A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



In 1780 Richard Brinsley Sheridan, who although only twenty-nine 

 had already written most of his famous comedies, began his long connexion 

 with Stafford borough, a letter from the Duchess of Devonshire in his 

 favour being of great service to him in the election. 37 * His first speech in 

 Parliament was in defence of a charge of bribery brought against him by his 

 opponent Whitworth, and it was successful in its object. 



Sheridan was re-elected in 1784, 1790, 1796, 1802, and in 1806 when 

 appointed Treasurer of the Navy. 873 He was diligent in the discharge of his 

 parliamentary duties, and an opponent of the Game Laws and, strange to relate, 

 of gambling. In 1807 he was elected for Ilchester, but returned to his old 

 love in 1812, and being unable to bribe the voters sufficiently was defeated, 

 the successful candidates being Ralph Benson and Thomas Wilson. 374 



In 1790 Robert Peel of Bury, in the county of Lancaster, the father of 

 the great statesman, was elected for Tamworth as an ardent supporter of Pitt, 

 as being the great encourager of the commercial interests of England. 



In the election of 1799, when Sir John Wrottesley was returned at the 

 head of the poll for Lichfield with 295 votes, the opposite side asserted that 

 this total was swollen by 125 'unconstitutional votes of annuitants, and of 

 those granted burgages during the election.' 376 In Sir John's election address 

 he is especially recommended as one ' who will see that the Charities of | 

 Lichfield are honestly and impartially applied. Therefore, my friends, be not 

 imposed upon by the Black gowned tribe with young Hotspur at their 

 head.' 378 



During the first quarter of the nineteenth century the county families 

 maintained their position as parliamentary representatives, and though after 

 1832 many new names appear with increasing frequency, especially for the 

 new boroughs, it was not until after the Reform Bill of 1867 that they were 

 ousted from the ascendancy they had held so long. 577 



In July, 1830, Sir Robert Peel, then Home Secretary and leader of the 

 House of Commons in the Wellington Ministry, was elected for Tamworth, 

 but by November he was in opposition, the reforming government of Earl 

 Grey having come in. In 1835, as Prime Minister, he issued his famous 

 Tamworth manifesto, indicating the principles and reforms of which he 

 approved, and Tamworth had the honour of electing him until his death in 

 1850. 



By the great Reform Bill the county of Stafford was divided into two 

 divisions, the northern and southern, each sending two members, and three 

 new boroughs were created, Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton with two 

 members each and Walsall with one. 378 



In 1835, after a contest lasting three weeks, Mr. C. P. Villiers began 

 that long connexion with Wolverhampton which only ended with his death 

 in 1898. In his first address to the electors he pledged himself to oppose all 

 restrictions upon trade, and declared himself ' a decided advocate of triennial 

 parliaments and vote by ballot.' 879 



171 Diet. Nat. Biog. Sheridan ; Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2), 168. 

 m Par/, Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2), 181, 194, 207, 221. m Ibid. 264. 



375 'Lichfield Elections,' Bodl. Lib. 92. 376 Ibid. 55. 



177 See the lists in Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2). 



378 Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2), 345 ; 2 Will. IV, cap. 45. 



379 Diet. Nat. Biog. C. P. Villiers. 



272 



