you it would be well to Observe what Effect that might have on the minds of the others they are at present in a desperate state of mind and ready for any mischief they might be Encouraged to do.

the Manchester and Liverpool people Seems very much fireghtened at present even to be Seen in each others company Still they would not mind Encouraging others on to mischief—

I came thro leeds this morning to soon to See Mr. Beckett but I am to See him on Tuesday morng

I remain Honoured Sir/ with respect
Your faithfull Servant

WJ Richards

I See a very great necessity for Changeing the possition of the Army Immediately in this district they are to familiar with the people Birmingham in particular—

[To: J Beckett Esqr]

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