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"He begs, for many reafons, Mr. Wild will prevent in future, either the Poor Sol"dier, or Cheifea Penfiener being reprefented till after the Election."

Wood's Hotel, April 1, 1784.

In the neighbourhood of Covent Garden, bets are now ten to three, that Sir Cecil Wray will give up the conteft on the clofe of the poll to-morrow.

A gentleman who met both Sir Cecil Wray and Mr. Fox, on Wednesday, canvafing along the Strand, informs us, that the despair which was marked in the countenance of the worthy Baronet, could only be equalled by the fuccefs which animated the features of Mr. Fox.

As a cart with a dead calf was paffing through Covent Garden yefterday, a hackney coachman hailed a brother of the whip, with a D-me, Jack, Sir Cecil has cut his throat, and here he comes in a cart.

In yesterday's canvafs, Sir Cecil Wifeacre complained moft bitterly that Mr. Pitt had involved him in the whole of the infamy of propofing to demolish Chelfea Hofpital, whereas it was a faving propofed by Mr. Jenkinfon; and it is well known Mr. Pitt approves of the plan; ought not Mr. Pitt to own the truth, and thereby remove the odium that is now wholly flung on Sir Cecil Wray.

Sir Cecil's Wray's propofed tax upon Maid Servants, would moft undoubtedly be a very productive one, as there is fcarce a family in the kingdom, however low their fituation in life, but would contribute largely towards it.

It certainly was highly impolitic in Sir Cecil Wray to declare his fentiments, refpecting Chelfea College, juft on the eve of an Election, as he has thereby not only loft the votes of all the people interested in the exiftence of that place, but alfo of every other perfon of a good understanding, with a heart not quite void of the feelings of humanity.

As Sir Cecil Wray was canvaffing in Princes-ftreet, on Friday laft, he was met by an old Chelsea Penfioner, who being told the Baronet's name, immediately raifed his crutch, for the purpofe of finally putting an end to his fchemes for demolishing Chelsea Hofpital; but fortunately a friend of his perceiving the old man's intention, apprized Sir Cecil, who, by an inftant flight, efcaped for that time the vengeance of the enraged

veteran.

It is not one of the flightest objections against Sir Cecil Wray's being elected for Weftininfter, that he is by no means remarkable for either a good understanding or a tolerable education; undoubtedly while the city of Westminster has one clever fellow, it may do without another; but then that other ought to have fomething like parliamentary abilities, fomething nearer merit than violent heat, miferable language, and no ideas.

It is aftonishing what effect Sir CW's motion has already had on the recruiting fervice. Since the time that measure has been known in the country, not a fingle man can be prevailed on to inlift, and many who had inlifted have actually deferted for fear they fhould-be left to diftrefs and beggary, when they were by old age rendered unfit for duty.

It is afferted, that the grandfather of Mr. Fox fubfcribed 5000l. towards the building of Chelsea Hospital.

Though fome people might for a little time be misled, yet fo thoroughly are the Electors of Weftininfter now convinced of the uprightnefs of Mr. Fox's conduct, and of the treachery and ingratitude of his opponents, that there is fcarce any doubt but that

that the MAN OF THE PEOPLE will carry his Election by a majority of at least

three to one.

The prefent conteft in Westminster is not whether this or that candidate should be chofen by the Electors for their reprefentation; but whether their old tyrant the D-e of N- d fhould recover the dominion which he fo long ufurped, and which was with fo much difficulty wrefted out of his hands. His Grace will never forget that Mr. Fox was the means of the inhabitants recovering their liberty; and is fully perfuaded that, that gentleman, from his great abilities, and high fenfe of honour, would never be prevailed on to fuffer the rights of his conftituents to be invaded, whilft, on the other hand, from the narrow mind, confined education, and weakness of intellects of the Honourable Baronet, his worthy patron has every thing to hope.

Extract of a letter from Taunton, March 27.

"This day a bill of indictment was preferred against the Honourable C― J "F-, for bribery, before the Grand Jury for the county of Somerfet, which was "returned by them A true Bill.”.

