e officer another, I fubmit it to you, if he difobeys the officer, whether be must not be tried by a Court-martial that fhews they go by military authority, and there act by military command. Sir, I beg leave to fay, in fact, the civil government of this city is fubftantially ftrong to fupport itself: it has fupported itself at every other Election "throughout the kingdom, and yet there may have come complaints before you, "where numbers have been angry at what the Returning Officer did: there is not an "imagination of the peace's being broke: what are the guards of the Court? The "Justices: what are the guards of you, but barely the law and the civil authority? Sir, I am warranted by the refolutions of this Houfe, in the year 1733, to fay, that' "riots and tumults have paffed too near thefe doors; you fent your commands to the "civil Magiftrate, and inftantly all was quiet. Would you, on pretence of keeping "the peace, fuffer a company of guards to ftand in the Lobby? No man, Sir, would "wish to live to fee that day, when the civil government of this country cannot fupport itfelf without the affiftance of the Military: I will be bold to fay, when it is not, that "civil government is undone; for, it is then not the law, but the military power "governs; and I hope, in this country, the bare word of a Tipftaff will go as far as "the commands of a Lieutenant General. I know it will be preffed ftill farther; but "all this argument will hold, in general, in every cafe; but fuppose a case of most ex"traordinary neceffity, when the civil Magiftrate is really overpowered, and there is "fire fet to the town, fhall not the troops then be called in to his affiftance? I think I "put the objections as ftrong as I can. That fatal argument of contending for an ex"ception to conftitutional principles; that fatal argument has brought us many times "to the brink of deftruction. Nothing is clearer, than that no freeman is to be im"prifoned but according to law: what, not if the King knows he is coming to attack him? The argument was fpecious, and the power of judging was trufted fomewhere, "and it took away the whole liberty of the fubject. Every man was imprisoned for a "mandatum Domini Regis. There was another refolution taken, that no money fhould "be levied on the fubject, but by the confent of Parliament: what, not on a cafe of "neceffity? They argued, it might in a cafe of neceffity, and that overturned the "whole rule; and, when money was raifed, it was for neceffity. Suppofe there "comes an extraordinary cafe, never within the intention of the legislature, that produced the difpenfing power which difpenfed with all the power of the legislature. It "muft tend to lodge a difcretionary power with fomebody to judge of that neceffity. "It must be lodged with the military officers; for it will not mend the cafe, if it is "lodged with the Returning Officer. Shall it be laid down, that troops may go to an Election? These are tatal arguments indeed! How far is neceffity to justify? Is it «fufficient, that the Officer fufpects or smells a riot? Is it fufficient, when he knows in "his own mind, he is going to do a thing which ought to provoke the people. If fo, that "will conclude a too general difcretionary latitude, wherever the Returning Officer "thinks fit to have it; and, I believe, it will not much be doubted but the military "Officer will exert himself according to the Candidates that fent for him. "Sir, the legislature, in the act I just mentioned, was fo far from fuppofing this ex"ception could be made, that they exprefsly enjoined, that no troops fhould come "within two miles of the place of Election in a day after. Will a cafe of neceffity dif"pense with that act? The act fays, they fhall not come within two miles of the town, "till four and twenty hours after the Election !** Notwithstanding the evident illegality of the proceeding, those of our readers, who frequented Covent Garden during the Election of which we treat, must have been frequent witneffes of the unconstitutional appearance of an armed military, arranged in battle array, under pretence of keeping the peace. Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray, after experiencing the utility of the Guards as Voters for them at the Poll, (which, agreeable to COMMAND, they did almost to a man) stretched still further their manageablo fervices in a military capacity, and brought them forward at laft with guns and bayonets, to fupport the FREEDOM OF ELECTION!! SHAKE SHAKESPEARE TAVERN, May 16.] A General Meeting of the Committee for conducting Mr. Fox's Election, and of all the Parochial Committees engaged in the fame caufe, will be held this evening, at eight o'clock, at the Shakespeare Tavern, where the attendance of Mr. Fox's friends is particularly requested upon special business. The Jack Straw, Dr. J, once a Parfon and a pretended Friend to the Conftitution, Vice Prefident to the Charitable Fund. For the Benefit of the Diftreffed Candidates, on Sunday Morning, May 16, 1784, By the Rev. Mr. J---k---n, Small Beer Chaplain to his Grace the Duke of N---c----le, in favour of the new and arbitrary Inftitution. The Organ, by Mr. Bolus, of Parliament-street. An Anthem to be fung to the tune of The Prifon Groans, by Mr. Hairsfoot, of the To be performed according to the ancient adopted cuftom of the Sons of N. B. Great care will be taken that all those who are lovers of flavery, and subscribe liberally to the fupport of the Court Candidates, fhall have commodious feats, and those that are most liberal in their donations will be conducted in safety up the Back Stairs. **Strict fecrecy may be depended upon, as being confiftent with our proceedings. › STEWARDS. 1. Oh! ye Sons of Westminster! attend unto the lamentations of Judas Iscariot; for he hath been difappointed and caft down; and his pleafant things are turned into Worinwood and Gall. Behold, the day is come, when he can no more hearken unto the voices of finging men and women. 