A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE In 1780 Richard Brinsley Sheridan, who although only twenty-nine had already written most of his famous comedies, began his long connexion with Stafford borough, a letter from the Duchess of Devonshire in his favour being of great service to him in the election. 37 * His first speech in Parliament was in defence of a charge of bribery brought against him by his opponent Whitworth, and it was successful in its object. Sheridan was re-elected in 1784, 1790, 1796, 1802, and in 1806 when appointed Treasurer of the Navy. 873 He was diligent in the discharge of his parliamentary duties, and an opponent of the Game Laws and, strange to relate, of gambling. In 1807 he was elected for Ilchester, but returned to his old love in 1812, and being unable to bribe the voters sufficiently was defeated, the successful candidates being Ralph Benson and Thomas Wilson. 374 In 1790 Robert Peel of Bury, in the county of Lancaster, the father of the great statesman, was elected for Tamworth as an ardent supporter of Pitt, as being the great encourager of the commercial interests of England. In the election of 1799, when Sir John Wrottesley was returned at the head of the poll for Lichfield with 295 votes, the opposite side asserted that this total was swollen by 125 'unconstitutional votes of annuitants, and of those granted burgages during the election.' 376 In Sir John's election address he is especially recommended as one ' who will see that the Charities of | Lichfield are honestly and impartially applied. Therefore, my friends, be not imposed upon by the Black gowned tribe with young Hotspur at their head.' 378 During the first quarter of the nineteenth century the county families maintained their position as parliamentary representatives, and though after 1832 many new names appear with increasing frequency, especially for the new boroughs, it was not until after the Reform Bill of 1867 that they were ousted from the ascendancy they had held so long. 577 In July, 1830, Sir Robert Peel, then Home Secretary and leader of the House of Commons in the Wellington Ministry, was elected for Tamworth, but by November he was in opposition, the reforming government of Earl Grey having come in. In 1835, as Prime Minister, he issued his famous Tamworth manifesto, indicating the principles and reforms of which he approved, and Tamworth had the honour of electing him until his death in 1850. By the great Reform Bill the county of Stafford was divided into two divisions, the northern and southern, each sending two members, and three new boroughs were created, Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton with two members each and Walsall with one. 378 In 1835, after a contest lasting three weeks, Mr. C. P. Villiers began that long connexion with Wolverhampton which only ended with his death in 1898. In his first address to the electors he pledged himself to oppose all restrictions upon trade, and declared himself ' a decided advocate of triennial parliaments and vote by ballot.' 879 171 Diet. Nat. Biog. Sheridan ; Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2), 168. m Par/, Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2), 181, 194, 207, 221. m Ibid. 264. 375 'Lichfield Elections,' Bodl. Lib. 92. 376 Ibid. 55. 177 See the lists in Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2). 378 Par/. Accts. and Papers, Ixii (2), 345 ; 2 Will. IV, cap. 45. 379 Diet. Nat. Biog. C. P. Villiers. 272
