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The Electors of Westminster have proceeded, in the prefent conteft, on a very plain. and fenfible principle; they think that one of their Reprefentatives, at least, fhould know how to speak in the Houfe, and as they know from experience, that poor Sir C. has few ideas, and fewer words, they don't think that L-d H-d will do for them, with fo dumb a colleague. They don't expect L-d Hd to speak, but they know he's a brave fellow, therefore they wish to return one good dumb, and one good fpeakertwo dumbies would not do for them-but with one clever fellow, they can manage pretty tolerably.

No character is more mistaken than that of Sir C. W. Sir C. never wished to be in Parliament. His mind, like his countenance, is mild and tranquil. Forced into the maddening tumult of politics, he has long fighed for thofe intellectual joys, which he has now the happy profpect of foon retrieving. Sir C. has a pleasant turn for writing, and, at one time, was thought to have contributed pretty largely to the gentleman's magazine. Hence, while the enemies of this worthy Baronet are triumphing at his defeat in Westminster, his real friends enjoy a much more solid fatisfaction in his return to lettered indolence and philofophic ease.

Paddy Pompey may thank the buftle of the times for a fnug efcape from ridicule. In the fame breath that he affures the Electors, Mr. Fox had poiled eleven hundred more votes than could poffibly exift; he adds, there are voters enough left to out-number him with ease. O! Paddy Pompey! what would become of thee, if the Irish Peers fhould extend the Strangford penalties against bribery, to the miferable abfurdities of their travelling bull-makers.

From the pains taken to perfuade the public that Mr. Ch-1 is in London, one would fuppofe that he is a perfon of very confiderable interest in Westminster; but the ftate of the poll for fome days paft in the parishes of St. John's and St. Margaret's, where his intereft is fuppofed to be most prevalent, does not feem to indicate this gentleman's prefence or abfence to be a matter of such importance as to engage the attention of either party.

Yesterday a foldier offered to vote for Sir C. W. declaring that he paid 51. a year for his houfe; unfortunately he named a street where it was known there could be no houfe let at fo low a rent, and confequently two perfons (one of each party) were fent to ascertain the truth of his affertion; but no fooner was this refpectable Elector out of reach of the Huftings, than he fet off as hard as he could lay legs to the ground, and never was heard of more; yet Sir C. W. and the parochial Committees, who fupport him so handsomely, place all their reliance upon a fcrutiny.

May 4.] To fo deplorable a fituation is the caufe of the Court Candidates reduced, that they have even given up cdvertifing! the daily papers were yesterday favoured with none of the elegant performances from Wood's Committee! No pathetic complaints from John Churchill, of the wicked arts made ufe of by Mr. Fox's friends! No encouraging exhortations to the unpolled independent Electors to come forward and support thofe fweepers of the Back Stairs, Lord H-d and Sir C-1 Wr-y! What quite chop fallen ! Poor Jack Churchill! Why you might as well have followed your first purpose, and have been Candidate yourself?—even that could not have made you cut a more ridiculous figure.

A gentleman in the intereft of Mr. Fox offered yesterday, on the Huftings, to give two of Sir Cecil's Committee a fair opportunity of increafing their ferutineering fubfcription, by giving them two hundred, to bet a thousand guineas that a fcrutiny was instituted, and carried thro' by the unfuccefsful Candidate-this offer, however, was very prudently declined.

Thofe

Thofe who are most intimate with Sir Cecil Wray heartily rejoice at the profpect of his being speedily releafed from a scene of bustle and confufion that is ill fuited to his calm and philofophic mind. Sir Cecil is an excellent fcholar, fond of reading, particularly the claffics, and has been often heard to lament his ever having come into Parlia ment. What a happiness for fuch a character, to retire to his literary purfuits, and the tranquil.enjoyment of a well chofen library!-O, fortunati nimium, fua fi bona norint, Agricole!

Lord Mountmorres, like Colonel Flood, is an Irish orator. At the grand dinner of the Court Candidates he made a fpeech, in which he flated, that 9000 was the utmost number of voters in the city of Westminster, although 11,000 had now polled, 2000 more therefore had voted than could actually exist. What was the conclufion? That there were still enough left to carry Sir Cecil Wray's Election.

