The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-03-17 00:00:00

OF'

•
And where. oc;aiiion requires,. it can ad pith the
rusurar. inlet:. 'eta to tiie-v:s.int of eireiitince and
-Insufficieney objefte'd to the militia, AU not the mi-
litia of the America contend with one hest regular
troops, and beat them too (a laugh), for they were
fighting on their own ground for 'principles which
they imagined• just, and consequently held sacred ?
The Militia was a constitutional force, but not so
mich so ac it ought to be ; he could wish that every
mot billotted fur would serve. As to economy, we
were not. it seems, to regard that consideration ;
but he would say we must. The principal objec-
tion of the Honourable Gentleman is founded on
impeding the recruiting service. We can have
both Militia and Regulars; but if you give rank
and raise forced regiments, you cannot have both.
'Upon the whole the Right Hon. Geo:lent:as doe-
&noes were unfounded.
WINDiI AM explained.
Gcr.e.ral TA Iti.E.TON agreed in nfany particu-
Ws with the Hight liou. Gentleman, but thinks the
resent time not a proper period for objeCtions and
• is of opinion that the co-operation of the Mii;tia
with the Regulars would he of the greatest impoi-t-
-ance and service in the field,.against an enemy.
Sir LAURENCE PARSONS said, that tfie Irish
Militia unfortunately hail an opportunity of learning
the praCtical part of the art of war in their own
country. That many officers of the army were' in
the Militia. That several places of importance were
garrisoned by the Irish Militia last war, and that we
4hould be happy to use thrir services, if occasion re- ,
quire.' it ; we were in a situation which required ex-
. ertiuns, but not a situation of danger.
lord KIiNSIN;;TC.N, in a maiden speech, con-
tended, that if the troops sent to Holland were first
in the Regulars, they would have succeeded better ;
and he could not help observing that the remark ,'t
an Hon. Baronet was injudicious, who said :11.
American Militia heat our WA troops.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQI.P.'.;
svas sorry to see a disposition to draw comparisons
between both armies, or to have the efficacy of the
Militia questieaed. The army of Egypt was prin-
,:eipally esoniposed of volunteers from the Militia, and •
he was confident, with a small regular force en-
grafted on it, the Militia would he found able to
;tea the best troops of France. He had an lion.
Gentleman uniform in his view (Col. Vereker),
' who, at the head of his regiment (the Limerick
Militia) stcppei the progress of the French army
that invaded Ireland ; and he was confident the
services of the Militia would at all times be found
equally honourable, where they had an opportunity
of •sheaving their spirit and zeal ; he would not go
over the other arguniec,ts already ably stated.
Sir WILLIAM I'ULTENEY, in explanation,
said, he only meant that as the American Militia
beat our best Regular forces, so the English Militia
would beat the best to oops of France.—(4 laugh.)
EVRE COOTE spoke a few words in favour
of the system proposed, and was of opinion it did
nut interfere with the recruiting service.
t;eneral MA ULAN]) was in favour of the Mi-
litia system, a it afforded the most expeditious
means of raising a force capable of co-operating
with the Regular Army.
Mr. WTLBERFORCE spoke highly in praise of
the Militia, and of the privations which its officers
endured for the long period of the war. Absent
from their homes and all the comforts of affluence,
with no view to an establishment or promotion, but
barely the public service.
Mr. ELLIO wished to have the Bill suspended
until the recruiting for the line was tried in Ire-
land.
Lord CASTLEREAGH supported the system
proposed, as more economical than the system of
ballot in Ireland.
L•ril COLE spoke in favour of the Motion,
' and said, if the French should land in Ireland, they
would find the Irish Militia had nerves as strong,
and bayonets as sharp as ever.
Colonel BAGWELL said, the Militia was a nur-
sery for the line ; he sent 4-`2O men in one fortnight
out of his own regiment (the Tipperary
into the Regulars.
Mr. lIILEY ADDINGTON said a few words
in support of the measure.
Mr. NVICKIIA:..I observed, that much would be
left to the discretion of the Lord Lieutenant, and
that it was not the intention of Government to give
the whole bounty at present.
Mr. WINDHAM, in explanation, said, it should
be distinctly understood that he never doubted the
spirit or fidelity of the Militia, but barely said that
he would give a preference to a regular force.
Mr. DAWSON paid an high compliment to the
Yeomanry and Militia of Ireland, and said that no .
regular troops could have anted better.
The Bill was ordered to be read a second time,
and printed.—Adjourtted.
• IC)TTINGHA.if ELECTION COMMITTEE.

