ELECTION TALK.

Biammiraer.—Mr. Horsley Palmer has resigned ! The Tories from the first, it appears, despaired of carrying two of their friends, but they hoped to be able to carry one, and the gentleman against whom they hoped to carry him was Mr. Attwood. Their hopes rested on the, fact that that gentleman hid been negligent of his canvass; as if the electors of Birmingham required to be canvassed, in order to bestow

their votes on the founder of their freedom. A very slight trial of the sentiments of the people convinAd Mr. Palmer's Committee of the vanity of their attempt, which they prudently relinquished before it was well begun. Mr. Attwood and Mr. Scholeffeld will therefore be re-

turned without opposition,—unless an ostensible Ministerialist be sent down to finish the honourable contest that Messrs. Clarke and Palmer

began to begin. A meeting of the friends of the two Reforming candidates—that is, of nine tenths of the electors of the town—was held last week at Mr. Beardsworth's Repository ; Mr. Muntz in the chair. It was intended to be called by a numerous requisition ; but as the time pressed, and the Journal was making up its "forms," John Bull (as M. Muntz is honourably and affectionately named), with his usual de- cision, put his own name to the advertisement, rather than risk delay in "composing" the names of the requisitionists. The meeting was most numerous, respectable, and unanimous, as the Birmingham public meetings for a long time past have been. Mr. Muntz spoke at great length ; Mr. Attwood also addressed the meetins.° ; as did Mr. Hill of Hazlewood, a Reformer of fifty years' standing,Mr."M‘Donnell, Mr. Hutton, Mr. Hadley, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. J. Betts. The speeches— which were all good—have in a great measure lost their interest, from the withdrawal of Mr. Palmer ; we should otherwise have felt inclined to extract from them pretty freely. As it is, we must find room for one sentence from the speech of Mr. Hill— The people of England, he said, had been rescued from the jaws of the lion and the bear ; and would they, through their own supineness, permit themselves to be again thrown into the den of those merciless animals ? Should it ever be said, that he had lived fifty years to see the great and glorious cause of Parlia- mentary Reform triumphant, and fifty-one years to see all their exertions and efforts completely undone again ? 6' Send me," continued Mr. Hill, " in peace to my grave. Let me, now I am approaching the close of this life, be enabled to say with him of old, 'Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.'" This glorious consummation depended altogether upon the virtue, patriotism, and activity of the electors of Great Bri- tain. They must, at the present crisis—especially during the present elections —be firm ; and not only enter into resolutions, but zealously carry them into practice.

It may easily be imagined, that so simple and earnest an exhortation, coining from a grey-haired patriot, threescore and ten and upwards, did not fall on dull or unobservant ears.

BRIDGEWATER. Mr. Astell has resigned for Bridgewater, after having represented the Tory interest there for many years. The Cor- poration influence in Bridgewater is at an end.

BRISTOL.—A meeting took place at the Assembly Rooms on Mon- day; at which 2,000 electors attended, with a view of receiving the ex- planations and promoting the return for that city of Mr. John Williams, who has been invited by a strong body of requisitionists to stend candidate. The chair was taken by Mr. Richard Ash ; and the meeting unanimously passed resolutions expressing their respect for the past services of Mr. Baillie, and their regret that the uncertainty in which he had left them imposed upon them the necessity of inviting :neither Reform candidate, and that the principles of Mr. lVillieins

• elered him an eligible candidate to be assooiated with NE... Protheroe. 'Ir. jolia Williams is a gentleman of unrinestionable and he is, we believe, a sincere Reformer. We hope lie will succeed in his :.Nicest,—or in :re properly, that the Bristol cluetors will succeed in .iieirs. Nothiog, surely, could be more absurd than to neutralize the vote of Mr. Protheroc by giving hint Sir Richard Vyvyan for a colleague.

Caeineiner..—A requisition of the electors has been presented to \Ir. J. W. Lubbock. Mr. Lubbock Iles addressed the electors, but his address says little more than that he will support the Ministry. That lie is obnoxious to the Conservatives of the University, is pretty- avident from the following characteristic remark by one of the Standard's correspondents- " He is, I have heard, either a son or a near relation and friend of old Dr. Lubbock, of Norwich—known in Norfolk by the appellation of 'the Norfolk Democrat' par excellence. I have also understood that the Lubbocks, particu- larly Dr. Lubbock, are not very sound in their religious opinions. Dr. Lub- bock is said to be an Unitarian."

Is he not an Atheist ? Mr. Goulburn has taken alarm, and has ad- dressed his constituents ; he promises to be an exceedingly good boy if they will return him again. The ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer writes a miserable letter. He should take a month's instruction from Sir Francis Burdett.

CANTERBURY.—Sir E. Daring and Sir W. Bridges have given up their attempt.

EXETER.—Mr. Follett has issued an address on the result of the canvass and registration. He says he is satisfied with the result, and shall positively be present on the day of election.

GLOUCESTER.—Mr. D. Ryder, Lord Sandon's brother, has resigned his pretensions.

KNARESROROUGH.—A Mr. Rich is canvassing this borough, in op- position to Mr. Roch. The former is Liberal, the latter Conser- vative.

LEICESTER, NORTH.—Major-General Johnson, the third candidate, nade his first appearance at Melton on Tuesday last. He was intro- laced by Mr. Paget, M.P. for the county.—Lincoln Mercury.

