A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 29

A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 29

A Frenchified person, pointing to a

gamecock fighting his own shadow, is denouncing the Duke (of Bedford)

in no measured terms; under his right arm is the whip with which the

duke was castigated, and in the left hand of this valorous bravo is

a paper, “We have courage.” As usual, the Devil is present, and this

time he is flying off with “Information,” possibly to be laid before

his dear friends in office. A sort of zany, seated beneath a flag

marked, “And curse upon denial” (alluding to equivocation on the part

of several), is giving the starting signal. The Scotch plaid-clad

jockey riding for the Chevalier is beating the Hanoverian jockey on the

traditional “White Horse.” This highly fanciful conception, the reverse

of actual experience, is hailed with extravagant delight by the excited

assembly; the occupants of the Grand Stand are described as “Don Juan

and his friends at the place of Desert.” Various ballads and satirical

productions were evoked upon the transaction related.

 

Lord Trentham, his father, Earl Gower, and their great relative, the

Duke of Bedford, are, with various references to the late election

for Westminster, introduced into several caricatures which followed,

and notably in “Great Britain’s Union; or, Litchfield Races

transposed,” “A Sight of the Banging Bout at Litchfield,” and “An Exact

Representation” of the same occurrence. The circumstances to which

these pictorial satires refer are traceable to the national ferment

succeeding the suppression of the Rebellion, when, as recapitulated,

various eccentricities were committed by those who favoured the

Pretender’s cause; among others, certain Staffordshire sportsmen

made themselves conspicuous. Smollett, in his “History of England,”

describes these vagaries: the Stuart partisans--

 

“appeared in the Highland taste of variegated drapery, and,

their zeal descending to a very extraordinary exhibition of

practical ridicule, they hunted with hounds clothed in plaid, a

fox dressed in red uniform. Even the females at their assembly

and the gentlemen at the races affected to wear the chequered

stuff by which the prince-pretender and his followers had been

distinguished. Divers noblemen on the course were insulted

as apostates; and one personage of high rank is said to have

undergone a very disagreeable flagellation.”

 

The sequel of this adventure is related in the _Gentleman’s Magazine_

(1748):--

 

“Before Mr. Justice Burnett, took place the trial of the

information against Toll (a dancing-master) and others,

for insulting and striking the Duke of Bedford, and other

gentlemen, upon Whittington Heath, at the late Litchfield

horse-races; when it was likewise proposed by the counsel for

the defendants, that the several rioters, to the number of

thirteen, should submit to be found guilty: if the counsel for

the crown would consent to withdraw the information against

several other persons concerned in that riot.”

 

The circumstances of the _fracas_ are also alluded to in the “Letters

of Junius” (xxii.):--

 

“Mr. Heston Humphrey, a country attorney, horsewhipped the duke

with equal justice, severity, and perseverance on the course at

Litchfield. Rigby and Lord Trentham were also cudgelled in a

most exemplary manner.”

 

These incidents gave rise to various ballads as well as caricatures; a

parody on “Chevy Chase” offers the liveliest version of the affair:--

 

 

“THE LORDS’ LAMENTATION; OR, THE WHITTINGTON DEFEAT.

 

“God prosper long our noble King,

Our lives and safeties all,

A woeful Horse race late there did

At Whittington befall.

Great Bedford’s duke, a mighty prince

A solemn vow did make;

His pleasure in fair Staffordshire

Three summer days to take,

At once to grace his father’s race,

And to confound his foes;

But ah! (with grief my muse does speak)

A luckless time he chose.

For some rude clowns who long had felt

The weight of tax and levy,

Explain’d their case unto his Grace,

By arguments full heavy.

‘No Gow’r,’ they cried, ‘no tool of pow’r!’

At that the Earl turned pale.

‘No Gow’r, no Gow’r, no tool of pow’r!’

Re-echo’d from each dale.

Then Bedford’s mighty breast took fire;

Who thus enrag’d did cry,

‘To horse, my Lords, my knights and squires;

We’ll be reveng’d or die.’

They mounted straight, all men of birth,

Captains of land and sea;

No prince or potentate on earth

Had such a troop as he.

Great Lords and Lordlings, close conjoin’d,

A shining squadron stood;

But to their cost, the Yeomen Host

Did prove the better blood.

‘A Gow’r, a Gow’r! ye son o’ th’ w--e,

Vile spawn of Babylon!’

This said, his Grace did mend his pace,

And came full fiercely on.

Three times he smote a sturdy foe;

Who undismay’d replied,

‘Or be thou devil, or be thou Duke,

Thy courage shall be tried.’

The charge began; but, on one side,

Some slackness there was found;

The smart cockade in dust was laid,

And trampled on the ground.

Some felt sore thwacks upon their backs.

Some, pains within their bowels;

And who did joke the royal oak,

Were well rubbed with its towels.

Then terror seized the plumed troop,

Who turned themselves to flight.

Foul rout and fear brought up the rear,

Oh! ’twas a piteous sight!

Each warrior urg’d his nimble steed,

But none durst look behind;

Th’ insulting foe, they well did know,

Had got them in the wind.

Who ne’er lost scent, until they came

Unto the gallows tree:

‘Now,’ said their foes, ‘we’ll not oppose,

Your certain destiny.

No further help of ours ye lack,

Grant mercy with your doom!

Trust to the care o’ the three-legg’d mare,

She’ll bring ye all safe home.’

Then wheel’d about with this fierce shout,

‘Confusion to the Rump!’

Leaving each knight to moan his plight

Beneath the triple stump.

Now Heaven preserve such hearts as these

From secret Treachery!

Who hate a knave, and scorn a slave,

May such be ever _Free_!”

 

In 1749, Lord Trentham, having been appointed one of the lords of the

admiralty, had to vacate his seat, and every exertion was made by the

Opposition to hinder his re-election.

 

“With this view they held consultations, agreed to resolutions,

and set up a private gentleman named Sir George Vandeput as

the competitor of Lord Trentham, declaring that they would

support his pretensions at their own expense; being the more

encouraged to this enterprise by the countenance and assistance

of the Prince of Wales and his adherents. They accordingly

opened houses of entertainment for their partisans, solicited

votes, circulated remonstrances, and propagated abuse; in a

word, they canvassed with surprising spirit and perseverance

against the whole interest of St. James’s. Mobs were hired,

and processions made on both sides, and the city of Westminster

was filled with tumult and uproar.”

 

“Ye ELECTORS who hate all the French strolling Clan,

If you love yourselves, chase not the MINISTER’S MAN,

But give all your Votes to the _Man_ of the KING,

SIR GEORGE VANDEPUT’S he--and GEORGE we will sing.”

 

This election occurred in the midst of a violent popular anti-Gallican

feeling, which had been shown particularly against a company of French

players who were performing at the Haymarket, and who were spoken of by

the mob as the “French vagrants.” An attempt had been made to hinder

them from acting, and they had been protected only by a mob hired by

Lord Trentham, who appears to have affected Gallic manners, and to

have been vain of his proficiency in the French language. The night