REPRESENTATION OF SOUTHWARK.—Mr. Bulwer, in a public- spirited letter to
the electors, has declined the honour proposed for him, rather than divide the popular party. Another candidate has been sug- gested, rather than proposed, in the person of the gallant hero of Basque Roads, Lord Cochrane.
THE EX-ME MIER FOR DuvostsinnE.—About two hundred of Mr. Bastard's friends had a dinner on the 9th, at Newton Bushell ; Captain Pellew was in the chair ; Mr. Bastard was not present. The principal toasts were " Church and State " and " Protestant Ascendancy." Mr. Iloldsworth, M.P. made a long speech, in which he exhorted the county of Devon to emulate the example of Yorkshire, and strive to return at least one independent member to Parliament. Of the soundness of such advice no one can possibly doubt ; but if the people of Devon are to pay for a member instead of being paid by him, will they choose Mr. Bas- tard ?
THE PRESENT MEMBER FOR DEVONSHIRE.—OR the 7th, a din- ner was given to Lord Ebrington at Crediton. At this dinner, as at that given in honour of Mr. Bastard, the company amounted to two hundred. There was no " Church and State " and " Protestant Ascend- ancy" at this dinner, but there was something fully as appropriate to its object. After warmly panegyrizing the conduct of the Parisians in their last struggle, Lord Ebrington said—" I trust that the impulse which has been given by the example of that great country will not be lost either upon the friends of freedom or the abettors of despotism. I trust it will teach the Government of our own country an increased re- spect for the rights and privileges of the people of England, and they will best prove their disposition to defend those rights by their sympathy with the brave freemen in every country. I have never been very san- guine in the expectations with which I have gone to the opening of any session of Parliament, yet I own I am somewhat sanguine in my ex- pectations now. I cannot help believing that the example of so many boroughs in England—I mean those boroughs which enjoy any thing like popular representation-1 cannot think that the lesson which they have set will be wholly thrown away upon our country. I cannot believe that so loud and powerful a cry for retrenchment and economy, and above all, for Parliamentary Reform, will not produce some effect upon the Government, which has constantly professed—andwe shall now have proof to see how far they are sincere in their professions—that they pay more regard than those Governments which have gone before them to public opinion." Now this is pretty tangible at least. If Lord Ebring- ton do not assist in procuring what he describes as so desirable, those who believe it to be desirable will have the satisfaction of exhibiting his hollowness. That species of satisfaction is not to be had of gentlemen who, like Mr. Holdsworth, instead of giving distinct pledges, prefer amusing their hearers with generalisms about " the cause."
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