On the Wednesday, in the second | had been raised for the purpose of week, I went, with your sister to a making war upon the people of Codvillage, called MERIDEN, to see whe-ventry. All those gentlemen, who took part with me, and, indeed, who took the main part of the trouble upon themselves, behaved towards me in a manner that I shall always remember with the greatest gratitude. They showed as much public-spirit as I ever witnessed; and it will be a source of deep mortification to me, if I never should be able to render them and

ther the change of air would restore my voice. It did not ; and I am yet very hoarse. This was a monstrous misfortune. The two cowardly scamps had to deal with a dumb man! They escaped the far better part of what I had in store for them. Had I had my voice, I could have half-subdued their Savages. There was ELLICE stammering away his nonsense by the hour, while I was as silent as a woolpack!

At MERIDEN there was a curious adventure, in which that pretty fellow, the EARL OF AYLSFORD, took a part, and which you shall have an account of in the next Register. It really must be, that the Drama is drawing to a close; for, we daily witness and hear of things so out of all reason; things so wholly incompatible, not only with civil and political liberty, but with every thing like order and law, that it is impossible to believe in the long continuance of such a state of society.

TO THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR
OF COVENTRY.

·Coventry, 11th March, 1S20. MR. MAYOR I, as one of the Candidates for representing this city in Parliament, beg leave to represent to you, that many of the persons, who have been coming up to vote for me, have been hindered from so doing by threats of the most violent tendency; that others have been assault

I here subjoin all the documents, which I think necessary to publish at present. In conclusion, I must beg you not to entertain a bad opinion of the main part of the people of Coventry. The bands of Savages were composed of all the vile miscreants that could be picked up within ten or fifteen miles of the place. They had been recruited, just as soldiers are, and had been brought in, lodged, fed. drenched, and armed with knives! In fact, this battalion of miscreants been maimed to the hazard of their

ed, in the most cruel manner; that many have had their clothes torn from their backs; that some have

demanded by the law, all has been obstruction and tumult. But now it appears to have come to this: whether my votes and myself be to enjoy our rights or whether we be to be exposed to be maimed or murdered if we further attempt an exercise of them: or, in other words, whether this election be to be decided by votes, or by blows and stabs.

lives; that knives have been used by the savage assailants; that flags, banners, and exhibitions, expressly calculated to inspire a disposition in a furious rabble, to commit acts of the blackest dye, have been carried through the streets and round the hustings; and, that, in one case, it was with some difficulty, that I myself escaped with my life. In short, Sir, every thing shews, that it is in-with several depositions: on these de

tended by those who employ or spurn on, this furious rabble, to prevent

all freedom of election at this time. Upon the ground of these premises, I beg leave to request, Sir, that you will be pleased to cause peace officers to protect the voters in their way to and from the pall; and to use such other means as in your better judgement may appear necessary to put an end to those continual breaches

of the peace. 1 am, Sir,

Your most humble

And most obedient servant, Wи. COBBETT. PROTEST TO THE SHERIFFS. TO MESSAS JOHNSON AND HAWKES, SHERIFFS OF COVENTRY.

Coventry, 13th March, 1820. GENTLEMEN, The transactions, which have taken place since the beginning of the election, have at last assumed a character, which calls for a formal notification and protest on

my part.

Instead of that total absence of obstruction and tumult, so imperiously

I have the honour to send you here

positions I ground a complaint of want of protection against obstruction and

tumult, and against violence of all sorts, at the Booth, which ought never to have taken place there. You have,

1

in these depositions, full proof of effectual obstruction to myvoters, by means of the most odious and cruel, and also full proof of a settled design to murder me. Therefore, I shall not again attend at the Booth, nor, by. myself, or any agent, give countenance to any of the proceedings there until a real and effectual protection be afforded; until all round the Booth be peace and safety; and until the avenues to it be free from danger to my voters; and, until, in short, all tumultuous proceedings be put an end to. And I now protest against all polling, and all proceeding in the election, until such protection be provided, and be actually on foot and brought forth into efficient activity. Gentlemen,

I am,

Your most humble,

and most obedient Servant.

WM. COBBETT.

