SCOTLAND.
" Plain John Campbell," as the facetious Knight so often and so os- tentatiously proclaimed himself, has gained his election for Edinburgh. The numbers at the close of the poll on Saturday were—for Sir John Cainpbell, 1932; Mr. Learmonth, 1402 ; Mr. Aytoun, 480. The readers of the Spectator will remember that we never gave any reason for anticipating a different result to this election. The Whig clique are loudly boasting of it, but with small reason. At the general election in 1832, Mr. Jeffrey polled 9036 votes, and Mr. Abercrotffity, 3843. Sir John Campbell could not reach half the number given for Mr. Jeffrey. Mr. Blair at the election in 1832 received 1519 votes, and Mr. Learmonth had 1402; so that it appears the Whigs lost 2104 votes and the Tories 117 only. Mr. Aytoun's defeat demonstrates the weakness of the Radical party in Edinburgh. This, we have little dou!.t, is the main cause of his low position on the poll ; although it may be true that there were other con- spiring reasons for it. A correspondent of the True Sun, who had been extremely sanguine of Mr. Aytoun's success the day before the polling began, thus describes sonic of the causes of his utter defeat, and attempts to explain the reason of the small muster made by his friends— • "r he Whigs kipw that, if defeated here. their party in Edinburgh was blown up, and their party everywhefe seriously damaged. Their exertions have been immense. Influence or every kind has been used on the largest scale; and instances of as gross Mt:mid:slim as ever Tories weie guilty of have come to my knowledge. Money has been lavished on agents, canvassers, bills. advertisements, &c. withont limit.
" This being the first time the Liberal party has made head against the Whigs, there was in most of ,the 1.iberals a hesitation, and a wish to shrink from the contest with their old allies, if they could get a decent preteace fur avoiding coming to the poll againat them."
Again, the cry of "Any thing to keep out the Tories," was raised ; and "this senseless cry (saith the True Sun's correspondent) has done the business," &c. Now, we have no doubt that all this is very true ; but as every man in Edinburgh, we should suppose, must have been aware of the kind of opposition which Mr. Aytoun would inevitably encounter, it seems strange that expectations of his success could have been formed on the supposition that money and influence would not have been employed by his opponents. All that is stated in the True Sun we could have safely predicted a fortnight ago ; and unless Mr. Aytoun's party were strong enough to resist influence and intimidation, we should never have dreamed, as indeed we never did dream, of his success. But it scents there were other causes, of themselves sufficient to insure Mr. Aytoun's defeat—at least so we are informed by it corre- spondent of our own. Without by any means guaranteeing the tnith of what is contained in the following extracts from a letter we have re- ceived, we give them as affording some reason to expect that at a future election the Independent party in Edinburgh may cut a more respect- able figure on the poll.
" Radicalism is not weak in Edinburgh. notwithstanding the miserable appearanel Mr. Aytunn makes: but the truth aunt be told—Mr. Aytoun is not acceptable to the great body of the Edinburgh Radicals, and the Dissenters utterly repudiate the idea of having him as their Representative. lie wants information; he wants weight of character ; he wants every thing, in short, which ought to go to the formation of a legislator. Ile has mistakeu Ilia forte. True, he has gained some notoriety—nay doue the town good service—by his exhibitions in the Town-Council; but it is too well known that many of his motions and speedos in that arena are made merely for
the sake of display. • • • • • •
" Shortly after the vacancy was announced, the Dissenters held a meeting, at which it was resolved that, as a body, they should not support Mr. Ay mon. They felt he was no fit representative of the principles which Dry held ; a decision which they were easily led to by their knowledge of his sentiments, h st especially by the contents Of a letter which be had sent shortly before to the Presbytery of K irkalily, from is Writ it was evident he was as yet ignorant of the principle which actuates the Scottish Dis- senters iii their quarrel WWI the Establishment."
The bearing of some of Mr. Aytoun's more active supporters is also described as very detrimental to his cause ; though this remark is not intended to apply to ME. Tait, and one or two others.
Mr. Murray has also been returned, by a majority of 237 over his Opponent; the numbers being—for Mr. Aitchison, 449; Mr. Mur-
ray, 686. The majority is not so large us we expected to findi Mr. Aitchison had gained ground considerably in Portobello and Mussel.. burgh ; Mr. Murray's strength lay in the town of Leith.
On Saturday, a public dinner was given to Mr. Murray in honour of his reelection; which was attended by Sir John Campbell, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, Mr. Leonard Horner, and a number of Edinburgh gentlemen, in addition to Mr. Murray's Leith friends. The two suc- cessful candidates and their party were full of triumph and joviality. Sir Thomas Dick Lauder could not refrain from cutting his jokes on the defeated Tories.
Ile expressed surprise that the aristocratic ideas of the Conservatives should not have suggested to them some one of high rank ; for it is aa really wonderful to see all those John uf Goulds strapped to the hack of Mr. Learmontles carriage. awl his honour- able friend Mr. P. Robertson blowing the horn to his Mail co:telt—besides others per- forming every possible duty to hint.
The Chairman ( Provost White) reminded Mr. Murray, that the "first and most material glibly" for him to attend to in Parliament, was the Leith harbour Bill! 'I be company laughed at this.
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