The Sun.
London, England, 1807-08-20 00:00:00

THE,AV.THORIS ACCOUNT OF THI3 Nyimul...tvom

' DINNERS.
after all this, that Mr. Tooke now Ivo
the impudence to say that he knew 1\0•11IING
BUT that I was inirothitod to by.`fir Fran-
-474 Burdett, :Ind that ihtatfea myself to time at his
het st:

:At I aftel wards ditled frequeutly at ills house.,

is true, and as Mr.Tcoke lists stated, was absent dilly
three Slandays,- from the dose'of the Ele6tion in No-
yt-mber to the end of April. But that I dined there
ettasked, or no welconied, is, as you now, see, utterly
Use., Tts.e. invitations which he gave me in our first
Titt;.4rview, and in his first letter, were such as would
have justified me in considering myself engaged for
ali these Sut&ay panics ; but the truth is, that Mr.
TOoke ycarceiy ever wrote to me, and never saw me,
. repeating them in the most pressing manner.
Nfor is this all. Every body who knows any thing
of these Wimbledon dinners knows that they are
social parties given for Sir-Francis Burdett and his
political friends ; that they are supported chiefly. at
Sir FratlC;3'S expellee; that Col. Bosville, and one-or
two others, are considerable contributors ; and that,
on. the close, of the year, it is customary for most of
the_ visitors to make Mr. Tooke a present of wines,
or some other articles necessary tbr the supply Of the
table. Every Saturday evening a party was made
• op at
-"Col. Bdsville's of those who were to go from
lowa Sir- Francis was invariably .present ; and ge7
e'er. l'y wattled some' friend who was to accompany
tiie do we, and whom I was to bring hack, with him-
self, in my cal ri ige, after dinner. Sir Francis seem-
ed always to regard Me as regularly engaged to dine
with ihint at Wimbledon, on Sunday ; and, though.
I ever conasidered.myself indebted to Mr. Tooke for
t,:e ''eTeat entertainment which his wit and knbwledge
atJorded ; I confess- that, after the second Sunday, I
never 'looked ppon myself as dining at his eipence.
Berme the- length of my acquaintance with Mr.
`Tooke authorised me to take the liberty 6f making
tiie u,uat pi eients, he put an end tosour acquaintance
fa- ever. So that if he really grudges me-what I
received at his hoes°, he most, thank his own ill.;
nature that it ‘Vas ROI compensated."
I'llls ALITItoR I,;!..4COURACIRD BY SIR FRANCIS BUR-
DIM, TO SliT UP FOR WESTMINSVIIII.
"That Sir Vrancis cautiously avoided being a mem-
ber of; or attending oily 'committee of .mine, 1 con-
fess, Gentlemen, I never.observAd. On the contrary,
as I could Jute from his pkotessions and his actions,
be seemed 'desirous of promoting the success of my
eleaion by all the honourable moans his power.
That tie,was a ntecuoer Of the cotranittee certain ;
but he might have been elected tyithout his knowledge
and against, his desire.• That he. did not take any active
Fart in the committee, and, indeed, that he seldom
at tended it, is true. attributed that, however, as
I did his not making any busy exertions- during the
elettion, to the eleaion, Which was just
coining on, and waieh, of course, required his un-
divided attention, Nor can I now believe, thotigh
so strongly assured by Mr. Tooke, that his inatti.
vity in the cause of- freedom; as he termed it, arose
• either from caution or desigp ; hecanse such a belief
would be a d;Avoright impe,aehment of his sincerity;
and because n;woold he in dire& opposition to,his
e4ress declaration,' and to the whole tenor of his
etaidnA.
~..Besides I can see no nwtive for sncli can-
tam. -He had avowed hii unlimited confidence in
my Integrity, and ,had in the most open mariner
com:nitted himself in my cause. What then could
he have had to fear from taking part in the ordinary
meafarres for promotingmy eleCtion ? '
" Bur, ;n:er all, Gentlemen, it -is of 'very little
consequence. Be it as it may, it can have no rela..
lion ;a the sehjea with, which Mr: Tooke has con-
' nemed it, and on.which he wishes:it to bear. For,
whertier,Sir Francis Was a Metnher'of my. Coinmit-
.4ee or riot, he. was.one of
.‘ the Electors who deter-
mined neon a Petition to the 'House of Com Mons
and, notwithstanding Mr. Tooke's express deelara-
, firm to the contrary, had the same share iu .that
determite;tion. as ,any other individual elector; ex-.
cepting, perhaps, Major Cartwright, who proposed,
.'.`vlr.,Gifebons,, who seconded it.' The resolution,
for oppnsing Mr. Sheridan's •reitirn, and for en-
deavouring to seat WAS entered into at a
meeting of the elOors at the Crown and Anchor,
after the final 'close of the poll oh the 19th of No-
vember. And, •at that meeting, if,Mr. Tooke will
take the trouble to refer to any of the printed ac-
counts of the proceedings, he will find that Sir
Vrancis Bordett was
,present. ' He did not, indeed,
make noy speech in favour...of the resolution; but
to slit!w his qpKobation of the proceeding, he was
the tirst person to put his name to one of the sub-
scription 'paperr;• and-- in a few. day's: afterwards
committed, the aa of liberality (unknown to Mr.
'TOoke) which raised him so-much in theestimation
tit the public,"