ADVERTISEMENT. WESTMINSTER ELECTION. The Committee for conducting the Election of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray, think proper, from motives of humanity, to give notice to those poor unfortunate men, who are liable to be feduced, that every one who accepts money to vote is liable to a penalty of 5ool. that every one who takes a falfe oath on the poll, is liable to be tranfported for feven years; and that the Members of the Committee are determined, as a duty they owe to the public, to profecute every one who receives or gives a bribe, or promife, or even lays a wager, or gives more for any thing, under pretence of purchase, than it is really worth, thofe being devices contrary to the ftatutes against bribery and corruption. N. B. Even the perfon who gives the bribe, may be a witness against the man who has been bribed. ADVERTISEMENT. The friends of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray, who are willing to dine together to-morrow at Wood's Hotel, Covent Garden, may have Tickets at five fhillings each of Mr. Atkinson, Secretary to the Committee at the above Hotel, or at either of the Parochial Committees. Dinner on table at four o'clock precisely. Wood's Hotel, Tuesday, April 20, 1784. Mr. CHURCHILL, in the Chair.. ADVERTISEMENT. WESTMINSTER ELECTION. The Electors of Westminster are hereby informed, that in confequence of the exertions made by the friends of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray, to detect falfe votes, and the parochial books being produced on the Huftings, fuch a check has been given to the infamous practices of Mr. Fox's party, as to have occafioned the rejection. of great numbers of illegal voters, who yesterday attempted to poll for Mr. Fox, from Spitalfields, and the adjacent neighbourhood. To thefe exertions may be afcribed the very fmall majority gained yesterday by Mr. Fox; and as the rate-books of the refpective parishes will be daily produced on the Huftings, during the continuance of the Election, there is reafon to believe that every attempt to poll Spitalfields weavers, as legal Electors of Weftminster, will in future be fruftrated. ADVERTISEMENT.. WESTMINSTER ELECTION. The friends of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray, who were defired to affemble at Wood's Hotel, on a very short notice, were fo numerous, that a great number could not not be accommodated for want of room. It is therefore proposed that another meeting be held at the fame place, on Friday, the 23d inftant, and the Committee beg leave to acquaint their friends, that [they may, as before, be fupplied with Tickets, at five fhillings each, on application to Mr. Atkinfon, Secretary to the Sub-Committee, or at any of the Parochial Committees. Dinner to be on the table at four o'clock precifely. Mr. CHURCHILL, Chairman Wood's Hotel, April 21, 1784. ADVERTISEMENT. The Committee for conducting the Election of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray, take the liberty of informing the friends of thofe Candidates, that notwithstanding the wicked arts practifed to procure votes for Mr. Fox, there is every reafon to believe, that, by an immediate and vigorous effort, their caufe will be finally crowned with fuccefs but fhould the various manoeuvres of Mr. Fox's party fo far prevail as to gain him a majority at the close of the poll, the Committee hereby pledge themselves, in juftice to the injured Electors, that not only a fcrutiny fhall be demanded, but fupported with every poffible exertion. Wood's Hotel, April 23, 1784 JOHN CHURCHILL, Chairman. Fellow Prifoners, King's Bench, April 27, 1784 "I understand there are twenty-three belonging to this College, who are offered a "day rule to go out and vote (no matter for whom). You now look up to Parliament "---(and have long done fo) for an Act of Injolvency. "Let your own fenfe dictate to you, whether you fhould fuffer any prisoner to go out "to-morrow, for the fake of one holiday, till you have obliged him to promife he will "not vote on either fide. Exert yourselves, Gentlemen, and do not let a few individuals be the means (by their impudence) of confining in this prifon many worthy charac "ters, whose wives and families are diftreffed by their abfence." The Friends of Lord HOOD, Sir CECIL WRAY, and the CONSTITUTION, Are entreated not to defpond, because a profligate faction has gained a corrupt and fallacious majority within two days. Her Grace has canyaffed bigh and low, rich and poor, but her influence is now exhaufted. The outlying voters ftill remain, and the independent friends of Hood and Wray may rely upon a great majority of thefe, as a much distinguished Lady has found a way of conveying them from any diftance, her rival cannot reach, and by a method her Grace cannot cannot execute, and which does not depend on ftage coaches, flies, dillies and turnpikes. This friend to the Conftitutional Candidates will defcend upon the public huftings, between one and three, in an Air Balloon, with fucceffive parties of outlying voters, for the remainder of the poll, to the no small admiration of the public, as well as confufion of all Foxites. Piccadilly, April 28. KATTERFELTO, junior. And One who fcorns to impofe on the Public. 爨 ADVERTISEMENT. To the Independent Electors of Westminster. Gentlemen, Notwithstanding the feveral Committees for conducting the Election of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray, have determined to support a fcrutiny with the utmost vigour, in case it should ultimately become neceffary; yet knowing that there remains of unpolled Electors (acknowledged friends to the Conftitution) a number fufficient to fecure a majority in favour of thofe patriotic Candidates, greater than has appeared during the poll, they moft earneftly entreat fuch voters to give their immediate fuffrage, which cannot fail of putting an end to the many inconveniencies which have attended this City during the prefent Election. Wood's Hotel, April 28. JOHN CHURCHILL, Chairman. The Committee for conducting the Election of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray, acquaint their friends, that there will be a General Dinner at Wood's Hotel, this day, the 29th instant. Tickets 