The Chairman of this Corennittee having made
his report to the House of Commons, we feel our-
selves at liberty to present our Headers with a brief
and general outline of the extraordinary occurrences
which distinguished the late eleftion.
The King's writ having been lent to Mr. Al-
len, the sheriff, that gentleman, in concert with
his advisers, appointed the 6th of .luly to proceed
to the Exchange-hill, in Order to chuse two bur-
gesses ; he went there at nine in the morning, at-
tended' by Mr. Dennison, the Mayor' Mr. Enfield,
his under-sheriff, and the friends of the candidates
who were intended to be put in nomination. The •
only candidates who appeared were, Sir John Bor-
lase Warren, and Daniel Parker Coke, Eeq. and of
eotirse'both thcie Gentlemen considered themselves
entitled to be returned upon the spew of hands ; it
was, however, thought advisable to poll a few votes,
merely to annex to the return of the writ.
In the mean time, it had.been rumoured about
the town, that a Mr. Coulton,* Mr. Hare, and
Mr. Kilburn, had gone in search of a new can-
didate ; and about- half an hour before the business
commenced, it had been observed, that a chaise and-
four, with those persons in it, had driven into the
town. Mr. Sheriff Allen, while the votes were
takirkg, repeatedly proclaimed, • with a loud voice,
Gentlemeni if, you do not propose some other
candidate, I must • close. the poll, and return .Sir
John Warren and Mr. Co*e.'' In the language of
the witnesses for the petitioning candidate (Mr.
Coke (the Sheriff made this' priklamation, in the
style and manner of an .atoftioneer, who with up.
,lifted*aranner cries, "a g" gJ a pine and threat-
wed tp,lnaock down a grxid: article if. it is not pre-
sently bid fbr. Alittiff -haVing many times
nut& this arrcal to the Motors, the Exchange

, 4%.

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• ••••ri ••••••••• 0,11,

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. . •
doors sullenly burst c.4'.-tlteir hinges, and an
• mense natiltitadc:of persons, eledors and nori-elec-
tors, rushed Into the hail ; at the head' of tliena
war Mr. •Ciailttm, who exultingly exclaimed,
I)amme, we've sat a lit. k, we've sot a cock." Im-
mediately the whole hall resounded with shouts
acclamations, and one James Elliott, a free
independent eledor, and by profession a journey-
man woolcomber, leaped upon the hustings, and
proposed the late sitting member, Joseph Birch, of
Hazle-hall, in the county of Lancaster, Esq. and a
poll was demanded on his behalf. Sir John War-
ren and Mr. Coke, addressed the eleators, and the
latter assured them, that, as a Gentleman had been
proposed, it was his wish to facilitate his canvas,
and afford him every means and opportunity of
colleting the sense of the voters. Upon this it was
agreed to adjourn till the next day, in order that a
poll-booth might be created in the market-place.
This proposaton was, at first, warmly combated by
Mr. Sliiott and his colleague 3, who were extreme.
ly averse to entering into a security to the Sheriff to
defray pat of the charges of erecting the booth ;
the difficulty was, however, removed, and AM
booth was ereateth. The next morning the poll re-
commenced, and, for a time, 'the prepolideracy .of
the suffrages was evidently in favour of Sir John
Warren and Mrs Coke, and, Mall likelihood, woaid
have continued so, but for those everits which, as
our limits will not allow us to detail, we Must with
brevity describe. It was soon manifest that the
mob was, to a man, in favour of Mr. Birch; apd
it was no sooner perceived his adversary was likely
to gain the a-eendancy, than a regular organized
banditti -sun-made& the poll-booth, and mounted
on the top, of it, in order that they might discoyer
in whose favour the elet.iors respetively voted.
Those on whom this duty priiatapidly devolVed,
denominated themselves the telegraph ; and, octu-
pying a pitniculir woof announced to the mob the
n 'mes of all tilase who had voted for Mr. C
woul.l have been an innocent amusernenfalf"
'he tanunciarioli had not been attended with car*
eircainstaliees, prodaalive of no small degree dr
inconvenience to !Vise • who had just ipoW fur
the unpopular candidate. The instant they per-
ceived a person come from the booth, who had
voted fur Mr. Coke, they exclaimed, A Coke !
a Coke ! Do him ! do him ! Damn him ; down
with him ! Spencer him !" These words were no
sooner tittered, than the unfortunate voter was
seized by the mob, and in an instant the skirts of"
his coat were torn off close to his waist, and
thrown up int') the air, amidst reiterated plaudits.
This was not all ; the viatim was thrown down on
the ground, his arms and legs polled different ways,
and he was kicked and heat till he was aatualty
senseless. Several persons literally experienced
this treatment, and particularly a gentleman of the
-name of Lowe, who, after being spencered (as h
was technically called), that is, had the Baps of:his
coat cut off, was used in a manner absolutely bar-
barous and inhuman. One of the witnesses, who
spoke to the fad, aftar mentkning the varioas
l•ruises he had received in the different parts of his
body, stated, that his thigh was kicked all to pieces.
It is unnecessary to recapitulate the names of the
different persons who were thus injured, sonic in a
greater, and some in a less degree ; suffice it to
say, that they were extremely numerous, and, would
have been much more so, but that litany lota the
good fortune, by flight and stratagem, and by quit-
ting the poll-booth in a body, to avoid the injuries.,
intended them by the populace. The fury of the-
mob did not stop here;—they proceeded to treat.
Mr. Coke, the respeetatie candidate who had reprea,
sented the town between twenty and thirty years,
with the most marked ignominy and insult. One
fellow suspended an hempen halter from the top of
the booth, another brought a halter into the booth,,
and shook it in Mr. Coke's face, accompanying;
the insolent an with the most opprobrious capletsiona But' words and gestures were not the whole
of what Mr. Coke had to subthit to ; in his way tow
and front the booth he was assaulted by the mob;
and on one occasion appeared on the hustings with
the blood streaming down his face, in consequence
of a violent biota from a stone. It was at last the
evident intention of the populace to have destroyed ,
him, had lie not fortunately made his escape into the
house of a friend. Even here he would not have
been secure, had not the military been sent for, to
escort him to his inn. He threw himself into the
arms of Major Teesdale, who dispersed the mob
with his troops, and thus saved Mr. Coke's life. It
was finally the determination of his friends, that
without endangering his personal safety, he could
no longer remain in the town ; and accordingly he
was obliged to retire. There were other scenes of
riot. The White Lion Inn, in which Mr. Coke's
Committee sat, was attacked by a body of two or
:100 of the populace. They unpaved the street; in
order to assail the house with stones, which they
threw at random, apparently resolved to exterminate
every individual in it. The agents for Mr. Coke,
who were in a room exposed to the populace, col-
leted their papers and retired to an• upper bed-
chamber, and throwing themselves along the floor,
between the bed and the wall adjoining the window,
pulled the feather-bed over them, and remained in
that unpleasant situation for upwards of half an
hour, every moment et peting to be put to death.
by the infuriated rabble. .They were at length re-
lieved by the discharge of fire-arms, which happily
they found had been used by the landlord and his
friends in repelling the assailants.

