"Xbe Opectator," Ztugust 100, 1850
THE number of candidates who appeared on the hustings at Lambeth on Monday, the nomination-day, was three—Mr. William Williams, Sir Charles Napier, and Mr. Hinde Palmer ; all of one political complexion, and only differing in the tone of their Liberalism. As there were rumours that the dashing Admiral was buoyed by the sympathies of some of the Govern- ment departments (though not by his own professional one), and as Mr. Palmer secured the interest of his relative the sitting Member, Mr. D'Eyncourt, it was expected that the hustings- speeches would be high-flavoured and the contest close. Both anticipations were rather disappointed. Mr. Palmer did not re- ceive much popular attention. The chief stimulant to the feel- ing of Sir Charles Napier's opponents was an enormous cat-o- nine tails, which some one produced from a bag on the hust- ings and waved perpetually before the crowd ; an ensign of the Admiral's adherence to corporal punishment ; but a most unjust one, in his view, as he declared he had done more to abolish the use of the lash in the Navy than any man alive—and " there was not a man among the five thousand who served under him in the Mediterranean who would not have gone to the Devil for him." The returning-officer at last ordered the offensive symbol to bt put out of sight.
The show of hands was officially pronounced to be in favour of Sir Charles Napier ; and a poll was demanded by the other two candidates. The election, on Tuesday, was altogether in favour of Mr. Williams. In the first hour he polled 610 to the 189 and 86 of his two adversaries ; and nearly at this relative rate the polling went An through the day. The official announce- ment,'on Wednesday, gave these as the total number polled:
Williams 3,834
Napier 1,182 Palmer 585
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