| Disgrifiad | The defeat of 1830, although admittedly crippling, did not signalise the final exlusion of the Pagets from borough politics and the election of 1831, with Reform as its paramount issue, was to give them yet another breathing space. But at the outset, the outlook did not seem very bright to Sanderson; there seemed to be little hope of success while the Smith Gore alliance held. There was some initial uncertainty, too, about the candidate : Sir John Byng, who had married a daughter of the Marquess, was at first suggested (551), but he was soon dropped upon the advice of Sir Charles Paget, who as relictantly as ever, offered his services once more, but only on condition tha tthe Marquess would guarantee his expenses (562). A preliminary canvass proved Sanderson's pessimism to be quite unjustified; the more enlightened gentry - and clergy - were solidly behind Paget and Reforn (see e.g. 588, 590), including Mostyn who controlled Pwllheli; although a few quite important people like Richard Garnons and Sir David Erskine stood firm for Gore (572, 593), who was plainly lukewarm in his attitude to Reform. But above all, Dr. O. O. Roberts and the radicals, clinging to principle, now swung over solidly to Sir Charles' side. The poll opened on May 4 and remained open for 8 days, progress being remarkably slow during the first day or two (604), and attended by some lively scenes. On the 8th day Gore abandoned the contest, and Paget went in by a narrow margin of 10 votes. Sanderson's "post mortem" on the election is interesting if only for its disclosure of the intimidation of tenant voters by their landlords - an all too prevalent practice. He tells of how one poor tenant of Lord Boston, transported over from Anglesey to vote for Gore, was heard to exclaim "Got Almighty - my pody is going to Caernarvon to vote against Sir Charles Paget, my heart is with Anglesey family" |