Provenance note 

The documents in this series, previously located at ML A80-5, were donated to the Library by Evelyn Leigh-Atkinson in October 1930. 

Background note 

Sir Joseph Banks accepted appointment to the office of High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1794. His first task was the implementation of a plan to provide for the security of the coastal region of Lincolnshire against possible invasion by the French. The scheme was to augment the militia through volunteers to be paid for by subscription. Rioting commenced throughout Lincolnshire on 25 October 1795 as a reaction against the volunteers scheme. For a week and a half Banks was actively involved in quelling the riots and restoring order.