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and prevaricating Committee find themfelves completely defeated, and they are catching at every thing to hide their fhame, and ward off the contempt and ridicule they have incurred even with their own party!

There is no longer that confident talk of a fcrutiny for Weftminster, which prevailed fo violently a few days ago. There is fomewhat more of the piano in Mr. Churchill's note, and he now fings to the tune of a petition to the Houfe, complaining of an undue Election. This, if granted, would certainly have a delicious effect, as the whole bufinefs would be to do over again, with this advantage to Mr. Fox, that as the world is coming round to their fenfes again, his majority would be ten times as great as it is at prefent.

Every Minifter in this country has experienced a want of popularity before he has been long in office. Even the immortal Chatham himfelf loft the confidence and opinion of the people foon after the war, in which he was fo truly fuccefsful, glorious, and triumphant. There is in the first place no fixt principle to regulate the judgment of the croud; the multitude does not reflect, it cannot argue, but is eternally carried away by accidental prejudices, and governed by the turbulence of paffion. Thus the croud, which once idolized Mr. Fox, has fince deferted him; idolized him for the very principles that have been fince condemned in practice; idolized him for his zeal, for the conftitutional privileges of the fubject-thofe very privileges which the peopeople have fo lately been folicitous to betray. If, however, Mr. Fox loft his popularity in the hour of enthufiafin, he is now gradually recovering it from all quarters.The thunders of execration are funk into the fober debates of reason, which bid fair to be fhortly fucceeded by that ftill finall voice of public efteem, which arifes from the conviction of public error.

The many ill-natured, illiberal, and fcandalous infiuations that have been thrown out against the Duchefs of De, on her friendly and fpirited behaviour during the Election for Weftminster, rather indeed deferve contempt than ferious refutation. Had the authors reflected on her conduct, as efpoufing a different caufe, it might have been pardonable; but from thence to infinuate a want of virtue and modefty, which are con fined to no party, betrays a littlenefs of mind and ideas as contracted as the narrow fphere of life in which they move. Her exertions to ferve Mr. Fox have, it feems, provoked a poetafter in the newfpapers to lament the degeneracy of female virtue and modefty; yet is he fo ignorant of the human heart, as not to be able to judge wherein they confift. He fets out upon the most abfurd principles; that is, he imagines that virtue and modefty are only to be found among the great, or elfe he could not condemn. her as loft to thofe virtues, only becaufe fhe vifits the poor. With regard to her permitting a kiss from a butcher, it is much more likely to be falfe than true, and confidering her, as the really is, a woman of character, there is no doubt but that fhe knows how to behave as fuch, and to repel any improper liberty that may be offered; however, our correfpondent will for the prefent fuppofe it were true; to what then does the crime amount? If the gained a vote for her friend by a kifs, it was not more criminal than granting a kifs to a man of quality for no other reafon than his being introduced; perhaps there is lefs guile in the heart of a butcher than in a man of quality; yet fhe is accufed of trefpaffing on the rules of modesty in one inftance, which would not have been thought fo in the other." She likewife defcends below her dig"nity." What is the dignity of title? Not pride, which is fometimes the definition of it, a thing that has never been claffed in the lift of virtues, and therefore can have no real merit, but humility, which is the true dignity of a virtuous, benevolent, rational creature, and is a much higher title than Duchefs of D Humility in the poor may be necessary; but in the opulent it is the sweetest virtue, and fhews that they

