Pitt perfevered in his refolution not to explain the word; and here the negotiation broke off. On this ftatement of the cafe, Mr. Marfham and Mr. Powys delivered their fentiments; and a resolution was prepared and adopted by the meeting to following effect: "This meeting having heard, with infinite concern, that an interview between the duke of Portland and Mr. Pitt is prevented by a doubt refpecting a single word, are unanimoufly of opinion, that it would be no difhonourable step in either of the gentlemen to give way, and might be highly advantageous to the public welfare." Remarkable Addrefjes from particular Perfons to their refpective Elec tors, on declaring themselves Candidates at the late General Election. Addrees of the Right Honourable Charles James Fox, to the City of Westminster. To the Worthy and Independent Electors of the City and Liberty of Westminster. Gentlemen, His majesty's minifters having thought fit, in contradiction to their own declarations, in defiance of the fenfe of the house of commons, and without any public pretence whatever, to fubject the nation to all the inconveniencies which muft infallibly attend a diffolution of Parliament at the prefent moment, I humbly beg leave, once more, to folicit the favour of your votes and intereft, to represent this great and respectable city. To fecure to the people of this country the weight which belongs to them in the scale of the confiitution, has ever been the principle of my political conduct. Confcious that in every fituation, (whether in or out of office) I have invariably adhered to this fyftem, I cannot but flatter myself that you will again give your fanction to thofe principles which firft recommended me to your notice, and which induced you, at two subsequent periods, to honour me with your fuffrages. I have the honour to be, St. James's-ftreet, C. J. Fox. To the Worthy and Independent Electors of the City and Liberty of Westminster. Gentlemen, When the popular delufion in favour of the prefent miniftry was fuppofed to be moft prevalent, [ and fteadiness of the electors of was confident that the good fenfe Westminster would be proof against every art and every temptation. The unparalleled fuccefs which I have experienced upon my canvass, fully juftifies this confidence, and I have the greatest reason to expect that your partiality towards me will appear to have increased in proportion to the perfecution of my enemies. As I have ever ftood forth, and am always refolved to continue firm in the cause of the people, fo it is not to be wondered at that I should at all times be the object of the en mity mity of that pernicious faction whofe principles are as adverfe to the conftitution as the dark and fecret manner in which they have endeavoured to enforce them. It would have been my most earneft with to have paid my refpects in perfon to every individual elector, if the extent of the city had not made it impoffible. The very flattering reception I have met with among those whom I have had the opportunity of feeing, cannot but add to my regret upon this account. My public conduct is too well known to you to make any profeffions neceffary; upon that ground I first experienced your partiality; upon that alone I can expect to retain it. To you who have approved it, I need fay no more and I will not be guilty of the unbecoming flattery to those who have differed from me, as to pretend that I fhall in any degree deviate from that line of political conduct which first recom. mended me to your notice.、 Upon thefe tried principles, I once more beg leave to folicit your votes, intereft, and poll, at the enfuing election; and I do affure you that no expreffions can do juftice to the fentiments of gratitude and efteem with which I am, gentlemen, St. James's-ftreet, C. J. Fox. St. James's-ftreet, April 26, 1784. To the worthy and independent Electors of the City and Liberties of Weftminster. VOL. XXVII. Gentlemen, The prefent flate of the poll exhibits a glorious example of what may be expected from the perfeverance of independent men in the caufe of liberty and the conftitution. I beg leave moft earnestly to folicit the continuance of your generous exertions in my favour.The importance of every individual vote is now fufficiently evident; and the number of electors who have affured me that they would come forward whenever it fhould appear that their vote might probably be decifive, leaves me no doubt of fuccess. The unprecedented exertions which the fervants of the crown have thought themselves at liberty to make against me, as well by an indecent proftitution of the most facred names, as by every other fpecies of unconftitutional influence, have produced the effects naturally to be expected from fuch proceedings, by railing the spirit and awakening the indignation of every honeft and independent elector. My public life is too well known to you to make any profeffions neceffary. Those principles which brought about the glorious revolution, which feated his majesty's illuftrious family upon the throne, and which have preferved the liberty of this conftitution, have ever been the inviolable rule of my political conduct. Upon these grounds I again prefume to requeft your support; and if I fhould be happy enough to be reelected reprefentative of this great and refpectable city, you may depend upon finding in me a steady fupporter of the whig caufe, a de[7] termined In compliance with the withes, which a large and respectable in tereft has long done me the hoto entertain towards me, I ftand forth as a candidate for the city of Norwich. My zeal for the conftitution of this country is founded upon an impartial and ferious at. tention to its real interefts, nor would I be deterred from difcharg. ing my duty, by the oppofition even of a free and enlightened people, when they act to the prejudice of their own rights. My opinions are not to be fhaken by every tranfient blaft of clamour; and as to my motives, they are fuch, I truft, as will not fhrink from the fevereft fcrutiny. Ifhould indeed condemn myfelf as moft unworthy of your choice, if the leading principles of my actions could be diftorted into endlets inconfiftencies, by a fervile accommodation to thofe changes, which have lately prevailed in public opinions, and public mea fures. fimulation, I have planted myself before the judgment of my friends, and the prejudices of my enemies, in open day. I may offend the un. wary, and even the well-difpofed, but I cannot