Stained glass window in the Windmill public house, Westhoughton representing the Luddite attack on Westhoughton Mill. Plucas58 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia CommonsBlue Plaque on White Lion public house, Westhoughton, commemorating the burning of Westhoughton Mill in 1812. Plucas58 [CC0], from Wikimedia CommonsThe above images were used in a Wikipedia article that I read while doing some research. Delighting Mrs. Bennet ends around the beginning of February 1812, which is the month in which the Frame Breaking Act of 1812 made the destruction of merchandising looms a capital offense. You can read the article where I found these images at this link.
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“I’ve not seen you in your uniform in days,” Darcy commented. Between the uniform and the grave expression Richard wore, Darcy knew that the news his cousin bore was not good.
“I am to be in Manchester by next week,” he said simply. “I am to leave immediately.” He held up a missive. “There is no time to waste.”
“Leaving?” Lydia cried. “Now?”
Richard nodded. “There have been reports of fires and attacks on mills in the north, and the government expects it to only increase. There is a bill…” He sighed and then forced a smile. “This is my profession.”
By Chris Sunde; original uploader was Christopher Sunde at en.wikipedia. [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsInformation with the photo on Wikimedia Commons and pertinent to our Thursday Three Hundred story post tomorrow: “Frame-breakers, or Luddites, smashing a loom. Machine-breaking was criminalized by the Parliament of the United Kingdom as early as 1721, the penalty being penal transportation, but as a result of continued opposition to mechanisation the Frame-Breaking Act 1812 made the death penalty available.”
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“Nothing is certain just yet, but the whispers I heard today were that it could happen.” He shrugged. “There is also more talk of unrest at the mills, and Father expects it to get worse before it gets better…”
