The borough of Finsbury has been the scone of much

ailimatod

s■wech-ina ing alai canvassing during tlw week. Air. Gibson, w mec twearatiee ia the we announced a furtiii6lit ago, prudently ictirkal

from the contest ; and Sir John Hohhouse declined being put in nomi- nation. There is, however, no lack of candidates ; for, in addition to Mr. Babbage, Mr. Thomas Duncombe, the late Independent Member for Hertford, Mr. Wakley, the Radical surgeon, and Mr. Henry Pownall, a Tory and High Churchman, the companion of Mr. Hal. combon his journey to Windsor in the days of Catholic Emancipa- tion, have all solicited the suffrages of the electors.

A meeting of Mr. Babbage's friends was held on Monday evening, at the Crown Tavern, Clerkenwell. It was most respectably•,at- tended : among the gentlemen present, were Mr. 1Volryche Whitmore, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Pryme, Colonel Torrens, Mr. Ewart, Mr. John Taylor, Dr. Lardner, and Mr. Sergeant Talfourd. Mr. Hawes was in the chair. Several resolutions were passed expressive of the high opinion entertained by the meeting of Mr. Babbage's scientific attain- ments, political integrity, and peculiar fitness to represent the 111a1111- factoring and commercial interests of the Metropolis. Mr. Sergelint Talfourd inoved that Mr. Babbage should be supported as a candidate for Finsburywith the best exertions of the meeting.

Mr. Babbage then spoke. He referred to his declarations at the last

election : his opinions remained unchanged. Ile would vote for judicious economy, against sinecures, and against the Taxes on Know- ledge ; but would not support any measure for the separation of Church and State.

regard to church-rates, lie considered it wrong that any man should be called upon to contribute towards a religion in which he did not pal ticipate. Ile had been asked his opinion with regard to Church Reform ; and he would say in reply, that the State had a right to control the funds of the Church, and to alter their destination, fur the purpose of affording religions instruction to the people. (Applaust.) He was not aware, however, that the funds of the Church were too large for its stipport—( Symptoms of disapprobation)—but jf upon inquiry he found that they were greater than necessary, he would apply the surplus to the purpose he had mentioned. With regard to the Corn-laws, he would say that he was opposed to all monopolies, because he considered them contrary to the best interests of the people. As to the duration of Parhament, he was of opinion that three yeats would be better than seven years; but with reg.ird to the ballot, he confessed he was not prepared to make so great a 0.1,,,,ge in the constituency of the country, although he wished to see the experiment tried on a limited scale, in order that he might judge of its effects. A to flog- ging ill the Army and Navy, he held it to be a degrading practice; and if it could be safely dune away with, he would vote fur its abolition.

Amm Elector—" Would you vote against it ?"

Mr. Ilabbage—" I would."

In reply to another question, he said, that he was opposed to all mo- nopolies, and would vote for the gradual abolition of die Corn-laws.

Much dissatisfiietion was exp:essed in the course of 3I r. Babbage's speech ; though principally, it is said, by non-electors. The account of what took place towards the close of the niteting is thus given in the Times.

"A seem of indescribable confusion followed; in the course of which Mr. Roebuck and Colonel Torrens aidressed the meeting ; the former deeiaring that Mr. Babbage had not spoken out sufficiently on the great leading questions to which he had alluded; and the latter dekuding the conduct of 31r. Ilahhage, and strongly recommending i • to the electors. A variety of gtiesrionssere put to Mr. Babbage, and the greatest excitement prevailed in the meeting;uhen an amendment was proposed to the motion behwe the chair that the further consideration of the resolution be adjourned to W. dnesilay. It was carried by a show of hinds; and thanks having•been voted to the Chairman in dumb-show, 31f. liabbage and his fiiends retired."

No meeting, however, took place on Wednesday. Mr. Duncumbe's friends assembled at the Crown Tavern on Tues- day; Mr. Paul Methuen, M. P., in the chair. The candidate addressed them, in a speech which is briefly reported, but which appears to have been very plain arid downright, and therefore effective.

