Star.
London, England, 1818-06-22 00:00:00

CPBthAL ItLECT4OZ ' •

CITY OF LONDON—SI3III Day.—State of dto Pod
at One o'clock:
Alderman Wood • - 4424
Mr. Wilson - 3881

Mr. Waithman -
Alderman Curtis

8476

Alderman Thorpe

5387
$217

WESTSIINSTRIL—Fourth Day.—The crowd in at,
tendance at the Hustings this morning, was greater
than it has been on any preceding day, from an ex-1
pectation generally entertained that Sir FRANCIS
13URDETT was to make his personal appearance, in
compliance with a Requisition sent to him on Satur-
day, by a numerous body of Electors. Sir FRANCIS
did not, however, make his appearance; but printed
copies of the following documents were distributed
in great numbers among the multitude:

.. Westminster, June 20.

" Ste—We, the undersigned, Electors of Westminster, feel-
ing the utmost anxiety for the success of the cause of Reform,
and having no doubt that the same feeling is common toils and
the great majority of our brother Electors, consider it to be our
bounden duty to address you oa the present occasion, and to re-
present to you that the support which is given to each other by
the two factions which have so long oppressed the State, toge-
ther with the unfortunate disunion which has arisen amongst
some of the best friends of Reform, have placed us in,circum-
,' stances of peculiar difficulty.
" You have, on all occasions, used your utmost exertions to
defend the rights and liberties of the people of England ;—the
whole nation has confidence in your character and integrity, and
we are deeply impressed with the opinion that your return to
I Parliament is of the utmost importance to the interests of the
whole people.
" We are happy to Inform you, that the differences which had
arisen amongst ourselves are at an end, and that all our efforts are
now united in support of the cause of which you have so long
been the ardent and faithful leader; but the exertions of our
enemies have given them advantages which will require extraor-
dinary exertions on our part to counteract ; and In order that
success may be ensured, we are most anxious to have your rrso-
nal —atistance.

" You, Sir, in the modem times of corruption, first raised a
public voice in England. It began in Westminster, and soon
spread over the whole country. That voice, the honest fruits
of your honourable and courageous labours, the factions have
united to destroy, even in the cradle which gave it birth ; and
now it is in the heat of the contest, and amidst difficulties and
dangers never before contended with, that we earnestly and re-
spectfully call upon you to lend your powerful aid, not for the
purpose of securing your own seat, which we know to be a mat-
ter of indifference to you, any otherwise than as it is connected
with the public cause; but to secure the expression of public
opinion, in the only place where it can be expressed, and where
it certainly will be expressed, in the moment that you are seen
as the guardian and supporter of it.
" The enemies of the cause have calumniated you by stating,
that you had deserted the People—that you would refuse to
serve them, even if called upon to do so. We entreat you, Sir,
to contradict these statements—to appear personally upon the
Hustings, and let the world see that you are the same friend of
liberty, the same ardent supporter of popular rights, which we
have always known you to be.
" We ask you, not for your sake, or for our own, but for the
sake of that cause, the success of which can alone secure the hap-
piness of the People of England:
" We have the honour to be, with the greatest respect,
" Sir, your most obedient Servants,
(Signed by a very numerous body of Electors.)
a To Sir Francis Burdett, Bart."
SIR FRANCIS BURDETT'S ANSWER.
" Saturday Evening, June 40,.1818.

" Gentlemen—My esteem for the understanding ancllndepen-
dence of the Electors of Westminster, and the grateful sense I
entertain of their handsome conduct towards me on every occa-
sion, make it my duty u well as my inclination to use every ex-
ertion in my power, at all times, to serve them: but highly as
I estimate my duty towards them, and anxious as I am to fulfil
It, there is still a higher duty gp perform towards myself : and
which, if neglected, would be alike prejudicial to us both;
as it would strip me of all personal consideration, and therefore
of all means of discharging my debt of gratitude towards them.
" This first duty, the foundation of every other, is self-re-
spect: it can only be preserved by fair and honourable dealing,
and consistency of conduct : to oiler it a sacrifice together with
public principles on the altar of expediency, in order to obtain a
seat in the House of Commons, would be a wretched and mis-
taken method of attempting to advance the public cause.
" lam free to confess that upon every occasion like the pre,
sent, whether as a Candidate, or proposed without being a Can-
didate, my object has been not to fold a seat, but a Public ; my
endeavours have been used to rouse that Public, to give it an
opportunity of displaying itself in its fairest light ; to shew vir-
tue her bwn image, fur the put pose of securing the esteem of the
wise and ' -,:sod, thereby advancing, in the most irresistible man-
ner the public claim to universal freedom.
. _ .

