HO 42/192 f. 206-7 Haigh Allen, Manchester, 16 Aug 1819
Significant as the earliest known communication sent from St Peters Field to London on the day of the disturbances.
Transcribed & researched by Harry Westhead. References & notes added by Chris Westhead.
___________________________________________________________________
My Lord,
The enclosed information is this moment arrived by the Manchester Defiance Coach[1] at my office - it considering of some importance - I lose no time and in forwarding it to your Lordship. And am your Lordships most humble servant,
W. Waterhouse[2]
Lad Lane [3]
August 17th
1/2 past 7 PM[4]
___________________________________________
In his absence to be opened by his Principal Secretary
The Right Honourable Lord Viscount Sidmouth,
Richmond Park
H. Hobhouse[5]
___________________________________________
Manchester August 16 / 1819
Gents,[6]
The meeting took place at 1 o’clock Hunt in the chair with 16 flags and 7 caps of liberty hoisted up amongst upwards of 60,000 people the cavalry has just broke in upon them the flags are taken Hunt and his party secured. Several lives are lost and a number wounded. The cavalry are now scouring the streets in all directions.
½ past 2 o’clock.
Yours H Allen[7]
___________________________________________
[1] Coach named the Manchester Defiance, owned by William Chaplin as part of the stage/mail coaching network based in London. D Mountfield. Stage & Mail Coaches, (2003), p.26.
[2] William Waterhouse, ‘A big London Coachmaster… operating from the Swan with Two Necks, a famous coaching inn in Lad Lane’. P Johnson. The Birth of the Modern, World Society, 1815-30. (1991), p.171.
[3] Forwarded to Sidmouth from London stage/mail coach depot, not to be confused with Lad Lane adjacent to St Peters Field Mcr.
[4] Dated & timed one full day after disturbances at St Peters Field.
[5] Henry Hobhouse, officially Lord Sidmouth’s Permanent Under Secretary of Home Dept, 1812-22.
[6] Informal addressing suggests existing familiarity between business colleagues or friends.
[7] Identified as Haigh Allen, one of three magistrates from Huddersfield (operating within a network of northern magistrates & gentry) liaising with Sidmouth & Home Dept, reporting local meetings, gatherings & protests during Summer & Autumn of 1819. Hansard, Papers Relative to the Internal State of the Country, 24 November 1819, vol 41, cc228-301, (see in particular entries 47-48)
Significant as the earliest known communication sent from St Peters Field to London on the day of the disturbances.
Transcribed & researched by Harry Westhead. References & notes added by Chris Westhead.
___________________________________________________________________
My Lord,
The enclosed information is this moment arrived by the Manchester Defiance Coach[1] at my office - it considering of some importance - I lose no time and in forwarding it to your Lordship. And am your Lordships most humble servant,
W. Waterhouse[2]
Lad Lane [3]
August 17th
1/2 past 7 PM[4]
___________________________________________
In his absence to be opened by his Principal Secretary
The Right Honourable Lord Viscount Sidmouth,
Richmond Park
H. Hobhouse[5]
___________________________________________
Manchester August 16 / 1819
Gents,[6]
The meeting took place at 1 o’clock Hunt in the chair with 16 flags and 7 caps of liberty hoisted up amongst upwards of 60,000 people the cavalry has just broke in upon them the flags are taken Hunt and his party secured. Several lives are lost and a number wounded. The cavalry are now scouring the streets in all directions.
½ past 2 o’clock.
Yours H Allen[7]
___________________________________________
[1] Coach named the Manchester Defiance, owned by William Chaplin as part of the stage/mail coaching network based in London. D Mountfield. Stage & Mail Coaches, (2003), p.26.
[2] William Waterhouse, ‘A big London Coachmaster… operating from the Swan with Two Necks, a famous coaching inn in Lad Lane’. P Johnson. The Birth of the Modern, World Society, 1815-30. (1991), p.171.
[3] Forwarded to Sidmouth from London stage/mail coach depot, not to be confused with Lad Lane adjacent to St Peters Field Mcr.
[4] Dated & timed one full day after disturbances at St Peters Field.
[5] Henry Hobhouse, officially Lord Sidmouth’s Permanent Under Secretary of Home Dept, 1812-22.
[6] Informal addressing suggests existing familiarity between business colleagues or friends.
[7] Identified as Haigh Allen, one of three magistrates from Huddersfield (operating within a network of northern magistrates & gentry) liaising with Sidmouth & Home Dept, reporting local meetings, gatherings & protests during Summer & Autumn of 1819. Hansard, Papers Relative to the Internal State of the Country, 24 November 1819, vol 41, cc228-301, (see in particular entries 47-48)