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rent inns, and invited a numerous company of gentlemen to a repast that had been provided in the spacious hall of his princely mansion. Many appropriate toasts were given; and upon the health of "The heir to Corsham-house" being drank, the interesting child (about five years of age) was introduced, and returned his thanks for the honour they had shewn him. The company separated highly pleased with their entertainment; and the evening was concluded without any disorder or accident.

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GENTLEMEN,

1345

I LOSE no time in returning you my warmest thanks for having a second time conferred upon me the high honour of representing you in the House of Commons.

The unanimity with which my pretensions have been received, and the approbation which has been expressed of my Parliamentary conduct through the whole of the present contest, give an additional value to the honour of the situation itself, and confirm those feelings of gratitude towards you with which my heart has been so long animated.

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If any inducement were wanting to ensure my perseverance in that independent line of conduct which I have hitherto maintained, I should find it in your good opinion and port; and I shall consider this the proudest day of my life, when, after six years trial, 1 have had again committed to me the sacred trust of guarding your rights and liberties, and watching over the local interests of this opulent and extensive county.

With a heart full of gratitude, and with a determination to do my duty by you honestly and conscientiously,

I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your faithful and devoted Servant,
PAUL METHUEN.

Sarum, July 3, 1818.

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To the Freeholders of the County of Wilts.

GENTLEMEN,

THE arduous contest in which we have been engaged, is at an end, and our triumph is as complete as it is glorious. You have refused to wear the chains with which it was attempted to shackle you, and have for ever secured your independence.

Having vanquished our opponent, let us in the spirit of Englishmen use our victory with moderation. Let us cease to remember that we have been opposed to each other, and at once return to our former habits of peace and harmony.

So far as I am personally concerned, I will forget all the calumnies by which I have been assailed, and not only forgive, but thank my calumniators for the opportunities they afforded me of wiping off every stain upon my reputation, and establishing myself in your regard.

Gentlemen, by your means I am placed in the proud situa tion to which my ambition dared to aspire. It shall be the great object of my future life to deserve the confidence you have placed in me by a faithful discharge of my duties, and a constant attention not only to the general business of the Empire, but to the peculiar interests of this enlightened county. I once more return my sincere thanks for the honour you have done me, and remain, Gentlemen,

Your devoted faithful servant, Salisbury, July 3, 1818. W. LONG WELLESLEY.

FINAL STATE OF THE POLL.

Long Wellesley, 2009; Methuen, 2822;

Majority over Mr. Benett, 437.

Benett, 1572.

To the Freeholders of the County of Wilts.

GENTLEMEN,

It was with astonishment that during the progress of the Poll, I found the superiority of the numbers of my opponent continually increasing. I at length found that my success was no longer possible, and by the permission of my generous friends who defended me during the whole election from the violence of my adversaries, I retired from the contest.

At the commencement of the election I had no doubt of eventual success. Confiding in the numerous promises of support which had been given to me, I expected speedily to attain a decisive superiority on the Poll. Its publication will be most gratifying to me, and to my family and friends. I cannot but exult in the support of those freeholders of my native county, who are recorded to have voted in my favour. I am at present defeated because many votes which were

promised to me (and on account of which I entered upon the glorious conflict) controlled by violence, or influenced by other motives, came not to support me at the hustings, or appeared there in favour of my opponent.

Thus defeated, I may still triumph in reflecting that in tha district of Wiltshire in which I have passed my life, where my character is well known, and my qualities can be most justly estimated, I have been honoured with almost unanimous support. The result of the Poll has given the representation of the county to my opponent.

Accept, gentlemen, the assurance of my permanent grati tude for that support. It shall be the labour of my life, whether in public or in private station, to deserve and to obtain your regard. Should occasion justify it, I will again come forward to solicit the honour of representing you in Parliament. The highest honour of which I am ambitious, is to be regarded as the Champion of your Independence. Believe me to remain ever, your devoted servant, Pythouse, July 4, 1818. JOHN BENETT,

WILTSHIRE ELECTION.

ALL persons having any legal demands upon Mr. LONG WELLESLEY, in respect of his election, are desired to send their accounts immediately to the Committee Rooom in Crane Street, Salisbury.

Salisbury, July 4, 1818.

To the High Sheriff of the County of Wilts, and his Under Sheriff; To the Magistrates of the County; of New Sarum and Wilton, and the several Officers of Police who were employed under them in endeavouring to maintain the Peace during the Election for the County.