7"1- -

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.1.

The military at that instant poured into the town,
and scattered the mob in all directions all these
scenes of riot, tumult, and bloodshed happened in
the immediate presence of Mr. Allan the sheriff, Mr.
Davison the mayor, Mr. Colclham th. town-clerk,.
Mtisrs'..Oldknow, the Aldermen, and must of the
Magistrates of the corporation, who with the must
criminal supineness adopted no one -efficient mea-
sure to check or prevent them. It appeared that
once or twice, during the eledion, the pull-booth
was cleared, it which time the vows ran in favour
of Mr. Coke. The mob, however, us.) sooner found
their favourite candidate xv.is losing ground, than
the leader of them forced his way into, the booth,
and exclainied, " 0 Damn me, Birch, where are
.y..;a?
This will sever do! 'You will lose your eledion I We
must mown !" Accordingly they did mount the
.booth, and returned to their old system of pointing
out Mr. Coke's voters, shouting out, " There he
Roes ---aCoket---that fellow ia black ! ward
Jamn bias. d 3 !um I—dock him! --Spencer him!"
The steal was 140 sooner made, thaw it was obeyed,
.111.1 the %lifts off' .the voters' coats %vete cut off, mid
thrown up into the air.—On the SAturolity,after the
eoznikbotede Mr. Birth irtivei at Nottingham

ii•r•
1,4 -.440111140%0'7,

..lowik

a bZ ",-1.

