| Disgrifiad | This correspondence (mainly between the leading members of the Paget family and Sanderson, the chief agent) throws strong light on the alignment of the political forces in Caernarvonshire during the nine months preseding the election, and has as its central theme the stubborn and ill-counselled insistence of Sir Robert Williams of Nant and Friars, the county member since 1790, in contesting the seat with Thomas Wynn the second Lord Newborough of Glynllifon. Williams, who as the nominee of the Baron Hill interest (he was half-brother to the 7th Viscount Bulkeley), traced his political career to the Bulkeley-Paget Agreement of 1784. He was a Whig with rather advanced views, and by his support of Catholic Emancipation, the burning question of the day, had incurred the hostility of the majority of his constituents and in particular the strong dissenting element aongst them. Nor did his stock stand high with the controlling interests in the county; and the Tory Assheton Smith of Vaenol, the key man in Caernarvonshire politics, was from the outset an avowed opponent. In the face of such overwhelming odds, it is doubtful whether Sir Robert would have risked another election had it not been for the patronage and support of the Marquess of Anglesey, who although disclaming any sympathy with the old Knight's political views, just could not bring himself to abandon an old friend and one who had represented the constituency for so many years. This genuine, but to Sanderson, somewhat eccentric attachment to a petulent and unpopular candidate, causes the Marquess no little embarassment; pressed continually by Williams who is "horrified" at the prospect of losing his seat, he tries mediating with Assheton Smith, pointing out the inevitab;e consequences (social diaharmony, rankling enmities etc.) of a contested election; all to no avail, howver for Smith will have no truck with a confirmed and persistent radical. Meanwhile the Plas Newydd agents, Sanderson and Poole, are accused by Williams of secretly working for the Newborough party (250) whose intense activity during the months before the election is in marked contrast to their opponent's supineness (289,303). The letters unfortunately do not carry us up as far as the eve of the poll, but it would appear that Sir Robert's arrogant self-confidence finally yielded to the dictates of common sense, and the announcement of his resignation on June 15 was undoubtedly welcomed by the Pagets.
In Caernarfon itself the Plas Newydd ascendancy went once again unchallenged, although there were times when Sanderson thought he could detect the faint stirrings of opposition. He rightyl feared that Anglesey's ill-placed attachment to Sir Robert Williams might antagonise Glynllifon and revive that family's interet in the borough seat. Ang if that ever happened there would eb little hope of survival for the Pagets. There was some doubt at first as to who should come forward as a candidate. Sir Charles Paget, the member since 1807, had expressed his desire to resign, feeeling as he did that his advanced views on the subject of Catholic Emancipation rendered him no longer acceptable to his constituents. Berkeley Paget, his brother, was suggested at one stage, but he was sson dropped in favour of Lord William Paget, a sailor like his uncle Sir Charles, and in consequence likely to please the inhabitants of Caernarvon, "whose self-conceit...leads them to consider it a port hardly second to Liverpool" (289). As luck would have it, Lord William was despatched to Lisbon almost on the vey eve of the poll, much to the concern of Sanderson and the Marquess, who did his utmoast to intervene with the Admiralty for his speedy return. The election day had to be put off until June 15th, but as Lord William was still unable to arrive by that date there was no alternative than to proceed with the election and to return him in his absence amid general rejoicings, but in spite of the fact that he had not been sworn in as a burgess. |