"THE WESTMINSTER RUMP."
A BRIEF explanation of this term may be acceptable to our Country readers. The Rump of Westminster describes a small body of Westminster electors, nearly all tradesmen, who, by means of union, watchfulness, and diligence, have managed to return two Reformers for the Royal city, in spite of Court and Aristocratic influence. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT has often been called by the Tories a nominee of the Westminster Rump ; and there can be no doubt that Sir JOHN HOBHOUSE is indebted for his present office altogether to the exertions of these Westminster shopkeepers. The Times, seemingly not well-informed on the subject, lately spoke contemptuously of the Rump, as if they had brought forward Colonel Evasts in opposition to Sir JOHN HOBHOUSE ; but the fact is, that a portion of the Rump sticks fast to Sir JOHN, and that only a part of it is become attached to the new candidate. Whether Sir Jonw or the Colonel rest on the larger division, we have not heard; but judging from the Times, who now praises the Rump, and speaks sneeringly only of the " Slice," we should imagine that Sir JOHN had the better share. Westminster may now be said to have two Rumps. In America, nearly every town has a Rump, which they call a Caucus; and henceforth, probably every large English town will have its Rump, under the title of a Committee or Club of Electors, acting in concert, and making the election the business of the electors, instead of leaving it to the candidates and their agents, as used to be the case everywhere except in Westminster.
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