Page images
PDF
EPUB

by your exertions, to use the language of standing all the advantages which our adverconfidence. After the noble efforts you sary possesses, we are equal to him on have made, and which have placed me in so this day's poll, and that our majority of yesadvantageoussa situation on this day's poll,terday is left untouched. have further to

it does not become me to recommend future activity, and therefore, without in the least degree doubting the continuance of your exertions, permit me to return you my most cordiat acknowledgements for the zeal which you have displayed in the great and arduous struggle in which we are engaged. The example given this day by my noble friend in the chair is one which, I hope and trust, all the gentry in this country will be disposed to imitate. I am sure that the best support of their dignities will be found in upholding the rights and the privileges of the people; and I am confident that, by following the example given this night by my noble friend, they will have the best assurance of reigning in their hearts. I beg you to consider what has been the system pursued in this country for the last 40 years, to see what have been its effects, to reflect what a monstrous, un. constitutional, and profligate increase of the national expenditure has been the consequence of it. At a crisis like the present I should wish to see a display of the spirit of lions; and while I say this I may add, that the best and most effectual defence of the country must be in the defence of its rights and liberties, and in the establishment of a proper controul over the conduct of a profligate and unprincipled minister. England is at present not only deprived of all influence on the Continent, but is actually called on to guard a foreign attack on her own shores. She has lost all that proud pre-eminence which ten years ago she enjoyed. Under these circumstances, who is the man to whom the direction of our national councils is directed? It is the same man who formerly deceived the people, and did more than any other individual to abridge their liberties; it is the saine man who has now deceived the Crown itself, and every party with which he was engaged, by a succession of disgraceful tricks and wiles, and who by the practice of the same tricks and wiles, is determined to complete that ruin, the foundation of which he himself laid."-The noble chairman then gave the health of Mr. Fox, which' was drank with the loudest acclamations. Several important arrangements were made for the sanie object, and before nine o'clock the meeting had completely dispersed.

EIGHTH DAY. July 31. The state of the poll this day was, for Mr. M. 2004, for Sir F. B. 2030. Maj. for Mr. M. 64. -Sir F Burdett, Gentlemen, you will see," with considerable satisfaction, that notwith

[ocr errors]

say, that between 40 and 50 of those avowedly disposed to support me, and who have tendered their votes this day,now fëmiain for the decision of the "sherits. You must all be sensible, that the question which demands your attention is this, whether you will as sert and maintain the independence of your county, or whether you will resign ́it ́into' the hands of contractors, loan jobbers, "po-1 lice magistrates, and court sycophants. 12 Gentlemen, I feel it necessary to make some observations upon the very singular adver tisement which has this day been published by our opponent. With that modesty which is characteristic of youth," that gent. "has charged me with bringing forward fictitious voters and ragamuffins, with resorting to every perjury, &c. to collect voters for the purpose of obtaining a colourable majority. Such an advertisement can have no other effect than to provoke you to a perseverance in the preservation of those majoritics which have produced, and must inflame the spleen of our opponent.-Gentlemen,' the string particularly and uniformly touched on by our adversary, is the guilt which he alle ges to belong to our friends, while all is pu-' rity of motive and conduct on his side. Ac cording to this statement, his host of friends, his police officers, jobbers, and thief-takers, in the simplicity of their minds, are quite incapable of struggling with the nefarious practices pursued by my friends and me." It'. would appear that some persons take in a literal sense, and act upon it, the observa tion of a sarcastic writer, that Ama

He who his but impudence 1 P3 IN To all things else has just pretence. #LOMETR But, gentlemen, whatever may be the pres tences of our opponent, Lotrust that the proud spirit of independence will enable you to mount triumphant, and set an example which shall restore pur constitution to its pristine force, vigour, and parity Gentle men, I must observe, that this is bkely to be the last contest for Middlesex, ifove fail;' and to those freeholders who now hang backu I have no hesitation in saying that, if they per sist in their inactivity their votes will become valueless; for no man will again, be found to ask their support, or stand, forward fortheir representation upon public and popular · grounds."-Mr. M. came forward, but the voice of a Stentor, or the eloquence of a Demosthenes, would have vainly attempted to make any impression; every sentence he uttered was drowned by the hisses and groas of the populace.