Liss:meows—Mr. Thornely proceeds triumphantly in his canvass. In some of the districts which have been gone through, the promises which he has received exceed those given to his noble opponent in the aroportion of five to one. Lord Sandon's friends persist in menacing the shopkeepers in the most abominable manner; but his cause is all but hopeless notwithstanding. The Ultra Tories, who after all con- sider his Lordship to be only a milk-and-water personage, are desirous if bringing forward Sir Howard Douglas. If they do, the -defeat of tioth the Conservatives is inevitable. There has been no question whatever of Mr. E wart's well-deserved success, from the beginning.

Sir Howard Douglas made a long speech at the Royal Exchange on Tuesday. He is a Dry Rot man ; his grand recommendation to the wople of Liverpool is founded on his determination to support the 3anada Timber trade. He is besides pro-Slavery; pro-Church-dues, of one jot of which he will abate ; as for the Corn-laws, they are a xnplicated matter. So is the can vass of a great town. LYME Rsnts.—Lord Burghersh has arrived to canvass this borough, which the Reform Bill has stripped of one of its members ; neither of the sitting members (the Honourable Mr. Sutton mid Colonel Fane) having the slightest chance of being returned. His Lordship's prospects are not much brighter ; and the contest will be between Mr. Melville,

who was recommended by Mr. Hume, and Mr. Pinney, a gentleman of large possessions in the county, also a Liberal. Our information leads us to expect the return of the latter gentleman, although we hear that the means which are employed to secure it are not of the most creditable description.

IVIastvLEuosas—Mr. Portman and Colonel Jones met their respec- tive friends last night. The success of the former is, we believe, be- yond a doubt. The chances of the Colonel are understood to be very small.

MIDDLESEX.—Lord Henley attempted to address • a meeting of the electors at the Angel Inn, Edmonton, on Wednesday ; but very few assembled to meet him, and he was unbacked by one solitary individual save his Chairman, a Mr. Soper, of Edmonton. His Lordship, after a vain endeavour to make himself heard, put on ;his great-coat and walked out of the room.

MONTGOMERYSHIRE BOROUGHS. Colonel Edwards, the Liberal, will have to fight a hard battle with Mr. David Pugh, the Conserva- tive, for the representation of these boroughs. The latter gentleman is patronized by the Aristocrats of the county; but we understand that nevertheless the bets are 6 to 4 on the Colonel against Lord Clive's Nominee.

NORFOLK, EAST.—The contest for this division of the county will be a severe one. It so happens that the property of the great Whig landowners lies in the Western division of Norfolk—that of Mr. Coke, Lord Albemarle, Sir J. Astley, Sir W. Folkes, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Hamond, is all thus situated. Here, therefore, the cause of the Tories is hopeless, and the two Whig candidates are unopposed.

In East Norfolk lies the strength of the Tories. Lord Wodebouse, Colonel Wodehouse, and the most potent of the Tory Squires reside here ; and here, in all former contests, the Whigs have been out-

numbered. The struggle will now be a severe one, but those isi.il.tenesosreason to despair of the result. In several populous towns w' • here-

tofore, the Tory interest has been paramount, time majorit'

de- cidedly in favour of Keppel and Windham, and there is abroad in the county, which the combined influence of lo and parsons will find it difficult to quench. The Tor;

bragged of the hundreds they expected to strike of the their opponents ; these "hundreds" have been reduced to a very .. num-

ber, and the balance, on the aggregate, of objected votes, is S in favour of Windham and Keppel. The Lieutenant of the county (Colonel Wodehouse), who is a man even less gifted with brains than the rest of his imbecile family, and whose intellect has experienced no "march" for the last forty years, Las been violating one principle of that Constitution to which he pro- fesses so warm an attachment, by presidieg at election dinners, and openly avowing his intention to use all the means he possesses to bring in i he Tory candidates. His vituperation of IletOrin and Reformers is in the lowest style of blackguardism. Time Ministers, of course, retain him in his place. They (gentle creatures!) " Lick the baud just raised to shed t heir blood."

Probably they may feel a repugnance to elevating a Wodehouse to the dignity of a martyr.

Not wich.—The Norwich election can scarcely be called a contest of

principle. The electors have basely deserted one of their present members ( Mr. R. Grant), because he refused to buy their votes • and the issue of the contest will, probably, be decided by the length of the purse. The Tory party there have long been notorious for imposing on and fleecing their candidates, but they must be consummate masters in their art to have bubbled so wary an old fox as Scarlett. He has not the smallest chance. His opponent, Mr. R. Gurney, is a man of great wealth, and the interest of his family and house more powerful than that of any man in the place. There can be nothing deserving the name of a contest between him and Scarlett. The struggle will be be- tween Kerr and Lord Stormont; and here the issue is doubtful. The Reform Bill has not strengthened the Whig power in the Norwich elections. The phalanx of London voters (400) always moved in its favour : this is now cut off. Nor is the number of electors much in- creased. Last election it was 4,202 : it is now 4,286.

Yarmouth.—Here are no symptoms of an opposition ; and the Re- form candidates, Anson and Rutnbold, will, probably, walk over the course. Lynn.—The Reformers of Lynn are not well pleased with some of Lord G. Bentiuck's votes, but, on the whole, lie is a good man, and will be reseated with Lord William Lennox. Thetford.—" The honourable member for Thetford" has made his bow and retired—" like a well-bred dog when lie sees the foot upraised to kick him downstairs." One of the Grafton family will, probably, be the member for this borough. On the whole, therefore, Norfolk will maintain its character, and the Whigs will, in all probability, return nine out of the eleven members.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, NORTH.—Thomas Tryon, Esq., of Bulwick, has announced himself as a candidate in conjunction with Lord Brude- nell.—Lincoln Mercury. NORTHAMPTON TowN.—Our old member, Mr. Vernon Smith, has commenced his canvass in this town with great success. Mr. Bain- bridge, a gentleman of Liberal principles, accompanied him from town at the request of a large body of the inhabitants here. and has met with a warm welcome since his arrival. 'Mr. Charles -Ross [the Under Whipper-in] has started on the Conservative, or, as it is here called, the Corporation interest ; but the Liberals seem so certain of complete success, that there is not so much excitement as usual at these elec- tions. Sir Robert Gunning, with all the advantages of local residence and reputation, having so recently failed, it is not likely that a stranger should succeed.—Correspondent of the Globe.