A fubfcription is to be opened for a fcrutiny. We remember that the Firm and Free, with John Churchill at their head, opened a fubfcription for a moft benevolent purpofeto reward the fervices of the brave men who had fo gloriously defended the rock of Gibraltar. They advertifed it. They boafted they would procure 20,000l. in a fortnight. That fubfcription was open a month, and the whole fum in the hands of all the bankers was twenty guineas. It was like Sir James Lowther's man of war!

A friend to the genuine honour of the British navy, laments the ignominious fervice that the once gallant Hood has stooped to undertake. The little low arts of prerogative policy. the menacing, or the cajolling votes for a Court Candidate, may do very well for a Clerk of the King's Kitchen, but it is utterly unworthy a brave and generous character. When Lord Hood first canvaffed for himfelf alone, he was received with every mark of refpect; but from the moment he became an agent for royal refentment, his popularity declined. The people of Weftminster defpiled the artifices that have been used by the Court in the prefent conteft; and every day's experience muft convince Lord Hood that he defcends from his profeffional character, when he affifts the unworthy caprices of any man breathing. While he acted up to his character, who would have dared to receive him with the marks of infamy and contempt that are now evident upon every occafion? A foolish, fwaggering ignorance may reject this hint, but calm reflection will admit its force, and be guided by it.

Sunday evening the Gardens at Bagnigge Wells exhibited a ftrange fcene of riot and confufion. How the affair began is not eafy to be determined, but at the fame moment feveral hundreds of Stentorian lungs vociferated the cry of "Hood and Wray," and these were anfwered by the exclamation of "Fox for ever!" Intoxicated with liquor and politics, thofe who were for Hood and Wray boxed with their oppofites in politics, and many on both fides were knocked down with the canes and flicks of their adverfaries. So fudden a difarrangement of the tea table apparatus was perhaps never Before feen, and innumerable fragments of China fhone in every walk, and ferved to give iffue to the inflamed blood of the fallen and fprawling heroes. Though peace officers were fent for, the tumult was not appeafed for near two hours and a half. Three men, who had been active in fomenting the difturbance, were taken into cuftody, but were foon refcued.

The Weftminster Addrefs is now with the King's Taylor, for the purpose of meafuring all thofe who figned it, for new fuits of mourning on the prefent melancholy occafion.

It is a trait in politics not quite unworthy of notice, that faithful Jack Robinfon was, at the late Brentford Election, the most active partizan for Jack Wilkes.

The

The Orchestra Band at both Theatres have a fine idle time of it between the acts, as the mob in the gallery now fupply the mufic of Bach, Abel, and Corelli, with the vocal vociferations of Fox, Hood, and Wray, with the grand electioneering finales, of "throw him over!" Da Capo.

Friday a Quaker, who polled at the Huftings in Covent Garden, on being asked the ufual question," Who do you poll for?" replied, "For the man who calleth himself "Lord Hood, and alfo for the man who calleth himfelf Sir Cecil Wray." Another friend foon after voted "for the man who is called the Man of the People."

A correspondent begs to be informed of what confequence on earth it is to the public, or even to the El Єtion conteft in Westminster, whether Mr. John Churchill, Apothecary in Parliament-street, has left town or not? If it was intended as a puff by Mr. Churchill's friends, to infinuate that his prefence or abfence is of mighty moment in the Election, it is a foolish attempt, as it has been fully proved that there are very few of the better fort of tradefinen who have fo little interest; and if he has really not left town, and the report was a piece of waggery from the other fide, it is a very bad jeft indeed, and upon a very infignificant fubject. The fact, however, might be eafily afcertained by this chemical quidnunc condefcending to exhibit his delicate figure for one day on the Huftings.

