y-'m t? «<%! *£**- ^Bw ,^at,W HySTG "I give theft Books . • iLnsiaaisy • From the COLLECTION OF OXFORD BOOKS made by FALCONER MADAN Bodley's Librarian %^Ja /U-v4/k^t»* SECOND PART OF A COLLECTION OF THE HAND-BILLS, ADDRESSES, SONGS, AND OTHER /_ -_\ P UBLICA TIONS, '\0ZZ^?J WHICH HAVE BEEK CIRCULATED RELATIVE TO THI LATE ELECTION OF MEMBERS REPRESENT THE CITY OF OXFORD THE PRESENT PARLIAMENT. PRINTED BY AND FOR R. SLATTER and J. MUNDAY. 1803, By Sb a JPART II> No. XCIL THE BRITISH FARMER'S MASTIFFS. Addreffed to the Freemen of Oxford. Attend, Brother Freemen, I'll tell you a ftory, Of a pair of Englifh Mailiffs, their matter's pride and glory; They ferv'd one Farmer Oxford, as the ftory it is told, Sif, The one his houfehold guardian was, the other watch'd his fold, Sir, ZJow^rugw,. ivoiv, &JV. The names of thefe two honeft Dogs, were Trqeman and Pcofrism-, Neither bribery or promifes would make either a defefior?jf Many years they, ferv'd the Farmer, with integrity and care, Sir, And were neither Chain' d or Collar'd Dog*/, but temp'rate tho' fincere, Sic fiow, ivoiv, w™, &r. Did a villain moft nefarious, his, houfe' attempt to break, Sir, Or fly old Reynard from his rlocjc,. a lamb attempt to take, Sirj , Thefe faithful, trufty fervantss were evewjjpi the watcjj, Sir, His enemies affuredly,.„to fmftrate, or,,to catch, Sir* Bvaiy WOV/f IVOIV, &f(P. Two neighbour* of the Farmer's who envied hh dogs merit, {One Mr. Opposition, and Mr. Party-Spirit)j To foment difcord betwixt them, was the fummit of their jfafhes, Pretending this was worn out,' th.at fjyallow'd loaves and fulies. Bow, wu>f view, (sic, 8 138 ) Both thefe fictitious Advocates prefumed to advife him, To get him to difcard.his dogs, each feparately tries him; One recommends, a fnarling'idog that's us'd tcj bark in court, Sir, The other mews a cat's-paw, fit for neither yard or fport, Sir. Boiv, 1V01D, IVOIV, Csfe. When the venerable Farmer had heard each wight's opinion, He thank'd, with much urbanity, each interfering minion; Says he ¦ my dogs my intereftv have never difregarded, And whilft I live, thofe faithful friends fhall never be difcarded. Boiv, ivoiv, ivoiv, &c«. My fable, Brother Freemen, demands no explanation, This City's ancient liberties, and thofe too of the Nation; By your prefent Reprefentatives have ever been protected, Thus gratitude directs that they mould both be re-elected. Boiv, 1V0.1V, 1V01V, &V„ No. XCIII. To'tTieWorthy Freemen of the City of Oxford. Your votes and interefr. are earneftly requeued in favour of Francis Burton, Efq; to be returned as. your Reprefentative in Parliament at the approaching General Election, as being a Gentleman of found ortho dox principles in Church and State, of unfullied integrity, of the rrroft honourable and independent mind, and one •whofe conduit through life .upon all occafions, public and private, , has been uniformly regulated: by the true fpirit of philanthropy and benevolence. * As having ferved you in the lafi andprefetit Parliament^ faithfully,' and ably. As having diligently,' and confcientioufly difcharged the Important duties of your Recorder and Deputy-Recorder ( *39 ) for one and twenty years, without any gratuity or reward? but the pleafing reflection of having bellowed the fmail falary annexed to thofe offices in charitable donations within the City. ^ And as having, during the whole courfe of his con nection with the City, without oftentatious parade or hypocritical artifice, been the firm Champion of the juft lights and privileges, and properties of his Fellow Citizens. In particular, Mr. Birton (befides the ordinary duties of your Member and Recorder) contributed by his advice and affiftance to the eftabliftiment of your claim to an Exclusive Right of Trade within the City, the grand fource of the prefent wealth and profperity of the Cor poration, and what fo much refults to the advantage of every individual inhabitant. ; Mr. Burton, in the great conteft' in the Houfe of Commons, whether the Abingdon Canal Bill fhould pafs, although then only connected with the City as their Deputy Recorder, difplayed all the zeal an'd" ability of the Friend and the Senator, in oppofing a fcheme which fo ferioufly threatened the commercial interefts of the City of Oxford, and the prefervation- of the ancient courfe of the Rivers Thames and Ifis. Mr. Burton was the principal inftrument in defeating the attempt lately made for taxing the Stock ih Traces* and Perfonal Property of the Citizens, by a temperate and judicious adjuftment of the exifting differences with the Canal Company. Mr. Burton, by the fame prudent means, rendered the Tolls of the Canal Company contributory to the relief of the Poor of Oxford. And Mr. Burton, in obedience to the inflrudiions of his ConftituentSj ably and vigoroufly oppofed in Parlia- k » jnent. the opening of the.Diftilleries, which it was feared! would be the caufe of advancing the price of Grain. , Such, Gentlemen, are among ; the. fervices of Mr. Burton, and within the recolleflion of you all. Such are 5his Pretentions to your favour, and in the mind of every unprejudiced Perfon, they will be allowed more forcibly -tp prove the fincerity qf his friendfhip and gopdr will towards the Citizens of Oxford, than mere Pramifes, mere empty unmeaning Promifes, made upon the fpur pf the oecafion,, and which may no longer he thought Qf than the Caufe which gave them birth exifts. In additiop tp the abpve, Mr. Burton has a flrong claim upon the gratitude of his Country at large, for having introduced into a bill now before Parliament, a Claufe making the Eftates and Properties of all performs having privilege of Parliament, in certain cafes, amenable to the Debts of their Creditors, in the fame manner a,s thofe of other perfons not fo privileged. William Hall, William Elias Taunton, i,; J. Lock, Thomas Eaton, Edward Hitchings, William Forty, Thomas F. Bricknell, Oxford^ May 10, 1802. The SeleB Committee for managing Mr. Burton's Ekaion,, No. XC1V. - ABSTRACT OF THE CHARTER Of the Third of King JAME S the Firft, granted by him to the Citizens of Oxford. The Citizens fhall be incorporated in one ¦ Body Corporate and Politic, by the name of the Mayer, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the City of Oxford, ( *4» J There (hall be a Mayor and two Bailiffs within the fairl City. There fhall be four reputable and difcrete Perfons, who ihall aflift the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Common Council, in all caufes and matters touching the faid City. And twenty four Citizens of the faid City, who fhall be Gounfellors, and be named of the Common Council of the City aforefaid. The Mayor, Bailiffs* and Common Council (the Mayor being prefent) fhall have full power of making good, wholefome, ufeful, honeft, and neceffary Laws and Statutes^ in ¦writing, according to their found difcretion, for the better rule and government of the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Common alty, of all Officers, Minifters, Artificers, and Refidents within the faid City and its Suburbs, arid for the conduct and practice of the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, Mi nifters, Officers* and Citizens, refiding within the faid City and its Suburbs, in their feveral Offices, Functions, MU nifters, and Bufinefs, and for the further public good and common benefit, and good government of the City, and the provisioning thereof; and alfo for the management, and leafing or letting out the Lands and Tenements of the faid City, and alfo touching and concerning any matters and things relative to the aforefaid City* and the Eftate thereof. The Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty (hall, on the Mon day preceding Saint Matthew the Apoftle in every year^ ele£i one of the Aldermen or Affiftants to be Mayor of the faid City for the next year. The Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, on the fame day annually, mail elecl TWO CITIZENS of the City afore faid, to be Bailiffs of the faid City for the next year, and the Bailiffs fo chofenihalltake an oath for the due execu* K 3 ( »42 > tion of their office, before the Mayor, and in his abfence^ before the Aldermen, Bailiffs, and Affiftants of the faid City If the Mayor of the faid City, before the term of his of' fice is ended, (hall die, or be amoved therefrom, or fhall be have himfelf ill therein, it fhall be lawful for the Aldermen, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the faid City^ to meet toge ther and chufe another in his ftead. If either of the Bailiffs (hall die, or be amoved from his office, (which faid Bailiffs, if they (hall behave ill in their office, we will (hail be amoveable at the pleafure of the Mayor, Aldermen, Affiftants, and Commonalty of the faid City) it (hall be lawful for the Mayor, Aldermen, Affift ants, and Commonalty of the City aforefaid, to meet in the Guildhall of the faid City, to ehufe one or two other Bail-. iffs in his or their ftead. And if any or either of the Aldermen of the aforefaid City fhall die, or be amoved from his office (which faid Al dermen (hall, if they behave ill in their office, be amove able at the pleafure of the Mayor, Bailiffs, Affiftants, and Commonalty of the faid City) the Mayor, Bailiffs, remain der of the Aldermen, and Commonalty of the aforefaid City fhall affemble in the Guildhall of the faid City, to chufe one or more Aldermen, out of the Citizens of the faid City, in the place of thofe deceafed or amoved. So if one of the Affiftants die, or be amoved for mifbe- haviour (and they fhall be amoveable for milbehaviour at the pleafure of the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the faid City) it (hall be lawful for the Mayor, Bailiffs, Alder men, and the remainder of the Affiftants, and the Com monalty, to meet and chufe one or more of the Citizens of the faid City, to be Affiftants in their place, who (hall hold their office during their good behaviour ; and they (hall C '43 ) take their corporal Oath before the Mayor, Bailiffs, the reft pf the Affiftants and the Commonalty, faithfully to dif- charge their Office. It (hall be lawful for the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Common alty of the faid City, to chufe one illuftrious and difcrete Man, from time to time, to be the High Steward of the faid City, and he (hall hold his Office during the pleafure of the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty. It (hall be lawful for the Mayor, in cafe of ill health, to appoint one of the Aldermen, dwelling within the City, to be his Deputy to exercife the Office of Mayor during the Mayor's pleafure. , The Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty fhall from time to time eleft one honeft arid difcrete Perfon, learned in the Laws of England, to be their Recorder, who (hall hold his Office during the pleafure of the Maypr, Bailiffs, and Commonalty. The Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, in cafe the Recorder fhall fall fick, or be abfent for any reafonable caufe, fhall elecf one other honeft and difcrete Man, (killed in the Laws of England, to be the Deputy of fuch Recorder, wha (hall hold his Office during the pleafure of the Mayor, Bail iffs, and Commonalty. The Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty (hall from time to> time chufe one honeft and eloquent* Man, who (hall be called the " Common Clerk" of the faid City, who fhal! take his corporal Oath, before he is admitted to his Office, before the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the faid City, faithfully to difcharge his Office, and he (hall hold his Office during the pleafure of the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Com monalty of the faid City. ' * Difertus, Query — If this ought not to be read Difcretw, K 4 ( *44 ."