In the election of the members who represented Lynn in the protector _Richard’s_ parliament the _corporation_ appear to have exercised the same arbitrary power as before, of being _sole electors_. Several of the other freemen at the same time desired permission to poll, but were not allowed. At the election which took place in April 1660 the freemen again applied for permission to vote which, after some hesitation, was acceded to, and the members were then chosen by the _general body_ of free burgesses. {769} Thus we see how things formerly stood in this town, as to the state of political liberty, or the freedom of election. Former times appear not to have been very pure in those respects, any more than the present. In looking to our ancestors for much political rectitude or public virtue, we are often most sadly disappointed. It is now frequently made a subject of complaint or reflection, that our present members are chosen, in fact, by two or three individuals; but the same seems to have been almost always the case ever since the reformation, and revolution, as well as before. The freemen at large are indeed _said_ to have a _voice_ in the election of our members; but it is all a joke, while freedom of acting, or voting without constraint or control is totally out of the question. It is well known at what risk most of our pretended _freemen_ would vote freely at our elections, and how much it has cost some of them before now for presuming so to do. All this however must be very wrong, if our constitution ought to be in practice what is it in theory. SECTION III. _Maintenance of the clergy—state of the public morals and manners—mode and progress of reformation at Lynn_, _under the Common-wealth and Protectorate_. Of the Lynn clergy during this period Dr. _Arrowsmith_ and Mr. _Horn_ appear to have been by much the most eminent. The former we think was one of the ministers of St. Margaret’s parish. That his character, as a divine, stood very high, appears from his being appointed one of the Assembly of Divines, which was convened in 1643, and which appointment put an end probably to his residence here. He became afterwards Master of Peter-House in Cambridge. Mr. Horn must have settled here after the departure of Dr. Arrowsmith; not as his successor, however; for he was the minister of _South Lynn_, and held that situation till after the restoration, when we find him among those _two thousand_ worthies, commonly called the “Ejected Ministers.” As minister of Alhallows or South Lynn, he laid his income at 80_l._ a year, a sum equal to 5 or 600_l._ at least, of our money. This comfortable situation and ample income he gave up, to preserve a good conscience; an instance and a proof of integrity which must endear his memory to all honest and good men.