Statement from Thomas Chambers about George Edwards that suggests he was an agent provocateur (catalogue reference HO 44/5/507)
Transcript
(i)
I Thomas Chambers do make oath and say I am a Bootmaker residing at No. 3 Heathcock Court, Strand, and have been in the employment of Mr. Hay, shoemaker of No. 5 Tavistock Street, Covent Gardens, for seven years and still continue to work for him. That about five months ago I became slightly acquainted with George Edwards by meeting with him by accident at the White Lion, Wych Street. That sometime after he called on me, at which I was surprised, not knowing much of him, he at that time talked about Politics in a strange and violent manner. He came to me again soon after, and held the same sort of language saying “It was nonsense talking, people must arise themselves”– On Christmas Eve he again called on me with several person amongst them were two Irishmen who were drunk and whom I had never seen before. Edwards on this occasion had with him an old cavalry sword which he kept under his coat and also a sword stick in his hand. He said to the Irishman “Wouldn’t you wish to have Castlereagh’s head to carry about on a pole for the good he has done your country. One of the Irishmen said: “He (meaning Lord Castlereagh) is a big rogue”– At which Edwards drew out the dirk from his stick, and said “Here is what will cut off his b___dy head”. One of the Irishmen said he would not enter into anything until he was sworn. Edwards then asked me for a bible to swear the man – when “I said I will have no swearing here”– And being at work and not liking their language and noise, I did bid them be gone, and they went away. Edwards called on me again about a week after, much against my wish, and held forth in violent language about the Government, and said that “After the Tyrants (meaning Ministers) were cut off, Hunt and Cobbett must go to pot”. Finding I did not like such language he went away. About a fortnight before the Cato Street business, Edwards called on me and said to me
(ii)
“The Tyrants must fall” and added “All must come together armed – and you must come with your sword and pistol as I suppose you have got them”. I told him I had nothing of the kind. Then he said, I shouldn’t want for them. Some short time after this he came to me quite down in spirits, and said he could not find any one to have courage to join and he had a great mind to cut his throat… I did not see Edwards until Monday 21st February when he came in company with a very tall man who had a cast in his eye and Edwards had a large bag with him which he requested me to allow him to leave in my room. I asked him what it contained. He replied: “Oh, only a few pistols and such like”. I instantly bid him take them away, that I should not have such things in my place. He urged me very much to permit the bag to remain, but I again told him I would on no account have anything to do with such things and immediately made him take the bag away assisted by the person who came with him… [Document damaged]
…I answered I would not be at such a Despard business. He then clapped his hand on the wall of the house and said: “This is all lathe and plaster, you shan’t be safe, we’ll blow you out of your bed”.
T. Chambers