¦) The Mayor, "Bailiffs, and Commonalty (hall chufe fout* Serjeants at Mace, who (hall hold their Office during the pleafure of the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty. The Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty (hall chufe an nually the ufual and antient number of Chamberlains, Confta- bles, neceffary Officers, and Miniflers, who fhall hold their Of fices for one year, or longer, at the pleafure of the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty; and who fhall take an oath for the faithful performance of their refpedtive Offices before the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty. This is a faithful AbflraB qf the Charter qf James the Firjl —How comes it that the Practice qf the Corporation differs fo much from the Charter??? Is it by Prefcription, Bye-Law, or Acceptance qf other Charters??? Let thofe who mean to ail honeftly anfwer openly ! ! ! A FREEMAN. No.. XCV. Correfpondence between the Freemen and the Right Worfhipful the Mayor of the City of Oxford> RESPECTING THEIR CHARTERS and BYE-LAWS op this city. REQtJEST. To the Right Worfhipful the MAVOR of Oxford. Oxford, 25th February, 180Z. Sir, > In confequence of the difcontent of the Commons of Oxford frequently expreffed concerning the invafion, lofs, or oblivion of fome of their corporate rights ( 1 45 5 and privileges, and iS order that they may be fatisfied thereon, we humbly requeft of you to call a Common Hall for the purpofe of deliberating on a meafure there to be fubmitted to the Citizens in a body Namely — That two hundred copies of the feVeral Charters of this city, and the Bye-Laws made in pur- fuance of them, be printed, at the expence of the cityj and depofited in the care of fuch perfons, and in fuch con venient places, that the Commons may have an oppor* tunity to infpedt the fame That a ftatement be prepared by the Town Clerk, and the City Solicitor, of the Charitable Foundations, and Bequefts charged on the City Eftates, and alfo an abftraft of the Wills, Devifes, and Directions of the Founders -and Donors thereof That Mr. Solicitor do prepare a (hort ftatement of all the queries that have been propofed from time'to time within this laft century by the City to Council or the Re corder, touching the legality, effecf, and operation of any Bye-Laws made under the City Charters—— That thefe two laft ftatements be read within three months enfuing the date hereof by the Town Clerk to the Commons in Common Hall affembled. This requifition was figned by about two hundred of the Freemen, and was pre- fented to the Council by Mr. Rice. ANSWER. City qf Oxford, f At a Council holden the 24th day of \ Feb. iSoa, the Town Clerk ftated to tfie Houfe that he had been fome confiderable time em ployed in making extracts of all the Charitable Devifes and Bequefts made in favour of the Freemen and Iaha- ( 146 ) bitants of the City, or of any other perfon, and whereof this Corporation are the Tfuftees, or have the difpofition of; and which when completed he intended for the ufe of the Corporation; and a petition being now read from feveral of the Freemen that a ftatement of the Charters be prepared, it is the unanimous refolution of this Houfe that a Committee be now appointed to compare and exa mine the extracts fo as aforefaid ftated, to be now in pre paration by the Town Clerk*; and that the Town Clerk be defired to haften the conclufion of what he is engaged in as much as may be; and that the Freemen be invited to give any information upon the fubjecf they may be in poffeffion of to the Committee or the Town Clerk. The Committee are the Mayor, Aldermen, Affiftants, Bailiffs, Town Clerk, Chamberlains, and Gentlemen of the Law; Mr. Hall, Mr. Joy, Mr. Hickman, the Mace-bearer, Mr. Hibbits, Mr. Tafh, Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Slaughter, Mr. Swift, Mr. Williams, Mr. L. Wyatt, Mr. W. Slatter, or any five, and the Committee to report to the Houfe from time to time their proceedings. To the Worfliitful the MAYOR of Oxford. We return you thanks for your communica tion to us through your Town Clerk of the Refolution of the Council, holden the 24th day of February laft. We feel much obliged to them for their injunction on the Town Clerk to haften the conclufion of making the extracts of the different inftruments on which the Charita ble Devifes and Bequefts depend, which we never before heard he was engaged in, and are very doubtful whether we ever fhould, had not a public inquiry been inftituted. * Nothing hitherto has been announced on this fubjefl by the Toivis Clerk. '¦! ( H7 ) We (hall give him and the Committee all the information we can on the fubjecti which we, however, fear will be foiall, having had hitherto but (lender means of informa tion on the fubjecl. We are, Sir, with refpecl, Your moft obedient humble Servants, WILLIAM COCK, HUGH FREEMAN, JOHN SMITH. 'Oxford, March n, 1802. STATEMENT OF THE REQUEST MADE BY Heffrs. COCK, FREEMAN, and SMITH, TO THE Right Worjhipful the Mayor qf Oxford, &c. We are come to requeft of you to inform us what is the neceffary form through which the Freemen of this City obtain an opportunity of infpecting the Char ters of this City and the Bye-Laws made under them. And if this opportunity is to be obtained only by leave of the Council, we moft refpeflfully requeft you to call a Council for the purpofe of affording us, and fuch perfons as we may with to affift us in, an opportunity of infpecf- ing, from time to time, fuch Charters and Bye-Laws; and alfo to' take fuch copies or extracts thereof as we maj think neceffary for our information. WILLIAM COCK, Oxford, Jan. 18, lSoa. HUGH FREEMAN, JOHN SMITH, A* K 148 ) ANSWER. Yof k reqneft was made to me in the above-mentioned Word: — T,pon being queftioned whether this infpectidfi was defired with a view to the redrefs of any fpecific grievance, you anfwered in the -negative, alledging that it was for the purpofe of acquainting yourfelves with your Rights, and of difcovering whether any of them had been withheld from you. With the above requeft I was anxious to comply, becaufe it has ever been my wifti id give all poffible fatisfkction to every Freeman, and becaufe I am perfuaded that the more they fearch into the foun dation of their Rights, the more they will be fatisfied that none have been withheld from them by any part of the Corporation. But as. my own recollection furnifhe'd no inftance of a (imilar requeft, and as I am bound by the duty of my office toobferve the Cuftoms and Ufages of the City, I thought it right to make enquiry among feveral of the oldeft of my Brethren, and the refult of that enquiry is, that no (imilar inftance has occurred within their me mory. I next caufed enquiry to be made by our Law Officers, whether a compliance with the above requeft would be properly warranted either by the Charters, Laws, or Ufages of this City, or by the general Law of the Land — and the refult of this enquiry is, that no Charter, Law, or Ufage of the City, can be found to warrant it, and that no cafe has yet been difcovered in which it has been allowed or directed by a Court of Law. Under thefe circumftances I cannot think myfelf juflified in complying with your requeft; but if you (till think other- wife, and are difpofed to have the queftion decided by means of an application to the Court of King's Bench, I am authorifed by an order of the Council of this City, ( H9 ) made the 24th intrant, to inform yon that I am to afford you every reafonable facility in obtaining fuch decifion. RICHARD WESTON, Mayor, February 25, 1802 Mr. W. Cock. Sir, By the dafire of the Mayor I here fend you a Copy of a Refolution made in Council on Wednefday laft, which you will have the goodnefs to commupicate to vour brother Freemen. J am, Sir, Ypur obedient Servant, DANIEL TAUNTON, 20th February, 1802. Meflis. Cock, Freeman, and Smith. REPLY. Sir, We are honoured with your Letter of the 25th of February, and we ftate to you moft refpectfully that we think that the whole of our application has not been taken into confideration. We requefted of you to inform us what was the neceffary form through which the Free men of this City obtain an opportunity of infpecting their Charters and the Bye-Laws made under them ; and we added, that if fuch opportunity could only be obtained by leave of the Council, our requeft to you was to call a Council for that purpofe. You will, of courfe, excufe our ignorance of the Officers of the Corporation, to whom we ought to addrefs our application; for if the Charters and Bye-Laws are kept away and concealed from us, we can only apply by conjecture, and take the rifkof remain ing in the fame darknefs as before. We expected you would have informed us whether it was within the powers X *5° > «f your office to refufe or grant an infpecVion of ovA Corporate Writings, or whether the Council only could grant it. You tell us you cannot think yourfelf juftified in complying with it; but you do not tell us whether you. might have granted it, if you had thought the requeft iri itfelf proper to be attended to; nor do you inform us of the form which we ought to have adopted to procure at tention to it.- We expected that advice and information from you on that point, as our Chief Magistrate, and we have not received it, fo that we now do not know whether upon any future and (imilar oecafion we ought to apply to you or to the Council; if you had not the power to grant our requeft, and if you had called a Council, our claims there might have been fully difcuffed, nay, fup- ported; for in the Council we have Reprefentatives* , who certainly would not permit (as far as it might be in their power) fo important a claim of the Freemen of this City to be thrown out without a Satisfactory reafon — we mean fuch a reafon as, publicly declared, ought to fatisfy us. It does not appear to us that any Council has been called for the purpofe of difcuffing our requeft : but it does ap pear that fome difcuffion has taken place in Council, not for the purpofe of granting it, but for the purpofe only of giving us an unfatisfactory and apparently civil refufal, and for authorifing you to convey to us a meffage, which we (protefting fuch meffage to be utterly unintelligible) declare we do not understand. We prefume you feel a with to give all poffible fatisfaction to every Freeman; but we confefs we feel (though you might not intend it) that when we are told that the more we fearch into the foundation of our Rights, the more we (hall be fatisfied that none of them have been withheld from us, and in the * But Query this. '( r5x ) fame breath that no perfon has ever requefted to look info' their foundation, nor can our Requeft fo to do be com plied with. We repeat we feel that fuch an obfervation carries more of farcafm and irony on our application to be rendered wifer, than of an anxious defire to fatisfy our Requeft of juft investigation. The enquiries you ftate to have been made into the Law of the Land, we prefume have not been merely loofe and con verfa lion al, but fuch as the importance of the fubject demanded; fome of your Law Officers, we prefume, Searched into our Charters and Laws, and prepared a written cafe for the opinion of the others; they, we equally prefume, have given in writing their folemn and deliberate opinion. Permit us to afk which of }our Law Officers have infpected our Charters and Laws, prepared a cafe, or delivered an opinion ; permit us to have the benefit, not of the refult of thefe enquiries, but of the cafe itfelf, and of the opinions as prepared and written, that we alfo may be instructed as Freemen of this City, and guided as to the fteps we may have in contemplation to take, to vindicate our claims, to infpect thofe Charters, Laws, and Muniments of our Liberties, in which, as integral members of the Corporation, we think ourfelves equally interefted with even you, Sir, our Chief Magiftrate. For, Sir, we do ftill maintain our originalx)pinion as to our right to fee them, and the more Strongly fo Since we are not told that we have no fuch right; wc are not told that fuch right has been denied or difputed, but merely that no one hitherto has attempted to affert it. The cowardice, ignorance, or corruption of former days is only cited as in point againft us. If there be no cafe in point in our favour, there are cafes Strong in analogy for us — there are eafes in which the right has been afferted by the Bar and ( *S* ) apt denied by the Bench; but were there no like, nor any analogous cafe, yet policy and experience, and the general principles of juftice, paramount to all cafuiftry or ana logous reafoning to precedent, would loudly cry out in favour of our demand. With thefe on our fide we much regret that the Freemen of this City Should neverthelefs be driven to an haraffing, and expenfive application to a Court of Law, for a licence to read their own books, to perufe the law they are fworn to obey, and to learn the recorded Ufages which they are told are to be the- gui dance of their corporate conduct. If laws are not promulgated through the indolence of thofe whofe duty it is to fee them enforced, will you there fore not the more readily aid the diligence of the indivi duals who would Spontaneously make themfelves ac quainted with them ? If you negleR to keep, open the channel qf theftream, do not therefore Jhut up the fountain. If we hence forth break a Bye-Law, or incur a liability of disfranchife- ment by any difobedience of the Charters, will our ig norance of the Law fave us from the payment of the penalty, or protect us from the lofs of our franchife ? Will it be a good anfwer, that we never read, nor ever had an opportunity to read, fuch Bye-Laws and fuch Charters ? Remember, that fo long as Laws and Constitutions were traditionary, the earth remained funk in barbarifm, and oppreffed by tyranny. The depofitaries of the Laws invented cuftoms as often as they preferved them, and the oecafion, and not the truth, gave birth to their promul gation. However, if it muft be fo that we are not to read our Charters and Laws without the King's Writ in our Hands, we muft fet about to obtain it. Are we to move that it may be addreffed to you, Sir, or to yon and the Council? ( *53 ) We requeft to know this from you, and alfo distinctly to ftate to us what are thofe Reafonable Facilities which the Council have authorifed you to afford us in the courfe of endeavouring to procure a legal decision in favour of our claims. We are, Sir, with refpect, your obedient Servants, WILLIAM COCK, HUGH FREEMAtt, JOHN SMITH. Oxford, March II, 1802. To the Worlhipful the Mayor of the City of Oxford. To the Worjhipfal the MAYOR of the City of Oxford. Sir, We requeft to have an opportunity of infpecting the Charters and Bye-Laws of this City, with a view of knowing whether it be neceffary for a Freeman of this City to put a Bond in the Cheft, in order to enable the Sons of fuch Freemen, born without the limits of this City, during the non-refidence of fuch Freemen, to be admitted to the Freedom of this City. We are, Sir, your moft obedient Servants, JAMES DAVENPORT, BENJAMIN COPPIN, RICHARD AKERS. Oxford, March 11, 1802. To the Worjhipful the MAYOR of Oxford. Sir, •• We requeft to have an opportunity to mfpe^t the Charters and Bye-Laws of this City, in order that we may know and underSiand our Charters and Laws, and %. ( i54 ) be- acquainted with the Rights we are entitled to enjoy,. and the duties we are by our oath bound to perform under them. We are, Sir, your moft obedient Servants, JAMES DAVENPORT, BENJAMIN COPPIN, RICHARD AKERS. Oxford, March I r, r8o2. Strs, / I think, myfelf neither obliged by Law, nor called upon by any duty, to comply with the general applications which you have made to me for an inspection of the Charters and Bye-Laws of this City. As to your Note of the 12th of March, 1802, which expreffes a with to be informed upon a particular Subject, namely, Freemen's Bonds, I have directed the Town- Clerk to furnifh you with any regulations that may be found upon it. RICHARD WESTON, Mayor. Oxford, April 24th, 1802. To Mefli:s.]