Two printed documents, 'In the Matter of the Hull and Selby Railway': 'In the House of Lords. [...] Copy of the Petition of Robert Raikes, Esq. in Opposition to the Bill' and 'Objections against the Bill, on the Part of Robert Raikes, Esq.'

The two items are uniform in layout, on folio bifoliums, with the text covering the whole of the recto of the first leaf, and the details printed lengthwise on the reverse of the second. Both in good condition, and folded into the customary packets. An early example of nimbyism, rather rich coming from a banker. The petition begins: 'In the House of Lords. To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled, The Humble Petition of Robert Raikes, of Welton House, in the Parish of Welton in the East Riding of the County of York, Esquire, | Sheweth, | [...]' Raikes's objection is 'THAT the circumstance of a Rail Road thus passing through such an Estate as your Petitioner's would to any Purchaser be a strong ground of objection and must necessarily detract from the value of the fee simple to a serious extent.' The other document is headed: In the Matter of the Hull and Selby Railway Bill. | Reasons on the part of Robert Raikes, Esq. against the Bill.' Following twenty numbered reasons, the document states 'THAT Mr. Raikes is possessed of a large Mansion House rebuilt about 15 years ago at a Cost including the Out-buildings of nearly £20,000, connected with a large and valuable Estate of upwards of 3,000 Acres and three other considerable Mansions on the Property, Mr. Raikes' House commanding an extensive and picturesque view over the Humber and the opposite Coast of Lincolnshire and no public Road intervening between him and the Humber, and it is now proposed by this Bill to carry the Hull and Selby Railway between the House and the River in a line visible from the House passing through nearly a mile of his property.' The conclusion reads: 'AN APPEAL is therefore made to Parliament to protect private property from the unrelenting encroachment of speculation, and a Land Owner from being compelled by the Legislature, contrary to the General Principles of Law, to sell his Property, for the purpose of Establishing a Nuisance to himself from which Others are to derive the gain.' No copies of either item traced, either on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat. Raikes was unsuccessful in his efforts: the Hull and Selby Railway opened in 1840.