The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-09-19 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER ELECTION.

Yesterday a very numerous meeting of the Elec-
tors of Westminster was held at the Crown and An-
chor Tavern, in the Strand, for the purpose of as-
certaining the general sentiments of the Eledors,
respelling the merits and pretensions of these who
should aspire to the high honour of succeeding that
great man and illustrious charafier, the late Right
lionounible Charles James Fox. About twelve
o'clock, upwards of 403 persons had assembled in
the great room, the greater part of whom appeared
to be the friends of Mr. Sheridan ; and, before one
o'clock, upwards of 2000 of the Eledors were pre-
sent. Soon after, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Browning
(the High Bailif,) Mr. Wishart, Mr. Otryen, Mr.
Gibban, Lord Barrymore, and several other gentle.
men, arrived. When 'Mr. Sheridan entered the
room, he was received with a general greeting of
clapping hands. After a few moments had elapsed,
Mr. Wishart was called to the Chair, and, having
expressed his feelings for the honour conferred upon
him, he said it WAS the first time of his life that he
had to regret obeying their commands; and he ob-
served the sincere grief impressed upon their coun-
tenances, from the loss they had sustained in their
fiend and reptesentative—a loss, not only to the
city, to the kingdom, but to the whole world—a
loss, which must long be felt as a national calamity !
—A great man, an illustrious statesman, and a tine
patriot, who, doting the whole of his political
life, defended their liSerties, and supported th-ir
rights, against a daring, violent, and ambitious
despot. The first with of his heats had ever beets to
see this country rise once more to her rank and con-
sequence among the ?owe; s of Europe; justly en-
dearing himself to every rn.in, as the advocate of
peace, and the friend of his country. The respell
due to his revered testes could not be expressed by
shouts and clapping of hands, but by a solemn,
grave, and sorrowful silence; which, he trusted,
would be strictly observed by the present assembly.
He then explained the objee't of the meeting—read
the Requisition—and requested some of toe Gen-
tlemen who had signed it, or their friends, would
declare their sentiments.
Mr. O'B MY EN then rose, and observed, that as his
course was very clear, his speech should be very
short. When he first addressed the Eleitors in the
public Prints, he was led CO think that Lord Percy,
as well as his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Sheridan),
were both ineligible. He had since learned that the
Noble Lord was eligible, but his Right Hon. Friend
was not. From what he knew of the Noble Lord's
charader, he would have As soon sustained him to
reprzsent Westminster, as he would have supported
his great ances.r.i , and, therefore, he took the liber-
ty of proposing Lord Percy as a fir and proper per-
son to represent the city of Westminster in Parlia-
ment.
The question being put,
Mr. Coon en addressed the Meeting. He said,
that from his earliest youth he had known West-
minster, and was an adtive and zealous supporter of
th-ir rights upon all occasions, and his personal at-
tachment and regard for Mr. Fox, and the princi-
ereds swn
never been werebeen always
sn
the
Theg uoidbjeeetof
oltiitshicsonmdieel,.
ing was not merely to nominate a psrson to
represent the city of Westminster in Parliament,
bat to nominate him who was most 6t. He
knew nothing of Lord Percy ; and, therefore, to
say he was fit to represent Westminster, would be
only to deceive him.elf ; at the same time he meant
not to express a sentiment to his dispraise. He was
of a noble and illustrious family ;and, if his ambition
led that way, he might have had a Seat in Parlia-
ment long since. For the last 20 years of his life,
he had been steadily attached to Mr. Fox ; his know-
ledge of him was general ; his habits of intimacy
with him were in private; and, from this source, he
was more induced to say who was most eligible to
sneezed that great man. In making a choice, he
should look to the person most intimate with him ;
he should look to the person who fought the battles
of liberty and independence by his side ; he should
look to the person who was his private friend, his
puhl c supporter ; whose talents, eloquence, and in-
tegrity, not only claimed the admiration of this city,
but of the world in general ; who opposed with
him the American War, the suspension of the Ha-
kes Corpus Act, and supported the liberty of the
subjed against an Administration which he never
had the baseness to support. He need not lock far
for the person he alluded to, and concluded by pro-
posing the Right Hon. R. B Sheridan.
This speech was received with loud and reiterated
aninese.
Mr. Sunman then rose, and addressed the
meeting nearly as follows :
Gentlemen Electors of Westrienster—ln addres-
sing the few sentences which I feel it my duty to ad•
dress to you on the present occasion, I am obliged
to intreat your very indulgent attention ; fearing,
that from the effects of a late short but