He was there (he said) to answer any question they might think proper to put to him. He was not a stranger to them; and the people of England knew too well their rights and privileges to throw them away. He hail done his best, when in Parliament, to give the Metropolitan districts an extensive fianchise. Mr. Babbage had expressed himself a Whig, and he wished him joy from his Whiggisin. Now he would tell them his sentiments, and what he proposed to do if elected one of their Representatives. He would vote for Church Reform —Ecclesiastical Reform. He wished the Tories would explain how the Church was in danger. As to the claims of the Dissenters, he would give them their marriage-rites in their own way—in their chapels. With respect to pledges,-he would give them but one; which was this—that if after they hail elected him, they felt dissatisfied with their choice, he would resign into their hands the charge they had intrusted him with, unsullied as when they gave it. [A Voce—" Wmll you vote for short Parliaments?"] "Yes: I did before, and will again.* [Another voice—Triennial ones] "Yes." [A Parishioner—" Will you vote for universal suffrage? (Laughter), and for the ballot ?".1" Yes, fimr the ballot." [" And against pensions and places?") "Yes," (" And not take any situ- ation ?"j "Yes; unless the people of England think me deserving of it." (Applause amid laughter.) The meeting agreed, amidst loud cheers, to give Mr. Duncombe their hearty support. Another meeting of the same party was held on Wednesday, at the Prince of %Vales Tavern, Banner Street, St. Luke's. Mr. Rowland 1Vilks, son of the Member for Boston, took the chair, and spoke warmly in favour of Mr. Duncombe; who again promised to vote for Triennial Parliaments, the Ballot, the abolition of sinecures, an im- proved distribution of Church revenues among the clergy,—in reply to a list of questions handed up to him by Mr. Ward, a deaf gentleman, who spoke from the crowd. He also answered some other questions, contained in the same list, in the following manner.

The next question was to this effect; "If his Majesty's Ministers got intxt dilenona—the malt-tax to wit—and went begging and crying to the Houseras they did on that and other occasions, would you truckle to them, and help them to keep their places?" ( General laughter.) "In answer to that question (said Mr. Duncombe) I would say, that I would neither truckle to the Minister, nor stop one tear that they might shed." The last question was rather an ex- traordinary one, certainly, and was perhaps intruded fa his private ear ; but the meeting should hear it, notwithstanding. It was this—" Are you the proprietor, or part pi oprirtor, ol in any way ennuected, with any gamblinghouse-or houses in London, 1‘'estiiiiiister, or elsewhere? " (L1144,1 and yrnertil laughter.) " I do not know," ohs-em veil Mr. Darricombe, who himself appear( d to enjoy the " what ...mild induce my deaf friend to 1, ut.giell a question as this ; lair I can ail,wer, that 1 ain not connected with any gainiMuginnisc a liatccei ; and I emi it' ever I am, I will rake Mat to the of t.i) lit•pot ter."

( . )

2.1r. W.rd teas IL/W asked to promise his vo:e to Mr. liuncombe; but he said that he had already promised to vote for Wakley. A storm of hisses, and cries of " Turn bitn out !" followed this declaration. It was then unanimously agreed to support Air. Duncombe, us a man of nerve, eneigy, and sprit.

Mr. Pownall's supporters held a mteting at the King's head, Isling- ton, on Tuesday. It appears from an advertisement in the Times, that Mr Pownall declared, 0 that although not much known, he had taken a considerable share in promoting the charitable objects of the great institutions of the Metropolis ; that he was a warm friend of the lEstablished Church, and deeidedly opposed to the dissolution of those bonds which connected it with the State; at the same time, if elected, he should not hesitate to forward every measure which would have the effect of removing abuses and promoting its put ity."

Of course, Mr. Pownall's friends agreed to stand by him.

Mr. Wakley's partisans assembled on Tuesday, at White Conduit House. There was a good deal of abuse of Mr. Buncombe, and vio-

lent approval of Mr. Wakley's opinions. Mr. Wakley promised so re- sign his scat at the end of three years. The meeting unanimously de- termined to support him.

The nomination of the candidates took place yesterday, on Islington Green. Alr. Postman was proposed and seconded by Messrs. W. Ward and L. llaslop ; Mr. Babbage, by Messrs. F. Martin and A. Stevenson ; Mr. Buncombe, by Messrs. Hewett and J. B. Armstrong ; Mr. Wakley, by Messrs. G. Rogers and II. Smith. The candidates then addressed the multitude front the hating's.

Mr. Pownull begun ; and declared himself a firm friend to Church and State, to economy, and the removal of taxes on agriculture and knowledge, and to the abolition of pluralities and non-residence of the clergy. He spoke amidst groans and interruption.

Mr. Babbage was much better received. Ile recapitulated the opi- nions which he had avowed at the last election, and declared that he still held to them. He would only pledge himself to general principles, not to particular measures.

his opinion respecting the property of the Church was, that it belonged to the State—to the people; and if it belonged (44 the State, they had a right to appropriate it to other purposes. But the first appropriation that he should advise, because he thought it. would be most to the advantage of the country, was its application for the advance of knowledge.

Impressment, and military flogging, be would vote to abolish. Ile was for reducing taxation ; more particularly taxes which pressed upon industry and capital. He was for removing all Dissenting grievances, but would not separate Church from State. He was opposed to all monopolies, the Corn-laws among them. Ile had been taunted with being a recipient of the public money.

He was surprised that he was taunted with receiving money for his labour. Ile could tell them, the hands of no loan present had been darker than his own when working in their workshops. Would any one say that work ought not to be paid for? If be had gone into their workshops to labour and acquire know- ledge—with a view to obtain knowledge that he might be enabled ti Lily to len- der the labours of his pen more perfect—who could reproach him with that? And if he had received a reward for his labour, as an acknowledgment of the services he bad rendered, who was the man in that vast crowd which was before him, who would say it was undeserved ? Ile was not exactly the retired philoso- pher sonic imagined : he had lived in their workshops.

