12th May 1817: Letter from Wakefield

Wakefield Monday 12 May 1817

Honoured Sir/

I beg leave to inform that I attended the Central meeting of delegates of information as they call themselves at mill Bridge 9 miles from this place and the accounts dilivered from one to the other was they Were in active preparation every where and that a Similar meeting took place near Sheffield there was present about a dozen.

among them were a publican of the name of Ramsden Allenthorp a short distance from here who came for the purpose of intelligence for his neighbours and who were very anxtious to take an active part. he said he was desired to attend by Mr Scholes—who I before Observed is a Second Evans and an Old pupil of Eastbourne—Several of them did not hesitate to say they had prepared some Balls and should now be very active—Smally who I Observed in my last is the most active agent he said he had Several pounds weight ready cast and they were getting powder wherever they can in Small quantities as they can I consider him a very dangerous man among them—I thought the taking of M. would have some impression on their minds but I do not see the least alteration—if it was Possible to get M. to disclose any thing I think he can do it to a very great Extent as to who supplyed him with money—tho he appeared to have but little about him at a time he was always prepared with Plenty when I seemd to be Short he readily advance me some on the road—thro the distress of his family I Should be inclined to think he for their sake would disclose all he Knew—Smalley Brought me some names that he was introduced to yesterday after I left him and wished me very much to go over to them at Bradford—but shall now wait your further Instructions

and remain Honoured Sir
your faithfull
and Obedient Humble Servt

WJ Richards

[To] J. Beckett Esqr

9th May 1817: Letter from Wakefield

Wakefield Fryday 9 May 1817

Honoured Sir/

in addition to what I have already informd you of I was in great hopes I Should be able to Observe some alteration in the Conduct of the People by the Loss of M. but I find none any where except at Leeds where they depend and very much upon his assistance and as they were given to understand from him. I could not be with them being previously Engaged Elsewhere—they have now pressed me very much to recommend them Some Cleaver fellow that has a good deal to say for himself and take an active part with them in takeing the Lead I have partly promised them I should write up to make the nessesery enquiries and which they Seemed very Pressing I should do. I must therefore Honoured Sir/ Submit the propriety of it to you wether it would not be adviseable to select some active person in your Confidence to take that upon himself for the purpose of assertaining the Extent they possibly have in their view to go. I have hinted it to Mr. Latchford—also to Mr. Beckett at Leeds and also Mr. Haigh the magistrate at Huddersfield who thinks it would be very politic so to do and from their quiet behaviour of Late and the hints I have gave them of their proceedings they find it highly necessary to watched Closely in all their movements as the party meets in so Small Bodys of late and so very private the majestrates finds a dificulty in Observing them

the man whose name is John Booth—Silk weaver of Stonielenghbrough near middleton who accompanied M. when he was taken is a poor Simple Kind of a man—to whom M. had disclosed the whole of the intended meeting and Came for the purpose of takeing back the result to his neighbrood—I think would be a very proper subject for Examination and I think would not under such Circumstances hesitate to disclose the whole of the proceedings and the directions given to him to take back to be made generaly Known and by whom given—which might remove any suspicion from me—Should you think proper to have him taken up.—the most active man in this and adjoining neighbrood is one Smalley Shoemaker at Aubry [i.e. Horbury]—who is very much looked up to by the midling class and they depend much upon him for their guidance and information and is a proper Subject to be particularly noticed by you—the meeting that is to take place in some remote part 8 or 10 miles from this on Sunday where I intend being I think will aford me much greater information than ever

I have this morning been introduced to several in the neighbrood of Sheffield and have had Several names and introductions to the principals in nottingham and its neighbrood where it is considered the greatest dependence lies of their Success it will depend upon your directions wether I Should proceed there or not and what future course I shall pursue—I can only assure you that I have spared no trouble hitherto or incurred unessesery Expence and trust I Shall be able to give you and my Lord S. ample satisfaction I take dayly minutes of Every thing that passes without any Comments from the time I left London with Every ones observations as far as I can collect by memory from one opportunity to the other—Mr Latchford will be able to inform you of Some

much Credit is due to Both Mr L. and Bishop from their very reserved and prudent conduct on their Arrival at this place particularly from the distance they Observe me to the last moment my remarks in my last relative to the Soldiers and Stores I hope as well as the majestrates will be noticed by you as Soon and as private as possible the disafection I think is far beyond your conception or any one not Immediately connected with them and great mischief is likely to Occur if not frustrated in time and Effectually I consider it providentially in the introduction I had to M. he is a very disappontd man and I believe been the dupe of many thro his disappointments I find he has been for this two years past dependent upon the reformers and have been their active agent thro the country for them

Mr L. informed me that Molineaux of manchester is wanted. I found no difficulty in being introduced to him at manchester but M cautioned me so much against him that I avoided him Should you think Proper I will go down and getting taken immediately with Bishop or any one you may please to send the Conduct of the officers at manchester is very much Complained of by well disposed men who I have fallen in with as to their violence and indiscretion tho admitted to be Extremely active otherwise—I write this to late for the Post so I Send it in a packet to Mrs. C. which I trust will not be much later—I Expect by this She becomes rather uneasy about me—I shall dayly Expect your further directions and remain

Honoured Sir/ your faithfull
and mosst Humble Servt

WJ Richards

[To: J. Beckett Esqr]