“The populace, to show their zeal on this occasion, dressed up a figure of a certain Excise gentleman (Sir Robert Walpole to wit) with blue paper round his shoulders (intended for the riband of the Garter, always alluded to with spite by the prime minister’s adversaries), a pipe in his mouth (Tobacco Bill), and several Florence flasks about his neck (referring to the proposed duty on wines), then mounted him upon a mule, and led him round the town in procession.” (_The Grub Street Journal._) On the same authority (No. 230), under date Wednesday, May 23, 1734, is announced the sudden demise of the leading candidate: “On Monday, about five in the afternoon, the Right Hon. the Lord Visc. Vane dropt down dead of an apoplexy, just as he was taking leave of a gentleman, at his seat at Fairlawn in Kent” (_Daily Post_). An early design upon bribery at elections is attributed to Hogarth. This plate was produced during the canvass in 1734, just twenty years before the commencement of the famous “Election” series by the same artist. The print is a small etching, and represents Sir Robert Fagg, an old baronet, seated on horseback, holding a purse in one hand, and offering a bribe of money to a young woman who is standing by his horse’s head; on her arm is a basket of eggs; she is laughing at the canvasser. Sir Robert Fagg was member for Steyning, Sussex. Concerning the baronet it is written, in “The Art of Politicks”-- “Leave you of mighty Interest to brag, And poll two voices like _Sir Robert Fagg_.” “The Humours of a Country Election,” of which the first version appeared in 1734, beyond the light it offers upon the subject in question, is curious and interesting, as Mr. F. G. Stephens is inclined to suggest[40] that Hogarth may have borrowed the idea of illustrating the chief incidents of an election from the “Humours” therein described. The plate is in three divisions, and forms the frontispiece to the collection of songs published under the title of “the Humours of a Country Election” in 1734, at which time there was a general election; it was republished in 1741,[41] under similar circumstances. The print is sufficiently described by the original advertisement, inserted at the time of its publication in the _Grub Street Journal_ (No. 233), June 13, 1734. “_This Day is publish’d_ (Price One Shilling), Neatly printed, and _stitched in blue paper_, ‘The Humours of a Country Election.’” “Being mounted in their best array, Upon a steed, and who but they? And follow’d by a world of tall lads That merry ditties, frolics and ballads, Did ride with many a Good-morrow, Crying, Hey for our Town, thro’ the Borough.” (_Hudibras._) “A motley mixture! in long wigs, in bags, In silks, in crapes, in Garters, and in rags; From Drawing-rooms, from Colleges, from Garrets, On horse, on foot, in Hacks, in gilded Chariots.”