When William IV. Was King

by John Ashton

An example of how the money went may be found in the election bills of the Hon. S. Wortley, in contesting Forfarshire, in 1830. One dinner bill is thus—

	£	s.	d.
Ginger beer, 6/-; Brandy, 20/-	1	6	0
Champagne, £20; Claret, £21	41	0	0
Gin, 20/-; Ale, 16/-	1	16	0
Brandy Toddy, £2; Gin Toddy, £1	3	0	0
Dinner, £4 10/-; Madeira, £17 10/-	22	0	0
	——	——	——
	£69	2	0

And here is one of his tavern bills.

"The Hon. S. Wortley to John Morrison.
1830.				£	s.	d.
July	21.		The Dinner above mentioned	69	2	0
"	22.		Champagne, £13; Gin, 12/-	13	12	0
"	"		Brandy	0	15	0
"	23.		Whisky Toddy, 10/-; Brandy Toddy, 18/-	1	8	0
"	24.		Claret, £9 10/-; Champagne, £10	19	10	0
"	26.		Supper, £1; Brandy, 10/-; Gin 12/-	2	2	0
"	"		Gin Toddy, 20/-; Whisky Toddy, 16/-	1	16	0
"	"		Champagne, £12 10/-; Claret, £13	25	10	0
"	27.		Brandy Toddy, 18/-; Gin Toddy, 20/-	1	18	0
"	"		Sherry, £5 2/-; Port, £4 16/-	9	18	0
"	28.		Champagne, £8 10/-; Whisky Toddy, 10/-	9	0	0
"	29.		Supper, £1 7/6; Perry Cider, 20/-	2	7	6
"	"		Brandy Toddy, £1 4/-; Gin Toddy, £1 10/-	2	14	0
"	"		Champagne, £13; Ginger beer, 6/-	13	6	0
"	30.		Suppers, 22/6; Gin, 8/-; Brandy, 7/6	1	18	0
"	"		Gin Toddy; 30/-; Brandy Toddy, 30/-	3	0	0
"	"		Champagne	12	0	0
Aug.	1.		Claret, £8; Sherry, £5 8/-; Port, £7 4/-	20	12	0
"	2.		Suppers, 17/6; Gin, 16/-; Brandy, 30/-	3	3	6
"	"		Whisky Toddy, 20/-; Champagne, £7 10/-	8	10	0
"	3.		Claret, £10; Gin, 15/-; Brandy, 18/-	11	13	0
"	6.		Champagne, £8; Gin, 5/-	8	5	0
"	9.		Whisky Toddy, 13/10; Brandy Toddy, 18/-	1	11	10
"	12.		Madeira, £6; Champagne, £9	15	0	0
"	12.		Madeira, £7 10/-; Champagne, £8	15	10	0
"	21.		Champagne, £5; Claret, £7 10/-	12	10	0
"	23.		ditto £2 10/-; do. £5 10/-	8	0	0
"	25.		ditto £6 10/-; Port, £1 4/-	7	14	0
Sep.	15.		ditto	6	0	0
				——	——	——
				£308	5	10

And the representation wanted a thorough reorganization, as may be seen by the following list of close boroughs which were intended to be disfranchised, with the number of voters in each:—

Aldborough	60
Aldeburgh	80
Appleby	110
Bedwin	70
Beer Alston	90
Bishop's Castle	45
Bletchingly	70
Borough Bridge	48
Bossiney	30
Brackley	32
Bramber	19
Buckingham	13
Callington	45
Camelford	24
Castle Rising	43
Corfe Castle	55
Dunwich	18
Eye	95
Fowey	76
Gatton	5
Haslemere	58
Heden	246
Heytesbury	45
Higham Ferrers	145
Hindon	250
Ilchester	70
East Looe	50
West Looe	55
Lostwithiel	30
Ludgershall	70
Malmesbury	13
Midhurst	18
Milborne Port	90
Minehead	10
Newport (Cornwall)	62
Newton (Lancashire)	60
Newton (Isle of Wight)	40
Okehampton	230
Orford	20
Petersfield	140
Plympton	210
Queensborough	270
Reigate	200
Romney	150
St. Mawe's	20
St. Michaels (Cornwall)	32
Saltash	36
Old Sarum	7
Seaford	98
Steyning	110
Stockbridge	110
Tregony	100
Wareham	20
Wendover	140
Weobly	90
Whitchurch	70
Winchelsea	40
Woodstock	400
Wootton Bassett	100
Yarmouth	50

For the following list it was proposed to have only one member:—

Amersham	125
Arundel	450
Ashburton	170
Bewdley	13
Bodmin	36
Bridport	340
Chippenham	135
Clitheroe	45
Cockermouth	180
Dorchester	200
Downton	60
Droitwich	12
Evesham	600
Grimsby	300
Morpeth	200
Northallerton	200
Penryn	400
Richmond	270
Rye	25
St. Germains	70
St. Ives	200
Sandwich	955
Sudbury	800
Shaftesbury	30
East Grinstead	30
Guildford	250
Helston	36
Honiton	350
Huntington	240
Hythe	150
Launceston	15
Leominster	700
Liskeard	100
Lyme Regis	30
Lymington	70
Malton	270
Marlborough	21
Marlow	235
Tamworth	300
Thetford	21
Thirsk	60
Totness	58
Truro	26
Wallingford	180
Westbury	70
Wilton	20
Wycombe	65

Lord John Russell prepared the first Reform Bill, and introduced it into Parliament on March 1st. The first division for the second reading was taken on March 22nd, the numbers for, 302; against, 301. Majority 1. General Gascoyne, on the motion for a committee, moved the following amendment: "That the number of representatives for England and Wales ought not to be diminished," which was carried by 299 to 291. Of course, after this, there was nothing to be done but dissolve Parliament at the earliest period possible, and this the King did on April 22nd.

The King on this occasion was loudly cheered, but it was not always so—for Greville records under date of February, that—