is, . jt
retpeded persnnal _
Birch, none of the excesses that -disgrabed this rlec•
tion were attributable to him t on the -contrary,
whatever intervals of peace and aransistiliky there
were, were owing to his .exertions and influence.
Such was the &entral scope of the case, as laid be-
fore the Committee on the pet tbt Petitionhig
Candidate. • • ; •
It was further state 4,, that. at thejs close of the
tiedion, thcre was a profession upon the model of
o use which hate charaderizid the cerebration of
llifferent epochs of the history of the French Re-
- public,. and that it was airceenplunesl..by •Repuhlican
songs, tri-coloured flags and Co4diitiles, and attended
by twenty-Your wantons immodestly dressed, pre=
*ceded by a woman arrayed,-tcrtivieventthe Goddess
of Reason.. 'Phis description, Inzwevee, appertredlo
have been heightened L,yparty zeal; :4p 4. if the wit-
nesses fox the Defend:int were cos red, it was altogethef
apckri.phal. It is imprissible in thie.'idcrtch even
to refer to a thonsantith part of. the incidents
that filled up this F.hation, still ICU I; A n.we attempt
to describe the eloqneut :speeches made by the
Counsel on both sides. The Counsel for the
Mayor, Sheriffs, and Magistratesi attempted to
-sinstify thcm, on the ground that
.the Power
was. unequal to the suppression of t4e mob, and.
that 'they had done all they Could to prevent the tu-
mults but in vain. Mr. Bfrelfs Counsel ins:sted :liar
Mr. Coke had himsdf.becn th-means.the
_Ditil.opeiy by originally requiring die,;llieria ro, ink a
few Votes, when there Was no rival Candidate.—
We omitted to mention in: its -proper:plate.- that
many of the eledors who voted !for. Mr. Coke were
threatened with "punch " this is I,terwri wrll-known
at Nottingham, and signifies that the person agai,ust•
u-hoin the punch is denounced will have some •in-
jury done him in the night, such arlhaving his
-house or barns set fire so, or his cattle inainwai, or
killed.
This 'nasty account is rather Calculated toexcite cu-
riosity to know more of this very curious case than to
convey' any•distind information ; it however presents
a general idea of the subjed, and wersnut will pot
be unacceptable to our readers in the absence of that
detailed account which- has been ordered 'to be
printed•by the House of Commons. .

~"~

• THEATRE-ROTAL, I).RuA.r-LANE.
THIS EVENING:siIt be performed the Treg sly of
MACBETH.
Macbeth, by Mr. CIAGPER; keiag his Third Appearance on
this Stig
Duncan Mr. Packer; ilart•lnar;fAir. Wroughton; MarclA,
Duncan,
Raimard i .fly Ma b Au,. P. 4.
3%, which will ur adied,
FORI'UNE's FROLICK.
On sittsinlay, Thu Hero vi the Ninth, with. th.!
Day, Lady Contest, Mrs. Jordan.
thl Morally, Mr Cooper will perform the ChantAut T.:-
King Richard the Thal.
• BY COMM/010.0F TiHlll2-mAJEsrtFg.
. THEATRE-I&OT4L, coit.gxl'dq,4RD.E.4%.
Tills EVENING wiq be performed a Nuwtocuidy maid,
• .30FIV BULL';
oi, AkT -Asol,lsiiihitAlCo,FULE-strv"
The principal CharaCters by
Mr. Lewis, Mr. Cask? Mr. *.viecctt, Mr. Johnetc:-.,
Mr. H. Joluistort, MT. ,Bia:teltarij, Mr. Emery, M. WAJ:i
Mrs, Gibbs, Mrs. Eradenport and Mrs. H. adhew.ori.
The Vierhire.i.snil Music aonsP•tied and selected by hlr..Kellyi
. The Prologue to be spoken by Mr. Brunton.
With a LiTrii'al Epilogue byMr..JohreliOne.
.To which Iraq be added, •
CROSS PURPOS; S.
On Sattirday, John full, with The Prize; in Which- Mr
Braltsm and 'Signora Storacu will perform the Characters
Ileart well and Caroline
•

THE BRITISII

LONDON,
THURSDAYS MARcu 17.
Very important changes in Administration wer6
determined upon yesterday :

Lord MEtvi LE succeeds Earl St. VINCLNT,
First Lord of the Admiralty.
Earl MOIR A i 3 appdinted Iviastf% -General of the
Ordnance ; and
Earl CuATH.IM, Lord Privy Seal.
These appointments are expeaed to appear in Sa-
turday night's Gazette.
A further change is expeacd in the Admiralty.
It is confidently stated, that Captains Sir I'. Tams...
BRIDGE and MA lOW A M will very speedily retire.
The insinuations thrown ouvagainst Sir T. Taow.
BRIDGE, Charging' him with having availed himself
of the knowledge acqUired in his official situation to
sell out Stock to advantage, are totally unconnel-
ed with his rstireinent from office. The world is
convinced that they ate base and unfounded, and.
his honour is at this moment as free from suspicion
as his courage. • We ate happy to find that 4 con-
versation took place upon the subjea last night in
the House of Commons. The charucter of such
a meritorious and distinguishel officer is a public
concern.

