"tainly betray you." The honeft hint of approbation broke forth-and the populace exclaimed, "Down with ingratitude, down with the viper that ftung his friend !" The fpirit of the Electors of Westminster is at length moft thoroughly roufed, by the indignities offered to this great city, in bringing the military mercenaries to vote against Mr. Fox. Every honeft Englishman is eager to diftinguifh himself in counteracting the dirty tricks of the Court; nor is there the leaft doubt, that there is still a fufficient number of voters to refeue Weftminster from the haughty grafp of the Northumberland aristocracy! We congratulate the good people of England on the rapid progrefs they have made within the last fix weeks, towards the perfect recovery of their fenfes. Juftly jealous of their liberties, they are precipitate in taking the alarm-honeft and manly in their tempers-when roufed, they are proportionally warm. Jealoufy is ever fubject to extraordinary fufpicion. This is well understood by artful defigners, who have been employed for months paft by the prefent Miniftry, and their friends, to infufe into the minds of the public fuch apprehenfions and falfe ideas of danger, as might beft contribute to the completion of popular deception. But, thank Heaven, the day of paffion is paft-men begin to cool, to reflect, to reafon. The India Bill, and every part of the conduct of the Coalition, is now confidered with calmnefs and moderation; the artifices of the fecret junto begin now to be understood, and a regard for the Conftitution to predominate over that temporary enthufiafm, which faw nothing lovely or valuable in the equilibrium of the three eftates, while compared with the Prerogative of the Crown. Two months ago, Mr. Newnham and Mr. Sawbridge (fuch was the political influence of that period) would not have polled one tenth part of their prefent numbers. Two months ago, Mr. Fox did not appear to have any friends in Westminfter, and yet now he has thoufands-and what affords an additional proof, that the enthusiasm of the country people is departing from them, Mr. Hartley, who had no friends at the Reading meeting, has found fo formidable a fupport at Abingdon, as bids fair to carry his Election. What have the ladies done to call down the whole weight of penfioned pens, and minifterial mercenaries? Read the legend of lies, and you would fuppofe that the fiends are in league to fupport Mr. Fox. Go to the Huftings, and you will feel that he is the favourite of angels! Say what you will, ye immaculate and chafte Minifters, 'tis all in vain! We have no Salic law in England-ours is the land of liberty and love!Nor will the spirit of Englishmen endure the revival of Daddy James's politics, "When mincing minions rul'd, and love was left!" Sir Cecil Wray's friends begin now to despair for him, the Court intereft is now exhaufted, and the detection of the multitude of falfe votes polled for Judas feems to have determined large bodies of the real Electors, who intended to have remained neuter, to come forth and affert their own rights, by supporting Mr. Fox, and difcouraging impoftors. Three of the rendezvous, at which the fupporters of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray meet, are the Auction rooms of Mr. Chriftie in Pall-mall, Suffolk's under the Piazza, and Patterfon's in King-ftreet; a clear demonftration, that thofe candidates meant to carry their point by "knock-me-down doings!" Lord Maitland, Lord Surrey, Mr. Powys, Mr. Sheridan, and Colonel Fitzpatrick, labour under the violent difpleasure of Mr. Pitt's junto, for their uniform and judicious fupport of their friend Mr. Fox, with that fuperior difplay of abilities for which thofe Gentlemen are more particularly distinguished. While While the Duchefs of Devonshire and her fuite are rattling through the alleys on the one fide, and the Duchefs of Rutland on the other, the firft is treated in a profligate morning print with all the dirty and obfcene cant of a common brothel, and the fecond is treated in all the other newspapers, with the gallantry and respect due to female beauty. Voila la difference! The prefent Minfter, principally on the fuggeftion of his relation Lord Mahon, has in contemplation an object which has long been wifhed for in vain-fomething of the plan of the Jus Trium Liberorum of the ancients-specific immunities and profitable diftinctions, to encourage matrimony, and alleviate the burthens of a large family. A correfpondent, who is at a lofs to know what caufe can induce even the lowest mercenary of a Court to defcend to the defpicable meannefs of an unremitting attack upon the fair fex, begs to folicit information upon fo curious a fubject, by asking the following queftions:1. Are thefe detractors of the best part of God's works ready to admit that they diflike the fex, and therefore afperfe them? To acknowledge this, would be to confign themselves to irreparable infamy. 