、

Trueman," I mean the "Independent Freeholder," (who I am pleased and happy to know, and who I shall ever venerate and esteem) " The Old Moon Raker, Toby and Tobias," and all the rest of his assailants, not forgetting A. B.! yes, gentlemen, they said that Mr. Wellesley was every thing but a devil! perhaps they would have even said that also, but the lie would have been so notorious, for they knew that you had seen him too often to believe that he had " seven heads, ten horns, and a tail as long as a bell rope!" Gentlemen, for your exertions in his cause, I shall ever be grateful, especially if I could but suppose that my feeble efforts have at all been of service to him, or that one reason advanced by me had made but one convert to his cause.

The other paper I meant to have noticed before the conclusion of this address, was, the letter of Mr. Benett of the 24th, which perhaps is one of the most scandalous attempts at misrepresentation that ever came before you. It is so very gross, to be obliged to submit to outrage, and then to be accused of committing it; but this with other things has lost Mr. Benett his election. It was Tom Calley that turned Tom Calley out of Cricklade; it is John Benett that has turned John Benett out of Wilts. Whether he goes to France or not, is a matter of great indifference to me, and equally so to you; he will never again be a Candidate for this county: you have put the finishing stroke to the power of the Quorum. I consider Mr. Wellesley's success to be certain; but do not relax in your endeavours; you are doing a good thing, strive to do it as well as possible. You are the saviours of your county; and your names will be revered in' "the Chronicles of Wiltshire;" will be transmitted to posterity, like those of Leonidas of Sparta, or the patriots of Calais! "Be not weary in well doing; in due time ye shall reap if ye faint not." Go on and prosper, ye Alfreds of the present generation!

I am, gentlemen, your faithful friend,

TITUS TRUEMAN.

Salisbury, July 2.

SINCE our last, the contest for the representation of the county has continued with unabating zeal. The return of Mr. Methuen is considered certain; while the friends of Mr. Wellesley and of Mr. Benett are alike confident of success.-In cases of this kind a man's judgment is allowed to yield to his partialities; and a Candidate is never supposed to be beaten till he retires. On the evening of the first day a violent attack had been made on the person of Mr. Tinney, which Mr. Wel

lesley in strong and pointed terms condemned. Every man must unite in reprobating such a disgraceful method of manifesting opposition to the pretensions of a candidate; for while an agent by fair and honourable means endeavours to secure the return of his employer, he is entitled not only to protec tion, but to praise for his exertions. We were happy, however, to see that Mr. Tinney was not prevented from attending to the interest of his friend, and extremely gratified at the notice taken of it by Mr. Wellesley; who informed the numerous assemblage before him, that while they conducted themselves peaceably, he was determined to protect them; but if they were guilty of such outrageous behaviour, they put it entirely out of his power to be their friend. In the morning of the second day, a report was circulated that a coalition had taken place between Mr. Methuen and Mr. Benett, with the evident intention of depriving the former of Mr. Wellesley's half votes; and this was no sooner contradicted than a second report was raised that a coalition was formed between Mr. Wellesley and that gentleman, in order to deprive him of Mr. Benett's half votes. Considerable pains were taken by Mr. Methuen to clear himself from the charge, and to prevent the injurious consequences that might arise from it to his cause. He pledged his word and honour, and offered to swear that nothing of the kind had taken place, and that the whole was a fabrication. Lord Folkstone, in behalf of Mr. Methuen, pointed out the inconsistency of supposing that Mr. M. who was so ably supported by the freeholders, should look to any other support than what they were pleased to offer him. Mr. Wellesley united with those gentlemen in exonerating Mr. Benett from all participation in the report, and very pleasantly observed that the idea must have originated in the voters of Mr. Methuen and his own, coming up in the same carriages; and as he never intended making use of his long purse to forward his election, added, if Mr. M. will bring up my voters, God bless him!

Through the whole of the day, the immense numbers that attended the hustings conducted themselves with propriety; and on the Sheriff declaring the state of the poll, the Candidates severally addressed the freeholders. Mr. Methuen thanked them for having placed him at the head of the poll, again disavowed a coalition, and requested a continuance of the exertions of his friends in his behalf, and avowed bis determination to serve them faithfully and zealously. He was heard with much attention, and retired amidst the applauses of the populace. We regret that the same degree of courtesy was not afforded to Mr. Benett. Every man has a right to b heard-a prisoner at the bar is even called upon for his defence, and how are the

Candidates for the representation of any place, but of all places a county and that county one of the largest and most popu lous, the most intelligent and wealthy in the kingdom, to represent themselves to the electors-to make good their preten→ sions to defend themselves against imputations injurious to their characters or their cause, if they are not allowed a fair hearing. For ourselves we have no feeling, but a desire to see fair play. We cannot conceive a greater curse in the world than a partial press. We have maintained the impar tiality to which we pledged ourselves, and the approbation of all parties has been our reward. Whatever Mr. Benett's opinions, his talents, or his character may be—even if he is all that his opponents have made him, he has a right to be heard; and nothing redounds more to Mr. Wellesley's credit than his oft repeated attempts to procure him a hearing. "Gentlemen," (said he) "gratified as I am with the proofs you have given me of your attachment to my cause, I cannot help condemning the conduct you have now displayed to my opponent. Should I lose your votes should I lose your favour by what I am going to say, I certainly never will countenance the disgraceful conduct I have witnessed. I wish you much to hear Mr. Benett-he has a right to be heard."

