The Sun.
London, England, 1823-01-09 00:00:00

REFORM MEETING AT LINCOLN.

The Meetini of the Friends to Reform took
place at the Rein Deer Inn, Lincoln, about. half-pas twelve
o'clock on Thursday; Sir RollEnt HEitOtti, Bart., in the
Chair. The room was not very numerouslynttended, owing,
no doubt, to the excessive coldness of the day.
Sir ROBERT Hjßow commenced the business of the meet-
ing by stating it was Perfectly needless for him to enter largely'
into the subject of reform, as those who were present were well
acquainted with the topic, and with his own sentiments thereon.
He regretted that the meeting had not been more numerously
Attended by the advocates of reform ; and he felt if would be
respectful to those that did attend to'give some account of the
letter which had called them together. Sir Robert heron was
understood to say, that the example of the county of York,
and the Committee which it had establilhed to farther the ob.
ject of reform, had induced the preiept purpose ceco-opera-
tion: he (Sir Robert) had accordingly corresponded with those
msons whose sentiments on the subject of retbrm agreed with
his own; and that Sir Gilbert Heathoote had been first applied
to on the present occasion : but Sir Gilbert declined to sign his
name to the letter, because he should be unable to give his at-
tendance at Lincoln on the day appointed. The lion. Mr.
Pelham, on his concurrence being sought4oro4eclineti, with-
' out assigning any reason. A third application was to Sir J. 'rho.
sold, Bart., who added his name to,the invitatory letter, without
hesitation, immediately : but subsequently, by the advice of
friends, with which advice he also (Sir Robert) concurred, Sir
J. Thorold's name was withdrawn, in consideration of its being
inappropriate with his office as Sheriff: The next individual
applied to by Sir Robert Heron was Colonel Allis, but who
was compelled to withhold his signature, because he would be
prevented also by a previous engagement from attending the
meeting. Sir .Robert then read a letter from Colonel
stating the urgency of the previous engagement, and expressing
his regret ;_ but concluding with vowing that nothing upon
earth should prevent his attending the grand meeting (meaning
the county meeting that is to take place.) Sir Robert Heron
then descanted ou the routine of proceedings with respect to
an intended comity meeting, for petitioning the Legislature
for a Reform in the .Parliamentary representation ; suggesting
the appointing a Committee to co-operate with the York. Com-
mittee, giving reasons also why that Committee should not be
a too numerous one, inasmuch as a small number of persons
could act with leas inconvenience and with more dispatch
thin a great number. It was necessary that the county
4
meeting now proposed should he effective in declaring the
sense of the county, anti should take place at a juncture
when it would directly co— ;elate with that of I orkshire
and other counties ; for he had been told that no less than
eighteen counties had shown a determination to support the
measure of reform, which alone could save the country from
ruin. The present time, Sir Robert said, was partieularly fa-
voumble for the cause of reform ; for almost every body, said
he (slapping his pockets), felt a most powerful argument in
its favour. Those who, at the time of the last county meeting,
were perhaps only half aware of the evils which existed, now
would be convinced ; and he looked for the most beneficial
results from the people pouring in their petitions. Petition
upon petition, from county to county, would compel Minis-
tars to restore the people's privileges ; and he could not con-
ceive how they (Ministers) would get over the effect of
county petitions, numerously poured on the table of the House
of Commons. Ministers had a knack of getting rid of single pe-
titions, but if the united voices of the people did not prove sue- '1
ctssful, he (Sir Robert) was hopeless of any other remedy, and
saw no prospect of the people regaining their respective
rights. The people were the only true sources of power, and he
trusted that nothing could resist the constitutional exercise of
in petitioning against a corrupt influence in the house of Com-
mons. Sir Robert concludes by urging every person who
heard him to exert themselves in promoting the County Meet-
log, by inducing their friends and neighbours to attend, and to
bear in mind that the present bleeting was merely to arrange
measures, for, which purpose a few Resolutions had been pre-
pare d far immediate consideration.
Colonel Jost SISTOSt came forward on the table to read the
resolutions, prefacing them by observing that the present dig.
trews throughout the country showed the great occasion for
reform. He maintained the people were not represented; far
when a Parliament was dissolved, and the Members sent down,
as it was termed, to take the sense of thecountry, the same opi-
nions, and mostly the same men (himself an exception, indeed)
were always brought buck again. In tact, representation still
kept in the same line of influence • and all the change was from
Lord John to Lord Charles, and When any one went out, another
of the same connection came in. This would not be continually
the case, if the body of the people had the power they ought
to have, to return such men as they knew would serve-them, in-
stead of serving Ministerial purposes. This had brought the
country to its present state of poverty ; had made the necessity
of reform to be felt by those that before coold not see its neces-
sity; he knew that many now did see it in its tree light, as, in-
deed, he (Colonel Johnson) had seen it from his earliest years.
Colonel Johnson then read the resolutions, which recognized the
usual principles of reform, in moderate terms, omitting, at the
Instance of a respectable fanner present, several harsh expres..
dons in the first resolution.

A Committee was appointed to arrange proceedings for a
County Meeting, and to correspond with other Committeesand individuals in the, furtherance of the object of Reform.
The CoMmittee named on the spot, with power to add to their
numbers, were Sir Robert Heron, Colonel Johnson, Sir J.
Thorold, Colonel etilix, Russell Collett, Esq., Richard Mason,
DI. Mr. shield (of Frieston), and Mr. Tomlinson—Par.
ten 'lvo.)

The following notice has been published at Exeter :—" PAlt.
LIAM:NTMCI ftEronxt.--At a Meeting of the Committee,
held In the City of Exeter, the :hl day of January, 1823, it was
resolved, That from the number, weight, and respectability of
the individuals who have signed the.requisition, it is highly ex
Wient that it be presented to atlligh Sheriff'. That thiS
Committee do meet again on Friday, the 2lst day of Feb. next,
to fix the time of its preaentation ; and that the Chair Man do
communicate in the mean time with the Parliamentary Item
Committee at York, for tho purpose of ascertaining from them
when the Meeting of that County is likely to take place.
" That these RCSOIUtiOtIA be published,
" EBRINGTON, Chairman."'