The K---Is are aukward in the bufinefs; they have not yet learnt the method of kifJing; they can only ferve to act the part of mutes in a tragedy, or that of those who are employed to fwell the pomp in a proceffion.

Lady Sal-fb--y is the only woman of rank who has interfered on the Minifterial fidé in Elections. But her proceedings have been marked with fuch delicacy and dignity, as to fhame the mobbing conduct of her rivals.

Mr. Fox's phalanx (fo low is the mighty fallen!) is reckoned, when all his levies are complete, to amount to about one hundred and twenty! invalids and paupers included.

Showers of gold are scattered by the hands, and ambrofial nectar is diftilled from the lips of Venus, among the too happy inhabitants of Weftminster, in favour of her be loved Viceroy.

The Prince appeared at Ranelagh last week, with a Fox, cockade in his hat, and a fprig of laurel; if he fhould ever be fent a bird's nesting by Oliver, it is to be expected he will prefer the laurel to the oak.

At the Election Turf in Covent Garden, even bets are now laid, that Mr. Fox heads Lord Hood on the poll. This is not only poflible, but probable, for the unpolled weavers are yet very numerous.

The Huflings at Covent Garden now resemble the Stand at Newmarket; "an evèn bett that he comes in fecond!" and "five to four on this day's poll!" being the language hourly vociferated from every part of the building.

The Faro table, which was laft winter kept at Brookes's by the confederates of a Right Hon. Candidate, fhould be opened at the Huftings in Covent Garden, and the fcene would then be quite complete. An bazard table in the Veftry would be ftill more in character.

A correfpondent reading Lord Mountmorres's remark upon the extraordinary numbers who have polled at the prefent Election for Weftminiter, begs leave to mention a circumftance which muft render it ftill more aftonishing.

He has had the curiofity to enquire of feveral reputable tradefmen (to fome of whom he was known, and to others not) and their answer has, almost without exception, been, that they have not polled at all; fome, because they would not give up their own opinion to the folicitations of their great and powerful neighbours and cuftomers, whom yet they dare not directly difoblige; others, because they were fo urged by both parties, that they faw no chance of avoiding offence, but by promifing each that they would not vote against them.

If a fcrutiny fhould take place, the gentleman will certainly have the further curiofity to fee whether fome of the above have not been perfonated by others.

The Westminster Election engroffing at this time the public attention, the following facts are submitted to our readers. This paper has ever profeffed and obferved a strict impartiality, and we flatter ourselves that through the medium of the Public Advertifer many ufeful truths have been conveyed to the public eye+:

The God of Blacksmiths, and the Black-fmith among the Gods. This immortal, although a cripple, was the favourite of the Goddefs of Love and Beauty.

This paper, at the time of the riots in 1780, gave all thofe infinuations to the fanatical mob engaged in deftroying property for the fake of the Proteftant Religion, that should instigate them to acts of violence against every perfon who favoured of Popery!-a term fill dreadful to the Editor, and which he trumpets forth upon every occ fion with all the terror of a new reformer!-Go, good Mr. Editor, and reform yourself.

The right of Election in Weftminster is confined to those householders who pay, or are liable to pay poor rates:

Of those who have paid, the parifh books are a fufficient evidence, if their identity, has not been perfonated by others, as is fuppofed to have happened in many cases; But under the word liable a large field of impofition is opened:

Upon a doubt of any vote, the Returning Officer afks, Where do you live? St. George's, Hanover-fquare. Are you a householder? Yes. How long have you been fo? Before the diffolution of Parliament? Yes. Do you pay poor rates? Yes.

If any man answers thefe queftions, he is allowed to be a good vote:

There is no impeachment of the impartiality of the Returning Officer in this mode of proceeding; for if the vote is a bad one, there is a remedy by a fcrutiny or a petition: If a good vote is difallowed, the only remedy is an action against the Returning Officer :

Thus circumftanced there is no wonder in Mr. Fox's majority: for he has nothing to do but to procure a fufficient number of rabble to anfwer thefe few queftions directly and without hefitation. The negative is upon the moment impoffible to be proved by witnesses, and the Returning Officer is not empowered to adminifter an oath to the party:

Thus the wonder will ceafe when we reflect that any man, without the arts and machinations of Cataline, could carry an Election in the fame way, if he will condefcend to the fame tricks.

It is fuppofed that Cataline will procraftinate and delay the Election by one means or another, till the 18th of May; and then press the High Bailiff to make a return without a Scrutiny.

If any body asks why Sir Cecil Wray is out-generalled, the answer is plain,---becaufe he is an honeft inan, and has applied to thofe only who are real Electors.

Every body remembers the celebrated conjuror Jonas giving his adversary nine, and the deal at whift, and winning the game. Why? Becaufe his adverfary played fair, and he played the whole gaine.

Upon the whole ftate of the Westminster Election, it is clear that the inhabitants muft do juftice to themfelves by a Scrutiny. That will fet the prefent Election in its true light, and for the future it fhould be regulated by act of Parliament..

