THE Paoammom.—This most important event was hailed in town with
one general burst of rejoicing. Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour when it became generally known, not a few of the more hearty well-wishers of Reform illuminated on the occasion, and the chimes in many of the churches rung the knell of Boroughmongery. At Drury Lane Theatre an unanimous call was made for " God save the King:' The lines " scatter his enemies, and make them fall," were most vo..
ciferously cheered. •
THE GENERAL ELEcTioN.—Among the preparations for the new elections, we have only room to note a meeting in the Crown and Anchor for the return of the members for Westminster—the contem- plated call on Mr. John Smith, the excellent patron of Midremsrt, atiot stand for the City, in place of Mr. Ward—the declaration of A Venables of his intention to stand—the resolution of the Birmingham Union to use every endeavour to return members favourable to the Bill —the resolution of the Common Council to do the same, and further, to thank his Majesty publicly for dissolving the Agitation Parliament.
SOUTHWARK ELECTION.—There are at present three candidates in the field for the Borough ; or perhaps it would be more correct to say, the friends of three candidates are in the field. First, our old acquaintance Colonel Jones, who has gained so high a constitutional character under, his 736112 de guerre of " Radical,"—a term by no means of constitutional odour ; second, Admiral Sir Edward Codringtom—a man of great talent and greater fame, and (for a host of recommendation to any body o electors) the friend of our Patriot King ; lastly, one who bears a name familiar to our ears as household words, and one which comes home to our hearts and bosoms with a force that hardly one other in England possesses,—Mr. William Brougham, the brother of the Lord Chan- cellor. Were we an elector of Southwark, and were we called on to say which of these three was most worthy of our vote, we should at first be Puzzled. They are all good men and true—they are all friends of Ike Bill. In their principles, we know no ground for preference ; and the Bill stands so little in need of advocavy, that were the difference much more palpable, we could find as little in their talents. We must endeavour to pick out of their circumstances those materials of judgment which their characters do not supply. What, at the present crisis, is the chiefest duty of popular constituencies, like that of the Borough ? Not only to return holiest and patri- otic members,—there is small danger that they should neglect to do that,—but to return such honest and patriotic members as have not that species of interest, seldom possessed and more seldom ac- quired by men of mere honesty and patriotism, by which a return may otherwise secured. Keeping this point in view, we would incline to favour the pretensions of Colonel Jones ; who, we think, principally by reason of his blunt and uncomproMising honesty, is the least likely of the three candidates to take his seat in the approaching Parliament for a close borough, which both of the other excellent gentlemen may hope to do. For Mr. Brougham, we would much rather that he should boldly attack the enemy in some of his strongholds, than, by standing for a popular borough, effect a possible diversion in his favour. Why not try the Dumfries boroughs ? His family, himself, above all his noble bro- ther, are known and esteemed throughout Scotland ; and with a hand of Scotch electors, the King's name is a tower of strength. What difficulty is there in ousting a man who is neither a Reformer nor an Anti ? who will neither boldly speak against the measure nor honestly vote for ? Should he be beaten by the .Marquis of Douglas, the Marquis of Cleveland is still in reserve, and a borough is at his service. Again, for Admiral Codrington, there is the port of Dover, vacant by the resigna- . tion, for cause, of Sir John Rae Reid,—a much more fitting !lite for an old hard-a-weather, than the Banksitle. By such an arrangement, Parliament would gain three good men instead of three bad ones, and nobody be disappointed. Let us not be misinterpreted : we neither dic- tate nor seek to dictate to our near neighbours—it is fitting and just that they should please themselves. Only let them guard against splitting among themselves, and allowing some wily rogue to step down and reap the benefit of the troubled waters while they are contending on the brink of the pool. Let the frientls_of the three gentlemen hold a friendly meeting : let their—merits, we will not say, but—their circum- stances be duly canvassed ; and around him to whom the best chance of
success appears to belong, let the rest, as defenders of the same sacred
banner, rally, honestly and heartily and resolutely. In that case, tri-
umph is as certain as it is easy.
Slit Roemer Wit.o:c.—A deputation of the electors of Southwark waited on the recreant Knight on Wednesday, with a requisition signed by seventy-six of their brethren, calling on him, ill terms of his declara- tion on Tuesday night, to resign his seat. Sir Robert refused to resign, unless required by a public meeting ; and complained that his speech had been misrepresented in all the newspapers. He at the same time stated, that he bad corrected a copy of it fin- the Mirror of Por/iument, and would distribute a thousand copies to show the electors whatdie had really said [qy. what he wrote fl. On the same day, in consequence of Sir Robert's refusal, a requisition was addressed to the High Bailiff, re- questing him to call a public meeting. The meeting did not, however, take place; Sir Robert took a second thought of the subject, and re- signed when he could not do better.
AUNT.—While this person was proceeding to the House of Commons yesterday, he was hooted and pelted with great zeal and industry. The witty rogues nearly covered the now (:end to remain) ex-member for Preston, with fragments of orange-peel. When they were blamed for wasting the chips, one fellow bawled out—" Ile is the people's member —ha'n't we a right to do as we like with our own ?"
BRIGHTON.—The good people of Brighton have petitioned for two members, on theground that the population is now above 40,000. Ask- ing costs little, but we wish them safely in possession of one member to begin with.
FuNrsurna.—By the decease of Sir Thomas Mostyn, on the 17th, a vacancy is created in the county of Flint. Sir Thomas voted with Ministers on the second reading of the Reform Bill.
Woncesrcrt.—Lord Lyttelton has promised his influence to the Re- formers of Worcester, in their attempt to oust Colonel Lygon. SHAFTESBURY. — Colonel Maberly was on Tuesday returned for the - borough of Shaftesbury, but too late to vote that night.
QUEEN'S Counry.—Sir Henry Parnell was returned on Saturday,With- out opposition. He arrived in town on Wednesday.
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