~ 
$2 
James Fox, and the Right Hon. Lord North, 
was injurious to the caufe of freedom and 
public virtue, and that the conduét of the 
confequent adminiftration was highly detri- 
mental to the intere’s of GreatBritain and 
Treland.” Seon after Mr. Pitt-had been ap- 
punited Chancellor of the Exchequer, he de- 
termined on the diffolution ef a parliament, 
which feemed equaily adverfe to his perfon 
and meafures. “Phe. general election, in 1784, 
of courle gave biz th to a variety of animated 
centefts, enewt the mot memorable of which, 
in every point of view, was that for Weft- 
miniter. in addition to the two former mem- 
bers, then fanding on oppofite interefs, Sir 
Samuel (now Vifcount) Hood, whofe laurels 
acquired under Redney were as yet green, 
becamea candidate for popular favour, and 
Proved cminently fuccefsful. The election 
commenced, April 4. During the two firft 
days, Mir. Fox maintamed a majority over 
both his opponents ; but on the third, the 
tide was turned again him, and continued 
in the fame direétien for the three following. 
lé was fuppofed by many, that a circumfance 
fo unexpected proceeded from the interven- 
tion of the inimediate dependants ot the 
crown, and this no doubt had its effect ; but 
it is alfo certain, that Mr. Herne Booke: Dr. 
Jebh, Lord Mahon, Mr. Churchill, brother 
to the celebrated poet, together with a pro- 
digious number vt independent men, in the 
middie claffes of life, were hoftile in the cx- 
treme to the.late coalition, while they at the 
fame time hoped for a reform of the houfe of 
¢ommons, from the exertions of the young 
and virtuous minifter who then guided the 
helm. On the 8th, the Sth, the i0th, and 
' the 19th, the conte became lefs unequal, 
but it was uniformly to the difadvantage of 
the late Secretary of State; for on the iat of 
thefe days, the majority againgt him, and in 
favour of Sir Cecil, who was fecond upon the 
poli, amounted to 518. The eleétion had 
now continued for nearly a fortnight, and 
ten thoufand had already polled, io that 
many perfons imagined that the caufe of Mr. 
Fox had become seu aaa The ex-fecre- 
tary, however, did not deipair, and the nu- 
merous nobility and opulent commoners on 
his fide, proved at length more than fufficient 
to counterbalance all the mtereit derived 
from the public offices, the places in the gitt 
ef the crown, together with the infirence 
arifing outof the occziional refidence of the 
chief magiftrate of the ewpire. But what 
principally contributed tothe triumph of this 
party is laid to have been, the beauty, the 
induftry, and the amiable and enzaging man- 
ners,ot a certain Duchefs, who, urged forward 
alike by the impulfe of perfonai friendfup 
and the glory of the two whigs with which 
fhe was comuecied, determined t to commence 
a perional canvas. From that moment af 
fairs took a new turn, Mr. Fox regularly 
gained upon Sir Cecil im the poll, and finally 
elgied the conte on the 17th of May, after 
a E 4 
Marriages and Deaths in and near 
(Feb. 5 
the hooks had been cpen during the unex- 
ampled period of fotty- -feven days, with a 
majerity of 235 m his favour. Mutual re- 
criminations now enfued. The immenfe 
number of votes lately brought forward, pro- 
duced fufpicion and complaint on one part, 
while the multitude of foldiers and ‘retainers 
who had been polled during the early puré 
of the election, atiorded ample icope for de= 
clemation to the other. In the mean time, 2 
ferutiny was innediately demzended and 
gra unted in favour of the ‘difeomfited candi- 
date, while the high bailiff ff, who prefided, i in- 
ftead of filling up aid writ in the ufeal men- 
ner, entered into an hi@orical detail of the 
London. 
preceedinges in his reference to the houfe,. 
which he coneluded with alleging the impefi- 
bility, under thé peculiar circumftances of 
the c2ie, of making the ufual return... Mr. 
Fox, who in the interim had been eleéted for 
a Scotch diffriét of Rorot:ghs, on the meeting 
of parliament, comp plained of the conduét of 
this officer ; and on the 24th of May it was 
moved by Mr. Lee, late ab ree 
“that the high bailiff of the ety of Wet 
pee having proceeded to take, and having 
finally cloied the poll of that city, previoully 
to the day on which the. writ of election ex- 
pired, ought to have returned two citizens te 
ferve in parliament for that city. This mo- 
tion for ceniure having heen ief by the pre- 
vipus queftion, which was carticd by a trium- 
phent majority of 147, the high bailiff and his 
deputy were ordered to .attend the heufe on 
the day following ; and Mr. Fox heing de- 
nied therequed tc allow the metits to be j ined 
according to the provifions of Mr. Grenville’s 
bill, 1t was moyed by Lord Mulgrave, and 
carried, “ that the lugh bailiff do proceed in 
the ferutiny, with all Heras diipatch.” 
This was confidered as a triumph by the 
friends of Sir Cecil Wi ray, and accerdingly 
that ofiicer, dards firft by Mr. Hargrave, and 
then. by Mir. Murphy, as his counfel, com- 
meneed this laborious undertaking, June 16; 
1784. Aiter a long: tedious, and moft ex- 
penfive fcrutny, Mr. Fox was finally feated 
ior Weftunnfer, and brouglit an a€tion againit 
the high bait, trom whom he recovered 
a large fum of money, by way of damages. 
On this, Sir Cecil retired trom public affairs, 
followed by the wit, fatire, and farcafms, of 
his political foes, particularly the authors of 
the Rolliad and the Probationar y Odes, and 
never afterwards attempted to fit in parlia- 
ment. 
as abilities, however, remained unfpotted 
and unimpeached. He died at bis family 
feut Es called Summer C: aftle, im Lincolnthire, 
January 10, 1805, in the 7iit year of 
age. é 
At her feat at Hillmgdon, the Afarchionefs 
of Rockinghaw:. ‘Vhis lady was the Gaughter 
and fole heirefs of Mr. Bright, fermeriy of 
Budiwerth, in the county of York, and.was 
born in Augué, 1736. Her mother was of _ 
the Lowther family, and afterwards married - 
the 
is 
Eis chara€ter and integrity, as weil » 
= 
