for any extraordinary trouble occafioned to himself. He must now intrude on the patience of the Electors, while he noticed some attacks made on him, and narrated in the Papers of this day, which, if he were now to pass unnoticed, it might never be in his power in any shape to animadvert on.-At a meeting of the friends of Sir Samuel Hood, yesterday, at Willis's Rooms, (fee p. 123.) Mr. Sheridan had charged him with detefting those many bravé men with whom our Navy abounded, and of whom he confessed Sir S. Hood to be one; suppreffing notwithstanding, as he (Mr. Sheridan) would have it be believed, in the true spirit of charity, his (Sir Francis's) name. If this was charity in the conception of Mr. Sheridan, his heart and disposition muft be very differently formed from those of the generality of mankind; for it was impoffible for a moment to doubt of the object of his allufion. If so however, that quality which in the minds of other men displayed the milk of human kindness, must in his produce the gall of bitterness. To suppose that he did hold the brave men alluded to in deteftation was as foolish, however, as it was uncharitable. Who that could think, would for a moment suppose that he had not more at stake in this country than the Right Hon. the Manager of Drury-lane Theatre. Mr. Whitbread, with a corresponding degree of charity, had allowed him to be a person of an honest heart, and of good intentions, but at the same time described him as a fellow of so little sense, that he did not know his own mind, or where he was going. 2 Z Suppofing

Suppofing this, however, to be the case, he was undoubtedly ftill preferable to Mr. Whitbread, or to Mr. P. Moore, another of his calumniators. The place to which they would wish to go he could be at no loss to find out. The former would have no objection to go into a Peerage, or into a good Place, or both. To the latter, a Place was the moft defirable thing in the world. Therefore, wherever he (Sir F. B.) was going, whether he himself or the Electors of Middlesex knew where he was going, his views could not be more interested or more suspicious than those of his calumniators. That same Gentleman, Mr. Moore, however, had charged him with being a turncoat. He confessed this charge surprised him. He might be accused, as he had been, of entertaining sentiments of too free, and undefined a kind, but he had hoped that a charge of tergiversation or dereliction of those principles which he had once maintained, would never be urged against him. Neither, however, could Mr. Thomas Sheridan abstain from adding his calumny to the others, with which he (Sir Francis) had been loaded. He stated, so universal was the odium, which the late declaration of his sentiments had occafioned, that his friend, Captain Halliday, had withdrawn from him his countenance, and had actually been employed in canvaffing for his opponents. This, Sir Francis could say was not the fact. He had seen Mr. Halliday yesterday, at which time no such revolution in the sentiments of that Gentleman, whom he had always regarded as his fteady and

independent friend, had ever been hinted. But, though he had not seen him, so much did he rely on the friendship and goodwill of Mr. Halliday, and so much did he know of the estimation in which that honourable and worthy Gentleman held his principles, that he could assert, the allegation was utterly unfounded. Having thus noticed the calumnies thrown out against him, as he presumed to think, in the most unbecoming and most unjustifiable manner, he should say little in addition. He only called on that Gentleman who stood highest on the poll, to ftate what were the principles on which he asked the support of the Electors of Middlesex, and by which he fhould act if returned as one of their Representatives. For himself, notwithstanding all the infinuations, all the calumnies, falsehoods, and misrepresentations which had been openly thrown out, or secretly urged against him; he declared himself to be a firm, inflexible, and never to be fhaken friend to the British Conftitution, as by law established. The principles which he professed he knew to be those of the Conftitution, and they alone could save the country from the perilous fituation in which it was at present involved.—Sir Francis retired amidft loud applauses.

Mr. MELLISH next came forward, and was for some few moments before he could obtain a hearing, from the hissing and groaning of the mob. He at length spoke nearly as follows:--" Gentlemen Electors of Middlesex, I should be very ungrateful if I did not return you my warmeft thanks, for the situation in which you have placed me upon 2Z2

this

this day's poll. I conjure you to continue your exertions, for I am sure you can do a great deal more, The Hon. Baronet has made an attack upon me with respect to my principles, and I am sure you will have generosity enough to hear my defence. He has called on me to avow my principles; but, Gentlemen, I make no profeffions, and will content myself by assuring you, that if I have the honour to be returned, you shall find me an Independent Member."

FOURTH

FOURTH DAY.

Thursday, November 13.

The numbers at the close of the poll were,

Mr. BYNG.--I beg leave to thank those Gentlemen who have done me the honour to vote to-day in my favour.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT.---" Gentlemen, I have very few words to trouble you with on the present occasion. I shall in the first place return my warmest thanks to those Freeholders who have so honourably come forward under the present circumftances, in my support; and I beg leave to assure them, that, however small their numbers, I consider the honour as great: under the circumftances I now ftand, I feel myself more honoured by one independent vote than I should be by a thousand, under the ufual circumftances in which candidates come forward. Gentlemen, I took the liberty yesterday of requesting, on the part of the Freeholders of Middlesex, of the Gentleman near me, to state to the county the principles and grounds on which he offered himself to your support. The Candidate seemed cautiously to avoid any statement at the time, and although he thanked you for all you had done

for