BLYMOUTIL—After all that has been said, it appears that we are to have a third candidate for the honour of representing the borough in a Reformed Parliament. &Cr-T. B. Martin has issued his address to the ten-pounders.-.Plymouth Journal.

PONTEFRACT.-John Gully, Esq., of Ackworth Park, has accepted the pressing invitation of the electors of Pontefract to offer him- self as a candidate to represent that borough, and has stated that he will stand a poll to the last man. If there is any reliance to be placed in the report of canvassers, both Mr. Jerningham's and-Mr. Gully's election is sure.-Leeds Mercury.

SHREWSBURY.-Mr. Slaney's return for this borough is placed be- yond doubt. Since the retirement of Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Pelham, who has resigned the Southern division of the county, and Sir John Han- mer, have appeared as candidates for Shrewsbury ; and both are confi- dent of success. That either of these gentlemen should prove an effi- cient representative of a town containing upwards of 20,000 inhabitants, is quite out of the question. Mr. Pelham, though a well-meaning and extremely honest man, is so uncertain and eccentric in every thing he does and says, that no kind of reliance can be placed upon him in any matter of importance. Sir John Hanmer is a young baronet, twenty- three years of age-of a remarkably juvenile appearance-wealthy, goodnatured, and slavish in his political notions-for political principles he can hardly be said to possess. He is blessed with a singularly con- fined intellect, even for a Shropshire Aristocrat, and his education has been the best fitted in the world to disqualify him for making an effi- cient member of Parliament. We suspect that Mr. Pelham will beat this young blade out of the field, but at present the result is dubious. A few days since, the Conservatives in Shrewsbury called a pacific meeting, to vote an address to his Majesty, deprecating a war with Holland. It was to have been a very snug affair, and quietly managed in the parlour of the Talbot Hotel. But the Liberals procured an ad- journment to the Quarry fields ; where they soon mustered in great force, and carried an address and resolution of a precisely contrary ten- dency to the one which the hole-and-corner gentry had prepared. It is to be presented by the Lord Chancellor. The Tories were outvoted nearly twenty to one, to their extreme rage and mortification.

SOUTHWARK.-Mr. William Brougham delivered the following ora- tion on Pledges to his constituents on Monday. It would appear that mon-pledging is made a kind of Ministerial question-

" Gentlemen, I hold, and always have held, that the system of pledging is utterly in- defensible. It is degrading no less to the candidate than to the constituent : it is de- basing to the constituent, because, on requiring and receiving the pledge, he undertakes to support a candidate whose honesty he suspects : it is degrading to the candidate, because, by giving it, he admits, if an untried man, that private worth is no guarantee of public virtue-if a tried man, that his past shall be no test of his future conduct. A candidate is selected either from the knowledge his electors have of his private life, or from the experience they have had of his public conduct. The knowledge of the one and the experience of the other are the only pledges that ought to bit required. If you ask me to pledge myself upon particular quest ions, you doubt my integrity—youdistrust any judgment-you impair my usefulness. You doubt my integrity, because, knowing what I Lave been, you discredit me in future. You dish rust me judgment, because yon deprive me of my free agency, and send me into Parliament a more puppet. You im- pair my usefulness, because you take from ow the power of deliberation ; for who ean pretend to dismiss the merits of a question when be go.,s to the diseussian pledged and bound to vote in one way only ' You disenss_l vim argue it would be vial, ' why you have already deeitled; yon arc a mere tool 4elerteted by others in afirm or deny, right or wrong, convinced or unconvinead ; you have no ; volt nuts; put Your own judgment in wrong, poeki•t, and vote as you lave been ordered Is it possible ror the slavery, the helplessness of the must perfect nontin,.e of a iluronglillionger to exceed this? And who are they who require the pl•tig.•s ? Is every d.• question so sifted, so discussed, so thoroughly mulerstgiod in all its Le:lido:4.s. by the dmitan.h•rs of pledges, as to render unnecessary all fualwr cliscnssion ? so, ill (lo•I's name. put :In end to the House of Commons : vale its from the late hours, su hurtful to the health— from the lengthy harangues, so tryitng. to the path,.....—from lit • expenditure of money, so inconvenient to the p..eket—wiii,11 are now enn.iled upon the aspirants to Parlia- mentary honours, Go I.ack to the olden times. Let lir, united constituencies of Eng- land assemble on Salislatry Plain. there to deride with that calmness. thatkolginent,— that admirable facility fur deliberation IN idyll their numbers will afford, all questions of foreign and domestic pcliey ; this at least will save us from the absurdity or a House of Commons composed of mere puppets. I should say distrust the man n hu hesitates not to pledge himself to every thing; distrust the man who, in his anxiety to obtain a scat in Parliament, is ready to say that he has so fully made up his mind upon every question you propose to him, as to be able to pledge liis vote. Can you believe such a man ? Can you believe any man who shall say I have so well considered all the great questions likely to he discussed. I am so prepared to vote upon them, that no argu- ments-no new facts-no change or circumstances can alter any opinions?' No, no. Learn, if you please, the opinions of' your candidates, but if you think them trustworthy. fetter them not with pledges ; leave them the free exercise of their judgment to act upon those opinions according to time and circumstances."

