Feeling  on  both  sides  was  at  fever  heat,  and  all
manner  of  accusations  were  freely  bandied  about.  The
Tory  candidate.  Lord  Ashley,  and  his  supporters,  were


REV.     WILLIAM   JAY


A    BATH    POLITICIAN  ^^

charged  with  exercising  various  forms  of  terrorism,  while
on  the  other  hand  the  Tories  imputed  to  Mr.  Roebuck
infidelity,  atheism,  and  contempt  for  religion.
In  fact,  the  political  squibs  issued  during  this
election  were  some  of  the  most  scurrilous  known  in
local  annals.  Apart  from  the  open  attack  by  his
political  opponents,  Roebuck  had  to  contend  with  an
unfavourable  reception  at  the  hands  of  the  Rev.  William
Jay  and  other  prominent  Dissenters.  Mr.  Jay,  the
Rev.  Jerom  Murch,  whom  Roebuck  thought  he  had
won  over  to  a  more  peaceful  frame  of  mind,  George
Norman,  the  surgeon,  of  No.  i,  Circus,  and  Mr.
Willson  Brown,  were  some  of  the  well-known  Whigs
who  actively  worked  against  him,  and  contributed  to
his  defeat.
The  result  of  the  poll  found  the  Tory  nominee,
Lord  Ashley,  at  the  head  with  1278  votes.  Lord
Duncan  next  with  1228  votes,  and  Roebuck,  the  de-
feated candidate,  with  1093  votes.  As  soon  as  the
result  became  known,  Mr.  Roebuck,  contrary  to  the
advice  of  his  friends,  insisted  on  addressing  the  excited
crowd.
Accompanied  by  a  number  of  his  supporters,  Mr.
