On Monday, Mr. Turner, Revising Barrister for East Surty, de-
cided in favour of the claims of sixty-six gentlemen, almost all of them Tories, to be registered as voters for the Eastern Division of the county, in virtue of rent-charges, value 21. each, issuing out of the Camberwell Collegiate School estate. The claimants had:taken a very convenient way of obtaining the franchise. They figured as bene- factors of a charitable institution ; protected themselves from several liabilities of ownership by au ingenious legal juggle, which made them trustees for certain purposes; and then claimed the right of voting as
grantees of rent-charges, which it is not probable they intend to exact, as the Barrister decided that persons who have a claim to the rents and profits of an estate are in the same situation as if they had actually. received the same. No doubt, other Tory trustees of school property will follow the example of the Camberwell gentlemen, who have made another opening for fictitious qualifications.
In the Marylebone Registration Court, on Thursday, Mr. Adey, for the Tories, withdrew 1,988 out of 2,164 objections against Liberal voters. He stated that the objections bad been made in a wholesale manner, in consequence of the refusal of the Marylebone Vestry or its officers to allow the Tories to inspect the parish rate-books. Having subse. qnently, however, obtained permission to examine the books, all objec- tions which could be deemed vexatious had been withdrawn, and the several parties informed that they would not be called upon to defend their votes.
" A Westminster Elector," in a letter to the Morning Chronicle, complains of the publication of the Westminster poll-book, which is advertised. The complainant says— " I am one of those electors of Westminster who cannot afford to have my vote made public iu this manner. I have customers of both sides in politics; and from many of whom I received intimation, both in May and July last, that I should give satisfaction if 1 voted one way or the other, agreeably to their peculiar views. Sir, I voted on both these occasions; and I know that down to the present time my votes are not known to several of those customers who importuned me for them. This is at it should be ; and I had begun to flatter myself that I had escaped the consequences of disobeying some of the politicians who deal with me, when, lo ! this morning I find that any votes are about to be revealed in mint. Sir, I protest against this unjustifiable attack upon a con- stituency. If we cannot have the Ballot, let us, for God's sake, have that which is next best—all the secrecy which can possibly be thrown about the man- ner of voting, by confining copies of the poll to electioneering agents, and those who chose to pay four or five pounds for them. Persecution will be at its height when a record of the votes of Westminster shopkeepers lies upon every drawing-room table at the west end of the town."
[No doubt, the Westminster Elector will suffer annoyance and loss from the publication of his vote ; but what of that? Lord John
Russell is content that he should wait till public opinion puts down intimidation, and he is by no means satisfied as yet that intimidation
has gone far enough to require legislative interference. Therefore, worthy elector, be ruined in good temper. Lord John Russell is a. great Reformer, and you see he thinks it is your duty to be ruined in the cause of your country, and the Whigs.]
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