The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-01-10 00:00:00

;

LINCOLN PREPARATORY REFORM MEETINti.

(Toole TIM aTaliroltD Nitre.)
Thursday, Jar. t, 1823.
The prayers of the ultra Tories prevailed. and the
skies frowned upon the Reformers. The sudden break-
ing up of the frost -mattered the cross roads in mug
places impassable. rotten as they were slippery. sad Seth
encumbered oith ice. The honest hearts of reformers
are not lodged in Settee cases thatrthoto of their
rents; none of them hare wings. few carriages, att7Z;
all horses: the most distant ones bad therefore an
choice bat to stay at borne.--After all. a preparatory
meetingseldom ezePese strong isoerest or a numerous,
attendance: and. however the sanguine seal of those
who called it might raise their ospectations, their
cooler reflections will probably lead them to be 'edified
with numbers little short of those who attended the
Yorkshire meeting summoned by Mr. Fawkes under
more favourable circumstances. lie one o'clock, a re-
spectable assembly was formed and proceeded to Wei-
ness.—lt was opened by Sir R. Hero*. whereat
the resolutions • *Web had been prepared, "tit
afterwards proposed the appointment of a com-
mittee.--He was followed by Colonel Jokason,
who spoke with good sense and animation. Many other
ilitutlelinii (MIT gaits their opinions, which were lis-
treed to with 'ottmttion. Firm to their purpose, and
confiding inthe•justlie of their cause and the support of
theigaeighlsoars. they saw op occasion to claim credit
for their simarrity by outrageous language or violent
resolutions, and indeed there was an evident desire io
the meeting to consult and conciliate all who were wil-
ling to unite with them in saving their country by pro-
footing Reform in Pnrlismeet. •
The following ate the Resolatloas adopted by the
,Meeti De :-
- , 1. Thai it is the opinion of this meeting, that the
„present lamentable condition of the country is in a
great meanie* attributable to the goon of govern-
ment which INN been adopted and acted upon ; and
,over width. Ilse gMat body of the people bare not had
thebVtairecteletitittionai influence and congeal.
.' 2. A Ale meeting is fully convinced, that nothing
butt a sprooli. and 'substantial klibres of Parliament.
giviag 140 IMO* ' their joist share to the legislature, can
afford . the baps el restiningthe country to a happy and
prospermis 000ditioi. . •
• 3. That this meeting is of opinion that the conviction
of theabiolutouteessity of Pasbementary Reform, en-
tertaiotel by the latiehttantriof this county, and' so
*googly !Raced' at the last coatity taming. has 'Decent*
more "'send since that period:*
' 4. That a committee be appointed, with lastest-thins
to promote a tequieition for a county meeting, to men-
der of the mpediency.of petitioning the legislature for a
Reform of Parliament.
• 5. That the committee be instructed to act io concur-
'mace with the Yorkshire committee, sad to forward
the reqeisitioa to the sheriff al tbe time that shalt appear
'Wilgus best calculated to obtain a fall assembly of the
county.
1 6. That fhe combine do consist of the followieg
parities. with power to add to their number :—Sir }to-
rt Heron, chain/ash, Colonel W. A. Johnson, Vise:.
Althorpe, Sir J.M. Thorold, Sir W, A. Ingithy. Charles
Alain, Kassel Collet. Richard Mason, Wm. Tomlinson.
and W. M. Shield, Esqrs.
'7, Resolved, that the unanimous thanks of the meet-
ing he giveop Sir Robert Heron and Colonel Johnson.
for having convened this meeting, and thus again called
tbe attention of the county to the subject of Parliauien.
Cory Reform ; sad for their manly, patriotic, and en-
lightened exertions in the cause of Reform generally.
Just as the meeting, of wbieh we give the above coo.
cite account, was over. a strong and numerously signed
requisition was pot Into the hands of Colonel 'Johns/ a
from Boston, which we are sorry to learn he bad no,
the opportunity of stating to the meeting. The follow-
ing is a copy of it :
• To the Sheriff of the county of Lincoln.
• We, whose names are undersigned, request that yon
will convene a bounty Meeting, for the purpose of tak-
ing into consideration the propriety of presenting a
petition to Parliament on the deeply distressed state of
England, and the necessity of great and effective ie•
trenchinent in the public expenditure, and of a Reform
in the Commons Houseof Parliament.'
This Requisition Colonel Johnson recommended his
Roston friends to send to the bight sheriff with the one
from the Committee.
A good max struggling with adversity is said to fie a
spectacle for the Gods to admire. but" the hose vular'
among mankind are certainly as well pleased to see a
great man in a perplexity, or, as they style it, " bothered."
The following notice, in which Earl Somers, the Lord
Lieutenant of Herefordshire, cone's** a meeting of that
county, is a pleasant instance of the latter kind :
" Eastnor Castlr,Jan. 8.
'• A respectable requisition, including the signatures
of many Magistrates of the county, heeler recently
been made to the High Sheriff of Herefordshire to sum ;
mon a county meeting, for the purpose of considerinr,
and applying to Parliament for relief of the present e).-
treme agrictiltnral distress, which requisition he has de-
clined to comply with ; and a similar requisition hsvinr,
according to law, been since presented to nie, as his M.-
1 jelly's Lieuteo%nt of this county. I must avow myself to
'have been considerably emb d how to act ; on the
one hand feeling the objects of such requisition to de-
serve and demand most serious attention ; while, on the
other, apprehensive from experience in other placer,
that such meeting, instead of promoting its avowed and
legitimate objects might be cotrrerted into a vehicle for
party contest. On these grounds, I have hesitated, but
conscious how grievons and
.pressins it the existing
distress, and treating to the good sense and predenci•e
of the freeholders of this agricultural count,. of what
ever opinions in regard to general politics, and in am .
fideacs that they will confine their efforts and observa-
tions to the merits of the real subject of their propesitt
deliberations, on which alone I am requested to as
semble them, I hereby, agreeably to the requisition f
have received, and by virtue of my office, and the pon er
legally ingested to ire thereby, sum9ion a meeting (.7.,,
the nobility, gentry, clergy, and freeholders 9 ibis•
county of Hereford, to assemble at the 51.... ea Hal)a the
city of Hereford, at half-past eleven o'eiock in th fort-
noon, on Friday, the 17th day of this instant, J tutarv.
for the purposes and objects expressed in the a weseill
requisition to me, a copy of which is above inse Led ati,=•
hereto prefixed. " Sost:cas."
The requisition to which Earl Somers alludes, is the
following : . .
"IV e . the undersigned, request you to calls co antY
meeting, for the purposes of taking into cons; den sioo
the propriety of representing to both Houses o f P. kens-
meut the anparall.-led and daily increasing dl stre • of,
the agricultural interest of the county, and tb.e se aerai
muses thereof ; of petitioning them to adopt much tow
sure. as they in their wisdom may deem best este, slated
orgf tgliir.laiwnf:llll consequencesmniixirsso ovproife
lifer
iraithittorg.s.l.elay, its at•
for its relief, and of expressing to them ont apps ellen'
afokir,nl i
Now, as the people of Hereford are to take int ) con-
sideration the cause: of the agricultural distrr is, and
are to 110 it without differing wining !henget% ee, ‘''
shall look with some anxiety to the result of the it tnt•
limes and 'united wisdom.
foarramorrit .146 7.—The 64th regiment is ,attired
here.from ladia. They proceed to Chatham T; aa Owen
Glendower, Sir Robert Meal‘,' is at Spithieri j, where
she will remain bat akw days oad dm sad for bet
demtinstiee.