Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/147

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lofty rising ground, swelling from the river Ribble, who, though but an insignificant stream lure, adds greatly to the beauty of the scenery of the sur- rounding country. This is best seen from the terrace called the Walks, the resort of all the beauty and fashion of Preston, in the cool hours of the summer evening, and during the genial influence of the noon-day winter's sun. At the foot of this the river flows, beyond whose banks an unbounded vale is opened to the eye, more remarkable for extent than interest.

Preston is a large, handsome town, with a po- pulation of nearly 12,000, and cursed with the right of returning members to the senate. I use the term in its harshest sense, as applied to this place; since the feuds, disagreements, malignity, and unhappiness, which the privilege has occasioned amongst its inhabitants, to die total destruction of all social intercourse, and comfortable neighbour- hood, fully justify the express on. For near!} one hundred and fifty years, the question was undeter- mined whether the elective franchise were vested in the pot-uallcrs, (such oi' the inhabitants as boiled a pot) or the burgesses of the corporation; and during this long period of indecision, as fre- quently as the election returned, the town was converted into one general scene ot confusion, a^i-

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