NINTH DAY. Aug. 1.-At the close of the poll, the numbers were, for Mr. M. 2203, for Sir F. B. 2123. Maj. for Mr. M. 80-Sir F. Burdett, Gentlemen, I beg leave to stafe, that the majority obtained by our adversary on this day's poll is invery considerable, and that his majority on the whole is trifling indeed, compared to that with which we had to contend at a corresponding period of the last election. I trust, therefore, that the advantage our opponent now possesses, will only serve to stimulate you to increased exertion. In the prosecution of this contest, we have, on the one hand, nothing to calculate upon but voluntary zeal and public spirit, while on the other, hope, fear. and interest have their fullest influence. Is it matter of surprise then that such powerful motives should have a quick and extensive operation? Quick,however, and extensive as they are, I have no doubt of final triumph in this contest, although we have entirely to rely on the pleasure, the convenience, and sometimes the caprice of different men. Gentlemen, I repeat that I consider this a contest for liberty against the foulest corruption, and so regard ing it, while there remains a foot of free ground to stand on, I will not relinquish it."

Mr. M. was received as usual. Mr. Sheriff Shaw addressed the people, and appealed strongly to their candour, requesting that Mr. Mainwaring should be heard. In consequence of this address, Mr. M. was heard. He expressed his satisfaction" that the still maintained his majority, notwithstanding the pompous predictions and vaunting of his opponent, and in spite of the confederated artifices of whiggism and jacobinism." Here he was interrupted by shouts of disapprobation-but he proceeded to say, "that when he was addressing a British multitude, he thought at least he was appealing to men who were capable of compassion."

[ocr errors]

of you as have not yet voted will be prompt to come forward. I now exhort you more particularly not to delay any longer, for this reason. Many gentlemen have assured me that they would come up and favour me with their support upon a pinch." I have now to say to them, that the pinch is ar rived. I do not say so from any regard to the insignificant majority which our adver sary possesses; nor from any apprehensjon that our friends who still hang back are not more than sufficient in number. to ensure our final triumph over ten fold that majority; nor f om any doubt of the zeal of the gentlemen who have promised me their assistance. My notion of the pinch proceeds from this, that from the special pleading, quibbling, and spirit of ligitation manifested by the agents of my adversary, I have not a doubt, that if my friends will postpone their appearance here until the two last days of the poll, capticious objections, such as we have already witnessed, will be started to their votes. Our friends will then be taken round to the sheriff's box, and it is not improbable that the poll may finally close before any deci sion will take place upon them. Thus, their votes may be lost, and their wishes to sup port our cause may be disappointed. There is another reason, gentlemen, which should impel you to come forward quickly. The dignity of your cause, and the pride of your own minds, should forbid you to allow your opponent to exceed you for one mo ment, and should urge you to preserve in that spirit you so nobly evinced at the commencement of this contest, and which I am quite sure you will evince at the conclusion, You cannot surely contemp'ate, without surprise and regret, that a candidate should have even so much success, who stands forward upon such principles-who is introduced to you by such a party, and sup ported by such means-who has for his ob

TENTH DAY. Aug. 2.-On the close of the poll the numbers stood thus; for Mr.ject the destruction of the independence of M. 2309, for Sir F. B. 2222. Maj. for Mr. M. 87-Sir F. Burdett, Gentlemen, in taking my leave of you this evening, I feel myself entitled to speak to you with more confidence than I did yesterday. Upon a comparison of the progress of the poll since the commencement, it will be found that we stand upon advantageous ground, the opposite party advancing beyond us by such slow and inconsiderable degrees, as betray the weakness of their force, and the ease with which the friends of freedom may by one vigorous stride, outstrip their course and exceed their trifling majority. I trust and hope, however, gentlemen, that such

your county-and whose political system is avowedly hostile to the liberties of the people.-Gentlemen, this is the first in stance in which a candidate was ever offer. ed upon similar grounds any where, for the representation of a county, and I cannot, suffer myself to apprehend that the res pectable county of Middlesex will be the first to sanction such an example. I shall conclude, with repeating to you that which I have so often unfortunately addressed to you in vain, namely, a request to bear in mind that old and excellent maxim of English jurisprudence, "hear both sides."Mr. M. then came forward and met with