. _
sharp illness, I may not otherwise be enabled
to make myself heard by so numerous an
assembly. Uocili the one great subjed, which at
Ws moment I am confident has posies,ioa of the
`whole feelings of every man I addre,s—l shall—
I can—say but little.—There must be some interval
between the heavy blow that his been struck, and
the consideration of its effed, before any one (and
haw many are there) of those who have revered
rd low:d Mr. Fox as I have done, can speak of
bt de.a.h with the feeling, but manly composure,
which becomes the dignified regret it ought to
inspire—((terrot applaurr.) To say any thing to you
at this moment, in the fresh hour of your unbolt..
thened sorrows, must be unnecessary, an almost
blinking. His image still lives before your eyes—
bi; virtues are in your hearts--his loss is your d::-
Van. 1 have seen in a public print this morning,
what are stated to have been his last words, I d.e
happy I" then turning to the dearest objets of his
eaten. I pity you !" Gentlealen, this state-
' s'aa is precisely true.—But Oh ! if the solemn
'minx hour had allowed of such'considerations,
At if the unassuming niture of his mind hid n.it
ithheld him, which of you but will alhiss, his tiJe
*lll7* said, not only to the sharers of his dim:
?e, barging in mute despair upon l.is cotuh 1
t 7 you," belt prophetically to have added—ii I
17 hngland—l pity F.ui ope—l pity Unman na-
'ai" He died in the spirit (.t. peace—Tranquil in !
Own expiring heart, and cherishing to the Last,
itb a parental solicitude, the cousuling hope to give

