“… burn down your Premises both at Mosney and at Manchester …”
The following was printed in The London Gazette Publication on 7th February 1786. It relates to various threatening letters that have been sent to factory owners in Lancashire. One of the factories was in Walton le Dale, which was known as the Mosney Works.
The government is offering a royal pardon to anyone involved — if they inform on their accomplices. This is with the exception of the actual author(s) of the letters, who are not pardoned.
SYDNEY is the signature of the government official issuing the proclamation. In this case, “SYDNEY” refers to Lord Sydney. This was Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney. He was the Home Secretary at the time.
Livesey, Hargreave and Co., William Paul & Charles Taylor are offering a reward of ONE HUNDRED GUINEAS for information that might lead to the identification of the letter writer(s). In modern day terms, informants could receive something like tens of thousands of pounds.
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Whitehall, January 26, 1786.
WHEREAS it has been humbly represented to the King, That an anonymous threatening Letter was received by Mr. John Hargreave, of Manchester, Callico-Printer, Copartner with John Livesey, Peter Ainstie, Joseph Smith, and William Hall, on the 2d Instant, from the Manchester Post-Office, of which the following is a Copy.
“Mrs. Levasy Hargravs and Co. Mind this is to give you timely Notice that if you don’t give over working your Macheens for Printing by which means the Trade for the Gurneymen will be ruined ther is 12 of us that have sworn to burn down your Premises both at Mosney and at Manchester So help us God and there is another in Market Street Lane shall come down by God, fo no more from Pore-injured Workmen.”
Directed
For Mr. Livsey
Hargraves and Co. Printers
Manchester.
As also, that on the 10th Instant, an anonymous threatening Letter was received by Mr. William Paul, of Manchester, Paper Printer, of which the following is a Copy.
“Mr. Paul
We understand that your Mashens are redy for Printing and are not Ignorant of your Intentions of ruining the Trade therfor if you dont desist for by God if you do work them as has been reported we will destroye both them and you and that damd Old Roge that works for you ther is more Printers in this Cuntry shal Suffer besids you for it is better for a few Indevals to dye then some hunderds to Starve thir is a good many of us Sworn to do the Bisnis for you and i think our Combinashon will prevent any more Mashans from making or any more Prentises coming to the bisnes and we will have our Prises to take Notice we not give ourselves the trubel to rite any more to you so no more at Presant from the Ingerd Gurnimen … Remember we ar Sworn”
As also, that on the 11th Instant, an anonymous threatening Letter was received by Mr. Charles Taylor, of Manchester, Callico-Printer, from the Manchester Post-Office, of which the following is a Copy.
“Mr. Taylor If you dont discharge James Hobson from the House of Correction we will burn your House about your Ears for we have sworn to stand by one another and you must immediately give over any more Mashen Work for we are determined there shall be no more of them made use of in the Trade and it will be madness for you to contend with the Trade as we are combined by Oath to fix Prices we can afford to pay him a Guinea Week and not hurt the fund if you was to keep him there till Dumsday therefore mind you comply with the above or by God we will keep our Words with you we will make some rare Bunfires in this Countey and at your Peril to call any more Meetings mind that we will make the Mosney Pepel shake in their Shoes we are determined to destroy all Sorts of Masheens for Printing in the Kingdom for there is more hands then is work for fo no more from the ingerd Gurnemen Rember we are a great number sworn nor you must not advertise the Men that you say run away from you when your il Usage was the Cause of their going we will punish you for that our Meetings are legal for we want nothing but what is honest and to work for selvs and familers and you want to starve us but it is better for you and a few more which we have marked to die then “such a Number of Pore Men and there famerles to be, starved.”
Directed
For Mr. Charls Taylor, Printer in Broun Streett Manchester.
His Majesty, for the better discovering and bringing to Justice the Persons concerned in writing and sending the said threatening Letters, or either of them, is hereby graciously pleased to promise His most Gracious Par don to any one of them, who shall discover his Accomplice or Accomplices therein, except the Person or Persons who actually wrote the said Letters, or either of them) fo that he, she or they may be apprehended and convicted thereof.
SYDNEY.
And, as a further Encouragement, the said Livesey, Hargreave and Company, William Paul, and Charles Taylor, do hereby offer a Reward of ONE HUNDRED GUINEAS, to be paid by them to the Person making such Discovery as aforesaid, on the Conviction of any one or more of the Offenders.
Livesey, Hargreave and Co.
William Paul.
Charles Taylor.
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The London Gazette
Publication date: 7 February 1786
Supplement: 12724
Page: 58
https://beta.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/12724/page/58
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National Library of Scotland
Side by Side Georeferenced Maps
Ordnance Survey Six-inch 1st edition 1840s
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The original article, as printed in The London Gazette Publication of February 1786, about threatening letters sent to the owners of Mosney Works in Walton le Dale.
The London Gazette
Publication date: 7 February 1786
Supplement: 12724
Page: 58