you

as

has been given; and to implore, if my voice can have any influence amongst you, that will on all future occasions adopt a different course. I have to implore, that the immense multitude who semble in front of these hustings, will, whatever may be their private feelings, give a patient hearing to every person who comes forward to address them. To adopt the good old English maxim, I trust you will give to every man a clear stage and no favour,' and then let every man judge for himself upon the merits after he has heard every thing which has been said upon the subject-(Great applause.) I shall be short, Gentlemen, in the observations which I mean to make to you; principally, indeed, because it is unfair to speak on one side, when the person upon whom I am animadverting, cannot be heard upon the other. But I cannot help congratulating you upon the little accession of strength which the Whig Candidate has gained upon the day's poll. See how weak and languid have been his efforts, and recollect that he has not spared to use all the means which have been embodied for him to give activity to his exertions. You have heard of the contemptible effort which had been made by inducing Ladies to go about canvassing for votes, and using their influence on this occasion (and for this occasion only), to confer false civilities to promote the object of the other Candidate. You have heard of the inducement to voters, by what Mr. Lamb calls the more solid satisfaction of a breakfast, in return for their votes. But notwithstanding all these paltry artifices, they will still find, that though some portion of the Electors of Westminster are so contemptible as to be made the dupes of these tricks, or are so unfortunately situated as to be in no condition to resist them, still enough of Electors will be found to designate this Whig or Tory Candidate, or rather Coalition Candidate, for that should be his name, in the manner he deserves, and to shew him and his party that you have too high a sense of character to be corrupted or intimidated by such threats and designs, and that you will not be paid for your loss of honour by a breakfast, or sell for "a mess of pottage your inheritance." It is said that there is more solid satisfaction in a breakfast than in following music and a flag. The satisfaction which the one imparts is a mental one, and gives rise to honest sentiment; that of the other is confined to the mere selfish gratification of the appetite at the moment-the slave gets his breakfast as the wages of his iniquity. But the misfortune is, that this slavery is such a degradation, it is of so humiliating a cast, that the slave cannot eat his pudding and then hold his tongue. No, his tongue must be prostituted to the utterance of sentiments which his heart abhors, and he is obliged to commit perjury in the face of his country.-(Applause.)-I beg of you to consider that every vote which is extorted by terror or influence, or in any other manner than

by the honest bias of your own opinions, is a treason committed in the face of your country, and a perjury in the eye of God. I have no doubt but that the bulk of the Electors of Westminster will not permit such a stigma to be cast upon them. I have no doubt but they will contemplate this portentous monster, which wants to swallow them, just as it ought to be contemplated. It is an animal shockingly distorted; it is an animal composed of most discordant parts, and which seems to be actuated by no particular principles, not even will the strange compound of its original foundation satisfy its makers. They have, even since they took up the cause, improved upon its shape; they have willingly taken up in their aid all the filth and scum of this great town; they have, as you have seen, made alliance with that which is so base and contemptible that I can give it no name.-(Applause.) You have this day seen the Whig Candidate standing on and addressing you from the same board on which the person stood who with me shall be nameless. Surely this monstrous alliance of Court and Whig, and persons of this description, can have no affinity in honest principle, of any kind-(Cries of "No, no.") This strange anomalous monster has more heads than the hydra—its centre is a simple lamb's head-(Laughter)-shaved so close as to require a wig (a Whig) to cover it; and shaved so close too by the honest Westminster barber-(Loud laughter and applause.) This lamb's head has two faces, one of them black, the other white. Then you have that strange anomalous monster (pointing to Mr. Hunt), whose front is of brass, whose tongue, though composed of the venom of the asp, has yet, not like the asp, the faculty of stinging any thing but itself—(Loud applause.-Here Mr. Hunt came forward, and seemed to plead, but was driven back instantly by terrific shouts of indignation.)-You have then a Ministerial head to crown this Cerberian monster. It has a front of terror, in whose eye dwells cruelty, and in whose mouth corruption only hangs.-(Applause.) I am sorry to have to add another feature to this portentous monster-peeping from under its distorted bulk, is a head of false patriotism; it is an empty head-(a laugh)—and what is marvellous, it has been told me that this head is a striking likeness of Mr. Alderman Wood, who has been met canvassing this day for Mr. Lamb.* (Cries of "Shame!") Here is a personification of an union of all interests against the interests of the People. Portentous and hideous as this monster is, and possessed as I told you of such multiple and various heads, and such dis

