In November 1749 Delaval, aged 22, unsuccessfully contested Andover, only receiving one vote.
acted by people of some fashion at Drury Lane, hired on purpose. They really acted so well, that it is astonishing they should not have had sense enough not to act at all ... The chief were a family of Delavals, the eldest of which was married by one Foote, a player, to Lady Nassau Powlett, who had kept the latter. The rage was so great to see this performance, that the House of Commons literally adjourned at three o’clock on purpose: the footmen’s gallery was strung with blue ribands.
To Mann, 13 Mar. 1751 and note.
Two months later he was returned for Hindon, making his maiden speech on the second reading of the regency bill,
opposed only by Mr. Delaval in a very absurd speech, which he asked pardon for not having made the day before, which was the first of his sitting in Parliament.
On 29 Jan. 1752 he supported Lord Harley’s motion against subsidy treaties in time of peace.