20 MAY 1837, Page 4

Vibe Rirtropotut.

A report has been put in circulation by the Morning Pose, that General Evans had instructed his friends to apply for the Chiltern Hundreds ; and that, if his directions had been followed, a new writ for Westminster would have been moved for on Wednesday. But this story has been contradicted, on authority, by the True Sun and other Liberal newspapers.

About two hundred parishioners of St. Martin's had a public dinner on Tuesday, in the Lowther Rooms, to commemorate the anniversary of the opening of the Select Vestry of that parish. The opportunity was taken to talk over the circumstances of the defeat in \Westminster. Mr. Leader was chairman, supported by Mr. Hume, Mr. 13ainbridge, Dr. Carpue, and other persons of mark in St. Martin's. Mr. Leader referred to the system of intimidation pursued by the Tories.....

Inother constituencies—in small constituencies, where the voters did not ex- ceed 300 or 400—he had seen undue influence exercised ; lie hall seen great families insist upon having the votes of those to whom they gave their custom; he had seen great merchants attempt the same thing with those deptndent upon them in provincial cities ; he had seen this done with the trademien de. pendent upon them ; but be confessed that he never in his life saw or imagined such a profligate system of intimidation as that which had been put in practice by the Tory aristocracy in the last contest for Westminster. Why, they were not satisfied—Tory lords and gentlemen as they were—with going iound to their tradesmen and asking their votes from them, but the Tories sent their wives and daughters also to ask for votes. Many and many a tradesman, who was a Reformer in his heart, was thus coerced to vote against him. He wa, told by electors that they had received forty or fifty visits from persons on the Tory side, who all said to them, "If you vote for Leader, our custom shall be withdrawn from you." He knew, fortunately, many an honest man, who, acting upon a thorough spirit of independence, set at defiance all these threats, and risked every thing to save the cause of Reform from defeat. Two or three individuals connected with trade had called upon him since the election upon this subject, and be hoped that they would be able to disclose the wow, of the Tory gentlemen who had used the language of intimidation to them. That language, too, was couched in terms that would have disgraced the etch. pit. The facts he referred to he hoped to have authenticated ; he expected to have them substantiated, in order that they might be published, and that the world might judge of the system of intimidation which hail been exelciA. He asked them, as independent men, if that sort of influence was to be tolerated?

Mr. Bainbridge proposed the health of General Evans— That gentleman was absent with their permission ; he was longer alpent than either party bad calculated upon. Though not present, he was en. gaged in the cause of liberty : he was fighting against Don Carlos, with whose victory the cause of despotism would obtain a ttiumpli is every part of Europe. Letters had been received the day belore flora General Evans, announcing his speedy appearance amongst thou. ( ('hem.) They could therefore calculate on having soon aiding them one of the most active and honest men in the House of Commons. General F.vans was the advocate of a repeal of the Window-tax, and he had aided mainly is the repeal of the House-tax. Upon all occasions General Evans was teals' to defend the rights of the many, and to oppose himself to the usurpations of the few. Like their honourable chairman, General Evans had, when first a candi- date for Westminster, been unsuccessful : he hail polled but 1,100 vot,rs; their chairman polled more than 3,000. General Evans was now their Repre- sentative, so should Mr. Leader be.

Mr. Hume said, that the spirit which Mr. Leader bore his defeat proved that they were not mistaken in him— They wanted, in these days, young and active men, who would join the Movement, and onward go—who would not care for the threats of one party nor the wiles of another. The loss of Mr. Leader, then, he regaided as a national misfortune. Was there, he asked, any thing more satisfactory to ,ce, than a Government like the present, equal to do justice to all pal ties, to remove civil disabilities from Ireland, which had been treated more like a compared country than a sister nation? Every step taken to lessen the itifluenve of a Government which would do justice to Ireland and to England, was a national calamity. The maintaining them in power was of importance to them—it was of importance to Europe ; every circumstance that lessened its influence gave joy to the despot ; and the defeat of Mr. Leader could not, he heaved, bat ex- cite delight in St. Petersburg.

Mr. Chambers referred to the story of Burdett's gift of one thou- sand guineas to fount la school— The circumstances were these. An attempt was made, in the year 1815, to establish a school on such liberal principles that the children of all sects ought attend it. Sir F. Burdett attended that meeting ; and instead, as it had hem stated, of giving 1,000 guineas, he gave 1,0001. in the Three per Cents., which they knew was not equal to 1,000, guineas ; and he gave it, too, on a certain condition—he gave it with a certain proviso, that it should only be aopropti- ated in case the project succeeded to the building of a school-house. The pro- ject did not succeed ; and the consequence was, that Sir F. Burdett gut back his 1,0001. To serve an electioneering purpose, then, Sir F. Bartlett had told the truth about giving the money ; but he did not follow the English maxim, and "tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." ( Cheers and lativithr.) More speeches were delivered, but the above are all from which ex- tracts are required.