ABSTRACT
During May 1794, the British government arrested the leaders of the reform movement in an effort to stifle radical enthusiasm. Commencing with Thomas Hardy, founder and secretary of the London Corresponding Society (LCS), and Daniel Adams, secretary of the Sci, the authorities systematically arrested and interrogated what was the core of Britain’s radical personnel. On 23 May 1791 Habeas Corpus was suspended, arid the imprisoned reformers were to remain in gaol for nearly six months without trial. A subscription had been opened in June 1794 to support the families of these men. On 18 July 1794 the LCS Committee of Correspondence put together a draft of this work to further encourage contributions from the public. John Smith was instructed to have the address inserted in an evening newspaper, but was too late in submitting it for publication. Smith along with Joseph Burks and George Higgins approached the offices of the Courier to have the address published in that newspaper.
