Part 65 (1/2)
The number of voters was little more than thirty; and the first business, after our arrival, was to invite the been reuilty of actions of which individually they would each be ashamed In an assembly, however, the purpose of which is conscious iniquity, feho have not witnessed such scenes, will be aware of the efforts that each ht intentions: or of the eager assent hich his endeavours will be seconded by his associates
In the present instance, for example, ere the motives of the worthy electors? Sir Barnard explained them, to the perfect satisfaction of all parties
But ere they? The love of the constitution: the honest struggles that honest er and laudable attempts to free an oppressed and ruined country, relieve it of its taxes, recover its trade, and revive the glory of old England: to effect these great and good purposes was the whole and sole end at which they aihs, cities, and counties of Great Britain but as virtuous as those of the borough of , it would indeed be a happy land
Yet, strange to say, what differentvirtue wear! State the per contra Iine only how many free and independent electors were at this period exulting, in a si their votes for the support of government, the maintenance of order, and to preserve the ireat financier, the first of orators, the admiration of Europe, and the wonder of the world, in power!
Who will deny that a general election is the season when all the disinterested virtues, all the pure patriotisenerous and best qualities of the soul are called into action? How are the randeur does hu is the point of viehich it is seen! aera of incomprehensible excellence!
Can it be supposed that I, as to be the representative of such free and noble souls, through whose lips their patriotic spirits were to breathe, I, in whom one five-hundredth part of the virtue of the whole island was to be co as I was in coes whose office it was to choose one still e than themselves, thus circumstanced, was it possible that I should not imbibe some portion of their sublime wisdom? Had I no sympathy? Were all my affections and passions and patriotis: and, however inon objects at a distance, I islate for the conduct ofan actor in the scene, whether its atious, I never yet found that I could wholly escape iave toasts, s, ay and wrote them too, and became so incorporated with my constituents, lovers as they were of liberty, that, the cut of our cloaths and countenances excepted, Isapience have been taken for one of themselves
I was little aware, however, when I consented to make this journey, of its consequences Disinterested as these worthy voters were, and purchased by wholesale as they had been when the fah, they yet had wives and daughters; atches, and rings, and gowns; and ould each of theenteel present froive them! Every _particular_ about entlereat affection for a few pounds of the best green tea, bought in London Another discovered that the loaf sugar in the country was abominable A third could not but think that a few jars of India pickles, and preserved ginger, would be a very pretty present It would always reiver A fourth could not but say she _did_ long for a complete suit of lace; cap, handkerchief, and ruffles: and so on through the whole list
The s With one it was London porter: with another it was Cheshi+re cheese and bottled beer They would both drink to the donor Their neighbour longed very vehe that the anireat a favourite to be parted with, he compounded for twelve dozen of old port
When these hints, which looked very like de ht to be cos were politic, and customary; and that a seat in parliament, even when bestoas not to be had free of expence
What could be done? To have required him to pay these disbursements would have had so much the appearance of meanness, that it hat I could not propose To request a loan in advance of Mr Evelyn was sufficiently grating to the feelings: but he had a liberal spirit, it was the least painful of the two, and I had no other resource Fortune hetting the darts she soon intended to hurl
CHAPTER VI
_News fro for aid: The period o; universal uproar arrives, and the Baronet pursues his patriotic purposes: A few sketches of a county contest at a general election: Hector loving in his liquor: Qualht very unseasonable and very ridiculous: The incomprehensible defection of Sir Barnard, and the suspicion that lights onour tieously to the Baronet's interest,' we received intelligence of our quonda the county, in which they had vowed opposition to each other, with indefatigable zeal: so that a ruinous contest, probably to both parties, was predicted
In this county Sir Barnard himself had some interest: for he had some lands there: and Hector prevailed on a coent style to the Baronet, requesting his aid How could so great a lover of his country as Sir Barnard, indignant too as he felt himself at the apostacy of the Earl, refuse a request by which his own patriotic purposes th parliado, and uproar began God help the poor post-horses, hostlers, and chah was ents were ready, and, as there could be no opposition, our business was soon over It was high time: for my pocket was tolerably drained And as the worthy electors very industriously compared notes, when any one of thereater value than the _compliment_ which he had received, I had immediate intimation of my own injustice: which it was expected I should correct
This serious business settled, and these accounts closed, the Baronet now had leisure to think of his friends; and he turned his thoughts to the annoying of Lord Idford He had purchased h: for he had made me his own member, and meant to profit bytalents I was very engaging a the woh I was rather shy of , which I could likewise make, quite suitable to the occasion' He therefore proposed that we should both journey into enuity, to aid in bringing in my old school-fellow, Hector
It cannot be supposed that, in an affair where the family and the brother of Olivia were so seriously implicated, I could be totally unconcerned With respect to the question of as the reatest orator, the best patriot, or the properest person to take a seat aes, the Earl or the 'Squire, that was not easily determined It was a point therefore that did not disquiet iven with a hearty good will; and we both prepared for the holy work
How it happened that the vice which inevitably attaches itself to such conduct, self-evident, gross, and glaring as it is, fatal to private morals and public virtue, odious in its practice and hellish in its consequences, how the baneful complexion of this monster vice should at first so totally escape ht, confusion of intellect, and eagerness of passion are the only probable conjectures I can make My mind was so intent on the manner in which I could best prove my respect for Olivia, and all that related to her, that this appears to have been a gulph vast enough for all recollection, sense, and idea!
A post-chaise and four soon brought us to the field of battle; and then I own s to awaken
Still it was but gradually that my spirits mounted to the proper tone
Before we entered the place where the election was to be held, we heard the jangling of bells and the shouts of men The postillions spared neither whip nor spur; and, as we galloped furiously along the streets, the people ca us with their shrill trebles; and, it being dark, theto folloith torches and more sonorous hubbub Every inn was a scene of confusion When we drove up to that which was the head-quarters of Hector, his partisans i previously announced our arrival, saluted Sir Barnard with all the force of lungs they could heave: elated in proportion to the uproar they h they were, and heated with anticipated triulorious din, learned its cause, and ca as they did the fuaeese, wines, brandies, beers and tobacco, they all ca; each involved in his own atmosphere