tranquillity to nations. Let us trust that that stroke '
of death which has borne him from us, may riot
have left the peace of the world, and the puhlw
charity of man, as orphans upon this earth. Fro n
this affliaing consideration I pass w one compara-
tively insignificant; yet it is the question ue are
met this day to consider, namely, the pretensions of
these who have the presumption to aspire to succeed
him. An Hon. Friend has proposed me as a person
worthy of that proud distinaioa. I cannot deny but
that it is an objet of ambition, unmixed, I think,
with one unworthy motive; very near to my heart.
For the hint I reo•ived in the public Newspapers,
•‘ That I might hurt the feelings of my Stafford Con-
stitnents, by standing an eleCtion for Westmin-
ster," I feel much obliged ; but, having been
six several times eleCted by them, I am con-
vinced they would rather feel with me, the honour,
the glory, of being the successor of Mr. Fox. It is
one thing to be the Representative of Westminster,
but it is another to be the successor of that great
man. Having stated those motives, I have but one
word or two to say. I have followed that great and
illustrious charadter, step by step, through the whole
of his politico' life, and in all those measures which
recommended him to your reverence and affeCtion.
I was honoured with his friendship, and in the
closest intimacy with him. It is true, I some-
times differed from him upon particular points,
which I felt my duty ; and there were nut persons
wanting, who endeavoured to aggravate those dif-
ferences; but this only increased that friendship
which he never departed from. His noble and ge-
nerous nature never suffered sospition to enter his
heart ; ho he knew ms well, and he knew, that if I
differed from him, it was through principle ; and
that it was impossible I could desert him from
design His friendship was the Lit pride and
glory of my life. I felt more pleasure, and consi-
tiered it as more gl ninus, to share in his exclusion
from power, and live in exile with him, than in par-
taking of any honours that Kings or Governments
could bestow—(loud applause.) And, Gentlemen,
were I to live my life over again, I should have
thought it more honourable to share in dot: exclu-
sion and exile, than to have been most succeotul in
servility ; than to have been .o.tideil with titlss, pam-
pered with honours, covered with distinaions, and
gorged with wealth, obtained by the pion ler of the
people—(reiterated and continued brats of applouie )
After what I have already said, my most anxious
wish is. that while the corpse of our levered friend
remains unburied, nothing should be done to pro-
duce discord; no contest should arise to foment
divisions .among the Electors of Westminster. l'he
remedy against thi; might now be in illy retiring ;
but it might be .aid, AS it has beets most scanda-
lously thrown cut, that I shrunk back, afraid or risk-
ing my officio' sotto:ion. I should have thought my
lite would have been an ---,wer to such a charge.—
But if any Minister expoOs to find me a servile vas-
sal, my place shall use at toe set vice of that Minister.
I am independent—lndependence maybe in the poor,
though r.ot the rich. lam not rich. Independence
is not in wealth not in honours; it is n.4t in high•
birth; but indepe ,fence is in the mini of min, or
it is no where. l'hts is the enndua I hove ever, and
shall pursue, to the end of my life ; aa,l although I
might be stripped of my office, yet I cannot be
stripped of my own self esteem—f cannot be de-
prived of the good opinion of the public. Ido
not believe such a Minister doos exist at this me.
ment. If I 'save failed in my duty, by not offs ring
myself earlier to your notice, I am nut to blame,
nor can I lament it I and I am sure every woo
hears me, and who knows my love and vio.orati
for Mr. Fox, will join in the same seotiment, that
while one aspiration of breath quivered on his
lips, while one drop of blood beat in his ooble
heart, it would have been unbecoming in me to
have expressed a wish to be his successor. If I
have sustained a loss by it, I glory in that loss, and
cannot regret it. But now, Gentlemen, I come to
what I feel the most unpleasant part of my task ;
notwithstanding what I have said, and notwith-
standing the manner with winch you have received
what I have had the honour to address to you, I
feel myself under the necessity of retiring from the
contest (4 load cry of Ae! no! no !J—ln friendship
like oars there was this advantage, that while living
I considered Mr. Fox a kind of landmo-k, and his
principles as a guide to our conduit after his death ;
and there is a duty incumbent upon me, I mean a
desire to consider what would have been the wish
of that illustrious person, if it was possible for him
to view what is going on at this moment. If such a
subject could have come across him,on his desoli bed,
he would have wished him rather to decline the con-
test, than risk a division among his constituents.
He would have implored him to het aside all chance
of controversy ; he would have beseethed that
friend to make such a sacrifice. There is a still
further reosua for my so declining the honour you
would confer on me. Mr. Fox is shortly to be car-
ried to that noble and Gothic mansion, where the
greatest helots, statesmen, kings, and patriots of
their time, will be honoured with his remains.
That ceremony is to take place in a few days ; and,
I trust, that every man in Westminster, every man
in this great metropolis, every man who admired
his political life, will be marshalled, to attend his
remains to their last abode. Dumb and respell.
ful sorrow will then pervade the ranks. Could
you then endure the thoughts of rival Candi-
dates? Would it be fitting upon such an occa- '
sion ? And I ask you still further, should I be
that man? Understanding and feeling that you
must agree with toe in these observations, I
am the more eager to make the sacrifice, as the
only ,ode of preserving the peace, concord, and
tranquillity of that city, of which he died, the great
and everoo-be-larnented representative.
Mr. &MID am concluded by a wet m and strong
recommendation of Lord Percy, as a fit and pro-
per representative, and acknowledged his gratitude
for the honour they bad inteeded to confer on him-
self.
This speech was received with the loudest and
most unbounded applause. Some time elapsed be-
fore silence could be restored.

