waring, Esq. be earnestly requested im "mediately to commence an active canvass

in the several districts of this county, as the shortness of the interval, previous to "the day of election, renders it impossible "for Mr Mainwaring to pay his respects to

Το

every freeholder in person. Samuel Fyler, "chairman."--On the 18th, Mr. Mainwaring pablished the following address. "To "the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of "the County of Middlesex.-GENTLEMEN,

in compliance with the wishes of a large and respectable body of freeholders, I of"fer my services to represent you in the pre"sent parliament. Outraged as the county

has been, I could not want motives to in "duce me to obey the call with which I have been honoured, even if my father "had not suffered as he has by the partiality of the sheriffs at the last election. I am bound to acknowledge, 'with gratitude, the noble and generous resolution which "has been adopted by the freeholders, to in"demnify me from any expense in this con"test. Feeling, as I do, that your cause is "that of every elector, and, indeed, of every

loyal man, I am proud of being selected to << stand forward on such an occasion, and I beg leave to assure you, in case of my success, that my utmost endeavours shall be exerted to prove myself not unworthy of your choice. I have the honour to be, "gentlemen, your's, &c., G. Boulton Main

་་

waring."-On the 19th, Sir F. Burdett published the following address, "To the Independent Freeholders of the County of "Middlesex.-GENTLEMEN, the great and disinterested encouragement which I have already experienced in my canvass at once "demands my greatful acknowledgments, "and inspires me with confidence of suc"cess. To insure this, however, your ex"ertions must be unremitted, and the ge"nerous support which you have hitherto " given me, should be manifested by an "early appearance in my favour. Among "the successful events of the late scrutiny, "esteem it the chief that a great number of

་་

persons were disqualified, who, without any just claim to vote; bad long been en"croaching upon your rights. These were the prebendaries of Westminster, with a long train of servants and pensioners, all the officers and placemen of the courts of "Chancery, King's Bench, Common Pleas. "and Exchequer. By one decision of the "committee above 400 voters of this description were disqualified. The removal of these men (the dependants of the mi“nister, and uniformly subservient to his mandates) gives you a decisive majority

in the county. Let me request you will "but exert yourselves as becomes you to maintain it, and you wil dele ca. 15te"rested opposition, which is raised only by contractors, placemen, and others still more unworthy to exercise the franchise of elec"tors. Of those who are contented that the "minister should squander public money "without contreal or inquiry, that English "prisons should be made dens of oppression "and torture; that the lives of their fellow subjects should be wickedly aimed at un"der colour of justice; of such men I can, notbe a fit representative. Let them carry their votes and their subscriptions to my opponent. He may tread in the steps of "his father, and will not blush to receive their support. My better reliance is on "the virtue and integrity of those who behold with detestation the progress and consequences of corruption, and a ho cousider each vote that is given (whether by "the elector or the member) dot as the in"strument of private advantage, but as the

discharge of a sacred trust. I am, gen"tlemen, your devoted, humble servant, Francis Burdett."

FIRST DAY.

Monday, the 23d, being the day appointed for the election, Sir Francis Burdet, with a bumerous body of friends, sat out from his house in Ficcadilly at seven in the morn ing, preceded by seven outriders, carrying large bamers of blue silk, on which were written, in letters of gold, Burdett and Independence," "The servants and the whole of the party wore purple cockades, with a marigold flower or orang coloured silk in the middle. Sir Francis Burdett and Peter Moore, Esq, went together. A cavalcade of coaches filled with electors, followed shortly after, preceded by a band of music in a carravan drawn by six horses, adorned with banners and purple and orange ribbands, while the band played See the Conquer

ing Hero comes," until Sir Francis arrived at the house of his solicitor, opposite the poll booth. About ten o'clock Mr, Mainwaring arrived in a chariot and six, with two postillions in scarlet livery, trimmed with silver. Two out-rides preceded the cavalcade, and ten carriages followed, oc cupied by Sir W. Curtis, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Melish, Mr. M Guire, Mr. W. Mainwaring, Mr. John Bowles, and others, the friends of the candidate Every ave ne from town in the direction towards Brentford was througed, and long before the commencement of the business of the election, the space in front of the hustings was crowded. Sir Francis was upon the hustings

some time before Mr. Mainwaring; on the appearance of the latter, marks of the srongest disapprobation issued from the spectators. At half past ten the sheriffs, Mr. Alderman Shaw and Sir William Leighton, proceeded to the business of the day. The reading of the writs and the usual preliminary formalities being gone through,

