THE PRESS.
THE MINISTRY AND THE HUSKISSONIANS.
MORNING CHRONICLE—Mr. Charles Grant has been returned for the County of Inverness, notwithstanding the canvassing letters of Mr. 11I'Leod, his rival, were franked at the Home-Office, to give the free- holders the assurance of the high consideration in which he was held by Ministers, and notwithstanding the interest used with the Lord-Lieu- tenant of the County, and other friends of Mr. Grant, to de- tach them from his cause, which have been in part successful. The trial of strength took place on the vote for the Chairman, when, without counting disputed votes, Mr. Macpherson Grant, of Belladrum, [Bailin. dalloch ?]was appointed, in preference to Colonel Grant.' of Grant (the Lord-Lieutenant), bya majority of 34 to 25. Those who know anything of Scotch county elections, must know that in keenness of scent the Scotch freedholders are not surpassed by any men in existence. Yet here we see Ministers exerting themselves, as if the matter were one of life and death, to keep out Mr. Charles Grant, and yet with a set of men so keenly alive to the blessings of the Treasury, they have failed. How is this? Where one or two great proprietors can command a majority of votes, there are instances of Ministers having been defeated ; but in an independent Scotch county there is no former instance of corruption not carrying the day. In fact a Scotch freeholder would in general consider it as an insult, implying some defect in his understanding, to charge him with voting against the Administration for the time being. It is one of those acts of imprudence in Scotland which would place a man in danger of that sort of ordeal to which Mr. Anderton was lately subjected. Those who know the prudence and worldly wisdom of the Scotch free- holders in independent counties, will arrive at any conclusion rather than that the Scotch are on a wrong scent. They must have strong sus- picions of the tenure of a Minister, before they turn their backs on him. Prudent men will know what to think of this augury.
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