*Mr. Corder, a respectable quaker, stated himself to have seen Alderman Wood canvassing in Clare Market, and added that, being personally known to the worthy Alderman, he had bowed to Mr. Wood. Sir Francis Burdett, previously to alluding to the canvas of Alderman Wood, questioned Mr. Corder twice in the Committee Room, and heard his report confirmed by another ins dividual present. It turned out, however, that they were both mistaken.

torted limbs and features, there is still a Hercules that can lay this monster sprawling at your feet. I trust and hope that that Hercules will be found in the spirit of the Electors of Westminster, and if that spirit be roused, as on a former occasion, there can be no doubt, not only of our complete success, but also of our obtaining a triumph, which I venture to say, will be greater than was ever had on any former occasion in Westminster. I shall not take up any more of your time at this moment. Time is precious, and this is the time of action, and not of words. I hope, therefore, that each of you here who are electors, will go home, and exert himself among his neighbours, to put them on their guard against the contemptible tricks of a puny, paltry Aristocracy, which is arrayed in vain against the Democracy of Englishmen. I hope no man will be gulled with the false civilities of canvassing visitors, or will be induced to partake of the treats given by persons of rank, where the bread he eats will hereafter be a reproach to his conscience for the meal into which he was betrayed by his ignorance or credulity. Surely Englishmen, and such Englishmen too as the Electors of Westminster, will never cast away their first privilege, that of giving a free vote for the Election of their Representatives, for so mean, so vile, so contemptible a gratification as that of breakfasting with people of this cast, who make tools of them to promote their object. I take leave again to implore of the Electors, that when we next meet, they will give to all, without reference to the particular feelings of hostility which they may have towards any individual, a patient hearing. You owe this to them, and above all, to the integrity and independence of your own proceedings. I also implore that you will be on the alert for the maintenance of your own rights, and that on Monday you will appear at the poll with all your friends and acquaintances.-(Great applause.)

It would be impossible to describe the effect of this speech upon the whole of the immense auditory. Notwithstanding Mr. Hobhouse was 691 behind Mr. Lamb on the whole poll-the triumphant hopes, the animating manner of Sir Francis, who had now manifestly beaten down the united efforts of the coalition on the hustings, restored the confidence of the People in the final success of their favourite Candidate; and as Mr. Hobhouse retired from the hustings, he was greeted with loud cheers, and cries of ("You'll beat 'em on Monday-never fear,") together with a thousand salutations, shaking by the hand, clapping on the back, and other tokens of popular goodwill, which accompanied him to the Committee Room in King-Street. Both Sir Francis and Mr. Hobhouse addressed a crowd of Electors in Fisher's Rooms, and received the most hearty promises of unceasing activity. The Canvassers reported that they scarcely ever met with a refusal.

When Sir Francis Burdett and Mr. Hobhouse had retired→→

Mr. WOOLER come forward amidst loud uproar. He said, he came there to ascertain who was the popular favourite, and if he had not been able to ascertain who was, upon looking to the state of the poll he certainly discerned who was not-(Hisses, and loud cries of " Off, off!") If the Electors did not wish to hear him, he would retire.-(Cries of "We don't, be off!") Mr. Wooler finally retired without delivering his intended speech.

