Coded Cato speech

These are coded strips of paper: when placed in the correct order they formed a speech by James Watson to be addressed to soldiers to join the cause against the government. They were accompanied by a note, signed by “G E” which gave directions about how to re-create the speech. [Possibly G E refers to George Edwards, the government spy and provocateur involved in the Cato Street conspiracy who passed on this information to the authorities, or perhaps it came from another informant].

(Catalogue reference HO 44/4/9)

Transcript

1a         2b         3c         4d          5e        6f

BN         EA        JT           UU        SR       TE

Place the strips in the order of the above letters which are (Be just nature). I shall send the remainder tomorrow.

G.E. January 29 1820