It is useless to pursue the controversy with the Spectator.
Our contemporary now asks, " how it has curiously happened that the Tories have gained a majority " in Brighton ; " whether by the death,. removal, or ratting of the Liberals." In any place it would require, we should think, some boldness, after the examples of Warwick, New- castle, and a dozen other counties and boroughs, to propound such a question ; but in the case of a constituency fluctuating so much as that of Brighton, it is neither more nor less than absurd. Without reckon- ing the change of public opinion, it is notorious that " death," "re- moval," and "ratting," (as our contemporary politely terms the alarm which many a real Reformer feels at the outrageous conduct of the Whigs), have sufficed to place Sir A. Dalrymple in a position which will not only insure his triumphant return at the next election, but, unless we have greatly erred in our calculations, will place him at the head of the poll, by a majority as overwhelming as that which Captain Pechell obtained by making pledges that he afterwards forgot to keep. —Brighton Gazette. [It is indeed time for the Brighton journalist to retire from a controversy which can only be decided by figures, and where the figures furnished by himself prove him to be wrong. It was indiscreet in him to come to particulars. He and his baother Tories would do well to take the advice of Lord Eldon to the Magistrate- " Decide, but give no reasons for your decision, and then you are safe." So we say to the Tories—" Stick to assertions, but do not attempt to prove them."]
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