Great Yarmouth

Except in 1715, when one Tory was returned, the representation of Yarmouth was monopolized by the Townshends and Walpoles, each family providing one Member. When in 1732 Sir Robert Walpole notified the mayor of Yarmouth that he proposed to put up his son, Edward, vice his brother, ‘old’ Horace, at the next general election, the corporation unanimously expressed their thanks for this ‘extraordinary favour’.1C. J. Palmer, Great Yarmouth, ii. 216. But the frequent contests showed the existence of a strong Tory element which, in the opinion of a Walpole observer, in 1743, was the natural bent of the majority of the people, and has for many years been kept under by art, difficulty, and expense.2J. Fowle to ‘old’ Horace Walpole, 15 Sept. 1743, Walpole (Wolterton) mss. However, in 1747 the mayor of Yarmouth, Samuel Killett, was able to report that

our Members will be elected without opposition and at very little expense. The town in general are very sensible of the obligations we owe to them and their noble families.3To Ld. Orford, 4 June 1747, Cholmondeley (Houghton) mss.

A few days later Edward Walpole asked for the reversion of the post of naval officer at Barbados for Killett, ‘the person to whom I think my Lord Townshend and my brother Orford chiefly owe their present support at Yarmouth’.4To Newcastle, 19 June 1747, Add. 32711, f.418.