Mr. M•DDOL supported the proposition of no-
m:aating Mr. Sheridan as a Candidate for West-
minster. In a very able and animated speech, he
answered the objations of Mr. Sheridan, with re-
spea to creasing divisions at such a time among the
Y:ledors ; and observed, that while the remains of
Mr. 1v; passed, all controversy would cease, au

anion would be dumb. He considered Westmin-
ster as the cradle of independence ; and trusted the
Eledurs wouldsupport that independence, by putting
Mr. Sheridan in nomination, as a fit and proper per-
son to represent them in Parliament. With respect
to Lord Percy, he thought it would be a bad pre-
cedent to den any person who had a ch ince of being
placed where he could not do his duly.
Mr. GRAHAM wished the sense of the Meeting to
be testified by a chew of hands.
A Gentleman, in answer, said, that as Mr. Sheri-
dan had unequivocally res:gled, there could be no
necessity to put the question.
Here a cry of No! he! No ! called up the
Chairman ; who, having reprimanded some per-
sons for clapping hands, h.:. which was disrespen-
ful to the memory of Mr. Fox, entered at some
length into the qualifications of Lord Percy.
Mr. Sit:MIDAS observed, that the Chairman had
sued rather as the advocate of a party, than the
Chairman of an assembly, such as the present. lie
repeated, that it was upon the most mature deli-
beration he had determined not to avail himself of
their intentions in his favour.
Mr. GILAHAK again rose, and said, that the
Meeting were imperiously called on to express their
sentiments.
After some further observations by the Chairman,
Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Maddox, Mr. Smith, and some
others,
Mr. O'Bryen withdrew, for the present, his mo-
tion in favour of Lard Percy.
A Resolution w.'s then proposed by. Mr. Cocker,
sod carried almost unanimundy. This was expres-
sive of the great regret of the Meeting at the mo-
tives which induced Mr. Sheridan to withdraw from
the contest.
Mr. O'Bryen then resumed his former R,csolu-
lion in favour of Lord Percy. and the question be-
ing put, it was negatived by a great majority.*
After some further interlocutory conversation,
the Meeting was adjourned until Friday, the !Nth
instant ; a Committee was appointed to consider
of a fit and proper person to be nominated, Ste.;
and about three o'clock the Meeting brake up.
• Per these Resolutions, see the Front of this Paper.
OLD BAILEY SESSIONS, Seer. 18.
Thomas Miter. and Alatiqa his wife, were capi-
tally indincd for forging, counterfeiting, and coin-
ing. several pieces of base and counterfeit money,
resembling the half crowns, shillings, and sixpences,
the current coin of this realm, which is high treason
by the Statute.
The prosecutirn was carried on by order of the
Direnors of the Mint.
Mr. FISLDING stated the case for the prosecution;
which was sustained by the evidence of Rogers and
Browne, two police officers of the Shadwell Divi-
sion, who proved, that in consequence of some in-
formation they had received, they went to a house
on S iffron-bill, where the Prisoners lodged, and
where they found them at home ; and, from the ap-
pearance of their hands, fingers, and nails stained
great and yellow by the effseli of eve: fliers, much
used by the ceiners of counterfeit-money), con-
cluded that they had been recently at work. Upon
searching a cupboard and some drawers in a room
up
stairs, occupied by the Prisoners, they found 40
half-crown pieces, 10 shillings, and a number of six-
pences, B'l of counterfe't money, not finished ; a
dollar, just completed, all but polishing. They
found aiso a cumber of pieces of plated metal to
be formed into dollars; and also a hand vice, files,
bottles of aqua fortis, into which ease falai had
been put, to destroy the smell of the aqua forth,
some cream of tartar, pieces of cork, sheets of sand
paper, and some chamois leather, which had been
apparently used in polishing metal ; all being the
usual implements and materials used by the annoers
of counterfeit money. They also found a number
of counterfeit shillings and six-penny pieces upon
the persons of both parties, and, therefore, took them
into custody.
Elizabeth Alcock, who gave the information to
the last witnesses, swore that she called on the fe-
male Prisaaer, on the Tuesday before, to ask about
counterfeit money ; and was told by her that she
had a good parcel, not quite finished, but that it
would be ready in a few days, and that in the mean
time she kept it in a safe place ; she swore that she
had no interest, nor any hope of reward, in this pro-
sectrion, but came forward purely for the sake of
publik justice, in consequence of her child having
been imposed on with a bad half-crown, a few days
before.