There is a report, but we pretend not to vouch for the fact, that Carlo Khan has been elected for the most northern district of boroughs in a neighbouring kingdom. We fincerely pray this intelligence may be true. His party muft bring him in for fome place or other, as their caufe could not long fubfift without the affiftance of his factious genius; and we wifh not this end of the island to bear the stain or reproach of delegating a man, who daringly avows principles incompatible with liberty and property; long therefore may he be configned to Hyperborean regions. Thither let him go, and with the fire of his eloquence warm the frigid Minos of his half rational admirers. There, too, let him for ever dwell, the grim idol of a Gothic race. Illa fe jacket in aula.

Among other inftances of exaggerated eftimate on the importance of the Westminster Election, an Election no otherwile important than for the fake of example; for as to the operation of Mr. Fox in the House of Commons, the unfubdued, unfophifticated: fenfe and fpirit of the rest of the kingdom have effectually antidoted that, by kicking out most of his adherents; among the fubftances of fuch exaggerated eftimate, are the expreffes daily into different diftant diftricts, on the conclufion of the Poll, to Lord

George

George Cavendish, Lord John, Lord Melbourne at Brocket, &c. &c. and as they are no conjurors, and cannot waft their intelligence through a lefs refifting medium than that of the turnpike-road, the great expence of this idle folly is obvious.

The friends of the Coalition have been ftigmatifed as bankrupts, common beggars,may common cheats-But wherefore? What can be more apposite than for public men to live upon the public?

Had the antients forefeen the proftitution to which the laurel would have been subjected in these degenerated and ill-judging days, they would have avoided the use of it as a badge of fame, or any mark of public or private merit.

We are are well informed that near 7,000 pounds are already subscribed to carry on the Scrutiny for Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray.

By the last mail from Mr. Fox's Committee, we learn, that all the butchers in Whitechapel, and the best part of the thieves from Gravel-lane, have not yet polled for Weftminster.

They write from Devonshire Houfe, that the Duchefs's conduct in fupporting Mr. Fox, is highly spoken of in all that neighbourhood.

The last letters from Sam Houfe's make no mention of his wearing a tye-wig; neither do they notice his French frock with filver frogs, or give any particular account of his chapeau-de-bras.

A fpecial meffenger from Brookes's brings the pleafing intelligence, that moral honefty is of no confequence; that public virtue is private convenience; that being in debt is the very effence of independence; and that knavery is the moft becoming quality in

nature.

Accounts from Berkeley-fquare fay, there is not fo much bustle there as heretofore. The superb vis-a-vis is fent to be finished, and the horses are gone to grass.

"A Chelsea Hofpital for wounded honour and broken reputation," was an excellent. description of the motives which drove feveral notorious delinquents into oppofition. "Evil communications corrupt good manners." That property is equally baned by bad company appears moft woefully in the fhrunk fubftance of thofe who were the firm of oppofition---Securities out of number forfeit---executions---and new Elections--33,000l. in Weftminster-9,000l. at York-11,000l. Bedford-10,000l. Buckingham-thire, &c. &c. &c.

Sam Houfe, Sweep Jack, St. Giles's Tom, and the other members of the ragged corps,. need never be without amufement, as the bofom friends which infeft them are fufficient to keep the adherents of General Blackbeard in perpetual motion, and this makes fome alledge, that they have found out the primum mobile.

Three bricklayer's labourers, who lived in a garret in Long-Acre, having polled for a certain candidate, received a letter of thanks, which not being able to read, they carried to their master, who by this means difcovered the infamous tranfaction..

Did there arife nothing to condemn the Morning Poft and Public Advertiser, but this fingle flander against Lord John Cavendith, it were enough, with a generous public, to confign the prints to execration and contempt. The inhabitants of York at this moment repent their rejection of him as a Member, and the whole nation are ready to fubfcribe to his character as the moit worthy of men. Upon what principles muft that Houfe of Commons be constructed, that made a point of excluding from a part in their deliberations fuch a man as LORD JOHN CAVENDISH-The Editors of this work, perfectly unknown to his Lordship, think it their duty as Englishmen, and much more fo as publishers, to pay this tribute to his truly immaculate character, and to exprefs our heartfelt with, "May the British Senate never want fuch a defender of the English latus, nor the oppressed of a 46 kingdom fuch an boneft jupporter of the rights of individuals!”

Hint

Hint to tradesmen in Westminster, &c.-Now is the time to arrest for debt each honourable gambler and unprotected cheat !-Verbum fat.

When the last accounts were received from Mr. Fox, there was no mention of public.

virtue.

Spitalfields. We understand in those parts, that perjury is an unexceptionable qua.,

lification.

It is reported in Queen Ann-ftreet, that a Brown Crow is not fo uncommon an animal as a Black Swan; and that a certain lady is henceforward determined to be open to all parties, and influenced by none.

It is certain that Mr. Fox, defpairing of fuch an Election for Westminster as might ftand the teft, has been trying for a fituation in various other places, but uniformly rejected in them all. Such was the fpirit against him in a certain Cornish borough, that Sir Francis Baffet, one of the Reprefentatives, loft his own election, for propo-. fing "The Man of the People" as his colleague.

The mob are rather too violent in their reprobation of the electioneering ladies. They fhould confider, that women of fashion may go to their haberdather's, or linendraper's, on other bufinefs befides canvaffing.

