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101 
can make the position more intelligible, perhaps, if I just 
mention two accounts, which have come down to us, of particular 
elections. 
Warner, on the authority of Harrington’s “ Nugae Antiquae,” 
gives us some amusing letters and memoranda relating to the 
election of John Harington. The date assigned (1646) is certainly 
inaccurate, but the documents appear to be authentic and to have 
been misread only as to date. The Mayor writes to Mr. 
Harington and “ hopes he will accept the trouble” of representing 
the city in Parliament. The young gentleman (he was the son 
of the better Enown man of the same name) comes to Bath at 
Christmas time, and dines with the Mayor and citizens, and then 
enters in his diary, ‘‘ Went to the George Inn at night, met the 
Bailiffs, and desired to be dismissed from serving—drank strong 
beer and metheglin—expended about three shillings—went home 
late, but could not get excused, as they entertained a good opinion 
of my father.” Then the Mayor promised to give him a horse, 
and on the 3lst December the newly elected dined again with the 
citizens, spent a good deal of money in wine and victuals, and 
tobacco and again ‘‘ went home late at night.” 
This is an example of a peaceable election. If any one doubts 
that the citizens were well able to work up a “‘very pretty 
quarrel” over the exercise of the franchise, he has but to refer to 
the election of William Prynne and Popham in 1661, when 
Aldermen were kidnapped and Common Councillors run away 
with, and when the two parties vied with each other, as to which 
could make the most noise with big drum and trumpet. 
But between these elections and the one in 1761, with which F 
am now concerned, much had happened. Bath had ceased to be 
a mere Hydropathic Establishment, and was rapidly advancing 
towards its present position of a health resort. The city was 
becoming very celebrated, and the cluster of men eminent as 
statesmen writers and divines, who gathered around Allen at 
Prior Park, extended its repute and importance. 