5s. each, may be had at the bar of the Hotel, or at either of the Parochial -Committees. Dinner on table at four o'clock precisely. Mr. JOHN CHURCHILL in the Chair. ADVERTISEMENT. WOOD'S HOTEL May 3, 1784.] The Committee for conducting the Scrutiny in favour of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray (unanimously appointed by the General Committee) hereby inform the public, that fhould the various manoeuvres practifed by their opponents render it neceffary neceffary, they will without delay acquaint them when a general' fubfcription will be opened, with the names of the Bankers appointed to receive the fame. This Committee, determined as they are, in justice to the injured rights of the Electors, to profecute the Scrutiny with every exertion, moft earnestly entreat the friends of the Conftitution, who have not yet polled, and are fufficiently numerous to give a decided majority in favour of those patriotic Candidates, to come forward with their fuffrages, which alone can prevent a Scrutiny taking place, and will be the means of immediately conveying the genuine fenfe of the independent Electors of Westminster to the Commons Houfe of Parliament. JOHN CHURCHILL, Chairman. ADVERTISEMENT. A very falfe and erroneous account of the several riots and attacks made on Wood's Hotel on Saturday night laft [May 1], having appeared in several papers, the public are earneftly requested to fufpend their opinions on the fubject, as well as on the extraordinary releasement of the prifoners on Sunday, until an authentic narrative thereof fhall be laid before them, which will be as foon as poffible. Gentlemen, ADVERTISEMENT. To the Electors of Weftminster. ! We beg leave to return our most grateful thanks to thofe worthy and independent Electors, who have honoured us with their generous fupport; and take the liberty of requesting fuch as are in our intereft, and have not yet polled, to do us the honour of their fuffrages as early as poffible, not doubting but by their immediate exertions, we fhall be able to obtain a decided majority. We are, Gentlemen, With the greatest refpect, Wood's Hotel, May 3, 1784. Your most obliged, and HOOD. ADVERTISEMENT. To the Unpolled Electors of the City and Liberty of Westminster. Gentlemen, Is it not moft highly deferving your moft ferious re-confideration, how, in the prefent contest for your Reprefentatives in Parliament, you can poffibly reconcile the neutrality you so tenaciously perfevere in, and thereby fuffer your rights and privileges to be invaded, and your wishes and inclinations defeated by hired and difqualified voters and and whether you will not feel yourfelves moft exceedingly hurt, fhould the great Caufe now at stake, and the intereft of thofe Candidates, whofe general conduct you have fo repeatedly approved, be facrificed by your unaccountable fupinenefs and inactivity? Why not immediately ftep forward, and by giving your fuffrages to Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Way, do juftice to thofe patriotic Candidates, and put an end to the riots and diforders which have fo long interrupted the peace of the City of Weftminster? Why will you lofe fight of that truly laudable line of conduct, whici. has hitherto ever diftinguished, and been the pride and characteristic of the free and independent Electors of Westminster? AN INDEPENDENT ELECTOR. ELECTION RIOT. Wood's Hotel, May 4, 1784. A most fallacious account of the riot which happened on Saturday evening, having appeared in feveral of the papers, the public may depend on the authenticity of the fubfequent relation. About a quarter paft ten o'clock on Saturday evening, feveral fellows, with marrow bones and cleavers, affembled before the door of Wood's Hotel, apparently with a defign of giving rife to thofe outrages which afterwards enfued. Thefe gentry were very foon joined by a confiderable number of ruffians, armed with bludgeons, who violently affaulted every perfon quitting the Hotel. Apprehenfive that this hired mob would force their way up ftairs, Mr. Wood and his fervants endeavoured to guard the paffage, and prevent an entrance. This repulfion was the very thing which the affailants defired; for no fooner was the attempt made to defend the Hotel, than the ruffians, with that peculiar fayagenefs which diftinguishes the partizans of Mr. Fox, exercifed their bludgeons on the heads of every opponent. With extreme difficulty the door was at laft fhut, which fo exafperated the ruffians, that they attempted, with cleavers and other weapons, to break it open; but failing in their efforts, they demolished feveral of the windows, and pretended to difperfe, Conceiving their vengeance to have been fatiated, and every thing appearing tolerably quiet, Mr. Wood and his fervants ventured into the Piazza, with an intention of putting up the window-fhutters, when on a fudden a whiffle was given, and repeated at feveral parts of Covent Garden; and before it was poffible to fhut the door of the Hotel, a banditti formed themselves into a body, and knocked down all perfons whom they met. Every effort to keep them out being now found to be impoffible, Mr. Wood, his fervants, and feveral of the clerks, endeavoured, as well as they could, to defend their lives, which were conceived to be in imminent danger, as the ruffians frequently made ufe of this expreffion :- -" Push in upon the "fcoundrels, and knock them on the head." In this dreadful affray feveral perfons were moft terribly maimed, the principal of whom were Thomas Smith, who was rendered fenfelefs by a violent blow which he was ftruck by one of the ruffians, with a piece of a coach-wheel; John Taylor, a constable, who was wounded on the head, and narrowly efcaped a blow aimed at him with a cleaver; Chriftian Hennings, who from a contufion he received loft a confiderable quantity of blood; Timothy Murphy, who was knocked down by one of the ruffians, and beaten by others while he lay on the ground; John Whelden was several times knocked down, and dragged by the ruffians along the Piazza, while he continued in a fenfelefs ftate. Still not content with wreaking their vengeance on this unfortunate man, when he was brought back to the Hotel the ruffians again attacked 137 |