The Right Hon. Charles James Fox is chofen reprefentative for the district of boroughs in the Orkneys. This return is only fecured to defeat the pitiful defign of his Court adverfaries, who mean to deprive the fenate of his unrivalled talents, pending a tedious, though groundless fcrutiny; for Mr. Fox will undoubtedly make his Election for Westminster, by the independent citizens of which he will fo honourably be fent to Parliament.

What, in the name of common fenfe, can the inanimately obftinate Committee of Sir Cecil Wray be about, when every day's attempt to reduce the majority of his popular competitor leaves him at a more contemptible diftance behind? A fcrutiny is an ideal fuccedaneum from which little can be expected, as the power of their prerogative High Prieft, the High Bailiff of Westminster, ceafes inevitably the 18th inftant, the day on which the writ is returnable! The only remaining hope, therefore, refts on their mendicant advertisment for finall fubfcriptions in fupport of their expiring caufe, when no doubt, like most other uninfured fufferers who have been burnt out, they will receive the elymofynary contributions of all charitable and well difpofed courtiers!

A ftaunch friend to Sir Cecil Wray and his party moft gravely defires us to flate, that on Monday laft an old woman appeared at the Huftings, Covent Garden, and infifted upon polling for Mr. Fox; upon being told of the impoffibility of complying with her request, the answered, it was very hard that all her lodgers fhould give their votes for Mr. Fox, and the landlady be debarred of that privilege.

Whether the Committee at Wood's are aground for want of votes, the public are left to decide, but individuals know with much greater certainty, that they are completely at a ftand for want of money. The poor clerks, who have hitherto gone through the unpopular duty of attending on their fide, are now difiniffed, as alfo are the conftables in their pay, or rather in their promife;-even the expence of advertifing is found to be more than the feedy pockets of the Committee can fupport! An attempt at a charitable collection has totally failed. The high-fpirited Duke of N-le is deaf on the fubject, and old N-rth-mb-1-d is as clofe-fifted as if his knuckles were barred with chalk-ftones, while Judas himfelf keeps his purte fately locked up in the stronghold of his own fmall-beer cellar! Such is the fate of this miferable beaten bankrupt faction this wretched coalition of mock-patriots, mock-politicians, and the lick-fpittles

of

of the Court and the worst of it is, that after all their dirty drudgery, their taskmafters at St. James's revile and infult them for their failure!

A fcrutiny is always an unpopular meafure. It is true that it may ferve to detect a few improper votes, but it leads to the difcovery of circumftances which had better be concealed, and gives uneafinefs where there is no guilt. It shows the nakedness of the land.

The public are returning to their fenfes, greatly to the difappointment of the Backftairs Lords, who thought they had got faft hold of them all. There is nothing like perfeverance in the caule of virtue.

The Bishop of Ofnaburgh writes conftantly to the Prince of Wales, and expreffes his moft hearty good wifhes for Mr. Fox and the caufe of the people. This is a fact known in polite circles to have given fome offence to a certain Perfon.

When the best woman in the world was told of the Duchefs of Devonshire's conduct on the Election, by one of the Lords of the Back Stairs, who reprefented her Grace as acting extremely wrong, her Majefty very emphatically faid. "I admire her "fpirit and her friendship, and fincerely with that there was even half the truth and "worth in the nobility that furround the Throne." This ftruck the Scotch Earl dumb; he twisted his green ribband, fneaked down ftairs again, and was on Tuesday feen in the Park taking a melancholy walk in the Mall.

Laft night the following question was debated at Coach-maker's Hall, viz. “Is it "confiftent for the FEMALE SEX to interfere at Elections ?" After many curious fpeeches pro and con. of the ferious, burlefque, and prepofterous kind, the queftion was put, and carried in the affirmative, by a decifive majority. The truly honourable fpouters of the evening very familiarly introduced the names of Dev-re, Salib-y, Arg-le, Hob-t, &c. &c. as illuftrative of their several arguments.

SECRET SERVICE LEDGER.

