Having thought it to be my duty to say so much in my own justification, as an injured man, I shall now discard from my recollection every trace of what is past, and assure you, if I should again be in the situation of your Representative, it shall be my study to render to you collectively and individually, without distinction of party, every service in my power.

I cannot avoid taking this opportunity of expressing my most grateful acknowledgments to those numerous and respectable persons, who have so liberally contributed their assistance to the support of a cause, which they consider not to be my cause alone, but the cause of the Public; undoubtedly it is a matter of no importance to the Public, whether the Town of Nottingham is represented by one Candidate or another; but it is of the utmost importance to the Public, that Principles should not be openly circulated with impunity, in the heart of this Kingdom, which have been borrowed from a neighbouring Nation in the worst of times, and which lead directly to the subversion of all Order and Government, These principles can only be checked by some salutary regulations, to be made by the Government of the Country; and I trust and hope, that those whose duty it is to watch over the Interests of this Realm, will think it high time to interfere, by adopting some measures which will give nerve

and energy to the feeble Magistracy of the Town of Nottingham, the principal Members of which have frequently admitted, and have affected to lament, that at the last Election they were utterly unable to maintain good order, peace and subordination in the Town of Nottingham.

Having the strongest confidence that I still retain the good opinion of the real Electors, and that the violence made use of against me at the last Election, came principally from those who had no Votes to give, and that it was mingled with a desire to overturn the legal Government of the Country; I feel it to be my indispensable duty to offer myself again as a Candidate, in the perfect persuasion that I shall meet with that generous Support which I have so frequently received at your hands, whenever the Wisdom of Parliament shall think it prudent to issue another writ.

I have the honour to be,

With great respect and gratitude,

Inner-Temple, March 19th, 1803.

Gentlemen, your much obliged,

and very faithful servant,

DANIEL PARKER COKE.

Address, by MR. BIRCH.

To the free and independent Electors of the
Town of Nottingham.

GENTLEMEN,

My profound respect for a Tribunal, constructed as an Election Committee, of the House of Commons, necessarily must be, would induce me to refrain from animadversion, were it possible for a moment to suppose that Prejudice, founded on Calumny and Misrepresentation, had, in any case, the least influence on its determination. Such a suspicion cannot be entertained; and I therefore bow, with the utmost deference, to the late decision, however unexpected both by you and myself.

It has certainly been the subject of most painful regret to me,--that proceedings did take place, during some periods of the late Election, which merit the severest reprehension. But that there are, in all great towns, misguided men, who take advantage of the confusion attendant on every popular Election, to gratify their private resentment, is also a lamentable fact: yet, the existing Laws have surely sufficient energy for the' suppression and punishment of such conduct.-Why then have not the parties aggrieved appeal

ed to those Laws? Why have not the offenders been indicted? And why are we now to hear from Mr. COKE, of the necessity of Parliamentary Interference? Had he been the object of your choice, such a question, I am inclined to believe, would never have arisen: the disorders now complained of would have been overlooked, as those of his own Party have been on his former successful Elections. Your feeble Magistracy, and miserable Police, would have been unassailed, and your Loyalty would have remained unimpeached.

The right of nominating and electing your Representatives in Parliament, that great and distinguished privilege of Britons and Freemen,-is unquestionably too dignified to be compatible with Tumult and Violence; but GOD forbid that we should, in the opposite extreme, adopt either the Principles or the Practice of a neighbouring Country, and make our Elections at the Point of the Bayonet!

Is it in these days to be considered a crime, that Electors should no longer confide in a Man, whom they conceive to have supported Measures inimical to the Interests of their Country? And are they to be branded with Disloyalty and Disaffection, because they have thought that the War, in which we have lately been engaged, might and ought to have been avoided; and because they

have expressed their disapprobation of those Measures, adopted by the late Administration, which could tend to a continuance of its disastrous effects, and which at Nottingham, were felt to a calamitous degree? Surely not!

The Spirit of Party, in Nottingham, is not, I fear, likely to be diminished, by the Measures which have been pursued in the late intemperate appeal to the Committee; and in the attempt, by means the most unjustifiable, to throw an unmerited Stigma on the Character and Conduct of those Electors, who were honest and firm enough to exercise their Independent Franchises. But that a high legal Character should, on a solemn occasion, upon common rumour only, have been induced to allude to matters connected with your late Election; which are now shewn to be utterly false and groundless; thereby prejudging, and pronouncing condemnation, as it were, on a Cause then to undergo a rigid investigation before another tribunal, was subject of much surprise to men of all parties, and must be regarded, by every one who respects the purity and impartiality of our laws, with infinite regret.

In being the instrument of the vindication of your fame, under whatever personal sacrifice I have done it! my recompence will be compleat in the continuance of your confidence, and in the satis