officers (and have they not means enough!) to defend themselves is equally undoubted. But, they have no right, by way of defence, to reproach their assailants with disloyalty. This mode of proceeding was pursued by the Addingtons. All those who disapproved of their measures; all those who expressed disguft at their insatiable love of place and emolument; all those who exposed their grasping, were, for want of arguments wherewith to furnish a defence, accused of disaffection to the government, and were, more than once, denominated Jacobins! But, this is a fraud, which, though it may succeed for a time with a certain portion of the people, muft, in the end, prove, as it did in the case just referred to, ruinous to those who resort to it.

SECOND

SECOND DAY.

Tuesday, November 11.

At the close of the poll, the numbers were as

follows:

Mr. BYNG advanced to the front of the huftings. The uproar was so great that for some time he could not be heard. Gentlemen, (said he, after silence had been obtained) I am highly gratified at the ftate of the poll this day, and have only to return you my best thanks for your exertions in my favour, and to request your continuance of them.”

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT then came forward, and was greeted with the usual applauses by the crowd. "At this late hour, (he observed) I shall only take up your time, Gentlemen, for a few minutes, in expressing to those who have voted in my favour with so much spirit, under so many disadvantages, the great satisfaction which I feel at the independent principles on which I have been supported. For, whether I look at the whole number that has polled this day, or the number of those who, under the disadvantages that I have mentioned, have come forward in my favour, I cannot but be persuaded, that the independence of the County will at length

rouse

rouse itself, and will finally place me in that situation where another candidate at present stands, viz. at the head of the poll (fhouts of applaufe). At all events, Gentlemen, it will be no fault of mine if you should not place me there. I am willing to stand or fall with the independence of the County of Middlesex; and I am resolved to give it every opportunity that the law allows of exerting itself, by keeping the poll open to the laft (applauses). Gentlemen, when I consider the general flackness of the poll this day when I consider that others, with all the advantages which they possessed, have not polled many more than I myself polled on the first day of a late election for this County, I cannot consider the ftate of the poll this day as the slightest criterion for judging of the final termination of the conteft. I therefore hope that the independence of the County will shortly manifeft itself. There are many reasons, which you may easily suggeft to yourselves, for the lowness of the poll in my favour this day. In the first place, the Election at Westminster engages numbers of our friends. From the present state of political parties, there are many of my friends engaged there on opposite sides. After that Election is over, they will come forward, and finally crown the cause of independence with a glorious triumph. But, Gentlemen, I shall only say this, that be the support given to that cause more or less, I shall always prefer the liberties of the people to any election triumph, or to a triumph of kind that you can imagine. Having said this much, Gentlemen, I shall conclude by requesting, that you

any

will exert yourselves with that indefatigable zeal which you have before shewn, and which the greatnes of the cause deserves, and in that case, I trust, that the independence of the County of Middlesex will at laft be fully established."-[Loud and long continued plaudits.]

Mr. MELLISH.

"Gentlemen, it would be an insult to you to occupy much of your time at present. It is now almost dark, and I am sure you must be very hungry. I can assure you, that I feel proud of the situation in which you have placed me, and I hope you will always keep me at the head of the poll. I have therefore only to return you my warmeft thanks, and to request that you will continue to exert yourselves in my favour, as you have hitherto done."

THIRD DAY.

Wednesday, November 12.

At the conclusion of the poll, at three o'clock, the numbers were,

Mr. BYNG then addressed the Meeting. He thanked them for the exertion they had made on his behalf this day, which, he had no doubt, would continue, and, of course, secure his re-election.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT stepped forward amidft the loudest acclamations. He declared that he did not feel himself at all dismayed by the ftate of the poll. He knew it was in the power of the Independent Electors of Middlesx, if he possessed their favour, to return him, notwithstanding every effort which might be made against him. At all events, he had at least effected one object, which deserved their approbation. He had excluded a number of persons who, from parochial situations which they held, claimed votes for the county, thereby infringing on the rights of the fair Electors. It was not a seat in parliament which he was so anxious to obtain, as to add to, and protect, the rights and independence of the Electors. If he had contributed in any shape to this defirable object, he felt recompensed

for