Rowland Holt
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RECENT
ELECTIONS IN STOWMARKET (An extract from 'The
History of Stowmarket' |
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| The passions, humorous scenes, and
English peculiarities of our popular elections, have been
all repeatedly presented within the small circuit of the
town, the church itself has been occasionally in wet
weather desecrated by the admission of the crowd, whilst
the candidates ascended and made their political
harangues from the pulpit. Disgraceful struggles on the
stairs in securing its elevated position are said to have
taken place. The want of a town-hall in the market-place,
which is now happily and spiritedly remedied, caused at
times these unhallowed liberties with God's ancient house
of prayer. Every house in the neighbourhood of the
market-place was filled on these occasions with parties
attached to each candidate; and all the roads leading
into the town became animated with throngs of eager
politicians, with horsemen and carriages, with ladies and
crowds of gentry and yeomen, each hearing the colours
that denoted their opinions, whose ascendancy was to
change or preserve the constitution of the country. On
some occasions so many thousands have poured into the
town that every morsel of bread, meat, cake, and
consumable article has been eaten up, and hundreds have
been obliged to wait till more was procured and baked, or
have returned home hungry, and as needs must be, bad
tempered. Money was often thrown by hand freely amongst
the crowds for a scramble. Ribbands were cast about by
handfuls, and the beautiful Lady Sarah Bunbury cast money
herself most freely "in handfuls of silver amongst
the people." The meetings were sometimes held in the
Camping Land, in the market place, in the church yard,
and for a short time in the church! Carriages and six
horses were not unfrequent equipages, with outriders and
trains of servants. Sometimes the whole town has been
illuminated, as when Mr. Wollaston of Finborough Hall was
returned, or any one (of the Tyrell family) more
immediately connected with the place. I have before me a well-written pamphlet published in London in 1772 [See note 1], giving "a history of the four last elections for the county of Suffolk," - "as usual at Stowmarket" and making many curious though incidental remarks upon those ancient assemblages of the county in our town. "Sir Cordell Firebrace and Mr. Affleck were elected and re-elected without dissention or disagreement for a long series of years," during the reign of George the Second. "A previous meeting generally declared at Stowmarket the sense of the county."
Sir John Rous "a gentleman of fortune of an old family, much beloved in the county," and Mr. Holt were the candidates of the gentry, in opposition to the ministry of Lord Bute. "A great appearance at Stowmarket" in favour of Mr. Bunbury was obtained. A grievous quarrel ensued between some of the parties, and an account of the promises made and broken, of the usual misunderstandings, and words altered, denied, or eaten again, was circulated by Mr. Affleck". At "the general meeting at Stowmarket," warm altercations for some time agitated and distracted an immense concourse of people. And the proceedings terminated by the candidates agreeing to draw lots for any future representation. The character of our members for many years had been characterised by sobriety of thought, steadiness of principle, and attachment to the institutions in church and state. But one of the new members produced some "novelties in a Suffolk member." He was "violently" attached to horse racing and "gambling of all sorts," He ran a race with a taylor at Newmarket of a hundred yards for a hundred pounds. "His only application was given to cards, chances, and calculations." Arthurs and Allmacks [See Note 2] engrossed his whole time, and the men of Suffolk "dreaded the fatal consequences of having their liberties entrusted to such a man." - An honourable character of a great and independent constituency, which has not been forgotten in our own days, may it ever exist in all its ancient vigour and pervade the boroughs as well as the county. In 1768 another election and contest began, The town was crowded with equipages and fashion, whilst thousands of the freeholders found themselves straitened in their old place of meeting. The promise previously made of drawing lots was broken by the gambling member, and the language of the baronet was, " I am in, gentlemen, turn me out if you can". Ladies then sometimes forgot their position during the excitement of an election, and if they possessed beauty and grace, their personal solicitations often gained an otherwise hopeless contest. " He had a most powerful assistant in his Fair Lady. There was no resisting so beautiful a solicitress, and many a gentleman determined in his heart to oppose Sir Charles, was overcome hy the charms of this angelic woman, and dropped all resentment against the offending husband." "The solemn agreement at Stowmarket was forgotten." "A great appearance of independent county gentlemen" was made "at Stowmarket." The beauty of the lady had secured the husband's seat it was supposed, but Mr. Holt the third candidate withdrew, and thus Sir J. Rous and Sir Charles were elected without opposition in 1768. In 1771 another nomination, even more numerous than the preceding, occurred in our ancient County Town. One of the members could not speak. The multitude and his own broken promises "stopped him short," and shame denied, him utterance. Mr Holt and Sir Charles Bunbury were elected, and young Sir J. Rous, of whom a high character is given, retired. The successful candidates published addresses to the county from their inns in the town dated Nov. 13, 1771; and thanked "the very numerous and respectable appearance of gentlemen, clergy, and freeholders at a meeting at Stowmarket," for the honour of their election. This pamphlet to the freeholders of Suffolk is dated at Lowestoft, Feb. 11, 1772. |
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