" I ant not aware of any selfish motive, either of avarice, va-
nity, or ambition, having never tainted my mind in this pursuit.
The patriotism, spirit, and intelligence of the Citizens of West-
minster, have long presented to the creatures of corruption, an
object that ' seared their eye-balls :' they started at it ' like a
guilty thing upon a fearful summons.' Such was the effect pro-
duced by your spo.itaneous and spirited exactions, unparalleled
before in the history of elections. It was the grand and impo-
sing spectacle of a people who knew their tights, and knowing,
were resolute to obtain them.

" The reverse of this picture would bra sad spectacle to ex-
hibit to the eye of an expecting world ; if, however, the People
of Wes;minster are untqual to the task of sustaining the noble
attitude they have taken, if it is but a semblance of patriotism
and virtue that has been assumed, I am the most unfit person
upon earth, by any compromise of those principles and profes-
sions upon which we have so long acted, to strive to uphold a
chest. If a mask, as is continually hinted at in the public prints,
has been worn, I am desirous that it should be made evident to
all the world that it has not been worn by me ; and in my opi-
nion, by whomsoever worn, the sooner it falls off the better.

" lethere are those who, igoobia by nature, have neverthe-
less put on the lion's hide only, ' doff it for shame, and bang a
calf's skin on those recreant limbs.' The great question now
at issue in Westminster, is not, whether this or that individual
should be returned; therefore, I say nothirg of any candidate;
but whether reform, or no reform, shall take place; whether, as
far as th• Citizens of Westminster are concerned, corruption
and despotism shall be countenanced, or the rights and privileges
of the People of England restored? The important point is to
' prove, not the influence of any individual, of any name, or the
effects of any personal exertions, still less of any Electioneering
tricks or cajohngs ; but the force of principles : to prove the
People of Westminster at least superior to the former, and equal
to the latter; to throw in the great weight of example, preaching
practically, tr.ore eloquently than angels trumpet-tongued,' in
support of the public cause.
" These, and not indolence, nor luke-warmness, nor want of
due respect towards the Citizens of Westminster, have been the
motives (and I trust they are fair and honest ones) of my con-
duct ; nor can I now repent it, or be induced, though so ur-
gently pressed by those whose requests would, in ordinary cases,
operate as commands, to change it, for the sake of obtaining by
inconsistency of conduct and compromise of principle, so pJtry an
objectas a mere seat in the House of Corruption. A seat in the
House of Conunor.s has no value in my eyes, but inasmuch as it
can be made cor.ducive to the recovery of the People's Rights.--
How far any man's being placed therein is a matter of any im-
portance, it is now your province to judge : should you think it
of any, you viii perform your easy duty, by walking to the poll,
and electing b.: your Representathe whomsoever you can con-
fide in.

" As to myself, whether in or out of Parliament, I shall at all
times be ready, zealously to co-operate with my fellow-citizens
of Westminster, and the rest of my countrymen, for the purpose
of checking that system of fiscal spoliation and political corrup-
don, which taka his due reu•aidfrom Me poor, his inheritance from
the rick, and liberty from r.ll ; and must finally terminate in the
establishment of despotic power. •
" It is against this foernidable enemy we have buckled on our
armour, and I trust we shall keeppur harness on oar backs'
until we have obtained the peoples inalienable rights, recovered
their fair and ra.,..)aahlc share of the tintrnment, the appoint.