Lord Dalmeny has been visiting his constituents at Dunfermline. He
arrived there on the 8th, by the mail, and immediately called a public meeting of the electors • who accordingly assembled in the i church. His Lordship delivered a long speech n explanation and defence of his conduct in Parliament. He was then catechized by his constituents on several points, but especially in reference to Peer- age Reform, the Church, and the Corn-laws. He was not pressed hard on the Church question ; but on the two others he received no mercy. He said he would agree to a fixed duty of 10s. a quarter on corn. With respect to Peerage Reform, he would not object to an organic change which should give the people a control over the Lords, but at the same time not trench upon their Lordships' privileges! He objected to all the plans for reforming the Peers ; and was told that he left the Lords where he found them. Then came the Ballot; and Lord Dalmeny had no objection to try it if other expedients to preserve freedom of election failed. He was asked, supposing that in the event of a dissolution another Reform candidate were started for the Burghs, whether he would agree to resign his pretensions, if, by a pre- vious scrutiny of votes, or by a trial by ballot, he should be found in the minority—this plan having been pursued at Cupar ? Lord Dal- meny declined to assent to this proposition ; alleging that he stood en different grounds from the Cupar candidates, who were both strangers: besides, he was on principle opposed to the mode of voting by ballot. Mr. J. Morrison junior then summed up the evidence against Lord Dalmeny ; and charged the jury to find a verdict of incompetency against him. A motion that his Lordship was not a fit and proper person to represent the Dunfermline Burghs was proposed. An amendment was moved that he was fit and proper ; but for this only twenty hands were held up, amidst shouts of laughter; while for the origi. nal motion about a hundred electors declared. Thanks were then voted to his Lordship for calling the meeting, and for his volunteer explanations. Lord Dalmeny would not say that his visit to his constituents had been occasioned by a report that he was to be opposed at the next election ; though, since he bad been in Scotland, he had beard that an opposition was threatened. Poor Lord Dalmeny ! he will be another sacrifice to the Ministerial policy of Whig- Toryism.
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