dent. But, gentlemen, I will endeavour to serve you as faithfully as he has done, and our only rivalry will be a contention for your esteem. To-morrow, gentlemen, I shall address you for the last time, and under a new name-Knight of the Shire and in seven years hence, I hope I shall see you at Wilton, with the some friendly faces, and that you will there recognize your old friend as "Cock of the Walk!"

"Thursday evening, after his return from the hustings, Mr. Benett addressed a letter to the High Sheriff, stating that it was not his intention, at this election, to poll any more votes, and thanking him for the strict impartiality and kind attention which he had shewn to himself in common with the other Candidates. He then briefly addressed the respectable body of gentlemen who had attended him during the whole of the election, nearly as follows:

"Gentlemen, it is with deep regret I have to inform you that my resources have failed me in the northern and other parts of this county; and I beg to inform you that I consider it fruitless any longer to continue this contest, which I am sure you will regret as much or more than myself. Gentlemen, I beg to return you my most heartfelt thanks and gratitude for your attendance on me, which has been necessary for the safety of my person; and I have only to add, that I hope you, or some of you, will see me safely escorted to my home.". He departed immediately for Pyt-house, accompanied by all the horse-men.

A very numerous party of freeholders, in the interest of Mr. Benett, had dined every day at the White Hart, since the commencement of the election. On Thursday also the table was crowded, though their highly honoured friend had already quitted Salisbury.

-

On Friday morning Mr. Methuen appeared on the hustings, and briefly returned thanks for the honour they had done him in coming forward to support him; assured them of his attachment to them, and his determination to serve them with fidelity. Mr. Wellesley then said, "Gentlemen, before we part I must say a few words to you: but I shall have an opportunity at Salisbury of expressing myself more fully. At present, I shall only observe, that having assumed the name of Cock of the walk' with your most hearty approbation, you shall find that in doing my duty as your representative, I will maintain that character. You shall find me sincere-you shall find me active-always where your wishes and my duties ought to see me. I must part, however, with my new name, for one that binds me stronger to you, because it has a reference, not to conquest but to friendship. Cock of the walk, Gentlemen, is to be exchanged for Knight of the Shire. It must be so: Í

told you that it would be so. The northern lights that were to illumine my opponent's cause have been shrouded in darkness, and, instead of contemplating the Aurora Borealis, you have seen in common with the high spirited sons of Wiltshire, the men of Trowbridge, Bradford, Malmsbury, Crickladebut names are endless!—and the way in which you have conducted yourselves after having performed your duty to your country and manifested your attachment to me, has been most exemplary. I particularly rejoice that you heard the speech of my opponent last night without interruption. It reminded me of former times, and former scenes. I have seen the English soldier attack his French adversary with courage and intrepidity: I have seen him attack and conquer-but the moment that he beheld the vital fluid flowing from his veins, he would clasp him to his bosom; he would administer the wine and oil; and the animosities of war were lost in the feelings and felicities of humanity: something like this mode of conduct I wish you to adopt; we have overcome-we have vanquished; but it is our neighbours, it is our brethren over whom we have gained the victory. We shall still be neighbourly, we shall still be brotherly; nor shall the little differences, which have been visible on these Hustings find a passage to our homes, or be cherished in our hearts. One word more; to the High Sheriff I return my most sincere, hearty, and cordial expressions of gratitude, for the just and gentlemanly, impartial and honourable way, in which he has conducted himself during the whole of this arduous struggle. I was unacquainted with the gentleman when I first came into the county; and he with me.-I have seen him, he has seen me, and from this moment I shall consider him my friend; (the High Sheriff most politely bowed to the suggestion) and I have to say on quitting these Hustings, that I never witnessed in the whole of my life, conduct so impartial, so highly ho nourable to himself, so respectful to the Candidates and the county, as that of the High Sheriff.

They then adjourned to the Council Chamber in Salisbury; Mr. Methuen first, in his barouche, attended by a numerous and respectable body, both on horse and foot, preceded by a band of music, and the different clubs of the city, displaying their banners with various inscriptions, and greeted with the acclamations of the whole populace. Mr. Wellesley, on horseback, followed at a short distance, surrounded by his "ten thousand friends," preceded by bands of music, and the woolcombers of the city, emblematically dressed, headed by their Bishop.-After the usual formalities at the Council Chamber had been gone through,

Mr. Methuen said, that it must be evident to the eye of

every one that nothing could have a greater influence upon the minds of the representatives of the people, than the knowledge that they must one day be called to reckon with those who sent them to the House of Commons. He was proud to think that by the handsome way in which they had returned him, that they had fully justified the opinion he had formed of them; and sanctioned the line of conduct he had marked out for himself. He pledged himself that no motives but those of conscientious ones should ever sway his conduct; he would represent them faithfully and to the best of his ability. He said, that under the obligations which he owed to the retiring Candidate, he could not help saying a word or two. He had warmly supported him when first he appeared a Candidate for their favours, and he could not help declaring that he should always feel grateful for his friendship on that occasion. He felt, however, that private feelings ought to give place to public duties, and he congratulated the county upon the glorious stand that they had made for their independence.

It is most gratifying to me, said the hon. gent. to find myself supported not by this or that political party,—not by any particular interest, but by the county at large; by the great mass of the agricultural and manufacturing interests;-by the members of that respectable body in whose court I am now addressing you; and by the freeholders at large of this great and opulent city.

