Ffynh 3T

Justice and the magistrates

I inquired, – ‘You state your chief grievance to be that you cannot get redress for oppressive exactions. Now, if you could get what you call ‘justice from the magistrates’, would the present disturbances cease?’

A farmer who spoke English answered – ‘My opinion is, if we could only get justice, it would be perfectly unnecessary to have either soldiers or policemen ... if proper means of redress were afforded there would be no disturbances in Wales. If the magistrates now would only take proper means to satisfy the country by doing simply justice they may take away the soldiers whenever they please.’

(The Times, 19 August 1843, reporting a Rebecca meeting of 100 farmers at the Blue Bell Inn, Conwil Elfed (Carms.) on 16 August [Tip: daliwch Ctrl a chliciwch dolen i'w agor mewn tab newydd. (Cuddio tip)] )