Mr. Sheriff Humphries met the electors yesterday, at the Duke of Clarence, London Road. The Sheriff is decidedly Liberal in all things.

STOCKPORT.-There are four candidates for this borough, each pro- fessing liberal opinions. Thomas Marsland, Esq., an extensive calico- printer and cotton-manufacturer, and a native of the town, is one : he receives his support from the Tories, to whose party, some time ago, he belonged, and to whom he gave unpardonable offence,-first by ad- mitting the claims of the Catholics, and afterwards by taking an active part in the return of two Reformers for the county, to the last Parlia- ment. He would have received considerable support from the Refor-

mers; but for his ill-judged union with the Tories, the Reformers now suspect his motives.

Edward Davis Davenport, Esq.-The father of this candidate was, for many years, one of the members for the county. He was himself in Parliament some time for the borough of Shaftesbury; he distinguished himself in the House by his motion for a Committee to inquire into the state of the country ; he has the support of the Political Union and Radical party ; he lately published an address, which gives little satisfaction, even to his own friends ; he recommends a return to a paper currency, and attributes our sufferings in a great measure to Peel's

Bill :-the Corn Bill is to remain until all other specifics have been tried.

Henry Marsland, Esq.-This candidate is the son of the late Peter Marsland, Esq., an active magistrate of the town, a gentleman of great enterprise, and a man of liberal opinions. This gentleman rests his claims on the enlightened and liberal views he takes of all the great questions to come before a Reformed Parliament. His addresses are not a string of generalisms ; they breathe the spirit of a true patriot and well-wisher to his country, and with a desire to ameliorate and

improve its institutions : being a Dissenter, he is opposed by all the illi- beral of the Church party. father. The first intimation his townsmen bad of his political change, was about eighteen months back, when he made a speech at a meeting at Chester, condemnatory of the policy of all Tory Administrations, and, in no measured terms, said they had brought the country to the brink of ruin. In his speeches to the electors, he says he has been a Reformer upwards of eight years. Query.

The Committees of each candidate appear certain of success. The number of voters is 1,012.-Fiona a Correspondent at Stockport. WESTMINSTER.-A meeting of the electors, called by Sir John Hobhouse's Committee, took place on Monday in the great room of the Crown and Anchor. The meeting was fixed for one o'clock, but the electors began to assemble before twelve. By half-past twelve o'clock, the room was nearly filled ; by one o'clock it was full ; and in another half-hour it was enunmed to suffocation. One of the newspapers says, . Colonel Evans's meeting of Thursday was more crowded : if so, the members of it must have stood on one another's heads. On Monday, with the exception of the left of the hustings, there was not apparently 115 much space in the entire room as would have accommodated one person more, while those immediately in front of the hustings were squeezed together in such a way as to be incapable of using their hands, feet, or even their tongues, for the speakers or against them. Mr. T. S. Duncombe, Sir Francis Barden, Sir John Hobhouse, and " the Committee," entered a few minutes after one o'clock. Their appear- ; ance was the signal for a general outcry in the body of the room ; which, ll

with the exception of a partial cessation during Mr. Duncombe's ad- dress, and a complete cessation for a few minutes while Mr. Fearon spoke, continued without halt or abatement during the whole of the t meeting. When Mr. Duncombe had taken the chair (for the motion for his being placed in it could only be guessed from Mr. De Year's gestures), be addressed the meeting at some length-

The electors of Westminster must be aware of the opposition that was now !.; in progress, and he was sure that there was not a man present but regretted that 1 it bad occurred ; and unless lie could bring. himself to believe that those who had been the prime movers of that cabal-i The close of the sentence was in- :; audible.] There was no one act of inconsistency that could be brought against i!I Sir John Hobbouse ; but because he, a Minister of the Crown, refused to pledge 1! himself to the period-even almost to the very hour-when he should introduce :1 any particular measure, he was to be declared unworthy of their confidence. Sir John was now present, anxious and willing to declare and explain his opinions. But with regard to pledges, if they had no regard for his past conduct, what confidence could they have in the fulfilment of pledges? As to his being a Minister of the Crown, who made him so? It would be answered, the King : true, the King had appointed him, but he was recommended by his conduct as the representative for Westminster ; and if his acceptance of office was an act of guilt, the show of that guilt attached to the electors of West- minster, who had approved of his appointment, and re-elected hint when he accepted office. Mr. Buncombe sat down, as he had stood, amidst a storm of hisses, and cries of " Oa'!" ininglad with cheers froth the Committee on the platform, and about a hundred or a hundred and fifty of the persons in the body of the room. .A report of the Committee was then read, by Mr. Earber Beau- mont, in dumb-show. Stephenson, M.P. for Westbury, stood forward to move the first resolution. Whet it was, Ave know not. 1;ot one syllable of it or of Air. Stephenson's speech W: ;'S audible within three yards of the chair. Ile appeared to speak with great indiguleion ; but he might as well have spent it on the speak of Biscay in a we,terly gale.

A gentleman named Lyndon was understeod to have seconded it: he was not more successful than Mr. Stephenson in obtaining the atten- tion of his audience.

