A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 58

A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 58

“All Horse Guards, Grenadier Guards, Foot Guards, and

Black-Guards, that have not polled for the destruction of

Chelsea Hospital and the Tax on Maidservants are desired to

meet at the _Gutter Hole_, opposite the Horse Guards, where

they will have a full bumper of _knock-me-down_ and plenty of

_soap-suds_, before they go to the poll for Sir Cecil Wray

or eat. N.B.--Those who have no shoes or stockings may come

without, _there being a quantity of wooden shoes provided for

them_.”

 

A further presentment of the famous canvassing duchess, whose

prominence at the great Westminster election of 1784 gave her such

universal and lasting celebrity, is offered by Rowlandson in a fanciful

domestic interior at Devonshire House, where the favoured candidate,

Fox, and his staunch and invaluable ally, “brave Sammy House,” are

introduced as “Lords of the Bedchamber” (April 14, 1784). In the

caricaturist’s highly imaginary version, the duchess is entertaining

the pair with a cup of tea in her boudoir; above her hangs the Reynolds

portrait of her liege-lord. Sam House, in his publican’s jacket,

otherwise attired in that neat costume which became historical, is

stirring the cup “that cheers but not inebriates” with an air of

supreme contentment, while Fox is patting, in friendly familiarity, the

no less remarkable completely bald head of his indefatigable supporter

by way of encouragement.

 

[Illustration: Sam House. Fox. Duchess of Devonshire.

 

LORDS OF THE BEDCHAMBER. BY T. ROWLANDSON.

 

[_Page 276._]

 

[Illustration: Fox. Hood. Wray.

 

THE WESTMINSTER WATCHMAN. BY T. ROWLANDSON.

 

[_Page 277._]

 

The third plate, “The Westminster Watchman,” is inscribed--

 

“To the Independent Electors of Westminster, this Print of

their staunch old watchman, the guardian of their rights and

privileges, is dedicated by a grateful Elector. N.B.--Beware of

Counterfeits, as the Greenwich and Chelsea Watchmen are upon

the look-out!”

 

Fox is standing firm, with his cap of “Liberty;” and the lamp of

“Truth” is shedding its light around, the Whig chief is unmoved by the

storm of “ministerial thunderbolts;” a trusty dog, “Vigilance,” is by

his side; the “Counterfeits” are shuffling off, Hood for Greenwich, and

Wray for Chelsea.

 

The ballads, epigrams, and poetical _jeux d’esprit_ to which the

circumstances of this famous contest gave birth are sufficiently

numerous to fill a volume. The rhymsters on both sides were evidently

resolved to do their best: many of the lyrics and “squibs” are worthy

of preservation; they are as a rule far above the average compositions

evoked upon similar occasions. The tuneful songster, Captain Morris,

wrote many of the most graceful and witty “impromptus” and verses. The

bards of “Opposition” were severe upon the Court influence exerted

against Fox’s cause, and justly exposed some of the manœuvres resorted

to by Pitt’s adherents.

 

“To the will of the Court we are told to consent,

And never to do as we please, Sir;

If we vote against FOX we’re forgiven our rent,

Or else we must forfeit our lease, Sir.

Thus of freedom and rights poor electors they chouse,

Such slaves and such fools we are grown, Sir,

We must vote a Rogue into the Parliament House,

Or else be turned out of our own, Sir.”

 

It was the old story of intimidation, undue influence, and coercion, as

practised at the Westminster elections for the best part of a century.

The scene of the hustings is thus sketched:--

 

 

“A CONCISE DEscRIPTION OF COVENT GARDEN AT THE PRESENT WESTMINSTER

ELECTION.

 

“A paradise for fools and knaves;

A hell for constables and slaves;

A booth for mountebanks and beavers;

A shop for marrow-bones and cleavers;

A stage for bulls and Irish chairmen;

A pit for Foxes, for to rear ’em:

In short, such are most glorious places(?)

For Duchesses to show their faces!”

 

Allusions to the machinations of “the King’s Friends” were abundant:--

 

 

“STANZAS IN SEASON.

