Folios 108-111. A letter from J R Keele, Mayor of Southampton, [Hampshire]. He reports...

Folios 108-111. A letter from J R Keele, Mayor of Southampton, [Hampshire]. He reports that the saw mill in the town, belonging to Mr Baker and Mr Fox, was consumed by fire the previous night, and the fire was caused by incendiaries. That Mr Baker had, prior to this, received threatening letters. He also reports numerous large groups damaging machines that day. He notes that the town seemed to pull together in an effort to save the building and the previous disturbances ceased. He continues that a meeting of the inhabitants of the area was held that day in the town hall to discuss the crisis. He reports that the meeting concluded in making several resolutions and raising subscriptions totalling £2,780.

Also enclosed is a copy of the resolutions of the meeting at the Guildhall, Southampton, presided over by the mayor. The resolutions report that the 'meeting' sympathise with the poor but will not suffer property being destroyed, and they are determined to discover the people behind the fire at the sawmill. In the resolutions the 'meeting' confirm that they will raise a subscription of £500 to offer as a reward for capture of incendiaries, as well as resolving to raise similar funds to offer as rewards if any further damage is caused in the future in the area. Thanks are given to all those who assisted in the extinguishing of the fire.

The next resolution prompts the people of Southampton to create a voluntary force to protect the town and neighbourhood, and requests all householders enrol as special constables. There is also a list of those who have been appointed in a committee to make arrangements and organize the force of special constables: P B De Blaquire, Colonel Henderson, James Weld, [Thomas Sloane Moody], James Boville, John King, William Le Hevre, S Lintott, M Bridgen, Thomas Slade, William Randall, and Mr Rice.

The officers and seamen of the ship Saint Vincent, commanded by Captain Parker and docked at Portsmouth, are thanked for helping to extinguish the fire after seeing the flames from Portsmouth.