We must be brief with its representative and political history. "Out brief candle!" It has sent members since the 23rd Edward I. Bribery and other irregularities against the sitting members in procuring votes were proved in 1696: in 1708, Sir Charles Bloyce, one of the bailiffs was returned, but upon a petition proving bribery, menaces, treating, &c. this was proved to be "no return:" Sir Charles was declared not capable of being elected, "as being one of the bailiffs; nor had the other bailiff alone any authority to make a return, the two bailiffs making but one officer."[1] In 1722 another bribery petition was presented, but the affair was made up, and the complaint withdrawn. After this display of venality, it is amusing to read that the corporation consists of two bailiffs and twelve _capital_ burgesses.[2] [1] The reader may often have noticed in county advertisements the two sheriffs designated as _one officer_. Thus, in the advertisement of the recent Middlesex election:-- SIR CHAPMAN MARSHALL, } Sheriff of Middlesex. SIR W.H. POLAND. } [2] This reminds one of the admiration of the Lord Mayor in Richard III. by George the Second, so ill-timedly expressed by the King to Garrick, the stage king:-- "Fine Lord Mayor! capital Lord Mayor! where you get such Lord Mayor?" Mr. Oldfield described this borough fourteen years ago, as consisting of only forty-two houses, and _half a church_, the other part having been demolished. Here _were_ six if not eight parish churches: namely, St. John's, (which was a rectory, and seems to have been swallowed up by the sea about the year 1540;) St. Martin's, St. Nicholas's, and St. Peter's, which were likewise rectories; and St. Leonard's and All Saints, which were impropriated. The register of Eye also mentions the churches of St. Michael and St. Bartholomew, which were swallowed up by the sea before the year 1331. The ocean here appears to have almost a corporation swallow. The walls, which encompassed upwards of seven acres of land, had three gates. That to the eastward is quite demolished; but the arches of the two gates to the westward continue pretty firm, and are of curious workmanship, which nature has almost covered with ivy. By aid of the excellent parliamentary _anatomy_, in the _Spectator_ newspaper, we learn that DUNWICH, according to the census of 1821, contained 200 persons. The "patrons," or "prevailing influence," are Mr. M. Barne and Lord Huntingfield. The number of votes is 18. The members "returned" to the last parliament were F. Barne and the Earl of Brecknock, who were also returned at the recent election. * * * * *