Mr. Peter Moore, member for the City of Coventry, came forward and addressed the freeholders in the following words.Gentlemen; it has frequently fallen to my lot to address numerous meetings of the freeholders of Middlesex, but on no previous occasion did I feel myself so forcibly called upon by a sense of public duty, to come forward and urge you to protect all that is sacred and dear to you as Englishmen. It is not merely the question this day what candidate you shall chuse, but whether you shall be represented at all; whether your elective franchise shall be preserved to you, and Middlesex be still the free and independent county which it has heretofore been; or whether it shall be surrendered up into the hands of a knot of jobbers and contractors, who have entered into a nefarious confederacy to bargain away your rights. I use the strong term bargain, because you all of you have seen, even in the advertisements of the gentlemen who are now embodied on the hustings, that they have made a gross and unprecedented bargain, in order to seize upon your rights. They have advertised for a candidate, and have made a positive bargain with him for your representation. The history of corruption never exhibited a plot so nefarious, or a stratagem so undisguised. If they should succeed, what name would you give to a representative so chosen ? Yours he would not be. He must be the tool, creature, and instrument of the jobbers and contractors who fitted him out for the speculation. He must be considered as an agent, appointed to carry on the traffic of their loans and jobs; to assist them in perpetuating the calamities by which they thrive to second the minister in every attack upon your properties, and to deprive you of all means of watching, checking and controling the expenditure of the public money. With such a representative Middlesex must be degraded into the condition of a rotten borough, it must be lost to the people and surrendered for ever into the hands of the minister of the day; or what is worse, into the hands of those money jobbers who do the dirty work of every ministry.But I own I hope better things from the feelings, the pride, the spirit, and the patriotism of the crowded assembly that

I address. I cannot believe for a moment that you will forget what is due to the memory of your ancestors to the claims of your children. I cannot believe that you will hesitate for an instant in your choice between the two candidates who appear be fore you, and one of whom I shall have the honour to put in nomination before have done. At the last election I was scarcely acquainted with Sir Francis Burdett. The support I gave him then arose entirely from an approbation of his public conduct; but since that time I have had the means of learning his private character, and I take upon myself to say, that a man more exemplary in all the relations and duties of life never existed in any country at any time. He is pure from every stain. He was a good son. He is a most affectionate husband and father, a most valuable friend, a most exemplary member of society-and all these virtues of private lite he carries into his public conduct. With the warmest patriotism, and the most constitutional zeal for the rights of Englishmen, he possesses the most dutiful affection and loyalty to our be loved King. I speak from the bottom of my heart, and if the sheriffs will administer the oath, I will swear to the truth of what I say. I do not know in this world a purer or more unblemished character, or a man of more public and private worth than Sir Francis Burdett If he has a single fault, it is, that in the generosity of a sanguine mind, he expects to find more virtue than belongs to these depraved times; and through that virtue to obtain all the happiness for his fellow subjects that the principles of our free govt. are calculated in themselves to confer. But in the ardour of this expec tation, I do not know of a single act of his life that detracts from his reputation, or ought to lower him in the esteem of any good or candid man. I speak within the hearing of some of those persons who have been the most virulent in their invectives and most licentious in their misrepresentations of his conduct. I know that, jaundi ced as they are by party violence, they feel in their conscience the truth of every syl lable I have uttered. I have served with Sir, F. Burdett in parliament, and I have obser ved his conduct there. He never gave a vote but for the constitution, for peace, for morals, and for the happiness of the human race. If I were called upon to select a person whose conduct was a model for the representative. ¡of a free people, 1 should point out my friend, Sir Francis, as the man, On every question upon which the great in terests of the empire depended, he voted with