the usual reception. We could, however, collect the following: Gentlemen, after "the repeated instances of your illiberality "which I have experienced, I have no wish to address myself to any except "those who have so honourably come for"ward to support my cause. My grati "itude, and every possible symptom of res"pect and thankfulness that I could shew, are due to them. It is not, then, on my "own account that I wish to address you, "but merely because it is becoming in a

sex, are represented as parties with me in these perjuries. To such charges, unsup ported by fact or argument, I shall only-re ply by stating what has come to my know ledge within these few hours. Several persons of highly respectable character, who have had their names branded in this manner, and who are equally, if not more, free from such a charge than my opponent, did apply to me this morning, complaining of the way in which their names and characters had been traduced. Some of the respectable freeholders now alluded to did also send to the committee of Mr. Maiowaring, demanding redress for the calumny which had been cast upon them. The committee felt a litthe ashamed of their conduct, and, perhaps too, were afraid of the consequences which might result from it. They accordingly offered to make an apology. The injury, however, was such as would not admit of apology. When a man's name is stuck up as a perjured person, no apology but one as public as the accusation can be received; and, I trust and hope, that this calumny will draw down on the authors of it a punishment proportionable to the enormity of the

candidate who stands in my situation to "address the freeholders."-Here the clamour grew so loud and incessant, that Mr. M., by the advice of his friend withdrew from the hustings:-During the course of this day's poll, Mr. Clifford (Sir F. B.'s | counsel) tendered one of the Isleworth millers to vote for Sir F. B. After a 1 ng ar gument, in the course of which Mr. Courthorpe, (Mr. M.'s counsel' threathened the voter with an indictment for perjury, Mr. Knowlys, the Common Serjeant, who is the sheriffs' assessor and counsel, stated that, in his opinion, the voter had both a legal and equitable freehold, and that, if he would take the oaths, he recommended to the she-charge. But they also say that I am a great riffs to admit him to poll; but the sheriff's said, shat they should be accessaries in his perjury, and they rejected his vote. When this voter had been rejected, Mr. Clifford tendered another of these millers, who held 7 shares. After a long legal argument, the sheriffs, by the advice of their assessor, decided his vote to be good, and he polled for Sir F. B.

ELEVENTH DAY, Aug. 3.-At the close of the poll the numbers were, for Mr. M. 2407, for Sir F B 2277. Maj. for Mr. M. 130Sir. F Burdett, Gentlemen, I trust the disadvantage which we appear to have on this day's poll has not weakened your hope of ultimate success, as, I assure you, it has not diminished mine. The returns which I have got from the gentlemen who have undertaken my cause, and the assurances of support which I every morning reServe in the course of my own personal canvass, convince me that I do not deceive you. -rentlemen, the grossest calumnies, by means of advertisements in the public prints, and by, hand-bills and placards, are daily thrown out against me and my friends by our opponent. Several voters who have epme forward in my favour, have by public advertisements been charged with the crime of perjury, and the number of voles which I have already polled is represented as false and colourable merely. Gentlemen, 2277 of you, freeholders of the county of Middle

calumniator, and that it is not through your patriotism and love of independence that I stand so high on the poll, but by resorting to means such as they employ. If they think that by calumny and lies all the great and illustrious characters of whose support I can boast, all the rank and independence of the country who have stepped forward in my favour, and all the hard-working people whom they denominate rabble, can be called forth, they indeed explain their own conduct, and afford a complete solution as to their motives in issuing the calumeies which they have so busily propagated.—If I allude to the man who is universally acknowledged to be the greatest character in this country, whose abilities are so transcendant as to hold him out at this moment, not to this country only, but to the whole world, as an object of admiration; if I mention the name of Mr. Fox, in whom every thing that is noble, generous, and open, is combined with every thing that is remarkable for talent, know? ledge and discernment, do I not sufficiently illustrate the truth of this observation? Gentlemen, let my opponent and his friends go on as they chuse. I shall never calume niate any mau. I shall, indeed, be ready at all times to become a public accuser, where I see just ground for accusation; nor shall any public grievance or infringement of your rights and liberties be suffered to exist; which I can detect and bring to pu

