The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-05-21 00:00:00

TWELFTH DAY-MAT 20

e (Toyed was, as usual. great itenf clamorous,
and displayli mnre beauty than on Any roamer oc-
casion One half of the surrounding scaffolds was
almost filled with ladies of respectability, who seem.
ed en.husiastically to unite with the populace below,
in expressing, their partiality to the two favourite
4nd.plprtlis r2andidates. DurJett and Sheridan.—
Mr. Elliott did nor make bis appearance upon this
I-lusting:4 having publicly annneneed. that he had
withdrawn from the contest. The Clerks and tn.
speftors, employed upon his account, ceased giving
their attendance ; but as nn (Arial notice was sent
to the High-Bailiff. as to this Candidate's intention,
his name still continued upon the Poll Rooks, and
a few Voters came forward in his behalf.

At the close of the Poll, at our o'clock, the
numbers stood thus :••••
Sir F Hur,.dt . . CAI'?
Lord Cochrane . 4940
Mr. Elliott , 207111
Mr Sheridan . • • • 1096
Mr. SHERIDAN presented himself to the no-
tice of the Eleflors having imitated, as he
,lid yesterday, the Naval Candidate, in coming
forwa•el on the outer perch, supported by
his son, who, i- his turn, was supported by Mr. Felix
M•Cattliy, whose well-knawn gigantic and manly
appearance. Mr. Sheridan took occasion to allude to
in his speech. 44 Gentlemen (said he) although I
am not this day holding the arm of this most Ajax-
like man, Mr.M•Carthy, who did me the honour of
lending me his assistance upon a former occasion,
I trust I am not less worthily supported by having
hot tof the arm of try son. Sure I am, Gentlemen,
that in lending me that assistance, he does it with
m re than filial zeal, because he knows that he is
slims, sting a man who is pursuing the same line of
cokilift which he himself would do in Parliament ;
namely, be would he the pledged defender of the
people's rights Red Pretties. (Hotta, end applewes
—Sherry, we all tam you are to !) After I had
concluded yesterday, my Noble antagonist took
occasion to observe, that 1 had omitted, for the first
time, to express my satisfaition at the state of the
Poll ; I would wish now to recover my Lord's
good opinion, and spew my venervion for his sen-
timents, by making amends for that fault; I will
not omit it this day, because it gives me an oppor-
tunity of expressing my approbation of a free Elec-
tion. the result of which ought, in every case, to
tesiry the real and unbiassed sense of the people.
I cannot help expressing my surprise at the continu-
ance of the name of Mr. Elliot upon the Poll-
books, at a time when his hopes most have
ceased. Had I been in a similar predicament,
would have withdrawn fairly and manfully at once,
and not lingered my name upon the poll, to do
injury to others, without doing good to myself.
(Marks of approbation). But, Gentlemen, there is the
same consistency in this part of his conduCt, that he
has displayed en other occasions, for as he conti-ued
to address you, even when you were determined not
to hear him. so he continues to solicit your votes,
although they can be of no assistance to him.—
(Motto / iraro Sherry ! don't :pare the Blea*??. I) Is is
impossible for me. io observing upon the state .X the
poll. tent to advert to the towey Loney sad pelts
dresss-d women who this day grace the assembly, and
who seem most cotdially to partake of the general
joy and exultation Prizing as Ido the support of
the Free and Independent Ele&ors of Westminster,
nothing gave me more pleasure, upon the former
eleation, than to find, that I had not less than three-

fourths of the trod-looking women in that city
upon my side. lam not ashamed to acknuwiedge,
upon the present occasion, that my claim to the
countenance and support of the fair sex is some•
what diminished. I know that the gallant tars of
Britain have naturally friends amongst the women,
and this I have no douin is the case with the gallant
Officer who solicits your suffrages. I know too, that
Sir F. Burdett is a great favourite with them ; and,
therefore, feeling myself no longer able to com-
pete with them for the favour of theladies, be their
locks black, brown, or red, I must content myself
with any degree of favour they choose to give me.
( Hussein', and 'herring, pa, ti, stark, from the L odic,
wee for whom ezeleimed *. Neverfear, Sherre, we'll still
rennornanee you.") There was a topic on which I
touched yesterday, which caused many applications
to he made to me • this day. I mean vie subject
of the oppression under which publicans labour,
on account of the arbitrary power given to ‘lagis-
crates. I should not hive renew.id that topic, this
day, but for the numerous applications I have had,
entreating me to *veer to it. It has been asked of
me. why I did not mention sloner the fait that I
was preparing a Bill to remedy choice rrievances?
To that I answer, t'iat I was not forward to boast
of what I would continue to have done, nor was I
anxious to come forward with professions of future
services. I thought it only necessary to valid upon
what I have already dune. (More 17froinsee‘ and
shouting.) I put it to any of you, whether this
be right, or ought to be borne, that a man, fol-
lowing the trade of a publican, which is one exceed-
ingly useful to the Revenue, should hold his liveli-
hood at the discretion of a Magistrate, any more
than a mercer, clorb;er. grocer, shoe-maker, or
any ether trade whatever ? If it be right in the one
case, it might be argued, that this arbitrary eon-
trnul should extend to all ether trades. I want to
know, where is the so much boasted freedom of
trade, in this country, if a Magistrate should have
thy power, even in his closet, or in a secret
court, to withdraw the license of any publican he
may dislike, and turn him and his family out to
starve ? (Lewd showl of ofrobare.l I say, Geotle-
men,
I speak not the sentiments that have arisen
from the apprehension of power, ill exercised and
abused, but I speak the sensations arising from
fads, which have come to my own knowledge.—
It is a fag, that the utmost abuse of power, in this
particular. Las been exercised to this very city
There is , a poor widow, living M Kirig•street,
Lower Westminster. who had, after her husband's
death, from her own exertion., and from a prin-
ciple of integrity, paid her husband's debts,
and although she but her license to
depend upon in the easers:bio7lber trade, yet that
Heim, was, without any reams Wog ..signed, ta-
ken from her. The cal y name that could be con•
jousted. as the cat.* of this arbitrary eaer6m of
power, was, bemuse she harmoniums which are