The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-08-01 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX ELECTION.

.
Eton Ts, DA v.—During the early part of the Jay,
the votes were considerably in favour of Mr. Main-
vraring ; but at the close of the Pull, both Candi-
dates appeared to have polled an equal number,
there being announced
For \J,. Moovraring
For Sr Franci.Burd.rtt. . . . 2030

Majority for Mr. Miinwaring . 64

Sir Fa ANCIS BURDLTT as usual stepped forward,
amidst the plaudits of an exulting populace, and
delivered the following speech :
" Gentlemen, you will see, with considerable sa-
tisfaCtion, that, notwithstanding every advantage
that can be used against us, our poll rem.iins this
day equal, and the majority the same as yesterday.
When I say this, I can speak to the Freeholders in
the language of success, and insure the event of this
contest. I have to state, that were it not for
the multiplied obje!lions which have been made
to my votes, I should have stood at the head
of the poll; I do not say this loosely, I have
forty votes thrown out by the Sheriff, most
of which I hope to have established. I beg
leave to return my thanks to the Freeholders,
many of whom have been obliged to return without
voting, and have met with inconvenience ; but I
hope they will not consider such inconvenience of
much magnitude, when they refled that their exer-
tions are intended to assert the Liberty and Inde-
pendence of the county, or resign it for ever nuo
the Sands of Contra tors, Magisterial and Ministe-
rial Jobbers (Lied end rower' 'philtres, sod (relent's.
rims of Burden for erer !) I say, if they consider
the cause in which we are engaged, they ought not
to feel any trivial inconvenience. It is no less than
the freedom of our Constitution ; and, although I
am sorry for any loss or prevention in their respec-
tive avocations, by an attendance here, yet I hope
they will treat the same with indifference, and, by
coming forward to-morrow, join in nobly defending
;heir honour, their independence. and eledive fran-
chises (laid Nordin). I am obliged to make a
few observations on the very scurrilous and foul
calumnies cast on my character and those of my
friends. the freeholders who have voted in my fa-
vour, in an advertisement published by my op-
ponent : with all that modesty peculiar to youth,
he describes the Freeholders in my interest to
be a set of raggamuffins, having no votes, and
me as the leader of a set of vagahonds—(Mary
rliAe ennui here ercloissed, Do nu w ref Moe, we win/
dr►rg you thrsksh is trireitA!) Such insinuations,
however, I trust. will operate so as to become a
stimulus on your part to increase the spleen of my
adversary, by producing similar majorities to those
which have displeased him. (Hesse! hu-sa! drew!)
" Gentl %nen ! in off. ring myself here as a candi-
date, I must observe, ttst no man will disdain to be
assisted by that species of support more than the per-
son who now addresses you ; but I think I may re-
tort that the most unparalleled influence of magis-
terial and ministerial ps-ver has been exerted against
me. It has been the language or my opponent,
" that he thought his father at the late election bore
his faculties too meekly." Now, Gentlemen, there
is no man can attribute that peculiar foiling to the
Father, but it has been an ii.vatiable custom with
them, to impute every degree of crime, perjury,
guilt, &c. to your side, and to reserve for them-
selves, purity, and the most virtuous motives
(plaudits). They would wish to impose on us;
but, whatever b.: the taunts they use, I trust the
independence of the Freeholders of Middlesex will
triumph, and restore the Constitution to its pristine
vigour and privileges. Gentlemen Freeholders, I
beg leave to say, this is the last struggle you will
have for independence; if it should fail. It is to
those Freeholders in particular, who feel a lust sense
of the duty they owe the Constitution of their coun-
try, that I speak ; their votes will never again be
offered on public and popular grounds. They
vajll fail a sacrifice to Contradors and Plaeemen.
Before I take leave of you, I must repeat, this is a
struggle against corruption ; therefore, I intreat you
to continue those exertions yon have already made,
which will place us in a similar situation to that
which proved the cause of so many splenetic ob.erva-
Lions on the part of my adversary."
The usual cheering followed this address; and
Mr. MAINW ANINGI began to speak in hit turn. but
the clamour of the populace forced bim to retire
without being heard.
A great number of persons crouded round the
hustings, and the place was a scene of noise and
uproar; but the vigilance of the Peace Officers pre-
vented any outrare.