>AVENPoa.T, Coppin, & Akers. Messrs. Davenport, Coppin, and Akers, on receipt of this Letter from the Mayor, wrote a Note to Mr. Taunton requefting him to appoint ah hour, when they Should wait upon him to look into thefe Regulations. April 28, 1 80a. MR. TAUNTON is juft returned from the country, and has received the Note of this day's date, addreffed to him as Town Clerk, by Melfrs. Davenport, Coppin, and Akers, and informs them that he has already' Searched the City Vellum Books, but has yet found no Bye-Laws, c *55 y er Regulations, relating to the Freemen's Bonds; and that as foon as the feffions are over he propofes to refume the examination of the other City Books, and alfo the Papers and Parchment Writings in the Town Clerk's Office, and will be happy in affording what information he^ can procure upon the fubject matter of enquiry; but as it appears to be of very remote origin, and a point whereon no difcuffion has taken place in the memory of any living perfon, he fears it will be a considerable time before he may be able to accomplifh the buSinefs committed to him by the Mayor. Meffrs. Freeman, Cock, and Smith moft refpectfully requeft to be informed in whofe actual cuftody the Charters, Bye-Laws, Writings, Evidences, Efcripts, and Muniments, touching the Liberties and Franchises of this City, and the Freemen thereof, are lodged. JOHN MEYSEY, Solicitor for Meffrs. Freeman, Cock, and Smith. Oxford May 3d, 1802.' To the Worthipful the Mayor of the City of Oxford. Prefented at the Mayor's and Bailiffs' Court the fame day. J. MEYSEY. To R. WESTON, Efq. the WorJMpful the Mayor qf the City qf Oxford. Oxford, May 5, i8oa. Sir, Having been confulted by, Meffrs. Freemam and others on the fubject of their application to you, for liberty to infpect the Charters and Bye-Laws of this City, and having been favoured with your polite intimation to wie, that you would consult the Council on this queftioi* a a C 156 ) With relpecT to the names of the perfons having the legal cuftody of the Charters and Bye-Laws, I take the liberty of requefting you to inform me (if not improper, which I think it cannot be) who are thofe perfons; and whether when the Charters are called for, for the purpofe of infpec- tion, they wajt for the direction of the Mayor before they permit it. The anxious defire expreffed by you to give fatisfaction to the Freemen of this City, and the directions Stated to be given you by the Council, to afford every Reafonable Facility to the perfons who had intimated their intentions to apply to the Court of King's Bench for a Mandamus to be directed to thofe who have the legal cuftody of the Charters and Bye-Laws, induce me to entertain a Confident Hope that I Shall receive fuch an anfwer from you as will prove to the public, that both the Council and the Freemen are anxious that the point in difpute (hould come before the Court, without the inter position of any obstacle, and left for its decision on the bare question of Right claimed by the Freemen. I am, Sir, moft refpectfully, Your obedient Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. To RICHARD WESTON, Efq. the Wor/hipful the Mayor of the City of Oxford. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge to you, that in anfwer to my letter to you of the 5th inftant, I have received from you, by the hands of Mr. Byckland, the names "of the five Gentlemen, viz. — Mr. Alderman Yeats, Mr. Alderman Parfons, James Pears, Efq. Mr. Thomas Eaton, and Mr. Simon Brown, Bailiffs, Who have, as yon Hate, ths cuftody of the Charters and Bye-Laws; but I ( '57 ) beg leave to obferve to you, that in the fame letter, I alfo requefted you to inform me whether the perfons who might have fuch cuftody of the Charters and Bye-Laws, wait for your direction when the Charters are called for, for the purpofe of infpection, before they permit it. A Specific anfwer to this queftion is moft refpectfully requefted from you, as it will determine the advice I am called upon to give on the queftion, whether it Should be moved that the Mandamus, intended to be applied for, Should be directed to you as well as the five Gentlemen you have named. I am, Sir, with great refpect, Your moft obedient Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. May n, 1802. Sir, I do not feel my felf competent to anfwer whether the perfons having the cuftody of the Charters and Bye- Laws of this City Should wait for my direction previous to my permiffion of an infpection of them. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, R. WESTON, Mayor. Oxford, May 12, 1802. To John Ingram Lockhart, Efq. To RICHARD WESTON, Efq. the Worjhipful the Mayor of the City qf Oxford. Sir, I acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated this day, in which you inform me that " You do " not feel yourfelf competent to anfwer whether the " perfons having the cuftody of the Charters and Bye- " Laws of this City, Should wait for your direction H previous to your permiffion of an infpection of them.'' 1 3 ( 158 ) Ixioped for an explicit anfwer, and the more fo, Since in your letter to Meffrs. Davenport, Coppin, and Akers, of the 24th of April laft, you refufe, of your own authority to grant them a general infpection of their Charters and Bye-Laws : but direct alfo, of your own authority, the Town Clerk to furnifh them with any regulations to be found on the fubject of Freemen's Bonds — Under thefe circumftances you will not take offence, if I feel it incum bent on me, to advife, that if an infpection of the Charters and Bye-Laws be refufed by thofe having the actual cuftody of them, it Should be moved, that a Mandamus Should be directed to you, as well as the Gentlemen you have named— I again beg leave to remind you, that the Council have directed you to afford the Gentlemen, who have confulted me, every reafonable facility, in obtaining the decision of the Court of King's Bench on their claim to read their Charters and Bye-Laws. I am, Sir, with great refpect, Your obedient Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. Oxford, May 12, 1802. No. XCVI. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. BROTHER FREEMEN, By the Public Sale of you, your Liberties are more than ever endangered; you have now but one left to preferve you from abjett Slavery. If the Duke and the Corporation fucceed, farewell to your Independence, and the Free City of Oxford becomes a Rotten Borough. CIVIS. ( *59 ) No. XCVII. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford* Brother Freemen, One of your Servants is playing the fame game as his Predeceffor, who contrived, by his crooked Politics, to (hew fome of his Fellow-Citizens the infide of Newgate, and to Sell the Freemen for the fake of his own private Intereft. I would advife the Corporation to beware of a Jimilar Fate, and the Freemen at large to be no longer carried to Market like Smithfield Cattle. CIVIS. No. XCVIII. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, Not proposing again to offer myfelf as a Candidate to reprefent you in Parliament, I take the earlieft opportunity of acquainting you with my deter mination. In the higheft degree fenfible of the honour and impor tance of the Situation which you conferred upon me in the year 1 796, I truft that the fidelity, with which I have endeavoured to difcharge the duties of it, has recom mended me to the favourable opinion of my Constituents; and it is only from the conviction of my inability any longer to promote your Interefts, under all the circum- ftances in which you are at prefent involved, that I now withdraw myfelf. L 4 ( i6 No. CII. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, I cannot omit expreffing my warmed thanks to thofe Gentlemen, who, releafed^from pre- engagements by the intimation Mr. Peters yefterday rjave of his intention of not again offering himfelf to re prefent the City of Oxford, were pleafed to promife me their Support. The fuccefs of my applications on this oecafion, con firms me in the hope that the Freemen of the City of Oxford are generally inclined to give me that firm fup- port, which muft in the end fecure the object of my with. I fhall take opportunities of calling again upon thofe Gentlemen who were from home yefterday, to folicit their favour in perfon. I am, Gentlemen, Your devoted humble Servant, JOHN ATKYNS WRIGHT, St. Giles's, May 19, 1802. No. CIII. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, The great object which both you and I ought never to lofe fight of, is the eftablifhment of fuch a fyftera of free voting, as (hall fecure to you the unmolefted enjoyment of the exercife of your own judgment, the unfettered employment of your fnduftry, and the inde pendence of your character alfo. The free exercife of the right of voting, is the left of the poffeffion of all other ( i6j > rights, and he that is not free in this point will foon be enflaved and oppreffed in every other concern affecting his political and domeftic exiftence. To try and to affert your poffeffion of this right, you have only to perfevere in the patriotic conduct of this day, and the Commons of Oxford muft, (Coalition or no Coalition) at leaft fend one Member to Parliament of their own chufing. I am, Gentlemen, With great regard, Your moft obedient Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. Oxford, igthMay, 1802. No. CIV. THE DOWNFALL OF OPPRESSION, A New Song. Come Freemen all, and lend an ear To common fenfe and reafon ; For I poffefs no flavifh fear, And truth can ne'er be treafon. Thofe Rights your brave forefathers have Moft (irenuoufly alferted, Jnvaded are by Power's Slaves, And Liberty's deferted. chorus. Let's Jliew the herd we dare be free, And bravely claim pqffejfion Of all that's dear — Our Liberty ! And overthrow Oppression. n ( i77 ) and the public— On the other hand, Should he have dif- covered no difference, and that the CoipOration have always acted agreeably to their Chartered LaWs, and the practice and ufage of the City for ages back, as far as can be traced from the City Records, which he has feen or may fee whenever he will look into the Council Books;— in fact, that they have" in no fhapeabufed their powers, nor violated 6r encroached upon the rights and privileges of their fellow Freemen, his candour as a Gentleman, and his duty as a Citizen, will impel him, as publicly and explicitly, to fay fo, and to ufe his bed endeavours to remove thofe unfavourable impreffions againft the conduct of the Magistrates and the Senior part of the Corporation which have been but too eagerly entertained. Wm. ELIAS TAUNTON, Town Clerk. I Solemnly declare, that I have laid before Mr. Mevsev, the Solicitor above alluded to, every Charter which the City of Oxford is in poffeffion of, belonging to the Cor poration. Wm. ELIAS TAUNTON, Town Clerk. No. CXIII. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. . GENTLEMEN, . Your Town Clerk, Mr. Taunton, in a paper publiffied. this day, has afferted that 1 have perufed " all that I defied to fee" of the City Charters. Imuftbeg' leave to contradict that- affertion in the moft unqualified manner. I have not yet perufed " all that I defire to fee" of thofe Charters— I have not yet perufed the Bye-Laws made under the authority of thofe Charters — I have not yet perufed the Council Books, nor the jleeds*of the Grants ( i78 ) and Donations of charitable perfon9 to the Poor Freemen of this City (an abstract of which, and a ftated account of the application of the money,- Mr. Taunton has, above fx weeks ago, publicly, and folemnly, pledged himfelf to pro duce to you). But, Gentlemen, I am determined to perfevere in endeavouring to investigate thofe' writings whilft I have permiffion to have accefs to them, (and it will be remembered with what difficulty that permiffion was obtained) ; and when my refearches are concluded, I xvill faithfully and publicly communicate to you, and to thofe Gentlemen who have more immediately employed me, the refult of my investigation. What time, with a proper allowance for my other avo-< cations, that inveftigation may take, is at prefent uncertain; but furely, when a Gentleman fo " high in office," and poffeffed of fuch fuperior talents, as Mr. Taunton unquef- tionably is, has declared, publicly, in one of his fpeeches, that it would take many months, even to arrange, and methodize that mafs of public records (which, by the bye, has been many years in his own cuftody), it may be allowed a perfon of fuch humble pretentions as myfelf, a little Ipnger time than three weeks to "petufe, take notes, and furnijh myfelf -with abftraHs" from fo confufed and deranged a'colle&ion. ¦. With refpeft to the queftion " of the Bonds in the Cheft," I will not imitate'Mr. Taunton, in difcuffing a point already fubmitted to the decifion of the Court of Ring's Bench, or in prefuming to anticipate the determination of that ho- nourableCourt. I am, Gentlemen, Your very obedient, and moft humble Servant, „ • JOHN MEYSEY. Oxford, Junt 22, 180s, ( J79 1 No. CtlV. To the Freemen of the City of Oxfordi Gentlemen, Your juft importance and force were yefter day fully made known; it only remains at the Huftings to make them felt alfo. Whilft you derived delight and animation from the formidable array of your Strength, the Breafts of your'Opponents were chilled with difmay, and their nerves relaxed from the Palfy of Defpair — For thofe who would attempt to overawe the lawful will of their Fellow-Citizens, may. fuch Feelings be ever referved. We, with light hearts and clear confciences, and glowing with patriotic ardour, can companionate thofe whom the iron hand of power draws back whilft approaching the facred flame. Henceforth let Sour Authority withdraw to its clofet, whilft Putrid Corruption retires to the Lazaretto. Allow me moft heartily to thank you for the diflinguilhed -honour conferred on my relatives and myfelf; to me ren dered doubly eftimable by fharing it with them. But the triumph of yefterday (though truly glorious), compared to thofe Ceremonies with which you will celebrate the final victory, will, I am confident, prove a mere Ovation, I am, Gentlemen^ With great Regard, Your obedient and obliged Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. Oxford, June 2-$, 1802. ( 180 ) No. CXV. To the Editors of the{ Oxford Journal. Sirs, On Wednefday Evening laft'Mr. Lockhart, accompanied by his Father, entered this C^y? for the purpofe of renewing his Canvafs preparatory to the en- fuing General Election. On their arrival at Headington Hill, they were furrounded by a moft numerous and re- fpectable body of Freemen, who had been for fome hours impatiently waiting the approach of their favourite Candi date, the horfes were inftantly taken from both "their carriages, and drawn by the Freemen through all the principal ftreets in the City.- Such is the popularity of Mr. Lockhart in Oxford, .that it is fuppofed not lefs than 4000 Perfons affembled to join in the proceffion. It is now confidered that the Commons of Oxford have effectually fecured the Election of Mr. Lockhart as one of their Reprefentatives. THOMAS HARDY. Oxford, June 25, 1802. G. W. SYMS. No. CXVI. To JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART, Esq., Sir, I have heard your Speeches, and read all your Publications, and from the juft, but fevere manner in which you chaftife the faults of others, I have conceived that yon are yourfelf a Paragon of excellence. Howbeit as the tongue of (lander is never ftill, and will fometimes attack the moft Virtuous, fo hasyour conduct been nibbled at, and little blemiffies imputed to you, which I will not believe are founded upon any authority. < i8i ) It is (aid that you met Mr. Peters at the laft Oxford Races, on your ufual friendly terms — That you complained of your 111 (late of health, and told him that you were fetting off the next morning for the Lakes — But it feems that you had, at the fame time, a paper in the prefs, foliciting the votes of the Oxford Freemen, in oppofition to your old Friend and Employer, and which you put into circulation as foon as Mr. Peters's back was turned; and inflead of going to the Lakes, that you continued in Oxford till you had finished your Canvafs. Now, Sir, I will not believe that you could be guilty of fuch duplicity, much lefs of faying what was not true, and I will vouch for it, that you will either deny the whole, or juftify what you did, upon principles that can not be questioned. When you have anfwered this, and (hewn the folly of the charge, I will fubmit for your confidetation another , little foible* that is talked of at our Club, being deter mined to give you an opportunity of contradicting all the idle (lories that are faid of you, and of maintaining that character and respectability, which every one will atteft who knows you. Write quickly, that- when this feeming difficulty is re moved, our Club may decree you another " Ovation." Your Admirer, June 22th, 1802, A COUNTRY FREEMAN. P. S. We have a little noify limb of the Excife, that is ¦continually afking who the Lawyers were (fo often fpoken of by you) who could advife that you might oppofe your old Client and Friend upon fair profefponal ground. He will have it they could not be Honourable Men, and when you write, pray enable me to> give a Coup de grace to this troublefome fellow. < 1 8a ) No. CXVII. To the Worthy Freemen of the City of Oxford j Gentlemen,,, In the laft week I publiffied a 'paper dating the nature of the Freemen's Bonds, the validity whereof was then the fubject pf legal inveftigation- in the Court of King's Bench; and I endeavoured to explain tp you the reafonablenefs and juftice of the ufage upon which they were founded, and the manifeft injury that every Freeman of the City of Oxford would fuftain, if the effect of thofe Bonds was not preferved. This, under the exifting cir- cumftances, I thought it my indifpenfable duty, as your Law Officer, to do, principally with a view that you. might understand and know clearly the import and defign of thofe Bonds, which our Predeceffors, in their wifdorn and care for the Refident Freemen, thought neceffary, ages ago, to require from Freemen not refident; and with a view alfo to remove that unfavourable opinion which many -of you had been taught to encourage againft the Magistracy of the City, for not implicitly yielding to the claim of the Non-Refidents who had not complied with the ancient ufage. I have now, Gentlemen, to inform you, that this im portant queftion came on yefterday tp be folemnly argued before the Judges of the King's Bench, and with unfpeak- able pleafure I inform you, that the Court was unani- moufly and decidedly1 of opinion that the Rule which had been obtained by the Claimant Harwood Should be difcharged; and to mark their opinion the more plainly, the Court did what they Seldom do but in feebly fupported cafes,— theydifcharged the Rule, with Cofts to be paid by the Claimant, fo that in all probability this queftion will never again be agitated, and will be at reft for ever. C j«* ) ¦ True it is that this caufe was nominally againfc" "trie Mayor of Oxford, from whence it has been inferred', and pains I know have been taken to make fome of you be lieve, that it was to overturn fome right which the Ma gistrates and Common Council had newly ufurped over a part of their Fellow Citizens; but, Gentlemen, although from the nature of the caufe, and the queftion it involved^ it was nominally againft the Mayor, it was in plain truth againft the Commonalty in equally as large a point of view as againft the Mayor or any other part of the' Cor poration. It was a caufe that aimed a deeper and more fevere blow againft the rights and privileges of every defcription of Freemen than any that ever entered the head or heart of man: It feems to have been the artful (I had almoft faid the wicked) contrivance of fome one to promote and advance his own private views and defigns, at- the expence of an ufage, or (as it may now be not im properly called from the remote period in which it pro bably began) a Law, which fecures to the Freemen the full and undiminiffied exercife and enjoyment of their Franchifes. You have moft of you been witneffes, at fome time or other, of the warinefs and caution with which admiffions of Freemen are granted at the City Courts. — You have feen with what deliberation the Magistrates act, and the proofs they require that the Claimants are juftly entitled to their1 Freedom. You know that the claim of a fingle perfon has fometimes occupied a considerable time in turning to the books, in ascertaining ihe identity of the Claimant, and of the perfqns under whom he' derives his title, in the examination of the certificates, and in other neceffary duties; and now by one' fingle blow, had the pro jected attempt fucceeded, hundreds of Freemen would have been made, and let in to a participation of all the < «*4' r fights, 'and franchifes, and charitable donations (hot Specially appropriated) belonging to the City. And, Gentlemen, bad as this would have been, fomething ftill , worfe would have been the fure, the inevitable confe quence; that is, that In a few years the Freemen refiding out of Oxford would have outnumbered the Freemen re siding in Oxford, and in all elections and concerns, inde pendent of thofe peculiarly appertaining to the Council- Chamber, they;might have exercifed a perfect dominion and controul over the Residents, a power too monftrous " for the Non-Refidents ever to wifh for, or expect, Some may afk how this could happen. 'I Will explain it. The Residents will probably never exceed the prefent num ber; certainly not, unlefs the buildings are extended, and the trade of. the place increafed; for it is plain that no more will or can ever refide in Oxford than there are habitations for, and trade or labour to employ them in. As the population of the place therefore increafes, the Freemen muftneceffarily migrate, and become inhabitants of other parts of the 'kingdom; in thofe parts they them- felves will continue Freemen of Oxford; they will have families, and all the fons of thofe families would become entitled; and their fons (their fathers having been ad mitted) would in like manner become entitled, and fo to an infinite extenfion; the Refident Freemen, as I faid before, remaining all the while in the fame Slate as to their numbers, and incapable of any addition. But it may be anfweredj and I expect it will, that the difficulty ' of a Non-Refident in communicating his freedom may be obviated by the Simple act of his putting a Bond in the Cheft. True. But we have feen and know the effect of fuch a Bond being a requifite qualification, and it is fair to prefume that the fame effect will continue to be pro duced by a perfeverance in the fame fyfteffi ; but happen ( iBj ) what may, we with only that the constituted order of things, fuch as our forefathers have handed down to us, may remain unimpaired and unaltered^ I could not but obferve with deep concern the difap- pointment that manifestly appeared in many at the receipt of the news this morning that Harwood had been foiled in his attempt. That, Gentlemen, muft have arifen from your not underftanding the nature of the cafe. You could not have been forry for a decision that eftablifhed your Rights as Freemen. You muft have mistaken, and fadJy miftaken, the true queftion before the Court. You muft have fuppofed that your Rights were injured by the de cision; but I again repeat, that a more flagrant, a more violent, a more hoftile meafure was never attempted; and, had it Succeeded, yoU, and every one of you, when the prefent ferment is over, and you have recovered your natural temper and Serenity of mind, and your children after you, would have rued the day fo fatal to your liber ties, and execrated the caufe that gave it birth. We may differ in opinion upon fome political points, but in One we ffiall all agree, that the perfon, be he who he will, that feeks to diminish the Rights of the Freemen of Oxford, is an Enemy to the Freemen. I will embrace this opportunity, Gentlemen-, to put you in mind of another matter which I touched upon in my former publication. I mean the City Charters, the abufe whereof has been fo much the fubject of general indifcriminate reproach upon the Magistrates and fenior part of the Corporation. I told you that thofe Charters had, by an order of the Common Council, been depo sited in my office for the perufal of the Solicitor to thofe Freemen who had defired to fee -them. (It would have been nugatory to have offered them for the perufal of the M ( »86 ) Freemen themfelves, as they requefted, becaufe few, but perfons profeffionally bred, could have read and under stood them). I alfo told you, that the Solicitor, after an interval of three weeks, had applied toperufe them; that he had accordingly perufed and taken extracts from fuch as he afked for. And I then put it to the Solicitor, in as Strong words as I could ufe, " that if he found any thing wherein the jirefcnt [iraclice of the Corporation differed from what was the fair and legal refult qf the Charters, confidered together with the ancient Conftitution of the City," that he would (late it fully and explicitly to the Freemen. — And on the other hand, " if he difcovered no difference, and that the Corporation had always ailed agreeably to their chartered laws, and the uniform immemorial praclice and ufage qf the City, and had in no Jhape abufed their powers, nor violated or encroached upon the rights and privileges qf their Fellow Freemen" that in fuch cafe he ought as publicly and explicitly to declare it. And, Gentlemen, I have great fatisfactlon in being able to affure you, that, unqualified as this challenge has been confidered to be, the Solicitor has not yet brought forward onefingle inftance of CommiJJion or Omif/ion on the part of the Corporation, from whence I will leave every im partial Freeman to draw his own conclufion; and con sidering it, as I do, to be the bounden duty of every | perfon, holding my Situation in the City, at all times to vindicate and maintain the honour and integrity of the Magistrates and the perfons in whom the Laws and Con stitution have placed the care and governing power of the Corporation, whenever vilified or abufed, I hope and truft that I fhall never ffirink from that duty fo long as I have powers to difcharge it. I am, with the moft faithful attachment, Gentlemen, your Town-Clerk and Servant, Oxford, Tuefday, June 29, 1S02. Wm. E. TAUNTON. ( i87 ) No. CXVIII. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford: You,, Gentlemen, witneffed the fuccefs 'of my public Canvafs this day, and therefore can well imagine how deeply I muft be affected by fo repeated and fo many proofs of your fincere and Steady attachment. The Canvafs will be refumed To-morrow Moraing, at Half-paft Ten o'Clock. I am, Gentlemen, Your much obliged humble Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. June 29, 1802. ' No. CXIX. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, Permit me to exprefs my gratitude to you for your /continued, zealous, and determined fupport. I write thus ffiortly becaufe I have waited until a late hour for the publication announced by your Town-Clerk, in order that at the fame time I might thank you and anfwer him. I am, Gentlemen, With great Regard, Your obliged and obedient Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. June 30, 1802. n a ( i88 ) No. CXX. To the Worthy and Independent Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, His Majefty having been pleafed to Summon a new Parliament, I am induced by that kindnefs which you have fo often fheWn to me, and have fo lately repeat ed, to renew my folicitation for your fupport and intereft at the approaching Election. — Indeed, the pofitive affu- rances which I have already received, amount to fo vaft a majority of the whole number of exifting voters; and fuch is my confidence in the truth and honour of a Freeman of Oxford, that I have much lefs reafon to be induftrious in foliciting additional votes, than I have to be earneft in expreffing my gratitude for the explicit promifes with which I have been honoured. Certain it is, that I value them the more, becaufe I have not won them, as you well know, by any undue arts or flattering profeffions; my time having been far otherwife employed upon the duties which you fent me to fulfil. — And if the fame diflinguifhed truft ffiould again be committed to my hands, my belt endeavours (hall never be wanting to difcharge it with fidelity, and with every attention that is due to the intereft, the welfare; and 'prosperity of one of the firft Cities in the United Kingdom. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, With the greateft refpect, And the warmeft gratitude, Your very faithful humble Servant, F. BURTON. June 30, 1802. ( *89 ) No. CXXI. To JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART, Esq. Sir, It might be deemed a fufficient anfwer to your complaint to the Freemen yefierday, that you had been refufed your Freedom of the City, to obferve, that you have no Right, Claim, or Pretenfion, to afk it. When it is granted to a perfon not entitled thereto it is a favour; but, Sir, it is denied it was refufed to you. ¦ Thofe who have the power to grant it have never been applied to for that purpofe, or has it been propofed to them. How then can it have been refufed ? Your friend, Mr. Syms, it is true, talked to a few of a Committee appointed to enquire into the petitions of perfons claiming a right to their Freedom, but on finding they had nothing to do with recommending it, he dropped his application; and afterwards, on its being fuggefted to him, a motion might be made in the ufual mode (as was done on behalf of another Gentleman) for taking into consideration the granting you an Honorary Freedom at the. next Council, he declined moving it, though one of the members offered to fecond the motion. It is there fore recommended to you, Sir, in future, to be a little more cautious what you affert, with a view to caufe dis tentions between the Citizens, or your friends will at 'laft difcover, that all you fay is not gofpel. Your humble Servant, Oxford, Jft of July, 1 802. V E R I TA S. Although you afferted, that Sir James Cotter and Mr. Ogilvie had their freedoms, as Candidates, it appears, on fearching the books, that they never were admitted Freemen. n 3 ( IQO ) No. CXXII. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. The Freemen are refpectfully informed that Mr. Burton will arrive in Oxford next Monday, and will hope to have the honour of being met by his friends, at Six o'Clock in the Evening of that Day, at the One Mile Stone on the Henley Road. Oxford, July 2, 1802. No. CXXIII. A NEW SONG. On Monday, my boys, our worthy friend comes, Let's prepare to -receive him with flags and with drums; He's fo wife and fo good, let us all with one voice Proclaim that a Burton, a Burton's our choice. Derry Down. Pray have we not try'd him, and found him moft true? Has he not our interests kept always in view? Our Rights and our Charters he'll ever protect, And you lately have feen there has been no neglect. Deny Down. A good fervant's a treafure we think to retain, In private and public Should always remain ; Since we feel a conviction that Burton isjuft, From him let us never withdraw our firm truft. Deny Down. < *9* )' But a hint, brother Freemen, allow me to give you, Let not principles vile in fine fpeeches deceive you; But return for your Members a Burton and Wright, And then, my brave boys, you'll have fought the good fight. Derry Down. Then to Burton and Wright let us fill up a bumper, And to the third Candidate offer a plumper; But friends underftand me, know what I'm about, I mean it an offer to plump him quite out. Derry Down, out, out, Deny Down. No. CXXIV. To the Freemen of Oxford. Gentlemen, Whenever Mr. Lockhart endeavours to invalidate what I addrefs to you in my public capacity, fo often ffiall I think it my duty tp reply to him. I abstain from anfwering him by word of mouth, firft, becaufe I might not be heard patiently before an affemblage of his own particular friends; fecondly, becaufe I Should be more open to mifreprefentation; thirdly, becaufe, what is committed to print may be laid up, and preferved as a testimony for or againft me, Should my explanation of the City Bonds be hereafter called in queftion. Mr. Lockhart, I am happy to find, did not attempt to impeach the main point which I fubmitted for your con sideration, namely, the injury the Freemen would have fuftained by the invalidation of the Bonds. He knew the attempt would have been vain, and therefore wifely abstained from making it. Nor did he £iy a Single word n 4 ( r93 ) to convince his friends that the proceedings before the court were not calculated to promote his own intereft, at. the expence of the Liberties of the Freemen. Thefe point-- therefore not being denied,' or attempted to be refuted, may be taken as facts yielded to me. Mr. Lockhart chiefly dwelt not upon what I did write, but upon what I did not write. When he could not overturn my arguments, he wanted to weaken them by imputing to me falfhood. He told the Freemen I had afferted that the queftion " was folemnly argued" (I took down his words) " when in fact," faid he, " there was no " argument at all, for the merits were, not entered into." Now, Gentlemen, refer to my printed paper, and you will fee that I have written " that the queftion came " before the court to be folemnly argued." But, Gentle men, I like fometimes to give my competitor his own way, and Mr. Lockhart fhall -have his; "that the merits " were not entered into." But why were they not? Now this is a queftion of fome difficulty ; for Mr. Lockhart will, in fact, be obliged to retract what he has faid, or forced to the painful neceffity of admitting that he had no merits, or (what no one will believe) that he failed in profeffional Skill properly to State them to the court. Btit, my chief reafon for attending laft night to Mr. Lockhart was, to hear what he might fay upon his old favourite fubjeA THE CITY CHARTERS AND CONSTITUTION, the abufe whereof has been fo often charged, in your hearing, -to the account of the Gentlemen in the Corporation, whpfe courts and councils I am bound officially to attend. The Solicitor to his Client Harwoo'-I, you know, has had free accefs to every thing the City pofTeiTes, which could throw light upon the fubject, and doubtlefs that refpectable and Sedulous ( J93 ) Gentleman has made every poffible communication to his friend and co-adjutor Mr. Lockhart; and although repeatedly called upon and invited to make good his affertions distinctly and Specifically, not onefolitary inftance, I am mnll happy to fay, has yet been produced by either. Every thing I truft, therefore, is right on that head, and the feelings of the Freemen of Oxford will no longer be acted upon by the unfounded reprefentation, that they have been robbed of their Birthrights. That delufion, it is to be hoped, is now compleatly at an end. True it is that Mr. Lockhart's charges have always been " general and mdifcriminate" — not pointed to any diflinct fact. Charges fo made cannot be anfwered. They will admit of no anfwer, no defence whatever, the only poffible way to afcertain the truth or falfhood of a charge being to State it in Specific ternis. To elucidate this point — Had any one charged Mr. Lockhart, in general terms, with having ufed falfhood and deceit to his old friend Mr. Peters, a charge fo made would have been unmanly, illiberal, and unworthy of notice. But Should it have been faid distinctly of Mr. Lockhart (as was publicly mentioned by Mr. Peters, in his prefence at the Civis meeting in the Town Hall, and again in a Hand-bill of laft Monday) that " You, Sir, met Mr, Peters at the laft Oxford " Races, on your ufual friendly terms— You com- " plained to him of your ill date of health, and told _ " him that you were Setting off the next morning for •' the Lakes — Having at the fame time a paper in the [irefs, " foliciting the votes qf the Oxford Freemen in opfiofition to " Mr. Peters, and which you put into circulation as foon as " his back was turned — and You, Sir, inftead of going ",to the Lakes, never left Oxf°td till your Canvafs was « finijlied." ( '94 ) An offence fo charged would imperioufly call for an anfwer froin Mr. Lockhart, and he muft either deny or explain it; or, not denying or explaining it, he, muft fubmit to all the confequences of a conviction. Thus, Gentlemen, mark the difference between a general, indifcriminate charge, and an offence fpecifically and difiinclly ftated. Wm. ELIAS TAUNTON. Oxfoid, July 2, 1802. No. CXXV. To the Worthy Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, The repeated affurances of fupport which I have continued to receive through an almoft daily Canvafs, during a conflant refidence among von for fix months pad, leave me no room to doubt of the ultimate gratification of my with. — And although much pains have been taken to imprefs an opinion of the certainty of foc- cefs as to both the ojher Candidates, I folicit with con fidence your early appearance in my favour on Tuefday next, which is the day fixed for the Election, and which I fhall confider as increafing the obligations of, . Gentlemen, Your devoted, and faithful humble fervant, JOHN ATKYNS WRIGHT. Oxford, July 2, 1802. I wifh tp caution )ou againft any falfe reports which may be circulated to impofe upon you; believe me I am defirous of having the good opinion of every Freeman, and be affured that I ffiall as highly value any additional promife now, as I Should have done at the firft moment I fought your favours. ( '95 ) No. CXXVI. To the Freemen individually. Sir, — — r- The Poll commences on Tuefday, I re queft the favour of your company to meet the Commons in Gravel Walk on that Morning, at Nine o'Clock, to proceed from thence to the Hustings, to affert the Ancient Right of a Free Election. I am, Sir, with great Regard, Your obedient Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. Oxford, July 2, 1802. No. CXXVII. Oxford, June 24, 1802. The Town Clerk's Reply to Mr. Meyfey. I did not fee Mr. Meysey's anfwer till my return to Oxford laft night. What I ftated of that gentle man, was, " that he had perufed all the City Charters that he had defired to fee." — That affertion he has con tradicted, by alledging that he had not yet perufed " all that he defires to fee." The quibble is too obvious not to be feen by the moft common reader. I again repeat, that the Charters were left at my Office full three weeks before Mr. Meysey even applied to look at them, and I will go further, and with equal truth affirm, that after the order of council was made for their being left at my Office for perufal, Mr. Meysey declared in the face of the whole Council that he had no defire to fee them ; this gentleman being at that time the avowe'd Solicitor of the very perfons who had fo urgently preffed for their examination. ( *9° ) I further declare, that in the courfe of laft week I laid before Mr. Meysey every Bye Law which the City is, to my knowledge, in poffeffion of; and particularly refer red him to the Bye Law or Order in the Council Books made in the time of King Edward the Sixth, on the fubject of the Foreign Freemen, and offered him my affiftance in reading it, the writing being in the obfeure hand of thofe ancient times. Thefe facts, ffiould any of them be again contradicted,' will be confirmed by feveral perfons in whofe Sight and hearing they paffed, and I will now leave the impartial Freemen to form their own judgments upon them. * The Grants and Donations of the Charities I have promifed to make out, and that promife I will faithfully fulfil; and when they have been compared and examined with the ancient Documents by the Committee appointed for that purpofe, I mean, with the concurrence of the Committee, to publifh them for the Satisfaction of every Freeman; Dtit more time is certainly neceffary to do cor rectly a bufinefs of fuch importance and labour than Mr. Meysey could poffibly require in the examination of the Charters and Bye Laws, and the orders of the Common Council, after they had been arranged and reduced into order, and his eye immediately directed to the particular parchments and writings he had oecafion to look at. The one is a work of months, the other of a few hours. The fubject of the Freemen's Bonds is by no means improperly difcuffed at the prefent moment. The queftion before the Court is not anticipated in a manner to give offence; but Mr. Meysey, knowing how deeply the Rights of every Refident Freeman are involved, carefully avoids all difcuffion upon it. Wm. ELIAS TAUNTON, Town Clerk. ( '97 ) N. B. The explanation of the nature of the Non- refident Freemen's Bonds, by the Town Clerk, may be had, gratis, by every Freeman on applying to Mrs. Jowes, at the Printing Office, High Street. No. C XXVIII. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, I have, neither leifiire nor inclination to enter into a paper difpute with Mr. Taunton; but that Gentleman, during my abfence, has thought proper to publiffi what he calls " the Town Clerk's reply to Mr. Meyfey;" in which he afferts, that I faid, in the face of the whole Council, " that I had no defire to fee the Charters;" but the Town Clerk's candour Should have induced him to go on a little farther, and-ftate the whole that paffed on that oecafion. Being myfelf a member of that Council, it was not neceffary for me, in my own character, or for my own Satisfaction, to make that application; and, therefore, I did fay, " in the face qf the whole Council, that I had no defire to fee the Charters;" but Mr. Taunton well knows I added, " that my employers, the Freemen of Oxford, wifhed to infpeSl thofe documents, in which they are fo deeply interefied; and that it , _ , ¦ J Oxford, Coachmafter, maketh Oath and faithj That on Wednefday Night, of the 30th day of June, laft paft, Robert Morrell, of the fame City, Attorney at Law, (and one of the Agents of John Atkyns Wright, Efq. who has declared himfelf a Candidate for the Reprefentation ©f the faid City in Parliament, as this Deponent hath been informed and believes,) applied l« ( 203 ) this Deponent, at the Angel Inn, in the faid City of Oxford, to hire and engage Coaches of this Deponent, for the purpofe of conveying the Freemen of Oxford, refiding in London, and who were in the intereft of Mr. Wright, to Oxford, to poll at the enfuing Election — That upon fuch application, this Deponent infori .e J the faid Robert Morrell, that he was about contacting with Mr. Lockhart, (another of the Candidates for the* Reprefentation ofthe faid City of Oxford,) for conveying the Freemen of the faid City, in-his intereft, refiding in London, to poll at the enfuing Election. That the faid Robert Morrell then afked this Deponent what he was to receive of Mr. Lockhart, in cafe it would not be neceffary to convey any voters for that Gentleman; to which this Deponent anfwered, " Nothing." And this Deponent, upon his Oath, further faith, That the faid Robert Morrell immediately offered this Deponent Fifty Pounds, if he would undertake to bring down Wright's party, in preference tb Lockhart's party, and with, and by, the fame coaches, which were then about to be, and which afterwards were, engaged by Mr. Lockhart; or words amounting to that effect or meaning; which faid offer of Fifty Pounds this Deponent confidered at the time it was offered, and does confidec and understand now, as a reward or bribe to this Depo nent for preventing or breaking the faid Contract. And further, that this Deponent anfwered the faid Robert Morrell, that he would npt commit fuch an act if he offered him Fifty Thoufand Pounds, or words to that effect. And this Deponent further faith, That the faid Robert Morrell replied, or obferved, in words to the following effect, namely: " Suppofe your Partners on the road," (naming fome of them) " were to promife me, how could o 2. { 204 ) ¦youf> in that cafe, perform your Contract with Mr. Lockhart?" To which this Deponent immediately re joined, that in fuch a cafe, he would himfelf work the Coaches, conveying Lockhart's Voters, the whole way from London to Oxford. RICHARD COSTAR. Taken and made before me 7 the 5th Day of July, 1802. J No. CXXXV. City of Oxford, Edward Hutton, of the City of Oxford, Yeoman, maketh Oath and faith, That on Wednefday Night/ the 30th of June laft, he heard Mr. Richard Coftdr in converfation with fome perfon whom this Deponent did not fee, it being very dark; he heard Mr. Richard Coftctr fay, in the courfe of fuch converfation, to fuch perforr, that he would, not break his intended Contract for any money, he, the faid perfon, would give him, for what was a man when he forfeited his word? Saith, he this Deponent was at the Counter of the Coach-office, when he firft heard the faid Richard Coftar and fome other perfon fpeak — That he came from the Counter to the Door-way of the Coach-office, and then he heard the words above- mentioned uttered- by Mr. Coftar^And faith, That he, this Deponent, then immediately turned awav, went to the Counter of the faid Coach-office, and heard no more — Saith, That the above fact depofed to by this Deponent, happened about twenty minutes paft Ten o'Clock on the above Wednefday Night. IDWARD HUTTON.. Taken and made before me 7 WJLLIAM FLETCHER. the 6th Day of July, 1802. J f 20$ ^ No. CXXXVI. THE FOLLOWING IS A GENUINE LETTER, Sent fome time ago to a Perfon in St. Aldate's. And fo you poor filly Auf you will vote for Barley B. and Juftace W. You will be dictated to by that minx of a lifter of your's. I told you in my laft letter * fome of the great things my Friend L. would do. He is the man of my choice, and all but fools will ferve him. He has moreover promifed to down with the Council Chamber, and reftore the ancient order of things. The Courts of Juftice and Government he will transfer to the Hamel of St. Thomas. No longer ffiall the Mayor and Aldermen gevern, but all power Shall be lodged in Com mon Halls, and there every Freeman fhall be upon equal terms. The matter that now is, (hall no longer command the fervant, nor the fervant obey the matter." All Sub jection, all Subordination, is to be at an end. He will ranfack the old mufly charters and corporation deeds, and give to every Freeman his juft rights. Port-mead will be extended to the gates of B m Palace; the fine fiffieries will be bounded only by the ocean, and the finny tribes multiplied to an incredible degree. There will be booty for the fiffiermen, you blockhead; the Almfmen of B fhalj no longer Starve upon nine pence a week; they Shall fit at O. C. high table; the P 1 ffiall pray to them at their old chapel, and the Vice-P 1 ffiall cry Amen, — fo was it in former days, The great quadrangle of Ch. Ch. fhall ceafe to be inclofed by its lofty buildings; the whole (liall be thrown open, and the antient fite of Fridefwide Fair reftored to its true owners. The City ] Prifon will, by a touch of his magic wand, be lifted into * This Letter is unfortunately loft, o 3 < ao6 ) the a'e'riel regions, there to be ftationed as a monument of the tyranny and oppreffion of the prefent rulers. Your races will be attended by multitudes of horfes and men beyond all former times, for our friend will iffue his mandamuffes (he is a dab at a mandamus) into all quarters, commanding their prefence* Bonds of all kinds Shall be heard of no more. They are ill fuited to the name of a Free-man. The foolifh old cuflom of taking bonds from us out-lying Freemen fliall be blotted out, and the collar we have fo long worn, he, promifes (and what he fays is like the Gofpel, true) (hall be laid under foot to perifh. everlaftingly. Thefe, and ten thoufand other bleffings, will come from following my advice, and therefore I hope you will no long a, liften to the bawling of your weak filter, who is led aftray by the morfel of beef and bread She had from the Juftace. Your true Friend, NO BOASTER. No. CXXXVII. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, ¦» Your unwearied perfeverance excites my admiration. J congratulate you that it has not been brought into action without full promife of Victory. Let us again to-morrow be found under her Banners — they are thofe of Liberty; and we will complete the Honourable Talk fo glorioufly undertaken by Men who are determined to make their native City ftand high in Hiftory, as a Shining example of Independence and Patriotifm. The Canvafs will commence to-morrow Morning at half-pad Eight o'Clock precifely. I am, Gentlemen, with great Regard, Your obedient and obliged Servant, Oxford, July, !8o2. JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART, ( zo7 ) No. CXXXVIII. To the Worthy Freemen of the City of Oxford, Gentlemen, Mr. Lockhart firft recommended himfelf to your notice by declaiming againft the Corporation, and by promising that he would reftore to you all your Liberties and Franchifes which had teen unjuftly withheld. He and his friend Mr. Meyfey have been publicly chal lenged to bring forward one inftance of injuftice or oppreffion, but they cannot do it. He has been as publicly charged with an endeavour to advance his own intereft by a Sacrifice of the Liberties of the Freemen, by the introduction of hundreds of Free men never before thought of — and this charge he has not attempted to refute. He has been charged alfo with impofing upon the virtuous and the highly refpected friend of the City, Mr. Peters. Hewasfo charged to his face by Mr. Peters, and again repeatedly in the courfe of the laft week, and to this charge he has yielded affent, by not denying it. Thefe Facts are too glaring not to awaken the feelings of the independent, unprejudiced Freemen, and their juft refentment, to their honour be it fpoken, was manifeft in their defertion of him to-day, when to make his numbers upon the poll, even what they were, he was obliged to poll his firmeft and moft forward friends — his Committee and immediate Agents — Of this number were, Mr. Syms, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Percival Walffi, Mr. Cock, Mr. Hardy, &c. &c. His friends were detected alfo in an attempt to poll two perfons who were no Freemen, © 4 ( 208 ) The end of all things will (hew that, konefty and fair dealing is the beft fiolicy, and neither he nor his new Orator Prince Adolphus, by the united force of their elo quence, will ever divert the Freemen from their true interests, that is, the Election of Reprefentatives of principles congenial with their own, of Virtue, Honour, Veracity, and Refpectability, An Enemy to Mifreprefentation. Oxford, Tuefday Evening, ¦July 6, 1802. No. CXXXIX. To the Worthy Freemen of the City of Oxford. If modeft worth with independence join'd; If all the virtues that adorn the mind; If native claims have weight to recommend; If you can prize a neighbour and a friend; If manly fettfe with manners mild and bland, A feeling heart join'd to a lib'ral hand, Have ought of force to guide the Freemens choice, Each honeft heart for Wright will give his voice. Though Lockhart bellows, yet (hall folid fenfe, To Wright and merit yield the preference. Say ffiall a Barrister your Suffrage fway, One who by habit may your rights betray? For who a hireling advocate would truft, In practice venal and to truth unjuft ? / Who on the plaintiff's cafe will give advice—* A fecond fee will change him in a trice, And for defendant he will plead amain; No matter whofe the caufe if his the gain, ( 2°9 ) From Sympathy eftrang'd, the callous heart So duly qualified to act its part, > Nor widows woes, nor orphans tears avail, No argument but gold will e'er prevail. When practis'd long in mazy falffiood's fchool, Degraded talent owns not honour's rule, But prone to varnifh guilt with eloquence, Offends our juftice and infults our fenfe. - 'Midft jarring factions ftill fhall Burton's name With honour.grace the fair record of fame,— A firm Supporter of his country's caufe, A Solid pillar of her facred laws. Oxonia's fons detect each falfe pretence, Affert your virtue and difplay your fenfe; So fliall your rights be fife, your honour clear, Your property fecure, and all you hold moft dear. FLACCUS. No. CXL. Converfation between two Freemen, overheard at CARFAX on Saturday Evening. Jeff. Why, Jemmy, I am told you are turned to the Corporation. Is it true? Jemmy. Corporation! What do you mean by that? Jeff. You can't miftake my meaning — You intend to vote for Burton. Jemmy. Indeed I do and I am not afhamed of it; but as for the Corporation, they may all be d d together for aught I