A correfpondent, on whofe veracity we can rely, informs us, that he has seen a letter juft received from India, the particulars of which will foon be made public: All he can fay at prefent is, that it brings news good in a high degree, and that Mr. Haftings has made fuch reforms, and put matters into fo good a train, that had The Man of the People carried his point, we fhould have been all afloat again in that corner of the globe.

The prefent Westminster Election is, perhaps, in many circumflances, the most extraordinary that ever was. The Public Advertifer of Monday has given us a true portrait of the arts by which Mr. Fox has gained a majority. Nothing is clearer, than that while any body of men can be hired to aufwer a few queftions directly, fuch as, whether they are houfeholders, pay poor's rates, and have rented the houfe before the test of the writ? which is all that is required--there will be no end of the Election. A Scrutiny is what alone can set this matter right.

It is a popular error, that the production of the parifh books have proved the goodnefs of Mr. Fox's voters. The names which are not found upon the books, are fubjected to enquiry, which can only end in the above queries.

It is alfo an error, that the return which the High Bailiff will be obliged to make, will prevent a fcrutiny; for a special report, ftating the particulars of the cafe, will be his return.

The cafe of Trentham and Vandeput, is in point, and that mode took place at that time; it is a diftinction without a difference, that one was at a particular, this at a general Election; for all writs, either particular or general, fhould be returned in forty days.

Circumftanced as the Election is at prefent, it may go on three weeks longer, or if Parliament did not meet the 18th inftant, the Electors of Weftminster might eat their Michaelmas goofe, if their purfes were long enough, at the expence of the fupporters of the SCOURGE OF THE PEOPLE.

We announced to the public, in the Morning Poft, about the commencement of the Election, that if Mr. Fox's friends were doubtful of his fuccefs in Weftminster, they would get him returned for fome Scotch borough. This has fince been verified; he being chofen for a district in the north of Scotland.

:

Mr.

Mr. Whitehead, lately one of the Yeomen of the Guard, is called upon once more to declare the fact refpecting the affertions made in the Morning Papers about ten days ago, that he had been difcharged from his place for voting in favour of Mr. Fox. The world has been induced to believe, from the pofitive manner in which the friends of Mr. Whitehead made the first public appeal, that he really was difcharged; but it remains for them to be informed, that, fo far from being difcharged from his office, Mr. Whitehead was indulged in a very particular manner, by being allowed the privilege of felling his place, which is very unufual, it being the perquifite of the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard to fell the place of the Yeomen on their deceate, which, of course, makes it his intereft to prevent old men from felling for the chance of the reverfion; but the prefent Captain of the Yeomen, with a generofity which does him honour, on Mr. Whitehead's application to fell (in confequence of being tired of his place), inftantly gave him leave to appoint his fucceffor; and the gratitude he has apparently experienced from Mr. Whitehead in return is, an infinuation that he had been difcharged by his Captain for voting for Mr. Fox. If this is not the fact, let Mr. Whitehead ftand forward, as an honeft man, and declare the truth, for the purpose of doing juftice to his own character, and of thofe from whom he has received more than one favour*.

If both the great political parties were to be examined according to the juft rules of criticism, the difference would be this :---Mr. Fox and his partizans have too much brass; Mr. Pitt and his friends have plenty of ferling gold. The former leader would, tó gratify his inordinate ambition, brow-beat the devil; the latter loves his country, and honours and fupports his fovereign.

Great complaints are made by the Coalitionists of the difmiffion of Mr. St. John from the Bedchamber. It is very probable they will foon maintain the doctrine that his Majefty cannot appoint his own footman or coachman, without the approbation of the Houfe of Commons. Would any private gentleman keep a fervant clofe to his perfon, who had affisted robbers in attempting to break into his house?

The Election of Mr. Fox for the borough of Kirkwall, in Scotland, may be recorded in the fame page with the election of Mr. Burke to be Lord Rector of the Univerfity of Glafgow. In the one there is a display of principles, in the other of taste.

State of the Political Stocks.---The Coalition credit below par---None of their bills negociable, fince their attempt to impofe on the people by the infamous India bill.---Mr. Pitt's credit is of great value---rifing daily in the estimation of the public; his bills will be accepted at fight, immediately on the meeting of Parliament.

The election of Mr. Fox for Kirkwall, in Scotland, evinces how fond he is of the Ccalition, by throwing himself into the arms of the North.

The would-be Abingdon of Drury-lane has agreed with her Lord---not to renew the game at nofey, till Mr. Fox is returned for Weitminster. The Lady has been very bufly employed in canvaffing for her Charley; and apprehending that there will very foon be a final close of the poll, fhe, like a certain diftinguished female, is most active when things come to the push.

Yefterday morning at eleven o'clock, the High Bailiff was prepared to read the Proclamation for clofing the poll for Weftminster, when an elector appearing and voting for Sir Cecil Wray, the books were kept open and the poll continued.

According to the state of the poll for the City of Westminster for these few days past, another week may poffibly put an end to this long contest, which has already lafted five

• See this explained in our Introductory Preface.

weeks.