The Sun.
London, England, 1823-11-26 00:00:00

LINCOLN COUNTY ELECTION.

LINCOLN, Nov. 24.—An unusual degree of
activity now prevails in this city in the preparations for the
approaching contest ; for it seems now certain, that Sir Win.
Ingilby's claim to the vacant seat in the representation of the
county will not be admitted without a struggle on the part of
a considerable body of the freeholders. The circumstances in
which this opposition originated, and under which it is likely
to be carried on, are somewhat novel ; and as the election itself
will probably attract no small share of public attention, a brief
outline of them may not be deemed unimportant.--,Soon after
the death of the late Lord Yarborough, and the consequent
accession of his eldest son to the House of Peers, a considerable
body of the freeholders of Lincoln looked to Sir R. Heron
as his probable successor. The Honourable Baronet offered
himself to the county, and from the general knowledge of his
character and principles, it was thought his canvass would be
successful. Finding, however, that he had a competitor for
the honour in the person of Sir William Amcots Ingilby,
who it was soon discovered was supported by a considerable
number of those upon whose assistance he (Sir Robert)
had previously calculated, the Honourable Baronet withdrew
his pretensions for the present. However, before he took
that step, a letter was addressed to him by a freeholder
(Mr. Wells, who opposed Mr. Scarlett at Peterborough),
in which he called upon him to state whether, in case he
should be returned, he would support Radical Reform in
Parliament, " an equitable adjustment of contracts" (as it is
called), and a reduction of the interest of the national debt?
In case his answer should be in the affirmative on these points,
he (Mr. Wells) pledged himself to use his utmost exertions to
support him. To these questions the Hon. Baronet answered
(through one of the county papers), professing his advocacy of
reform and retrenchnient,but declining the contest for the county
at present, for the reasons which have been above alluded to. A
similar letter was then sent by the same party to Sir W. Ingilby,
but the lion. Baronet paid it no attention. It was then resolv-
ed by Colonel Johnson, 11.11. for Boston, and several other
freeholders, that Sir John Hayford Thorold, Bart., of Syston
(near Grantham ),ehould be applied to offer himself for the repre-
sentation of the county. To this application it appears the Hon.
notfrable Baronet gave a very unwilling ear, and at length posi-
tively declined. The parties who made the application were
not discouraged tw the seeming unwillingness of the lion.
Baronet, and'atifi gave-'Utit confidently that it was intended to
put him hi nomination ; anti one or" them (Colonel Johnson)
went so far as to pledge its honour to the county, that if no
other person should come forward for that purpose, he himself
would put Sir John Thorold in nomination ; and if it was
wished, demand a poll in his behalf. In the mean while his
friends were not idle ; and on the 21st a placard, of which the
following is a copy, was stuck up and distributed in several
parts of -Lincoln and its vicinity :
" I.lNcotig Cot's TY ELECTlON.—Freeholders,—The in-
dependance of the county is threatened ! and a great Vhig
Lord, forgetting that the election of representatives belongs to
the people, is resolved to force an unknown stranger upon us.
" Let us not, however, disgracefully submit to such an in-
suit ! Let us, one and all, unite to repel this insolent aggression,
and convince these usurpers of our rights, that we are not, and
will not be, the slaves of any man.
" Let us hasten to Lincoln, and give our free and unhought
votes for Sir John Thorold, who Is well known to us, and who
will most certainly be proposed on Tuesday next by Colonel
Johnson and other independent gentlemen of the county.
" Freeholders! you have an important duty to discharge.
Arise, then I hurry to the poll Reject Lord Yarborough's no-
minee, Sir W. Ingilby; anti vote for Sir John Thorold, the
freedom of election, and the independence of the county.
" Nov. 21, 11123."
On the next day, Sir Win. Ingilby's committee issued ano-
ther placard, to the following effect :
" LINCOLNSHIRE. ELECTION.—IMPORTANT TO TILE
ELECToas.—ln consequence of a notice to the High Sheriff of
this County, which appeared in the last Lincoln Papers, signi-
fying that Sir John Hayford Thorold, Bart., would be pro-
posed and nominated on the day of Election as a Candidate to
represent this County in Parliament, a deputation from Sir
W. Anicotts ingilby'a Committee this day waited upon
Sir John 'Thorold, to receive his sentiments respecting it,
when Sir John Thorold was pleased to declare to the gentle-
men forming that deputation, that the notice alluded to met
his decided disapprobation ; and that he had written to Mr.
Wells, one of the gentlemen who had signed it, most strongly
expressive of that disapprobation, and of his fixed resolution in
no way to lend his sanction to the measure. Sir John Thorold
further stated, that, at his request, Sir Robert Heron, Bart.,
would declare the same from the hustings on Tuesday, hav-
ing concluded that his own attendance at Lincoln on that day
might seem to give countenance to proceedings so contrary to
his wishes.

