ELECTIONEERING EXTRAORDINARY.
MINISTERS have managed to put out of the field, for the present year at least, two Tory candidates who were expected to offer severe, if not successful, opposition to the return of Whig nomi- nees. The circumstances to which we allude have received slight if any notice from the London press, but we know that they have caused much excitement in Cheshire and Denbighshire. Mr. GEORGE WILBRAHAM, Lord EBEINGTON'S brother-in-law, and M.P. for South Cheshire, is known to he one of the firmest supporters of the Whig Government. That Mr. WILIIRAHANI is a most honourable man we have always understood; and at the out- set we entirely acquit him of any participation in a transaction by which, nevertheless, he may benefit materially, and the narrative of which we must lay before our readers, as one of the most curious passages in electioneering annals. At the last election for South Cheshire, the numbers stood—
For Sir Philip Egerton (Tory) 3,135 For Mr. 'Wilbraham (Whig) 3,015 For Mr. Corbett (Tory) 2,646
The Tory strength has since been considerably increased ; and it was resolved to put ibrward Mr. TOLLENIACHE, a gentleman of property and influence in the county, with the view of ousting Mr. WILBRAHAM. A very close contest was expected. Meanwhile the annual election of high Sheriff for the county drew near : and when the list of persons from whom the selection must he made was published, to the surprise of everybody not in the secret, Mr. Tonm:mAcnu was one of the three. It was known that the re- tiring High Sheriff had, according to custom, given the Judges a list of twelve gentlemen liable to serve the office. The three first on the list were Mr. HAMMOND, Mr. DAVENPORT, and Mr. LAWTON. Mr. ToLLEmacires name was placed low on the list—seventh or eighth. But the Privy Council saw fit to deviate from the general practice, and selected from the twelve names given to the Judges, Mr. LAWTON'S, Mr. TOLLEMACHE'S, and Mr. HAAINIOND'S. Mr. LAWTON, it was expected, and it so turned out, would be excused on the score of age and infirmity ; and therefore Mr. TOLLE- MACHE'S friends were alarmed for the probable loss of their candi- date. A representation of the circumstances was immediately made to the Marquis of LasisnowNE, Lord President of the Coun- cil; but Mr. TOLLEMACHE was appointed Sheriff; and the Whig candidate at once relieved from a formidable competitor. This affair has been the subject of correspondence, published in the Chester papers, between Mr. WILBRAHAM and Mr. TOLLEMACHE. }IL WILBRAHAM distinctly disclaims all interference in the affair ;
but it is manifest that what he would have disdained to attempt himself, some of his Whig friends have accomplished for him, Treasury Secretaries are not very punctilious in these matters I
In Denbighshire a similar game has been played. Mr. WILSON JONES, the Tory Member for the borough, is in bad health, and intends to resign his seat. The party pitched upon Mr. THONIA8 MAIN WARING for his successor. At the Assizes his name was pur- posely omitted from the list given to the Judges, in conformity with .a general understanding that candidates for the House of Commons shall be passed over. When the list of the three per- sons nominated by the Privy Council was published, Mr. MAIN- wAmNeS name was first. That gentleman requested to be ex. cused for the present year; and the reply was a notification of his appointment. Such are the fitcts, as we find them stated positively in the Chester Courant.
Besides his disclaimer of participation in the Chester complot- ting, Mr. WILBRAHAM alleges that a dissolution will not take place this year. Who can tell when it may be necessary ? Who will guarantee the life of the present House of Commons for six months? But suppose a dissolution deferred till the succeeding year, the Whigs have shaken a little of the Tory candidates' ready cash out of their pockets, and so far crippled them. We question whether Mr. TOLLEMACHE will get through his shrievalty for less than 1,0001.: in a much smaller county than Cheshire, we know that it costs the High Sheriff from 6001. to 8001. to serve the office.
We are not aware that any remedy exists for what is substan- tially a wrong, not only to the candidates, but to the electors who wished to return them. It is, however, fitting that the thing should be known.
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