nd set up a private
gentleman, named sir George Vandeput, as the competitor of lord
Trentham, declaring that they would support his pretensions at their own
expense, being the more encouraged to this enterprise by the countenance
and assistance of the prince of Wales and his adherents. They
accordingly opened houses of entertainment for their partisans,
solicited votes, circulated remonstrances, and propagated abuse; in a
word, they canvassed, with surprising spirit and perseverance, against
the whole interest of St. James'. Mobs were hired and processions made
on both sides, and the city of Westminster was filled with tumult and
uproar. The mutual animosity of the parties seemed every day to increase
during the election, and a great number of unqualified votes were
presented on both sides; all the powers of insinuation, obloquy, and
ridicule, were employed to vilify and depreciate both candidates. At
length the poll being closed, a majority of votes appeared in behalf
of lord Trentham; but a scrutiny being demanded by the other side, the
returning officer complied with their request. The speaker of the lower
house had issued his warrant for a new writ of election about the middle
of November; and towards the end of February, Mr. Fox, secretary at
war, standing up and observing that no return had yet been made, thought
proper to move that the clerk of the crown, the messenger-extraordinary
attending the great seal, the under-sheriff of Middlesex, and the
high-bailiff of Westminster, should attend next morning and give an
account of their issuing, delivering, and executing the writ of
election. These being examined, and the high-bailiff declaring that he
would proceed with all possible despatch in the scrutiny which had been
demanded and was begun, Mr. Speaker explained to him some particulars
of his duty, in the discharge of which, he was given to understand, he
might depend upon the protection of the house, should he meet with any
obstruction which he could not otherwise surmount, By the violence and
caprice with which a great number of votes were contested on both sides,
the scrutiny was protracted a long time, and the return attended with
some extraordinary consequences, which shall be particularized among the
transactions of the next year. In the meantime, the present session of
parliament was closed on the twelfth day of April, with a speech from
the throne, commending the commons for having seized the very first
op