those persons whom you all love and reverence, and you see him this day surrounded and supported by them.-I need not tell you, gentlemen, that we had in parliament repeated struggles to procure an administration on broad inclusive principles which should have combined and embodied all the vigour of the realm, to give us at least a chance for the restoration of peace, and for the security of the empire. I say this also in the presence of his revilers. They know that he uniformly voted for that comprehensive administration, and in so doing, shewed himself to be a true, loyal and considerate subject of his Majesty. Gentlemen,. it would be improper in me to detain you by any further remarks on the claims of my friend to the honour of your election. I cannot doubt of the preference that you will give him, and I therefore conclude by putting in nomination Sir Francis Burdett, Bart. to be your representative in parliament on the present vacancy.

Mr. Knight said, that he was happy to express his cordial assent in the opinions delivered by his worthy friend who opened. the business, and to second the nomination. proposed. Of his hon. friend, who was the subject of that nomination, he entertained a sentiment which he believed, was general among all who had an opportunity of appreciating his character, and such as he was firmly persuaded was universally felt in the County of Middlesex.--Upon the subsheriff's desiring to know whether any other candidate was to be proposed,

Sir William Curtis stepped forward, and began by stating, that there was no man who more cordially agreed than he did in the panegyric which had been pronounced upon the private character of Sir F. Burdett, and admiring that character as he did, he regretted that his public duty obliged him to stand forward upon this occasion. No man, he contended, whatever the hon. part. might say, could esteem the constitution of this country more than he (Sir William) did

Here there was such a degree of hissing that the worthy alderman found it necessary to retire; on which

Mr. Sheriff Shaw stood forward and addressed the meeting. He said, they were summoned this day to exercise a very valuable and important privilege, which was enjoyed in no other country of the world; it was nothing less than the right of electing an individual to hold a place in the great council of the nation, and on the discreet exercise of this immunity essentially depended publie liberty and happiness. He

hoped that gentlemen would give to the friends of each candidate a fair opportunity to express their sentiments; after which, it would be for the electors to determine who was most deserving of their choice.

...

He

Sir William Curtis again, appeared. would now, he said, say a few words in favour of the candidate he had the pleasure to propose. He was the son of that man who had been long a representative of the county of Middlesex, and given satisfaction in that situation: to the independent freeholders. The opponent of the candidate whom he had the honour to propose, had declared, by the mouth of the hon. gent, who spoke in his favour, that he wished to be judged by his conduct. The freeholders. of Middlesex would recollect what that conduct had been at the meeting at Hackney, where Sir F. Burdett had been openly charged with uttering sentiments, subversive, of the best interests of this country. It would also be recollected that his defence, if it might be called a defence, satisfied scarcely a single freeholder among the very respectable number that was then present. The consequence of this was, that, the ad, dress which at that critical time the county thought proper to present to his Majesty, the freeholders had deemed Sir F. Burdett: as unworthy of the honour of attending the sheriff's to deliver, and had: almost unanimously determined that Mr. Byng alone should present the address to his Majesty. What action of Sir F. Burdett's had made any amends for his conduct on that occa-, sion? None. ft. followed then, that he was an improper person to represent; the County of Middlesex; and, therefore, he hoped that the freeliniders would choose in. his stead a man whose situation in the county, and whose political principles, rendered him worthy of representing in parlia ment the free and independent electors of: Middleses. He concluded, by proposing Mr. George Boulton Mainwaring, as candi-, date for the county. uhoda vailprog

