“This little Lord, conscious that he had no right To a _Post_ which requir’d, not to Fiddle, but Fight; Resolved that for once he’d assume martial airs, And in the _Haymarket_ protect the FRENCH PLAYERS. “He flew, he appear’d, and he heard a strange roar; The like had ne’er tickl’d his soft ears before; Then to set an example to future _Protectors_, He drew forth his TILTER--_and at his_ ELECTORS. “Shock’d at this rough treatment, in print they demand, Why, ’gainst his best Friends, he thus lifted his hand; His answer was full of mean _Equivocation_, Which made them the jest and contempt of the Nation.” [Illustration: BRITANNIA DISTURBED BY FRENCH VAGRANTS. LORD TRENTHAM FOR WESTMINSTER. 1749. [_Page 121._] The caricaturists endorsed this view. In “Britannia Disturbed, or an Invasion by French Vagrants, addressed to the worthy Electors of the City of Westminster,” 1749, Lord Trentham is trying to force these importations on Britannia, who is nursing “Lunn” (Rich), and “Fribble;” these she declares “are my only Theatrical children, I will cherish no Foreign vagrants.” “Peg” Trentham, with drawn sword, is asserting that he will perforce cram these “entertaining dear creatures” down the throat of the nation; the strollers are like marionettes, and wear wooden shoes, as a hint of French neediness. Earl Gower is anxious for his rash scion’s future prospects: “My long-headed son will smart for this scheme.” “Push on, my Lord,” is the encouragement of “a subscriber.” “Bludgeon-men, at two shillings a day,” engaged for the election, are making a demonstration of force, and shouting for their employer’s glorification. This Westminster election is said to have been one of the most expensive contests that the Government had as yet experienced. The following epigram describes a supposed conversation between Lord Trentham and his father:-- “Quoth L--d G--r [_Lord Gower_] to his son, ‘Boy, thy frolic and place Full deep will be paid for by us and his g----e [_grace_]: Ten thousand twice over advanced!’--‘_Veritable, Mon pere_,’ cry’d the youth; ‘but the D--e [_Duke_] you know’s able: Nor blame my _French frolics_; since all men are certain, You’re doing behind, what I did ‘fore the curtain.’” At the conclusion of the polling there appeared a majority for Lord Trentham, but his opponents demanded a scrutiny; and this scrutiny proved so laborious and difficult, or the parties interested in opposing the Court threw so many obstacles in the way, that it led to a quarrel with the House of Commons, which lasted some months, and gave a double celebrity to the Westminster Election of 1749. The most was made of Lord Trentham’s Gallic proclivities, which were held up to ridicule in ingenious satires. The following handbill is an example of the squibs circulated by his opponents during the election:-- “AUX ELECTEURS TRÈS DIGNES DE WESTMINSTER. “MESSIEURS--