After the state of the poll was declared, Mr. Methuen thanked the freeholders for the honour they had done him by placing him at the head of the poll; and said, that his friends were now convinced, by the state of the poll, that his election was sure; he, therefore, thought that the story of coalition was entirely disbelieved.

The usual symphony of hisses, groans, &c. announced to us that Mr. Benett was on the hustings; that gentleman, by the great exertions of Mr. Long Wellesley, obtained something like a hearing; but whether he studied under Demosthenes or Cicero, or any of the ancient orators, we cannot say, but so entirely different was his manner from that of modern orators, that astonishment arrested the pen, and hinder us from giving the detached sentences that dropped from his mouth. He said something about the promise be made before of gaining upon his opponent. His speech, like the half impelled wheel, reverted continually to the same subject. The gentleman retired amid the delectable sounds of goose music.

Mr. L. Wellesley (cheered from all quarters) then came forward, and said, "If, gentlemen, the success which the hon. gentleman boasts of is gratifying to him, I am very happy that he feels gratified. Gentlemen, I have at present on the ground one hundred and forty unpolled voters, and those will the first thing to-morrow morning give their voices for me. This, gentlemen, added to the numerous arrivals which I expect to-morrow, will place me proudly pre-eminent over my opponent.-Gentlemen, another circumstance conduced. to the gratification of the gentleman; a carriage with a number of my friends, broke down, and hindered them from arriving in time to poll; I have, gentlemen, a habit of rising late, and as I am seldom put out of my way, I indulged that. propensity this morning, and my friends seem to have followed my example; no doubt they stopped to have a comfortable breakfast, and by that means gave an advantage to my opponent. To-morrow, gentleman, will be a proud day for us, and will prove, that however others may be buoyed up by this apparent success, I will be finally successful; and I will, as I generally do, and as I believe the hon. gentleman does, go to church on Sunday with a mind calm as it is at present. Notwithstanding all that has been said about coalition, I shall beg to say a few words on this subject: there is no coalition between me and Mr. Methuen: but, gentlemen, I must say that I have the highest respect for Mr. M. and feel happy, very happy at his success. I now again call upon my friends to come forward and prove to the gentleman who feels so gratified, that my triumph is certain."

Y Y

Falsehoods Evasions-Misrepresentations.

1. Mr. L. Wellesley represents the Friends of Mr. Benett as under the influence of Clubs and Magistrates, whom he calls a notorious Quorum;-it is a notorious falsehood.

II. He affirms that had it not been for Mr. Benett the Corn Bill would never have been thought of;-he alone would have thought of imposing such a falsehood on the inhabitants of the county.

III. He represents the Corn Bill as oppressive to the Poor, thus endeavouring to excite disaffection and tumult;-but all the world knows that he voted for the Corn Bill himself.

IV. He affirms that he did not apply at the Treasury with intent to injure Mr. Salmon, of Devizes; it is proved that he did apply to the Treasury clerk. On that subject his pitiful shifts, evasions, and falsehoods, are endless.

V. He asserts that the disorder and tumult at Devizes on the day of Nomination, arose from those who wore Mr. Benett's colours and no others; five thousand persons at least know that this is a falsehood.

Brother Freeholders-Pause, reflect, and contrast with this train of falsehood, the ingenious and gentlemanly conduct of Mr. Benett and Mr. Methuen.

A FREEHOLDER.

To the Freeholders of the County of Wilts. GENTLEMEN,-I beg leave again to congratulate you upon the certain prospect of Mr. Benett's election as a representative in Parliament for this county, and upon the evident. decrease of the ill founded prejudices against him. It is surely high time that the disgraceful mode of hostility adopted against that gentleman should cease. That a "stranger," a "court candidate," a "thick-and-thin" ministerial member of Parliament should be a favourite with the populace, is most certainly new in the annals of elections; and it is with great pleasure I see that the lower classes now begin to perceive their blunder; for should this system of intimidation succeed, I fear we shall be called " Moon-Rakers" to all eternity. These misguided people think that

Because Mr. Benett recommended the keeping out foreign wheat at a time when the produce of this country fetched but 30s. or 40s. a quarter, he is answerable for the Corn Bill that afterwards passed in Parliament, and must be a man that wishes to starve the poor. (It should not be forgotten that Mr. Long Wellesley voted for this Corn Bill.)

Because Mr. Benett recommended the planting of potatoes in all small waste pieces of ground, he must be a man that thinks potatoes food good enough for the poor.

And because Mr. Benett recommended the mixture of barley-meal with wheaten flour in times of scarce crops of wheat, he must be a man that thinks barley food good enough for the poor.

What can be more absurd than for beings deemed rational to think as above? What can be more wicked than to misrepresent Mr. Benett's evidence in the House of Peers, and to foist it upon the public in the manner that it has been printed by the degraded Hunt?