nishment. I have little doubt, and personally still less anxiety, about the issue of this contest. I shall have done every thing my feeble abilities could do to secure your independence; and I shall moreover have tried the strength of the independence and spirit of the county against the increasing influence of hired justices, a calamity the greatest which the county has yet experienced." Mr. M. attempted to speak, but without success. He then turned towards those within-side the hustings, but the sheriff having noticed the impropriety of turning his back on the electors, he was led off by his friends.-In confirmation of Sir F. Burdett's assertion in the above speech, "that several voters who had come forward in his favour, had been charged with the crime of perjury," we select the following advertisement from several others of the same nature." Whereas a paper has been published, containing a false and scanda"Tous libel upon me, by stating, that I (amongst other persons) voted at the present election, and, after the striciest inquiry, have not been found to reside as "described on the poll, and requesting in"formation of my real name and residence ་ to be sent to No. 7, Carey-street, in or "der that a prosecution may be immediately instituted against me for perjury; "and whereas a gent., stating himself to come by authority from Mr. Mainwaring's "committee, called on me yesterday (Aug. 3), at my house, and promised me an apology for the said libel in all the morning and evening papers, which promise. has not been performed: I do hereby request that any person or persons who may know the author of the said paper, "will give me immediate information there

64

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

of, that I may institute a prosecution "against him for this gross and false attack

[ocr errors]

"

upon a freeholder of the county of Middlesex, who has given his free and un"biassed vote for Sir F. Burdett, in right "of a freehold situate at Hendon. T. Hun"ter, No. 17, Mary-le-bone-street, Golden-square."

TWELFTH DAY. Aug. 5.-At the close of the poll the numbers were, for Mr. M. $479, for Sir F. B. 2349. Maj. for Mr. M. 128. Sir F. Burdett addressed the meeting to the following purport: Gentlemen, you will perceive from the poll of this day, that the exertions which you have made since last had the honour of addressing you, already begin to be felt; that the tide has turned and set in in our favour. Gentlemen, I should not think it necessary to take up so much of your time, day after day, if

it were not for the calumnies which are daily invented and propagated by our adversary and his agents. Whether you regard the inclosures which are sent in circular letters, the advertisements that are published by our opponent himself, in which he charges your efforts to maintain your independance, as the foulest conspiracy, the fables which appear in the hired public prints of the day, or the placards which are so widely diffused in the capital, you will find nothing but the same cuckoo-note of "treason and perjury." If those persons will deal in falsehood and calumny, they should at least show some ingenuity, and not constantly persist in repeating the same absurd tale, and in almost precisely the same terms. By the uniformity of their strain and method, and by the inju dicious distribution of their slander, they ab solutely lose their own purpose These men seem to have adopted the maxim that "sufficient for the day is the lie thereof," but they should remember that the same tie will not suffice for every day in the week; they should, therefore, endeavour to vary a little their calumnies, and thus give them some what the appearance of novelty, and not allow them to grow stale in the hands of their customers.-Gentlemen, among the other slanderous libels propagated against my cha racter, and which I pass by io scorn, I find in the "Morning Herald" of this day, the following "Card," which purports to be addressed to the editor by the Marchioness of Salisbury:-"The Marchioness of Sa "lisbury desires the Editor of the M. He"rald will immediately contradict a paragraph, which she supposes he has inad vertently inserted in his paper, stating, that she had sent a number of voters to support Sir F. Burdett, was she would, on "the contrary, certainly use every possible "exertion against so professed an enemy "this happy constitution."-Gentlemen, would ask, whether a more gross and infa mous libel can be imagined by the mind of man, and whether it is possible that a woman, a gentlewoman, should thus obtrude herself upon public notice-should so far forget what is becoming her rank and sex as to bring her name in question, by giving her support and testimony to an assertion, of the justice of which, at best, she could know nothing. No, gentlemen, the thing is not to be believed; I must reckon it among the tricks and artifices to which my opponent has thought proper to resort Bot, gentle uen, like his other artifices, it is clumsy and easy of detection, for who that knows any thing of the political history of this coun try, could suppose for a moment that the

