26 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



Du Pre held high festival at the White Hart, and 

 Mr. Bent nailed his colours to the sign of the Bull's 

 Head. Eating and drinking were continuous, and on 

 certain nights in the week each of the agents appeared 

 at head-quarters with a bowl of sparkling punch before 

 him, and another bowl of guineas ; the former was ladled 

 out to all who chose to come for it, and those who were 

 thought staunch had from one to five guineas handed to 

 them. It was arranged that these meetings should not 

 clash, and they were held on different nights, so that it 

 was no uncommon thing for a certain number of electors to 

 call at each committee-room and receive the bribe and 

 treating from all three candidates. Innumerable fights 

 took place ; and on the day of the nomination one huge 

 orgy prevailed. At the close of the poll, which lasted 

 four days, Du Pre was at the head, Bent next, and 

 Bernard was rejected, much to the chagrin and annoy- 

 ance of the Grenville and Buckingham party, who had 

 felt quite confident of success. 



Bernard subsequently presented a petition against the 

 return of Bent ; after a number of irregularities had 

 been proved. Bent waited on Du Pre and said if he 

 did not pay the expenses of his (Bent's) election, 

 he on his part would petition against Du Pre, and 

 the latter, rather than lose his seat, consented to be 

 bled to a fat tune. Thus Bent was unseated, and the 

 Borough was represented by Du Pre and Bernard. As 

 an instance of the extent to which bribery was then 

 carried, it is an amusing fact that it was proved that 

 Bent's people enlisted the choir at the parish church on 

 their side, who, being well paid for their services, gave 