It is usual, where no amendment is moved, to put the question at once ; but Mr. Buncombe did not observe this rule, and Sir Francis Burdett accordingly stood forward when Mr. Lyndon retired. The cheering was much greater when Sir Francis made his appearance than on ally other occasion during the day ; there was plenty of opposing din also, but the cheers predominated. This was the only cheering that had the appearance of spontaneity. In all the other instances, the signal was given by persons in front of the platform, and obeyed more or less loudly by about a hundred of the people in the body of the room. Throughout the meeting, we were within eight or ten feet of the speakers ; and unless during the addresses of Mr. Buncombe and Mr. Fearon, we did not catch twenty words, and those at distant intervals. In respect of hearing, there were certainly not a dozen in the room better situated. The cries of favour as of disfavour had no reference to what the meeting heard, and us little to what the speakers said. They were more trials of lungs between the two parties ; the opposi- tion being throughout the most noisy, as they were by far the most numerous. Although they were not heard, the reporters have never- theless contrived to give the speeches of Sir Francis Burdett and Sir John Hobhouse at very considerable length ; and, what indicates a de- gree of accuracy which we had supposed unattainable, the Times and the Chronicle reports of the speech of the elder baronet do not differ from each other by one word or syllable ; nay, the very punctuation is the same ; so nicely do the gentlemen seem to have watched Sir Francis's intonations.

The speech of Sir Francis Burdett, thus miraculously reported, be- gins with a defence of his first letter to Colonel Evans, which the Co- lonel had designated as indiscreet.

"I have been accused-or rather an apology has been made for me, which I, however, reject-which I should disdain to make-attributing to me, in something that has been addressed publicly to you, a want of discretion. It is to be excused, as it is said, on the ground of having been written on the spur of the moment. Gentlemen, I fancy that almost all letters are written on the spur of the occasion. I never heard of letters being written, then kept for a length of time, and then brought forth again, tinder the impression that, like wine, they would be the better the older they were. But I see no indiscretion characterizing any one sentiment, or expression, or feeling, that I have tittered to the people of Westminster. Nay, I say more-I say it I were indiscreet, I would be so still, because it is honest (and I place honesty far above discretion v: in my scale of moral duties). I would beg leave just to say to the &Dant t° Colonel who has come forward so uncalled for, and who has been most ungra- ciously received with regard to his making an excuse for me, as Lady Teazle said to Mrs. Candour in The School for -Scandal, Oh dear, 11171. Candour, never undertake any defence.' Gentlemen, if I wanted discretion ever so much, --if any indiscretion had attended my conduct—I am sure I could not be un- generous enough to borrow any thing from the gallant Colonel in palliation of it,

calm really appears to me himself to stand in need of all he has got. Why, I • Iold my whole public life as an act of indiscretion. Was it discreet in me to tale up the cause of the People five-and-thirty years ago? Was it discreet in rote to get myself into gaol for the sake of justifying, as I conceived, honest and ill-treated men ? Was that discreet in me? I admit the indiscretion ; but I claim a little for the honesty of my conduct, and the sacrifices I have made."

After discussing pledges, to the same effect as in his letter, Sir Francis noticed two of Sir lohn's most conspicuous opponents at Colo- nel Evans's meeting—

A gentleman named Merle had come forward the other evening on behalf of • the gallant Colonel. That gentleman, he believed, was originally an Anti- . Reformer, spoke against public principle, and supported the Ann-Reforming

• interest in the person of Sir :Utirrity Maxwell. Another gentleman also, a 31r. 2ilichie, had been enlisted under the banners of the gallant Colonel ; he had also been an Anti-Reformer. The question then was with him, were they con- - wells or not ? If they were, in his mind they were acting with the greatest ab- -eurdity ; if they were not, they were acting in that manner which he would not name. Ile objected to pledges, as not binding any roan; and he would • live them an instance why he did so. He \mild suppe.:e that a person went into the House pledged to support the vote by ballot ; that, during the time he

:was in the House, there had been pointed out the mischiefs that resulted from it In other countries—far instance, iu America; was he then, being convinced that it would he attended with the worst effects, to break his conscience or his

pledge? It had been said by Mr. Merle, that he thought himself wiser than the collective constituency of Westminster. He could assure the meeting that Ile Alain, such thing; acid he would refer to his former conduct whether be could 'ix charged with such an offence. It %vas because he did not think himself • .aviser than other men—because he did not thiuk that it was impossible nothing • ramild occur to alter his opinion—that he was not dishonest enough to pledge

• 'himself. He was not one of those who wished to mislead by sham and false pretences, and therefore it was that he objected to pledges.

After adverting to the objection brought against Sir John Hobhouse, —that he had accepted office under Earl lirey,—Sir Francis concluded . by declaring, that If any of the opposing party thought they could pick out from among them- - staves er from elsewhere, any person who was more likely and more flithfully to defend those plinciples of public liberty which bath Sir John llohhouse and Iimself had hitherto unitedly defended, he would as zealously co-operate with that man in the ranks of the people as he had already dune. Those principles were what lie had first declared to the electors of Westniinster, and they would

continue to be his principles to the last. He appealed to the electors upon those principles ; leaving them to do their duty as lie had done, conscious as he was ahat, to the best of his ability, he bad conscientiously discharged it.

lime cheers on Sir John Hobhouse's standing forward, unless frcm the platform, were very partial ; and the groans, hissings, and hootings, • were tremendous. his exhibition was, from beginning to end, one scene of inexplicable dumb-show : the reporters, 'however, have given

tim a speech, and a long one,—though not marked by the same felicity of coincidence that marks the different copies of Sir Fratteis's speeches. He complained of misrepresentation by the deputation that waited on him at Richmond—

"'What said the deputation which waited on me from the gallant Colonel's Committee, when they came to me to seek an interview,—of which interview

they have given what they call an account?? I asked than if they had any . . complaint to make against toe? They- said they had im complaint to make .zgainst me whatever. This fact they took care to leave out of their aerount in

their report to the Committee; and they took care to iaseet is it that which .lad never occurred,—namely, that I had treated than with di.a.ourtesy and - leant of respect. I trust that at this time of day I am too well known to the electors of Westminster to render it necessary fur me to enter into any refuta- tion of such a charge as that."

