[Printed poster headed 'To the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of the County Palatine of Lancaster', announcing that after forty-five years as Member of Parliament for the borough, John Blackburne will not be standing again as a candidate.

The poster, in the mixture of typeface and font size characteristic of the period, is 31 x 25 cm, and headed: 'TO THE | Gentlemen, | CLERGY, | AND | FREEHOLDERS | OF THE | County Palatine of Lancaster.' Signed and dated in type at foot: 'JOHN BLACKBURNE. | HALE, | November 12th, 1829. Printed on one side of a piece of wove paper, and with one central horizontal fold. In fair condition, worn and aged, with slight loss and chipping at edges.' The seventeen lines of text begin: 'In conformity with the Declaration I made at the last General Election at Lancaster, I think it my duty to make publicly known, that it is not my intention again to offer myself as a Candidate for the distinguished situation I have held as one of your representatives.' Blackburne stresses that 'The Honor of representing this County in Parliament has ever been my greatest pride, and ambition. You have for Forty-five Years entrusted that important charge to my care, and I flatter myself your confidence has not been misplaced. I can with truth declare I have uniformly supported those measures which to the best of my judgment and abilities appeared most conducive to your interests and to those of the Country in general.' An eccentric figure, Blackburne was educated at Harrow and Queen's College, Oxford, and served as Member of Parliament for Lancashire for 46 years from 1784. See his entry in the History of Parliament. From Blackburne's own papers, through the Lancashire antiquary Dr James Kendrick (1809-1882).