Exeter

At Exeter candidates were put up by the corporation, a strongly high church body, who nominated local Tory gentlemen. Two Tories were returned unopposed in 1715, and after a contest in 1722; but in 1727 one seat had to be conceded to the Whigs, who in 1734 captured both seats. Before the next general election the corporation created 240 honorary freemen, ‘composed of the most zealous gentlemen, clergy, and attorneys of the Tory party’,Sir Hen. Drake to Pelham, 16 Sept. 1753, Newcastle (Clumber) mss. a step which achieved its object of putting an end to all further Whig opposition.