Mr. Buncombe was greeted with groans from the liTakley party, and enthusiastic cheering from his own friends. Ile said, that according to the speeches of the gentlemen who had proposed and seconded them, there never were four more proper men to represent the borough in Parliament.

But, unfortunately, there was but one vacancy ; therefore it was for them to say who was the most fit and proper person to represent then) on this occasion. Ile bad been requested to stand before them by a large proportion of the electors, who had brought bins forward, because they knew him to be a friend to civil and religious liberty, because they knew that he had advocated their rights already in the House of Commons. As a proof that he was friendly to religious liberty, be would inform them, that he had voted for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts ; also for the Roman Catholic Emancipation Bill..

He never intended that the Reform Bill should be a final measure— There were many parts of it to which he had objected, and there webrs! others which he %visited to see extended. He had voted against the division of coun- ties ; because he thought that while the bill was destroying one series of rotten boroughs, it was substituting others. He voted also against the tenants-at-will clause; because he felt that unless the vote by ballot were introduced, it was impossible that freedom of election could be secured to those persons. There were other parts of that Reform Bill to which be objected ; but he took it rather dam none at all.

He asserted positively, that he bad nothing to do with Government; he was a perfixtly independent candidate. He wouid only give one pledge.-Lto resign his seat when his constituents were dissatisfied.

A voice from the crowd said—" After three years ?" Mr. Dun- combe—" Three years ! aye, after three hours."

Mr. Wakley climbed to the highest part of the hustings, and clung to a pole while he was speaking. His friends shouted, " See, he's at the head of the poll already?" Ile began by saying ; that it was clear from his position, that he was not afraid to show himself to the electors. As to the rival candidates, he had examined Mr. Pownall's skull as a phrenologist, and had discovered him to be a very honourable man. Mr. Babbage was an excellent mathematician; and it was a pity he was not in his chair at Cambridge giving lectures ; but he was bound as a man of honour to come forward, having received so many votes at the last election. Pownall was a Tory; Babbage was a Whig; he, Wakley, was a Radical ; and then came Duncombe, with a ticket on his back, saying, " I am the late Member for Hertford, and have sat in three Parliaments." But what were his principles, if not Whiggish ? The truckling, slaving Globe supported him ; and the Times also ; and there was a good deal of wheedling and meeting going on to induce Mr. Babbage to resign to make way for the Government candidate, Mr. buncombe. At the time this was going on, he had two curious notes put into his hand which he would read. These notes would show whether any mast who had the support of such a Govermnent and such a press ought t;) be elected. The notes woe :oldressed by Lord Althorn to Mr. Brougham. ["1..4 rd Broughani."j Yes. he forgot he was a lord. He knew that giving publicity to these notes might be called a breach of confidence ; but where there was dis- honour there should be no confidence. Mr. Wakley then read the first note, as follows. " My clear Brougham—As I am not quite right to day. I shall not go down to the ii ruse. I nisi', therefore, you would give me a call.

" Believe me, my dear Brougham, 14:e. "All.T11011r."

lie did not know what answer Lord Brougham returned to Lord Althorp ; but be would read to them Loud Althorp's second note, in reply, it must be supposed, to one stating that Lord Brougham could nut call. " My dear Brougham—What I wanted to speak to yott about is the press; whether we shall declare open war against the Times, or endeavour to make friends. " Believe me, my 111.:11. Mont.:ham. gze. .• A 1.111011P."

What did they think of that for a Government. [Groans, and cries of " Shame!" mingled with shouts of laughter. Somebody asked the date of the note?] ()II, he would give the date—it was the 19th of June. copies of these notes were sent to the editor of the Times, fin. Mr. Wakley thought that that individual ought to be made acquainted with the fact that such a negotiation was going on. What was the answer of the Times? III its Notices to Corres- pondents in the paper of the following morning, the thlth of J Lille [." What year !"1 Why, last week to be sure—since this contest commenced. Now mark him ; what said the Times? The commtniication was sent to the editor under the rig nat um e of " V rites." Well, the editor said, " We are obliged to Vi, has for hi. information. We have in our possession the two letters to which he refers." [Great astonishment manifeqed by the nucting. I Now they knew that they must connect that and that together. They had seen that the great people had been all of them opposing him, day after day ; and that they had all been supporting Mr. Duncombe and Mr. Bahhage, but re- gretting that one or the other would not withdraw, that one or the other would not retire.

The show of hands was then taken. Not half-a-dozen was held up for Mr. Pownall ; Mr. Babbage had a sprinkling; Mr. Duneombe a good many ; but Mr. Wakley had a decided majority; and the Return- ing-officer declared the show to be in his favour. The other candidates demanded a poll ; which will begin on Monday mottling,. They all declare their determination to go to the poll.