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About fifty influential electors of Westminster assembled at the British Coffeehouse, Cockspur Street, on Monday evening, to consider the state of the representation of Westminster, and to bear the replies of Sir Francis Burdett and Colonel Evans to letters which had been sent to them with copies of the resolutions passed at the meeting of the 9th March lust. Mr. Pouncey was called to the chair ; and read i the letters. Colonel Evans stated, n reference to the time of his re- sumption of his Parliamentary duties, that his absence " could not now be prolonged beyond a very short time, and, at the utmost, not beyond the 10th of June, as that was the final period of the service of the auxiliaries (in Spain), by the King's Order in Council, and by en. gagement with the Spanish Government." He admitted that his "two appointments were incompatible," but was persuaded" that the elec- tors, who had indulged him so far, would permit his prolonged absence, especially as he was "at some personal risk" carrying out the prin- ciples of a representative government, to which the electors as well as himself were attached. Sir Francis Burdett's letter follows.
" Brighton, April 3.
" Dear Mr. Pon icey—I am satisfied no one can be more aware than you are of the impropriety and unfairness towards the bulk of the Westntinster electors which I should be guilty or were I to act towards them in the manner proposed by the gentle- men who met at the British Coffeehouse, aud who requested Noll to transmit to me the resolution they adopted, expressing their wish that I should 'resign my seat in Parlia- ment as Representative of the chy of WeAntinster ; at the same time I am not in a situation to enter more fatly into the subject. I shall, therefore, content myself for the present with answering, that I do not think it condsient with my doty to the elec. tors at large so to act hut as soon as I ant able to hold a pen myself, I shall probably think it my duty to address them on the subject of your communication. In the mean time, notwithstanding any difference of i,1,iniiii between us, " Believe ate r ith great respect and sincerity, dear NI r. Pommy, yours sincerely. " iit*RDETr."
Some discussion ensued. Mr. Ellis moved a resolution, that a ge. acral meeting of the electors should be called, to, consider the conduct of the two Members for Westminster, and determine upon the steps to be taken in the present unsatisfactory state of the representation. Considerable opposition was made to this resolution, by Mr. Walker, Mr. West, and others ; and on a division, it was carried by a majority of only one, the numbers being 26 and 115. It was then agreed that a requisition should be prepared and presented to the High Bailiff to call a meeting in Covent Garden ; and a Committee was appointed to carry the resolution into effect.
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