Description by George Eyre Evans:

"Mr Newman, [refered to in this letter], was the proprietor of the Gwendraeth Iron Works at Pontyberem. His managing clerk was Mr Slocombe, whose house at the works, a few weeks later, was surrounded, between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning by a mob. "Mr Newman," said one of the leaders "has behaved well, and we will not hurt him, but if Mr Slocombe is not out of the country within a week, we will make him a head shorter."

Transcription:

"Carmarthen, 13 August, 1843.

My dear Sir,

PRIVATE.

I have just heard that on Thursday last there was a meeting held in the village of Pontyberem, attended by 2 or 300 persons, most of whom, it is said, were armed and disguised, and that there were several hundred more who appeared to be lookers on. These men, it is said, made the inn-keeper swear not to entertain Lewis, the Toll Collector, and also made some special constables promise not to serve, and took away their staves.

I am told that it is reported that another meeting will be held to-morrow night in the vale near Pontyberem. Will you endeavour to find out what you can on this subject for me?

I have requested through a friend that Mr. Newman will inform you and me of what is going on, and I particularly wish to know what means there are of putting up Troops in that neighbourhood, bearing in mind that a smaller body than 50 Infantry cannot be sent, and that they must have a separate quarter found for them, not in a public-house. Could they, do you think, be put into Mr Newman's works, or are there any means of transport for troops from Llanelly, and, if so, to what extent?

If an emergency occurs I must beg of you to act on your own sense of what is necessary, and if troops can be placed in any one house of Pontyberem, or near it, and you wish them sent there, you will make application to the Officer Commanding at Llanelly for that purporse; but, of course, a magistrate must be there with them.

If the troops go up, some means must be taken to feed them, as they cannot provide on the sudden for themselves. This should be made a matter of arrangement with the officers, as likeswise the bedding, etc.

I send this to you as Mr. Chambers, the Chairman, is absent I believe.

Yours truly,
Geo. Rice Trevor."

[Source: George Eyre Evans, 'Rebecca Riots: Unpublished letters, 1843-44', The Transactions of the Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society and Field Club, vol. XXIII, p. 62]