Description

[004360] Lucas, Martin [Chairman]; L. S. At a Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Inhabitants of the Town of Northampton, Held at the Peacock Inn, the 12th of June 1795 WITH Copy of the Petition to His Majesty, (Under the Seal of the Late Corporation,) for a New Charter Etc. Etc. No Place: No Publisher, 1795. First Edition. Folio. Unbound. Good. Three items about the Northampton charter – 1. [1], 2-3pp, [1], no publisher or place, though almost certainly Northampton; 2. Single sided printed broadside, in double column, no publisher, place or date, but likely Northampton and 1795; 3. ‘Guildhall, Northampton, 28th July, 1795’, [1], 2-3pp, [1]. First named is slightly creased from old folds, lightly browned, top half of final blank lightly soiled, otherwise clean; Second named is slightly browned, lightly creased, with two dates in pen to left hand margin; Third named is in poor condition, being heavily stained, chipped and torn

With the town charter having been surrendered, the corporation drew up a petition to the king for a new charter, which was opposed by Martin Lucas, who wanted the town to have a meeting on the subject. The corporation decided this wasn’t necessary, but Lucas “raised a violent opposition in the town against the corporation. Great confusion in consequence ensued; committees were appointed; and a counter-petition, signed by about 500 names was presented to the king … [asking that he] not grant a charter without intimation to the petitioners” (The History of the Town of Northampton; With an Account of Its Public Buildings & Institutions, Eminent Men, Members of Parliament, Mayors & Bailiffs, and the Most Remarkable Events That Have Taken Place in the Town, 1817, page 120). The charter was granted the next year, after the committee declined to pursue their objections