Finding all other endeavours to prejudice Mr. Fox in the opinion of the worthy Electors of Westminster ineffectual, the Pittites, we understand have at length had recourse to a tratagem the most daring and infamous :-More than twelve months fince Mr. Fox received a letter from a freeman of Bridgewater, ftating the balance of an account between them, requefting the payment thereof, and defiring at the fame time to know whether Mr. Fox wifhed him to vote for any particular perfon as Mayor for the Borough of Bridgewater. -Mr. Fox's anfwer conveyed a draft for the money due; and the concluding paragraph pointed out a certain gentleman to whom Mr. F-wifhed fuccefs in his election for the Mayoralty. This letter lately fallen into Ministerial hands, it was thought fome good. might be made of it at the prefent crifis, if by coupling the two diftinct circumftances together a man could be procured bold enough to give this a colour of bribery before a Grand Jury, who hearing but one fide of the queftion, never fail to find a bill that may be preferred upon the flightest of all poffible evidence :-This honourable manœuvre has been carried into execution; with what view the independent Electors will foon be convinced;-for the infamy of the device is even outdone by the groffnefs of its abfurdity! Bon Mot.-Mr. Fox, on his late canvafs, having accofted a blunt tradefman, whom he folicited for his vote; the man anfwered, "I cannot give you my support; I admire your abilities, but d-n your principles." Mr. Fox fmartly replied, " My friend, I applaud you for your fincerity, but damn your manners.”

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Mr. Fox having applied to a Sadler in the Hay-market for his vote and intereft, the man produced a halter, with which he faid he was ready to oblige him. Mr. Fox replied, "I return you thanks, my friend, for your intended prefent; but I fhould be "forry to deprive you of it, as I prefume it must be a family piece."

The beautiful Duchefs of Devonshire is a conftant visitor to the sport in Covent Garden fhe is generally attended by a select party of the fineft women in England, round whofe carriages the mob croud and gaze, and gaze and croud until their fenfes are lost in admiration, and the preffure of thofe who pufh for the fame pleasure, drives them into areas, through windows, or rolls them along the kennel to a diftant fituation, bruifed and be-mudded, but not diffatisfied.

The prefent Weftminfter Election may truly be called the fenfe and nonfenfe of the people, jumbled together. Every perfon that comes to the Huftings is allowed a right to poll, although the day on which he gives his fuffrage be the firft in which he ever faw Westminfter. This is the actual fact, on the credit of an old gentleman, who has a regular lift of the real voters, and who, for public information, and not for any elecQq2 tioneering

tioneering purpofe, avers to those who are curious in fuch matters, that there have above two thoufand people polled, who on a fcrutiny would all be rejected; and out of thofe two thoufand, fifteen hundred are not inhabitants, and five hundred not Electors of Weftminster. Many from the parish of Lambeth, from Wapping, Shadwell, Ratcliffe, the Minories, and other parts, have been marfhalled up to the Huftings as the conftitutional collective body. Not lefs than feven hundred and fifty came, in one day, from Wapping, Deptford, Greenwich, Rotherhithe, and other feafaring places, to vote, fome for one candidate, fome for another; and what is aftonifhing, all were admitted. This is fuch an open violation of the rights and immunities of the real Electors of Weftminfter, as demands a fcrutiny, let who may be elected on the prefent conteft, whether it be Mr. Fox, or Sir Cecil, or Lord Hood; and the Committees of each party fhould be publicly reprimanded for fuch conduct, as well as the High Bailiff. The one for bringing them up, the other for admitting them to poll.

A Gentleman, who was one of Sir George Vandeput's Committee, during the great contest about thirty-five years ago, between him and the prefent Earl Gower, for the city of Weftminfter, afferts, that the bills for ribbons, banners, and fuch frippery, for the former candidate only, amounted to the enormous fum of one thoufand, three hundred and odd pounds!

Since the High Bailiff of Westminster declared that partners were intitled to vote, there have appeared fuch partnerships as were never before publicly noticed. Three foldiers polled, becaufe they were partners in a three pair of flairs room; and two negroes, because they were partners behind the fame coach; but on being queftioned, fo far from being houfe-keepers, they could not prove that they had been christened.