GENTLEMEN,

Feeling that I am indebted to that power of the law which you exercised for the suppression of tumult and commotion, by which the freedom of election was violated and the lives of many of my friends endangered, I request that you will accept of my sincere thanks, and believe that I shall ever retain a grateful recollection of the obligation which you have conferred upon all the freeholders of the county, and particularly upon

Your faithful and obedient servant,
JOHN BENETT.

Pythouse, July 14, 1818,

To the Gentlemen of my Committees throughout the County, and to those Friends who attended me to the Hustings every day during the Election.

GENTLEMEN,

I know not how to express my particular obligation towards you collectively and individually, for the honour and the essential service which I have derived from your kindness. Many of you incurred great personal danger; all of you sustained much labour and inconvenience in my cause. feel wholly incompetent to shew my gratitude towards you, except by this public declaration of the sincere thanks which I request you to accept from

Your most obliged and faithful servant, Pythouse, July 4, 1818. JOHN BENETT.

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SUCH, of the Gentlemen of Mr. Benett's Committee, as can make it convenient to attend, are requested to meet at the White Hart at Salisbury, on Wednesday, the 22nd day of July, at Twelve o'Clock, for the purpose of auditing several of the accounts relative to the Election, and on other' very important business.

J. P. TINNEY, Secretary to the Committee. Salisbury, July 4th, 1818.

ALL Professional Gentlemen, Tradesmen, and Others, who have any demands upon John Benett, Esq. in respect of the late Election for Wiltshire, are requested forthwith to transmit them to Mr. Tinney, attorney at law, Salisbury, that they may be immediately audited and allowed by Mr. Benett's Committee, and discharged.

Committee Room, Salisbury, July 4, 1818.

To the Old Moon-Raker.

"Good Night, gentle Cousin John.”

Now what think you of it? "The most credulous” will now begin to doubt either your discernment or veracity; even you, your very self are becoming sceptical! Are you satisfied now, who the man is that lives in the hearts of the people; who it is that is "gaining ground in the affections of the people?" Is it your Candidate, or the man that you oppose? Look at the Poll, and see how fruitless your attempts have been to gull the people out of their understandings! Listen to the expressions of dislike, which every one your eye sees is making against your dearly beloved; don't you think it is very rude of them not to take your word

before their own judgments? What a pity that the Quorum do not get an act passed to prevent every person from thinking but themselves! Then you might stand a chance of seeing once more dear 1772! At present I am high in hope: how are you? Rather down-hearted, I suppose. Enough to make you your hands have been touched by a torpedo, you are benumbed, and have become motionless! I see nothing of you in the garb of the Moon-Raker; as A. B. however, you still continue to breathe; and in the usual way, falsehood follows your pen, or rather inspires it. Mr. Benett has been beaten every day; yet you tell us that his success is certain! You are overcome in every battle, and you retreat shouting victory! What an insult to the feelings of the man whose cause you affect to defend! What a combatant! You affect superiority and contempt, run off with an air of triumph and exultation, and hide your head with all the arrogance of a conqueror !

Surely you have not witnessed the occurrences of the last seven days, or you would not have told us that "the prejudices of the people against Mr. Benett are evidently on the decrease." How do you prove it? Do you attend the hust ings? Do you march with the troop to Salisbury? You see no evident marks of prejudice there? I condemn the way in which the people shew their dislike of Mr. Benett, but it is owing to you and the like of you, that ever Mr. Benett has been insulted. The people have no other way of shewing him their abhorrence, of the falsehoods you continue to propagate, than by those means, which I, more than you, shall ever continue to reprobate. Do they shew their respect to Mr. Wellesley by the same "evident marks of decreasing prejudice?" Even you will not assert so much. You have endeavoured to make the world think as favourably of that gentleman, as they appear to do of Mr. Benett, but it won't do, they will not have it. "It is (to use your own words) high time that the disgraceful mode of hostility adopted against that gentleman should cease." So it is; here, for once, we are agreed. Talk of intimidation! But But you refer, of course, to cavalry in the shape of carters and cowmen, armed with bludgeons, pistols, and other weapons of offence! Those are the things that have a tendency to intimidate. Do the friends of Mr. Wellesley carry them, or the partisans of Mr. Benett? Settle this point, and you shall have to prate about intimidation! What is your opinion? Misguided people" are of opinion that they belong to the latter.

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The kind hint given us not to forget that Mr. Wellesley voted for the Corn Bill, is indeed good of you.-But why do good by halves? Why not inform us at the same time that

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