16th June 1817: The deposition of John Dickinson about his meetings with Oliver

John Dickenson—Linnen draper Dewsbury

abt 11 or 12 weeks ago, invited Walker the painter to dinner, found at his Lodgings House two Strangers. Mitchel & Oliver— —after dinner Walker intimated that those two friends of his had express’d a desire to have conversation with you—W & I went to meet them, we four then went 2 miles out of town, & went into a publick House at Mirfield—the 2 Strangers stated themselves Advocates for Parlty Reform, but Oliver signified that as the [House of Commons] were not inclined to listen to [Petitions] on that subject, O said Force must be used—that He had intimations from his friends in London to come into this country to sound the minds of the people on this subject, & that He [should] appoint meetings to [make] the plan & then communicate to his friends in London—He signified that the physical Force was in the hands of the people, & that his friends in [London] were confident of success, if things were properly organized according to his wish; on that account he shd visit the different manufacturing towns, & he shd appoint meetings to determine how act—Conversation on that subject then concluded—never saw Mitchel nor Oliver before—Oliver never proposed to him to join in these proceedings—O calculated on the number of Men that cd be raised—that Leeds & neighbourhood cd furnish 10000, Wakefield 20000—did not know what Nottingham wd yield, but his best men were there—Birmingham 60000 or 70000—Lancashire sufficient to carry the business into effect, if properly matured—He turn’d the conversation to one on Watson Hooper & Preston, with whom he seem’d particularly acquainted—that he was very near to them when taken, & had himself a fortunate escape, + that the police was in pursuit of him—that he was here on the sculk + that he was considered by Government as an old Offender, + had known Despard + all the circumstances that related to his business—had heard of him thro’ medium of Mr Willan, but had never seen from this time till Friday 6 june, when he saw at Strafford Arms—Near Oliphants shop saw him, but he appear’d to avoid me & hurried upstairs, but I shouted out, I want to speak to you. he came back very reluctantly, when he feigned not to know me—Mr O. says I, what are you doing here—I think said he. yr name is Dickenson—I sd some men are taken into custody—he sd, strange things have turn’d up since I last saw you, he sd he had been taken prisoner himself that day at Thornhill Edge—How did you make your escape, as I understand your Colleagues are in custody & likely to be sent to London—They cd find nothingnupon me & as a Stranger they set me at liverty—He then said I must clear this ground I am not safe here—the Coach is ready for Leeds, my luggage is there, I will go thither & get out of the Country this evening—the Waiters or somebody else call’d out Mr Olivers name & sd the Cpach cd wait no longer—he got call’d into the coach immediately—I sd I shall take my horse to go home immediately, but I determined to watch his motions, & I repair’d to the corner of Oliphants shop in sight of the Coach, & saw him get in—He had not been in a moment before he beckon’d to a Servant, & asked him if he knew Mr O—he sd you mean the Gentleman I have been speaking to in the Coach—I sd Yes—the Servant sd he had driven him in a Tandem from his Master’s house at Campsall to Red house to tack coach. I ask’d him his master’s name—he sd Sr J. Byng—

[signed] Jno Dickinson

Sworn before me the
16th of June 1817

J P Heywood

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This letter can be found at HO 42/166.