care. I have nothing to do with them. I vote for Burton becaufe he is an honeft man. He is an old Servant, who has behaved well; and it would be ungrateful not to fupport him. I hate ingratitude. { 210 ) Jtff. Burton behaved well ! I have a notion your head is muddled with Burton Ale, or you would not talk fuch Stuff. Didn't he recommend us to eat Barley- Bread? Jemmy. I am quite affiamed of you, Jeff; are you one of the d d affes that bray about the Streets the Barley Bread ftory? Go to bed do, and don't Shew your face till after the election. But Slop-r— one word to you ahout Barley Bread. I fay Burton deferves our thanks for recommending the ufe of Barley, when Monopo- ' lizers1 took advantage of the fcanty crop of Wheat, He knew that by leffening the confumption of Wheat, we Should not only leffen the price, but make the Stock hold out till the next harveft. Befides, he was only doing in his capacity of Recorder, what all the twelve Judges were defired by Government to do. Jeff. Why, Jemmy, do you believe there was a fcarcity ? Jemmy. Not fo great a one as was fuppofed by many; but what Burton did was to prevent calamity falling heavily on our heads; and moreover to check the Scheme's of Monopolizers. Jeff. Well, if I thought that old Burton really intended to do good, by recommending the ufe of Barley, and to put a flop to the d — — d tricks of Monopolizers, I would give him a vote. Jemmy. Make an enquiry into the bufinefs, and you will be fatisfied that he acted from the beft of motives, and that the hue and cry about Barley Bread is dif- graceful to every one who gives encouragement to it. Jeff. But whom do you vote for befides Burton ? Jemmy. I don't know. I have not made up my mind. ' Our favourite Member Peters has left us, and it grieves me to the heart when I think of it. If you'll ilep with me to the Split Crow, we will drink ( 211 ) Burton's health and Peters's too.. But Wright and Lockhart may go to the devil. If Peters won't come, we muft have Wright or Lockhart— . of two evils I hope we ffiall haye the leaft. But, d— — n me, if I vote for either. BURTON for ever. Huzza! No. CXLI. To the Worthy Freemen of the City of Oxford. GENTLEMEN, I take the earlieft opportunity of re turning you my warmed thanks for your kind fupport on this day's poll. I beg leave to entreat your attendance to-morrow, and during the continuance of the conteft, and have no doubt but that your Steady and independent perfeverance in my favour will very foon be terminated with fuccefs, and gratify me in the warmeft wiffi of my heart, that of reprefenting in Parliament this City, whofe favour and attachment I have fo long experienced, and (hall ever remember with the utmoft gratitude, I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, With very great refpect and efteem, Your obliged and obedient humble Servant, FRANCIS BURTON, Xuefday Evening, 6th July, 1 802. STATE OF THE POLL ON TUESDAY, Mr. Burton 138 Mr. Wright 163 Mr. Lockhart "6 ( 212 ) No. CXLII. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. gentlemen, ¦¦ i The events of this day have proved firftly — • That the Party of both Mr. Wright and Mr. Burton, are determined to employ every meafure to defeat the Commons. Secondly — That the Commons are Strong enough to defeat this tyrannical Scheme, by refuting to vote for either of the Candidates who rely on that Party, and who have employed the moft active perfons in it. Laftly — That if they both fucceed, a death blow is given to your political exiftence, for it is now infolently afferted that you have a right to vote, but afterwards no right to inftruct your Constituents; in Short that after you have voted, you have nothing to do with them. So that either in the City or in the State you are to be mere cyphers. Call upon your Candidates to declare to you their fentiments on this point. , I am, Gentlemen, with great regard, Your obliged Servant, and fincere Friend, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. POLL OF THIS DAY.' Mr. Lockhart . . 116 -j Single Votes for Mr. Mr. Burton .... 138 _, „. , • Lockhart 46 Mr, Wright. ... 162 J T The Poll will begin To-morrow at Ten o'Clock, Tuefday, July 6th, 1802. No. CXLIII. To the Worthy Freemen of the City of Oxford. GENTLEMEN,. '«¦¦ Accept my moft grateful thanks for the generous fupport you have this day given me; perfeverg ( 2'3 > in the fame line of conduct to-morrow, and doubtlefsyou will fecure the Caufe of True Independence — a Caufe, which, as it has hitherto been the habit of my life to adhere to, fo it ffiall ever be the object of my future en deavours Strictly to maintain. I am, Gentlemen, With every fentiment of gratitude, Your much obliged, and faithful humble fervant, Oxford, July 6, 1802. JOHN ATKYNS WRIGHT. Stati of the Poll as appears by the Book of Mr. Atkyns Wright's Check Clerk. Mr. Atkyns Wright . . 166 Mr. Burton 135 Mr. Lockhart. ...... 112 The Friends of Mr. Atkyns Wright are folicited to do him the honour of meeting him To-morrow Morning, at Half-paft Nine o'Clock, to proceed with him to the Town-Hall. No. CXLIV. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. An ingenious device is attempted to be prac- tifed. A Man goes about this City, faying, if you will give a vote to Mr. Wright, I will give a vote to Mr. Burton, and this he does to a hundred perfons daily, thus attempting to exchange, moft equitably, one vote for a hundred. Are you not aware of this Coalition ? No. CXLV. A NEW SONG. Whilst Oxford indeed in a diffolute age, Is happy in having her Senators fage ; A Reformer Starts up, and with inSolence claims Your votes. and your voices to Second his aims; t 214 ) With the little Scotch Barrifter warm in his caufe, See him catch at the whifper of public applaufe; See him all at the club condefcendingly greeting, And paying by flippant harrangues for his eating; True Lawyer-like pay for the pudding and beef, Gormandiz'd by himfelf and by Sawney M- f. 11. See F ^-n and S- r profefs themfelves able, To render your Charters and Franchifes Stable ; See H — — y forfaking his fattins and gauze, To balk in the funffiine pf tranfient applaufe; Thefe added to 8 s and to M 'y are found, To echo the virtues of L 1 around : Thefe promife indeed amid clamour and noife, Amid bawling old women and turbulent boys : Thefe promife to offer their forry relief, To the friend and the matter of Sawney M— — — f» 111. Yet if virtue and worth, which already we find In our member at prefent correctly combin'd; If the powers mature of B n can raife Any claim to your notice, or ground for your praifej In gratitude pay him the tribute that's due, To talents fo often exerted for you : , Then periffi the futile and too willing zeal Of Reformers to fuccour your Citizens' weal; And nought but ill-luck and confufion and grief, Attend the adventure of Sawney M f. IV. So may L— — — t, the chief of this reftlefs banditti, Leave at length to repofe the difquieted city; May S -'s endeavours to folace a wife, Lead him far from the fcenes of political Strife ; May H y fall back in his own proper Station, And ceafe to arrange the affairs of the nation; f n$ } May P n in fine (for enough have I fang)' May F n retire with the reft of the gang; And let 'Sifes and Seffions, the quill and the brref> Serve to bound the ambition of Sa whey M— — — f. No. CXLVI. To the Worthy Freemen of the City of Oxford, Gentlemen, With Unfeigned gratitude" I offer you my Warmed thanks for the firm fupport you have given me this day. No doubt can now, I think, be entertained of the general opinion and determination of the Independent Freemen of Oxford. I entreat you, Gentlemen, to do me the favour of an early attendance at the Town-Hall to morrow, and to continue to me thofe acts of friendffiip which I have experienced yefterday and to day. I am, With the trued Sentiments of Gratitude and Efteem< Gentlemen, Your obliged and faithful Humble Servant, JOHN ATKYNS WRIGHT.) Oxford, July 7, 1802, STATE OF THE POLL. Mr. Atkyns Wright 41S Mr. Burton 385 Mr. Lockhart 273 fcf* The Friends of Mr. Wright are requefted t* meet at the Star Inn to-morrow Morning, at Half-paft; Nine o'clock, No. CXLVII. To the Freemen of Oxford arrived from Londort, Gentlemen, — I respectfully requeft that you will meet at Mr. Syms's, Gravel Walk, High Street, Oxford, at Eleven o'Clock. I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient humble Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. Wednefday, July J, 1802. No. CXLVIII. To the Worthy Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, - Each day impofes upon me a new obligation to offer you my moft "grateful thanks for favours received. The honourable fupport which you have given me from the firft opening of the. poll has made an impreffion on my mind which will never be effaced. The event of this day's poll feems to mark moft decidedly the opinions and choice of the Freemen of Oxford. — Permit me once more to folicit the honour of your attendance to the Town- Hall to-morrow Morning at Ten o'clock, and be allured I (hall ever retain a due fenfe of your kindnefs and friendship. I have the honour to be, With the trueft Sentiments of Efteem, Gentlemen, Your obliged and faithful humble Servant, Oxford, July 2, 1802. JOHN ATKYNS WRIGHT. STATE OF THE POLL. Mr. Wright ........ 836 Mr. Burton 811 Mr. Lockhart 454 The Friends of Mr. Wright are requefted to meet at the Star, to-morrow Morning at Nine o'clock, to attend him to the Hustings. C 217 > No. CXLIX. THE COMMONS AND THEIR CAUSE. The Freemen in the Intereft of Mr. Lock hart, and particularly thofe who have not yet voted, are requefted to meet at the Town-Hall, To-morrow Morning at Nine o'Clock precifely, in order to make a glorious and honourable effort in the true caufe of the City, and its real Independence. I have the Honour to be, Gentlemen, Your devoted, and, obedient Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. Gravel Walk, July 7, 1802. No. CL. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, It is yeur duty to give a public testimony of your approbation of the conduct of thofe truly Indepen dent Men who have flood forward in the Caufe of Freedom. It is your Intereft to convince your opponents how great a political force refides in the Commons of this City, and to point out where it may be found on fome more aufpi- cious oecafion. Meet, therefore, to-morrow morning, In the Town- Hall, at ten o'clock, and enrol your names among thofe who have made a virtuous ftruggle to enfranchife their Fellow-Citizens. I am, Gentlemen, your moft faithful Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. Oxford, July 2, 1802. p C 218 ) No. CLI. In the Prefs, and fpeedily will le publifhed, OBSERVATIONS ON THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MODE TO BE ADOPTED FOR OBTAINING AN HONOURABLE SEAT IN PARLIAMENT ; SHEWING, In a moft Satisfactory and exemplary manner, the danger and futility of attempting it by long inflammatory fpeeches, by Stating and promising to remove evils which have no exiftence, but in the vifionary brain of the infatuated Orator, calculated to impofe upon the credulous, .to miflead the ignorant, and to delude and falfely encourage the indolent and vicious, by difleminating principles tending, to produce difcontent; and to disorganize, or fubvert the different orders of the Community. BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF A COURSE OF PRACTICAL LECTURES, PUBLICLY DELIVERED NEAR CARFAX i TO THE Common Freemen and the Populace of Oxford ; Illuftrated and confirmed by Actual 'Experiment, DEDICATED TO Mr. T. H. The above-mentioned work will form a Pocket Manual, fit to be in the poifeffion of every Freeman of Oxford, in order to put him upon his guard againft any alfailant that may be fool-hardy enough in future to attempt to deprive him of his reafon, by torturing the true meaning of the ( 2IO ) word "Liberty," merely to ferve his own ambitious purpofe, at the expence and facrifice of the credulous hearers true judgment and intereft. *** To be delivered gratis to the Poor Freemen, by the Philanthropic Author, at his refidence in the Gravel Walk. 455 copies will be neatly bound in blue with filver edges, for the Author's particular Friends. N. B. As the Author flatters himfejf that he has ex hibited, by precept and example, the moft decided proof of his unrivalled talents, and indefatigable induftry, in investigating and demonstrating the fubject, by placing in its true colours the fallacy of fuch abfurd and puerile con duct; he trufts he fhall meet with that countenance and patronage from a difcerning and liberal public, which fo worthy and patriotic an attempt deferves, efpecially as the neceffary experiments have proved, notwithstanding the moft rigid oeconomy, enormoufly expenfive to him. Oxford, July 9, 1802. No. CLII. