Borough

On 6 Feb. 1767 Thomas Steele, sen., recorder of Chichester, wrote to the Duke of Newcastle about Steyning:Add. 32980, f. 55.

About 1754 the chief interests at Midhurst were in Viscount Montagu and Sir John Peachey, but there was also a considerable independent interest. Montagu in 1752 claimed to own 104 burgages, and to have the support of 41 of the independent burgage holders; and allowed Peachey only 40, with the support of 32 independents.Add. 32726, f. 50.

Montagu was a Roman Catholic, and had put his interest at Henry Pelham’s disposal. He wrote to Newcastle on 6 July 1760:Add. 32908, f. 112.

In 1754 Henry Ingram, 7th Viscount Irwin, owned a majority of the burgages at Horsham and controlled both seats. On the death s.p. in 1778 of Charles, 9th and last Viscount, the property devolved upon his widow, who in 1780 and 1784 placed both seats at the disposal of Administration. In 1786 Charles, 11th Duke of Norfolk, lord of the manor of Horsham, began purchasing burgages with a view to challenging the Irwin interest, which he did at the general election of 1790.

In 1761 Charles Jenkinson classed Lewes with Aldborough and Boroughbridge as boroughs where the Duke of Newcastle returned both Members.Add. 38334, ff. 271-2. Newcastle owned a good deal of property in the town; and his seats at Halland and Bishopstone and Thomas Pelham’s seat at Stanmer, all within ten miles of Lewes, provided custom for local tradesmen. But Lewes was by no means a pocket borough: it had voluntarily placed itself under Pelham patronage, and had to be treated accordingly.

The Dorset family owned a majority of the burgages and had absolute control of the borough.

In 1754 Lionel, 1st Duke of Dorset, conveyed 14 burgages to his younger son, Lord George Sackville; and on his death in 1765 left Lord George the remainder of his holding. Shortly afterwards Lord George wrote to his brother Charles, Lord Middlesex, now 2nd Duke:HMC Stopford-Sackville, i. 46-47.

In 1754 Bramber was controlled by the Gough family of Edgbaston, Warwickshire. They owned 20 burgages, 13 belonged to Lord Windsor, and 3 were independently owned. The Gough interest was leased to Lord Archer; who at the general elections of 1754 and 1761 nominated the candidates, selected by arrangement with Administration, while Sir Henry Gough managed the borough.

In 1754 the chief electoral influence at Chichester was divided between the Duke of Richmond, three miles away at Goodwood, and John Page, M.P. for Chichester since 1741; and as Chichester, being a port, had a number of customs officers, the co-operation of the Treasury was desirable. Richmond’s trustees (the 3rd Duke did not come of age until 1756) and Page managed the borough in close association with the Duke of Newcastle, and usually in harmony with each other.

Arundel was expensive and corrupt; it attracted patrons, yet was not easy to manage. In the earlier part of the century the Lumleys, Earls of Scarbrough, had an interest in the borough; later, Sir George Colebrooke, John Shelley, and Charles Howard, Earl of Surrey, came near being patrons.

The Yorke and Cocks families between them owned most of the freeholds in the borough, and each recommended to one seat. Though there was a good deal of rivalry and jealousy between their respective agents, there was a gentleman’s agreement ‘that each shall continue to bring in one Member for Reigate without contest or dispute from the other’;Philip Yorke to Ld. Sommers, 10 Apr. 1786, Add. 35641, f. 128. and there was no serious dispute or attempt at outside interference during this period.

Technically Southwark was a City of London ward, named Bridge Ward Without, subject to the lord mayor whose bailiff was the returning officer. No one permanent predominant interest could be established in this populous urban constituency; and its politics were affected to some extent by London radicalism. Throughout the period 1754-1790 Southwark was invariably represented by local business men or by City merchants and bankers. William Hammond and Henry Thrale were Southwark brewers, and Joseph Mawbey was a Southwark distiller.