It was found that this charge required explanation. It appeared that the attorney, by way of promoting the interests of his principal in the borough, had sought to propitiate the favour of those important potentates at electioneering times, the mayor and corporation, in whose hands, as seen in the foregoing, was vested so much of the local influence. A pretext was necessary to decoy these worthies to a banquet, where they might be conciliated, so the attorney sent cards of invitation to the mayor and corporation in the name of the colonel and officers of a regiment in the town; he at the same time invited the colonel and staff, in the name of the mayor and corporation, to dine and drink the king’s health on his birthday;--an ingenious _ruse_, but the arch-diplomatist had literally “reckoned without his host.” The two parties met, were cordially courteous, ate a good dinner, toasted his majesty’s health, and proceeded to other oratorical compliments before breaking up. Then came the acknowledgments: the commanding officer of the regiment made a handsome speech to Mr. Mayor, thanking him for his hospitable invitation and entertainment; “No, Colonel,” replied the mayor, “it is to you that thanks are due, by me and my brother-aldermen for your generous treat to us.” The colonel replied with as much warmth as good breeding would allow; the mayor retorted in downright anger, vowing that he would not be choused by the bravest colonel in His Majesty’s service. “Mr. Mayor,” said the colonel, “there is no necessity for displaying any vulgar passion on this occasion; permit me to show you that I have here your obliging card of invitation.” “Nay, Mr. Colonel, here is no opportunity for bantering, there is your card.” The cards were produced simultaneously. Upon examining the invitations, it was observed that, notwithstanding an attempt to disguise the hand, both cards were written by some person who had designed to hoax them all. Every eye of the discomfited guests, corporation and officers alike, turned spontaneously upon the attorney, who had, of course, found it necessary to be present to flatter the aldermen; his impudence suddenly gave way, he faltered and betrayed himself so fully by his confusion, that, in a fit of summary justice, the colonel threw him out of window; for this, Sir F. B. Delaval was charged £500. Among the parodies of election addresses issued at the time of the rival Shelburne and Rockingham parties, is a broadside “embellished” with a copperplate engraving of a whimsical assembly of citizens, met in solemn conclave to examine the political views of a deformed sweeper-lad, “a public character,” who, it appears, was nicknamed by his contemporaries “Sir Jeffery Dunstan.” The pointed satire is thus headed:-- “‘What can we reason but from what we know?’--POPE. “SIR JEFFERY DUNSTAN’S ADDRESS TO THE WORTHY ELECTORS OF THE ANCIENT BOROUGH OF GARRATT,