set out with a seeming determination to make "a declaration of his principles," but his attachments were studiously concealed, and as he wished to. conciliate all, and in part effected his purpose, he was soon placed at the head of the poll, before they were fully developed.

His lordship caught hold of the popular feeling, by observing, "that men, actuated by the dictates of conscience, who scorn to be ranked among the great paupers of the nation, and by sinecures and unmerited pensions to drain the resources of their country, may do much good, even if their abilities are small."

He next seems to make a formal dis

men as well as others, in order that information may be given on matters frequently the subject of discussion, by those who, from actual service and recent impressions, can give correct intelligence; and I answer also, that one zealous in the performance of his duty, may be of more real service to his country, than a member who (though always on the spot) is devoted to his pri vate occupations.

"Rest assured, Gentlemen, that if I should be so fortunate as to succeed in attaining my object, you will find that I have not made propositions without a full intention to perform them.

"I shall not willingly be deficient in the personal respect I feel most anxious to shew to you individually, by soliciting your votes and interest in my favour, as far as it is in my power. Your liberality will induce you to attribute any omission to the difficul ties I must encounter; which, I am confident of overcoming, supported by that independent spirit that has ever characterised the city of Westminster.

"I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,

"with the greatest respect, "Your most obedient and very faithful servant, "COCHRANE."

Harley-street, April 29, 1807.

avowal of all party connexions whatsoever, and ароlogises for his late vote against Catholic emancipation, under pretence of its "being productive of religious dissensions in the naval service." After this, he obliquely hints at his "professional life,” and combats the opinion, "that a naval officer, liable to be called from his constituents, is unfit to attend to their interests, and perform his duty in Parliament," in the best manner that such an objection could be met.

On the first day of the election, the noble commander, in full uniform, addressed the electors from the hustings, in a speech which was heard with great attention, and produced considerable sensation. He accordingly outnumbered his rivals during that and several succeeding days; but by this time, a generous compassion had seized on the minds of the people relative to Sir Francis Burdett, whose life was exposed to the most imminent danger, and who remained for a considerable time inconscious of the efforts of his friends. They were reminded of the independence of his character, the integrity of his life, the zeal with which he had combated every species of abuse, whether it was corruption in one quarter of the metropolis, or tyranny, veiled under the form of justice, in another. These considerations, added to the zeal of the committee who had advocated his cause, and who, without either his privity or his purse, carried on the contest, at length produced such an effect, that his name was placed at the head of the poll.

Accordingly, on the 12th of May, the numbers for the respective candidates stood as follows:'

On this day, the gallant Captain, who for the first time found himself in the Baronet's wake, instead of leading the van division as heretofore, recurred with redoubled force to the popular topics he had before reiterated, and after descanting on naval abuses in general, asked, " what they thought of purchasing the worst, instead of the best vessels for the navy, for the sake of procuring borough interest? He might lead them along the Channel to Gibraltar, and up the Mediterranean, and disclose such things as would make them shudder," &c. &c. On the other hand, it was retorted on the noble commander, that these supposed malversations were either greatly exaggerated, or never existed; and as his lordship had observed with honest warmth in the heat of debate," that a member for a rotten borough, who spoke against abuses, must feel as if he had a dirty shirt," it was asked of him, whether he had not given so much per man to some of the electors of the borough of Honiton ?” &c. In the course of next day, on being pushed for facts to support his assertions relative to the navy, his lordship instanced the case of the Atlante

66

sloop, which he said had gone to the bottom, and added, that all the crew of the Felix schooner had perished, one man only excepted;"* both of which events were produced by mismanagement. He was at the same time pleased to make some strong allusions to the conduct of a great naval officer, lately ennobled.

He also dexterously parried the question about the intercourse with the Duke of Portland and Mr. Huskisson, by stating, that he had solicited an interview on purpose to remark, "that he hoped no

undue influence would be exercised on his account." As to the reproach, that he had not brought forward the abuses alluded to before, while a member of the last parliament, his lordship pleaded the state of his "health," and ended with a panegyric on the king," who, during a long reign, had been the protector of the constitution and the people's rights," and who "must have the power of dismissing his ministers, for they would never dismiss themselves, especially with all the appendages of corruption attached to the situation."

In short, the noble lord appears to have entered into the true spirit of electioneering contests, and to have been nearly as much at home on land as at sea, amidst the bustle of Covent Garden hustings,

*It is but fair here to state, that a letter was read next day on the hustings, from Commodore Keate, addressed to Earl St. Vincent, taking the whole of the accusation upon himself, and denying the positions alluded to.

as in the thick of an engagement. But what is not a little wonderful on this occasion, is the fact, that all the candidates, or their friends, one only excepted (Mr. Elliot), professed a similarity of principles with Sir Francis, and actually requested to be taken in tow by the partizans of the Baronet. At length, after a memorable struggle, the poll concluded, and the following was declared to be a true statement of the numbers:

、

of

The subject of this memoir was accordingly seated for the second city in the kingdom, at a very trifling expence, and began soon after to endeavour to realize his promises to his constituents. His lordship, accordingly, on June 7, 1807, made a motion relative to the state of the navy, for the purpose adducing certain charges against an admiral, who had lately commanded the Channel fleet. On this occasion, several of the most distinguished officers in the sea-service differed from the noble lord, and as he was not supported by the ministers, nothing was effected.

One part of his conduct, however, appears to have been highly meritorious, we mean the motion of July 7, 1807, for a committee to enquire into, and report to the House of Commons, 1808-1809.

X