Under George I and George II there were two main sources of electoral influence in Radnorshire: the Maesllwch estate, owned by Sir Humphrey Howorth, M.P. for the county 1722-55; and the stewardship of the King’s manors, comprising two-thirds of the county, granted to Lord Coningsby at George I’s accession. Coningsby used his power to destroy the influence of the Harleys,HMC Portland, v. 663. who had represented the county since 1698; but his successor, the 1st Duke of Chandos, tended to act against Howorth, exposing him to constant contests and petitions, which put him to much trouble and expense.Howorth to Walpole, 10 Sept. 1740, Cholmondeley (Houghton) mss. It was not till 1746 that the interests were harmonized by putting the stewardship into the hands of the brother of Howorth’s friend and ally, Thomas Lewis.Gent. Mag. 1746, p. 384.
