As the different Meetings of the Electors of Westminster, for the Purpofe of addreffing his Majefty on the Removal of the late Portland Adminiftration, form a Kind of Key to fubfequent Election Manœuvres, we have thought it expedient to infert the following Chain of Events that occurred in this Bufinefs, previous to the Diffolution of Parliament.

On Thursday evening, the 29th of January, 1784, at fix o'clock, fummonses were iffued for calling a meeting of the Court of Burgeffes for the next day at twelve o'clock at noon, at Guildhall, Westminster.---At which meeting the following Address was unanimously agreed to:

To the KING's Moft Excellent Majefty.

The humble Address of the Dean, High Steward, Deputy Steward, two Chief Burgeiles, Burgeffes, Affistant Burgeffes, and other Householders of the City and Liberty of Westminster.

Moft Gracious Sovereign,

"We, your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Dean, High Steward, "Deputy Steward, two Chief Burgeffes, Burgeffes, Affiftant Burgeffes, and other Houfe"holders of the City and Liberty of Westminster, beg leave to approach your Throne with the moft zealous affurances of loyalty to your perfon, family, and government. "It was with the utmoft concern that we beheld an attempt made by your Majefty's "late Minifters to deprive a great Commercial Company of their chartered rights, by "the bill brought into Parliament, which, had it paffed into a law, would have been "a dangerous precedent, and created a new executive power unknown to the Conftitu❝tion of this country.

"We moft fincerely thank your Majefty for the difmiffion of thofe Minifters from "their employments, and affure your Majefty that we have great confidence in the "principles of the prefent Adminiftration; and that whilft they purfue measures con"ducive to the honour of the Crown, and the true interefts of their country, they "may fafely rely on the fupport of the people."

In confequence of the above refolution, copies of the above Addrefs were, late on Friday evening circulated in different parts of Westminster for fignature; hand-bills were difperfed on Saturday morning, informing the inhabitants that the Address was left for that purpofe at the Guildhall; and though the notice was fo fhort, and Sunday intervened, yet by Monday at eleven o'clock it was figned by 2834 householders of Westminster.

This Addrefs was afterwards prefented at St. James's by the Deputy High Steward of Weftminster, the High Steward, his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, having apologized for his non-attendance on account of illness.---Sir Cecil Wray accompanied the Deputy High Steward to Court on this occafion.

ADVERTISEMENT.

To the Worthy Independent Electors of the City of Westminster. The Monthly Meeting of the Independent Electors of Westminster being fixed for this day, the 5th of February, the honour of your company is earneftly requefied at the Shakespeare Tavern, Covent Garden, at eight o'clock in the evening.

STEWARD

S.

WESTMINSTER

MEEETING.

February 6.] Laft night there was the moft numerous meeting ever held of the Fletors of Weftminfter, at the Shakespeare Tavern, and we can with juftice fay, it was equally refpectable. Among the number prefent were the following Peers and Commoners:

The Honourable Mr. Fox, Lord George Henry Cavendish, Lord Derby, Lord Fitzwilliam, Lord Edward Bentinck, Lord Robert Spencer, Lord Surrey, Honourable Mr. John Townfend, Sir Charles Bunbury, Sir Godfrey Webfter, Sir Cecil Wray, Sir John Kamiden, Sir Richard Ryecroft, Sir Henry Featherftone, General Burgoyne, Colonci Fitzpatrick, Colorel Stanhope, Colonel Hartley, Major Hartley, Mr. Hartley, Mr.. Byng, Mr. Jervoife Clarke Jervoife, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. John Lee, Mr. Beckford, Mr. Crewe, Mr. Pelham, and Mr. Burke.

Sir Cecil Wray was called on to explain his conduct relative to the part he had taken in prefenting the fmuggled Addrefs, faid to contain the fentiments of the Dean and. Burgefies of Weftminfier. He declared, that he thought it his duty at all times when. called on by his conflituents to obey them; but with refpect to the Addrefs in question, he never faw it until he was in the Prefence Chamber at St. James's. He had faid in the Houfe of Commons it was figned by 4000 Electors; but he found on enquiry it was figned only by 2800 perfons; but whether they were Electors he was not certain. He was then called on to know whether he thought that Addrefs fpoke the fenfe of a majority of his conftituents? After fome hefitation, he faid it contained his fenfe and he believed it did that of his conftituents. The company prefent feemed not to relish the part he had taken, and expreffed their difapprobation in not the most polite manner.

When Mr. Fox came in he was called on by Mr. Baldwin to know the reason why he did not attend to carry up that Addrefs, and to explain to the company whether he was applied to for the purpofe?