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they have a foul as great as their rank and fortune. A little mind and a great fortune, though they fo often meet, yet are improper companions: the great, inftead of thinking themselves a fuperior race of beings, entitled to the homage and obedience of their inferiors, fhould practice the virtues of humility, more particularly, as the weight of their obligations to providence is far greater than others who have not had fo many favours bestowed on them. Ladies of quality are in general a fet of infipid, ufelefs beings, and the world is furprized to find one rifing above their indolence and pride, and exerting herfelf to the utmoft in what fhe thinks right: a luke-warin friend is worth nothing. It matters not whether fhe is the friend of Fox, of Pitt, or the Man in the Moon: the principle from which the acts, deferves the highest praife; fhe no doubt thinks it the caufe of liberty and public good, the best incentives to a virtuous mind, and like the wife and mother of Coriolanus, exerts her utmost endeavours to fave a finking state. What contamination is there in the abode of a poor tradefman merely because he is poor? The Duchefs has too much good fenfe to affect the ftudied character of a prude, and from her innocence and good-humour, may not perhaps resent trifling things, while thofe of another defcription might condemn; but our correfpondent is certain fhe would never admit of any familiarities that unaffected modefty could difapprove. Dean Swift, in ridicule of an over-nice perfon obferves, "That an over-nice man is a man of nafty "ideas;" even virtue, when carried to excefs, becomes criminal, folly and vice are in extremes; good fenfe and virtue is the true medium.

The Westminster Election, fuppofing it to be terminated as it ftands at prefent, has been much farther carried than in the conteft between Trentham and Vandeput-That the most memorable of any on record in Weftminster, obviously was much less remarkable than that now carrying on, having lafted but 17 days, and being terminated with not many more than 9000 voters on the poll.

Lord Hood is placed over the door in the great room at the Academy: and Lord Rodney, the real hero of the 12th of April, has a fecondary fituation in the anti-room!

Yesterday afternoon a party of gentlemen waited upon the proprietors of the several print fhops in the Strand, and remenftrated with them upon the impropriety of expofing in their windows the several fhameful and indecent prints on the most ainiable of female characters: the fhopkeepers admitted the grofsnefs of fuch an exhibition, and very handfomely promifed to prevent it in future: an example, no doubt, that will immediately be followed by all the refpectable part of their profeffion; and fhould any other printfeller after this be daring enough to continue a display of those wretched caricatures, there is little doubt but he will be convinced of his error by a more Speedy and exemplary punishment than the law of the land may afford.

It was the current report of yesterday, that Lord Hood was about to be appointed to the immediate command of the British fquadron in the Eaft-Indies, with an English peerage the idea was to fecure thereby Sir Cecil Wray's feat for Weftminfter; but the Attorney General has informed Mr. Pitt, that the Returning Officer must return Lord Hood, notwithstanding any creation of nobility, if he continues at the head of the poll.

The dejected Committee of Sir Cecil Wray talk of a fcrutiny, merely to preferve appearances with each other; a kind of pledge is thrown out in the prints, that a Scrutiny hall be inftituted as a ray of hope to the few reluctant fragglers that may yet be dragged forth by fecret influence in fupport of their loft caufe: to carry on this farce,

"A friend is worth all hazard we can run;
"Poor is the friendless matter of a world;
"A world in purchase for a friend is gain."
Y y

a fub

a fubfcription was propofed after Thurfday's dinner at Wood's Hotel, when the capital fums of twice twenty pounds were fubfcribed on paper in the courfe of the evening to carry on this trifling concern; the lift was handed to Lord Pompey, who, with more good fenfe than ufually appertains to him, faid, he was not quite fo rank an Hibernian as to contribute towards a fcrutiny, that might probably invalidate the fuffrage he himfelf had given! and here the matter rests!

The half-finished ferutiny carried on by Sir George Vandeput against Lord Trenthim, the prefent Earl Gower, coft the latter 22,0col.-his Lordfhip's majority was 158, after about fix or feven hundred votes were ftruck off on each fide. The present Lord Camden and the late Baron Peirot were Lord Trentham's counsel.

The fafhionable toaft of the day is-laurel branches to the independent Electors of Weftminster, and laurel water to the enemies of the conftitution!

Among the numerous patriotic toafts drank at Sir Cecil's laft dinner, what could have been inore congenial than thefe two, which immediately fucceeded each other, viz. The Independence of the City of Westminster!

The Dukes of Northumberland and Newcastle!

--had poor Jack Churchill's health permitted his remaining in town, this glaring contradiction had at least been avoided.

