stormers, and whose loud laughter added to
the fierce shouts, blasphemous language, and
terrific struggles of the mob. All business
was suspended, and the authorities were left
at liberty either to call in military aid, or let
the combatants have their battle out, which
last course was the one that the magistrates
always adopted. Many and serious were the
injuries sustained in the affrays, and he who
left the hustings with a yard of plank, paraded
it during the rest of the day as a trophy of
his prowess.

The first account we can find of a
nomination is of that for the election of sixteen
hundred and seventy-nine. "On Wednesday,
September the tenth, sixteen hundred and
seventy-nine, according to appointment, the
inhabitants met in Tuttle Fields, in order to
their election for members to serve in the
ensuing parliament. Sir William Waller
was first in the field, being accompanied by
many horse, nearly as many as all the
candidates had. Sir William Poultney next
appeared the most in number; then Mr.
Withers, the Steward of the Court of
Westminster, who came into the field with more
horse than foot; and then Sir John Cutler,
who had a tent in the field, and next Sir
Phillip Matthews; then the bailiff came into
the field, and called the five candidates, and
made proclamation, and then read the writ
and asked who they would have for their
members to serve them in the ensuing
parliament. Answer being made for all five,
and a poll demanded, the bailiff adjourned it
to nine o'clock. The spectators certainly
took great delight to see the rabble cudgel
one another, though there was about four
thousand engaged at once—the oake, the
crabtree, and the hazel cudgel flew like lightning.
But there being not one gentleman engaged,
there was never a sword drawn, but a great
many broken pates; and they all having
drunken so much, it might ease their brains
by letting out their hot blood."

September 16, 1679.—The election at Westminster
is not yet finished, there being nearly twelve thousand
electors. A Mr. Taylor, at a public-house near
Covent Garden, when the election was discussed, did
vilify and bespatter one of the candidates, who, Mr.
Price, a linendraper, vindicating, drove Mr. Taylor
into such a passion, as to fling a glass of wine in Mr.
Price's face; he retaliated by a blow on Mr. Taylor's
face, at which, Mr. Taylor, stepping back, drew his
sword, and run Mr. Price into the left pap to the heart.
The poll closed, September 19, late at night.

This extract from the Diurnalls affords
hint enough of the character of Westminster
election contests in the seventeenth century.
Skipping a hundred years, we will now come
to Fox's first election in the year seventeen
hundred and eighty.

A number of noblemen and gentlemen had
associated themselves together, for the
purpose of procuring a reform of parliament.
At one of their meetings held at Westminster
Hall, April the sixth, seventeen hundred and
eighty, at which Mr. Fox presided, Mr. Byng
moved and carried that they should use their
utmost exertions to return Mr. Fox member
for Westminster. This meeting so alarmed
the government, that soldiers were ordered
to be in readiness, and the Westminster
magistrates were over zealous in endeavours
to provoke a tumult. The justices appear
to have always taken a prominent part in
the elective struggles: a fact which brought
on a debate in the House of Commons on
May the eighth, seventeen hundred and eighty
when Mr. Burke described them as "composed
of the scum of the earth, carpenters,
brickmakers, and shoemakers; some of whom
were notoriously men of such infamous
characters, that they were unworthy of any
employ whatever; and others so ignorant
that they could scarcely write their own
names. How dared such reptiles, as the
Middlesex justices, attempt to call out a
body of the military armed upon a meeting
held on great, grievous, and constitutional
points?"

On the government side, Mr. Rigby
defended the conduct of the magistrates, and
naïvely remarked, that "no person of
distinction would take upon himself the odious
office of a justice for Westminster, it was
therefore requisite to give douceurs to those
who would."

It was at first designed to bring forward
the Honourable Captain Leveson Gower, in
conjunction with Fox, but the appearance of
Admiral Rodney, as a candidate, hindered
the coalition. To oppose Fox, the government
joined, not very willingly, Admiral
Rodney, with the Earl of Lincoln. About
three weeks previous to the day of nomination,
the agent of Admiral Rodney waited on
Lord Sandwich, to inform him that it was
the intention of the admiral's friends to
propose him for Westminster. Lord Sandwich
laboured to divert the agent from his purpose,
telling him that Sir George would be
returned easily enough for another place, and
asking why they thought of Westminster in
particular? The agent replied, that it was a
determined point, and that no money would
be wanting for the admiral's support; that
if his lordship did not choose to signify his
approbation, it was matter of indifference; he
made no doubt the admiral would find a
generous support in the good opinion and
favour of his countrymen. Lord Sandwich
was alarmed, and begged twenty-four hours
for consideration. A consultation was held
by the ministry, and Lord Sandwich, who
was a bitter enemy of Rodney's, urged that
Viscount Maiden should be joined with Lord
Lincoln as government candidate. It was
resolved, however, to accept the admiral.

The nomination was attended by a dense
number of people, and Lord Lincoln was
violently assailed. He attempted to make
himself heard, but failed. "Now was the
time," says Woodfall, "for Charles Fox to