The Fl kir CONSUL has receive?. the Remons-
trance of our Government, which was sent off on
Tuesday se'nni,:ht, and the Messenger who arrived
from Park on. Tuesday brought an answer. It
:s generally ouppnsed to be indecisive, and conies
quently the door still remains open to negociation.
The Drench Ambassador's attendance at Court yes-
terday was also considered in the City a pacific
symptom, and contsibitted to raise the funds from
63i, at which. they opened, to 654, at which they
left off. Other circulittanees might, no doubt, have
eperate& to produce this favourable change. A niong
the, most pronThineni
:was a private letter received
&Old Vothicicstates the death ()ETA Ls g a AND,
and the kppointntent of M. OTTC iit Lit iplace, as
Secretary for roteign Aita:rst b 4. OTTO haS

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9, , i: _
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1.••••• ,; .. ,'.. • i ..,,L,i i .
ts ..
.„:: ... . : •',.: .
raf:s.., :'' --;N. AP' • ' .I. :... .
; ..
- ' • .4t. - - -4.; ' net' elt
' sm- fraPn P__ -Li; , 4 •
elec. sup:posted I-a- , ~_ • Vhus the
hem' whole elediovels • • - 4 the,yikithi ana ai
tied, Mr. Coke's voters-uttelf#4fteliied from exercising
Im- their franchises, Mr. Birch was soon at the head
and of the poll. It is, howevtr, but justice to say, that
and as fur as respeeted the persoml condu4 of Kr.

1 gP 1.,,,-
yed,-toliviepinttheCtiddess
iption, however, appettredlo
lyparty zeal; end if the wit-
were el..lred,it was altogethef
,
x issible in this sketch— even
with part of.. the incidents
.ion, still less I:An.we attempt
cut .speeches made by the
2C. The Counsel for the
• Magistrates, attempted to
-mad that
.the Power
Ipression of the mob, and •
tey Could to prevent the su-►•
Counsel ins;.s!ed that ,
•
ttMirlearls fikeepi4g the
requiting tlie,;:l4ertfflo.taisc a
Was no rival Candidate.—
on in: its -Proper 'plate,- that
ho :voted dor. Mr. Coke were
this is a„terFn writ-known
cities that the person aganist•
enounced will have some in-
night, such arlhaving his •
Los or his cattle anzinwai,or
rather Calculated to etc itecu-
this very curious case than tr.
titration ; K however presents
.übje6t, and wedrust will pot
readers in the absence of that
:11- has been ordered 'to be
It Commons. . 1
'4IL, I),RUA,r-LANE.
I be pertUrrned the Trag rdy of
CISETH.
• keidg has third Appearance on
IL; Stig
Wroughton; Ma:cluff„
hstb,s4, 1'
ii yid adde,d,
E's FI4GI.IC.K.
te what., th.!
urdan.
sr will perform the Ch‘rairt
•F Tifirllt-MAJEsrtFg.
L, cort.gyrict4RD.F...4%.
performed a ;Sow toruidy callii
✓ BULL.;
if )1
Sail'44lCO ruus...slpE.
pal CharaCtero by
Mr. 'Fawcett, Mr. Jolingtee:-,
441.14, Mr. Emery, M. W.42.di. •
nport and Mrs. li. John-tun.
redri•ed and selected by Mr..Keily.
spoken by Mr. Brunton.
Hogue by'Mr..lohrtkane.
I wad be added, •
PURPOSE S.
1, with The Prize; in Which- Mr:
• will perfurua the ,Characters of
• • •
•
FISII 'PRESS
N 1)0N, ,•
AYy MARCM 17.
•—•-••
ar-i:s in Administration were
.day
!ceeds Earl Sr. Visetwr,
niralty.
•
Anted Iviaste: -General of the
Ird Privy Seal.
are expeded to appear in Sa-
.
expe6ted in the Admiralty. f
, that Captains Sir I'. Taow-
• i
.Mt will very speedily retire.
n ouvagainst Sir T. TlOW-
with having at-ailed himself
•
ired in his official situation to
ntage, are totally unconne.ft-
from office. The world is
base and unfounded, and. •
Dment as free from suspicion
e happy to find thatillcon-
;on the subjea last night in
,ns. The char saer of such
inguishei•offieer is a public
has receive?. the Remons-
ient, which was sent off on
the Messenger who arrived
sy brought an answer. It
.•
:o be indecisive, and conies
!mains open to negociation.
Dr's attendance at Court yes-
iered in the City a pacific
ited to raise the funds from • .
tried, to 65,1, at which they
•
Lances might, no doubt, have
•
favourable change. Among
as a private letter receixed
•
s thedeatsofTaLLElr&AND,
M. OTTC in Lis place, as
• Affairs. M. OTTO irt.c
•
•
•41.. 4 • •
•••• 07.
• . •