It is curious to obferve, that the first toaft related to have been given by the Vice Churchill at Wood's, at the late miferable dinner, was Woman!-Thefe gentry are fenfible of the very general fufpicion which certain of their principals labour under, and are rather indifcreetly zealous to do away the imputation.

A correfpondent obferves, that the toafts of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray's friends at Wood's Hotel, were happily felected, and did great credit to the loyalty, gallantry, tafte, and ingenuity of the company; he obferves that they were fifteen in number, and cannot but regret that fo numerous and fo convivial a meeting had not the effect of producing an equal number of votes in favour of Sir Cecil, who unfortunately had only twelve votes on the poll of yesterday.

MASQUERADE

INTELLIGENCE. April 30.] The mafquerade at the Opera House last night, confidering the engagements which the bustle of electioneering must have laid on the inhabitants of the metropolis, was numerous and gay; a company of about 800 were affembled by two o'clock. Among thefe, were many gentlemen of the gay world, fome few women of fashion; but the nymphs in the train of Venus conftituted the majority of the night.Among the characters were, a Fortune Teller, who boafted, by an advertisement, that fhe had poffeffion of a retrospective mirror, by which

"The Peer might fee when he loft his popularity, by fpreading fecret influence! "The General his army, by attending to plunder!

"The Admiral his fleet, in Prize-hunting!

"The Phyfician his patient, from want of attention!

"The Bifhop his religion, in fearch of temporalities! And

"The Chancellor his SEALS, by not keeping a WATCH!"

A Tinker, who called himself Paddy Mountmorres, delivered a fong, containing fatirical ftrictures on his namefake Pecr.

The Prince of Wales vifited the scene, but did not continue more than an hour. The Fox Brush entwined with laurel was worn by a third part of the Company; but to extend the licence of punning, the partizans of the Court Candidates were hood-winked, and did not beam forth a ray all night!.

Lord

Lord Pompey's printed speech, supposed to have been fpoken to the defponding Committee at Wood's Hotel, points out, in the midst of all its flowerifications, one plain and indisputable fact, viz. that the game of fecret influence is over in Weitminster.

Sir Cecil Wray was heard to exclaim on Saturday in a voice of defpondence, that the triumphal laurel, which the friends of Mr. Fox wore, was poifon to him without diftil

lation!

An Hibernian Peer, who is ever fond of fliding his spare carcafe into every fituation of tumult and confufion, ought to be aware left the indignation of an incenfed multitude, fhould lead them on fome occafion to forget his Lordship's right of privilege, and treat him only as if he were any other incendiary, without the protection of any ariftocratic character whatever.

May 3.] Many falfe reports relative to the riot which happened before Wood's on Saturday night, having been induftrioufly circulated, we are glad to have it in our power, in confequence of authentic information on the fubject, to give the public a true and impartial state of the whole of that tranfaction, as it appeared in evidence before Sir Sampfon Wright yefterday morning, when the men feized by the military were examined. It was afcertained by the concurring teftimony of many Gentlemen unconnected with either party, that the beginning of the tumult was an unprovoked attack on a party of mar row-bones and cleavers, who, in paffing by Wood's, were affaulted by fome failors for having Fox's colours in their hats. A fcuffle enfued, in which the butchers were overpowered by numbers, and purfued a-crofs the Garden, where they rallied upon being joined by a party of chairmen, and the aggreffors were foon driven back to Wood's.Here a ferious conflict enfued; a body of ruffians iffuing from the Hotel, armed with cutlaffes and piftols; they were driven back, and the doors of the Hotel were closed, but glass bottles being thrown at the populace from the windows, and feveral fhot fired, by which two men were dangerously wounded, the party attacked grew outrageous, and affaulted the house, breaking the lamps and windows. The arrival of Sir Sampfon Wright, with a large body of foldiers, prevented further extremities; and informations being taken by him that fome of the affailants had retired to a neighbouring house, a party of the guards was detached to feize them there, and fix were accordingly taken without further charge or evidence. Thofe were the perfons produced yesterday at the office in Bow-ftreet, and it feemed the object of thofe who attended on the part of Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray, to have had thefe men committed to Newgate on the capital charge of an attempt to pull down IVood's Hotel. Happily, however, this ridiculous, though moft malicious intention, was defeated by the fpirited interference of fome Gentlemen of Mr. Fox's Committee who attended the examination, and by the very candid and confiderate conduct of Sir Sampfon Wright, who feeing clearly that the party at Wood's were the aggreffers in the bufinefs, ftrongly recom mended it to both fides to give up vindictive profecutions; the men in cuftody were ac cordingly difcharged, and the bufinefs ended with Mr. Wood's receiving a very ferious and fenfible admonition from the Bench, to difcourage in future the ill conduct of his waiters and others furrounding his doors, and to imitate the decency and decorum which Sir Sampton declared he had himfelt obferved to be maintained at the Shakespeare. Lord Mountmorres and fome other Gentlemen of the Court party attended, but finding their caufe not to be fupported in this affair, they very becomingly acquiefced in the determination of the Bench. The report of any lives being loft is without foundation, though many on both fides were badly wounded.