Mr. Fox faid, fo far from being called on to carry up the Addrefs; unless by common rumour, he never heard of it until Sir Cecil Wray mentioned it in the Houfe of Commons; and however it might appear, he must confefs the obfcurity of the Court was fuch, that he did not know where it was held. He knew the Dean perfectly well; and he could affure the company, that he not only declared his ignorance, but his difapprobation of the tranfaction. The High Steward (the Duke of Newcastle) was alfo at too great a distance to know any thing of the matter; therefore the Addrefs, faid to be of the Dean and Burgeffes, had neither the confent of either the Dean or High Steward.. The right honourable gentleman afterwards entered very minutely into in a recapitulation of his conduct, and appealed to the company whether it met with their approbation.

An Elector wished to put the queftion to the company, whether they approved of Sir Cecil Wray's conduct? On which Mr. Fox very politely remarked, that his worthy colleague being then abfent*, it would not be fair or just to arraign his conduct; for which purpose he could with the gentleman to withdraw his question; but he ftill perfifting, Mr. Byng exhorted the Elector to confider that it was unufual in any place to difcufs a perfon's character without his being prefent, or having had notice to affemble his friends.. He defired the gentleman to confider, that a conduct of that fort would be exactly fimilar to what Mr. Fox and his friends reprobated; it would be the exact steps that were used to cenfure his conduct in Middlefex, but which he had, by exertion, entirely defeated. He requested, that all the proceedings of Mr. Fox's friends might be open and manly, and not dark and fecret, like his enemies..

The gentleman feeing the impropriety of the measure, very readily withdrew it. Mr. Sheridan remarked, that it had been hinted as a proper meafure to procure a counter Addrefs to the fmuggled one prefented, and to have it handed about to be figned; he thought fuch a ftep would not be fo open and manly as to call by public advertisement Sir Cecil had left the Court before this question was put.

a meet

a meeting for the purpofe; and therefore, with the confent of the company he would move for one, and then it would be feen whether his right honourable friend's conduct ivas fuch as his enemies were daily infinuating.

The Earl of Surrey, Earl of Derby, Mr. Burke, and feveral others fpoke; the mecting broke up, after coming to the following Refolutions:

Refolved unanimously,

That it is the opinion of this meeting, that any Addrefs, affuming fignatures with"out the exprefs confent of the parties, attained by private folicitation without public "notice, is contrary to the ufual open, and conftitutional mode of addreffing the Throne, "and is an impofition on the country.

Refolved unanimoufly,

"That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the parliamentary conduct of the Right "Honourable Charles James Fox has been confonant to the practice and principles of "the Conflitution, as eftablifhed at the glorious Revolution; and fuch as to entitle him "to the continuance of the perfect esteem and confidence of his conftituents."

Thomas Byron, Eiq. having taken the Chair, it was refolved unanimoufty, "That a General Meeting of the Electors of the City of Weftminfter be called by "public advertisement in all the papers, to be held in Weftminster Hall, on Tnefday next, at twelve o'clock, in order to confider of an humble Addrefs to his Majefty, upon the prefent ftate of public affairs."

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They chofe the following gentlemen as Stewards for the next meeting:

General Burgoyne,

Colonel Stanhope,

Mr. Harrope,
Mr. Kendall,

At a numerous and refpectable meeting of the Electors of Westminster, affembled at the Shakespeare Tavern, Covent Garden, on Thurfday February 5, 1784,

THOMAS BYRON, Efq. in the Chair,

The following Refolutions were propofed, and paffed unanimoufly.

Refolved, that it is the opinion of this meeting, that any Addrefs, affuming fignatures without the express confent of the parties, or obtained by private folicitation without public notice, is contrary to the ufual, open, and conftitutional mode of addreffing the Crown, and an impofition on the country.

Refolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the parliamentary conduct of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox has been confonant to the practice and principles as eftablifhed at the glorious Revolution, and fuch as to entitle him to the continuance and perfect efteem and confidence of his conftituents.

THOMAS BYRON, Chairman,

ADVERTISEMENT.

At a meeting of the Independent Electors of Weftminster, on Thursday night, the 5th of February, at the Shakespeare Tavern, Covent Garden,

THOMAS BYRON, Efq. in the Chair,

It was, among various other motions, unanimoufly refolved, That a general meeting of the Electors of the city of Westminster, be called by public advertisement in all the newspapers, to be held at Westminster Hall, on Tuefday next, at twelve o'clock, in order to confider of an humble Addrefs to his Majefty, upon the prefent ftate of public affairs.

THOMAS BYRON, Chairman.
ADVER-

ADVERTISEMENT.

It being found, on enquiry, that it is abfolutely impoffible to have the Hall on the day above mentioned, or for fome days afterwards, the Chairman finds himself under the neceffity of fixing on fome other place, or on a later day, of which due notice hall be given in the public papers.

February 6th, 1784.

THOMAS BYRON, Chairman..

ADVERTISEMENT.

General Meeting of the Electors of Westminster.