deceive them; nor will I facrifice to any felfith views that openness of dealing, which can alone fecure to me the continuance of your esteem after fuceefs, or the approbation of my own heart under difappointment. The fame conduct, which procures me the honour of your fupport,mfhall juftify you in beftowing itog or¿Å Reports, I am aware, have gone abroad, of which, groundless and extravagant as they are, it may be neceffary to take fome notice. Yet I will not wrong your candour and good fenfe, by fuppofing that they are, in the flightest degree, hurtful to that cause, which is equally dear to yourfelves and to me. Infeel, indeed, fome fort of degradation in the very attempt to refute those dark and invidious infinu. ations, which have hitherto affumed no determinate form, which have been employed only on the credulity of those who know me not, and which are induftrionfly circulated by the artifices of thofe whom, because they do know me, it is more eafy to convince than to filence. If I were unable to distinguish between the comparative merits of men or measures, or unwilling to act according to my fense of thofe merits, I fhould be totally unfit for the important and honourable trust which you repofe in your reprefentatives. He that is incapable of making fuch diftinctions cannot ferve you effectually and he who, from whatever motives, refuses to Scorning the mean arts of difpiake them, must often betray you. 1 In the freedom with which I have Your most obedient, and Norwich, the late preceding parliaments, I beg to be permitted again to make you the humble tender of my ser-vices at the enfuing general election. I always confidered it as the duty of your reprefentative in parliament to deliver there the real fenfe of his conftituents, and, in obedience to your commands, to fubmit in a dutiful manner to the fovereign the fentiments of this refpectable county. Such has been the invariable rule of my conduct, which I truft appears firm and confiftent. I have confcientiously adhered to the folemn engagement figned by your late much.lamented member, Mr. Glynn, and myself, previous to the general election in 1774. In one momentous point, after a ftruggle of many years, fuccefs followed to the full extent of my warmest wishes. I glory in having obtained for you the most complete fatisfaction from the late parliament. I allude to the motion in May, 1782, "for vindicating the injured rights of the freeholders of this county, and the whole body of electors in this united kingdom," and the subfequent order that all the declarations and refolutions, which mili Addrefs of John Wilkes, Efq. to the tated against your rights and fran County of Middlefex. To the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Gentlemen, Confcious of having on every occafion discharged with zeal and fidelity the various duties of the important charge with which I was intrusted, and reflecting with gratitude on the frequent public marks of your approbation during chifes, thould be "expunged from the journals, as being fubverfive of the rights of the whole body of electors of this kingdom." Other effential articles, however, of that engagement, remain ftill to be accomplished, particularly "a more fair and equal representation of the people," and "the fhortening the duration of parliaments." I pledge myself to you that both their weighty queftions fhall receive a full difcuffion very early in the new parliament, if your favour thou d [1] 2 give give me a feat in the great council of the nation. I entreat you, gentlemen, to do me the juftice to believe that I thall be extremely defirous of receiving your inftructions on every event of importance refpecting my puliamentary conduct, if I am fo happy as to have the late honourable relation to you renewed. The powers which I may derive from you thall regularly be exerted in obedience to the directions of my worthy confituents. My parliamentary voice thall faithfully declare the opinion of the freeholders of Middlefex, and my vote be given in ftrict conformity to their intructions, by which the fenfe of the people will be fo far afcertained with fairnefs and precision. It is my ambition to be acknowledged in the prefent age, and tranfmitted to the lateft pofterity, as a ftrenuous, fteady, and uniform fupporter of civil liberty, of the moft general and liberal toleration in all matters of religious concern, of the noble franchifes and rights of this free people, and the balance of power in that happy, well-poized conftitu. tion, which the immortal William eftablished at the glorious revoJation. pa In the prefent alarming crifis, gentlemen, I confefs that I anxi-. oùfly fupplicate the honour of your fuffrages, that I may be enabled to ftrengthen the hands of our prefent virtuous young minifter in his triotic plans to retrieve your affairs, to reftore public credit, to recover the faded glory of our country. I conceive fuch a conduct to meet the clear, declared opinion of a great majority of the freeholders of widdlesex. I know his ability, his unwearied attention ef to the public fervice, and his zeal to promote those objects of national magnitude, which you have at heart. He will therefore receive every fupport, which you may enable me to give, while he continues to poffefs the fanct on of your teem; and I am convinced that time, the most unerring judge, by daily bringing an additional degree of meritorious fervice, will confirm and increase to him the attachment of a grateful nation. As the theriff has advertised a general meeting of the freeholders of this county to confider of proper perfons to be nominated by them to reprefent this county in the enfuing parliament, to be held at the Mermaid, at Hackney, on Saturday next, the 3d of April, at twelve o'clock at noon, give me leave to folicit the early appearance of my friends there, and their generous protection. The election will be at Brentford on Thursday, the 22d of April, when I hope to be again the man of your free choice, and by the continuance of that obliging par tiality, which has been my diftinc tion in life, the reprefentative of my native county in the enfuing parliament. I am, gentlemen, With great regard and gratitude, Your molt faithful, and Obedient humble fervant, JOHN WILKES." Prince's court, Westminster, Monday, March 29. Addrefs of William Baker, Efq. to the Electors of the Borough of Hertford, after he had left his Election. To the worthy Electors of the Borough of Hertford. Gentlemen, |