Folio(s) 163-176. Letter [folios 170-172] from Lord Rolle [Commanding Officer of...

Folio(s) 163-176. Letter [folios 170-172] from Lord Rolle [Commanding Officer of the South Devon Militia] at Bicton [Devon] reporting 'disagreeable commotions' in the neighbourhood with Volunteers involved in attempting to regulate the corn trade. A hundred men had assembled in Branscombe in a riotous manner and insisted on Stuckey, an elderly magistrate, ordering the farmers to sell at a reduced price. Some persons were dragged by force from their work to join the rioters. Rolle assures the Home Secretary that he will endeavour to bring the offenders to justice. He also reports the receipt by the vicar of Branscombe of an anonymous threatening 'caution' thrown into his garden and encloses a copy of the vicar's letter and the anonymous paper. Rolle was now setting off, at the request of fellow-magistrate Mr Marker, to investigate some handbills and the threats of the Exmouth Vounteers.

Note [folio 173] stating that the item referred to in Rolle's letter as Enclosure No 1, the paper prepared by the rioters for Stuckey's signature, had been taken away in error by Stuckey's clerk but would be forwarded when returned.

Copy of letter [folio 174] of 21 December to Rolle [the item referred to in Rolle's letter as Enclosure No 2] from the Reverend Thomas Puddicombe, vicar of Branscombe, enclosing a copy [folios 175-176] of a seditious paper [Enclosure No 3] which had been dropped at his house. It was an open letter written from Branscombe, dated 10 December 1800, headed 'A Caution to Gentleman and the Roags of Farmers', complaining of high prices and threatening the use of foul means if they cannot achieve their goal by fair. Puddicombe had read this in church and encouraged the authors to desist from any act of violence. The complainants had since sent round to the farmers asking for corn to be sold at a reasonable price, and had then approached Mr Stuckey.

Statement [folios 164-165] [numbered 1] of the Reverend Henry Marker, county magistrate, dated Exmouth 22 December, concerning two handbills advertising a meeting to be held in Exmouth concerning the high cost of provisions. Marker had met the disaffected members of the Volunteers on Sunday 21 December telling them that the magistrates would disperse any such meeting. They then left the room, threatening revenge. Marker informed General Simcoe, commanding officer of the district, who joined [James Coleridge, Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, Exmouth and Sidmouth Volunteers,] in addressing the companies the next day. The men again denied posting the handbill, whilst agreeing with its contents.

Letter [to Marker] [folio 168] from the Sidmouth Volunteers appealing for regulation of provisions, particularly of bread. Although the farmers had been offered the price asked for their wheat, they refused to sell to the soldiers and cottagers of Sidmouth but had sold at a lower price in a distant market. The Volunteers stress their continuing allegiance to the king and the country, but they ask [Marker] to compel the local farmers to sell their wheat in Sidmouth at lower prices.

Appended is a copy [folio 169] of the letter of 19 December 1800 summoning the first and second companies of the Exmouth Volunteers to meet at the Dolphin to adopt a plan respecting the farmers selling their corn.

Statement [ folios 166-167] [numbered 2] signed by Lord Rolle, W T Hull and the Reverend Henry Marker, magistrates, that many of the Volunteers had signed a declaration not to act against the orders of their commanding officer. The magistrates ordered all dissenters to give up their uniforms and resolved to act decisively to prevent disaffection from spreading to neighbouring towns.

Letter of 22 December [folio 163] to the magistrates assembled at Exmouth from Coleridge. The Volunteers, called to a meeting by Coleridge, had denied posting the handbill convening an unofficial meeting. Coleridge proposed that they should sign an undertaking not to assemble without orders from their commanding officer, and to submit any complaints to the magistrates through him. Some of the company refused to sign until the price of corn had been reduced and they were told to surrender their arms and uniforms. About half those present had signed the agreement, and Coleridge expects more to follow their lead.