2. Is it that they are hired to do it, which is much the more charitable alternative, and if fo, by whom? Sure the prefent immaculate Miniftry can iffue no wages for a purpose fo evidently repugnant to all their feelings. 3. Is it that their friend, the Knight of the Hofpital, having firft endeavoured to opprefs the lower order of women, has thought it expedient to proceed with the fame good-natured intention to the higheft? 4. Is it that the freedom and the conftitution of the country is fo perfectly odious to them, that they hate even BEAUTY when employed in that caufe? To fome of the above reafons this infamous proceeding must be owing; and our correfpondent, anxious for the prevention of a practice fo difgraceful to the very name of man, and fo peculiarly difgufting to the eyes and ears of Englishmen, withes to know to which of them he is in future to af cribe it. An Election Bon Mot.-When his Majefty first heard that the Prince of Wales had interefted himself for the fuccefs of Mr. Fox, he deputed one of the aristocratic lacquies of his bedchamber to wait upon his Royal Highnefs, and to remonftrate with him on the impropriety of fuch an interference. His Majefty, (fays the Lordly meffenger,) "is furprized at the Heir Apparent's taking an active part on the fubject of an election. -"Be fo good as prefent my humble duty to the King, (replied the other Great Per"fonage) and fay it does not appear half fo ftrange that the Heir to his Majefty as that "Majelty itself should take an active part on fuch an occafion. I never employed "Weltjie till his Majefty had firft employed the Earl of S, and if there was any "difference between us, it was only that I had employed the more refpectable mef"fenger." The infamous mifreprefentations of the conduct of a certain illuftrious character within these few days, challenge the reprobation of every good and thinking man. Do we not all occafionally experience an inconvenience from the ignorant and hafty zeal of fervants, who hardly ever interpret a master's meaning right, or exercife any authority with difcretion? Let us fuppofe for a moment that Mr. Fox fhould not come into Parliament at all, where will be the check, the controul, that all Minifters require? Who, befide Mr. Fox, is qualified to be the champion of thofe rights which every Minifter has temptations to violate? Nothing fhort of Mr. Fox's talents can maintain that poft, against the invafions which are meditating, against the powers which the Minfter will fhortly bring forward, in order to govern the country at difcretion. If Mr. Fox has loft his ministerial strength, he must ftill be formidable as Patrocles in Achilles' armour; his very name me is a tower of ftrength, a rock of defence for the conftitution; and though he ftood alone, his fuperior genius would keep an hoft of enemies in awe. It were to be wifhed, that in times like thefe, fomething like a regard to decency was obferved. How can we reconcile it to the rules eftablifhed among gentlemen, that terms which would not be fuffered in conversation, are to be bandied about in lampoons-Can fcurrility do good to any cause? It ought to be refented by people as am infult on their understanding, for to them it is addreffed. The riots in Covent Garden are at an end-the chairmen having out-polled the failors. On Mr. Pitt's return from the Grocers Feaft, when the rabble who attended him came oppofite to Brookes's, in St. James's-ftreet, and commenced their attack on the houfe, the cry was, "Break the rafcals chairs." "Arrah, Pat, (fays one of the chairmen to another) is it the Conftitution to brake our chares "No, by Jafus, Tady, it's Secret Influence."-" Secret Influence! what's that?"-" Nothing fo easy; Secret Influence is the Back ftairs, man."