 

“It would not do! Black Thurlow’s frown

And Billy’s prudence gain’d the prize;

’Tis Beauty must redeem the crown,

And Fox must reign thro’ Devon’s eyes.

She saw, she conquer’d; Wray shrunk back;

Court mandates we no more obey;

Majorities no more they pack,

And Fox and Freedom win the day!

Who can deny when beauty sues?

And where’s the tongue can blame her Grace;

Not timid slavery can refuse:

Her life’s as spotless as her face.”

 

The countenance shown to Fox by the youthful rank, fashion, and

wealth of the day excited the bitterness of Tory rhymsters. The

active partisanship of the Prince of Wales was a source of caustic

recrimination and envy:--

 

“Since Britain’s great Prince condescends to evince

His concern in your future election,

How happy each Cobbler, Butcher, Smith, and Pot-wobbler,

Who shall merit the Royal protection!

 

“For goodness consider the rank of the bidder,

Who offers so much for your plumpers:

What’s the Nation or Pitt, to the Prince and Tom Tit!

Dash such stuff--and to Fox fill your bumpers.”

 

Arrayed on the Whig chief’s side was all the beauty and grace of fair

and fascinating wives and daughters of the Whig aristocracy, a bevy of

lovely political Circes, whose enchantments were all potent:--

 

 

“ON SEEING LADY BEAUCHAMP, LADY CARLISLE, AND LADY DERBY IN THEIR

CARRIAGES, ON MR. FOX’S SIDE OF THE HUSTINGS.

 

“The gentle Beauchamp, and the fair Carlisle,

Around their favour’d Fox expectant wait;

And Derby’s lip suspends the ready smile,

To ask ‘the Poll?’ and ‘what is Charles’s fate?’

 

“But say, ye _belles_, whose beauty all admit,

Do you in politics dispute the prize;

Or do ye near the Hustings proudly sit,

To take the _suffrage_ of admiring eyes?“

 

The Duchess of Devonshire was idolized by enthusiastic Whigs, who

hailed in her the salvation of the cause:--

 

“Let Pitt and Wray dislike the fair,

Decry our Devon’s matchless merit;

A braver, kinder soul we wear,

And love her _beauty_, love her _spirit_.

Let distant times and ages know,

When Temple would have made us slaves,

’Tis thus we ward the fatal blow,

’Tis Fox that beats--’tis Devon saves!”

 

 

“ON SEEING THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE, LADY DUNCANNON, ETC., CANVASSING

FOR MR. FOX.

 

“Sure Heav’n approves of Fox’s cause

(Tho’ slaves at Court abhor him);

To vote for Fox, then, who can pause,

Since _angels_ canvass for him.”

 

 

“ON A CERTAIN DUCHESS.

 

“Her mien like Cytherea’s dove,

Her lips like Hybla’s honey;

Who would not give a vote for love,

Unless he wanted money?”

 

Walpole’s lovely nieces, the three Ladies Waldegrave, added the

influence of their charms to those of the winsome Georgiana, and were

gallantly apostrophized with “Devon’s Queen:”--

 

“Fair DEVON all good English hearts must approve,

And the WALDGRAVES (God bless their sweet faces),

The Duchess she looks like the sweet Queen of love

And they like the three Sister Graces.”

 

The influence of this novel captivation upon the hearts of those so

happy as to be admitted to the electoral franchise acted like magic:--

 

“There’s Devonshire’s Duchess, all beauty and grace,

Each morning so early she shows her sweet face;

Tho’ ever so envious, all must her extol,

Then rouse up your spirits, and come to the poll.”

 

 

“EPIGRAM ON THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE.

 

“Array’d in matchless beauty, Devon’s fair

In Fox’s favour takes a zealous part,

But oh! where’er the pilferer comes--beware!

She supplicates a vote, and steals a heart.”

 

The compliments poured forth at the altar of this fair divinity were

not alone addressed to the beauty of her face, the grace of her

person, the excellence of her heart, and her captivating manners,--her

intellectual charms also secured due recognition: