384 



THE MAYORALTY OF TRURO. 

 Part II. '" 



By p. JENNINGS. 



The Capital Burgesses alone possessed the pi-ivilege of 

 electing parhamentaiy representatives of the borough, and the 

 struggle for supremacy in the Corporation between rival political 

 parties was therefore at times very severe. 



At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the families of 

 Boscawen and Vincent led the opposing factions, and for many 

 years the issue was doubtful. Ultimately, the latter party was 

 victorious, and on 9 October, 1722, four of its number were 

 elected aldermen. One of these, Walter Jones, was chosen as 

 mayor, and the retiring mayor succeeded him as alderman. Jones 

 had been mayor in 1698 and in 1710, and had taken a prominent 

 part in the disputes of the time. His debts had been paid by 

 Lord Lansdowne, but this did not satisfy the opposing party, and 

 he was subjected to much angry criticism. The feeling against 

 bim ran so high, that before he had been in office two months, he 

 was "threatened to be prosecuted for, and on account of, his 

 proceedings in the execution of his said office of may^'." He 

 weathered the storms, however, and it being feared that a 

 change of officials might be to the advantage of the Tregothnan 

 party, the whole of the aldermen and the mayor were re-elected 

 in 1723. 



At the close of 1717, " old Vincent of Cprnwall " died,- and 

 his son Nicholas succeeded to the leadership of his faction. 

 Nicholas Vincent was a notable man, and possessed great 

 influence. He was assay master of the Stannaries, '' an ofiice 

 generally given to some gentleman of quality in the county" 

 (Tonkin) ; and he represented Fowey in the parliament of 1722- 

 27. In 1722 he was elected a capital burgess of Truro, and two 

 years later was mayor; he was re-elected raayor in 1725, but 

 failing health compelled him to resign his ofiice in March 1726, 



1 Part I. will be found at page 228, above. 



2 See News Letter, 31st Dec, 1717. MSS. of Duke of Portland. 