-" Oh! tunder and blood, down with the Back-ftairs, man! For fighting and the front door all over the world!" And in three minutes the Irifhmen reftored peace and good order to the street. As a proof of our affertion, that a fyftematical plan is regularly pursued by the adherents of the prefent Ministry, to revile and calumniate the lovelieft of the creation, we must request every man of English feelings to count the number of paragraphs inferted in the minifterial prints of yesterday (Good Friday) against women. We fhould deteft to infinuate this idea, unless the unwarrantable repetition of the moft odious and fhocking afperfions on the fex demanded the interference of every man of generofity and native fenfibility. THE INFLUENCE OF BEAUTY. It is not without reafon that certain individuals object to the influence of beauty.What can be fo unfeemly as that women fhould defcend to the vulgar manners of civility and gentleness? or that they fhould be fo negligent of character and fashion, as to be earnest in the service of the man whom they love? An end is put at once to the privileges of Englishmen, if the Ladies are to be fuffered to interfere in the Conftitution. What have they to do with reprefentation? So far from wishing to preferve their freedom, they generally defire to get rid of it as soon as they can. If they have eftates, and defire to protect them, the proper representative is a husband; and with a clear rent roll, they will have no great difficulty in their canvass for one. A fober, plain Englishman can really have no opinion of his own, if his understanding is to be attacked by the arguments of eyes. He can have no chance for his liberty, if weapons fo irrefiftable as fimiles and glances are ufed against him. The influence of beauty therefore must be more dangerous in a free country than the Secret Influence of the Crown. If it fhould be admitted that Ladies have a right to canvafs for their favourite candidate, and to exercife the arts of never-failing beauty against the untufpecting hearts of Englishmen, their next step will be to vote for them; and they will maintain their franchises by arguments which we cannot refute. Having gained this, they will next get into Parliament themfelves, and then farewell to our liberties as a free people !The Ladies now have the confidence to afpire to an equal elevation with the men in every thing. They aver that genius is of no fex, and finding themfelves poffeffed of equal talents, they prefume to cultivate them to an equal degree of polifh. Is it to be endured, that they fhould not only triumph over us in figure and face, but that they Sf hould fhould alfo be fuperior to us in accomplishments and fenfe?-Far be it from the wifhes of all fober men! Let it therefore be known from this time forth, That it fhall be downright impudence in any woman of rank to have the conde fcenfion of fpeaking to any perfon of a lower condition. That Ladies of quality have no right to entertain friendships, or if they fhould be fo indifcreet and unfashionable as to prefer one man to another, that it is abfolute vulgarity in them to expofe it to the world. That Ladies of quality have no bufinels with the affairs of the nation. That Ladies ought never to come out of the nursery except to make a pudding for dinner; and that, if they have any fpare time, it fhould be occupied in the ftitching of chair covers. It was obferved of the Duchefs of Devonshire and Lady Duncannon, while they were foliciting votes in favour of Mr. Fox, on Saturday laft, that they were the most lovely portraits that ever appeared upon a canvass! On Saturday laft Lloyd Kenyon, Efq. lately the Attorney General of the Crown, and now Mafter of the Rolls, one of the higheft offices in the law, voted for Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray. His houfe is in the parish of St. Giles, but he voted for a little back-room which projects into Portugal-street. He voted therefore as a lodger. Nothing could be more degrading to a man of feeling and delicacy, than the conduct of the Mafter of the Rolls. That a man of his rank, and who lately filled the firft law office of the Crown, fhould defcend to a vote as the accupier of a back-room, three yards fquare, in a city were the right of election is in housekeepers, fhows to what fhifts the Court is driven in the prefent itruggle. There is fomething unmanly in the fquibs thrown against certain Peereffes. When Ladies lay themfelves open to attack, men of gallantry will cover, and not expose their amiable weaknesses. It is expected that the partizans of Lord Hood will, in the courfe of this day, ring all the changes upon the engagement which was fought on the 12th of April, between the fleets under Lord Rodney and the Comte de Graffe, because his Lordship had that day the command of one of the English divifions. But let the public be remembered that his Lordship, if the Gazette