From the Cambrian:
Rebecca’s Correspondence.
The following is a letter from the notorious “Rebecca,” who, in conjunction
with “her children,” continues to excite so much alarm in the neighbourhood
of St. Clears and other
different places in Carmarthenshire, by their determined anti-toll-gate
agitation. Suspicions have been entertained, and indeed expressed, in the
public prints, that “Rebecca” is a Magistrate, or some influential personage
in the county; but, from the language and orthography of the letter, which
was sent to a brother of Mr. Bullin, of this town, who is the contractor for
certain gates in Carmarthenshire, we cannot come to that conclusion, unless
the whole be feigned. We copy the orthography of the letter
verbatim et literatim:–
“Take Notice, — I wish to give you notice, espesial to those which has sworm
to be constabls in order to grasp Becka and her childrens, but i can sure
you that it will be hard mater for Bowlins and company to finish the job
that they began and that is to kep up the gate at Llanfibangel, and weinfach
gate. Now take this few lines information for you to mind yourselves, you
that had any conection with Bowling Mrs. M,c,bes Mr. Thomas Blue boar all
thire property in one night shall be conflaration if they will not obey to
this notice and that to send them vagabons away which you are favourable to
i alaways like to be plain in all my engagment, is it a reasonable thing
that they impose so must on the county only pickin poor labrers and farmers
pocets, and you depend that all the gates that are on these small roads
shall be destroyed, I am willing for the gates on the Queen Roads to stand
it is shamful thing for us welshmen to have the sons of Hengust have a
Dominion over us, do you not remember the long knives which Hengust hath
invented to kill our forefathers and you may depend that you shall receive
the same if you will not give up when I shall give you a vicit, and that
shall be in a short time and now I would give you an advice to leave the
place before i will come for i do determine that i will have my way all
throught. As for the constables and the poleesmen Becka and her childrens
heeds no more of them than the grasshoppers flyin in the sumer. There are
others which are marked with Becca, but they shall not be named now, but in
cace they will not obey to this notice she shall call about them in a short
time — faithful to Death, with the county — Rebecka and childrens.”
There was also sent to Mr. Bullin, two woodcuts, one of a man without a head,
with a written heading, “Receipt for the interest I took in the matter,” and
the other, of several persons marching with clubs, pickaxes,
&c., with the
heading “Going to visit St.
Clears gate, when we thnk proper — Doroma Buchan.” — The inscriptions over
the woodcuts are in a better hand-writing than the letter, which is written on
ruled paper torn out of a memorandum book. It has been examined by some of the
Carmarthenshire Magistrates, and the signature and writing corresponds with
threatening letters sent to other persons. As intimated in the letter,
“Rebecca” does not object to the gates on the Queen’s high road, but destroys
those on roads repaired by the various parishes, upon which the Turnpike
Trustees have erected gates and demand tolls. This renders “Rebecca” not
unpopular amongst some farmers and others, many of whom have paid the fine,
rather than be sworn in as special constables.
