PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN TRURO, 1832. 345 



brimmed hat, who was so inspirited, that he jumped into the ring 

 and danced amongst us to the tune of * Merrily danced the 

 quaker's wife.' " 



The Tories naturally felt sore over this episode, and gave 

 expression to their vexation in the columns of their newspaper. 

 Some of the remarks made were more vigorous than complimentary, 

 and they had the effect of rousing the wrath of the more ardent 

 Reformers, who accordingly proceeded to show their indignation by 

 making a bonfire of copies of the offending paper on Castle Hill, 

 and by keeping the town in an uproar throughout the evening. So 

 threatening was the mob, that it became necessary to guard the 

 editor's house by a posse of constables. 



But the day of deliverance was at hand ; the Bill passed both 

 Houses, and on 7th June the Royal assent was given. Then the 

 battle began in earnest. Both sides put forth their utmost strength, 

 and used every endeavour to secure the victory at the coming 

 election. A requisition, " signed by a number of highly respectable 

 inhabitants '' was presented to Lord Boscatven, son of the Earl of 

 Falmouth, inviting him to stand in the Tory interest. As his 

 lordship was not yet twenty-one years of age, his father advised 

 him to decline the honour, and to carry out his original intention, 

 to travel on the continent, before taking an active part in English 

 politics. Application was then made to John Ennis Vivian, Esq., 

 a retired barrister, and he consented to become a candidate. The 

 Reformers selected William Tooke, Esq., a solicitor from London, 

 to fight their battle ; the third candidate was General Vivian, 

 Commander-in-Chief in Ireland. As a native of Truro, a valiant 

 soldier, and one who had lost and won other elections in the 

 constituency, he was regarded with much favour by both parties 3 

 at previous elections, he had come forward as a Whig, but he now 

 announced his intention of observing the strictest neutrality.* 



Now came the question as to how the great Reform should be 

 celebrated. A committee was appointed to collect the necessary 



* When the Government plans were being matured, the Ministry supposed 

 that the Borough consisted simply of the parish of S. Mary, and therefore 

 proposed to deprive it of one of its representatives ; but before the Committee 

 stage was reached, it was ascertained that the town is situated in the three 

 parishes of S. Mary, S. Clements, and Kenwyn, and its original number was 

 consequently retained. 