AFFIDAVITS

OF OBSTRUCTIONS TO THE VOTERS.

before

knuckles so hard against both sides of his throat, that he was compelled to quit his hold of the

booth in order to endeavour to get their hands away and to save his life. They then dragged him out and flung him down in the

mud, out of which he got with some difficulty. They, during the time, cut a part of his coat off, and totally spoiled it, and he has the coat now to produce, to show that it was cut as well as torn. He says, that he has, by these vio

Ellice,” and who were constantly employed in forcing Mr. Cobbett's voters from the booth. He, at ast, got up to the booth, the polling began on Fridaylent means, been prevented from Morning. He got his arm over voting, and that he now fears to the side of the booth, and had, as go to vote, lest he should receive he thought, secured the means of some great personal injury. giving his vote. But, the gang of Moore and Ellice having perceiv. ISAAC JOHNSON, Weaver, ed him, two of them put their maketh oath, and saith, that, on hands over his shoulders and Friday last he went to the booth, seizing him by the neckcloth, with intention to poll for Mr. twisted it and pressed their Cobbett. Being perceived by the

No. 2.

gang of Moore and Ellice, they | less, of the said City, Weaver,

taken the 12th day of March, 1820, who saith; that he went up to the booth on Saturday morning last, to poll-that he was forcibly and violently prevented from getting up to the booth, for ́

cried out for a show of hands for Moore and Ellice, and as he did not hold up his hand, Day, the gardener, bore upon him; and Adie Cramp seized hold of him and dragged him out from the booth. On Saturday morning he went up again and got very near to the booth. Adie Cramp came up to him again. Cramp began to push him. Examinant said to Cramp, "I have a right to give my vote as well as you :" to which Cramp answered: "I'll be damned if you shall." And, after some more words, he, with others at his back, forced examinant from the booth. Examinant says, that this Cramp has been heading a violent band of men during the whole of the election. Thus, this exami.back from the booth-that while

a considerable time, by John Roe, and several other persons, in the interest of Moore and Ellicethat they were saying Mr. Cobbett should not poll a man for the next hour, and then the election would be over-that they should let them all go up, that we may weed them out-that with great difficulty he got up to the side of the booth-that they cried out a show of hands for Ellice and Moore, and upon that show of hands, all that did not show their hands, were attacked and pulled

he was hanging on the booth in order to poll, John Roe forced his knees between his thighs and tried to injure him-that while he was polling, his coat was ripped up to the collar, and he felt something sharp prick him on the small

of his back, and he turned round immediately, and complained to the sheriff, whose protection he claimed-that he does not know

who pricked him in the back, or above or other means, until Sa turday; and that he was almost killed in making these various unsuccessful attempts.

No. 4.

The examination of JOSEPH BIRD GREENWAY, of the said city, Weaver, taken this 12th day of March, 1820, who saith that he

ripped his coat-that while he was standing prepared to poll, he Saw Thos. Clay, of Park-street, Coventry, Weaver, reach his hand over and collar Mr. Cobbett and tried to spit in his face-that Clay and the other persons assembled round informant were calling Mr. Cobbett, a Br, and other atrocious names-that is a Freeman of Coventry, and has during the whole of the present attended at the booth erected for election, he has seen a body of receiving the votes of Freemen men, who moved from one part of of the said city, at the present electhe booth to another, wherever tion, every day since the poll comthey saw the friends of Mr. Cob- menced. That he has been rebett placed to poll, and by push-peatedly forced away from the said ing and other violent means, force booth with great violence, by them from their situation-that various persons who employ them. selves, or are employed by others to force away those persons who wish to poll for Mr. Cobbett, (one of the candidates) from the booth. That on Friday last, John Witton, of the said city, Weaver,

this has been their general conduct, and witness has known a great number of Mr. Cobbett's friends thus violently forced from the booth by the above body of men —that in this body of men were the following persons; John Ranmap, George Sanders, Adie Crump, William Harris, William Bromfield, Webb, William Darleson, George Harris, and Francis Gutteridge that Examinant frequently attempted to poll during the election, but was not enabled to do so, from the

who is not a Freeman, knocked down examinant as he was going to the booth, and five or six other persons fell upon him. That he has thus been prevented from polling; that he has seen a great many other persons who intended polling for Mr. Cobbett, forced