The Sun.
London, England, 1806-10-07 00:00:00

IPESTIII7.NSTER ELECTION.

This morning, at nine o'clock, Earl rzacY, ac-
companied by Mr. WHITBREAD, Mr. ELLIOT, Mr.
BYNO, and several other friends, assembled on the
Hustings in Covent-Garden, in order to proceed to
the Ele6tion of a Representative tor the City of
Westminster. After the necessary form if admi-
nistering the oath to the High Bailiff, by Mr. BUR-
NEY, the Magistrate,

Mr. WHITBREAD proceeded to open the business
of the Meeting. He began with paying a high tri-
bute of respect and admiratioU to the charader of
Mr. Fox, whom he represented as a man of ex-
alted talents, and- the most enlightened views, de-
claring that it was impossible to hope that any
person could be fOund who could be deemed a fit
and adequate successor to so great a man. On the
loss of so distinguished a Patriot, and so sound a Po-
litician, who, be could, with the strictest regard to
truth, declare, was the best and most determined
friend that England ever possessed, it was natural
and ju:it, .he said, that the Eleaors of that great
City should endeavour to find a man best qualified
to take the seat lately occupied by the illustri-
ous chaiaaer, whose memory they must always
hold in the deepest veneration. Accordingly, Mr.
SHERIDAN was first proposed, not only as the
firm friend of the -departed .Statesman, but as one
who was animated by the same views, whose princi-
ples were congenial, whose talents had excited
general admiration, and whose exertions in the cause
of the people fully entitled him to their esteem and

confidence. Mr. SHERIDAN had declined the honour
proposed to him, and had given such reasons for his

conduct as must afford entire satisfa6tion to every
liberal mind. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT and Mr. CUR-
RAN had also been invited to come forward but
those Gentlemen had also thought proper to refuse
their assent. Mr. WHITBREAD then modestly
stated, that he himself had been Solicited to offer
himself as a Candidate, but that though he telt
highly gratified in being considered as a per-
son properly qualified, with due allowance, to suc-
ceed the great man whose loss they must for ever
deplore as a national calamity ; yet, for reasons which
be had assigned in another place, he also thought it
but right that he should decline an invitation so flot-
tering and so honourable. He then referred to the
Noble Candidate who came forward to solicit the
suffrages of the Eie&ors on the present day : he re.
marked that nothing could more strongly testify
the worth of that Noble Candidate, than the
warm and eloquent recommendation of the Gen-
tleman who was first seleCted as the most pro-
per successor to his departed friend—a recom-
mendation which was strenuously supported and
enforced by the other Gentlemen who had been
invited to offer themselves on this occasion. But the
Noble CharaCter who came forward this day had not
only the firm
,support of the most distinguished and
respeCtable Charkters of the City of Westminster,
but of most of the leading men in the Country.
But this was not all—for those who, from motives
• which he should not presume to condemn, or to
make the subje& of animadversion, had been anxi-
ous to find a Candidate to oppose the Noble Earl,
had been disappointed in their search, and were
obliged to give way to CIA powerful and most re-
spe&able countenance by which his Noble -Friend
I was recommended to the favour of the Electors. •

Emboldened by these considerations, Mr. WHIT-
BREAD declared that lie could confidently venture
to propose Earl PERCY for'their choice, as a Candi-
date who united all the higher qualities which could
give force to his pretensions. He ,shpuld say no-
thing of the experienCeof his Noble Friend, for ob-
vious reasons ; but he might fairly say, that he held
forth every promise that could mark his time of life.
His chargler was pure and unimpeachable—his na-
tural abilities, which were in themselves highly re-,
speaable, had received every advantage that cul-
ture could afford. But he had been also educated for
the Public by the precepts and example of his, Noble
Father, who had, through the whole of his life, ma-
nifested a strong attacinnent to the true principles of
the Cofistitution,and who was not more distinguished
by his extensive interest in the welfare of the State,
than by those virtues which were the best ornaments
of the human characler, and such as, he trusted,
would always distinguish that of a British Peer.
With this bright example before him—with all
the graceful and ingenuous character ofyouth—with
such, views in life as placed him far above all tempta-
tions to sacrifice public ,principle at the'shrine of
venality, he took the liberty of recommending Earl
PERCY to the Ele6lors, and trusted that they would
cordially unite in placing him in that seat in which
he had no doubt that he would prove an ornament
to his Country, and one of the surest props of her
interests and prospei ity.

This Speech, which was throughout conveyed
in very eloquent terms, and delivered with great
animation, was frequently interrupted with loud ap-
plauses, and was received on its conclusion with the
warmest acciathation.

Mr. ELLIOT came forward to second the 'Motion,
and, in a short Speech, expressed in substance the
same sentiments as had been delivered by Mr.Witrr-

BREAD.
Lord PERCY was then Ogled, by an almost una:-
nimons show of hands, and the loudest testimonies
of approbation. The Noble Lord then came for-
ward to express his thanks for the honour which
the Eleetors had conferred upon him. He paid a
handsome tribute to the memory of Mr. Fox,
whose charaeler, he declared, he highly esteemed,
though he had not the honour of being personally
known to him, and whose example he should always
endeaVour to make the guide of his public condo&
At this time the eagerness of Ihe.mob, who were
close to the Hustings, to possess themselves of the
materials of which it was composed, nece&sarily pet a
period to all farther speaking, and Lord PERCY and his
friends retired from the scene of confusion. His
Lordship was then conveyed in a Chair, covered
with laurel, through Covent-garden, and down the
Strand to Northumberland-house, amidst the loUdest
acclamations of a vast assemblage of people.. He
was also cheered from the windows of ail the houses
in the course of his triumphal career.
After the departure of the Noble Candidate and
his friends, a scene of riot and confusion took place
which was very alarming in its aspect, but we are
happy to find was not attended by any mischievous
consequences. The struggle among the mob
for the boards which formed the Hustings, and the
contest between the carpenters within the church-
railing and the people without, for the same prize,
formed a scene at once ludicrous and terrific. One
large mass of boards fell with a mighty crash among
the mob, but we do not hear that it produced any
injury, as it was broken in its descent by the gene-
ral efforts of the mob to divide it ; and though ap-
parently firmly compacted, it Was separated and dis-
tributed with wonderful celerity. In a short time,
however, the ground was cleared, and the people
quietly dispersed.
On the arrival of Lord PERCY at Northumberland
House, porter and bread and cheese were distribilt-
ed among the populace with the most liberal profu-
sion, and of course there was an abundance of guests
ready to avail themselves of this hospitality.