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A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering in the Old Days: Showing the State of Political Parties and Party Warfare at the Hustings and in the House of Commons from the Stuarts to Queen VictoriaGrego, Joseph

History

A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering in the Old Days: Showing the State of Political Parties and Party Warfare at the Hustings and in the House of Commons from the Stuarts to Queen Victoria

Name: A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering in the Old Days: Showing the State of Political Parties and Party Warfare at the Hustings and in the House of Commons from the Stuarts to Queen Victoria
Author: Grego, Joseph

Grego, Joseph

Great Britain -- Politics and government; Great Britain. Parliament -- Election

One of the most remarkable features of the great electioneering contest
of 1784 was the fact of the ex-demagogue Wilkes being returned as
the ministerial candidate, to Pitt’s pronounced gratification too,
for the county of Middlesex. But the ways of statesmen are indeed
wonderful and manifold, and Wilkes, the man without prejudices, and
equally unburdened by principles, was an expedient ally (though a
redoubtable foe). Wilkes, very cleverly and plausibly, upon the score
of Pitt’s constant advocacy of Parliamentary Reform, was enabled to
press upon the freeholders of the county of Middlesex the advisability
of extending their entire support to the “virtuous young Minister,”
whose “liberal and enlightened principles promised to advance the best
interests of the country.”[61]

    “Johnny Wilkes, Johnny Wilkes,
          Thou boldest of bilks,
    What a different song you now sing!
      For your dear _Forty-five_,
        ’Tis _Prerogative_!
    And your blasphemy--‘_God save the King_.’”
                                (_The Backstairs Scoured._)

Wilkes having made the most of his patriotism, after being elected lord
mayor, and subsequently obtaining the lucrative and permanent office
of city chamberlain, now exhibited himself in his true colours--a
remarkable instance of tergiversation, disclaiming his own acts, and
making no scruple of expressing his contempt for the opinions of his
former supporters. On his return for Middlesex in 1784, as one of
“the king’s friends,” the democrats represented the king and Wilkes
hanged on one tree, with the inscription, “Give justice her claims.”
The reconciliation of the “two kings of Brentford” was by no means
popular, and the wits were severe on the fresh departure. One of
these caricatures, May 1, 1784, is entitled, “The New Coalition.” It
represents the King and the ex-archdemagogue fraternally embracing;
Wilkes’s cap of liberty is cast to the ground; he declares to his
Sovereign, “I now find you are the best of princes.” While great George
discovers the erst agitator, his late aversion, “Sure! the worthiest of
subjects and most virtuous of men!”

[Illustration:

    THE NEW COALITION - THE RECONCILIATION OF “THE TWO KINGS OF
    BRENTFORD.” 1784. #/ ]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering in the Old Days: Showing the State of Political Parties and Party Warfare at the Hustings and in the House of Commons from the Stuarts to Queen Victoria

Grego, Joseph

Great Britain -- Politics and government; Great Britain. Parliament -- Election

One of the most remarkable features of the great electioneering contest
of 1784 was the fact of the ex-demagogue Wilkes being returned as
the ministerial candidate, to Pitt’s pronounced gratification too,
for the county of Middlesex. But the ways of statesmen are indeed
wonderful and manifold, and Wilkes, the man without prejudices, and
equally unburdened by principles, was an expedient ally (though a
redoubtable foe). Wilkes, very cleverly and plausibly, upon the score
of Pitt’s constant advocacy of Parliamentary Reform, was enabled to
press upon the freeholders of the county of Middlesex the advisability
of extending their entire support to the “virtuous young Minister,”
whose “liberal and enlightened principles promised to advance the best
interests of the country.”[61]

    “Johnny Wilkes, Johnny Wilkes,
          Thou boldest of bilks,
    What a different song you now sing!
      For your dear _Forty-five_,
        ’Tis _Prerogative_!
    And your blasphemy--‘_God save the King_.’”
                                (_The Backstairs Scoured._)

Wilkes having made the most of his patriotism, after being elected lord
mayor, and subsequently obtaining the lucrative and permanent office
of city chamberlain, now exhibited himself in his true colours--a
remarkable instance of tergiversation, disclaiming his own acts, and
making no scruple of expressing his contempt for the opinions of his
former supporters. On his return for Middlesex in 1784, as one of
“the king’s friends,” the democrats represented the king and Wilkes
hanged on one tree, with the inscription, “Give justice her claims.”
The reconciliation of the “two kings of Brentford” was by no means
popular, and the wits were severe on the fresh departure. One of
these caricatures, May 1, 1784, is entitled, “The New Coalition.” It
represents the King and the ex-archdemagogue fraternally embracing;
Wilkes’s cap of liberty is cast to the ground; he declares to his
Sovereign, “I now find you are the best of princes.” While great George
discovers the erst agitator, his late aversion, “Sure! the worthiest of
subjects and most virtuous of men!”

[Illustration:

    THE NEW COALITION - THE RECONCILIATION OF “THE TWO KINGS OF
    BRENTFORD.” 1784. #/ ]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering in the Old Days: Showing the State of Political Parties and Party Warfare at the Hustings and in the House of Commons from the Stuarts to Queen Victoria

A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering in the Old Days: Showing the State of Political Parties and Party Warfare at the Hustings and in the House of Commons from the Stuarts to Queen Victoria

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