To the Proprietors of the Mg P-t, for defaming the Duchess of
Dre,

To ditto, by order of Mr. P-, for abufing the female fex
To Captain Bd, for writing paragraphs to that effect
To the Proprietors of the Pc A-

Dfs

To ditto, for feveral paragraphs against women
To Captain B- -d, for writing the fame

To the country newspapers

£.50

100

30

-r, for the abuse of the

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To several evening papers in London

To two London morning papers

To electioneering expences

To feveral print-fhops

To Mr., for his indecent engravings

Pe whenever he goes to the play

To Mr. P's paragraph puffers

4,000

1,000

1,000,000

2000

500

To the weekly allowance to the hundred men kept in pay to infult the

105

200

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To the porter-house brawlers

A special meffenger from Downing-ftreet brings the pleafing intelligence, that moral honesty 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.

353

In a company, in which the Prince of Ws and Earl Temple happened, fome time fince, to meet, the converfation turned on fashionable amufements. The Prince having mentioned the feverity of Mr. Pitt's life, his Lordfhip fubjoined, "I must own, "Sir, the fact is fo; but in lieu of these things, he knows how to convert a profperous flate into a declining one."

May 6.] Late yesterday evening arrived in town from Bath, John CII, Efq. vender of medicines in Parliament-ftreet, and Chairman of the Committee for conducting the Election of the prerogative candidates for Weftminster. The forefight of this Gentleman, fo peculiarly diftinguishing upon all occafions, informed him early in the Election, that his friends would certainly fail, which occafioned fo rapid a declenfion of every vital faculty, that nothing lefs than the speedy diffolution of the carcafe of Mr. Cl, and the cause of Prerogative, could be expected, confiftently with that Gentleman's longer continuance on the fcene of Election. The leaders of. the party, during his long abfence, vainly endeavoured to mislead their defponding friends, who were not well acquainted with the perfon of Mr. Cll, by one while placing a fat cadaverous figure in the chair at Wood's, in reprefentation of their woeworn friend; at another time by a fimilar exhibition on the Huftings. Notwithstanding the most palpable detection of thefe wicked arts, fo daring are the adherents of Mr. C l at this moment, as to affert, that the man who has been in the chair at Wood's all along, during the Election, was, and is the identical Jack C-ll, who having deferted his patron, was modeft and wife enough to declare, that when he had turned him out of his feat for Westminster," he would forgive him his offence!”

Poor Jack Churchill -This man, who but a fhort time ago had every perfonal qualification for the part of Falstaff, is now, by rapid diminution, become a fuitable figure for Shakespeare's Apothecary in Romeo and Juliet. His nights are difmal spaces of broken rest, and frightful dreams. He has been frequently heard to mutter disjointed paffages of Wolfey's celebrated foliloquy; at one time exclaiming,

Then again

Vain pomp, and glory of the world, I hate ye!

I have swam these many fummers on a fea of glory,
Till at length my high-blown pride broke under me;
And now has left me, weary and old with fervice,

To the mercy of a rude ftream, that muft for ever hide me!

The poor fellow is entitled to fome pity; he once was honeft; and the ftings of confcience for his late offences, which now make fuch havock with his health, fufficiently prove, that his heart is not yet enough hardened for the purposes of the party he has efpoufed. Why does not Sir Cecil do fomething for this veteran invalid in Cheffea Hofpital?-Perhaps both Sir Cecil Wray and Mr. CII are aware, that the utmost profeffional fkill of the latter cannot furnish a medicine adequate to the cure of thofe vital corrofions, which the practice of DEEP INGRATITUDE feldom fails to create!

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Towards the clofe of yesterday's poll, a wag hoifted a poor's box, upon a staff bearing this infcription; Pray remember Sir Cecil Wray's SCRUTINY." The effect this exhibition had on the multitude furrounding the Huftings was ludicrous to the laft degree! The propriety of collecting alms for fo pious a purpose, by this mode, ftruck all ranks of people, particularly the friends of Mr. Fox, who very liberally fubfcribed their halfpence on the occafion in support of the all-glorious caufe!

Lady Margaret Fe, a few evenings fince, attacked a Lady of fashion in the opera coffee-room with a ferocity truly clannish, and fnatched from her bofom a laurel branch,

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exclaiming

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