WINTHROP PRAED. 35 



by his lordship's former success, nor by his having 

 been member for Aylesbury since the year 18 16. Mr. 

 Praed had concluded an exceptionally brilliant career 

 at Oxford, his oratorical powers at the Bar had already 

 attracted attention, and his ever-famous poems received 

 the universal praise of nearly all of his literary con- 

 temporaries. His wife — who, I believe, was a West 

 Indian lady, an exceedingly beautiful brunette — can- 

 vassed with her husband most effectively. Lord Nugent, 

 as an old Parliamentary hand, made light of the oppo- 

 sition of " the unknown resident," as Mr. Winthrop 

 Praed was called, and taunted him with his want of 

 connection with the ancient Borough of Aylesbury. On 

 the nomination day, on the hustings, one of his lordship's 

 leading supporters called out during Mr. Praed's brilliant 

 address, " Who are you ? Where do you come from ? 

 Where do you live ?" Mr. Praed stopped, and promptly 

 tackled his opponent: "Well, my good fellow, if I am 

 defeated, which you seem confident I shall be, it 

 matters not where I come from or where I live ; but if 

 you elect me, which I think you will, why, perhaps at 

 * The Lilies,' for I hear it is to be let ! " 



This sally was received with shouts of laughter by the 

 bulk of his hearers, and gave great chagrin to Lord 

 Nugent's supporters, as it had lately leaked out that 

 his lordship, through impecuniosity, could not remain at 

 The Lilies much longer. In the end Mr. Praed was 

 returned after a severe contest, and Lord Nugent, for 

 the first time in his political career, was defeated ; the 

 Whig Government, however, shortly after solaced him 

 with the position of Lord High Commissioner of the 



