28 JULY 1838, Page 11

THE NEW BARONETS.

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE SPECTATOR.

Why is JOHN JOSIAH GUEST Sir JOHN Foto A II GUEST? is a question that has very naturally been asked. Who is Joins JOSIAH GUEST ? what is be, and what are his claims, that be should be added to the unfledged horde of aristocracy that bless this "favoured land ?" Allow me, Mr. Editor, to answer that question. Sir JOHN .1051A it GUEST is the son of a very honourable father; who would as much have thought of a title as he would of jumping over the moon. Ile is the proprietor of the Dowlais hon-works, was the Member for Honiton, and is now Slumber for the very independent borough of Merthyr Tydvil in South Wales. His claims to the gratitude of a Whig Administration may simply be stated in the fact, that at the last election lie contested the county of Glamorgan against a Tory, and was a long way behind on the poll. This last service was too important to be overlooked ; and therefore we find the name of Jonx J0s1 H GUEST, Esq., of Dowlais, in the list of new Baronets. But probably the most important service rendered by Sir Jolts GUEST, and for which this sop has been thrown to him, is the fact that he holds in his keep- ing the representation of the borough of :Merthyr Tydvil, where his influence is predominant. This is the grand secret, and to which Sir JOHN GUEST owes his title. Ile is the owner of Dowlais; and whilst he remains so, he can always place a seat at the dispmal of the Liberal Government of the day. It was for this ren,on the county battle was fought, and will probably he fought again. At a riktance from the spot, it is impossible, Mr. Editor, you can be aware of the working of the Reform 1411 in South Wales; it is possible you may not even suspect the titter rottenness of this newly-created borough. How it ever got into the schedule, is the only matter of surprise. Merthyr Tydvil—the borough of Merthyr TrIvil—is nothing more than the temporary popu- lation that the establishment of the different iron-furnaces has drawn to the spot. It is in fact a population entirely dependent upon the iron- trade for existence, under the control of the hole-masters, arid which, with the suppression of that trade, would cease to be a place of location to- morrow. From the circumstance of the rapid increase of population, (for the place only dates hack a few years as more than a mere village.) the erection of houses has not equalled the demand ; so that rents are high, and in most cases confer a vote on the occupier. The population is a chance population of the worst character ; and there is neither local act, paid magistracy, or place. A pretty borough to be called into existence by the reforming Reform Bill ! The mariner of representation may be guessed. It is vested in the hands of half-a- dozen irommasters; and as the balance preponderates, Whig or Tory will be re- turned. Of these, the most powerful are Mr. GUEST and Mr. CRAWSHAY, and the minor interests those of Mr. HILL and Alderman THOMPSON. Mr. CRAWsUialL has been a Tory, hut now professes Whiggism. He holds the scales, aud at the last election, lending support to Mr. GUEST gained him the victory. In order to show how these influences predominate, and the utter want of any thing like fair representation, I will state the result of the poll at the three different divisions of the borough (where the different interests predo- minate) at the last election. Merthyr Tydvil—where a species of municipality is springing up, and where a slight sprinkling of independence may be expected —polled for the Whig, Gur.sT, 49, Bauce (Tory) ; Dowlais—mark Dow- lais !—for G u EST 109, 11RucE 0! Aberdare, where the Tory influence predo- minates—for Or EST 37, BRUCE 70! The second day's poll I have not by me ; but I have reason to know that it presented the singular fact, that out of 200 voters at Dowlais, every vote was given for Mr. GuEsT ! When I state that the total number of votes polled was only 476, 1 ask you, has not Mr.—Sir ions. I mean—Gussr claims on the NVhig Ministry ? I shall probably trouble you with another letter on the state of things in this precious production of the Reform Bill—the borough of Merthyr Tydvil.