A. B.

To the Freeholders of the County of Wilts. GENTLEMEN.-The little ground I have lost this day, has arisen purely from accidental circumstances. At the moment that the poll was closed, the booths were crowded with my friends giving their votes, one hundred and forty of whom were then on the ground, and could not be polled from not being up in time. Had they arrived half an hour earlier, I should have more than maintained my majority. Every exertion was made, every nerve strained by Mr. Benett to place himself above me to-day. With all those exertions he was unable to attain his object; and I speak with the most perfect confidence when I state to you that to-morrow night an end will be put to the exultations of Mr. Benett and his friends, by your seeing me with a majority so commanding, that there will no longer be a doubt of my success.

I am, Gentlemen, your devoted faithful servant,
W.LONG WELLESLEY.

June 26, 1818.

STATE OF THE POLL THIS DAY.

Long Wellesley, 792; Methuen, 1273; Benett, 781.

To the Freeholders of the County of Wilts. GENTLEMEN,-The decided majority of which I have to boast demands my best thanks and acknowledgements to those freeholders who have done me the honour of contributing to my success.

The circumstance of my not having a larger number of voters on this day is the most satisfatory refutation of the false charge of a coalition, as each Candidate polled a number of single votes, and I divided many with each of the other Gentlemen.

However triumphant my superiority, let me entreat my friends to continue their present exertions, nor relax in the smallest degree their endeavours to secure my election, as long as the Poll remains open, however high I may be placed upon it through their kindness and activity.

Fully aware of the value of the support which I have met with, and highly grateful for the warm manner with which the county at large has received me,

I have the honour to subscribe myself, Gentlemen,
Your most devoted and grateful humble servant,
PAUL METHUEN.

Salisbury, June 27, 1818.

STATE OF THE POLL THIS DAY:Methuen, 1586; Long Wellesley, 1105; Benett, 934.

To the Freeholders of the County of Wilts.

GENTLEMEN, The events which have hitherto taken place during the Poll, cannot discourage us from persevering in the glorious contest in which we are engaged, to secure the independence of the county, and to maintain the freedom of election.

The numerous friends which I have yet unpolled in many districts, and particularly in the northern hundreds of the county, whom it has hitherto been impossible to bring forward, will very shortly shew by their presence and support at the Poll, which of the two Candidates are ultimately to be the choice of the independent freeholders, and to enjoy the distinguished honour of representing you in Parliament.

My opponent, Mr. Wellesley, has obtained a transient superiority on the Poll, from unforeseen circumstances. Many of my friends have been prevented from presenting themselves by the system of terror acted upon before and since the commencement of the election, wholly incompatible with the rights of the electors and the principles of the constitution. But the triumph which is gained by such extraordinary means cannot be of long duration.

All obstructions at the place of election are removed, and my friends may come to the hustings without danger or insult. Be not intimidated, Brother Freeholders, the day of our triumph is near.-I remain, Gentlemen,

Ever your most obedient and devoted servant, June 27, 1818.

JOHN BENETT.

To the Freeholders of the County of Wilts. GENTLEMEN, The predictions of my friends are realized, and your exertions in my favour have nearly doubled that majority by which I stood distinguished on Thursday's Poll. When I threw myself upon the kindness of the freeholders of Wiltshire, I founded my hope of success upon a knowledge of the firmness of their principles and the independence of their character.

I regretted that I was personally a stranger among you, but I felt that you would consider with liberality and indulgence, the circumstances which gave me that close and deeprooted connection with your interests, which nothing can remove or destroy; this you have done, and my gratitude for it has inspired me with a zeal for your interests more ardent than the casual advantages of birth, upon which my opponent founds so much of his pretensions to your favour, could have done.

Your zealous support this day does not suffer me to entertain a doubt of our ultimate success, but it is not enough that our triumph should be finally secure, it must be prompt, conspicuous, and decisive.

No object can be more desirable, or is nearer my heart, than the restoration of tranquillity and harmony to this great and opulent county; the best means of effecting it will be by the early and strenuous exertions of my friends to procure for me such an overwhelming majority on the Poll, as must deprive my opponent of all hopes of success, and leave any ill-advised continuance of the struggle to be ascribed to other motives, than a rational expectation of representing you in Parliament.

June 27, 1818.

I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,

Your devoted faithful servant,

W. LONG WELLESLEY.

To the Freeholders of the County of Wilts. THE HUSTINGS, June 27. FREEHOLDERS.-The underneath voluntary affidavit of most respectable persons, just put into my hands, has been particularly pleasing to me, as it clearly evinces that my friends are most desirous to maintain the public tranquillity, and effectually repels the unfounded accusation brought against them of exciting tumult.

Let me implore of them to conduct themselves with the moderation and temper they are now doing, as they will do honour to the character of English men, and ensure to themselves and me a proud triumph.

I am, Gentlemen, your devoted faithful servant, W. LONG WELESLEY. (COPY.)-Wilts, to wit.-The several informations of William Pearce, cabinet-maker; William Payne, yeoman; and Jeremiah Payne, oat-meal maker; all of Warminster, in the said county, taken before me, Thomas Hele Phipps, Esq. one