British Elections (4 results)

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. 48 pages. Illustrated. A K Cairncross "How Does the Soviet System Work?" / Charles Collingwood "American Elections: The Last Phase" / Douglas McKie "Sir William Ramsay, a Great British Chemist" (Papers).

Cardboard Covers. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. Like new, very gently read, interior is clean and solid. Cream coloured cardboard wraps (softcover) are remarkably clean except for some light soiling and a sticker "ghost" to the rear wrap. This heavy volume may require extra postage to your shipping address. Please inquire. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

10pp. Disbound. Early stab holes in left margin. Mild foxing. Untrimmed and unopened. Discovered in a bound volume of ca. 1713-15 British petitions to Parliament, this is a rare and early example of British lobbying literature, which first began proliferating in the lobby of the House of Commons during the major changes in British government of the mid-1710s. ESTC records four copies: at the British Library, Oxford, the National Library of Wales, and the Folger Library. A fascinating political pamphlet relating to charges of fraud, intimidation, and violence in the Leicestershire election of February 1714. The author of the pamphlet rebuts recent charges made in the "Flying Posts and other printed News Papers" that William Baresby, Under-Sheriff and overseer of the election, was attacked by partisans of the two winning candidates, forced from the polling station, and then sent fleeing with a bounty on his head. It is responded that numerous witnesses can verify that no such violence occurred and that Baresby, in fact, had attempted to commit voting fraud in favor of his friends, George Ashby and Thomas Bird, who were losing by an overwelming margin (and ultimately lost) to the baronets Sir Thomas Cave and Sir Jeffrey Palmer. Baresby's injuries, further, are said to have been caused by a drunken night at a pub: after cordially drinking wine with the baronets, Baresby "left the Court, and went to a Publick House hard by, call'd the Round-Head's Inn, with some of his Friends, he Supt there, and drank plentifully of strong Ale, and was very merry; and a young Woman Daughter of the Mistress of the House, coming about her occasions to the Kitchen Fire, where he was Drinking, he fell to Kissing her very eagerly, and in that action (not regarding the Fire that was near him) burnt his Coat.and it is Credibly reported in the Country, that this burnt Coat has been shewn, as a Proof of the Dangers and Sufferings he underwent, for faithfully executing his Office" (p.9).

Broadsheet, 15¾ x 12¼ inches. [1]p., plus printed docket title on verso. Disbound. Early folds and early stab holes in left margin. Small portion of inner margin excised, with no loss to text. Very light foxing and offsetting. A 1714 petition on the subject of direct, political representation A rare and interesting British political petition relating to the right of burgesses to serve in Parliament for St. Edmundsbury, Suffolk. The document traces the political structure and representation of St. Edmundsbury from ancient times through the establishment of the town as a free borough by King Richard II, its charter that soon followed, and a controversy over rights to electing members of Parliament beginning in 1680. The petitioners write that the controversy is based on the question of "In whom the right of Election Resides, whether in the Freemen and Inhabitants of the said Town.or in the Alderman, Capital Burgesses, and Burgesses of the Common-Council." Parliament would decide upon the latter in a resolution passed April 27, 1714. An interesting look at the issue of direct representation closely preceding the major changes in British government of 1714 and 1715, and an early example of lobbying literature. ESTC records three copies: at the British Library, Oxford, and the National Library of Wales. Hanson 1966.