The fistings of the courts of juftice having made it neceffary to poftpone the meeting of the Electors of Weftminfter, as originally propofed, for Tuefday the 10th inftant, notice is hereby given, that the faid meeting will be heid on Saturday next, the 14th, at twelve o'clock, being the first day in which the Hall will be difengaged, when the Independent Electors are requested to attend, in order to confider of an humble Addrefs to his Majesty, on the prefent critical fituation of public affairs.

ADVERTISEMENT.

To the Worthy and Independent Electors of Westminster.

Gentlemen,

The moment the refolves of the meeting at the Shakespeare, on Thurfday night laft, were made known, many Electors of Weftminster, who had taken an active part in the late Addrefs to his Majefty, determined to attend the meeting called for on Tuefday next, in Westminster Hall, in order to avow and justify every step they had taken in that bufinefs.

In confequence of a mistake being difcovered, the Chairman of the Shakespeare meeting has revoked the invitation for Tuesday, intending to fix on fome other place, or to put it off to a later day.

This it is trufted, will not prevent the Electors of Westminster from meeting in the Court of Requefts, Westminster Hall, to-morrow, the 10th inftant, by half after eleven, in order publicly and temperately to confider of measures proper to be taken in the prefent unhappy fituation of affairs.

MANY ELECTORS OF WESTMINSTER.

ADVERTISEMENT.

To the Worthy Electors of the City of Weftminster.

As it appears to be the determination of the friends of the general meeting of the Electors of Westminster, to be held fairly and openly in Weftminster Hall, on Saturday next, at twelve o'clock, to take no notice of the fcurrilous and inflammatory hand-bills, circulated by the fupporters of the late Addrefs from the High Steward and Court of Burgeffes, an impartial Elector defires only to draw the attention of the candid and independent inhabitants of this city to the different conduct of the two parties. By one fide, a general and public meeting, agreeable to the ufage and practice in this city, is appealed to, and the first day on which Weftminster Hall can be had (the only proper place for fuch a meeting) is fixed on. By the other fide, a new and extraordinary device is practifed, of privately voting an Address from the High Steward of Westminster, the Dean, and a certain Court of Burgeffes, who or what they are no man knows! On one fide again we hear of no violence in the proceeding, but, on the contrary, a decent

and

and refpectful advertisement, calling impartially on all the Electors, is put forth, and every thing is done, at the meeting where it originates, to difcourage tumult, and to protect from infult those who differ in opinion from that meeting. On the other fide, a partial and anonymous meeting is attempted to be obtained by a trick in the Court of Requests; the most abufive and inflammatory hand-bills are fent about, and the declared object is, that a smuggled Addrefs, obtained by private management, fhall be fupported by direct and open tumult. It would be an affront to the good fenfe of the Electors of Westminster to afk which party proceeds in the fairest manner, or on which fide there feems a consciousness of a rotten cause? February 10th, 1784. AN IMPARTIAL ELECTOR..

ADVERTISEMENT.

At a very numerous and moft refpectable public meeting of the Electors of the City and Liberties of Westminster, holden (in purfuance of a public advertisement) this 10th day of February, 1784, in the Court of Requests in Westminster Hall,

Sir CECIL WRAY, Bart. in the Chair,

ift. Refolved (with lefs than ten diffentients)

"That the following Addrefs to his Majefty, (moved by Lord Viscount Mahon, and feconded by Sir Robert Smythe, Bart.) be approved of by the meeting:

To the KING's Moft Excellent Majefty,

The humble Address of the Electors of the City and Liberties of Westminster. Mofi gracious Sovereign,

"We your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Electors of the City and "Liberty of Weftmifter, beg leave to approach your Throne with the most zealous "affurances of loyalty to your perfon, family, and government.

"It was with the utmost concern that we beheld an attempt made by your Majesty's "late Minifters to deprive a great commercial company of their chartered rights, by the"bill brought into Parliament; which, had it paffed into a law, would have been a dangerous precedent, and created a new executive power unknown to the Conftitution of "this country.

"We most fincerely thank your Majefty for the difmiffion of thofe Minifters from "their employments, and affure your Majefty, that we have great confidence in the. "principles of the prefent Administration; and that whilft they purfue meafures con"ducive to the honour of the Crown, and the true interefts of their country, they may. "fafely rely on the fupport of the people."

2d. Refolved (with lefs than ten diffentients)

"That the cordial thanks of this meeting be given to Sir Cecil Wray, Bart. our "worthy Reprefentative, for his fteady, uniform, upright, and patriotic conduct in"Parliament; and that he be requefted to prefent the Addrefs of the Electors of Weft"minster to his Majefty.

3d. Refolved (with lefs than ten diffentients)

That the Westminster Committee be continued, and have full power to make all "regulations relative to the fame; and that the following perfons be added to the faid: "Committee:

[The names of one hundred perfons were then read, and unanimously approved of.] 4th. Refolved (unanimoufly)

"That we will unremittingly perfevere in our exertions to procure an effectual and

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