Ile complained that Colonel Evans, its well as his Committee, had 'been guilty of misrepresentation— "A charge brought against me by the gallant Colonel, is, that I have stated in the. House of Commons that my notions are as fat as the Poles asunder from

• those of Mr. Hume. Again there must be a mistake ; the gallant Colonel

,TorgFts; I said no such thing. Wits,' as the saving has it, 'have short merles '—(I do not mean to apply the conclusion of the line to the gallant Colonel, for he is no blockhead)—, blockheads have none.' I said Ms SUCII -thing as the gallant Colonel states. What I did say was this—''that if Mr. 'Hume should think fit in the House of Commons to propose so large a reduc- . lion in the Army as 30,000 men (the number which he mentioned), I was

.. afraid I should never meet him, but that we should be as far as the Poles . asunder upon that point.'" He gave the history of the demand of pledges- ." 3 now come to the last charge which has been made against me—namely, • as to my refusing the pledges. Why- really, gentlemen, I am astonished that

- there call be any gentleman who will allow himself to be deceived upon this

point. What is the history of this famous demand of pledges of me? It is

• .cot trite that the opposition to me has arisen from my refusing to take the . pledges—it began before that refusal occurred. It was on the Saturday night ..that it was settled, as appeared from the letter of the gallant Colonel himself, that he should stand in opposition to me, and the pledges were never put to me until the following Sunday morning. Such was thepoor trick, the paltry coutrivanee, I do not say of the gallant Colonel, hut of the gallant Colunel's

-supporters,—such was the miserable stratagem to which some of the electors of

• "Westminster, for whose enmity I am not aware of having given any cause, have ,resorted in order to raise an opposition against me upon false pretexts and un- - ,:founded pretences. From what number of 'electors, do you think, did this de- mand origmate ? From five hundred ?—No. Prom fifty ?—No. From ten ? —No. It originated with one individual, and 1 have get his letter in my podia. -He is a gentleman who is kind enough to take care of my interests, and of the interests of the electors of Westminster. He told the three persons who called upon 11:e, to ask me for the pledges ; and he says to them in the let- ter which I have inn my pocket, ' Mind you ask brim for them before the public

_meeting, and publish iris answer immediatcly.' I have given a pledge, and that

pledge es the whole of my public life. If that will not satisfy you, I know not what will. Have I, I beg to ask, ever deserted you? have I ever lagged in the performance of my public duty? have I ever failed to do in Parliament that winch out of it I 'menisci/ to dO ? or have I ever omitted to do any thing which _appeared to be for the interests of my constituents and of the people at large?" He asked what were the merits of Colonel Evans and Mr. Hume, in the cause of Reform- 4,1 ask any man, whether or not he will set my public life against that of Colonel Evans; and what greater guarantee can he give of his future conduct in Parliament than his past public life ? He puts himself forward as preferable -.40.me, because, as he says, it will be the duty of Parliament to remodel the in- stitutions of the country, and because a man in office goes shackled into Parlia- ment, and is not at liberty to remodel those institutions. We have been lately employed in remodelling one of the greatest institutions—tire Mr/helmet ; and who was it that did so—who was it that effected that great measure? Was it Colonel De Lacy Evans? Was it effected by Mr. Runic? Was that great work begun and carried to its final consummation by men in office, or by men out of office? Who, I ask, was it that did it? The Ministers, backed by the People."

Sir John remarked on the disgrace which his being turned out of Westminster would naturally affix to all official men. He could. not and would not go to another constituency after incurring such a dis- grace. Ile spoke of the opportunities that Colonel Evans had of get- ting into Parliament compared with those that he enjoyed. .According to the Colonel, there were three very different constituencies, all strug- gling to obtain 'dim—the agriculturists of Rye, the Repealers of Limerick, and now the people of Westminster. To attend to such varying interests, be must be "like Cetherus, three gentlemen at once." Ile noticed the Colonel's argument for standing- " The gallant Colonel says that he opposes one now, because Westminster is

an open borough, and that if he did not take the seat another would. Wbv, so is the King s highway- open to all who travel on it ; and a similar (xeuse may be made by the man who journeys by my side, that way, and finishes by rifling me of my property ; for ire his defence Inc may allege that if he had not done so, another would."

He concluded- " I repeat, I dare the gallant Colonel and his friends to point out the occasiln

in which I have violated any promises to my constituents,—the occasion in which I, in the remotest degree, have departed from the principles which recom- mended me in the first instance to the favourable notice of the electors of West- minster. I find it difficult to persuade the consistent Reformers of Westminster —men who venerate principles, not persons--men who conceive that a man's public career is some criterion fur estimating his future conduct—that there u-ill be a struggle. Indeed, I find it difficult to persuade myself that a struggle can arise from the opposition ?.—of a co-Reformer. Nevertheless, it is right that you should be prepared for such a struggle,—that is, that you trill nut he found wanting at your post should it be persisted in. For my own part, let what trill

be the issue, I promise you I shall not he wanting to the duty which I owe you, my hitherto kind supporters, and which I owe myself. I, at least, shall not be absent from the post at the hour of struggle. I trust that you will not be want- ing at yours."