"I cannot take leave of you, gentlemen, without expressing my sense of the High Sheriff's conduct and impartiality; though his gentleman-like and honourable mode of acting, his urbanity and suavity of manners, entitle him to a far higher eulogium than it is in my power to convey to him. I must now conclude by assuring you, that the sacred trust reposed in me shall remain unsullied in my hands."

Mr. Wellesley, evidently overcome by the novelty of his situation, then spoke as follows, though at different times so much affected that he was unable to proceed for several moments :-"Perhaps, gentlemen, it has seldom fallen to the lot of any man to stand before an assembly of persons to whom he stands indebted for favours, in circumstances more distressing than those in which I am placed. The way I came amongst you, the methods that have been taken to misrepresent me, contrasted with the honourable way in which you have returned me, and connected with all the circumstances of the case; I must be divested of the common feelings of a man, did not such conduct touch those feelings most sensibly. I cannot express to you what I do feel, but you will accept the overflowings of gratitude for the more regular expressions of it, and will give me credit for what your conduct has inspired though

language should refuse its aid. I am proud to say that I have not, through the whole of my canvass, resorted to one pitiful art to secure one vote, or make an opposing freeholder more favourable. I was unknown to you;-my character indeed you had heard something of, and were taught not to view it in the most favourable light;-but, gentlemen, I examined my own heart before I came to solicit for yours, and found that there was nothing there but what rendered me a fit and proper person to represent you. I knew that if it had been otherwise, I should have disgraced you and disgraced myself. I shall tell you what stimulated me to come forward to represent this county;-(I mean no reflections on Mr. Benett, I am above returning evil for evil ;)-it was not because I thought myself the fillest person to represent the county; God forbid I should possess such vanity! There are many gentlemen in the county who would have done honour to your choice; I wrote to some of them, to one gentleman whom I see near me (Mr. Penruddocke), and said, that if he had any idea of coming forward I would decline. I mentioned the names of other respectable gentlemen, and if either of them had come forward, you should not only not have seen me here, but I would have used all my influence to secure their return. But conceiving myself in every point of view as fit a person as the Candidate who has retired; having led a life of independence, and coming forward on such principles, I thought it but fair to you to give you an opportunity of exercising your elective franchise, and to myself, as it enabled me to repay, in some degree, the obliga tions I am under to some whom tenderness will not allow me to name. I declare that though my wish to represent the county had been long known to my friends, I never knew that Mr. Long intended to retire till he had retired; but the moment I did hear of his retiring from the House, I came instantly amongst you, to restore if possible to that family who had so long represented you, an honour of which you have not deemed me unworthy. With regard to all that has been said on me all the squibs that have been thrown against me, I solemnly declare that I have not the least unpleasurable feeling. I will take my bitterest enemy by the hand, I will shake him by the hand most cordially, and only consider that while I performed my duty as a Candidate, he had an equal right to express his feelings as a freeholder.I have only to add, that having been elected by the county to represent them in Parliament, I will do my duty faithfully; in no instance will betray my trust; I will endeavour to do honour to their generous confidence. I cannot suffer you to depart, however, without bearing testimony in your presence to the conduct of the amiable and estimable gentleman who presides on this occasion,

and who has conducted himself with so much impartiality and urbanity through the whole of this contest. We were unknown before, I am now proud to call him my friend;-I am determined to remain yours."

[Among the company in the Council Chamber, were the ladies of the successful Candidates; J. H. Penruddocke, Esq. and lady; R. Long, Esq. our late member, John Long, Esq. &c. &c. &c.]

The usual ceremony of Chairing was dispensed with; the members instead, walked arm in arm, uncovered, around the Market-place, and thence down Catherine-street, to the Regent's Hotel, where (with the Sheriff and several friends) they dined together. Mr. Johnson, the proprietor of the inn, was very highly complimented by the different gentlemen, for the manner in which the dinner was served up.

Mr. Methuen left Salisbury about twelve on Saturday; and Mr. Long Wellesley on Sunday noon.

Mr. Methuen's return to Corsham.-The return of P. Methuen, Esq. to Corsham, on Saturday, from his successful election at Wilton, was welcomed by various demonstrations of joy in the different towns through which he passed. At Melksham, he was met by several gentlemen on horseback (many of whom had ridden over from Corsham,) bearing flags with inscriptions appropriate to the occasion. Mr. M. was drawn by the populace through the town, staying for a few minutes at the King's Arms Inn, where he addressed himself, in a concise but energetic manner, to the assembled company, and gave orders for the distribution of a quantity of beer. As the procession drew near to Corsham, it was met by a numerous assemblage of pedestrians, bearing bran. ches of laurel decorated with ribbands, and ornamental flags, accompanied by a band of music. The horses were again. taken from the carriage, and Mr. Methuen was drawn to his mansion by the people, passing through the town amidst the loudest acclamations. Previous to his leaving the carriage, he addressed the company in an eloquent speech replete with manly sentiment and patriotic expression; in the course of which he politely expressed his thanks for the repeated proofs that had been given him of public approbation, especially during the eventful contest in which he had been so recently engaged; declaring that the most gratifying to his feelings of the events connected therewith was the cordial reception which he then experienced, from those whom he had known so long, and whose exertions in his be half, and good wishes for his success had been alike eminently displayed. He then informed the populace that there would be a plentiful distribution of strong beer at the diffe