Flintshire

The Mostyn family possessed the dominant interest in Flintshire, and only in 1784 was there any challenge to their hegemony. Sir Roger Mostyn was a supporter of Fox but there was a strong movement in Flintshire in favour of Pitt and parliamentary reform, and in January 1784 Sir Thomas Hanmer was reported to be ready to canvass the county.1NLW, Glynne of Hawarden mss, 4235. Mostyn was subjected to severe criticism, and Thomas Pennant wrote, in his Letter from a Welsh Freeholder to his Representative: ‘There is not a wish to change our representative, provided he acts consonant to our principles, but none of us ought to give up principle to affection.’ But Mostyn brought considerable pressure to bear on the smaller freeholders, and at the end of February the county meeting expressed approval of his conduct by 212 votes to 82.2Chester Chron. 5, 26 Mar. 1784.