“This time then be bold, Be not bought and sold,
Nor let Monsieur’s old Tricks still seduce ye,
Like our Forefathers try, Or to conquer or die,
Ere France to a province reduce ye.
“Hessian Troops are all sham, The Neutrality damn,
The Convention, and ev’ry Vagary;
The money they’ve got, All is now gone to pot,
And so is the Queen of Hungary.
“But send Ships and Food, To Vernon, that’s good,
For unless Heaven feed him with Manna,
His designs they’ll defeat, For without men and meat,
How can he e’er take the Havanna.
“Besides, let us send, a true militant Friend,
Nor longer be Bob’s, or Spain’s dupe a;
They there would agree,—Both by Land and by Sea,
And soon be the masters of Cuba.”
The managers of what was called the “Country party” consisted of those who entitled themselves “patriots,” and were active in promoting the “good cause.” The victory which in 1741 unseated Wager and Sundon, and moreover inflicted so heavy a blow upon Walpole’s influence that he lost his corrupt majority, and subsequently retired from the struggle, was annually commemorated by an association of members of the constituency which had been the first to assert its independence. An invitation was issued to the voters to meet together to celebrate this anniversary; a copperplate, neatly engraved, surmounted by an allegorical design, and surrounded by an elegant frame or border, formed the ticket:—
“The Independent Electors of Westminster
Are desired to meet at Vintners’ Hall, Thames Street,
On Friday, the 15 Feb. 1744,At 3 o’clock, to Dine together, in order to Commemorate their Success on the 22nd of December, 1741, and further to promote the same Public Spirit.
| George Dodington, Esq. | } | Stewards | { Lord George Graham. |
| Charles Edwin, Esq. | } | { George Grenville, Esq. | |
| Thomas Gore, Esq. | } | { Sir John Phillips, Bart. | |
| Pray Pay the Bearer 5 shils.” | |||
The design which heads this dinner-ticket represents Hercules and Britannia driving away the Harpies presumed to have been preying upon corruption; the Goddess of Liberty, with the British lion by her side, is trampling on prostrate venality,—two figures, with bags of money and a heap of gold, cast down ignominiously.
“The Body of Independent Electors of Westminster” was evidently constituted into a society, at first exclusively for the furtherance of patriotic views, but, as the Court party alleged in 1745, to spread Jacobite sentiments. The excitement evoked by the rising of the Scottish clans and proclamation of the Young Pretender in 1745 was still at its height; the gaols were filled with Scotch rebels, and the famous trial of Lord Lovat, which only commenced on the 9th of March, was absorbing popular attention to the extinction of everything but Jacobite plots, both real and feigned. As the patriotic party had long been in antagonism with the Court, whose ministers had been defeated through this influence, and the dissolution of Parliament was impending, those in office neglected no opportunity of bringing the so-called “friends of the people” into evil repute. On the assumption that all weapons are lawful in electioneering warfare, much political capital was manufactured out of the Pretender’s fiasco; and the Scottish Rebellion was seized as an opportunity to stigmatize all persons of integrity, and those who were declared enemies of the corrupt Administration then in power, as Jacobites and sympathizers with the rebels.
“The Independent Electors of the City and Liberty of Westminster” held their anniversary festival at Vintners’ Hall, on the 19th of March, 1747. The Stewards were the Earl of Lichfield, Earl of Orrery, Viscount Andover, Sir R. Bamfylde, George Heathcote, and Thomas Carew. On this occasion the stewards for the ensuing year were chosen; they were Lord Ward, Lord Windsor, Sir James Dashwood, Sir Charles Tynte, Sir Thomas Clarges, and George Cooke (who was then canvassing Middlesex). On the conclusion of the business of the afternoon, and after the festivities, toasts, as was customary, began to be proposed. The London Evening Post gives a list of these healths, beginning with “The King;” but, as an implication of Jacobite proclivities, it is added in another paper that the royal health was honoured in the recognized Jacobite fashion—to “Charley over the Water:”—“Each man having a glass of water on the left hand, and waving the glass of wine over the water,”—but this accusation was probably a bold electioneering ruse. The succeeding toasts were as follows:—“The Prince;” “The Duke;” “Prosperity to the independent electors of Westminster;” “Prosperity to the city of London and the trade thereof;” “Thanks to the Worshipful Company of Vintners’ for the use of their Hall;” “The Lord Mayor of London;” “Success to the arms of Great Britain by sea and land;” “To the annexing Cape Breton to the Crown of Great Britain;” “That the spirit of independency may diffuse itself through the nation;” “That the enemies of Great Britain may never eat the bread nor drink the drink thereof;” “That the Naturalization Bill may be kicked out of the House, and the foreigners out of the kingdom;” “That the darkening our windows may enlighten our understanding” (tax upon light); “To all those that dare—be honest;” “The stewards elect;” “The late stewards, with thanks for the trouble they have taken;” “Our old Friend ——.”