Letter – Martin Morrison to Diana Beaumont – 2 Oct 1818

      Newcastle 2d October 1818

Mrs Beaumont Bretton



Madam 

Since I had the honour of last addressing a Letter to you I have been in Weardale whither I went at the solicitation of Geo. Crawhall who became alarmed, by the menacing & tumultuous proceedings, of the largest assemblage of Miners ever before seen there. - When I arrived, it was intimated to the Miners, that I was at Newhouse and ready to hear any representation they had to make; after some hesitation whether they would come or not, first saying I might come to them if I had a proposition to make, this however when they understood I was about to leave the place, they gave up, and six of the Men waited upon me. They said, all they had to state was to require 10/- pBing advance & 40/- pMonth Subsistence Mo[ney]:, & that if it was not given them, the Men would not go to Work, having entered into a written engagement, one and all, to abide by that determination. I told them at once that 40/- pMonth would never be acceded to; but that with the intention of not affording them the smallest pretext for complaint and to preserve the peace of the District, I would give now, the advance of 5/- pBing which I meditated to give at the commencement of the new Year, provided they returned peaceably to their Work. This proposition being communicated to the body to the Miners, who insisted upon having their own terms, I prepared to come away, first informing the deputation, they must be aware that they were acting [sruck out: unlawfully] illegally & cognizable to the Laws of their Country & that as what I had now proposed was solely for their good and upon my own responsibility It was only left to me openly to announce, that as many were desirous and did actually return to their Work every protection would be given to them, that the civil power would afford. – I then prepared a Letter a Copy of which is enclosed, for Mr Crawhall’s signature to the Revd W Wilson – a Magistrate – in the court of the Men not returning to Work. – To attempt more will answer no good purpose, to recall the Men to their duty, and after the answer which a deputation received from Mr Beaumont of his determination not to interfere while the Men discontinue their Work, I am not without hopes that they will soon be sensibly Of their error and return to Work it -- enclose Cash Account & Lead Sales for last month & am etc MM





The Revd Wm Wilson		Newhouse	Septr 30th 1818

	Wolsingham			Weardale



	Sir I beg to inform you that the Men still continue off work notwithstanding every exertion on the part of the Agents has been tried to recall them to their duty and to give a peaceable direction to their Minds which I regret to say appears to be instigated to passion and I fear to violence by wicked councel. - Liberal offers of an increase of Wages in order to leave no possible ground open for complaint, and to preserve the peace of the Country, have been made to the Men and certainly far beyond what the general poverty of the Mines justify; but their demands are so exorbitant and dictated with so improper a spirit that if yielded to, an end to all subordination <would> be the consequence. – Where the Mines have been commonly productive the Men have <earned> reasonable & good Wages; but the misfortune is that the population of the district is too extensive for the Mines, altho there never was a period when more new and expensive Trials were made in Weardale, than at this time, to discover Mines and to afford employment to its numerous Inhabitants. – I am inclined to think that the majority of the Men are well disposed and anxious to continue their Work; but are prevented and intimidated by threats of violence of the Turbulent and Illdisposed.- I think it my duty to give you, as a Magistrate, this information & am respectfully

      Sir Yr most hble S[ervan]t Geo. Crawhall



A copy of the above Letter was sent at the same time addressed to – Faber Esqr

Bp Auckland