Colonel Wood seconded this proposal. He considered this as a contest for a man whose father had long been a worthy representative of the county, and with whose disposition and loyal principles the freeholders had good. grounds to be satisfied. The county of Middlesex, he contended, had for the last two sessions of parliament been most shamefully misrepresented. A person had sat in the House of Commons as. a representative of the county whom a committee of that house had afterwards declared to be in a minority of votes. He had, however, succeeded in depriving him who had the majority of votes

of his seat; and how did he deprive him of it? Why, by proving that a little ale and beef had been given to the electors, who had often come from a considerable distance to poll He meant not to blame any party or person concerned in this affair, but cer tain it was that this was the first time he heard that the proper exercise of old English hospitality was a ground for disqualifying a mant for a seat in the House of Commons. He hoped that the free holders, on this occasion, would surmount all difficulties, and endure every inconvenience, in order to put an end to this.coutest, and to deliver the county from those disturbances to which it had been subject since the hon. bart. had be come a candulate The hon birt had reported that his friend was connected with Governor Aris. No such connexion had ever been proved, nor was there the smallest grounds for any such suppositions. It was merely brought forward by the hon. bart. to serve the purpose of the moment; but he trusted tha the freeholders of Middlesex

would shew that proper and loyal principles would have a greater effect upon them than any artifice that could be contrived to mislead them..

Sir Francis Burdett then came forward; but the acclamations of the crowd were so loud, and constantly repeated, that for some time he could not be heard. At length he spoke as follows: Gentlemen, I shall not commence this election as the hon. gent, who spoke last has done, by disclaiming my former friends and connexions. I do not disclaim the friends who upon the la e election ho qured me with their support. I have no reason to do so; for it is with satisfaction I find hat not one of those who supported the in a former instance, manifest the slightest disposition to desert me upon the present occasion How different is the feeling of my adversaries! and I must say, geotlemen that it is a little ungrateful in them to disavow the friends in this election who gave them such active support upon the former, and are willing to afford it upon this also; for I can state from my own know. ledge that Mr. Aris has not remitted his endeavours to promote the interest of his paAron I have crossed him in my canvassing, and found that he was eager to serve the son of his friend Mr. Justice Mainwaring I do not blame Aris, though I tax his friends with ingratitude; for nothing can be so natural as that the gaoler Aris should be anxious to oblige the son of his protector; but yet it appears to me a misapplication of the time of a man who is eplyed to retain robbers,

to engage self in endeavouring to retain

voters to rob you of your independence The worthy alderman, as I must, through cour tesey, call him, and his supporter. have talked a good deal about beef and ale; these are very good in their own way, but I trust, my countrymen, you have too much good sense to barter your birth-right for a mess of pottage. Gentlemen, I shall not long trespass on your attention, because I am anxious that you should come to the poll, in order to put an end to this contest, which I regard disgraceful both to you and me, considering the character of the opposition we have to encounter. Gentlemen, as to the, motives which induce me to stand forward on this occasion, I shall only say, that after the liberal support I had the honour to receive at the last contest, under the most disadvanta geous circumstance to me; after a minute scrutiny, in the course of which no degree of partiality was manifested, at least to me; after so many voters were left unscrutinized, it appears that the majority of my adversary was but nominal, and that, at best, his situation was but equivocal wo thousand unexceptionable voters being admitted on my side, which is a much greater number. than ever before gained an election for this county. Under these circumstances, gentlemen, I feel that I should be ungrateful for your kindness, and should desert my own duty, if I were to abandon the object of this contest; and I also feel, that I should insult your understanding, and degrade my self, if I should condescend to notice the calumny and misrepresentation which have. been propagated respecting my conduct, particularly when I consider the quarter from whence they came. We all know, gentle-. men, the gross charges which have been urged against you by the opposite party respecting the late election, not a title of which was proved. The only illegal thing, indeed, proved with regard to either party at that election was, that which produced the disqualification of Mr. Mainwaring himself. You are all aware, gentlemen, that it is an illegal thing to buy voters; and I do not know that it is less illegal to buy a can didate; of this I am certain, that your inde pendence is equally struck at in both cases: I am aware that a high legal opinion bas been promulgated on this point, no less than. that of the Attorney General; but we all know, gentlemen, that the opinion of that learned gentleman is far from being infalli ble! [This remark having an evident allut sion to the opinion of the Attorney General upon the volunteer question, produced a ge neral burst of laughter.] Gentlemen, I shall not detain you any longer from the great

