Welsh Journals

ELECTIONEERING AS IT ONCE WAS. By W. H. HOWSE. MRS. Coltman ROGERS has been good enough to lend me, for publication in the Transactions, an original manuscript included among the family archives at Stanage Park, giving an account of the expenses actually incurred by Edward Rogers at a Bishop's Castle election in June, 1826. The latter was a great-uncle of Mr. Charles Coltman Rogers, who was the last Member of Parliament for the Radnor Boroughs. Bishop's Castle returned two Members to Parliament from the time of Queen Elizabeth until the Reform Act of 1832 was passed. At the above election Edward Rogers was elected, with William Give (a connection of Lord Clive), whose family, or their nominees, are said to have contested every election at Bishop's Castle during its Parliamentary history, and most frequently with success. There were comparatively few burgesses. In the days when most votes had to be bought, this was a recommendation, and the constituency came to be looked on as something of a prize. Nevertheless, even in the seventeenth century, it was said that the inhabitants had no trade except electioneering. One election is said to have cost the candidates £ 11,000*. This must, however, have been an exception, although it is on record that in 1763 £ 500 was offered to 10 voters without effect, because the other side had offered more. The expenses of Edward Rogers were rather less than £ 500. Assuming the expenses of the other candidates were on the same scale, the total cost of the election would have been under £ 2,000. Among the Harleian MSS. there is a letter dated 1st February, 1715, from the Earl of Oxford to Lord Harley, referring to an election at Bishop's Castle. The writer says Yesterday was the election of Bishop's Castle. Your uncle and cousin Harley went there on Saturday, thought all was safe but Mason came in, and they pretend that you lost it by four voices. They were come to that extravagance and impudence as to ask yesterday morning £ 50 a vote." Later, the Earl wrote The baseness and perfidy that I met with in this place has brought me to the resolution of parting with it, being unwilling to leave the temptation to my son of being drawn into a great expense upon such mercenary rascals." *Evans in Modern Wales, mentions an election at Flint which cost the two candidates nearly £ 70,000, the electors numbering only 600. The elected Member, Sir George Wynne, died a debtor in the Fleet Prison.