[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 02 Mar 1816 - Election (1)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 02 Mar 1816   (p. 3, col. 1-3)

 

THE ELECTION. 

 

In our last paper we brought down the particulars of the Election to Friday night:-We shall this week, proceed with a regular detail
of occurrences as they arose:- 

 

Both Mr. CURWEN, and Mr. STEPHENSON continued to canvass their friends the whole of Saturday in a very active manner. On Monday and
Tuesday the latter made an excursion to Brampton and Wigton, and the opposite party were equally on the alert. But on Wednesday
morning the whole city was thrown into surprise by the elopement of Mr. STEPHENSON, who issued the following address, and left this
city for London, via Wigton and Keswick:- 

 

"To the Freemen of Carlisle &c. 

 

"GENTLEMEN:-With every acknowledgement for the very flattering support I have met with from you since my arrival in this city, I
must (however reluctantly) decline the contest.-At some future period, I trust it will be in my power again to come forward, when I
hope to be favoured with a renewal of those most distinguished marks of favour you have so obligingly honoured me with.-I am,
Gentlemen, with the utmost respect, your most gratefully obliged servant 

 

                                                                                        "ROWLAND STEPHENSON." 

 

Before this notice was issued great numbers considered the report of Mr. STEPHENSON having disappeared, a mere Election ruse. A
party in a post chaise, with a broom tied in front decorated with ribbons, were actually in the country at the time, and Mr. CURWEN
and his friends were alike actively employed in order to meet the expected contest. Astonishment sat on the faces of all! Nothing
was heard but enquiries as to the reason of such a strange desertion; but even Mr. STEPHENSON himself had not furnished any answer
to this question! 

 

In the afternoon of Wednesday, the Friends of Mr CURWEN, with the blue flag and a band of music, went to the farther end of
Botchergate to meet him, and escort him into the city. Mr. C. and several friends on horseback were just returned from a canvassing
excursion, and he rode through the streets amidst the greetings of a very great concourse of people, and alighted at the Grapes.
When he arrived at the Inn he desired that those persons who had not yet taken up their freedom, might be enabled to do so, of
whatever party. This liberal offer gained him much applause. 

 

About six o'clock in the evening the following notice was issued:- 

 

"The friends of the late Henry FAWCETT, Esq. M. P., for this city, are most earnestly requested to meet at the Bush Inn, at eight
o'clock, to take into consideration the extraordinary conduct of Mr. STEPHENSON." 

 

Accordingly a very numerous meeting took place. John DIXON, Esq. was called to the chair, and the resolutions entered into, which
are inserted in the Advertisement, second page. 

 

On Wednesday night an express was sent off to Eden-Hall, for the purpose of inviting Sir Philip MUSGRAVE to offer himself in
opposition to Mr. CURWEN. Sir Philip was in Yorkshire, but the Messenger brought back such answer as induced those who sent him to
hope that Sir Philip would come forward. In consequence of this, the following hand-bill was circulated on Thursday morning:- 

 

"To the Freemen of Carlisle.-The Freemen of Carlisle are respectfully informed that Sir Philip MUSGRAVE, Bart. of Eden-Hall, will be
proposed this morning as a Candidate for the city; and all Freemen in the INDEPENDENT INTEREST and the Citizens of Carlisle, who
wished to oppose Mr. CURWEN, are particularly requested to attend, at the Moot-Hall, at a quarter before eleven o'clock." 

 

At eleven o'clock precisely, the Town-Hall, was opened, and Sir Joseph D. A. GILPIN, the Mayor, took his seat on the Bench as the
returning officer. Mr. CURWEN, and his friends attended, and a great number of gentlemen were present. So numerous was the
assemblage, that the Hall would not contain more than one half, and some of the lower orders demanded an adjournment to the cross;
but this, very properly, was not attended to. After the usual preliminary matters were gone through, Mr. STUBBS proposed Sir Philip
MUSGRAVE, Bart. as a fit person to represent this city in Parliament, in the room of the late Henry FAWCETT, Esq. and was seconded
by Mr. John LOWRY.-Dr. JACKSON, of Egremont, in a speech of some length, proposed John Christian CURWEN, Esq., but in so low a tone,
in consequence of his advanced age, that few persons at the further end of the Hall heard him. He said- 

 

I propose Mr. CURWEN to represent the Citizens of Carlisle in Parliament, because I feel a conviction that he is every way qualified
for the important post. I have been an observer of his political conduct for years, and in that conduct I always discovered the man
of ability and integrity-a man befitting to represent Freemen, and such as must meet with general support from the admirers of
independence and worth. To whom were the Freemen of Carlisle indebted for their rights, but to Mr. CURWEN? What other man had any
claim upon their support, in an equal degree to Mr. CURWEN? If you do not exert yourselves on this occasion, and shew your
independence, bye and bye, no one will come near you to represent you in Parliament. But I know you will do your duty, and have no
doubt that he will be triumphantly returned. 

 

Mr. WILLIAM HALTON said in seconding the nomination of Dr. JACKSON, he could not refrain from making a few remarks on the
disgraceful conduct that had been observed that morning by a party-he would not say a party-a faction! The very man who had brought
in Mr. STEPHENSON, on Monday week promised to meet him, and a few other independent Freemen at the Grapes Inn, for the purpose of
entering into resolutions in order to induce Mr. CURWEN to come forward. Mr. STEPHENSON came forward-but Mr. STEPHENSON had deserted
the cause; he could not tell for what reason, but he understood it was for want of money! (laughter).-Well! now they had lost Mr.
STEPHENSON, they were determined to be troublesome, and so they proposed another person who they were not sure would come forward.
He scorned such disgraceful conduct. He saw around him the faces of many real, independent Freemen, who were not to be bought for
money, if there was any! They would vote according to their consciences. There was no occasion for him to enter into the merits of
Mr. CURWEN as a fit person to represent this city in Parliament; they were well known, and he trusted properly appreciated; nor need
he speak for Mr. CURWEN, for he was able to tell his own story (applause.) 

 

 

[to be continued] 

 

 

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