[1169] The knowledge and mental culture of these assuming beings have been said to be chiefly derived from Cocker and the venal newspapers; but the present writer looks upon that as an incorrect and hyperbolic representation; though he suspects that but few of them possess very expanded minds. In time, it is to be hoped, they will become more wise, liberal, public-spirited, and patriotic.
[1170] Seventy two baskets per week, upon an average, each of 40 pounds weight, have been, we are told, sent from hence by the coaches to London, which in the whole year amounts to 65 tons 12 hundred and eight pounds. It is supposed that no other port or place beside has ever supplied the metropolis with so large a quantity of the said article, and that Boston, though it is known to deal largely in the same line, yet falls much short of the quantity here specified.
[1173] We are told that by the report of the commissioners for auditing the public accounts in 1784, the annual duties of Lynn exceeded those of all the other English ports, except London, Bristol, Liverpool, and Hull.—They might then amount to about 40,000l. But they have since more than doubted that sum.—See Britton’s account if Lynn, p. 299, and the table here at page [1162].
[1174] It may be however not altogether improper just to observe here that the Gaol or prison, and Bridewell or House of Correction, stand contiguous to the town-hall. This building makes a respectable appearance on the outside, and probably no less so within; but that it is really so, the present writer cannot positively say, having never had the curiosity to visit the inside of it.—Here he begs leave to observe in addition to what he has before said of our Grammar-school, that that seminary now appears to have existed before the reformation, as may be concluded from the following note extracted from the Hall-books, and transmitted to the author by the present worthy town-clerk.—
“Friday next after the Feast of holy Gregory the pope, anno 25 Hen. 8. [i.e. 1534.] Lynn Bishop: the Mayor, Aldermen, and Com. Council have elected in to their Charnel priest William Leyton, Chaplain; he to have it from Lady Day next coming, during his life natural, except cause reasonable, and he to perform the testament of old Mr. Thorsby, and maintain a grammar school; and further to keep the house, and tenements, in sufficient repairations in all things as he can, as it has been used.”
[1176] The first of them runs thus—
“Every subscriber to this Library shall pay one guinea annually in advance, or in proportion to the time of the year when his subscription commences. And after the general meeting in 1798, each subscriber shall pay half a guinea on his admission, and the same annual subscription as above. The sum to be paid upon admission to be afterwards increased by five shillings and three pence every year, until it shall amount to two guineas. But the property which each subscriber has in the Library may be transferred to any other person, who shall subscribe and conform to these rules; in which case such new subscriber shall pay nothing upon admission.”
The 17th is as follows:—
“No book or pamphlet, except it be a duplicate, shall on any account be alienated from the Library, without the consent of every subscriber. But if ever the number of subscribers should be reduced to Five, and continue at or below that number for three years together, the whole Library shall be transferred to the Mayor and Burgesses, to be added to that of St. Margaret’s church.”
Thus the want of liberality in the Mayor and Burgesses, who neglect to contribute towards any augmentation of their own Library, will eventually be made up, probably, by this institution, most of whose members, it is presumed, are unconnected with the corporation. Had the latter shewed some liberality in furnishing this society with a convenient place for a library, there would have been certainly a more colourable pretence for this article, or proviso.