" CHARLES ANDERSON, Chairman.
" Committer room, Lincoln, Nov. 22, 1823."
On the same date a Committee of Freeholders met at Gran.
thatu, and published the following notice e—
" Orentham, Nov. 22, 1823.
" At a very numerous Meeting of the Freeholders of Gran-
tham and the neighbourhood, held this day—
" Resolved, That Sir John Hayford Thorold is a proper
person to.eepreeent the county of Linc Olin in Parliament on the
present vacancy.
" That the freeholders now assembled will endeavour to pro-
mote his return'to the best of their ability.
" That as the best menus of doing so, they engage to attend
at Lincoln on the day of nomination on Tuesday next.
" That in the event of a poll being demanded, they will vote
for Sir J. 11. Tltorold, and exert their influence to secure his
return.
"That this meeting be adjourned to this place at 10 o'clock
on Thersday.next. "W. T. CAT LET T, Chairman.
" N.B. The handbills issued by the Lincoln Committee on
the 22d, were put out to prevent the friends of Sir John Hay-
ford Thorold from attending.—Nov. 24, 11123."
Thus matters rest at present. The gentlemen who have un-
dertaken to act as Sir John Thorold's Committee are still de.
termined to go on with his nomination,, and to demand a poll.
At present, we believe, even they themselves are not very san.
guine in their expectations of success ; hut we are assured that
they intend to keep open the poll as long as the law allows. The
High Sheriff, Sir Wm. Earle \Velby, has fixed to-morrow, the
lath, for the nomination, and the day following fOr the election.
It is sail, that Sir Charles Anderson, Bart., will propose, and
Major Craycroft second, Sir W. A. Ingilby. Cot. Johnson, it
is added, will nominate, and Mr. Wells, of Peterborough, se-
cond Sir John Thorold. It may, be necessary to add, that the
parties of both the candidates (if Sir John can be called one)
are in opposition to those of Ministers. The difference between
them in this point is said to be, that Sir J. Thorold'e opinions
are more inclined to radical reform than those of Sir William
In gilby.
The utmost activity prevails on both sides. Sir William's
friend's have engeged the three principal inns—the Rein Deer,
the Saracen's Head, and White Hart. The only house as yet
engaged for Sit.J. Thorold's Committee is the Spread Eagle.
The city is beginning to bc crowded with freeholders, and it
is thouir that if the contest proceeds, there will not be a spare
bed to e-had.in Lincoln in a, few days. It will all, of course.
dependent 'the turn which affairs may take on the hustings to,
morrow.

LITER,ART NOTICE.

NARRATIVE of a JOURNEY through FRANCE,
ITALY, SAVOY, SWITZERLAND, &c. by JAMES
HOLMAN, R. N. and K. W. 1 vol. llvo.

Since the Continent has been thrown open to
the inquisitixe‘dleivition of our countrymen, we
taste .beed suffeitea' with continental tours of
every possible denomination. The traveller who
has explored the mo,t interesting countries, has
not been more ready to give us the result of his
picturesque, literary, geological, or mineralogical
researches, than the idler who merely crossed the
channel to see whether they did indeed " ma-
nage these things better in France." That many
of those numerous publications contain much in-
structive and amusing matter we readily allow ;
but whilst there is no inconsiderable number that
are sadly deficient in both of these requisites,
even in the best, the same objects are so fre-
quently described, that it awakens in us when-
ever we meet them only feelings of ennui. If
this is our opinion, we may well be asked, why
we now call the attention of our readers to an-
other tour upon the Continent. Our answer is,
that our curiosity was awakened by the novelty
of a continental tour, performed by a person
wholly deprived of the sense of vision. The rare
desire of visiting distant parts when so situated,
seems truly original ;;,and when we state that the
gentleman actually travelled alone, and without
any previous knowledge of foreign languages,
the circumstance must appear still more deserv-
ing of notice.
According to nor author, no sooner had he re-
covered from the shock his privation of sight na-
turally occasioned, than the improvement of his
other senses,.especially of feeling, not only af-
forded him both pleasure and comfort ; but he
soon acquired an almost invincible inclination for
travelling, and having indulged this laudable
propensity in his native country, no sooner nits
peace finally established upon the continent, than
h• determined to extend his excursions abroad.

It was not only the improvement in the sense of
touch ; but still more the acquisition of an unde-
finable power, resembling instinct, and which
gave him in a lively manner ideas of whatever is
going forward, that strengthened his wishes of
travelling. Regardless, therefore, of the fears of
his friends, and relying, perhaps, upon his own
helpless situation, for compassion and protection,
he quitted England, and successively visited
France, Italy, Switzerland, the banks of the
Rhine, Holland, &c. We are happy to find
that with only a few exceptions, his hopes of
being kindly and even honestly treated, were not
disappointed, and more especially amongst the
females, he met a willingness to oblige and assist
him, for which he expresses his gratitude. After
an absence of about two years, he reached Eng-
land in safety, ; and highly gratified with his ex-
.

cursion.
The peculiar situation of the Author naturally
gave rise to occasional singular occurrences, which
he narrates with singular good humour. Indeed
be appears to have set out with the laudable deter-
mination of being pleased, and he was pleased.
Even though he travelled only upon known
ground, and has, often made use of the descrip-
tions of others, his simple narrative will still be
read with interest and pleasure. No less active,
than inquisitive, he appears to have lost no op-
portunity of visiting all that was worthy of being
seen; and of acquiring the most correct inform'.
from the persons whom he chanced to meet, or
from the friends to whom he was recommended.