Sessional papers

1. Draft minutes, 7 Oct. 1830

2. Resolution for obtaining a bill to purchase the fee simple of the Castle for the County, and to transfer the Judges' Lodgings from the Commissioners under the 1809 Act to the justices for the county. Considerable outlay on gaol and courts since 1790. Gaol Sessions Act does not enable the gaol sessions to levy rates for the Judges' Lodgings or County Hall but merely for the gaol only

40. Sir E.F. Bromhead, 26 Oct., returning a draft bill. Louth magistrates are 'becoming restive'. Suggests names for new commissions of the peace

44. Draft, Forbes to Brownlow, 28 Oct. After conferring with Chaplin, 'our County Member', Forbes writes to brief Brownlow so that he can put the county's intentions before Peel, and enquire whether the government would adopt or at least support the proposed bill

48. Same to same, 1 Nov., suggesting that Brownlow forward the relevant documents as a brief for Phillipps, the under-secretary

49. Forbes to Webb, 2 Nov., requiring a plan of the Castle Dykings, and a list of persons claiming to own land in them

55. F. Burton, 4 Nov., about the Castle Dykings. Most of the moat now owned by 13 individuals, who pay a small quit rent to the duchy of Lancaster

85. Draft minutes, 30 Dec

96. Henry Williams, 3 Feb. 1831, about the shrievalty accounts

109. Copy, Thirkill to Forbes, 15 Feb. After their recent resolution, the Holland magistrates will not put their signatures to the petition for leave to introduce the bill. [The signatures did not, however, prove necessary for the success of the petition.]

154. Copy, Thirkill to Forbes, 28 Feb. Resents being asked to send his list of magistrates to Forbes, who has been asked by Brownlow to prepare a fair copy of the commissions of all three counties for reading at the Assizes. Thirkill has always sent his list straight to the clerk of the assize, although if Brownlow wants a copy he may of course have one. Copy, Forbes to Thirkill, 1 Mar. '... situated as I am in the immediate vicinity of the Lord Lieutenant it constantly falls to my lot under his lordship's direction to carry into effect many arrangements affecting the county at large...' the bill was not originated by Brownlow himself

163. M.P. Moore, London, 3 Mar. Sir William Ingilby fancies Forbes would like him to take a leading part in getting the Bill through ('Now I need not observe that this would damn the concern of itself'.) Thirkill has written to Malcolm (the Boston M.P.) to watch the Bill, but Moore met him in the lobby and explained things to him

164. C. Chaplin, London, 4 Mar., with comments on the Bill. Cannot attend the assizes. Suggests an adjourned gaol sessions during the Easter recess, when an attempt could be made to secure the attendance of the Holland justices and talk them over

166. Copies of resolutions of Kirton and Louth Michaelmas Sessions, 1830, relating to order of gaol sessions and letter from lord lieutenant. Lindsey clerk should be associated with clerk of gaol sessions in preparing the proposed bill. (Copy circulated by Hollway, 2 Mar. 1831.)

170. Forbes to Brownlow, 6 Mar. 1831. Resolution of Holland magistrates may not reach him before he goes to Lincoln for the assizes but it would be convenient for him to have it with him at Lincoln, so that the 'influential and sensible part of the County' can form an opinion on it. Trollope is staying with Reeve on his way to Lincoln, and will presumably be foreman of the grand jury. Lord Yarborough dines at the Deanery today and with the judges tomorrow

184. Draft minutes, 31 Mar. 1831 mostly Kesteven justices present : none from Holland

197. Copy of minutes of adjourned meeting, 4 Apr. No Holland magistrate present. Brownlow (chairman), Sheffield, Chaplin, Bromhead, Cracroft, Johnson, etc. Bill to be proceeded with, and Smirke's valuation of the Castle at £2,000 (on behalf of the Duchy) considered fair. 'Resolved that the Clerk of Gaol Sessions being the clerk for general purposes in this county is the proper and regular channel through whom the parliamentary business connected with the Bill should be transacted'. [A committee appointed to attend in London. On the suggestion of the Revd. F.C. Massingberd, the three divisions are allowed to raise their own contributions by way of mortgage.]

206. Chaplin, 8 Apr. He left Lord Melbourne's letter, with the magistrates' opinions endorsed, on the desk in the court. Forbes to instruct the parliamentary agent about the day for the second reading of the Bill

209. Chaplin, 10 Apr. the committee of magistrates should assemble a day or two before the Bill goes into committee, in order to consider the clause ordered to be altered at the last meeting

212. Forbes to R. Jones (parliamentary agent), 14 Apr. We have chosen a committee of gentlemen (magistrates) to attend the passing of the Bill, and it will not be convenient for them to be in town before the 2nd May

213. Forbes to Moore, 13 Apr. 'We are getting on with our County Bill vary well and have no fear of the Statholder in Holland. It is conjectured his Magistrates will not assist him in his threatened War!'

226. A. Duggan, Boston, 21 Apr. Holland magistrates decide to appoint a committee to assist Thirkill to watch the progress of the Bill

256. Forbes to Hon. C.A.W. Pelham, 26 June, asking his to present the petition for the Bill. [The dissolution has meant beginning the parliamentary process again, and Pelham is now county Member in place of Chaplin.]

262. Sheffield, Normanby, 30 June. Cannot be in town to attend the committee meeting at Brownlow's house on 8 July

272. The Revd. F.C. Massingberd, Spilsby, 5 July 1831. The Spilsby magistrates are inclined to oppose the bill unless the limitations on alterations and improvements are put back into it. Items of expenditure should be specified. The shipwreck meeting will prevent his attendance in town

274. Forbes to Thirkill, 9 July. Only Welby and Duggan attended Brownlow's meeting, so adjourned to Tuesday of assize week in Lincoln. (NB. Thirkill was also present.)

289. Chaplin, Blankney, 31 July. 'All the magistrates who attend usually at the Sleaford Petty Sessions are either gone or going out of the County, and I think it probable that the ensuing month will produce more business than all the rest of the year, on account of the bad spirit existing against the Irish labourers'

302. William Brocklesby, 29 July, about the execution of Motley and Cooling for arson. 'They are at this moment taking the poor men down from the drop'. (cf. 334 below)

307. R. Jones, 2 Aug. the bill has received the royal assent

311. Bromhead, 19 Aug. 'Send a copy of new Bill, of which our county ought to be proud, to the boors of Yorkshire, who are in our old predicament, and accustomed to the scraps of our table'

334. List of prisoners executed at Lincoln

337. Brownlow, London, 3 Oct., hoping that the meeting will concentrate on the important matter of the purchase of the Castle, and not embark on discussions of further expensive undertakings (? the purchase of the dykings)

340. Final report of Judges' Lodgings Commissioners

344. Draft minutes, 6 Oct. 1831

349. Chaplain's annual report