| Description | Dear Sir
I am glad to learn from Mrs Watt that it is intended to offer 500£ to bring to justice Guy Vaux: as I verily believe it will bring truth to light
I most ardently wish the proprietors would petition Parliamt. to institute an enquiry into the Conduct of the Albion Mill from the time it was erected to the day of ye Catastrophy And likewise an enquiry into all the Circumstances relative to the Burning of it, The Villens were persons of thought & reflection for they
chose the hour of Low water
they fastend the Cock of the Water Cistern
the Fire began at more Places than one
these appear from yr. letter to Mrs. Watt It is not sufficient to publish paragraphs of the benifits of ye AMl to ye great City in Newspapers If it was taken up by a Committee of the House of Commons the enquiry wd. be conducted by some Candid disinterested Men & would take a serious turn & weigh more with ye impartial publick
Last nigh a Commotion arose amongst all B&W Engine Smith & other workmen but as I found they were drunk before Mr Foreman informd me & as its in Vain to reason with druken men I waved faceing them till this morng. They all Struck viz grounded their arms at 5 oClock yesterday & all appeard Riotous this morng. At ten oClock I met a deputation from them in Mr Foremans Room from whom I learnt that they had enter'd into 3 Resolutions which I put down & then sd. I hoped they would allow me to enter into 3 Resolutions which I also put down & read to them & they agreed they were fair & just I then met the Main body below & went over the same ground I had done with their deputation & after reading their resolution read my own & promised them upon my word & honor that I would never depart from them be the Consequences what they may. They swallowd all their own Resolutions & said they wd. se to work if they would be allowd to drink their Ale Comfortable in an afternoon. I agreed to allow the hard working Smiths ½ an Hour & as they expressd a wish for peace I forgave them all except Jo Turner whom I assured I had makred & if you had been at home I wd. have turnd off for I am perswaded I could get his work done for nearly half his price He was the Ring Leader in this Rebellion & in former o[nes]
At a general meeting of the Engines Smiths
Resolved 1st That if any Man set to work in B & W shops he shall be dischargd & untill he is no man shall set to work
Resoln 2d If B & W: turn any one away in consequence of this Commotion all the rest are resolvd to Strike
Resln 3 We insist upon haveing one Hour allowd in the afternoon for Refreshment otherwise to leave work at 6 oClock
M: B: Resolves on the part of B: & W & pledges his Work & honour for abideing thereby
Resolvd. 1st That I will not consent to alter the Old accustomed Hours of all Birmgm. Manufacturers (except so far as to allow (such of the Engine Smiths as work hard) half an hour to refresh in the afternoon & no more
Resd 2 That we will employ whom we think proper & will not be dictated to in those respects by any of our Workmen
Res 3d As to those who work piece work may work only half Days if they please But, if they neglect our business we must get others in their Place and as to those who work day work, We have a right to our time & Customary hours & will on Saturday nights, stop for all deficient hours
& these Reslns. I read twice over to them. Adieu
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