and throughout the City of Westminster, been rummaged, ransacked, and swept of every clerk who could furnish a vote-but even the offices and counting-houses of every army-agent, contractor, and tradesman, sanctioned or influenced by government, were subjected to conscription for the like purpose, to eke out this boasted majority of the gallant Admiral, and swell the numbers of his new ally. But they knew little of his disposition who supposed he was to be frightened into a resignation by the majority of a few hundreds thus obtained, in the present stage of the poll. He could not command his supporters into the field— he could not drag them to the Hustings like conscripts, manacled in the chains of the Treasury: his reliance was upon the free will of a free people; and he looked only for a spontaneous support. In his reliance upon that, he should continue the poll, if necessary, to the last hour of the 15th day, and give the independent Electors of Westminster an opportunity to prove to the world, that not all the influence of Ministers, with all the gold in the Treasury, could induce them to forfeit their independence, or yield to the mandates of a junto leagued for their subjugation.

Mr. Sheridan's Dinner at the Shakespeare Tavern, November 7.

About 200 of the friends of Mr. Sheridan dined this day at the Shakespeare Tavern, Covent Garden. Lord William Russell was unanimously called to the chair. The following are the toasts which he

Mr.

gave, and which were drunk with three times three, and the most fervent enthusisam: "The King;" "The Prince of Wales;" "Mr. Sheridan, and the Independent Electors of Westminster." Scott, in the unavoidable absence, from indisposition, of Mr. Sheridan, returned thanks in his name, for the honour done him.-The next toast from the chair was-" Sir S. Hood, and success to his Election." Then followed-"The immortal memory of Mr. Fox," in revered silence; and the favourite toast of "The cause of Liberty all over the world."-Mr. Incledon was then called upon for a song, and sang the following, composed on the spur of the moment by Mr. T. Dibdin, which was most enthusiastically received and encored.

I.

Ye lads who wish well to the Spot of your Birth,
The most independent and happy on earth;

It rests with yourselves that in future you be,
As you ever yet have been, united and free.

2.

It depends on yourselves, that no hypocrite rob
This Land of its Rights by the threats of a mob;
You ne'er will give way to the bluster and noise
Of impostors, who call themselves Liberty Boys.

3.

The men who from harm your Country would save,
Are not bullies nor blackguards, but men truly brave;
The one who for years has made Freedom's cause smile,
The other who first broke the line at the Nile.

4.

The People's real champions, believe me, are those
Who, within and without doors, dare combat your foes;
Give your votes to the true Friends of Liberty Hall,
Who scorn to rob Peter, by paying of Paull.

What

5.

What more can I say, your good-will to inspire,

Towards those who both burn with true Freedom's best fire?

I don't mean the Man who your suffrages mocks,

But the Friends and Companions of Nelson and For.

6.

Then fill up your glasses, my lads, while I sing,

THE NAVY, HOOD, SHERIDAN, and our GOOD KING;
May Englishmen never with nonsense be cramm'd,
And Bony's supporters all die and be damn’d!

The health of lord W. Russell, and the independent Freeholders of the county of Surrey, was next proposed by Mr. Scott; upon which,

Lord WM. RUSSELL returned thanks in the warmest and most energetic terms. In the City of Westminster, enlisting under the principles of Mr. Fox, he had studied and imbibed the first principles of his political creed. The profession of these principles recommended him, though a total stranger, to the choice and approbation of the Freeholders of Surrey. In that proud situation he had since stood, notwithstanding all the manoeuvres of the enemies of Freedom, with George Rose at their head. The same manœuvres were now again practised; but, as before, they would prove vain and abortive. This predilection he never ascribed to any personal merit, but to his steady attachment to the principles of Mr. Fox. The same claim, he trusted, would now meet with the same reward. Westminster would look for a proper Representative, and would not allow itself to be dis

graced. He next gave the health of Mr. Byng, and the independent and consistent Freeholders of Middlesex. It was with heartfelt sorrow that he could not couple with his name that of sir Francis Burdett. The notorious apostacy of sir Francis from every principle he had formerly avowed, sunk him to a level to which no man of honest and honourable feelings and principles could stoop to recognise him. The degradation into which he had fallen, would be signally manifested by the desertion he must experience at the ensuing Election.

The health of Mr. P. Moore, the chairman of the committee, was next proposed and drunk with unanimous plaudits.

Mr. PETER MOORE rose and said, that though nearly exhausted from the exertions of the day, he should be lost to all sense of feeling, if he did not personally acknowledge the very handsome manner in which his health had been drunk. Whenever the interests of Westminster were concerned, he was ever ready to give his most unqualified assistance; and were he to be judged by the past, they would find him ever alive to her particular interests. He felt much hurt at being obliged personally to attend to his own interests at Coventry, from whence he returned only last week; but since that time, he had not slept upon it; on the contrary, he deprived himself of necessary repose, and would not relax till his end was accomplished. The triumph of this day was decisive, and must be

put

It was

He

put out of all possible doubt to-morrow. not from the flattering state of the poll he said this, but judging from the good sense and discretion, from the independent principles and the honour of the Electors of Westminster, which they had convinced the world were not to be put down by any hired rabble whatever. He said, he had once been the most strenuous advocate and supporter of sir F. Burdett; but when he found him an apostate to the cause of true Liberty, when he found one open declaration, that no government should exist but by his appointment, or the dictation of the mob, he believed it could not be supposed that he would longer support a man who had forfeited all claim to the support of every man of honour, of principle, and of common sense. had the pleasure to inform the meeting, that it had been communicated to him within the last five minutes, that all the real, independent, and honourable Electors of Westminster had united in support of Mr. Sheridan, and that subscriptions had actually been entered into, to defray the expenses of his Election, wholly unknown to him, or even his nearest connections: these honourable personages had determined to support the common cause, at their own common expence, and this communication would be realized in all the public papers of to-morrow. Sir. S. Hood had made a most candid declaration upon the Hustings, this day, of the union between his, and the friends of Mr. Sheridan, from which he was satisfied, to

morrow