The Virginia Gazette

This morning Sir William Beauchamp Proctor, and Mr. Wilkes, two of the candidates for the county of Middlesex, Mr. Cooke being confined with the gout, set out for Brentford, where the election came on this morning for Knights of the shire for Middlesex: The latter as in a coach drawn by six longtail horses, and was attended by an amazing number of people to the place of election, which is holden in the middle of Brentford Butts, a temporary booth being erected there for that purpose, at which were fifteen poll books for this purpose.

It is thought there has never been so great a collection of inhabitants from London and Westminster to ten miles distance, in any one day since the life-guardman's prophecy of the earthquake which was to destroy both those cities in the year 1750.

The candidates were put up at half an hour past eleven o'clock, when the shew of hands was almost general for Mr. Wilkes, and for Sir William Beauchamp Proctor, there was a very great shew, but for Mr. Cooke very few; whereupon the two former were declared to have the majority: but a poll being demanded by the friends of Mr. Cooke, the same began at one o'clock, and it was agreed that the books should be closed at eight.

An express is received this afternoon with advice of Mr. Wilkes's being returned member, by Mr. Cooke's giving up. There was no poll, nor any books opened.

But at six o'clock we had advice that a poll was carrying on, and that Mr. Cooke was on the hustings; but that several Gentlemen came back to town, who were kept from polling by the crowd.