The resolution was said to be put when Sir John Hobhouse sat down ; but the knowledge of that fact was confined to a very few. We did not find a single person that was cognizant of its terms or its ob- ject. The Times says it was carried by a small majority. It was not read over,—that we could see; and it certainly was rejected by a very considerable majority, as any one that was content to use his eyes in- stead of his imagination must have seen. At the same time, we rather think that neither those who supported nor those who opposed it know one tittle of what they voted for. Not above three hundred hands, at most, were elevated in the whole assembly. Mr. Duncombe declared the resolution carried.

The second resolution—that pledges should not be demanded of the two honourable baronets—was moved by Mr. Crouch, and seconded by Harrison. The hands against it were to those for it in the pro- portion of about 4 to I. Mr. Duncombe declared it carried. The third resolution, moved by Mr. Pouncey, and seconded by Mr. Thurston, lamented the opposition that had sprung up. It was carried in the same way. Mr. Chambers moved a resolution for the formation of parochial committees ; which was seconded by Mr. De Veer. It was outvoted by JO to I. Mr. Duncombe declared it carried. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and negatived by at least 2 to I ; which Mr. Duncombe acknowledged in terms which nobody heard, and nobody seemed to care about hearing. The meeting theta quietly separated, after hooting the members, the Chairman, and such of the Committee as accompanied them, from the platform to the door.

It is rumoured that if Colonel Evans perseveres in his opposition to Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Sir George Cockburn, or Sir George Mur- ray, or both, will be put in nomination for Westminster."—Morning Post. [The Post should have said where it was rumoured. It is ru- moured in the Standard; and it proves two things very satisfactorily-, —that Sir George Cockburn, in the judgment of his friends, has no chance for Plymouth, nor Sir George Murray for Perth.]

The correspondence between Sir Francis Burdett and CollineI Evans has been continued this week, as follows.

• - " Brighton, November 23. " DEAR EVAXS—I take the earliest opportunity, on arriving at Brighton, to achnow- ledge the receipt of your last letter. which appears to me to be founded on a complete misapprehension. and owing thereto, to a complete misstatement of all the eircurnstan- era and all the feelings connected with this case: you complain of want of courtesy towards you: in what respect, however, you do not point out. and I can only say' that on my part it was never intended. You do, however, specify the last passage of my letter as ' not marked by much courtesy, but that, in consideration of your regard to me, von only permit yourself to complaint.' Believe me this would be felt much by me if I iliought them was any cause for the observation, except misapprehension. In the same manner as you suppose I make the representation of Westminster ' a matter of- personal feeling.' this last observation relieves me much from the pain tine first might occasion, as both are equally without any jest foundation. Give are leave to ask where is the want of courtesy in my stating that I would rather be turned out of Westminster with Iloblionse, than returned to Parliament with any one else? In this there is no• thing personal, or of private feeling—it is entirely on public giounds; and were yon the best thing null had in the world, I should say the same. To the best of my recollection,- there is not a single sentence, or even a word, in my letter, having reference to an con- sideration except of a public nature. "'There is no question either between us as to the 'disinterestedness' and public spirit of those who, your inform me, !MVO 'during some months' sought you as a candidate.' These words ' during some months' are very important ; they give rise to new ideas and thoughts—they seem to prove, ns Othello snys, ' a fore- gone conclusion.' May I ask whether these persons who had been soliciting you for many months, whether they were the same persons who went to Iloblumse for pledges? If so, wars not that a poor contrivance? Or is it not now, to use a siguificaat phrase, the 'cat out of the bag?' And is this, supposing the case to he so, candid dealing or conduct, such as the electors of Westminster have hitherto observed upon similar occasions? I think root; and if it is to be in future adopted, no doul•t it is high time to look out for new persons to represent them. "You then object to any making use of the words, as applied to you, of acquiescing in a plan to turn Hobhouse out of Westminster ; your say you see. no prowl, ty in the term. I must confess I see no-propriety in tine act ; but am totally at a loss to find the impropriety of the term. You are pleased to suppose no to ask you 'Who the persons were who persuaded you to come forward ?' I am not aware of having asked any such question: you. however, suppose so; then comes the answer, 'Those,' you say, 'who pa rstraded me and Hubhouse, to whom we are so largely indebted for success: It wan hardly worth while to suppose the 9nestion for the sake of time answer, for, though smart, it is not correct. The fact, as all the world knows, is, that I was elected without knowing any thing of the matter myself; I was confined to my bed owing to the unfor- tunate Al& with Mr. Paul; Mr. Cline forbidding every ono excepting the necessary at- tendants entering my room. As to llobhouse, he cannot be said to tare undergone anv process of persuasion ; he stood forward on public grounds and public principles ; lie loss never quitted the ono, ur abandoned the other ; he stands so still intact ; fur, as to the objection started of his being in office, it is too childish to deserve notice; lei sideswhich, it has already been disposed of by the electors of Veshninster themselves. "It is easy,' says the proverb,' to find a stick to beat a deg,' but it is not eitsy to find a valid reason for opposit; an honest man. I hope it is not necessary for 11:a here to say I am not drawing comparisons, or speaking, as you call it, in t•untrast with Hob:louse. To disclaim such an intention would he too humiliating, to no loth, and I eau only ex- press.ray surprise that you should have entertained such a thought before. I aM rally aware of your great merits as well as his, and hove pleasure hi acknowledging them ; but with reference to the present case, the matter in hand, I cannot entertain any doubt, if they are to be weighed, whose scale would kick the beam. The question now is not which is the best man, but what is the best conduct, the must becoming, and the must useful, in a public point of view, for the people of Westmiuster to fidlow. It is the character of the electors of Westminster, and of the people, by one of the best spe- cimens that is going to be tried at the ensuing election. whether popular support and opinion shall be raised or sunk in the estimate of wise men, whether the reproach of inconstancy and levity in the people, so often, with effect, cast upon them by the cue- miesof popular rights, shall be confuted in this instance or confirmed. This is the

