majority, had it not been for the coalition of interests formed by his competitors; a measure to which they had been obviously driven by dire necessity, and without which, one of his antagonists at least, would have been this day obliged to relinquish the poll; nor would he at this time have had 500 honest votes in the City of Westminster, but for the influence of the Treasuryexerted in his behalf. Repeatedly, in the course of this Election, had his antagonists, and the hireling prints in their pay, the hardihood to charge him not only with bribing the Electors to his support, but with hiring mobs of bludgeon-men to disturb the peace of the City, and deter their friends from venturing to approach the Hustings. Every man who heard him, must know the falsehood of such assertions. But he begged to ask who it was that this day brought forward the armed mob of bludgeon-men, led on by a hired gang of bruisers, ruffians, and scoundrels, to disturb the public peace, and deter his friends from approaching the Hustings?-or who it was that introduced the low mummery and pantomimical tricks this day exhibited, to give stage effect to the proceedings of those performers? The public had been to-day amused by the first act of Robin Hood, and the farce of the Forty Thieves, brought forward by the manager as an election manœuvre ; but they were careless, it would seem, of the tragedies which such riotous proceedings had heretofore caused, and might again produce. For his own part, he felt no terrors for such proceedings, while he was surrounded by 10,000 Independent Electors, in in whose affections it was his ambition to live, and in whose protection he felt himself perfectly secure. He solemnly pledged himself to stand the poll to the last moment, and to give the really independent Electors of Westminster, an opportunity of proving to their country, and to the world, that they were not to be biassed by all the influence of a Minister, nor purchased by all the gold in the Treasury. The cause in which they were engaged, was the cause of the people of England; and if they wished to be free, they would redouble their exertions, and secure their triumph. His principles and his constitutional loyalty had been questioned by his opponents: but he challenged any man to arraign the purity of those principles, with the avowal of which, in his public advertisement from the Crown and Anchor, he had commenced his appeal to the Electors, and in which it would be his ambition to persist to the last hour of his life. Mr. Paull concluded, by vindicating himself from some charges in the Morning Chronicle, (sce p. 58,) of ingratitude to Marquis Wellesley, for favours received from him, and an alledged connection with the native chiefs of India, by totally denying any obligations to the noble marquis, and every other concern with the princes of India, except such as a British Member of Parliament was justified to assume, on the ground of national justice and common humanity. Coalition. Mr. SHERIDAN requests the Worthy Electors of Westminster, who honour him with their support, will also give their vote and interest to Sir Samuel Hood. Somerset-place, Nov. 6, 1806. Sir SAMUEL HOOD requests the Worthy Electors of Westminster, who honour him with their support, will also give their vote and interest to Mr. Sheridan. Mr. Paull's Third Address to the Free and Independent Electors of Westminster. GENTLEMEN; The Coalition of our enemies you are already ac. quainted with; and it has, I have no doubt, excited in your breasts that indignation, which it is so well calculated to excite in the breasts of all honest and honourable men. That the coalescing parties hate and detest each other, is notorious; but, Gentlemen, they both hate me more than they hate one another; because they know that my principles are in direct hostility to the system by which your properties are prostrated at the mercy of placemen and pensioners.. For this cause too, it is, Gentlemen, that the whole powers of the ministers are now drawn forth against me; that flatteries, and promises, and threats are resorted to; but, Gentlemen, cheered as I am by your applause, supported as I am by your unbiassed biassed votes, I treat with scorn all the arts, and all the violence of our enemies.-Nevertheless, Gentlemen, I beseech you to remember, that, in our triumph, corruption and peculation will receive a deadly blow; that, therefore, my opponents will not fail to make desperate efforts against us; and that no means, however foul, will be spared, in order to defeat our purpose. Let me, therefore, exhort you, not to slacken in your exertions for one single moment. Let me beseech you not to repose in security, until we have completely decided the contest. Let me conjure you not to wait to see whether you are wanted; for it is now, at this moment, that you are wanted-not merely to defeat our enemies, but to cover them with disgrace, and to shew to all England, and to the world, that, however far and wide corruption has extended its baleful influence, it has not yet corroded the hearts of the Electors of Westminster. Believe me to be, Gentlemen, your obliged friend and servant, Charles-Street, St. James's-square, JAMES PAULL. CLAIMS OF THE THREE CANDIDATES. To each Respectable and Independent Elector of Westminster. Sir; When the credit and dignity of the City of Westminster, and its importance in the representation of the community at large, are at stake, it can hardly be thought unbecoming in an inde pendent pendent tradesman to point out to each Elector, in the most respectful mode that time will admit of, the impressions made on his own mind, in contemplating the present contest for our favour by the three Candidates who solicit it.-In this we shall all agree; that, when called upon by his Majesty, as we now are, to exercise our Elective Franchise, we should deliberately consider the pretensions of each individual who may think proper to apply for our support; and that those pretensions must rest, either on services rendered to the public, or on talents capable of rendering them, or on independence and weight of character.-If this rule be a correct one, it is our bounden duty to try it by the Claims of the three individuals who now aspire to the exalted situation of Representatives for Westminster. SIR SAMUEL HOOD. A naval Officer of the highest reputation; whose various and splendid services it would be an insult to your own recollection to attempt to enumerate; -who is closely allied to a Family distinguished for their gallantry and naval triumphs;-the nephew of your former much-honoured Representative;-who has devoted his whole life to the service of his King and Country;-who bears about him the badge of royal distinction and remuneration;-who, alas! also exhibits to us the afflicting but glorious spectacle of an Officer, even now bleeding from his recent efforts to save and protect his Country, and who would find the best balsam applied to his wounds in the attach ment |