Mr. Justice HEATH stimm.,J up the evidence to
the Jury, who however tiers tied both the Prisoners ;
hut they were detained, at the request of Mr. Field-
ing, to be indicted on another charge.
John Bird was capitally indifled for stealing pri-
va:ely from the person of a Mrs Sea-le. at Sadler's
Wells, Ss. in money, by cutting a hole in her poc-
ket. He WA3 acquitted of the capital part of the
charge, of privately stealing, but found Guilty of the
sterling gra 'rally.
Mary Wootton was capitally indided for ptivately
stealing in a dwelling house, a pocket containing
near 41. in money, and a cap and cotton gown, the
goods of Mary Chippeafield, a hawker of fish, near
Shorediteb, by whom she was employed as a weekly
servant, and fully conviAled—Deash
Mary Ballard was capitally indicted for privately
stealing in a dwelling-house in King-street, Soho,
131. in Bank notes, an.: some silver rw.ney, the pro-
perty of Mrs. Caroline limber'. n, Pi is,mer was
a servant in the house where Mrs. Herbert ledger!,
and was suspefted trnmeeliatrly, and the notes ti aced
home to her. Verdi., Ciaelty—Death.
A man, named Harrison, a Waterman, was crpr-
iallv co:milted for burglariously entering a dwelling-
house, in the night time, with intent to steal.
...ilirahano Knight was convicta of larceny, in steal-
ing four great coats, from the house of his maces-,
who keeps livery-stables, its Tottenharn•cotirt-roasi.
%lary A.Pll'aiilty was retention, laierno, in steal-
ing nineteen shawls, value 11. 16.1. from the shop
of William Harley, linen.draper, St. Giles's.
2=I=II=IIINEMMMe
On Saturday morning, about seven o'clock, a
large and beautiful vessel, with three decks, destined
for the West India trade, belonging to Mr. NI AM,
was launched in Bristol River. It being hig%-tide,
she went off in a gracerul stile, and was baptised
The Brig.'', amidst the c',eers of a va,t cr.nc:mrse of
people, who were hishly gratiti....l at the sight.

•
SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
SHREWSBURY RACES.

TUESDAY. SEPT. 16.—(secoNo DAY
The Gentlemen's Subscription of Sol For 3 a.id 4 1
3 year olds to carry 6.t. Mb.; 4 year t: Is, Bst.
Made that had been winner of lb 11:: plate, to car,y
two, Mb ; of three, 7lb extra.
Lord Grey's ch. c. Ski,scriii, 3 yrs
Sir W. W. Wynne:, Bart. b. c. B.itzsril, 4 yrs.
Mr. lisarchall's ch. h. Webb Hasp, 4 yea. old (3 plates)
Nifiteekes's br. h. Royal Oak, 4 yea (2 plater) .
company was neuter ,es, but gi'itha was very
betting. We expect a better race to-morrow.

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, Sur.
Yesterday; the Sentul drairmicus of the
Yersity of Edinburgh, conferred the degree ,
for in Medicine on the following gentlemen,
having gone through the appointed examinations,
and publicly defended their inaugural disserta-
tions :
FROM INCLAND.
William 'Sealy, De Epilepsis.
Richard Itlyam Dennison, De Morels • Gmviditate
dentiknis.
John Eyre, De Vaccine.
Jonathan Rogers Stokes, Ds Erysipelate.
FROM GEKIVA.
Pete- Marignae, Ds Urethra Consoicsa.
FROM IRELAND.
Jeremiah Curtayne, De Noxils Alcoholis
bus.
Thomas Doxev, De Phthhi Pohnonali.
Edgeorth, De Eararcitatiame.
Patrick Fleming, De Apoplezia.
Timothy Kevin, , Le Peritenitisieruerperatum.
Samuel L'Estrange, De Epilepsia.
James Ogilby, Da Nutriment* Kinutrunt.
FROM SCOTLAND.
Robert Brier, DO Antimonin.
Archibald Campbell, De Cerebri Compreesinne.
Alexander Gardner, De Scarlatina Cvnanchica.
De Cynaitche Malign. Robert hlaclean,
FROM VIRGINIA.
John Wharton, De Mania.
FROM WALES.
William Mason, D, Typho.

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