[ocr errors]

of

Marquis of Salisbury would be found among the advocates of our cause. No one could fancy that our object would be supported by the Marq. of Salisbury, who has had more places, and, if report lie not, sold more places, than any man in England. We know that his main employment is what they usually call at Court a White Stick. Now, gentlemen, with reference to the phrase used in this libel of "happy consti"tution," I beg to say a few words. It is no wonder that the Marq, of Salisbury and I should differ as to the meaning of that phrase ➡there are many who consider it in different points of view Some mistake the abuses of the constitution for the constitution itself, and undoubtedly I am, and ever shall be, an inveterate and active opponent of those abuses. People have different modes of estimating different things; some adopt the maxim

What's the value of any thing **** But so much money as twill bring." In that sense certainly it is to the Marquis of Salisbury, and such persons invaluable-to us, gentlemen, it is very dear. My views of the subject are extremely different, as the rights, privileges and interests of the people are, in my opinion, the most essential part of the constitution."Mr. M. then came forward and said, "Gentlemen, it is needless, for many reasons, to attempt to address you here at length, nor is there any great netessity for it. Though prevented by your illiberality from addressing you with freedom, the harm is not great, while the numbers on the poh" (pointing to the numbers) speak for me with an eloquence more powerful than any that I could em'ploy"` Here the noise grew so intolerable, that Mr. M. was under the necessity of retiring.

THIRTEENTH Day, Aug. 6. - At the close of the poll the numbers were, for Mr. M. 2586; for Sir F. B. 2499: Majority for Mr. M. 87.

Sr F. Burdett, Gentlemen, I cannot bat Te-1 highly gratified by the flattering manner in which you are pleased to express your satisfaction at the state of this day's poll. I feel an additional gratification because the hope which I have uniformly held out to you is thus it a grea measure fulfilled. This hope, I was always assured, had the best foundation. It is now evident to every man, that it was never thrown out to delude you. I have also to add, that were it not for the system of objection in which the agents of our adversary seems determined to perse Vere, we should have had a still farther increase to our majority of between forty

[ocr errors]

and fifty votes, which now remain undecided by the sheriffs. It has been just mentioned to me, that there are no less than fifty-seven votes which have been tendered for me and objected to in the course of this day's poll; upon none of which the sheriffs have yet pronounced any determination. Gentlemen, it has been industriously spread abroad, that I am a person hostile to England, to Englishmen, and to the English constitution, in fact, to every thing to which my whole life has been a perpetual struggle. A paper has just been put into my hands, which has been enclosed, I understand, in circular letters, to the freeholders of this county, and in which it is stated, that " whoever votes or "canvesses for me, must be considered as "abetting calumny, perjury, treason, mu"tiny, and invasion." These, gent., are slight insinuations thrown out against my character, which our adversaries, no doubt, consider as fair election squibs. To be serious, however, it happens, fortunately, that such is the grossness, malignity, ignorance, and vulgarity of all their libels, that they recoil upon themselves, and are capable of inflieting a wound upon those only from whom they issue. These men have perpetually in their mouths, expressions of respect for rational freedom, and the liberty of the press. As to the sincerity of their attachment to the former, it is unnecessary for me to say any thing to you, and the publications I have referred to, sufficiently betray the rational, decent use which such persons are di-posed to make of the liberty of the press. These decent, inoffensive men, would use the press merely as the means of publishing their innocent, inoffensive, compositions against you and me. Really, gent., I do not know what such persons mean in their cant about the freedom of the press, unless it be that freedom which their hireling prints daily take with your character and mine. With regard to my opponent, gent., I know nothing of him. I do not consider myself as opposed to him personally. You are all perfectly aware that our struggle is against a system, not an individual-against a system. supported by servile justices, and unprip cipled contractors, who have made iny opponent their tool for the purpose of destroy ing the independence of this county. To this system and object I am decidedly adverse. Can it therefore be said that I am an enemy to the English constitution?-No. I am an enemy to its abuses, which J. ever have, and ever shall, actively and loudly reprobate. If I have opposed a corrupt i nistry, who have abused the royal ear, and royal prerogative, and have trampled on the

Supplement to No. 8, Vol. VI.-Price iod.

« PreviousContinue »