Description:Controversy surrounding the Staffordshire County Election of 1820 was not confined to antagonism between the opposing parties. A letter from Joseph Burgess, an agent of George Granville Leveson-Gower (1758-1833), Marquis of Stafford, to Chief Agent James Loch reveals that there was disagreement and division within Lord Gower’s Election Committee.
Burgess begins his letter informing Loch that Sir John Boughey’s ‘Bills’ which had been incurred ‘on account of the late Election’ had been paid, advising Loch that Lord Gower’s bills ought to be attended to ‘the sooner…the better’. However, he notes that there appear to have been ‘some wanton extravagances’ in expenditure, particularly on ‘Liquor’.
Burgess attributes these extortionate bills to Sir John Heathcote who was working for Lord Gower’s Election Committee and Heatcote's ‘favourties’. He remarks that the remaining members of the Committee ‘feel anxious to exculpate themselves from any blame’ assuring Loch that ‘three fourths of the orders have been given by Sir John & his minions’ even after ‘the committee had done acting’.
Suspicions had arisen about Heathcote when he ‘tender’d his services’ to the opposing party as soon as Lord Gower withdrew from the election. Heathcote had apparently dismissed Lord Gower’s agents declaring ‘he did not like any of them’ and referring to them as ‘stingey’ and ‘nigardley’.
Accusing Heathcote of ‘malicious’ behaviour, Burgess informs Loch of a ‘shameful business’ where Heathcote had blamed Lord Gower being ‘unpopular’ on Burgess and another agent William Lewis who he claimed were responsible for ‘putting high rents on his Lordships cottages’. Burgess defends Lewis, stating ‘no man was ever more cautious and particular’ and adding that Lewis had ‘put rents on cottages very low’.
Angry with Heathcote’s irresponsible actions, Burgess concludes his letter noting ‘it would be as well if Sir John would mind his own Bussiness more & meddle less with other folk’. The letter demonstrates how political opposition in a contested election caused animosity amongst local men with accusations of corruption and extortionate expenditure increasing tensions and causing division.