At the close of the poll, Fox was 235 votes ahead of Wray, but, as related, the high bailiff, Corbett, acting partially, refused to return him on the plea that a scrutiny had been demanded; Fox was also a candidate for Kirkwall, so that, in case of defeat at Westminster he might still have a seat.
At the end of the election there was an immense crowd collected for the chairing of Fox. A classic car was prepared, an improvement on the perilous glory of being hoisted on the shoulders of excited chairmen, or, worse still, lifted on those of volunteers—intoxicated alike with enthusiasm and drinking toasts. The Whig chief mounted his triumphal chariot; a multitudinous procession following, closed by the state-carriages of the Duchesses of Portland and Devonshire, drawn by six horses each. Fox descended from the car at Devonshire House, where was erected a temporary scaffolding, on which was raised a bevy of notabilities, including the Prince of Wales, with the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, to whose exertions Fox owed a debt of gratitude. A commemorative dinner was given at Willis’s Rooms, where Fox made a glowing speech on the subject of the election. The Prince of Wales, after attending the king at a review at Ascot, rode up St. James’s Street in his uniform, and was received with acclamations, in acknowledgment of his partisanship for the Whig chief, whose favours he wore,—and ended his day of triumph by dining at Devonshire House, where he appeared wearing Fox’s colours (the Washington uniform), and with a laurel branch in token of victory.
| Sir Cecil Wray. | Sam House. | Charles James Fox. |
THE WESTMINSTER DESERTER DRUMMED OUT OF THE REGIMENT. DEFEAT OF SIR CECIL WRAY. HUSTINGS, COVENT GARDEN, WESTMINSTER ELECTION. 1784. BY T. ROWLANDSON.
“Sir Cecil, be aisy, I won’t be unshivil
Now the Man of the Paple is chose in your stead;
From swate Covent Garden you’re flung to the Divil,
By Jabers, Sir Cecil, you’ve bodder’d your head.
“To be sure, much avail to you all your fine spaiches,
’Tis nought but palaver, my honey, my dear,
While all Charley’s voters stick to him like laiches,
A friend to our liberties and our small beer.
“The Irish Chairmen to Sir Cecil Wray.”
[Page 284.
