The Sun.
London, England, 1806-11-15 00:00:00

T✓ THE WORTHY ELECTORS OF WEST-

MINSTER.

I am a plain man, and have pasted a long time in
this metropolis.—l- have witnessed every contest for
popnlar favour,from the days of Wilkes down to the
present time.--Among 'the many candidates, who,
during that period, offered theinselyes to represent
this great city in Parliament, some were of the most
distinguished abilities, several were of high profession-
al fame, and a few were exceptionable ; but all of
them were persons well known. There was no ambi-
guity of character those who presented them-
selves to our choice ; we estimated men from their
actions, and the tenor of their lives, and we decreed
palm to the most worthy.
In the present day a person has started up and
claimed the highest distinction you have the power
to bestow, who, till within the last year, was never
heard of in this 'city—:qn absolute stranger ; one un-
lpown to Fame, at to the inhabitants of this Metro 7
polls, and who, amidst' the clamour whik:h he has
:-wised, carefully avoids informing us what-is his his-
tory, whence he came, or what other pretensions he
as to our favour than m-ise from his gr,i;,s.ly'abusing,
and groundlessly accusing, every, august, high, and
honourable Character in this kinodorn •

I need hardly add, that the Candidate I allude -to
is Mr. Jamea Paull, who' opPeses with most outrage-.
pus virulence two competitors—nien of whom this
nation may be justly proud ; one the support of
P,ritaip'S glory ;, the other (whatever may be his
private foibles) undoubtedly among the (post distin-
guished orators of the age.
Who is this Mr. Paull ? I am credibly informed,
FleElorS,' that he is the son of a,' tailor in Perth, in
no great line of business ; and that the son served
part of his time to his father's trade : yet far -be it
rom Me, who am in trade myself, to decry a useful
and honest occupation :',but I confess I feel a decent
pride, an honourable ambitiOn; to beirepresented,
and to have this great City represented, by persons
Who, from-their 'birth- arid abilities, are worthy of
that honour; the defenders of their country, the
• guardians of OurlAws, statesmen and orators of tried
and acknowledged talents ; such are, in my mind,
titter to represent Westminster than a tailor. Every
person is respeEtable in proportion as.he evinces me-
rit in his proper sphere. Mr. Paull Might, among
tailors and salesmen, be entitled/to regard ; bht, as
the Representative of the greatest City in the',Vni-
verse, his pretensions are really as absurd and con-
v..-mptible as would be considered. these of a ,barber,
a blacksCriith, or achimney-sweeper.
I have an extensive acquaintance in Leadenliall-'
street, and nnmber among my friends" many gen-
tlemen who held distinguished offices in India ; and
from their concurrent testimony, I do not learn that
this Paull is a harinleSs, misguided, and -•
judging man, who 'only mistakes his •talent,' and
means vell, though he aCta otherwise. I have made
fliligent 'inquiry lespeCting him,- and I find that he
iw not only a low and ignorant upstart; but' that he.
has violated the most important moral obligation !
that,tements society, and wbich,all good men held
sacred ; that he, is destitute of gratitude, and falsely
r,
traduces the most dignified chara6ters in this coun-
try,
with a view to create some "character for him,
self ; Vat I trust that the people of England will
not allow 'them selves to be made the dupes of such
a worthless fellow. Let us stop a moment to ex-
amine what is known of his history, the outlines of
which will suffice to give a pretty accurate idea of
the finished piece.
Mr. Paull-descended from his father's board about
thirteen or fourteen years ago, and went to India to
mend his fortune : soon after his arrival in Bengal,
, a Gentleman, who resided at Lucknow, in the
Company's Civil Service, gave him encouragement,
took him' into his employment, and :found hint
useful. Mr. Paull, iis that sitaation, acquired some
money, and . then set up business ,for himself.—
Early in the year 1801 he returned to England with
the gains- Which he had got ; and, 'although- the
m0,.,t- important trausaCtions of Marquis Wellesley's
Administration had taken place previous to Mr.
Paull's- departure from India—such- as the Treaty
with thv Nizam, the subjugation ,of Tippoo, the
ruin of the French interests iuthe .t)ecan and My-
sore, the arrangement of the Carnatic, and the
nec,.;sion to Surat—notwithstanding all these trans-
naions were then recent, and' as well known to
I\ll. Paull and to the world as they are at this day—
yet Mr. Paull, at that time, took no steps what-
ever, to divulge the criminality, *hich it seems he
has only discovered since 1w last came home. Mr.
Pauli teen looked on these ads in a very different
point or view from what he professes to ao at pre-
sent. His mercantile cencerns occupied more of
leis attention than politics—in the prosecution. of
which, havingprocured an assortment of guns,
china; gkiss-ware, and trinkets, ..he solicited and
outaioed letters of recommendation to Marquis
WellesleY ; and in the year 1802 again embarked
for Bengal, without having once breathed a• cen-
sure 'on the Administration of the Noble Governor,
or discovered any criminality in those aEts, which he
eau, a Iserts, that he watched, reprpbatedi and con-
tlepitt,d, front. so early a period as the year 1195.--;
:Yet, tolhis very Governor, Whom he so Watched
condemned, did he, in the year 1802, humbly
t' the letters he' had procured, and humbly
aoheit permission' to-return to Lucknow ;- and of
his Governor-general, whom he' now so grossly
al-uses, did he crave intercession with the Nabob of
1 suffer him to return and reside at Liick-
ttow, on a solemn promise to ollserve good conduct,
;ni.l desist irons dirty intrigues and 'knavish'spectila-
iionli; and., the Governor-general, prompted by4-his
,:•;:.:tural benevolence, did intercede, with' the 'Nabob
of Oude; and obtaihed permission for •Mr" Paull- to
reside at Lt....Cl:now, Mr: Paull accordingly proceed-
, est thither, and, enhis,arriyal, was received by Colo-
Scott,' theßritisfi MiniSter et the Nabob's couri,
',With every mark of 'friendly attention'; and Mr.
Rahn iipm'ct in the Iwuse, and at the table, of Coldriel
.;lcott, and by that'dis,tinguisl7;eil Pfficer was Cherisli-
ed and protected. What sort of return Mr.'Patlll'
Made for such' kindne'ss will appear in the •sequel.
a Paull, during the time that he last resided at
.LuLtnow, that is, .during" of .1802, and the
whole of 1803, (the twO years SufasequOt: to •.t,he
treaty of Le, aknoW) wrote letters, expressing,in the
Lirongest langttage of tieknowledgment,' the high
entertained of the favoffslconfared on Lill