The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-08-09 00:00:00

NOT/LEST-it ELECTION.

•
Fl FTREMT it DAY.—The expeited termination of
this contest yesterday excited general attent'al : the
road leading to Breatford was thronged with .„“sen-
gers at an early hour; and et 8 o'clock, the leistingi
were surrounded by a greater concourse of persons
than at any time since the commencement of the
17.1eation. Sir Francis Burdett's resaurcas appeared
to be numerous; a constant succession of carriages,
filled with voters, enabled him to ga n very fast upon
his opponent, and the general opinion was, that he
w iuld prove successful. Within a few minutes
of three o'clock, he was seven votes short of
Ir. Mainwaring but the anxiety felt by his
friends in consequence, was relieved, by the arrival
of Lord Foley, Lord Berrymore, &c. with several
voters, whom they had conveyed in their israsetees,
from the different coaches on the road. These luckily
polled. The last of them was disputed, because the
clock struck three while they administered the oath
to him; hut his vote was finally taken. The poll be-
ing ended, silence for a time pervaded the populace,
who, with great anxiety, waited the general result ;
but it having been stated to them that Sir Francis was
a-head on the poll, tumultuous expressions of appro-
bation and cheering took place; all order seemed
forgot ; the chair was brought to convey him
from the poll-booth ; the band played several mar-
tial *fines, and the trees in front of the hustiags
were pillaged of their boughs to adorn the tops of
the carriages. While this scene was goiug on io
front, the Sheriffs and candidates were calculating
the votes; during which, it became a subject of
discussion whether it was legal to examine those
votes which were left undecided; and, after Coon-
sel had been heard on both sides, the Sheriffs re-
solved to examine them. They accordingly called
the parties, and investi'ated them until past seven
o'clock. Sir Francis tau-dett was tam seven a-head ;
but, as there were ups aids of fifty not examined,
they ater zed to deter the •trt her investig itien antil this
mornin;a M.. Mainwar:ng then wait sway amidst
the up-oar of tie popuiace, and Sir Francis Bur-
dett came forward and spoke as follows :
" Gentlemen, in addressing the tea words to you,
which will be necessary in taking leave of you this
day, I r. 'g leave to observe, that the issue of this
contest, Enough not doubtful, is not know..; th .ueh
nighty gees e 1 for r ur wishes and endeavners
to [mom ae the -vent of t iis contest, yet thee. is
nothing in the hour of success, that ought to induce
you to occasion any diaarbance, or break through
the rules of order. r;endemen while you treat
your constitutional • ights in the hands of those
eaao have the righ_ of securing them; while you
trust them to the ear a" of t 11• county, you c in.
nat leave them in la: .er nands for your true intere t
and advantage. It hr, ver wren the charatteristic
of oar coas.• anion, it h.s ever been to the honour
of Englishmen. that in *heir large assemblies, de-
bating on matters of ['Wilk freedom, they have
seldom bees-. disgraced by efts of outrage, which
so often occur is ether con aitutinns, less free and
flatmate. G-nrlemei, 1 mts inform you, that
the result of th :s contest will not be known until
to-met:ow ; this Curt will adjourn until 9 o'clock;
and I Iress those tleeholJers who have not ea
rolled they names in the list o those wha n t
proved the salvators of the county, a a...
to come to-morrow to enrol the it voter, de. • •.e
event of this draftees, contralief c.auninies
thrown out against them. Beloit ; depart, I shall
trespass. by making a few tibsei rations to those
freznolders whom I shall hive to represent in the
House of Commons. I should not do this, o I.
not sensible of the 'indiscriminate calu.nny lee.
against my chiraeler. in consequence ..‘t .
have been prevented from eajuyirg tt opi-
nion, and deprived of the exertions of nat."- torands ;
if such had not been the case, if it had 11. • oven for
the appearance of athe falseho J and calumny
complain of. the issue of this contest would not have
been doubted at this moineet. With raped to my
political eh:seater, I have been a steady supporter
of the Whig interest ; is one of the supp ..tees of
trot constitution. I have withstood interested mo-
tives, and have given them disinterested supportabe.
e-e the %Vhia interest is the only system to secure
freedom to the constitution; their creed is the inte-
rest of the country; and should I find the opposite
parry. the Tories, as ardent in a cause for the benefit
of the constitution as Whigs, I would espouse them
with tepid z . oL (Lose 1 eiseeriez.) Various reports
have been ..arc dieted respefling me : some say I am
a wild entha east. because to attempt to remedy the
time, is considered enthusiasm; but whether I am
called that name or Jamie., they will not prevent
me from being the protector of your rights and pri-
vileges. Some have also said, I have spoken dos-
respeAfully of many members of the House of Com-
mons; but no man can feel greaterveneration,esteem,
and reverence for it than rdo, but I do profess, if
there are parts of that house unconstitutional,
will chew th > utmost indignation. Let my
cemiontatnes say what they will. they cannot say I
am a slave or a friend to tyrants. My whole objed
has been to serve you—to preserve your liberties;
and if you think my exertions have afforded any
benefit in that sense, I shall never regret those ex-
ertions. With these observations I take my leaves
begging you will preserve the order necessary on
this occasion."
The hustings were then cleared ; the populace,
who expressed continued applause, took the horses
from Sir Francis Burdett's carriage, and dr. w him
to Kew Bridge, where the horses were again put to,
and he proceeded to town amidst a cavalcade, that
appeared like a moving wood; the carriages and
horsemen being covered with green boughs. The
two hands of music played all the way, " See Me
con7urring Hero rows, 1. Bribes Strike Home," and
" Rate Britaishes." Behind Sir Francis Burdett's
can rage, was displayed a flag, painted with the
figure of Hercules treading on a Hydra. A nu.
meroas body of horsemen. and carriers filled with
per mns of "distinetion, hackney coodbes, chaises,
&. made a line of considerable length, and so
sire was their progress, owing to their nuns-
;seas. that Sir Francis did not arrive at his house
until eleven o'clock. The spectacle of the caval-
cade aas pleasing, the whole being illumined by
: aches. ebic i. with the green ferighs had a
tired ; to compete the number of people.
pre, t •e,nll be it -1;ala the road one each side
~iIJI 1 a i'ark Corner to Brentford, wus literally
crowded wa k h them, so as to be impassable, sad

Rented as W the whole.gonnty were luOpmble.) ;
the homes from Brentferd to town were brilli-
antly illuminated; Hammersmith and Ken.ins-
ton were one blaze of light; elegant and beaus
tiful ladies were observed waving their bhic sinci
orange streamers from their balconies; Rol the
scenery, until Sir Francis Burdett arr:ved
was pleasing to many, though ese tumult
and uproar were disagreeable. W.- heard of no ac-
cident. The populace did not commit further alts
of riot than threatening to throw stones at the
windows of those who did not illuminate.