Mr. WALKER, in defiance of all opposition, and amidst universal confusion, then addressed the multitude. He knew, he said, that the Rump were his enemies; but he cared not; he was an independent man, and, as far as his voice went at least, he would protect Westminster from the dictation of a base and contemptible oligarchy. He passed high encomiums upon the virtuous and venerable Major Cartwright, and lamented that there was neither spirit nor honour enough among the Electors to return that father of Reform to Parliament.

The business was thus concluded, with the exception of a determined attack upon Mr. Hunt, who remained on the hustings till the last, and who, upon getting into a hackney-coach which waited for him, was not alone assailed with dreadful outcries, but narrowly escaped a rougher handling by the quick driving of the coachman, who left a crowd of assailants behind, venting their displeasure in angry words. The carriage was, however, followed by many to Mr. Hunt's lodgings in Norfolk-street, and the clamour against him continued until the assailants were weary, and spontaneously withdrew.

This evening Sir F. Burdett and Mr. Hobhouse attended several parochial meetings. An attempt was made to convene a public meeting also for Mr. Lamb in the parishes of St. Margaret's and St. John's: but the popular feeling was found to be so decidedly against Mr. Lamb, that he and his friends were obliged to retire precipitately from the assembly, amidst shouts of "Hobhouse for

It was now found that the expectations announced by the Whigs, that before the first week was over, Mr. Lamb would be the favourite with the people, from the superiority of his wit and good humour, were not realised, or likely to be realised. Indeed, Mr. Lamb's wit did not seem much to take; and as to his good humour, he had since the third day shewn himself in a violent passion, which betrayed itself in angry words and gestures too clearly to be mistaken; whilst Mr. Hobhouse, except on the second day, had, notwithstanding his minorities, been perfectly tranquil, and apparently well pleased.

The exertions of both parties were continued during Sunday. Two or three of Major Cartwright's friends now assisted Mr. Hobhouse's canvas.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22.-SEVENTH DAY.

The Committee of Electors issued the following advertisement. "WESTMINSTER ELECTION.-REFORM OF PARLIAMENT.” ELECTORS-During the last week the coalesced factions, and the refuse of all parties, have gained an advantage over you. Let them now see what freemen can do when engaged in their own cause. Hasten to the poll, and insure the triumph of Reform. Vote for Hobhouse, the friend of Radical Reform. Vote for one who will boldly second your intrepid champion, Sir Francis Burdett."

Mr. Lamb sent his advertisement to the paper, which was as follows:

"TO THE ELECTORS OF WESTMINSTER.

"Gentlemen,—It is my duty respectfully to thank you for having placed me in so proud a situation on the poll; but it is no less my duty to warn you against allowing it to produce the slightest relaxation in your efforts. The feeling, indeed, is already sufficiently pronounced; but the exertions of our opponents are unremitting, and a battle is never won while the enemy is still in the field. Let no one suppose that his individual vote will not be necessary to insure our victory. An early and general resort to the poll can alone give us real security. To-day my opponent has described me as desirous of taking the representation out of the hands of tradesmen, in order to transfer it to the aristocracy.-To the tradesmen of Westminster I here distinctly appeal, and I call upon them, for their own sakes, to come forward and decide the contest.-I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your obliged and faithful servant, GEORGE LAMB."

"General Committee Room, "Henrietta Street, Covent Garden."

It may be mentioned that Mr. Lamb sent letters of thanks to all those who voted for him, daily. The Committee of the Reformers having no means to defray the expenses incident to such a practice, and not having a single daily morning paper in their interest, were obliged to content themselves with dispersing a few hundred handbills at the close of each day's poll-such as has been before inserted. The Morning Chronicle of this day contained the following paragraph.

"It was not till the evening of Friday, the 12th instant, that it was decided on proposing a Whig candidate the following day, at "the nomination of candidates for Westminster, in opposition to "Mr. Hobhouse, IN CONSEQUENCE OF HIS SPEECH ON THE "TUESDAY PRECEDING, AND OF MR. PLACE'S REPORT, and