| Description | The return, unopposed, of Richard Davies of Treborth as county member in 1868 was an event of outstanding importance in the parliamentary history of Anglesey; it brought to an abrupt end the 300 years old patronage which the landed aristocracy had excercised over the county constituenty. Davies, who had unsuccesfully contested the Caernarvon Boroughs in 1852 was a man of some substance, a prosperous merchant and shipowner, he was besides a Welsh-speaking Welshman, and a prominent Calvinistic Methodist being closely allied by marriage to one of the most notable ministers of that denomination - the Rev. Henry Rees of Liveprool. And in Anglesey, in 1868 he rode to victory on the rising tide of eadical nonconformity which swept through the Welsh contituencies this year. The scene at his nomination quite obviously un-nerved the Plas Newydd party, who had fond hopes of bringing in Lord Clarence Paget. The latter was proposed by Henry Prichard of Trescawen, "but the room being packed with Calvins, the majority were in favous of Davies" (PN/II/145), and Prichard retired to vent his spleen on those "ranting puritans" (PN/II/144). The days that followed were ones of frenzied activity for the Plas Newydd agents, - T.P. Legg in London and Thomas Fanning Evans on the spot at Amlwch. Plans were made to organise the county gentry and clergy into an effective and irresistable opposition part (PN/II/147-148); a placcard was to be published appealing to the electorate to vote for one of "Hen Deulu Plas Newydd"; but above all, Sir Richard Bulkeley Williams was to be won over, for "a word from him will settle the matter withour any more talk of a contest (PN/II/151). In fact, Fanning Evans was supremely confident that Davies would immediately retire if Lord Clarence decided to stand. But the latter, away on active service in the Mediterranean, was far from sharing such facile optimism. Failing the open and generous support of Bulkeley Williams, it was, he considered, foolish of him to come forward (PN/II/153). And much to the discomfiture of his genuine supporters at home, the report was spread that he would be unable to obtain leave to contest the election (PN/II/154). Meanwhile, Davies' party with well-organised committees, aided by the best professional assistance, was hard at work securing votes, and on 27th July Fanning Evans had to confess that "a victorious result was not now so sure a thing even if Lord Clarence contests" (PN/II/154). It was Bulkeley Williams' attitude (throughout it had been lukewarm) that seems to have finally decided the issue - that and Richard Davies' decision, announced on August 13th, to fight the seat Lord Clarence or no Lord Clarenc (PN/II/168) |