2. Lo, he lifted up his voice and cried, "Oh! my bowels, my bowels; how are ye "troubled! my guts make a noife, I cannot hold my peace; because I have heard the found of the trumpet, proclaiming the victory of Fox." 3. Then one of his tribe, called Churchy came unto him with bladder and pipe; and faid, "Let me comfort thee!" But he answered, "Let me alone, for I am troubled "with fore purgings; Oh, I have loft my Eldership, and am become an outcast and ❝ an alien. 4. "Forgotten be the day wherein I was born; and woe unto the meffenger, who brought tidings to my Daddy; faying, an heir is born unto thee. For behold, I have betrayed my friend; yea, the friend of my country; and difgrace is on my head. 5." Verily 5. "Verily, my naftiness is come upon me; and the pit that I digged for my friend, am "I fallen into myself. Moreover, the people gather round about me, and they encom"pafs me on every fide; yea, I fay they hedge me in on every fide; faying, "Now is "Judas broken down! Now is ingratitude punished." 6. Then came Pompey, the Mongrel, who was alfo fore grieved; and faid, "Take "courage, dear Judas, and be of good cheer; for it may come to pafs that thou mayest yet be elected an Elder; yea, even for Garrat: for peradventure, Jeffery Dunfian will be created a Peer." 7. But he cried out the more vehemently, " Bear me hence, bear me hence; for the. "thoutings of the people are terrible to my ears, and my eyes wax dim." 8. And they took him up, and cast him on the fhoulders of Pompey, Churchy, and a certain Dippite, even as butchers take up a dead calf. And they moved off; yea, in mournful array. g 2: And his tribes followed; weeping bitterly, gnashing their teeth and crying,. Verily, verily, we are in the wrong box. 10. "Let us depart, unto our dwellings, and hide our heads; and let us put on "fackcloth and Afhes; for Satan hath deceived us, and the Man of the People, with "the daughter of Truth hath prevailed.". 11. Now the rest of the acts of the citizens of Westminster, are they not enrolled in the archives of the city? and will they not on future occafions be made known in the Book of Chronicles, commonly called The Chapter of the Times? Yea, they will.. Judas's laft Farewell to the Electors of the City of Weftminster. Gentlemen, It is with the utmoft grief and confufion I now lay my cafe before you, which is fo Bad, that this day I must be obliged to quit the Huftings. My proceedings are fuch that need not repeat more than what have been already related; I have done all I can to gain my Election; but find it in vain; I have stuck at nothing that might be of fervice to me, fuch as bad votes, bribery, or even caufing riots and murder. Support me, Oye friends, and affift me in the Scrutiny, is the laft defire of your old friend, JUDAS ISCARIOT. N. B. If any perfon can bring any account of my friend Juftice W, to the Prerogative Hotel, he fhall be handfomely rewarded; as it is feared he is either run away or fettered fince this day se'nnight.. 1 The Lamentations of Judas the Apoftate.. 1. Oh! ye fons of Westminster! hearken unto the voice, and attend unto the lamen tations of Ifcariot; for he hath been disappointed and caft down: and his pleasant things are turned into wormwood and gall. 2. "My bowels, my bowels; I am pained in my very heart; my belly makes a noife; "I cannot hold my peace, because I have heard the found of the trumpet, proclaiming "the victory of Fox the patriot.. ; 3. "Oh. 3. "Oh! Chief of the Back Stairs, thou knoweft! remember and vifit me! thy "words feemed found and I did eat them; for they were a joy and rejoicing unto thy 66 poor fervant. 4. Forgotten be the day wherein I was born; and woe unto the meffenger who "brought tidings to my daddy, faying, an heir is born unto thee. For behold, I have "betrayed my friend; yea, the friend of my country. 5. Verily, my naftiness is come upon me; and the pit that I digged for my friend, "am I fallen into myfelf. Moreover, the people gather round about me, and they encompafs me on every fide, faying, 6. How is Judas broken down!---How are the mighty fallen!---Lo! his tribes pafs by, and do not comfort him; no, not one; not even Churchy the pot-carrier --"Mourn, Oh Judas! for the time of thy calamity is come! 7 "I will arife and put me on fackcloth and afhes; for I am a refuse and an off"fcouring among the people; and I will humble myfelf before them: fo fhall it come "to pafs that I may become Mayor of Garrat. 8. For Jeffery Dunftan, and Katterfelto, will not oppofe me, faying, (We fhall "be created Peers.) Therefore, when my repentance fhall be fulfilled, peradventure "they may choose me." ADVERTISEMENT. The independent Electors of Westminster are requested to dine together at Willis's Rooms, in King-ftreet, St. James's, this day, after their return from chairing their illuftrious Representative. The Right Hon. C. J. FOX in the Chair. Tickets five fhillings each, to be had only at the Thatched Houfe and Shakespeare Taverns; and to prevent confufion, no perfon can poffibly be admitted without a ticket previously obtained. N. B. Gentlemen are requested to enquire for the Rooms, and number, as expreffed on the ticket.. ADVERTISEMENT.. St. James's-ftreet, May 17, 1784. To the Worthy and Independent Electors of the City and Liberty of Westminster. Gentlemen, This day being appointed by the High Bailiff, for the final close of the poll, I moft earneftly intreat the early attendance at the Huftings of each of my friends as have not yet honoured me with their fuffrages. Though the event of the Election is now beyond a doubt, yet it may be of advantage to the repose of this city, that the decifion fhould be by as great a majority as pof fible. The alarms which have been fpread of tumults fuppofed to be likely to attend the clofe of the poll, and the ftrong reafons there are, that fuch tumults have been for fome |