business of the day, because the delay of the pollmakts from al appearances, be peculi arly disadvantageous tous, and I shall reserve any thing further I have to offer till the close of the poll. (Peals of applauses.) haMr. George Boulton Mainwaring then advanced, but the hissing was so loud that we cannot pretend to do his observations strict jostice. His speech was in substance as follows: Gentlemen, I congratulate you, at the present moment, that another opportu n'ty has been afforded of asserting the independence of the county of Middlesex, because you have thereby a complete occasion for declaring your real and unbiassed sentiments, of which you had been nearly deprived by the issue of the late election. You have now an opportunity of declaring, whether you are to sanction, by your vote, that monstrous misapplication of the right of representing you in parliament, which has taken place for these two last years. You have an opportunity of shewing, whether you are to sanction, by your vote, the means by which my opponent has been enabled to obtain his seat in parliament; and whether you approve of a man for your representative, who has fulfilled none of the pledges which he gave you. At the last election he amused you with promises that he would make the prison gates fly open. Has he made any attempts to this effect? has he instituted an examination into the state of the prisons, and the situation of the prisoners? No; not one act of his has tended to fulfil these promises. Now, when the contest is renewed, he will perhaps come forward with the same promises, and vilify my father as he used to do. My father's mild and inoffensive disposition was scarcely capable of bearing up against this monstrous conspiracy which was set up against him, and these persecutions he therefore in some measure suffered in silence (Here the crowd grew very clamorous). I value not the clamours of a mob: "It is not to them I look for sup ports This contest is not to be decided by clamor, but by solid votes. If the county is not wanting to itself, I shall not desert it, whatever may be said of me; and although my father bore his faculties too meekly," I can assure the hon. bart, that he shall not vilify me with impunity. I shall stand foot to foot with the hon. bart, and contest every inch of ground with him. I assure the county that I, at least, shall not shrink from any duty that it may be incumbent on me to perform I only intreat the county not to sanction the hopes of a man who has forined a conspiracy against loyalty, and who -is-the companion and eulogist of traitors.

*

(The hisses hére became so loud, that Mr. M. though proper to retire) The two candi dates were then proposed by the sheriffs, when the shew of hands was declared to be in favour of Sir F. Burdett, on which a poll was demanded on behalf of Mr. Mainwaring, by Sir W, Curtis and Mr. John Bowles, which was immediately acceded to. The qualification of Mr. Mainwaring was then required. Upon which that gentleman, as we understand, swore that he possessed 6001. a year in lands and houses. The situation of the property was stated to be in the parishes of Edmonton and Enfield. The poll accordingly commenced and continued till five o'clock, when the sheriff's came forward and declared the numbers to be, for Sir F. Burdett 611; for G. B. Mainwaring, Esq. 528. Majority for Sir F. Burdett 83. *:

.

Sir Francis Burdett then came forward, and spoke to the following purport:- Gen. tlemen, I shall detain you but for a few moments, to express the satisfaction I feel that my conduct has, after a considerable experience, been found deserving of such marked approbation as your poll of this day evinces. It is among the happiest reflexions of my life that, at the time I first offered myself candidate for this county, I experienced the highest degree of affection and regard, which could only result from your attachment to the principle which origi nally recommended me to your notice. To that principle I still adhere, and the same line of public conduct I am determined to pursue. While that continues unchanged, I cannot, from the evidence you have af. forded me of your disposition, entertain any doubt of that countenance and active support which I have met with upon every occasion hitherto. Of the motive which induces me to stand forward as a candidate in this instance, you cannot be unaware. You must feel that it cannot proceed from any motive merely personal-that a seat in' parliament cannot be the object of my ambition; for, under the present circumstances of the house of commons, I could for much less exertion than it has cost me in the prosecution of this contest obtain ten seats in that assembly for my family for ever. This, gentlemen, cannot be considered a mere contest between two candidates; but, whether a combination of interested distillers, publicans and brewers, of magistrates and contractors, shall have the nomination of a representative for this county. This is the evil I wish to remove; and when I consider that the per sons I allude to, and others of the same description, are so much under the influence of the minister, or so completely in