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, Permit me to return my warmed thanks for the honour you have done me this day, by electing me now for the third Parliament one of your Represen tatives. — Under the ftrongeft fenfe of the duty which you have impofed upon me, I can affure you that you ffiall never find me wanting either in zeal for the interefts and the profperity of the City of Oxford, or in diligence in difcharging the truft committed to me to the utmoft of my abilities. For the imperfections which may be found in p 2 ( 220 ) me, I have to intreat your indulgence : ' and I am confident that I (hall experience it, as the natural refult of your uniform kindnefs towards an old Servant. I can never forget the voluntary and unremitted efforts of a vaft majo rity of my worthy Conftituents of all claffes, by which I have been fupported during a conteft of near a twelve month; and Sincerely do I lament the Strife and animofities ¦which are never to be avoided upon fimilar occafions, yet I confidently perfuade myfelf that they will be foon buried in eternal oblivion; that your ancient habits of unanimity and friendship will quickly be reftored; and that every individual will long enjoy an uninterrupted courfe of peace and happinefs. I have the Honour to be, Gentlemen, With the trued refpect and efteem, Your moft obliged and obedient humble fervant, Oxford, July 9, 1802. F. BURTON, No. CLIII. To the Worthy Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, The free and unbiaffed fupport you have fo generoufly given me, has ftamped the higheft poffible value on the diftinguiffied honour you have this day con ferred on me in electing me one of your Representatives in Parliament. It (hallbe my conftant endeavour, by an affiduous and unremitting attention to your interefts, to merit your favour; and I truft, by an adherence to the ( 221 ) fame principles and conduct which firft obtained your approbation, I ffiall enfure a continuance of your good opinion. > I have the Honour to be, With real true fentiments of refpect and efteem, Gentlemen, Your obliged and faithful humble Servant, JOHN ATKYNS WRIGHT. Oxford, July gth, 1802. ^ No. CLIV. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, Though the caufe of independence has met a temporary check, yet it ought not to excite any defpondency in your minds. Againft firch a combination of wealth, rank, and power, it is rather a matter, of ad miration that fuch an effort could have been made. To you, Gentlemen, who in defiance of this hydra, remained firm in a caufe, no otherwife interesting to you than as it affected the community in general, I render my warmeft thanks; and I beg leave to recommend again to you, that whilft no prefent motive for political conteft exifts, that you would (preferving your principles) difmifs from your minds any irritation which a difference of opinion may unavoidably have created. I am, Gentlemen, Your faithful humble Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. Oxford, July o., 1802. ( 222 ) No. CLV. THE SONG OF THE BOYS OF ST. THOMAS's PARISH. Tune — Free and an Accepted Mafon, Ye St. Thomas's Boys, Who have made fuch a noife, In fupport of our ancient freedom; Keep Steady and true, To the colour of blue, And hereafter a dance we will lead 'em. Thofe hireling (laves, With their Sticks and their (laves, Who bafely have mortgaged the City ; May their consciences Sling, Till repentance if bring, For them, we ffiall never feel pity. Tho' the crafty T n C k, Leaves us all in the dark, As to charters, gifts, and donations ; We'll attack him again, Till he'll fully explain The refult of his invefligations. Now the conteft is o'er, We have time to explore, What have lately been told us as facts ; . How fome of our friends, To gain their own end's, Have exchang'd a New Hat for the Beer Tax. ( 223 ) Such reptiles as thofe, May they ne'er find repofe, Hereafter, wherever they journey; Till they (hare the fame fate, That fooner or late, Is prepar'd for the perjur'd Attorney. No. CLVI. . A POETICAL ORATION.— Not an OFATION. "Friends, Freemen, Citizens, lend me your ears,v I come to mingle with you briny tears; Tears, that from patriotic grief are (hed — Flow, flow ye dreams from every watery head. You all remember L 1, 1 do know, \ His merits have received a mortal blow. How could ye, blocks, fo unconcern'd remain, While eloquence knock'd at your ears in vain? How could ye gape and (tare, and fay 'twas fine, Yet let Ad--p— s wafte, his pearls on fwine? Fie, patriots, fie, ye fhould have rent the air With yells, if not of triumph, ofdefpair: You had the triumph, and he told you then, You fhould have waited like the Roman Men; 'Till victory crown'd the efforts of the day: To triumph firft, was merely children's play. Now gather Cyprefs, Night-ffiade, Hemlock, Yew, To drefs the chair, inftead of Ribbands Blue. Thofe wretched mottos from your flags erafe, And put what reafon dictates in their place. Worth and well tried Integrity's our choice, The free election of the people's voice. ( *2 4 ) No. CLVII. A POETICAL FAREWELL TO THE FRIENDS OF FREEDOM. Hail ! ragged patriots and ye chieftains bold, Who durfl the caufe of Liberty uphold.—1 Who, though oppos'd by wealth and might and power, Put forth your efforts in the needful hour; All hail ! though difunited from your firm array, Ye faw a piteous and a lucklefs day. Though dire that day, and pregnant with difgrace, Nor weeks, nor months, nor years ffiall e'er deface Your matchlefs energy: but time hand down The name of W h incircled with renown, Coupled with thofe of M y, H y, C; k, And all who gave to flavery a Shock. But thou C re the foremofl of the band, With hired dancing fteed and flag in hand, Time fliall record when thou with fhamelefs face Didft lead the ruffian crew, with Moore's mock Mace; But now of L 1 and of Freedom fick, Take up thy fiddle' and thy fiddle-Stick ; Nor think my mufe too bold nor too fevere, If (lie, regardlefs of refpect or fear, Lids thee to move Within thy proper I Nor e'er again milled by too much zeal, Forfake the minuet and the varying reel; Nor e'er affect the consequential beau, Until thy head's as perfect as thy tee. fevere, -\ ' fphere; 3 ( "5 ) No. CLVIII. A CONSOLATORY TRIBUTE TO A KNIGHT OF THE FIDDLE; Being a Defence qf his CharacJer and Conduil from the Afperflons of a late Publication. Let one devouring and perpetual blaze, Surround that poet and that poet's lays, Who dar'd with fland'rotis and malignant aim, Affault the barrier of a Ch re's name; Who dar'd affert, with freedom undefir'd, His well-inftructed Steed was merely hir'd: How well-inftructed ! how correct his pace ! How form'd his Steps with imitative grace ! How modell'd like his mailer's, as along He hopp'd and danc'd and caper'd through the throng. Periffi, I fay, the poet who could raife Such bafelefs falfhoods in the lieu of praife;- Who dar'd, at once malicious and fevere, To brand with ridicule the great Ch re: Ch rel whofe noble energy of mind, Is not by thoughts' of pomp to be confin'd; But could deride the empty, vain parade Of worthlefs Burton's flaviffi cavalcade; And though devoid of Int'reft, Vote, or Power, > " Put forth his efforts in the needful hour," And unfolicited was firft in View ©f L ¦ — -f s bold and patriotic crew,. ( 226 ) And fpurn'd at wealth, at honour and applaufe, Unlefs obtain'd in freedom's facred caufe. Ch re! who fcorn'd his ufual trade to follow, Wiffi'd to become a filken-taffell' d fcholar — Laid down his fiddle antj forfook the ball, And claim'd admittance'at St. Alban's Hall; But here repuls'd and Stung with dire vexation, Again purfued his humble occupation; Put to his wild career a prudent Stop, And taught again young miffes how to hop; And now content to tune the chearful fiddle, He joins the dance, and hands it down the middle. No. CLIX. Omitted July 2d, 1802. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. Gentlemen, Tuesday next is the Day appointed for the ELECTION of your Representatives. I moft refpectfully folicit your fupport, placing a firm reliance: in your FORTITUDE,, ., which a late great MORALIST declared to be the moft important of Virtues, alledging as a reafon, that it kept all the reft together. To the GREAT AUTHOR of aft Law, and of thofe Institutions by which NATIONS are preferved from DEGENERACY and SLAVERY, nothing can be more agreeable than BODIES of men me.et.ing DELL BERATELY and FREELY to chufe according to the eonfcientious Judgment of each of them, thofe PERSONS, ( 22-] ) by whofe ACTS and COUNSELS the great FABRICK of SOCIETY is to be upheld, nothing, on the contrary, can be more difpleafing to HIM than an Alfembly of Perfons- gathered together, the one to ENSLAVE and CORRUPT, the other to be ENSLAVED and COR RUPTED.— -BE THEREFORE BOLD, as you LAW FULLY may be, in afferting your Right of Acting accor-' ding to your own judgment. For YOUR OWN Acts, you, and not others, are to be refponfible, and remember that the LIBERTY of your FELLOW CITIZENS depends on your CONDUCT. I am, Gentlemen, Your moft faithful And obedient Servant, JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART. July 2d, 1802. No. CLX. To the Freemen of the City of Oxford. 1 Gentlemen, Understanding that many of you were defirous that a Petition fhould be prefented to the Houfe of Commons, calling for an inveftigation of fome of the proceedings in the late Election, I think it a duty I owe to you to ftate my reafons why I did not prefent one. Such a 2 . ( m8 ) a defire on your parts, who felt how intimately the per manence of the Coriftilution is connected with the Freedom of Election, was natural and juft; for the irregularities committed were great, and, being proved, might have at leaft avoided the return of one of your prefent Repre- fentatives. I wave mentioning the offence of " Treating," becaufe I know great allowances are to be made for Candidates, who, in populous towns, can feldom controul, check, or in any manner govern the conduct of their committees and agents; but the appointment by a Candi date, or his committee, of a numerous body of voters to the pretended mock office of Conftable, with weapons, without approbation or privity of the magistracy, with a view of overawing others of the Electors, and of juftifying the receipt of fums of money, paid colourably as for their labour, but intended and operating as a bribe to command their votes, cannot be remembered without indignation, or commented upon without exciting the moft ferious apprehenfion for the freedom of every future election within your walls.— That redrefs which either the Houfe of Commons or the fuperior Courts of Law would have afforded, though probably after many tedious and diftant trials, as far as reflected myfelf, I was content to wave; and at this no man can take offence, it being purely my own perfonal concern. But give me leave to affure you, that had I anticipated any more effectual and folid redrefs, any Surer and more lafting remedy againft fuch mifchiefs than are to be found within the compafs of your own power, it is not either expence or labour, however arduous, that fhould have deterred me from attempting to procure both for you. — That redrefs and that remedy muft be found within your own firm refolution to dif- countenauce in a marked and folemn manner fuch pro- ( 229 ) ceedings in future, to frown the agents of corruption from your gates, and to fupport thofe, who, in foliciting your voices, appeal to your unbiaffed judgment only. — Such conduct, more effectual than the decifion of a committee, more weighty than the judgment of any court, will banifh thefe destructive practices' beyond your walls, and reftore the whole of your fellow citizens to a virtuous and inde pendent exercife of their franchife, only beneficial to their country when fo exercifed But until this become the com mon fentiment of a great majority of you, it is not a fuccefs- ful petition which will eradicate the offence, though it may punifh for a time the offender ; on the contrary, every freffi election, by whatever event occafioned, will become the date of fome new device, invented to perpetuate an inclination to be corrupted, and to habituate the electors to a difgraceful forgetfulnefs of the duties they owe to the country in the exercife of the privileges (he has conferred on them. Within this Empire it is not fo much a reform in Parliament that is wanted, as a reform in the minds and conduct of thofe who at prefent are entrusted to elect the Members; it is the abufe of their privileges which has given rife both to the open attacks that have been made, and the fecret difcontents that have been entertained againft our conftitution, and ftill continue to nouriffi the criminal hopes of thofe who are enemies to it. Let the people act with courage and integrity, and the Parliament chofen under the prefent fyftem will not fail to be its faithful image and Reprefentative. Notwithftanding the number of proprietary boroughs, there is an ample number of populous (owns, enjoying a fufficiently ex tended right of franchife, to convey, with effect the fentiment, feelings, and wiffies of the people, into the Houfe of Commons; that is, fo long as thefe towns act ( 230' ) independently and incorruptly. But (hould they either furrender their judgment to influence and rank, to Mem bers of another branch of the Legislature; (hould they generally Stoop to corruption, and be loft in the ftagnant pool of petty egotifm, then may it truly be faid, the real conftitution of this country is fufpended, and muft wait for its renovation from a radical reform of-its -parliamentary representation. Gentlemen, This inglorious extinction will be averted from the City of Oxford by the constitutional principles fo many of its inhabitants profefs, fo many act upon, fo many', in their hearts, approve. To them my utmoii gratitude is owing, and will ever be retained, for their noble, though fruittefs Struggle, to vindicate, through me, the independence ofulvelr fellow cttizens ; though I ffiall ever remember