is to be credited, had but little to do in the action, as Lord Rodney exprefsly fays, he "fent Sir Samuel Hood's divifion in queft of the "enemy, becaufe his hips had not fuffered in the engagement It is alfo arrogantly advanced, that the Ville de Paris ftruck to the Barfleur, although the Canada,. Captain Cornwallis, had a preference to that honour over every other fhip in the fleet! The attempts of ribaldry against the Duchefs of Devonshire are fo truly wretched, that one cannot help mixing a degree of pity with the indignation we naturally feel against the writers. The following apostrophe, from fome lines addreffed to her Grace abour four years fince, is at this feafon very applicable : "O, bow ye tranfgreffors, in penitence bend; "Against fuch perfection. what fin to offend. "Yet fee-in the brightnefs which darts from her eyes, "With beauty's mild luftre her clemency flies! "That fiile, juft difplay'd, to the foul has expreft "The happy compofure that reigns in her breast! It is rather hard on the foldiery to be laughed at, as they now are, for doing the only Gervice that the times allow of. Every one knows that a red coat is an odious fight in tune of peace; and formerly, the keeping up an army, at a great expence, to lounge about the country, was thought ufelefs and ridiculous, if not dangerous, in a free country. Can any one wonder then, that the foldiers are alert and active at Elections? Marching and countermarching at the Huftings keeps them in exercife, and not only ftrengthens their limbs, but adds to their courage; for furely if they are taught to bear the indignation of their own countrymen, expreffed in every poffible way, with ease and indifference, for only a trifling addition of pay, there can be little doubt but that in future they will meet their natural enemies with exactly the fame proportion of patriotifm and Spirit, that they now difcover facing their fellow-citizens. Several of the foldiers belonging to the regiment quartered in the Savoy voted for Sir Cecil Wray and Lord Hood, on the poll of Saturday laft. Thefe worthy and moft patriotic candidates having now completely exhaufted the whole of their military refources, are confidently faid to have addreffed an application to the Sheriff of London, requesting permiffion to bring as many of the independent prifoners as are not under actual fentence of death, to vote for them on this day's poll. We understand no anfwer has yet been returned to this requifition, to the great mortification of Sir Cecil, who refts his whole hopes of making even a decent figure for fix days, upon the fuccefs of the above application! The following orders were yesterday tranfmitted to the proper office, as documents for carrying on the legend of lies, during the courfe of the enfuing week: Ordered, That twenty paragraphs per day be inferted against the Duchefs. That Sir Wm. M. That his R-1 H -th be white-washed. -s's amours be reprefented as crying fins. That Lord S-1-y be puffed for his canvaffing, and Weltjie abufed for his. That Lord John Cavendish, Gen. Conway, Mr. Vyner, and Mr. Baker, be calumpiated in every poffible way, as the best means to vindicate their conftituents for electing their fucceffors. That the various fervices of the guards be duly celebrated, at St. George's Fields, firing on the citizens, St. Cas, &c. That the prifoners, &c. of the Savoy be ftated as good Weftminfter Electors. That Lord Mountmorres deferves the name of Pompey. That the High Bailiff of Westminster is a compound of Minos and Rhadamanthus. Laftly, as the only true principle for fupporting the legend of lies in its original vigour, that it be always remembered, that "Whatever is, is right!" The Jockey Duke is ftill on his fidgets, left Mr. Fox fhould get the whip-hand of Sir Cecil in the fcrutiny heat; and if fo, away goes the fee fimple of his Grace's borough intereft near Dumfries! Tommy Titmoufe adheres to the Prince with uncommon fealty:-He fears his voice as Falftaffe did the "roaring of the lion's whelp," walks before him in the Promenades of Beauty through hidden mazes and fecret windings, and is to the Prince, even as the jackall is to the lion! It is rather a folecifm in female politics, that Lady Willoughby fhould canvass on the fide of Mr. Fox, confidering her Ladyfhip's relative fituation: the Duchefs of Ancafter is an advocate for the Court Candidates; and Mr. Burrell, whofe family is allied by a double marriage to the House of Percy, is not, it is thought, inactive in the caufe of Sir Cecil. Sf 2 The |