stake now about to be played fur, and it is on this aecount, and on this account ehielly, if not solely, that I feel so deep au interest in the game. This great question, therelbre,

will be tried, I trust, on its true grounds ; that all personal preferences or dislikes will be lost sight of; and the result be such at; iv in uphold, in the eyes of the country, the high character, sound principles, sound judgment, and steadines; ur conduct which the electors of Westminster have suiting sustained.

" I cannot conclude without assuring you that the grief and sorrow I before ex- pressed are real, and not niers words; I cannot but feel how uncomfortable this inter- ruptiOn is, thus given to an intimacy I so much valued, nor can I part with it without pang. "I remain yours sincerely, . F. Bra errr."

" Waterloo Mace, 26!li November 1.932.

"MY DEAR Stn FRANCIS—I am glad to foul. by your letter lids day published in the Times, that you intended me no personal discourtesy. That mi:takc was, I be- lieve; entertained as well bv the public as invelf. The forbearance I had to exercise was greater than you seOnl to have been aware or; for your Chairman, in delivering your firstletter, gave me an interpretation of yonr meaning, which, if credited, could hardly have borne the mild epithet of discourtesy.

i:ucouraged, perhaps, by the restraint' put upon any feellims Nola Committee fol- lowed it up by passing a Resolution, aspersing in the strongest manner, and without a shadow of foundation, Inv public and private Character. •I thought it then beneath ins to notice, and new I think it beneath you to permit, this viaduct on the part of your supporters, " Lregret that this explanation was accompanied by reiteration of an expression which has liven rise to the unpleasant notion among the electors of Westminster, that yen would lather not represent them sinless with a colleague of your own choice.

" Had you not been absent from London, you would, I think, have learned that the electors are at issue with you on this point, /LS t110y 3elieVL! themsaves qualified to judge, and claim to be allowed to Vote for whom they please. " Your remark from Othello—• Of a foregone conclusion '—is, I beg to assure you entirely imaginary. , Yam speak of the krity' attributed to popular bodies ; and seem to indicate that it is not your colleague (he having changed his relative posit ion), but the distinguished constituency of this city (although they had not changed at all), that are now to be put on their trial ! This seems to me reversing the outer of things. For my own part, recollecting in your instance the conspicuous proof' the.- have gtven of their constancy fur more than a quarter ofa century, I conclude they will do now, as they always have done.-nobly for their country.

" You appear to ins to mistake the position in which we are placed. Westminster has not for a considerable tints past been, as far as I can.learn, hi a state either satis- factory to itself or to the country, whose eyes are frequently divvied toward: this, on several accounts, the most 'important Remad' constituency. Men, such as West- tniuster has always possessed, have again come forward, resolved, that in the great and salutary changes which vighit to be and must be effected, they will hate a Representa- tive who on all proper occasions will sedulously attend to their business instead of that of any Administration—one who, on some leading matters, will pledge his service to thcin anti his country, in preference to any Government, let who may compose it. 'This your colleague has refused to do. The electors of Westminster thinking wen' MC-

• That candidates add their supporters, representatives and their constituents, should to a clear uuderstauding. That no mystery ought to hang over their intercourse. That every one should be ready to give a reason for his faith, and to answer any ques- th■as that may be thought necessary for the satisfactiumof his constituents.'

" The electors, thinking thus, sent a deputation to your colleague to ask four plain qnestions, who, if not actually rebuffed, are represented to have been sent away with a refusal to answer any question—to give any satisfaction. Thus, one of two things was tbrced upon them.: either the nomination of another candidate, or quiet submission ; either stepping forward at once, as on great emergencies they have been accustomed to do, or or exhibiting to the country an example of pusillanimity utterly unworthy of them. The country expects that on this as on former occasions they will do their ditty manfully, and it will not, you may be assured, be disappointed. " I remain yours sincerely, D. L. EvaNs."

• "St. James's Place, November 28. "DEAR EVANS—I have not the least idea of the means by which you have ascer- tained the fact you assume, that Westminster is dissatisfied with itself, and all the country with Westminster. I suspect you derive this impression from those whose 'wish is father to the thought.' Be it as it may, it will soon be determined by the electors of Westminster themselves; and determine as they may, I, for one, shall be satisfied, because I always am, with doing my own duty. As to what passed between Mr. De Year and you, to draw so largely on your forbearance, I can be uu way answerable fur it. I certainly .mentioned to him that I omitted to conclude my letter with the word you, and substituted any one else, lest it might have borne an appearance of Personality. I was near putting my own Brother, so fur from my mind was any thought of personal. objection. The subject is now so dwindled, that the sooner it is dropped I think the better. I cannot, however, finish without again repeating my sorrow and regret at this unfortunate and uncomfortable termination of our intimacy. "I remain yours sincerely, F. BURDETT."