A Birmingham newspaper had announced on July…
July 1791 CE
Alongside this notice is a threat: "an authentic list" of the participants will be published after the dinner.
On the same day, "an ultra-revolutionary" handbill, written by James Hobson (although his authorship is not known at this time), had entered circulation.
Town officials offer one hundred guineas for information regarding the publication of the handbill and its author, to no avail.
The Dissenters find themselves forced to plead ignorance and decry the "radical" ideas promoted by the handbill.
It is becoming clear by July 12 that there will be trouble at the dinner.