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than eighty-two, though Conway retired without voting, and the gallant marquis (1) voted for it. The numbers were 137 to 219. My brother made what was universally deemed the best speech he ever made against expulsion. (2) Mr. Pitt (3) spoke and voted as my brother. Wilkes stands again. The Solicitor-general, Hussey, Pratt, &c., absent. The accumulated crimes of No. 45, the impious and obscene libel, and that against Lord Weymouth, are the foundation of this expulsion; so that in the debate every man dwelt upon the crime he most detested, and disapproved of the punishment for the rest. The various flowers of their eloquence composed a most delightful noseBurke spoke admirably; so did a Mr.

gay. Cornwall.

Ever warmly and affectionately the brother of Hayes,

TEMPLE.

of this House, who hath at the bar of this House certified himself to be the author and publisher of what this House has resolved to be an insolent, scandalous, and seditious libel, and who has been convicted in the court of King's Bench of having printed and published a seditious libel, and three obscene and impious libels, and by the judgment of the said court has been sentenced to undergo twenty-two months' imprisonment, and is now in execution under the said judgment, be expelled this House."

(1) The Marquis of Granby.

(2) With the exception of Mr. George Grenville's celebrated speech upon this occasion, which he corrected and published, from the minutes supplied to him by Sir Henry Cavendish, no report of this debate is preserved in any of the collections. (3) Mr. Thomas Pitt, afterwards Lord Camelford. Vol. I. p. 57.

See

EARL TEMPLE TO THE COUNTESS OF CHATHAM.

Thursday, past five. [March 9, 1769.]

MUCH mortified, my dear sister, at the unexpected return of that unwelcome guest, the gout. Best and kindest wishes are not wanting on the occasion; but, alas! what does that avail? The Dingleyans, apprehensive of being out-voted, had prepared an address ready cut and dried; words en. sued, and the hero of the meeting, Master Dingley, struck Wilkes's attorney, who knocked him down in return, and bade him go to the treasury for more money, as next term he should be put in the crown office. Dingley was then deprived of the honour of presiding, and Vaughan, the merchant, put in the chair, who had taken the lead in the city instructions. The Dingley party retired from the field of battle, and a committee was appointed to draw up an address; which committee was to meet this morning, and a general meeting is to be held to-morrow to receive the report. I have been told that many of the most considerable merchants

(1) "On the 8th of March, several merchants and others met at the King's Arms tavern, in Cornhill, in order to sign an address to the King, which lay ready prepared for that purpose. A warm debate ensued upon the propriety of the measure, and from words they came to blows. Mr. Charles Dingley, a zealous advocate for the address, struck Mr. Reynolds, the attorney of Wilkes, and the attorney, in return, knocked Mr. Dingley down; the fray beginning to spread, the address was withdrawn, and the chief promoters of it followed it." Annual Register.

-

Dingley's

on the side of liberty were present. address is likewise signing, and I suppose the whole will afford matter for diversion at least. (1)

(1) On the 16th of March, Mr. Wilkes was again returned for Middlesex. Upon this occasion, Mr. Dingley made an attempt to oppose the popular candidate; but being roughly handled by the populace, he was compelled to retire. Just as the sheriffs had declared Mr. Wilkes duly elected, a protest against the legality of the proceeding was presented to them; but as no one had stepped forward to propose Mr. Dingley, it was disregarded. The following amusing account of this gentleman's "scuffle" at the King's Arms tavern, and of his "hair-breadth 'scapes" at Brentford, is contained in a letter from himself to Lady Chatham:-"Your Ladyship has certainly heard of my late adventure, &c. &c. In 1745, I entered myself a common soldier in the foot-guards. The remains of the same spirit of loyalty, and the desire to do some notable act, induced me to offer my services to snatch and destroy the dagger of confusion and rebellion, by representing the county of Middlesex. That I did not succeed (which may be for the best, as to me), was a mishap. I got into a scuffle a week before that of Brentford, and by a blow I gave Wilkes's attorney, Reynolds, I got such a hurt from his teeth, as to make my right hand very lame and useless. In this plight I sallied forth for Brentford: the timidity was so epidemic, that I had not one freeholder to attend me, or upon the hustings, as I could see; but of the adverse party in number three or four hundred, who all bore upon me to prevent my getting to offer myself as a candidate. Could I have got to have offered myself, I believe four to five hundred would have polled for me. I have been much threatened, had incendiary letters, &c. &c.; but have been brave and well, until within a few days past, when I was seized with agonizing pain; and it is thought owing to a crush at the door in getting upon the hustings; but God be thanked, from the application used, I have got rid of all pain, and am getting well. Thus much by way of recital," &c. &c. According to Junius, "the miserable Dingley" was induced by the Duke of Grafton to oppose Wilkes for Middlesex, and died shortly after of a broken heart, in consequence of having been so contemptuously treated. He was a great projector, and proprietor of the saw-mills at Limehouse.

Burke made a motion yesterday to inquire into the recent riots in St. George's Fields. George Grenville, it seems, took part against it, and the Rockinghams were left under forty. (') The Duke of Newcastle expressed to Lord Coventry this morning great impatience for Lord Chatham's arrival at court, and in the closet. I just relate what passed, for the amusement of any interval of pain; sorry there should be so powerful a veto as has now taken his Lordship by the foot. So, with many thanks for the hospitality of Hayes, I remain ever

Your sincerely affectionate

TEMPLE.

EARL TEMPLE TO THE COUNTESS OF CHATHAM.

Friday, past eight. [April 14, 1769.]

I AM this instant come from the House of Commons, who have voted the election of Wilkes void. The sheriffs, after waiting for them long, at last appeared, and the poll is brought up; but by consent the House is to adjourn till Saturday or Monday; upon which they are now debating. The resolution is to bring in Luttrell. Every thing passed quietly at Brentford; the numbers for Wilkes 1143, for Luttrell 296, for Whitaker 5, for Roach 0. Illuminations, from Northumberland

(1) Mr. Burke's motion was negatived by 245 against 39.

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House all through the city, but no riot nor compulsion; the spirit very much alive and very universal indeed. Middlesex will address the King to dissolve the parliament; which will be instantly followed by the lord mayor and livery of London. I suppose I shall be in the House of Commons till Sunday morning. (1) Calcraft hears that the ministry are all together by the ears, and that a change is resolved. How unaccountable is every thing! Kind loves, and ever most truly and affectionately, TEMPLE.

THE MARQUIS OF GRANBY TO THE EARL OF
CHATHAM.

MY LORD,

Knightsbridge, April 27, 1769.

It is with the truest satisfaction that I hear your Lordship is recovered from your late attack of the gout. I hope this last fit will fully re-establish your Lordship's health. Whenever that health will permit, and it is convenient to you to admit a sincere well wisher to pay his respects to your Lordship, if you will do me the honour to let me

(1) On Friday the 14th, as soon as the House of Commons had voted Mr. Wilkes's re-election void, the sheriffs were ordered to attend the House with the poll; but as no notice had been given them, the night was so far advanced before they came, that the House, after a division of 207 to 115, adjourned to the following day, which was Saturday; when, after a long debate, which lasted till three on Sunday morning, Mr. Luttrell was declared duly elected, by 197 against 143.

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