We are informed, from undoubted authority, that the Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Ladies, in the intereft of Mr. Fox, have appointed a Committee to enquire into the cafes of fuch tradeimen as have fuffered from the oppreffion of the Court party, many of Y y 2 whom

whom have been formaly acquainted, that in confequence of their having voted in the prefent Election contrary to the wifhes of their employers, they are in future to be deprived of their cuftom. This Committee is to prepare a list of such perfons for the Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Ladies abovementioned, who have entered into a most laudable affociation to employ thofe only, in their feveral trades, in lieu of fuch as have bafely betrayed their country, by facrificing their franchifes to the undue influence of the Court, or of thofe who have not dared manfully to ftand forth at the risque of their intereft, and have endeavoured to fcreen themfelves from all danger by a pitiful neutrality.

The Weftminfter magiftrates pay clofe attention to the examination and commitment of fuch rioters as are brought before them. That juftice and humanity would have been more confpicuous and meritorious, had they taken proper precautions to have prevented breaches of the peace, than in the previous permiffion, and fubfequent quarrels.

The following incident occurred at Covent Garden Theatre, on Wednesday evening. A young fellow, of genteel afpect, and poffeffing a good-humoured countenance, expreffive of hilarity, and an honeft heart, reeled, finiling, into the bottom boxes, "hot "with the Tufcan grape, and high in blood."

A Gentleman appearing with one of Mr. Fox's favours in his hat, the difciple of Bacchus vociferated, Fox for ever.

A phlegmatic politician, in an oppofite intereft, immediately took up the matter gravely.

"Sir, do you confider the place you are in?" fays the grave man.

"Fox for ever!" exclaimed the Buck.

"Sir, the audience muft not be difturbed," fays the grave man.

Fox for ever! exclaimed the Buck.

"Sir, you are intoxicated," fays the grave man.

"Fox for ever!" exclaimed the Buck.

The choler of the grave man began to rife.

"D-n me," fays the grave man, "but I wish you were in Calais."

"I am half-feas-over already," anfwered the Buck.

The grave man rofe with all the dignity of a certain Senator when he spies a Peer

Sir," fays the grave man, "you have offended the Ladies and Gentlemen round me, and I infift on your afking pardon.

"Ladies and Gentleman round me," fays the Buck, with a bright effufion of good humour emaning from his eyes; if I have offended you, I afk pardon,; but as for this vinegar-faced curmudgeon," looking at the grave man with ineffable contempt, "remember, I make no apology to him; fo Fox for ever! And let me fee if he will follow me out." Exit BUCK..

MANET, the grave Man.

"To fight, or not to fight-that is the question,
"Whether. 'tis better in the mind to fuffer,
"The fcoffs and laughs of a furrounding crowd,
"Smiling contempt, the fair one's turn'd up nofe,

"Or by retiring to the lobby box, be

"Sore affronted

"Ay, there's the rub-So I'll

"Stay where I am.

[The grave man fits.].

The

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