April 2.] This day there was a fcuffle in Covent Garden between a body of failors from Wapping, and a party of Mr. Fox's friends. The poll was very much interrupted in confequence of the fracas, and hundreds of the Electors were prevented from getting up to the Huftings. The flags on both fides were put down, and locked up; and three of the failors were taken into cuftody. Application was made to Lord Mahon by fome of Mr. Fox's friends; his Lordfhip faid that certainly the failors fhould not be fuffered to interrupt the poll, but he could not take upon him to difiifs them, without the confent of the Committee at Wood's Hotel.

The Ladies of Westminster incline to Mr. Fox, and are daily employed in affifting the canvafs for that city.

Punch and humble porter is the Westminster beverage-and the God of the Grape is to be excluded altogether, except in the fecret Committee.

How can it be faid that the

giflature, when his

is regardless of the Commons part of the Le

at this moment takes fuch uncommon pains to fee that the city of Westminster be properly represented?

In oppofition to a paragraph in a certain morning paper, we are defired, by one of the Prince of Wales's domeftics, to affert, that when the Prince's fervants mentioned the circumftance of her Majefty, defiring them to vote for Cecil Wray and Lord Hood, they were anfwered by his Royal Highness in this manner:-"It is my duty to obey her Majefty; it is the duty of my fervants to obey me; and it is the duty of every Elector, without regard to fuperiors of any defcription, to fupport, by their interests and their poll, the rights of the people."

Mr. Samuel Houfe, the patriotic citizen of Westminster, has maintained for upwards of forty years, in the neighbourhood where he at prefent refides, the character of an Honeft Englishman. In the year 1763, at which time he was much more corpulent than he is at prefent, he undertook, for a trifling wager, to jump off Westminster

Bridge;

Bridge; this extraordinary feat he performed, and wore for feveral years after a plushcoat, with large filver buttons, the produce of the bet.-It was remarkable that he pledged himself to jump from the Bridge at a time when he was intoxicated. His friends aftewards endeavour d to diffuade him from the undertaking, by obferving he was drunk when he made the propofal; "then, fays Sam, it the more becomes me to keep word now I am ober!"

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There never was, fays a correfpondent, fo ridiculous a refolution as the last one of Sir Cecil Wray's Committee's inditing. Sir Cecil's own apology admits that he made the propofition to demolish Chelfea Hofpital, and then comes the Committee-man's comment, which amounts to this,-" Sir Cecil did fay fo, we own, but we beg you'll "not think he meant any fuch thing, and we intreat you to transfer all the blaine of "having made fo fhameful a propofition from Sir Cecil who actually made it, to the "friends of humanity who pointed it out for public indignation." The Committee-man who wrote the apology is but juft recovered from a nervous fever.

Sir Cecil Wray was brought forward to the Electors of Westminster by Mr. Fox, and by his intereft and popularity was elected Member for that city, and Lord Hood was rejected. Now Sir Cecil Wray unites and canvaffes jointly with Lord Hood to attempt (but it will be in vain) the exclufion of Mr. Fox. Sir Cecil was brought forward and fucceeded as the friend of liberty, Lord Hood was rejected as the Candidate of the backftairs. Pray Sir Cecil how do you justify this coalition, you man of honour ?

'Tis faid, that by the ancient laws of the Cretans, the horrid vice of ingratitude, was feverely punished. Pray, fays a correfpondent, how would that generous people have treated an injurious Rat-catcher and a no lefs infamous Candidate for Welt

minfter?

Yesterday morning a moft daring attempt was made at the Huftings in Covent Garden, to controul the freedom of Election. The partizans of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray, finding the Poll going rapidly against them, immediately poured forth from their rendezvous at Wood's Hotel, a defperate gang of failors, difplaying the King's colours, and headed by naval officers, who immediately affaulted the peaceable citizens of Westminster, by knocking down all those who were approaching the Huftings in Mr. Fox's favour! By this honourable manoeuvre the joint Candidates averted for the moment the decifive majority that muft otherwife have appeared against them, and ended the conteft.

