Saturday 1 April 2017

1st April 1817: Jeffrey Lockett informs the Home Secretary of the result of the Luddite trials

My Lord

Tho’ my feelings are greatly agitated by the awful scene which I have just witnessed, I have the satisfaction which is inseparable from the successful discharge of the most important public duty, in submitting to your Lordship, the result of the trials of the Luddite prisoners,—Eight have been capitally convicted, & received sentence of death;—one (John Clarke) has been convicted under the framebreaking act and is sentenced to transportation for life;—and the tenth, being seized with convulsive fits during the trial, and reported by a physician & surgeon incapable of attending to his defence, is remanded to prison.

I have only to express my sincere hope and & confident expectation that these proceedings, followed up by measures which your Lordship may think proper to adopt, will completely extinguish the Luddite conspiracy, a restore tranquillity & security to the Midland Counties.

I have [etc]

Wm Jeffery Lockett
Leicester Apl 1st, 1817. At Night.

This letter can be found at HO 42/163.

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