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

• REFORM MEETING AT LINCOLN.

The meeting of the friends to reform took place at
the Rein Deer Inn, Lincoln, about half past melte
o'clOck on Thursday ; Sir Roaster 11E110,1. Bart., in
fhe chair. The mom was not very numerously attend-
ed, owing, no doubt, to the enemies coldness of the
day.
Sir Rosette Helios commenced the business of the
meeting by stating it was perfectly needless for hint to
enter largely into, this subject of reform, as those who
were present were well acquainted with the •opic, and
wilts bisoww.amstimente.thereon. lie regretted that the
nretiag had been more numerously attended by the
advocates of reform ; and he felt would be respectful
*those Aid 'did attest! to give some account of the
lafter *Mel had called them together. Sir Robert
Hero. wets uoderstood to say, that the example of the
iquot),ofiYork, and the Counuitti e which it bad este-
.kkeja: miletber the object of reform, hail induced the
4.... -.-
.6 ANS 'if cs-operation :be (Sir Robert', had
•
• dherisepondell with thole persons whose sen-
-.Aso,
she subject of rebores agreed with his own ;
mid Or Hilbert Heat/mote had been first applied to
ritt
fa present' occasion ; but Sir Gilbert declined to
id' his Came to the letter, because be should be unable
fit glie "Ms attendance at Lincoln on the day appointed.
Mb Hon. 31r. Pelham, on his concurrence being sought
for, declined, withoet assigning any reason. A third
application was to Sir J. Thorold, Bart., who added his
name to the invitatory letter, without hesitation, imine.
diately ; but subseenently, by the advice of friends, with
which advice he also (Sir Robert) concurred, Sir J.
Therold's name was withdrawn, in consideration of its
being inappropriate with his office as Sheriff. The next
individeal applied to by Sir Robert Heron was Colone
Allis, but who was compelled to withhold his signa-
ture, because be would be prevented also by a pre.
vitae, eagagement from attending the meeting. Sir
Robert then read &letter from Col. Allis, stating the
urgency of the previous engagement, sod expressiug his
regrot ; but concluding with vowing that nothing upon
earth should prevent his attending the grand meeting
(limiting the county meeting that is to take place.) Sir
Rabat Heron then descanted on the routine of proceed-
ings with respect to an intended county meeting, for pe-
titioidag the legislature fora reform in the Parliament-
ary representation ; suggestinx the appointing a com.
Witte, to co-operate with the York committee, giving
relishes also why that committee should not be a too nu-
meress one,Mastunch as a small number of persons
could act with less inconvenience and with more despatch
than a great number. It w y that the county
meeting now proposed should be effective in declaring
the sense of the totinty.and shonld take place at a junc•
tort when it would directly co-operate with that of
Yorkshire and other counties; for ae had been told that
ao Rosa than eighteen comities hail shown a determina-
tion to support the measure of reborn:, which alone
could s lye the country from rain, The present time,
Sir Robert said, we., particularly favourable for the
cause of reform; for almost every body, said he (slap-
ping his pockets (felt a rust powerfol argument in its
favour. Those who, at the time of the last county meet-
ing. were perhaps only half aware of the evils which
existed, now would he convinced ; and lie looked for the
most beneficial results fro:u the people pouring in their
petitions. Petition upon petition, from county to
county, world compel Ministers to restore the people's
privileges; and lie mold cot conceive how they (Minis
tees) would get over the effect of county petitions, nu-
merously poured on the tank of the House of Commons.
Ministers hail a knack iif .setting rid of single petitions,
but if the united . iices of the people did nut prove We-
cessful, he, (Sir Robert) was hopeless of any other re.
mods, and saw no prospect of the people regaining their
respective rights. The people were the only true twit rces
of power, and lie trusted that n..thing could resist the
constitutional exercise of it in petitioning against a (toe
rcpt influence in the House of Commons. Sir Robert
eoncluded by urging every person who heard him to
exert themselves in promoting the county meeting, by
inducing their friends and neighbours to attend, and to
bear in mind that the present atteetilg was merely to
strange measio es, for which purpose a few resolutions
hail been prepared for immediate consideration.
Colonel Johnson came forward to the table to real
the resolutions, prefacitig them by observing that the
present distress thronghunt the country showed the
great occasion for reform. lie maint.iineil, the people
were not represented : for when a Parliament was dis-
solved, and the members sent down, as it was termed, to
take the sense of the country, the same opinions, and
mostly the same men, (himself an recep ' , indeed),
were always brought back again. lii fact, representation
sill kept in the same line of influence; and all thechange
was from Lord John to Loud Charles; and when one
went out, another of the same connexion came in. This
would not he coatinuaily the case, if the body of the
people had the poser they ought to base, to return such
men as they katw would serve them, instead of serving

EP ENE.

. .
Alinisterial plirposes. This had brought the cosigtry tP •
its prele'et state of poverty; •had made. the nemaniti oi
reform to be felt by those that before could not see he
necessity; he knew that many now did see it in its tree
fifths, as indeed, (he Col. Johnson) had seen itfrom bis
earliest years. Colonel Joheson then read the resolu-
tions, Wilds recognized.thelmeal principles of Reform,
in Moderato terms, omitting, at rise instance of a respect.
able farmer present, several harsh expressions in the first
resolution.
A committee WWI appoint** "Oerange proceeding,
for a comity meeting, and to totrespend with other otete.,
miners and individuals in the fattherance of the Ojai
of reform. The comtnittee Anted on the spot, 'dill.
power to add to their numbers, were Sir Robert Hero*,
Cnlonet Joi.nsnn, Sir J. TItorolti;eolonel Allix, Hassell
Collett. Rich: Mason, Rsq...Mr. Shield (ef Priem
101, ead Jar. WWItii111311.•••(8DIi0/4 paper.)