View report page

176
ministerial candidate. A motion for a Committee of the
House to investigate the charge was defeated, but the debate
is said to have turned the attention of the country on " the
scandalous bribery going on in boroughs." In these circumstances
the Vestry, by issuing 3000 handbills throughout
the parish, invited the inhabitants to assemble at the
Guildhall "to decide on the mode of proceeding necessary
to be adopted in the present situation of public affairs."
The sentiments of the parishioners may be gathered from
the following:—
Mon., 10 Deer. 1792. Mr. Churchill submitted to the Vestry the
following Resolutions in Writing At a Meeting of the Inhabitants
of the Parish of St. Margaret Westmr called by
Public Advertisemt & held at Guildhall in the said Parish on
the 11th December 1792 Sir George Jackson Bart M.P. in the
Chair
Declared
That this Meeting do consider the form of Government by King
Lords & Commons to be indispensibly essential, not only to
the happiness and Prosperity, but to the Existence of the
Country.
That the Glorious Revolution in 1688 by sowisely establishing
the Constitution, ought to command the Gratitude and support
of every Englishman.
Resolved That this meeting, feeling most forcibly the truth of the
above Declaration, engage not only to aid to the utmost of their
Power, the Civil Authority but by every other Exertion to
endeavour to discover & defeat that mischievous Spirit of
Sedition which has of late shewn itself in various Clubs and
Publications wickedly attempting to alienate the affection of the
People from their Sovereign, to impress on their Minds contempt
of, and consequently disobedience to those Laws (without
the influence of which they cannot expect either Happiness or
Protection) & ultimately to affect the Subversion of our excellent
Constitution.
That the following Gentlemen be appointed a Committee with Power
to increase their number; and to take such other Steps as may
tend to carry into effect the resolution of this Meeting.
(Then follows a list of over Fifty Gentlemen.)
Parochial patriotism, was however, occasionally forestalled:—
Fri. 16 Novr. 1793. This Vestry was convened To take into consideration
the opening a Subscription for contributing towards