There never were two men fo univerfally reprobated as Lord Mahon and Sir Cecil Wray are for their paltry conduct during yesterday's Poll. When Lord Mahon was afked, whether he could ftop the outrages of Sir Cecil's mob? he had the folly to make anfwer, that he could do nothing without leave of the Committee; confeffing in his abfurd ftile, that Sir Cecil had a regular plan for interrupting the freedom of election. What a pity it is that the wards of Bedlam are unreprefented. What conftituent in all Moorfields could hesitate to vote for the Man of the Moon. Surely neither moaping melancholy nor frantic folly would hefitate to join intereft in favour of fo perfect a reprefentative of both the miferable extremes of irrationality and infanity.

The indignation of the Electors of Weftminster is very justly excited by the officious intrufion of Lord Mahon at their Elections. His Lordship is fcarcely an Elector-his geftures are ridiculous-his words abfolute madnefs-his appearance fhocking. He talks on the Huftings like the ghost of a lunatic-vociferates-inakes wry faces-is hiffedhooted-and then fneaks off.

Lord M-h-n has long been admired by his friends for fkill, in the conduct of popular affemblies. Of this he gave fome proofs at the General Meeting of Westminster Electors,

Electors, to confider of an Addrefs to his Majefty. The fuccefs of the Buckinghamfhire meeting was alfo afcribed wholly to fimilar exertions of the fame patriotic Nobleman. But at the Weftminfter Election, yesterday, the noble Lord exceeded himself. A party of failors were ftationed to befiege the Shakefpeare, and prevent the voters of Mr. Fox from coming to the Huftings. When requested to difperfe his gang, his Lordship replied, "I cannot difperfe them, without the confent of the Committee." The fpirit of the independent Electors, however, overcame all oppo. tion, and The Man of the People ftill retains the majority on the Poll.

The feamen are hearty fellows, and the moment they are rightly informed that Sir Cecil is the fworn foe of the poor old foldiers, they had rather die than give their voice to the man who would ftarve their fellow-fufferers. Mr. Fox is a friend to Lord Hood, but Lord Hood is as angry as any man at the cruel attack upon Chelsea Hofpital.

The Duke of Queenfberry having laid a few paltry bets that Mr. Fox would not carry his Election for Weftminster, has been ftraining every remnant of a nerve about him to procure a few votes for Sir Cecil. Many fay this conduct arifes from the Duke's anxiety left he fhould fhortly ceafe to be a courtly thing; while others affirm his Grace has an inveteracy against Mr. Fox, on account of its being whispered fome years fince, that he affifted in the memorable ftanzas addreffed to the Duke, which. began,

"Say, jockey Lord! advent'rous macaroni!
"So fpruce, fo old, so dapper, stiff, and ftarch,
"Why quit the amble of thy pacing poney,

"Why on a filly risk thy fame, O! MARCH?”

The following odd rencontre happened in Covent Garden yesterday :-A young failor, who was half feas over, kept running about, roaring out Sir Cecil for ever!— At the corner of the Piazza an old Chelsea man ftood leaning against the wall, who inftantly recollected the jolly tar, and cried out, "What! Jack, are you a friend to the man who would pull down my only houfe?" Jack foon difcovered that this. fpeech came from his old father-in-law. The confequence may be eafily imagined. The young feaman looked fhamefaced, and, pulling out five fhillings, broke out into the following honeft exclamation: Father, is it thee ?-D-m my eyes, here's the trafh that brought me here-it's at your fervice-and I'll be dd if I fight for Sir "Cecil any more.

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The following note was fent last night to the High Bailiff of Westminster : Shakespeare Tavern, Friday evening. "Mr. Fox's Committee moft earneftly request the High Bailiff of Westminster to "exert the powers vested in him by law, for the prefervation of the peace, and of the "freedom of Election during the Poll, in order to prevent a repetition of the outrages "of this day, fo difgraceful to the police, and fo dangerous to the fafety of the peace"able Electors of this city."

To the High Bailiff of Westminster.

The Duchefs of Devonshire attended the Huftings yefterday in an elegant equipage. Her Grace wore a favour in her hat, and another on her breaft, infcribed with FOX. The fervants and horfes were alfo decorated with thefe teftimonies of approbation. Another carriage of the Houfe of Cavendifh made a like difplay in compliment to Mr. Fox.

Mr. Fox was well aware that he roufed a neft of hornets when he undertook to reftrain the enormous crimes of the plunderers of the Faft; but his generous foul rofe

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