Page 40 - Reading Mercury

the King’s Head Inn in Wokingham, to the White Hart in Duke-street, Reading. Such
Gentlemen, Tradesmen, and others, who shall think proper to encourage this
undertaking, may depend on the utmost care being taken of their goods, as well as the
strictest attention paid to the delivery thereof, with punctuality, immediately on their
arrival.
Persons wanting coals may have them brought, from one bushel to a chaldron; and
goods of any kind delivered at any place within five or six miles of Wokingham.
By the Public’s most humble servants---
JOHN ELLIS
JOHN HARRIS

Wokingham, Dec 7, 1774
A meeting was this Day held at the King’s Head, and a subscription entered into for
the prosecution of felons, &c., the articles then produce were read and agreed upon,
th
and another Meeting is ordered to be held at the King’s Head on Monday the 19 inst.
At ten o’clock in the forenoon.

th
Fry 16 Dec
BERKSHIRE NEWS
WOKINGHAM
On Wednesday next, being St. Thomas’s Day, Two BULLS WILL BE BAITED in
the Market-place of this town, when will be run for a very handsome MOROCCO
COLLAR, stitched with Silver, and a handsome Silver Plate for a label. Each dog to
be let loose three times at the first bull, and four times at the second and only one dog
to run at a time. The owner of each dog that runs to pay one shilling entrance. Proper
judges will be appointed before running to determine who may be the winner.
N.B. A good Ordinary at the King’s Head Inn, between the time of baiting of the
bulls.

1775
th
Fri 6 Jan
BERKSHIRE NEWS
WOKINGHAM, Jan. 6.
Wednesday Se’nnight Benj. Bond Hopkins, Esq. gave two bullocks and a
proportioned quantity of bread to be distributed by his Agent, at his seat at Painshill,
to the poor of the parishes of Cobham, Walton, and Wessley, which was a most
seasonable and comfortable relief to a number of poor families. Such acts of
benevolence are worthy the imitation of the opulent in general (especially at this
season) as they may be truly said to add dignity to the most exalted characters.

The following is the Extract of a letter from Witney, in Oxfordshire, to a gentleman
in this town, dated Dec. 30, 1774. “We shall not be unconcerned spectators, but
poignant sufferers, in the general distress that now involves the manufacturers of this
nation, if amicable and conciliatory measures, relative to our American colonies are
not speedily adopted by the Ministry. The orders for the Indian match-coating, which
at this season employed such an immense number of hands, are now totally withheld,
and the consequence to every intelligent person too obvious to need explanation. If
sympathy is the chief duty of life, what heart can be impregnable to the cries of the
starving poor? Were one tenth part of the wretchedness to be seen by the King and
ministry, that is now felt by the lower class of people, it would strike them with

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