On the third day the multitude appeared to have acquired an accession of numbers. Mr. Benett's friends had exerted themselves, and he gained considerably on this day's poll. There was a little sparring between Mr. Wellesley and Mr. Everett, relative to Thomas Pike. When the Sheriff declared the state of the poll, Mr. Methuen came forward and thanked them; Mr. Benett did the same, telling them, "that they would now see that he never meant to deceive them; that he had been promised the votes of the freeholders, and they had come forward to support him." This is the only part of Mr. Benett's speech that was at all audible, the same uproar, notwithstanding the interference of Mr. Wellesley, was continued, and which was only silenced by the appearance of Mr. W. who, after thanking the freeholders, and accounting for the partial advantage that had been gained, assured them of his full confidence of success.

On the fourth day, on the numbers being declared, Mr. Methuen having thanked the freeholders, Mr. Benett came forward, and after a little interruption, addressed the freeholders in the following words: "Gentlemen, this is a day of triumph to me; the great exertions that have been made by Mr. W.'s friends has given him the superiority over me today. His banners have been waving in all directions; no doubt very much to Mr. W.'s satisfaction, and greatly to the amusement of the ladies who attended him. They did great

credit to the artist that painted them, I hope he lives in the county. (Mr. W. said, Salisbury) I am glad of it, they do bim credit. I advert again to the great exertions that have been made against me to-day, from the north and the south. I have been opposed by all the great interests of which Mr. Wellesley is so proud. I have had Long beads and Long purses [here Mr. W. interrupted him] to contend with, and they have done their utmost; and what have they done?-they have got Mr. Wellesley a majority of 160; [Mr. W. said 171 on the general poll]—a majority effected by the allpowerful influence of the Longs, but he trusted that the freeholders would not permit the county of Wilts to become an appendage to the family of Longs, or any other family." Mr. Benett was heard throughout with more attention than formerly; and having shaken hands most cordially with Mr. Wellesley, withdrew.

Sunday intervening, it was evident that great efforts had been made on both sides for the Monday's poll. The news of Mr. Calley's defeat at Cricklade had a visible effect on the spirits of both parties. This gentlemen has warmly in terested himself on behalf of Mr. Benett, and a strong reinforcement was expected from him. Throughout the whole of this day the utmost decorum was observed: the faces of contending parties had become familiar to each other; and if they did not exactly shake hands in friendship, they looked at each other without anger. Mr. Wellesley, who, on Saturday, had just polled an equal number with Mr. Methuen, had again the advantage over Mr. Benett; when the three Candidates, having severally returned thanks to the freeholders, retired.

On the sixth day, the voters in Mr. Calley's interest were expected to arrive, and turn the scale in favour of Mr. Benett; but the number this gentleman brought fell considerably short of what was expected. The polling went on very briskly; and it will be seen, by the numbers shewn, that Mr. Wellesley had a majority over Mr. Benett, of 383. To give a detail of the speeches which are made at an election, where the theme is uniformly the same, would require a little more ingenuity than we possess to make them pleasing. Having heard the first you are prepared for the second, while the third refreshes your memory with regard to both. Mr. Benett, in his address, accounted for his standing so low on the poll, by the secession from his cause of several of the first families in the county-amongst whom he noticed the Earl of Radnor, Mr. Penruddocke, &c.-Mr. Wellesley, in reply, observed, that it was impossible to account for this desertion of Mr. Benett, who was well known amongst them,

and their attachment to a stranger-but upon this ground they must have seen something about Mr. Benett that they could not approve of; and, therefore, they had given their support to him, who was a stranger, and had taken it away from a native and a resident.

On the seventh day the numbers polled were very inconsiderable.

The following has been the state of the poll on each day Methuen. Wellesley.

Benelt.

First Day,

Second Day,

Third Day,

Fourth Day,

Fifth Day,

Sixth Day,

Seventh Day,

Eighth Day,

Mr. Benett is escorted to and from the hustings by a large body of freeholders on horseback, decorated with his favours. Mr. Methuen goes and returns in his barouche, with purple banners, and occasionally with his band. Mr. Wellesley, who is the popular candidate, with his band and cavalcade, and banners with his armorial bearings, sometimes on horseback; sometimes in his carriage; when in his carriage, drawn by the populace to his inn.

if

To the Freeholders of the County of Wilts.
GENTLEMEN,

ANOTHER day's Poll is become another day's triumph, and my opponent be not now conscious of our superiority, I despair of making him so. Nothing is left for me but to reiterate my thanks for your exertions, and once more to request your attendance at the Poll, to make even more manifest my right, through your means, of being returned your member. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your devoted faithful servant,

W. LONG WELLESLEY.

STATE OF THE POLL.-SEVENTH DAY.

Long Wellesley, 1866; Methuen, 2637;

Benett, 1486.

Salisbury Journal, Monday, July 6, 1818. A FEW gentlemen having expressed their concern that we should have inserted in our last Journal an advertisement containing a "Partial Account" of the proceedings of the Wilts Election, we beg to say that it was sent to us by Mr.